"I know but... seriously Gabi. He's unfortunate and all but I just, he's Ryan, you know. What can be so different of him and Sharpay? They're twin after all. And I don't like it. I don't like him. I just don't... okay... I'll phone you tomorrow after school. What you have a surprise for me because..."

Ryan's activity of eavesdropping has come to an end when he decided not to hear anything anymore. Troy's spat was so hurtful. Sharpay can be a bitch sometimes but still; she's not evil. And everyone assume he was her shadow, her doppelgänger, when actually they're really opposite.

At that moment, Ryan know he's been handling his life wrong. And eventhough she's dead, there's nothing he can do about it.

-x-

Its 3 am, 2 hours after Troy's phoning his girl and Ryan still couldn't sleep. He don't really mind what Troy had said before he thought Ryan's asleep. You can't force someone to accept you in their life, and, Ryan had said sorry after that, eventhough he didn't know why he did that for. But after hearing Troy's conversation, he kinda took it back. That's an issue he hate to heard. He probably will deal with it later.

But just, everytime he tried to sleep, when he closed his eyes, his mind will travel down the memory lane.

He'll remember everything about his life before and how he's unable to keep his promise. Images of Sharpay flashing through his mind. How scared she was when Vance had his bad days.

He remember an incident happened few months ago. Ryan was so tired and exhausted that day. He was beaten up so badly the day before and school was pretty tiring. He fell asleep that night and he woke up to the sound of Sharpay yelling for help.

That bastard dad of them burst in her room and try to rape her. His own daughter for fuck sake.

Tears swelling in his eyes when Sharpay's terrified face appears in his mind. He choked his own sobs, crying uncontrollably. He's so stupid. He couldn't keep his promise and that cost his sister's life. Stupid.

He got up and walk to the bathroom. Washing his face. When he's done, he went outside and sit on the floor, leaning to the bed, staring outside the window.

No point of trying to sleep. Those memories will haunt him for life and there's nothing he can do to get rid of it. The stars are shining so brightly, and Ryan believe that one of those are Sharpay, the shiniest one.

-x-

The alarm groan loudly, yelling to be switched off, on the exact same time every weekdays, 6.30 am. Damaging Troy's eardrum. He turned it off and sit up straight.

Troy mumble something incoherent under his breath, yawning and stretching his body. That was a good sleep. He rubbed the sleepiness off his eyes and look around.

Wait, where's Ryan? He's pretty sure he live with his family and they both share a bed. But there's no one beside him. The left side of the bed was empty, no sign of anyone was sleeping there. Is this whole sharing-things-with-Ryan is just a dream?

As a cue for his excitement, Ryan came out from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. Which clearly shows Troy that the answer was no, and he sigh in disappointment.

"Oh, hey. I uh... sorry. I thought you're still asleep" Ryan said, a bit shock to see the brunette is awake. His face blush and he quickly grab his t-shirt, immediately wear it.

What is wrong with this boy? Its normal for guys to show their body with other guys. Nothing illegal at all. Its the same situation like when you're in the locker room. But Troy didn't miss the scars, cuts and bruises all over Ryan's torso but he just brush it off. Too early in the morning to care about anything.

He continued to dress up while Troy

just ignore Ryan's words, make his way to the bathroom and get ready for school.

About half an hour later, both of them are already downstairs, eating breakfast with Jack and Lucille. They sit in a comfortable silence and she noticed that Ryan didnt eat that much. They're all almost finish their foods and Ryan don't even reach halfway yet.

"Is something wrong with that egg Ryan?" Lucille asked, maybe he wants fancier food.

Ryan's eyes widen, quickly reply "Oh no no no. Nothing's wrong with the food. I just, I'm not used to eat too much in the morning. I tend to get queasy" he lied, of course.

Its true, he didn't eat much in the morning. But it was because of the situation. Either he was too sick and lost his appetite after being tortured the night before or his time to eat was interrupted when his head was suddenly dunked in his bowl.

"Oh, I thought my wife's cookings are not good enough" Jack joked and Troy rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't meant it that way" Ryan said, sounds regretful. "Jeez man. He's kidding. Don't take him seriously" Troy said when he heard the blonde apologizing, again, for something that is not to be apologize for. Ryan just nodded his head and they quickly finish their breakfast before going to school.

Their drive to school was filled with a very awkward silence. Troy's eyes are locked to the road while Ryan just stare at whatever he saw outside. Troy usually sing his heart out, yelling and shouting since he's all alone but seems like his ritual every morning has come to its expiry date.

As they arrived, they got out of the truck and walk separately to the building. The students eyes are on them. Mostly on Ryan. Mumbling and chattering can be heard.

Why did Troy and Ryan come to school together?

Why didn't Ryan die with his family?

Did Troy and Ryan in a relationship?

Or Ryan's actually dead and Sharpay pretend to be Ryan so she can be with Troy?

Ryan just stare at the floor all the time, quietly reaching his locker. He didn't want to see any sympathy or accusation from anyone's eyes. It didn't help much because all the rumors and gossip still can be heard.

Troy just ignore everything and went straight to Chad who's looking at him curiously and Troy can't help but rolled his eyes.

"Dude you didn't tell me you're gay" Chad started and Troy grab his fro jokingly, "I'm not gay, idiot. Your favourite coach put me in this situation. I'm so gonna get him"

"What situation?" Chad frown.

"Y'know. Ryan's now homeless, and familyless and penniless and whatnot so my dad decided to take him in. Since his father and mine were bestfriend" Troy groan.

Getting more confused, he continued "Penniless?"

"The Evans was bankrupt, literally the day they was robbed. So yeah"

Chad thought about it and wince.

"Shit, that's tough man. Must be hard for him". Troy just shrug, he's not really in the mood to talk about Ryan. Hell, he will never be in the mood to talk about Ryan.

"Yeah whatever. He's so quiet, and kind of weird too. Freaks me out"

Chad was about to reply when the warning bell ring. They then went to their homeroom before they're tardy but Troy managed to tell Chad to just ignore Ryan. He's still an Evans anyway. And Evans are always up to something.

-x-

Ryan walk to his homeroom, barely keeping his eyes up. But he received a few 'accidentally bumping' on the halfway. Before this, the students were always afraid of Sharpay, but now she's gone. Ryan is no longer the ice queen's sister. Only the vulnerable looking weirdo at that school.

He got in the class and go straight to his seat on the second row, exactly behind Sharpay's seat. He look at her sister's and smile when he saw a bouquet of rose on her chair.

Ryan just sit quietly and waiting for Miss Darbus to come. Students are filling the class and most of them just stare at him. The rumors are spreading around. Say, Ryan killed his father and sister, and hurt himself on purpose. The person who spread it is seriously deprived.

Troy got in the class and his face is dead glum especially when he saw Ryan but immediately light up, and the shock can be seen om his face when he looked far behind him. Ryan didn't have to turn around to know what is he looking at. Gabriella.

The brunette come to her, smooching sound can be heard. Ryan closed his eyes while taking deep breath and sigh.

This is going to be a long day.