I don't know how long this fic will be, but these next two chapters basically wrap up the High School Musical 2 portion of the fic. I can see it being ten chapters, maybe more? Maybe with sequel one-shots, we'll see. Anyway, this was fun to write.

Ryan: Do you want to go for a drive?

Chad stared at his phone for a good minute before remembering to respond.

Chad: Golf cart or…?

Ryan: Haha. We'll take my sister's car

Chad: Ooh, stealing from the shark? I'm in

Ryan: Borrowing from the shark

Ryan: Anyway, kinda feels like we need to talk.

Chad bit the inside of his cheek. Ryan was right. They did need to talk. Today wasn't supposed to happen but now that it had, well-

Chad didn't want to go back to the status quo.

Chad: Yeah. Let's talk

About an hour later Chad and Ryan were cruising down the street for a late-night drive. It felt strange, to go driving with Ryan when he'd never even done this with Taylor.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one thinking about Taylor.

"I'm sorry if I overstepped today, Chad. I know you have a girlfriend."

"No. Yeah. I'm sorry about that, actually, because if my memory serves, I initiated that kiss."

"Is it bad that I liked it?" Ryan asked quietly, and Chad could only feel flustered, remembering the taste of Ryan's lips, the feeling of their bodies pressed together as they kissed. Chad already missed the warmth and security of that feeling.

"I liked it too. So. I don't know what that says about me."

"It says that… We like each other," Ryan ventured.

"Yeah. But um. That doesn't make sense because I like girls."

"Maybe you're bisexual," Ryan said, resting his hand on Chad's arm, "That's okay."

"What." Chad was a little too distracted by this new concept to react to the hand on his arm.

"That means you're attracted to genders separate and similar to your own."

"So like. Half gay and half straight?"

Ryan sighed a sigh that Chad had previously only heard from teachers.

"It's a bit more complicated than that."

"Seems like everything is complicated now…"

"Well. Yeah. Figuring yourself out is complicated. I didn't know who I was at first either."

"Really? 'Cause the way you walk around… I don't know. You just seem to know who you are."

Ryan's eyes widened, "Is that what you see in me?"

"That's what I like about you," Chad said before he could stop himself, leaning towards him, "Your confidence is infectious. You have skill, you have style- and you seem like you know exactly who you are."

"I forgot who I was for a long time, Chad. I was stuck in Sharpay's shadow, and I guess I was content there because I never tried to escape into the spotlight. But then… Then you saw me as my own person and now… We're here." They were inches away from each other.

"Figuring ourselves out," Chad murmured, before taking another kiss. It lasted for a blissful moment before Ryan firmly planted a hand on Chad's chest and pushed him away a little.

"Chad- I really want to. But I can't, not when you're in a relationship with Taylor."

Chad stared hungrily at Ryan's lips for another moment before Ryan's words registered in his mind. Then he stared into Ryan's eyes, and fear settled into the pit of his stomach.

"Would you believe I've never broken up with a girl before?" Chad asked.

Ryan laughed in shock.

"No, really, I haven't. I've been broken up with but- Taylor would be the first relationship I'd be ending myself. It… It kind of scares me."

"You don't have to, Chad. If you really like her, there's no reason that this has to change anything. It could just be a slip-up, no one would have to know anything."

That made his chest hurt, even more, and he took Ryan's hand from off his chest and squeezed it tight, affectionately.

"No, no, I have to. Because… I don't feel the feelings for Taylor that I feel for you."

Ryan laughed again, though it looked like he was about to cry.

"Ryan? If I… If I broke up with her, what would happen?"

"We would have the rest of the summer," Ryan said softly, running his thumb over Chad's hand.

Chad stared up at the sky, and the constellations seemed to swirl above him.

"I never thought I would be sitting in a pink convertible talking about… Any of this, with someone like you."

"A gay guy?"

"No, well, yes, but- I mean. Not with someone like you, just with you. I don't know how to put it in words but all the fear in my chest couldn't hold a candle to the butterflies in my stomach. I am so incredibly lucky to be in this car with you right now. And now… I need you to drop me off at Taylor's house. Because I need to have the rest of the summer with you. Please."

"You really want that?"

"I really want you."

Ryan turned the car back on and the engine revved, saying nothing more, but dropping him outside of Taylor's house soon after.

Chad rang the doorbell, feeling nervous. Ryan and driven away, and now he was alone in the space in between relationships. Constellations swirled in his head, echoing words, like gay and bisexual and Taylor. The butterflies turned to led in his stomach and he almost chickened out, but Taylor was at the door before he could.

"Chad! It's late, or, uh, I'd let you in, what's up?"

"I had to see you," Chad said, sounding serious.

Taylor's eyes widened. She really was such a nice girl, a pretty girl. The kind of girl his parents liked. What would they think of Ryan?

"Oh, wow… That's sweet of you?"

"No, Taylor… This isn't like that. I wish it was because I really like you, and I don't want to hurt you but-"

"Just spit it out, Chad." Now Taylor crossed her arms defensively.

"I have to break up with you."

"Okay," Taylor took a deep breath and then took a step back, "I admit, that's very sudden, but our whole relationship was very sudden. I think, at the very least, I should get to know why it's ending?"

"Right, no, you deserve an explanation. It's… It's someone else."

"Who is she?"

Chad took a deep breath now as well, clasping his hands together tightly. He knew he didn't have to tell her, he could lie, or plead for privacy. He could just tell her he wasn't ready to talk about it. He didn't owe her his identity, especially since he was still figuring it out.

But if he wanted the rest of the summer with Ryan, he couldn't be shy about it.

"Him."

"What?"

"The someone is a him."

"Do I know him?"

"Yeah. It's Ryan Evans."

Something clicked in Taylor's head, "So when you were wearing his clothes earlier…?"

"Yeah. I know it's sudden, it was sudden for me too, Taylor, and I understand if you want to tell everyone-"

"I don't know what kind of person you think I am, Chad Danforth, but I don't gossip about who likes who. As far as our friends are considered, we broke up on good terms. If you and Ryan want to tell everyone, that's your prerogative. I'm… Happy for you."

"You are?"

"Yeah. We had fun, Danforth, but I wouldn't want you to be stuck in a relationship that didn't make you happy. I think it's important for everyone to figure out what they want. What I want is to get into a good college and one day run for president. And if we're not in a relationship, I can put more focus on my political aspirations."

"You're going to do great things, Taylor."

"Yeah, I am. One more thing, Chad, the other thing I want."

"Yeah?"

"Get off my porch."

He laughed hollowly, "Of course. I'm sorry."

"Yeah." She closed the door on him, and he walked home in the dark, constellations swirling above, butterflies swirling inside.