Disclaimer: I do not own HSM...blah blah blah...yadda yadda yadda...

AN: ...I guess all I can say is enjoy, and REVIEW PLEASE!

P.S. I'm writing a new fan fic might be a one-shot..not sure yet its gonna be a slash, just cuz i love writing them. lol it will be about troy and his boyfriend struggling with their relationship, trying to hide their love from everyone else. i cant decide which pair to use...troy and ryan or troy and chad...tell me which you want me to use!

oh, and i'll be putting chapter 20 up within the next 2 days...sunday, i leave for a week and wont be able to update...

Chapter 19: Dead on Arrival

Ryan's P.O.V.

Troy,

I know we're excited about coming out, but I think your little basketball friends are having a little too much fun with it...

I folded up the note and passed it to Troy, who was sitting right behind me. We were in Drama class, listening to another one of Mrs. Darbus's lectures. Troy wrote me back and handed me the note, but before I even had time to unfold it and read it, the prinicipal came on the intercom.
"Would Ryan Evans please report to Coach Bolton's office, please."

I got up and looked at Troy with a confused look on my face. Troy looked at me with the same look, shrugged his shoulders, and so I headed off to Coach Bolton's office.

I walked into the door of the gym. His office was way on the other side. I walked across the gym floor, nervous as hell!

I arrived at his office door and looked in to see him reading the newspaper. I lightlly tapped on the door frame.

He looked up and saw me. He put down the newspaper and said "Come here, Evans."

I stood there in front of his desk. He walked over to me, just standing there. He smiled. He held out his hand. I shook it. Honestly, though, I was a little confused. Coach Bolton could tell.

He paced the office and didn't say anything for at least a minute. Then he stopped and leaned against his desk. He looked me right in the eyes and let out a heavy breath.

"Ryan...do you love my son?" he said simply.

I smiled and said "...with all my heart..."

"Good.." he said back. "I'm glad, because I think you are really good for Troy. I'm happy for you...both of you."

"Thanks, Coach..." I said.

There was an awkward pause.

"Yes, Troy and I had a long talk last night. Don't you go breaking his heart, now.."

I smiled. "I won't...trust me...I love him too much."

He smiled back. "Well, I just wanted to give you my stamp of approval. You can go back to class now." He said, and let out a little laugh.

"Alright. I'll see you later."

I was walking out the gym. As I was walking across the basketball court, I saw some people. I could tell they were waiting for me. And as I got closer, I could tell that it was Chad, Zeke, and Jason. Oh no... I thought to myself.

They were walking closer to me, so I stopped. Without saying anything, they all started throwing punches...at my stomach, my face, my head, my back...everywhere, until I was on the floor. I was hoping Coach Bolton could hear what was going on, but his office door was closed, as was the door leading from the gym to the office. There was no way he could hear.

I was lying there, doubled over on the floor...bleeding from all over my head and face. All three of them were kicking me in the stomach as hard as they all could manage. They took turns yelling at me and calling me a faggot, queer,and any other insulting name they could come up with.

After about fifteen minutes, the bell rang...school was out for the day. They all three ran out, leaving me there, in excrutiating pain, and bleeding all over.

I couldn't move at all. I could feel the puddle of blood surrounding me. I felt dizzy. Every second, I grew weaker and weaker.

"Oh, no." I said to myself. "...I'm going to die."

I began sobbing.

"God, if I'm going to die today, please take care of my family...Mom, Sharpay, and even Dad--even though he hates me. And most of all, take care of Troy. He's the love of my life. I want him to be happy."

I felt myself getting lighter and lighter. My eyes were slowly closing, until all I could see was black...

Troy's P.O.V.

What in the hell is going on! Where's Ryan? I've been trying to call him for over two hours! It's almost 5:30, and his mom says he's still not home!

I walked downstairs and saw my dad. "Dad, Ryan's not home. I'm worried."

"Well, the last time I saw him was about half an hour before school let out. I was talking to him, and I figured he had already left when the bell rang. I wouldn't know, though, because I left the building through the back door by the locker room."

"So, you don't know if he even left the school gym?" I asked.

"I sure don't." my dad replied.

I ran outside to my car, jumped in, and headed for school.

When I got there, I ran to the gym as fast as I could. As soon as I walked in the doorway, I saw him, and stopped in my tracks. I couldn't breathe.

Once I was able to take in what I was seeing, I slowly walked over to Ryan and knelt down beside him. As soon as I saw him, I remembered Gabriella...why does this keep happening to me!

I held Ryan and was crying uncontrollably. I got his blood all over my shirt and jeans, but I didn't care.

I carefully layed him down and got out my cell phone and called for an ambulance.

When the ambulance showed up to take Ryan away, I told them I'd be following them in my car.

When they got to the hospital, the EMT told me to wait in the waiting room and he'd come get me when they knew anything about Ryan's situation.

I sat in the waiting room for about five minutes when the EMT came back, with a doctor my his side.

It was Dr. Greene...the same doctor who dealt with me when I attempted suicide.

"What is the patient's name?" Dr. Greene asked me.

"Ryan Evans." I replied.

"Ah yes, your boyfriend, right?" He asked.

"Yes." I said.

Dr. Green put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry about what happened. You can go see him." he said.

I followed the doctor to Ryan's room. He stood outside the door while I walked in. A nurse walked up to Dr. Greene and was talking to him. Dr. Greene walked in and put a clipboard on the foot of Ryan's bed, then walked back out. I looked at Ryan's tired-looking, scarred-up face. I looked down at what the doctor put on his bed. I picked it up and read it. It said:

Name: Ryan Evans

Situation: DOA