Troy came out to his parents and Ryan lost his car… What will happen next?
Lockdown by Tertiary Genesis
Chapter 10: Awkward
--XxXxX--
Troy woke up Sunday morning to the usual scene. He was sprawled across his bed, lying on his stomach, hands hanging over both sides of the bed, and his duvet was a compacted heap at the foot of the bed. His pillows could be found somewhere on the floor beside the bed, further evidence of Troy's sleeping habits. Troy was a kicking sleeper, and could easily clear an area while in slumber. There was only one thing unusual about the scene that met Troy's morning eyes: his father sitting at his desk.
Jack Bolton noticed his son stirring on the tiny single bed. He really should get Troy a bigger bed. The boy was quickly outgrowing the one he currently occupied. Jack made a mental note to buy Troy a new bed as he continued to psyche himself into starting the conversation he had entered his son's room for.
No parent enjoys giving "the talk" but Jack felt it was necessary, now that he had learned Troy had a boyfriend. He hadn't given Troy the talk before, thinking that he did not need to considering that kids already learn that kind of stuff in Health class. He would know; he has to go through the curriculum. Now Troy was going to be doing things not taught in Health class and Jack felt that it was his duty to do this talk with his son and the sooner the better. Teenage boys are teenage boys, and when you have two in a… sexual… situation, there is little control.
"Troy," started Jack Bolton. He noticed Troy getting up and suddenly did not feel like doing what he was supposed to but he knew he had to. "We need to talk…"
Troy sat up to look at his father better. He could see his father was being very serious and maybe slightly upset at something. He should have expected this. He knew it was too good to be true.
"You don't really approve of me being gay… do you?"
Jack's eyes grew when he realized what his son was assuming. "No! That is not it at all. I'm okay with your homosexuality Troy, that's not what this is about." He voice was raised slightly, not from anger but out of defense.
"Are you sure?" Troy could still sense that something was up with his dad.
"Yes! I'm sure," Jack tried to think of a way to reassure his son but nothing came to mind except…
"Look Troy, I'll let you in on a secret to prove that I am okay with you being gay; but you can't tell anybody at all, especially your mother."
Troy was suddenly intrigued and curious about what this secret was and so agreed. "Okay."
"Okay… well… back in college, I… experimented… a bit." Jack was clearly uncomfortable telling this story.
"So you mean…" then Troy's face lit up with shock as he was hit with realization. Troy's mouth moved, opening and closing like a fish, but he was speechless.
"Yes... now don't tell anyone" Troy's father was whispering now, trying to hush his secret away.
"So…" Troy was still processing things in his head and interpreting what his father said when a nasty image entered his mind involving his father and one of his dad's college mates. He really did not want to think of his parents like that. He was sure disgust was suddenly showing on his face.
"Now you see why I can't disapprove because that would be pretty hypocritical of me…" said Jack, though he did notice the strange look on his son's face.
"Yes… I can see it all too clearly." Troy stated with a shudder.
The conversation was turning awkward much faster than Jack Bolton had anticipated so he quickly tried to change the topic so he could get this finished.
"Troy, I want to ask you something."
"Okay?" Troy was a little hesitant now, still trying to rid himself of that image.
"Have you… and Ryan… done… anything yet?" Jack asked the question slowly.
Troy did not understand the question at first but then realized what his father was asking and immediately went into defense mode like his father had done when Troy accused him of homophobia.
"What? NO! We have not… done… anything… DAD!" Troy had never known his father to ask him such a personal question. His father usually minded his own business when he should only pried into his son's life when necessary but then again, their relationship as father and son was pretty open so he did not really have to try that much, usually.
"I was just checking… so… well… that's… good… I guess." The awkward levels were really rising now.
"Just remember to… use protection… when you do get around to… doing… it."
Troy could now see exactly what the purpose of this conversation was and wished his bed would swallow him that very moment. He was sure he was also turning a bright shade of red.
"Well, I know how… abashing… it can be to go out and buy these… and I would hate for that to be an excuse to not use… them… so I decided to give you some from my own personal stores… just in case," and with that, Jack Bolton produced a pack of condoms from his pocket.
Troy stared at the things in his father's hands and now nasty images of his father and mother were running through his head. He knew that that was how he must have been created… but a kid was supposed to be under the impression that their parents stop after they were born, or at least after they found out about the birds and the bees. The little plastic packets in his father's hands were evidence that this was not the case, and Troy's mind had a habit of creating visuals for his conclusions.
"See… they're even flavored…"
Ugh! Troy did not need that image. He had now sunk back as far as he could into his bed, his hands covertly searching for pillows so that he may smother his face, but alas, they were on the floor.
"I'll just put them… here…," informed Troy's father, hesitantly placing the prophylactics in his son's top drawer.
"Do you… uhh… need to know… how to put them on?" Jack Bolton asked though hoped the answer was no.
Troy was still dumbstruck, his silence increasing the tension and awkwardness within the room.
"Troy! Chad's here!" called Troy's mom from downstairs.
Jack took this opportunity to leave the awkward conversation. "I guess I'll be going now…" then without another word, he left his son's room, glad that that was over.
--XxXxX--
Ryan woke up Sunday morning to the usual routine. He got up and crossed his room to his computer, moving the mouse to rouse the machine out of its own sleep. As the slumbering PC initiated, he went to his personal bathroom to do what most humans did in the morning.
While in the bathroom, Ryan would also take his shower, washing his entire body to be ready for the new day. He always had his showers after Sharpay, knowing that she woke up extra early in the mornings for that, but there was never a shortage of hot water in the Evans household; there could never be with their state-of-the-art water heating system.
Once Ryan was toweled off and in his bathrobe, he would head back into his room and check his now wide-awake computer to see if any of his desktop email notifiers were alerting him of unread mail. He would also check his phone at this time, which was usually charging on his desk, to see if anyone had called or texted.
The actor liked to think of his replies to any communiqué he might have received during the night as he selected and donned the outfit for the day. This Sunday morning was quite dry on things to reply to with no communications to his phone and only chainmail and Bebo Spotlight in his inbox.
As Ryan picked out what to wear that day, he continued working hard to keep his mind of the person he had been trying to forget that entire morning. Ryan had an abnormal degree of control over his thoughts in the morning and had successfully pushed Troy out of his mind by the time he was downstairs and ready to have breakfast.
Sharpay was already sitting at the breakfast table when Ryan arrived, as usual. She had a bowl of non-fat yoghurt with fruit chunks sitting on the table in front of her, next to her cell phone. Sharpay, however, was behind a newspaper, immersed in some article. Sharpay reading a newspaper was a surprising but not unheard-of occurrence in the Evan's household. She liked to stay in the loop, especially when current affairs affected her or were of interest to her. Her latest obsession in world news was on the Writers Guild of America Strike.
"I still don't see how they could place our television and movies at ransom. It's just not right!"
Sharpay's cell phone began vibrating around on the table in pulses before her ringtone chimed in. "We're flying first class, up in the sky; popping champagne, living the life… in the fast lane…" her phone rang.
Sharpay looked over her newspaper to her little pink communication device, noting the caller ID on the external screen before returning to the article she was reading. She was clearly ignoring the caller, but was choosing to make them think she just could not get to her phone or something, because she did not stop the ringing.
Ryan sat down as Fergie's Glamorous was cut short when the caller apparently gave up. He was just picking the foods he wanted on his plate, building his breakfast, when Sharpay's phone rang again.
Glamorous continued to play for an at least a minute undisturbed. Sharpay did not even look at her phone this time. She just left it to ring.
"Are you going to answer that?" Ryan asked his sibling across the table, already annoyed by the Fergi-licious sounds the vibrating phone was emitting.
"No…" replied Sharpay, dragging out the 'o' in a sarcastic tone as if it were obvious as to why she was ignoring her current caller.
"Why not?" countered Ryan with a similar hint of sarcasm, mocking his sister.
"Because it is just Zeke again…"
"So…?"
"So… I don't feel like talking to him."
"Why?"
"Because I…" Sharpay stopped when her phone stopped. She was speaking louder than normal so her voice could be heard over the ring tone and had just realized this, so in the newfound silence, she dropped her voice back down. "Because I don't want to… okay?"
"Okay"
Ryan started getting into his food when the annoying, buzzing pest started its song and dance again on the table.
"Will you just answer that already?!"
"No!" Sharpay did not like being told what to do.
"What if it isn't Zeke?"
"Well, there really isn't anyone worth talking to right now… except for Troy, but when he calls, my phone plays Avril's Girlfriend instead." She returned to her newspaper with an expression of contentment when her phone stopped vibrating.
Damn! Ryan was going so well that morning forgetting about Troy and his sister just had to bring him up. He suddenly felt a wave of depression wash over him.
Sharpay noticed the change in her brother's mood but did not make the connection between what she said and how her brother was feeling. She decided to try to make conversation.
"Ugh! I hate the WGA for going on this stupid strike. Like, I heard the rumors that CW picked up Gossip Girl for a whole season, but they only have 2 unaired episodes left!"
Ryan decided to take the opportunity to immerse himself in something that was not Troy related. "Yeah, I reckon. They forced Heroes to end early and there are only 5 more unaired episodes of Supernatural left."
"Yeah, I liked Supernatural; not for the creepy, gory stuff, but more because Jared Padalecki is hot!"
Ryan rolled his eyes at his sister's comment. Trust her to find the one reason to like a show that really has nothing to do with why you are supposed to like a show.
"Maybe I could get Daddy to give some money to the Writers Guild so that they can stop this stupid strike…" Sharpay suggested.
"Mmm, yeah… maybe…" Ryan halfheartedly agreed, knowing that his father would never go for something like that.
Sharpay finally put the newspaper down and the two twins continued eating their breakfast. It was not a very busy day that day so they ate at a slow pace. The whole world tends to seem like its slowing down when you have nothing to do.
Sharpay, who had grown tired of the lack of conversation, suddenly broke the breakfast silence.
"So…"
"So…" Ryan returned, not being bothered finding a topic of conversation which was clearly what Sharpay wanted of him.
Sharpay thought for a bit before remembering something she had been meaning to ask. "How are you going to get your car back?"
With that, Ryan was suddenly reminded of Troy again and just slumped back in his chair with a look of despair plastered all over his face. I need to escape him!
--XxXxX--
Troy and Chad were playing hoops in Troy's backyard and Chad was winning. Chad did have his moments occasionally when he would outshine his captain, but he was really thrashing Troy that day and knew something was off.
"Are you going easy on me? Coz don't."
"No…"
"Then what's up, man? You seem off your game." Chad managed to get in another lay-up and punched the air in celebration.
"It's nothing…"
Chad noticed Coach Bolton watching them closely from the kitchen window. "Are you sure everything is fine?"
"Yes! Now let's play!"
Chad managed to score four more points before seeing Troy's dad in the window again. "Dude, what's up with Coach?"
"Nothing"
"Man, you got a whole lot of nothing happening today. What's up?"
Troy decided to surrender some of the truth to his best friend so that he would get off his back.
"My dad gave me the talk this morning…"
"Whoa! Did he catch you and Gabriella making out on the couch or something?" Chad asked with a smirk.
"No…"
Chad attempted to stifle his chuckles. "Well then did you tell them you were planning on doing it?"
"NO!"
Chad could no longer contain it and was laughing so hard, he had to sit down. "Okay. Dude, I was kidding. I guess now I know why you have been off your game, I'd be freaked too if my parents were talking to me about sex."
"My dad even gave me condoms."
Chad suddenly perked up with this news. "Really?"
Troy noticed his friend's sudden change of tone. "Why? You want some?"
Chad considered this for a moment before waving it off with a laugh. "Haha… nah."
"Then let's just keep playing ball."
The boys continued playing basketball with Troy still not playing his best. They had even stopped playing the one-on-ones and tried H-O-R-S-E so that Troy could win something but he was still playing pretty badly.
"So, when do you plan on actually using those condoms with Gabriella?"
"Dude, shut up!"
"I'm just asking."
"Well don't," Troy countered frustration evident in his voice.
"Sorry…"
Troy knew he should not have been getting angry at his friend. "Look man, I don't even think I will be with her for much longer."
"Huh?"
"I'm planning on breaking up with her."
Chad missed the ball he was dribbling and it hit him in the face. He fell backwards both from the ball and from the shock of Troy's sudden revelation.
"What? Why?"
"I don't really like her in that way anymore." Troy had rushed over and helped Chad into a sitting position.
Chad just simply wore a look of confusion as he watched his captain confess his burdens.
"Don't get me wrong, I love Gabriella, I just don't think I… feel… for her what she feels for me and it's not fair to her."
"I get that man. Good luck with that. You know I always got your back... right?"
"Yeah… Thanks man." He held out a hand and helped Chad get back up on his feet.
The boys continued playing a little longer, Troy playing a little better now that he had shed some of the burdens lying heavily in his heart. He even managed to score and just as he was celebrating, someone was opening the gate on the side of the house and coming into the backyard.
It was Gabriella.
As she entered, Troy immediately froze in mid celebration, Chad was looking awkwardly between Troy and Gabriella, and Gabriella noticed that she must have walked into… something.
"Hey Troy!" she said with a perk.
"Hey Chad," she said out of politeness.
Troy tried to mumble some sort of reply but nothing came. The thought of his impending break-up had turned his mind to mush.
"Hey Gabriella, Troy and I were just playing some hoops," Chad spoke up to help cover for his friend.
"I can see that."
"Well, I should probably get going now, leave you two alone," and with that, Chad exited stage right.
Gabriella ran up to hug Troy and when she did, was hit by a wave of Troy-musk and sweat. Troy invited her inside while he went to wash off the sweat and freshen up.
As he showered, Troy considered what he was going to do about Gabriella. He knew he could not stay with her, not when he wanted to be with Ryan. He just stood in the hot water mulling things over and when he eventually came to a decision, he was already being pelted by cold water. He had not noticed until he snapped out of his contemplations and when he did, he jumped out of the water stream with a yelp.
He came downstairs all freshened up to find Gabriella in an animated conversation with his mother. Lucille Bolton seemed to have accepted her son's new sexuality because the messages she was sending her son with her eyes did not read, "See… she's a nice girl. Why not stick with her?" but rather, "Be gentle…"
Troy took Gabriella for a walk. They were holding hands and enjoying the sunshine when Troy stopped and removed his hand from Gabriella's hand.
"We need to talk."
--XxXxX--
"Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York; and all the clouds that lour'd upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried."
Ryan was still practicing his presentation for Monday. He had to recite the opening soliloquy of Shakespeare's Richard III and then give a detailed analysis. Senior year meant senior work, which was never made easy, but at least gave him something to do and think about other than… you know.
"Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; our bruised arms hung up for monuments; our stern alarums changed to merry meetings; our dreadful marches to delightful measures."
"Ryan, what are you doing?" Sharpay said, unceremoniously entering the room and interrupting her brother's practice.
"I'm practicing for my presentation. It's a long soliloquy and I need to learn it by tomorrow."
"Oh, right. I managed to snag the Queen's Curse bit," Sharpay said with a smile.
"Well, goody for you. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; our bruised arms hung up for monuments; our stern alarums -"
"What's an alarum?" Sharpay cut in.
"It means alarm"
"Alarm?"
"Yes… alarum is an old form of 'alarm' which was originally a call to arms."
"Oh, okay."
"Can I continue?"
"Go ahead." Sharpay made herself comfortable, making it clear to her brother that he now had an audience.
"Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; and now,—instead of mounting barbed steeds, to fright the souls of fearful adversaries, — he… he… uhh…"
"Hehe? I did not know the Duke of Gloucester chuckled as he opened the play."
Ryan shot a glare at his sister before he continued his recital.
"Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; and now,—instead of mounting barbed steeds, to fright the souls of fearful adversaries, — he capers nimbly in a lady's chamber to… to…"
"Now there is a tutu?" Sharpay quipped with a giggle.
"What are you doing here Sharpay? Your just distracting me." Ryan tried blaming his sister but he knew who was truly distracting him and they weren't blonde or female.
"Fine… I'll leave."
Sharpay got up and left Ryan alone in the room but stayed outside the door listening and watching. She did not close the door completely and Ryan, in his frustration, did not notice.
"Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front; and now… now… ugh!" Ryan huffed in frustration and threw himself into the nearest chair in despair.
"Get over it Ryan… it was just a stupid kiss. Well… many stupid kisses, but still. Jeez, why can't I get him out of my head?" Ryan knew that he was officially going crazy now that he was talking to himself.
Sharpay chose this moment to walk in again and her brother quickly bolted up in his seat, not wanting to give away his frustration and especially the reason for his frustration.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your car is back…"
"What! Really?"
"Yeah, Ashton just drove it here. Apparently he was trying to punk you but you didn't even notice your car missing at the school parking lot," Sharpay informed her brother nonchalantly.
"What? Ashton! Why didn't you tell me? Is he still here?"
Sharpay attempted to stifle her laugh so she could keep her joke going but Ryan could see through the abrupt snorts.
Ryan rolled his eyes at his sister. Trust her to do something like this.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it. Jackie drove me down to the school after breakfast and I took your car back home. It was right there."
"Oh… ok… that's good… I guess."
Ryan was relieved that his car was back, but the relief did not show on his face.
"What's wrong now?" Sharpay asked.
"It's nothing…"
Sharpay stared down at her brother; a remarkable feat considering she is shorter than him. Her look told him that she knew something was up and was not going to drop it.
"Well… I… keep forgetting my lines…" Ryan lied. That was not what was troubling him but he was not going to tell his sister that.
"Well that's not good. You really should deal with your Troy issues." Sharpay advised.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Well… yeah. Plus I am your twin; you can't hide anything from me," she said with a grin.
Ryan sighed.
"Look, the way I see it, you have two choices. You can either embrace it, or let it go. It's up to you. Personally, I would embrace it, but that's me."
She left her brother alone in the room again, except this time for real.
Ryan was left to his thoughts, which were still no clearer than before. The only thing obvious to him was that Troy... or his homosexuality... was the source of his frustrations.
--XxXxX--
"We need to talk."
"Wow… even from a guy, those four words doesn't sound too good."
"Yeah I know."
They walked around for just another minute or so, looking for a spot to sit. They should not be doing this while moving.
Fall can really be the most beautiful season, especially in Albuquerque. There is a tinge of yellow-orange on everything. The trees were covered with yellowing leaves and the ground around them was covered with similar colored leaves. The sky was even deciduous with an orange-yellow tinge as the sunset. It was beautifully romantic, but unfortunately, not the mood required for the situation.
"Gabriella, you should know. I really do love you… but-"
"Wait," Gabriella cut in. She shifted on the bus stop bench they had found to have this conversation. Once she had gotten more comfortable, she signaled for Troy to continue.
Troy looked at his girlfriend suspiciously, noticing how calm she was. Could she not tell she was about to be dumped?
"Gabi, I love you but-"
"Wait a minute" she halted him yet again, a realization dawning on her about their dusk conversation. "You're breaking up with me?"
"Well…" Troy was suddenly uncomfortable himself, fidgeting on the bench. This was not how it was supposed to go.
"So YOU are breaking up with ME?" Gabriella asked, pointing to the respective persons as she sought explanation and clarification of the issue.
"Well…"
"Well what?" Troy's one-word answers were frustrating Gabriella.
Her raised voice was heard by more than just Troy. An elderly woman had joined them on the bench, clearly in wait for the next bus. She was sitting unnoticed beside Troy until she peeked around Troy's broad shoulders to look at the person who had startled her.
"You should hold on to that one, boy. They don't get much prettier than her," suggested the much older woman.
Troy shifted on the bench, moving towards Gabriella and away from the old lady. Gabriella did not move away. She did not seem angry.
"You're breaking up with me." It was not a question anymore, but a statement, and after she had said it, Gabriella began to laugh.
Troy was now both extremely confused by his girlfriend's… well, ex-girlfriend's reaction and creeped out by the old woman beside him who seemed to have started stroking his muscled arm.
Gabriella's laugh got louder and louder. She was at the point where she was tearing from laughing but then abruptly stopped when she hear a man audibly clear his throat behind her. He looked annoyed and so she retreated into the chair, wiping away the laughter induced tears.
"What's so funny?" Troy asked.
"What's so funny? You're breaking up with me."
Troy still could not see what was so amusing about him breaking up with her. "So?"
"Well… I was going to break up with you."
"You… were?" Troy had just processed what she had told him. His mind's processing speed seemed to go faster now that he was with Gabriella. Maybe it was her brainpower… or the absence of Ryan taking up RAM.
"Yes… I was… that's why I came over to your house today."
"Oh… why?"
"Why what?"
"Why were you going to break up with me?" Troy asked.
The man behind Gabriella cleared his throat again, stopping her from giving her reason. When she turned to enquire as to why he was trying to get her attention, she noticed the pregnant lady waiting for the seat. Troy and Gabriella quickly vacated the seat for the woman.
The old lady at Troy's side reluctantly let him go. She had moved from mere stroking to actually clutching his arm but Troy was too caught up in the break-up to notice until they had to get up.
They continued walking as Troy pressed Gabriella once again for her reason for wanting to break up with him.
"Well, since you managed to beat me to the punch, I think we should hear your reason first."
"My reason?"
"Yes… your reason for breaking up with me…"
"Well… uhh…"
"Troy, you can't have expected to break up with me and not give me a reason."
"I was kind of hoping you would be too broken up to ask for one."
Gabriella laughed. "Well don't you have an ego?" She jokingly punched him in the arm. "So… why?"
"I… found someone else."
"Oh really? Who?"
"Ryan…"
"Evans?"
Troy nodded.
"But he's… a guy…"
Troy nodded.
"You're gay?!"
Troy nodded again and sighed.
"Whoa! I did not expect that. I guess I support you and all… but whoa!" Gabriella was clearly surprised by this new information but did not regret asking Troy for his reason.
"Thanks Gabs, for the support."
"Yeah, of course. I just need some time to process this."
"I understand."
Troy stopped them walking and Gabriella noticed they were right in front of her house. Troy had been steering them in that direction in case things did not go so well. This had been part of the plan he had concocted in the shower.
"Wow, I'm home!" Gabriella exclaimed with a giggle. "I guess I will see you in school tomorrow Troy. Good luck with Ryan."
They parted ways, Gabriella going into her house, leaving Troy to consider his next move. The sun had definitely set by now, but it was not dark yet. The sky was just a pinky-purple. He began walking home, when he decided to go to Ryan's house. He had so much to tell him like about coming out to his parents and Gabriella.
--XxXxX--
Ryan answered the front door because he was just passing it when he heard the doorbell. The butler probably would not mind.
When he opened the door, he found someone he was not expecting, but then again, he was not expecting anyone at all that evening.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" asked Ryan to the visitor.
"Your sister called me over. She said it was an emergency," said Kelsi, the person at the door.
"RYAN! Is Kelsi here yet?" Sharpay screamed from the atrium.
"I guess your story checks out," Ryan joked and was about to lead Kelsi into the atrium when Sharpay appeared in the entrance hall.
"Kelsi, There is something wrong with this song!" Sharpay bellowed while brandishing some sheet music. Kelsi was still learning how to stand up for herself but somehow found strength and confidence when it was her music that was in question.
Ryan watched as the small girl marched up to his sister and confronted her. It was so amusing to see them duke it out that Ryan forgot about the open door behind him and was only reminded of it when he felt the fingers lightly tapping his shoulder.
When Ryan turned around, not only was he met with Troy's brilliant blue eyes, but also silence. Sharpay and Kelsi had stopped arguing when Troy made his presence known.
"Hi Ryan," Troy greeted hesitantly.
"Hi."
"We should probably leave them alone…" Sharpay whispered to Kelsi before leading her towards the atrium.
"Wait, what's going on there?"
Ryan and Troy could both hear what the two girls were saying. Sound carried well in the entrance hall of the Evans household.
"Are they gay?" asked Kelsi, clearly unaware that the subjects of her comment could hear her.
Sharpay managed to usher Kelsi out of the entrance hall but a little too late. There was an awkward tension between the boys now.
The girls had restarted their argument once in the atrium but the doors between the entrance hall and the atrium did little to mute their… loud… conversation.
"I don't like this part here!"
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's ALL wrong!"
Kelsi growled.
"I think Troy and Ryan can still hear us… wait…"
Sharpay seemed to think that some music could drown out their arguing and played the last song that seemed to be playing on Ryan's portable CD player.
"I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground…" One Republic's Apologize sounded through the door into the entrance hall. It would seem that Sharpay's plan had worked and that the music had drowned out their arguing but they had probably hushed their voices or moved away from the door as well.
"What are you doing here Troy?"
Troy could tell that Ryan was trying to keep his voice calm but his eyes betrayed his feelings. Troy could see anger or frustration in those eyes and had to look away for fear of being burned by the glare.
"I wanted to see you…" Troy said as innocently as he could.
"Why?" Ryan asked, no longer trying to hide his tone.
"I thought we were… secret boyfriends," Troy tried.
"Oh really? Well maybe I don't want to be secret boyfriends…"
That last statement cut into Troy. He had just come out to his parents and his ex-girlfriend, and now his boyfriend didn't even want to be his boyfriend. Everything was turning out great. He should have known it was too good to last. Now he had two people who wanted to dump him that day.
"Why?" It was a simple question that had been asked of Troy several times that day already and it was his turn to ask.
"Why what?"
"Why don't you want to be secret boyfriends?"
"Look Troy, I don't even want to be gay…"
"But if we're together…"
"I saw the look on your face when we left the room yesterday. You were regretting it. You remembered Gabriella. It cut me so deep and I have been hurting over it yesterday and most of today… so I will make it easy for you so you can go with your girlfriend and not have to worry about me."
"You tell me that you need me then you go and cut me down, but wait…"
"Shh!" Someone was being hushed some distance from the boys. They quickly glanced around for the source but found nothing. An awkward silence reigned before Troy spoke up.
"I broke up with her."
"Gabriella?"
"Yes, I told her about us. I even told my parents about us."
"I thought we were supposed to be secret…" Ryan goaded.
"I loved you with a fire red- now it's turning blue, and you say..."
"We are… I just… I'm sorry."
"…"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you but I'm afraid..."
"That still doesn't change the fact that you were ready and willing to leave me for her. How do I know you won't do that again?"
"I'm sorry…"
Ryan merely shook his head.
"It's too late to apologize, it's too late; I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late…"
There was a disturbance at the door and Ryan noticed two heads quickly move away from the crack. No privacy or no peace.
Troy did not seem to notice the uninvited audience. He was still retreating into his mind's sanctuary. He had 2 break-ups, with barely half an hour between them.
"You should probably go…" Ryan suggested to Troy and with that, his ex-boyfriend turned and left through the still open door.
Ryan saw Troy stop and turn back to face him, before he closed the front door to the Evans household, shutting the door on Troy. He walked to the atrium and said, "Goodnight girls," to no one in particular as he crossed the threshold.
Sharpay placed a hand on her brother's shoulder stopping him continuing to his room. "Ryan…"
"Goodnight Sharpay." He brushed the hand off his shoulder and continued to his room.
He felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted off him but it seemed to take more than it should have. Ryan now felt empty, a feeling which carried through his empty dreams.
"I'm holdin' on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground…"
--XxXxX--
TBC…
Troy and Ryan are already over before anything began, but the story is not over yet…