To say school is a type of hell in this world was an understatement. Especially for Ryan.
He can't focus at all during his classes. His classmates are ignoring him, even the sweethearts like Martha and Kelsi, they're probably afraid of him, because of the rumors.
And Ryan tried his best not to doze off during any lesson so he won't get a detention. Its pretty hard though, he didn't get any sleep last night, which lead him to be tired all the time. His face is turning into a panda with his heavy eyebags and he won't complain if he turn into one. A cute fluffy panda is huggable and wanted by everyone. At least he could lay off and be lazy all day.
Its lunch time and Ryan went to the cafeteria, using money Jack had gave him this morning to buy some food. Which seems like 3 times fewer than his usual pocket money from his so called 'dad', Vance. But he don't care. For the Bolton to accept him in was already too much for him and he was so grateful for it.
He took his lunch and scan the whole room. Few eyes are still on him and he's growing tired of it. Why can people just drop the issue? Its not theirs to pry anyway.
Ryan usually sit with the wildcats plus her sister. But since none of them approach him today except Taylor and Gabriella who smiled at him, and he really don't want to be with Troy, so he took his tray to the toilet, eating silently on the toilet bowl and Ryan couldn't help but feels like he's in the movie 'Mean Girls' where he is the Cady Heron on her first day of school.
Except that he's not on his first day. But everyone kind of hate him so he can relate. His life was like a reverted version of Mean Girls. People used to hate Cady, and then like her. But Ryan, people use to like him (or thats what he thought) and now, people hate him.
The bell ring shows the lunch has finish. Ryan put his tray on its place and went to his class. He received few more glance and was shoved in the hallway but managed to get in class on time.
He's a little bit fresher after he eats and wash his face so Ryan pay attention to his lesson. But there are few stupid jocks who's been distracting him. Throwing paper balls and erasers to his head. Ryan choose to ignore them.
When school finished that day, Ryan has extra activity for the chemistry club. He's planning to join the decathlon team so he'll go to every meeting they held.
He went to the lab and there are already few people in there. Ryan was greet with two smiling girls, Taylor and Gabriella. "Ryan!!" they squeal in unison, hugging him tightly. Ryan jerked a little as they hit few of his bruises that's still exist on his body but didn't pull away. "Hey girls" he said, grinning as he did.
"I'm sorry that you lost your family. I know it must be hard for you" Taylor started. He smile at her "Thank you. Its pretty hard but I'll cope".
"So you stay with Troy and his family now?" Gabriella asked. Ryan winced internally, he really don't want to think about Troy right now, considering she's his girlfriend, Ryan should've expected this. "Yeah, the Bolton decided to take me in, and I'm so grateful for it" he replied.
Gabriella nod her head and smile politely, although Ryan can see like she's holding something but didn't really say anything so he just brush it off.
"Well yeah, lets get started" Taylor said, heading to the whiteboard.
Ryan pay his 100% attention during their meeting. He felt warm and gooey inside because all of the members literally treat him as friend. They joke, talk and laugh together. He didn't feel like this since ages ago.
He was about to ask a question when he look at his surrounding and remember at what time he should go home with Troy. Ryan didn't have a watch so he kind of forgot to check the time. He asked Gabriella and jumped when its almost 5.30 pm. Troy had finished his practice like half an hour ago. He must be waiting for him. Shit shit shit shit.
"Hey, I'll see you guys later. I gotta go. Thank you" he said while packing his stuff without looking at anyone, grab his bag and run outside.
Ryan run as fast as he can since the chemistry lab is on the second floor and its pretty far from the entrance. And without warning or anything, someone suddenly shove him from somewhere in the hallway, sending him off to the floor.
Ryan groan in pain. He clutch his chest that contacted with the floor first. "Where do you think you're going, fag?" the guy, Ryan think was named Jessie, a football athlete, spat at him. "I heard you killed your family" Jessie kick him hard on his stomach, causing Ryan to cough.
Laughing, he continued "Why don't you kill yourself too? Do you want me to make the process faster?" grabbing Ryan's collar, he pick the blond to stand up and pinned him to the wall. Ryan lose all his strength to defend himself, he keep on thinking it was Vance who hit him and if he tried to save himself, the monster will go after Sharpay. He really don't want that to happen.
Being absolutely passive, Ryan make Jessie gone mad that he started to punch him on his stomach. "You dirty queer. You stay with the Bolton now and you're fucking Troy, huh?" he said as he stop his hit. Ryan doubled over, throwing a coughing fit, catching his breath.
"I hope you realized that you're not worth it, at all" Jessie said, slap him across his face one last time before walking away. Ryan collapse to his knee, hand held his stomach tightly, and still breathing heavily. He was so used to be beaten up that he don't really mind with all damages he might have inside his body.
The only thing he care right now is his manners. Ryan look at the clock in the hallway, 5.50 pm. He is so dead. Ryan bring himself up, walk as fast as he could, out from the building. He straighten himself and make sure there are no sign of bullied on him before approaching the truck with Troy sitting at the driver's sit, frown on his face. Uh oh, not good.
He got in the truck and was about to say sorry when Troy literally yell at him when he close the door. "Where the fuck are you Ryan?! You're late for almost one hour, you know! One hour! Do you know how tired I am after today's practice and then I have to wait for you?! Don't you have any sense or you're just plain stupid?!"
He don't think of giving Troy the real reason he's late so instead, he just apologize. "I'm really sorry. I get stuck in there. I promise I won't be late again. I'm so sorry".
"You better be" Troy said sternly, his hand is holding the steering really tightly and Ryan's face draining to pale. Troy is goddamn pissed off at him.
The entire drive is quite like usual. Troy's still look he's badly mad at him and Ryan silently hold his stomach and chest. The pain is killing him but he tried his best not to show it on his face. Eventhough its pretty hard to regain his normal breathing pattern.
When they arrived, Jack and Lucille are waiting for them in the living room, like Troy, Jack look kind of angry, only less angry than Troy. Jack is really strict when it comes to curfew of being outside the house after school. This reminded Ryan of Vance's bad day, and at this moment right now, he felt scared.
"Where were you two? You're late" Jack started. "Ask this dude right here. I'm at my truck since 5" Troy said, voice harsh.
"Ryan" Jack called his name, make him jump, causing him to wince at the sudden movement. "Y-yes" he stutter. Lucille noticed the blood draining from the blond's face so she squeeze Jack's shoulder, remind him to be gentle to him.
"Why were you late?" the oldest Bolton asked.
"I-I have extended chemistry club meeting. And I forgot to look at the time. I-I'm sorry" Ryan said quietly, gazing at the floor.
"We're very particular about time, especially when its after school. So I hope you'll learn from your mistake. Its okay to be late but one hour is too much. Don't let this happen again, understand?" Jack raised an eyebrow and Ryan gulped when he look at him. "Yes" was his replied.
"Troy, go clean up yourself and come down for dinner. You too Ryan" Lucille smile at both of them and they went upstairs.
The night goes on slowly. They eat their dinner, do their homework and go to sleep. Troy is still angry at Ryan. He don't even want to look at Ryan and this caused confusion to the blond. Yeah, it was his fault but there's nothing serious about it.
But then, Ryan really don't care. His pain on his body is something to care about. He looked at himself in the mirror when he took his shower. His torso looks absolutely miserable with bruises shining here and there on it. Ugly, and purple. It hurts. And it sucks. But he was used to it. Vance hurted him even badly then this one, so, whatever.
Troy and Ryan went to sleep. It was his second night here and Ryan still couldn't sleep. Like before, he's haunted by his own memories. Locked in the prison. Trapped in the mansion. The mansion where his twin sister's life ended. Shit.
And again, that stupid Troy thought he's asleep so he phoned his girl, Gabriella. Ah, that name. She make Ryan smile when she smile at him. How cheesy. Don't get him wrong. Ryan don't have any feelings towards Gabriella, just friend.
"You know Gabi, I really don't have any problems with you and your club but I just want to remind you that I'm your boyfriend. Shouldn't you spend your time with me instead of..."
Now Ryan know why Troy's so upset today, because of his girl loving her extra activities than Troy himself. Typical jocks. Even they can't make times for their girl and they expected more in their relationship. Heh.
Ryan closed his eyes, focusing in deep breathing. Who knows he might fall asleep. It worked. But only for 2 hours and he's up. But that's better than nothing.
So life went on.
School was hard for Ryan. He got beaten up every single day after chemistry club meeting. He tried not to be late. And Troy was a butthurt to him.
He went through the same thing almost everyday at school. And Ryan has weakened from all hits he got. He didn't plan to tell anyone about him being bullied. Not like anyone truly cares or they can do anything about it.
The only thing that's getting weird, day by day, is Gabriella Montez. Ryan don't know why but the raven-haired girl shows her affection to him almost everytime they're working together during chemistry club. Or any classes that involved both of them. He don't want to look at it like this but Gabriella is seriously flirting on him. Period.
Ryan don't know if Troy noticed this because of his attitude towards him. They were never on speaking term so he's not sure. But it scared him.
On the third week staying with the Bolton, on one fine Tuesday evening about 5 pm, Ryan go the chemistry lab for a sudden meeting. They usually don't have any meetings on Tuesday but Gabriella said they have one today, at a very late time. Its weird, but he just go. There's no reason at all not to trust Gabriella.
When he open the door, he can't believe what's he seeing. Gabriella Montez, is half-naked on the table, with her top on the floor, smile charmingly at him, begging for him to come nearer.
Ryan's heart pounding furiously in his chest, stuttering, he just stood there. "W-what are you doing?"
Gabriella laugh and stand up, cat-walking towards him, closing the door and pull him to a table. Ryan was so shocked of what's happening that he felt numb all over and don't know what to do so he just follow.
"I know you want me, Ryan. Aren't you?" she brush her fingers on his cheeks. "What?! No, I..." he was about to reply when someone twist the door knob from outside and the the door is open. Seeing the person who's standing at the entrance of the chemistry lab, Ryan's eyes widen in horror,
Its Troy Bolton.