Opposites Attract
Chapter 9: It's Where I Belong

Disclaimer: I own: the DVD, the soundtrack, and the posters on my wall. That's it.

A/N: More editation. (Yay making up words.)

Ryan's POV

"RYAN! Where the hell are you going?" Sharpay yelled as I was about to pull out of the driveway. I was going to the school to meet Troy again, except this time, there was no holding back. I was telling him everything.

"Why do you care?" I said coldly. I'm sick and tired of her always getting her way. It's my turn.

"If I ever hear about you spending time with Troy, my Troy again, I'll kill you. I mean it Ryan." She snapped.

"Go to hell..." I mumbled.

xoxoxo

I stood behind Troy for about five minutes, not making a sound. I was trying to remember the speech I had worked out on the way over, but I was too nervous to concentrate. My hands were shaking, and my throat seemed to close.

"Hey." I managed, finally. I stopped him just as he was about to turn around. "I want to say something first." He nodded. "When my sister first told me you were, well, you, I was completely pissed. I thought this was all a trick, that your stupid friends were behind all this, because to be honest, they always do that kind of stuff to me. But that was before I really got to know you. I did exactly what this assignment was supposed to prevent, judging people by appearances. I'm sorry." I paused. "I was always jealous of you, Troy. I didn't hate you, like you thought, I was jealous. Everywhere I'd go, your name came up, and people worshiped you. I always thought those people were crazy, that you were a stupid, shallow jock like Chad, and all them. But I think the main reason I was so jealous was because you seemed so perfect. My life was such a mess, and yours...wasn't. That's what I wanted, a perfect life. This assignment changed that. You showed me that everyone has problems, no matter how popular they are. It was only this afternoon that I realized this." He turned around.

"Ryan..." He said softly. "So it was you all along? On the phone, the e-mails, in the field...that was all you."

"Not who you expected, huh?" I looked at the ground.

"Nope. But I'm glad. If everything was what you expected, life would suck" He lifted my chin with his index finger and looked into my eyes.

"Wha­-­" He kissed me softly. God, he knows how to shut me up.

"You know, a really good friend of mine told me I was a conceited jerk. Am I really? " He whispered against my lips. I thought for a second or two.

"Yeah, you are." I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him. It was right at that moment the sprinklers turned on, drenching me and Troy. "Why are they on at night?" I asked, annoyed. He didn't seem to mind that he was soaking wet.

"You ask too many questions." He smiled, kissing my forehead.

xoxoxo

"It's a beautiful night, look at all the stars." I said, resting my head on Troy's chest. We were lying down on the wet grass in silence, well, at least until I broke it.

"It is, and to top it all off, I'm with a beautiful boy." He replied, and wrapped his arms around me. I was lucky it was dark enough that he couldn't see how red I was turning. "You know, I always tried to get you to notice me. It never worked. I guess I just had to be myself."

"I wish I would've done that. The stupid hair gel was giving me a headache." He stared blankly at me.

"You tease!" He laughed. "You knew what you were doing to me today, didn't you?"

"Maybe." I said mysteriously.

"You bastard!­ I--" I used his method of shutting him up, kissing the words right out of him. I crawled into his lap, and he pulled me closer (which I didn't know was possible). He teased my lips apart with his tongue, deepening the kiss. My hands found their way around his body, lingering in some spots longer than others, as he ran his fingers through my hair. Just when we were starting to get into it, he stopped suddenly and sat up.

" Troy, what's wrong?" I asked. Silent tears were streaming down his face, and he was holding on to me like I would float away if he loosened his grip. I probably would have, I was so lightheaded.

"I­-­Back in your room on Friday, I could've sworn I felt something. It could've been nothing, I don't know. Now, I'm almost positive it was love. Maybe I'm wrong, because I've never actually been in love. All I know is it can drive you crazy and make you the happiest person on Earth at the same time. What I feel with you is that. It's more addictive than drugs, and I'm sure it gives a better high. If this isn't love, I don't think I'd be able to take it when it is." He paused. "I feel like I've know you forever. For months you've been, the only thing on my mind. I'd lie awake, thinking about you all night. I can't see myself, loving anybody else. And now that I'm here I know, it's where I belong." He whispered softly into my ear. "See what you do to me? You probably think I'm crazy­-"

" Troy."

"Yeah, you probably do think I'm crazy. You always did hate me...I'm such a screw-up. I­-" He continued, hitting his forehead with his palm.

" Troy!" I caught his attention, "I love you too."