Skittles

Warnings: Abuse, slash

Chapter Six

Sharpay ignored Ryan's desperate plea and excused herself. She knew that Ryan's injuries were partly her fault. But this was between him and Troy. If he needed her help, really needed it, then she would intervene.

VvVvV

The waiter handed Ryan his hot chocolate and Troy his lotte. There was an awkward silence between them that even the waiter noticed, proven by his hasty exeunt. Ryan gulped his chocolate and winced as the drink scalded his throat.

"Ryan..."

Their eyes met.

"Troy, I... I don't know how to tell you." Ryan was about to say that his neighbor's cat had cut him up pretty bad, but Troy placed his hand on his and his reluctance melted away like the dabs of marshmallow left in his chocolate.

"Whatever you want to tell me, I'll listen. Whatever you want to keep secret, just remember that I'll be there to support you." Troy said his words with such tenderness that the corniness was swept from them. He squeezed his hand.

Suddenly, the walls closed in and Ryan felt very claustrophobic. "Can we...go somewhere else?" Troy nodded and paid for the drinks. Ryan was already out the door, ignoring the curious looks.

A young woman looked at her friend and sighed. "The cute ones," she said simply and her friend nodded in assent.

The sun was beginning to set. Across from the park was a hill that overlooked some tennis courts. Ryan was already on his way up the hill, Troy close in pursuit. They settled on the apex, a wonderful view ignited below them as little children struggled with oversized racquets.

Ryan began to pull off his sweater, then his shirt and tank. Troy opened his mouth to question but stopped and his eyes became very wide.

Ignoring the fact that Ryan was very skinny and his ribs looked like they were jutting out of the skin, he was pale, making the numerous bruises stick out more. Some were light and fading while others were angry purples, greens and yellows. There were fingernail marks on his back where they cut into his skin and tiny cuts that had been healed over.

Then there was one long cut, still fresh and pink that ran across Ryan's torso. They looked hungry, as if to devour his entire upper body with welts and wounds. But still, in the twilight of the sun, Ryan looked beautiful and his eyes were shining with caution.

Troy leaned forward and his thumb brushed against a healing scar. Ryan shivered. Funny how good things come from bad things. Troy's touch was feathery light and pleasurable.

"It was my father," Ryan said, quickly and soft as if his voice were being blown away by the wind. "He's drunk and forgetful ever since Mom ran away. He's normally nice, but sometimes he has a bad day, or traffic is piled up, then he gets a little angry and yells a bit."

Troy gave him a look.

"All right, he does more than just yelling, but Troy, he's really a good guy! I mean, he's my Dad." Ryan bit his lip and he suddenly felt very vulnerable without Troy's touch. It wasn't cold, but a soft breeze had picked up.

"He did all of this to you?" Ryan nodded. "Then he's not a good guy! No father would do this to their kid, no matter how many shots he gets or how bad his day is! He could kill you one day! And then what would happen to Sharpay? What would happen to me?" Troy's voice had gone soft.

He sighed and put his big hands on Ryan's frail shoulders. "I'm a selfish kid, Ryan. If your dad killed you, what would I do with myself?" They were quiet.

Then Ryan shoved Troy away from him. "You don't understand," he whispered dangerously and slipped his layers back on so that they hid his body from Troy's eyes. "You don't understand," he said a little louder, "He is a part of me! He raised me! Me and Sharpay love him!" He turned around and felt his throat choke up and tears threatening to spill down his face. "Don't touch me!" he cried when Troy tried to hold him.

His body shook and he took deep breaths, just how Sharpay taught him so he could control himself. He appreciated how much Troy cared, but he just didn't understand. No one would.

"Troy, take me home."

Troy looked flabbergasted. Even Ryan couldn't believe that words that slipped out of his mouth, no matter how calm they appeared.

"You want to go home? Back to...?" There was no need to finish the sentence.

He needed to be home so he could keep hiding from Troy's all-knowing eyes. He felt like Troy could see through him. He didn't want his secret exposed.

On the other hand... Comfort was more than just a place to hide. Troy was comfort. He desperately wanted Troy to hold him and make all his fears go away. But did he want to risk Troy getting more involved than he needed to be?

What would Sharpay say?

"Troy...could I...sleep over your house? Just...just for tonight?" Ryan said at last. He was answered with Troy holding on to him as if for dear life. He felt so warm. Like Jacuzzi water splashing his worries down the drain.

VvVvV

"I already told you, don't worry about me. My dad doesn't get home til about six and it's only five-thirty. Go help Sharpay then pick me up," Ryan said.

Troy sighed. "All right." He leaned over the wheel and pecked Ryan lightly on the lips. Ryan smiled and waved good-bye as Troy backed out of the driveway in Sharpay's red car. She had left without it at the restaurant and she had told Troy to pick her up from a small boutique a little ways from the restaurant.

Ryan looked in the garage and saw that Michael hadn't returned yet. He sighed in relief and went to pack his bags. He found the door ominously unlocked. He entered and found a large suede jacket hanging in the closet as well as a pair of fishermen boots in the shoe rack.

Suddenly Ryan wished Troy hadn't left yet as his heart was filled with icy forewarning.

"What's wrong? Didn't expect Daddy to be home? Well, Daddy's car got towed today so his car isn't in the garage." A large man stepped into the light. He was hunching over and there was a can of beer in his hand.

"Father," Ryan said bravely. "Do you want me to make dinner?"

He took a gulp of beer and swung the can to the side. "I'm not feeling too good today. Why not skip right to dessert?"

VvVvV

"Troy! In here!"

Troy parked the car and put a nickel in the meter. He cautiously entered the flowery shop and followed Sharpay through the racks of unique clothing.

"Kelsi asked me to help with costumes. What do you think of this?" She pointed to a white collared-shirt with a pinstripe vest over it. It had black latex pants to go with it.

"It's um..." Troy had actually never seen anyone he knew that wore latex before. She then pointed to something else for Ryan. It was a fishnet shirt with a studded belt and ballet tights and boots.

Troy tried not to picture Ryan in the see-through shirt, but he couldn't help it and he was aroused. His mouth had become very dry. "Looks good," he replied.

Sharpay smiled mischievously. "I thought so." She went up to the front desk and had Troy measured. It appeared that she already had Ryan's size memorized. She then placed an order for the costumes.

As they began walking out the door, Sharpay continued talking rapidly about the musical. But Troy stopped. "Sharpay, why didn't you tell me?"

"What?" Sharpay feigned, but she knew what he was referring to. They left the store and stepped outside.

"Ryan! Your dad!" Troy said quietly but exasperated.

Sharpay was quiet. "Ryan didn't want to tell. And honestly, I didn't either. We already lost a mom, why now a dad? As crazy as he was..." Before Troy could start on his tirade, Sharpay interrupted. "I was getting ready to tell though. Ryan didn't want me to, but he was worse than before ."

"Did you..?"

Sharpay shook her head despite his unfinished question. "Ryan...he..." Her voice choked and the words came out raspy. "He always took it all. I shouldn't have let him, but he insisted. I'm the older twin, but he always protected me."

They were quiet.

"Oh my gosh," Sharpay said suddenly.

"What?" Troy looked to the car. "It's just a parking ticket." After hearing all that he did about the Evans, he didn't think anything in the world could be more important. He swiped the white slip from the window.

"That's not it! We have to get home! It's almost six o'clock!" Sharpay screamed loudly. Troy's eyes widened.

They hopped in the car and Troy put it in gear. He slammed the accelerator to the ground.

VvVvV

Michael licked the spoon clean. A slice of cheese cake sat before him and he took dainty bites.

"I think," Ryan was standing behind him, "I'm going to go to my room." Michael nodded nonchalantly and waved him off.

Ryan picked up his pants and boxers and limped up the stairs. Blood was seeping through his shirt again and a few scars had reopened. Blood was also trickling down his leg. He hastily wiped the tear streaks from his face and went into the shower.

VvVvV

Sharpay unlocked the door quickly. She had sighed in relief when her father's car was not seen in the garage. But she still felt pessimistic about the situation. Where was Ryan? She stepped inside with Troy behind her. They winced. The smell of blood and sweat was stagnant in the living room.

"Sharpay, is that you?" Michael stood up and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Why didn't you come home with your brother?" He seemed sober enough.

"Where is he, dad?" Sharpay asked as calmly as possible.

"In his room. Who's with you?"

"My...friend. We're doing the musical together." Michael peered around her and Troy stepped out.

"Hello, Mr. Evans. I'm Troy Bolton," Troy said politely though anger surged through him. This was the man that made Ryan into such a mess. If he could kill him, he would.

A slow creak sounded and the trio looked up to see Ryan. He was at the top of the stairs. "Shar? I thought I heard you." His voice was relieved.

Sharpay ran up to Ryan and embraced him. "Oh Ryan, it's going to be okay," she whispered kindly. She noticed he had his bag ready and she helped him down the stairs. She and Troy exchanged a glance.

Ryan was limping. He was wearing long sleeves and pants.

Anger boiled in Troy's veins.

"Where are you going, little bastard?" Michael growled suddenly, pushing Troy to the side and stepping forward.

"I'm sleeping over Troy's," Ryan responded bravely. "Sharpay's coming too." His facade was quickly seen through because the moment Michael stepped forward, Ryan's eyes were filled with the fear of death.

"You are not going ANYWHERE!" he roared and knocked a lamp over, shattering it in many pieces.

"Ryan, Sharpay. Get in the car," Troy said from behind him. His voice was deep and demanding and very much like his own father's.

Ryan stayed rooted to where he was, but Sharpay shoved him out the door. There was a sudden tension in the room. Michael's face had turned red with fury and he seemed to be getting bigger every moment.

"Who do you think you are? Those are MY children! Do not take them away from me!" He turned around to face the boy and swung his fist at him. He missed.

Troy laughed. "You're lucky they love you," he said menacingly and swung his arm, packed with years of basketball training and weight lifting. His fist was as hard as a boulder as it came in direct contact with Michael's red face, knocking him over. His head bounced against the floor.

Troy stepped over him and left the house, slamming the door shut behind him.

VvVvV

NOTES: Hope you all liked that. I'm really happy that so many of you are being patient with me. Truth be told, I'm an on-and-off writer. But all your support inspired me. So I made this chapter slightly longer and is dedicated to all my wonderful reviewers who have stayed with this story!

Also, I'm very sad to hear about MissLovelyx3's situation and I feel so bad for not being there to help. But I'm glad to say that she has a new account with her wonderful stories: FallingWithGrace. This chapter is especially dedicated to you and your amazing writing!

Please tell me what you all think. I realize the story is a bit predictable and cliche, but I'll keep writing anyway. Any ideas or suggestions, just tell me. Thanks for all your patience and support!