Disclaimer: I know,I know...I don't own HSM, the characters, or Disney Channel...what's new?

AN: umm...does there always have to be an author's note?...cuz all i really feel like saying is "enjoy and please review", so..uh...yea...enjoy and please review! lol

Oh yeah..I want my readers to help me here...I want to read YOUR favorite HSM fan fics on this site, so please email me your favorite ones..the title, author, rating, whatever...or just the link to the story lol but before you do, look at my profile, and if the story is already on my favorites, dont send it to me! lol k, well, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 18: Failure to Accept

Troy's P.O.V.

I'm sitting on my font porch waiting for Ryan to come and take me to school. I'm so excited that we're finally coming out to everyone! I just wonder how everyon's going to take it...?

I saw Ryan's car, so I stood up.

"Hey Ry!" I said as I waved to him. He rolled down the passenger's window. "Hey sexy!" he replied.

I climbed in, leaned over, and gave Ryan a kiss.

"So," he said. "You ready for school?"

I smiled and let out a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be." I said.

Smiles never left our faces as we drove to school. I couldn't believe what we were about to do! My heart was pounding hard through my chest. A million thoughts were running through my mind, eager to claw themselves deep into my conscience. I looked over at Ryan, whose eyes were on the road, and somehow, I knew the same million thoughts were racing in his mind, too.

I saw the school building in the near distance, and my heart was beating even faster, even though I didn't know that was possible...

We pulled into the parking lot, found a place to park the car, then stopped. Ryan turned the car off, and we sat there in silence, my eyes on my hands, his eyes on his own hands.

I let out a breath, then looked out the window, seeing all the familiar faces again. "Well, this is it, babe." I said, then looked over at Ry.

"Yep." he said.

We got out of the car and began walking our way into the building. We walked beside each other...not holding hands or anything...just beside each other like friends. Together, we walked over to the basketball team, which was already huddled up around my locker, waiting for me to arrive.

Chad saw me. "Hey, dude! Long time, no see!" I gave him a high-five. "Where were you all spring break, anyways? I didn't see you at all."

I looked over at Ryan. "I was, uh...busy...with stuff..." I managed to say.

Suddenly, everyone noticed Ryan.

"Hey, Drama King...shouldn't you be in your sister's shadow or something?" Jason said.

Everyone laughed...everyone but me and Ryan.

"Hey!" I said, "You're gonna have to get used to Ryan.."

"Why?" Chad asked with a raised eyebrow.

I smiled, looked at Ryan, then walked over into the middle of the hall. I looked around and saw all the people in their conversations..talking about everything they did over Spring Break. I cleared my throat, and yelled, at the top of my lungs, "BECAUSE RYAN EVANS IS MY BOYFRIEND..." Everyone looked over at me. "AND I LOVE HIM!" I finished. Everyone, including Ryan, stared at me--wide-eyed, jaw-dropped, and flabbergasted.

I walked back over to my love. I wrapped my arms around his waist, took him in, and kissed him hard on the lips. I heard some awww's, and quite a few ewww's, but I didn't care. I pulled away from Ry and looked around. No one could believe that Troy Bolton, the star of the basketball team--the playmaker--was gay.

I looked at Chad.

"Chad, you're my best friend. You're okay with this, right?" I asked, scared, because I was almost sure of what he'd say.

"Come on, man. So you like dudes...what's the big deal? Hey, I'm alright with it as long as you don't develop a little crush on me." Chad said.

"Yeah!" said the rest of the team, in unison.

Chad shot Ryan a look. "Although...I never could tolerate Mr. Drama King here." He got right in Ryan's face. Ry looked scared.

I quickly pushed Chad away from my boyfriend. "Well, if you want me to stick around, you better learn to tolerate Ryan." I said.

Chad just shook his head, turned around, and walked away...the rest of the team following him.

I turned around to face Ryan. "I'm sorry, babe." I said, holding his hand.

"Sorry?...Troy, you just announced to the whole school that you love me...that's the most romantic thing I've ever seen."

Ryan kissed me lightly. I got my books out of my locker, took Ryan's hand, and we stopped at his locker before going to class.

Ryan's P.O.V.

I'm sitting here in Trig...the only class I don't have with Troy this semester. Unfortunately, it's also the only class I do have with Chad, Jason, and Zeke. I had been sitting in my desk for no more than 30 seconds when I saw all three of them walking over to me. Chad sat on the desk in front of me, with Zeke standing on one side of him and Jason on the other.

"Hey fag." Chad said.

"Fag? You do know that your best friend is my boyfriend...you calling Troy a fag, too?" I asked.

"No...Troy's cool, even if he's gay...but you're not just gay." Chad said. "Yeah, you're a flaming faggot!" Zeke followed.

"Wow...if only I cared what you dumbass, mindless creeps thought about me...then those old, tired insults would actually hurt me." I said in an obviously sarcastic tone. I stood up. "So, if you're done, I'll just be on my way." and I walked out the room...I didn't care that class just started.

I was halfway down the hall when I could sense the idiot squad following me. I just rolled my eyes to myself and walked into the nearest men's room. I stood in front of one of the sinks, throwing my book bag on top of it. I turned around and leaned against it, waiting for the guys to open the door.

I heard the door slam open, and I saw Chad first. "You know, fag, getting all smart-assy with me was a bad idea." Chad was right in my face.

"Ooooh...I'm scared." I replied. All of a sudden, Zeke and Jason were there, too. I wouldn't have admitted it, but after I saw all three of them gaining up on me, I really was scared...

Jason took one of my arms, Zeke took the other, and they slammed me into the wall. I was trying to get away, but I couldn't.

Chad walked over to me, slowly. "Well, faggot...maybe this will teach you a lesson...to never fuck with me again!" Chad said. He was getting ready to punch me when I said, knowing it'd only make things worse for me, "It's not you I'm fucking...it's your best friend."

A look of rage flew across Chad's face. I saw his fist ball up. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst. He punched me in the stomach, using every bit of force he could muster up. I let out a loud groan. I tried to double over, but Zeke and Jason still had me pinned to the wall.

Chad punched me again, only this time, on the side of the face.

I felt blood dripping out of my nose, strolling down my face, and off my chin.

Finally, Jason and Zeke let me go and I instantly fell to the floor. Chad kicked me in the stomach and said "Fuck you, faggot." and he walked off, Zeke and Jason behind him. I layed there on the bathroom floor, and I couldn't move.