Chad giggled as Ryan pulled him close. He ignored Taylor shouting his name tearfully, just as Ryan ignored an irritated Sharpay calling his name.
"Shall we dance?" Ryan smiled.
"I don't dance." Chad grinned.
Despite the noise of the party going on, both Chad and Ryan seemed to only be able to hear each other. Breathing, whispering, talking.
"Oh." Ryan responded. "So maybe we should cut to the chase."
"Wha… here?" Chad gulped.
"There's no one else here." Ryan said with a sly grin.
Chad glanced around at his friends and classmates, gawping in disbelief. He saw Taylor crying, Sharpay rolling her eyes and Troy shaking his head.
"I think we've upset a lot of people." Chad frowned, biting his bottom lip.
"Forget them."
Ryan stroked his thumb on Chad's chin.
"I've waited so long to do this." He sighed.
Chad inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes as he saw Ryan's face moving towards his own.
Suddenly, Chad felt himself being pulled away from the body in front of him.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Troy yelled at Chad as he opened his eyes.
"What?!"
"Look at what you've done to Taylor. How could you do this?"
Chad reluctantly glanced at his girlfriend. She looked up at him, tears blurring her vision. She turned around and ran out of the party.
"Dude." Chad rolled his eyes back to Troy. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone but I can't fight the real me."
"The real you, huh?" Troy narrowed his eyes.
"Yup. The real me." Chad nodded, turning to Ryan.
Ryan smiled, and joined Chad at his side.
"I love Ryan. And I don't care who knows it."
So, as the clock struck twelve, Chad took Ryan in his arms, and closed his eyes. He moved into him, placing his lips gently against the soft mouth of Ryan. As sparks flew through his body, he knew he had ultimately made the right decision.
"Happy New Year." Ryan smiled.
"It's gonna be a great year." Chad nodded.
He took Ryan's hand, and walked him towards the door. He stopped in the doorway and looked back at the crowd.
"You're in for a hard time, Chad."
"I don't care." He smiled at Ryan.