Lance is so awful that he's even bad at being a bad dad.
"What the hell, Ryan? Is this what you've been doing all week? Sneaking behind my back to mess around with some rando?" Lance Evans looked furious.
"Chad is my friend," Ryan rushed to defend him, jumping up and beginning to sway dizzily.
"Yeah, you looked real friendly." Lance roughly grabbed Ryan's arm, "Come on, we're going to the gravesite."
Chad stood quickly and gently grabbed Ryan's other arm.
"Sir, respectfully, your son likely has a concussion. He needs to see a doctor."
Lance turned his cruel and critical eyes on Chad.
"So you think it's fun and cool to take advantage of my son while he's dealing with a head injury?"
"You're right sir, I should have waited until after Ryan's head was treated. However, you're no better if you intend to parade Ryan and his grief around so that people think you're a loving father."
The air in the room just got colder.
"I didn't ask for your opinion," Lance snapped.
"Too bad. Ryan is important to me, and I'm going to make sure he's okay. He needs more help than you can give him, so unless you want Ryan's health to continue deteriorating maybe you should let someone who cares about him step in."
"Fine. Take him to the hospital or whatever, I have duties to attend to. But I better not hear a word of your relationship from anyone. If you tell a single soul that you and my son have a little fling going on I will make sure that you never see him again."
Chad nodded. He could feel the gravity of the situation. He would agree to the terms if it meant Ryan was safe.
Lance let go of Ryan and turned to leave and Ryan leaned on Chad, looking shaken up.
"I've got you," Chad promised, keeping one arm around Ryan. "I'll always have your back."
"You stood up to him," Ryan said in disbelief.
"And I'd do it again. Come on, Ry, we should really get you to a doctor."
Chad took him outside, glad he'd asked his parents if he could take his own vehicle to the funeral.
He helped Ryan into the car and got in on the other side.
"Don't fall asleep," He said urgently. "It can be dangerous to fall asleep when you have a concussion."
"I don't have a concussion," Ryan said, but he didn't argue too much, keeping his focus on Chad so he didn't go to sleep.
"And after that, we're getting food."
Chad decided to try something, hoping he could convince Ryan to eat, "It'll be a date."
Ryan grinned, but the grin quickly turned to a grimace.
"Are you okay?" Chad asked worriedly.
"It's just really loud," Ryan whispered.
"Ah, yeah, head trauma can cause your senses to be extra sensitive," Chad said quietly.
"I wish it was that. I meant… I meant she's really loud right now."
"What? Who?"
Ryan grimaced further, "Please don't judge me."
"Ry, we are well past judgment. I care about you, you can tell me anything."
"Ever since Sharpay died I've been hearing her voice. Everywhere. Every day."
"Holy shit."