New Year in New York
****
Ryan pressed his nose to the cold windowpane and stared out gloomily at the swirling snow.
"Whose idea was it to come to New York for New Year anyway?"
Looking over the top of the sports pages of the New York Times Chad replied,
"Well, you said, and I quote, "Wouldn't it be nice to get away from Albuquerque for a while. I know, let's go to New York on New Year's Eve," and I, being the good boyfriend that I am, agreed."
Ryan threw himself down into an armchair.
"You should have persuaded me to stay, because now we're missing out on all the parties and there is absolutely nothing to do in this goddamn hotel!"
"If you miss everyone so much, why don't you give them all a ring?"
Seizing this idea like a drowning man clinging to a raft, Ryan snatched up the phone and dialed his sister's number.
It rang several times and then cut into the answer machine,
"This is Sharpay Evans' residence but I'm too busy to answer the phone right now. If you're calling about a possible role for me, ring my secretary. If you're calling because you want to meet up, leave a message on my cellphone. If you don't have that number it's probably because I didn't want to give it to you."
A pause.
"Oh, if you want Zeke, he's probably baking something so ring some other time!"
Ryan hurled the phone down and Chad, exasperated, folded his paper and put it on the table beside him.
"Try Troy and Gabriella, they might be in. Put it on speaker phone so I can hear."
Thumping the numbers in, Ryan positioned the handset between them but, after a few rings, the pre-recorded message began playing:,
"Hey, this is Troy and Gabriella's – "
"Oh for god's sake," Chad shook his head in disbelief. "Trust them to split the words between each other and speak alternately." He shuddered as the message continued. "It's sickeningly cute."
" – really sorry we can't take your call, but we promise to get back to you as soon as we can. Have a good day! Bye!"
Ryan cut the message off before the beep sounded.
"As if they're out as well! Kelsi shouldn't be, I'll try her."
Before he could finish dialing all the numbers, Chad wrenched the receiver out of his hand and slammed it down.
"If you ring her house, Jason'll probably answer and we'd have to endure his stupid comments like, "It's not snowing here, so why is it in New York?" "
"You do have a point there. How Kelsi ended up with such a moron is beyond me!"
"Some people may question the logic in me choosing such a flamingly gay partner."
"I'm fabulous, how could you not choose me?"
Chad pulled him into a tight hug.
"Ah yes, it was your conceited nature which drew me to you," he purred into Ryan's ear.
"Watch it, Danforth, you're crushing my hat!"
"You have a million just like it, I saw you pack some others."
"Don't you notice anything? This is a limited edition vintage fedora, but I also brought my fur lined cap and they're completely different..."
Ryan was forced to break off when Chad pulled him to his feet and grabbed their coats from the back of an armchair.
"Go fetch that furry hat, then.
Ryan caught his coat and froze, staring in horror at Chad who was already half way to the door.
"You can't seriously think I'm going to go outside in this weather? I'll catch pneumonia and frostbite and end up dead in the gutter, and you'll have to organise the funeral, and Sharpay will bitch the whole way through the service because she still hates you and I haven't choreographed a routine for her next play – "
" – quit being so morbid, Evans! It's beautiful out there and I'll go crazy if you carry on whining. Be spontaneous!"
He wasn't convinced, but Ryan reluctantly pulled on his coat, found his cap and followed Chad out of the hotel.
The street was empty and the fresh snow lay unmarked on the ground.
"Everyone sensible is probably inside, enjoying their warm parties," Ryan thought bitterly.
Not looking where he was going, he slipped in a patch of ice and skidded, almost falling, but luckily Chad grabbed his arm, keeping him upright. Their breath blossomed from their mouths like smoke, mingling in the cold air as they held each other close, sharing body heat.
"See, it's lovely out here with all the lights glistening on the snow."
Ryan whispered, amazed, "I've never known New York so quiet, it's beautiful."
Chad looked down at the figure he held in his arms, swaddled in a ridiculous amount of layers, and pulled him closer.
"Actually, I'm glad you wanted to come here. We don't have to watch Troy and Gabriella walk around, attached at the hip, or hear Sharpay's screeching. I do miss Zeke's cookies though....." he added thoughtfully.
Cheering and shouting suddenly erupted from the building around them as the clock struck twelve.
Forgetting the cold for a while, Ryan faced Chad and, grinning, spoke softly,
"Happy New Year, Chad."
Kissing the tip of his pink-tinged nose, Chad replied,
"Same to you, I love you Ryan, despite your whining."