A/N: The after math of the primo couple's break-up. Sharpay pays the boys a visit. Ownership of everything except the plot, I have not.
Chapter 12: Free to Love
Sharpay graced the Bolton house with her presence after Chad had left it, glomping her brother in a strangling bear hug and rather blandly greeting Troy. She was not at all surprised at Troy and Gabriella's break-up, but instead gave a little squeal of delight for Troy's commitment to her brother.
"That "T" necklace never looked good on her anyway." She pointed out. "Silver looks much better on Ryan."
Both boys blushed at this implication.
Her analytical gaze sweeping up and down her brother and her boyfriend's bodies, she came to a humiliating conclusion rather quickly. "You two have done it."
"Excuse me?!" Troy cried uncomfortably.
"What?!" Ryan yelped. His pale face took no an instantaneous crimson.
"You guys totally got laid, don't play coy. My darling little brother has now become Troy Bolton, the sexual fantasy of every girl in East High School's choice bedside counterpart!"
Ryan swallowed harshly, gulping down many mingled emotions. "C-Come on, Shar." He stammered. "Do you have to say stuff like that?"
"Of course I do!" Sharpay chirped. "Do you know how hot you two are?! You just better remember to stay out of my room with it, okay?
"Sure." Troy promised, smiling weakly.
"Good." Sharpay's tone was firm and dismissive. "So," she drew out in a singsong voice "besides dumping girls and banging the brains out of each other's heads, what else have you been up to?" Fluttering her eyelashes, layered in satin mascara, she turned to the jock. "Have you been taking care of dear little Ryan, Troy?"
Before Troy could rather awkwardly defend himself, Ryan interjected "Of course he has! Troy's been wonderful, Sis!"
"And Ryan has been absolutely amazing!" Troy put in energetically. "I love him, Sharpay. Having him here has been the best thing that's ever happened to my life."
"Really?" Sharpay stared questioningly at him. She did not doubt he meant his words, for he spoke with such conviction and honesty. However, there was one thing she remained skeptical about. "And how have the coach and his wife reacted to their pride and joy committing the act of sodomy?"
"Uh…" Troy anxiously rubbed the back of his neck. "I haven't told them yet."
"I see…"
"But I swear I'm going to as soon as they get back."
"Troy." Ryan's gentle hand laid on the brunette's shoulder as he spoke in a low, lenient tone of voice. "Don't feel pressured into telling then before you're ready. I hope they'll accept it, but if they don't, you need time to prepare yourself for that stinging blow."
Troy looked Ryan directly in the eyes, his sparkling with gratitude. "Even if my parents hate me, I'll still have you." As he spoke, his voice broke. He choked out the final three words, tears welling in his eyes. He leaned in against Ryan's chest, his shoulders shaking as he broke down into sobs.
The theater boy took it upon himself to comfort the golden boy, just as he had comforted him. "Always." He assured.
Sharpay looked on. Ryan had always been good at providing consolation and offering solace with his light, even, lilting voice and arms that were lean, but comforting. She would never admit it, but when they were younger, there were often times when she would break down and go not to her parents, but her brother for a shoulder to cry on. Now with his emotions fragile as they were, it seemed Ryan Evans had also taken up the role of the rock in Troy Bolton's life and vice versa.
"It's alright." The blond male whispered to the brunette soothingly, holding and cradling him like a child.
"I-I know I shouldn't be crying." Troy muttered in a hushed voice, muffled by Ryan's dress shirt. "I'm happy. Really… but… everything's so different. Gabriella seemed like a completely different person from the girl I knew tonight. I… I feel like an idiot."
"No you're not." Ryan softly protested. "Don't talk like that."
"How could I ever have dated her over you?!"
"People make mistakes, Troy. It's part of life. But now that part of your life is over. You never have to go back to that. You life is in your hands. And whether or not your parents accept or reject you, just know that we're here for you. Chad's here. Sharpay's here. I'm here. We're not going to leave you. We're not going to abandon you."
"I know, Ry." Tears spilled out of Troy's ocean blue eyes, down his cheeks, and onto Ryan.
The blond theater boy paid this moistness no mind. He just went on comforting his lover.
"It's… It's just that I've never been free before. I'm not really sure what to do. And if my parents don't like it-!" Troy's pitch dropped and he clenched the petite boy's shirt as a few more tears fell, staining the both of them. "I'm scared." He admitted.
"I don't know who wouldn't be." Ryan told him. "It's okay to be scared. But even still, just remember all that you've done. You broke away, Troy. You broke free from those expectations. They don't drive your life, anymore. You did that, Troy. You."
"With your help, Ryan." The brunette at last stopped crying and looked the blond in the eyes. "I couldn't have done that-any of that without you. You gave me the strength.'
Sharpay broke in. "Look, Troy. Life sucks, you don't want your parents to hate you, and you're scared of the big different world you're being immersed in without mommy, daddy, basketball and Gabriella holding your hand. Yadda yadda. Cut the crap, okay? We know the drill."
Ryan and Troy both looked over in astonishment. Why did Sharpay have to be so blunt and callous with everything?
'The point is," she continued, "we know you're scared. Ryan was scared too, he was way younger than you when he came out, but he dealt with it, and he's here now, a better person because of it. I know you and my brother love each other, not even someone who is legally blind could miss that. You broke up with your girlfriend for him, and you'd probably give up the world, too, just like he would for you. If you can do all that, just for Ryan, and the people that brought you into the world are sick, twisted, and psychotic enough to see a problem with it, I've got a helpful tip for you- "love them, but fuck them". As you very well know, my brother is not someone that deserves to have his heart broken because you're terrified to come out to your parents."
"Sharpay-" Troy cut her off. "Thanks for the advice, but I would never even dream of hurting Ryan. I love him. And when my parents come back, they're gonna know it." The brunette jock's tone was empowered with a new resolve. Love with Ryan, Ryan's happiness, those were things he was willing to face his parents being disgusted by him and never looking at him the same way again for. With a fond, affectionate softness in his blue eyes, he righted himself so he was eye to eye with the blond female's brother. "You're right, Ry. I am free. Free to love… and I'm not letting that go for anything in the world."
Ryan was so happy, so joyful at Troy's poetic declaration, he couldn't form words. He merely smiled with trembling, full lips, his eyes blue as the sky welling with tears, and broke down, sobbing with joy in his lover's arms.
