This one's a long one! I hope you enjoy it. I thought this series was pretty good but I seem to have no readers. So please, drop me a review. Thanks.

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Ryan sighed. He wished his sister hadn't insisted on having a party. And inviting… someone.

As everyone knew, Ryan and Sharpay had a lot in common. Apart from obviously being twins, they both shared a love for theatre and performing. They both probably could be classed as triple threats, too.

They both felt that if they wanted something, they absolutely had to have it.

Which was quite unfortunate, because they also both liked him. Him. And another thing they had in common was that he wanted neither of them.

Ryan approached Sharpay, with all intention of telling her his opinion on this stupid little party. Who cared if it was new year? Big whoop. You live through like, 80 of them in your life. No big deal.

"Sharpay." Ryan sighed. He glanced around. He suddenly found himself forgetting why he was pissed. He licked his lips without realising and stared at the man standing not too far from him.

Troy Bolton was propped up against a wall, drink in one hand, other in his pocket. He was wearing a black shirt, perfect fit, clinging to just the right places, along with an untied white tie around his neck. Unbuttoned half way.

"Close your mouth, Ry, you'll catch flies."

"Sharpay!" Ryan sighed with a tint of whine. "Why did you have to invite him?"

"Gabriella just broke up with him. He must be hurting." Sharpay sighed with a sly grin. "He's gotta kiss someone at midnight."

"What makes you think it'll be you?!"

"I always get what I want."

----

"So, what's your new year's resolution, Troy?"

"Uh…" Troy smiled nervously. "Gonna do something new everyday."

"Oh! Well, get a head start. Dance with me."

"Uh, maybe later, Sharpay. I don't really feel like dancing."

Ryan smirked. He knew Sharpay had more chance than he did when it came to Troy, which made it all the more satisfying when he shot her down. He took this opportunity to approach Troy for the first time that evening.

"Hey." Ryan smiled in a friendly manner. "Sorry about Sharpay. You know how she can be."

"Yeah." Troy laughed.

"How're you doing, Troy?" Ryan asked, putting his hand on Troy's muscular shoulder. "I, uh… heard."

"I'm fine. I was bummed but… these things happen. Things change and people change."

"I guess. As long as you're okay." Ryan smiled, self-consciously removing his hand from Troy.

"Thanks."

"Well, you're sure looking good tonight, anyway." Ryan smiled, trying not to sound creepy.

"Uh, dude…" Troy shifted uncomfortably. "Look, I know you have a 'thing' for me." Troy said quietly. "But it's not gonna happen."

Ryan could not have felt more mortified than he did at that very moment. His eyes widened, his mouth gaped open, his cheeks flushed bright red. He started to sweat from places he didn't even know existed.

"Wh… what? No, I…" Ryan's jaw trembled as he tried to think of more words to say. Eventually, he just gave up, and ran out of the room.

"Well that was harsh!" Sharpay shouted at Troy.

------

Ryan stalked purposefully around his house. He didn't know where he was going, but he'd know when he got there. He bit his quivering lip, trying to keep himself from crying.

He finally reached the front door. He fumbled to get it open, and he flew out onto the porch.

He glanced at the porch swing. He climbed on to it, picked his feet up onto it, and hugged his knees. He wiggled about a bit, causing the swing to move. He enjoyed the rocking motion, it comforted him somewhat.

He had his face buried between his chest and his knees. He felt it kept him from crying. He just needed to stay there for another ten minutes or so and…

"Hey."

Ryan did his best to see who it was, without exactly looking up. He looked out the corner of his eye, and saw black material with white draped over it.

"What do you want? I think you've done enough."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

"You didn't mean to be rude?!" Ryan raised his voice, dropping his feet to the ground and standing up. He walked over and stood close to Troy in an attempt to seem threatening.

"No! I…"

"Don't worry Troy. Maybe I did have a thing for you. But because I thought you were a good guy."

"Ryan, I…"

Ryan gave Troy a look so cutting, that it made him shiver. He watched Ryan go and sit back on the porch swing, and give a forceful push, causing the swing to rock wildly.

As the swing slowed, Troy slowly walked over and manage to catch it and sit next to Ryan, who was facing the other way with his arms folded.

"I wish you'd talk to me." Troy said simply, quietly.

"What is there to talk about."

"How sorry I am?" Troy smiled sweetly, although not in Ryan's sight. "I know I was a jerk. I'm really sorry. I guess… I was worried about what my friends would think."

Ryan rolled his eyes and shot a glance back at Troy, who raised a hand to place on Ryan's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze.

Ryan clenched his eyes shut. He had to remember how mad he was. He would not let the hormones take over.

Electricity was shooting through his body at an alarming pace. Troy Bolton was touching him. The contact between himself and Troy was heart stopping. He tried to steady his breathing. This feeling was what he based all his fantasies on. If he started off with that all-consuming feeling, everything that came after it felt just as real. He would imagine that, if Troy touching his shoulder felt so good, those same hands running all over his bare skin would feel…

Ryan shook his head violently. He was mad. Not turned on. Mad. He leapt up from the swing and sat on the porch steps.

"Ryan." Troy said softly, concerned. "Come back inside. It's nearly midnight."

"It's okay." Ryan said coldly. "I'll start the year the same way it will finish. People discriminating and ridiculing me."

"Ryan!" Troy exclaimed. "You know I wasn't…"

"Save it."

Troy sighed and sat down next to Ryan.

"You Evans twins sure are hard to deal with."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?!"

"No." Troy grumpily replied. "But…" He smiled. "This might."

For Ryan, what happened next honestly went in slow motion. He glanced at Troy, who was smiling so sweetly that he felt slightly nauseous. Troy looked down at Ryan's slightly parted lips, and moved his head in towards him.

Ryan blinked, hoping to blink away his heavy dizziness. He felt like it was impossible to actually do anything, he even tried to squeak out a word or two, to no avail. When Troy's lips finally met with his own, his heart jumped out of his chest, and, Ryan thought, must be dancing around on the porch.

It was pretty much exactly how he'd imagined it. The smell of the aftershave that Ryan had grown to adore, seeping in through his nostrils, that smell which always caused his breath to catch in his throat and his knees to slightly weaken. The hot, heavy breath ushering out of Troy's nostrils onto Ryan's cheek. The stubble rubbing against his chin. Ryan disappointedly observed that the pulling away was not part of his fantasy, however.

"That was my…. 'sorry for being a jerk'." Troy smiled.

"It, uh…" Ryan smirked and ran his finger over his lip. "It felt very experienced."

"Hey!" Troy grinned. "So am I forgiven?"

"No."

"What?"

"Troy, you can't just kiss me and expect me to forgive you! It makes you an even bigger jerk! I'm surprised you didn't drop your pants and say 'I'm sorry, give this a blow.'"

"What?!"

Ryan stood up, and stormed out into the street. Not really knowing where to go, he sat on the sidewalk.

"Ryan!" Troy chased after him. "I don't understand."

"You're such a JERK!" Ryan blinked, and tears fell. "You're straight, you can't just kiss me to make me feel better. It doesn't work like that."

"Ryan. I did want to."

"Whatever."

Troy grabbed Ryan's face in either hand, and pulled it towards his own. They embraced in a desperate kiss, before Ryan pulled away.

"Troy!"

"Why won't you believe me?!" Troy sighed. "I wanted to kiss you. You're talented, sweet, and you're gorgeous."

Ryan grinned to himself, a blush spreading across his cheeks.

"I don't care." Ryan shook his head. "You jocks, you sicken me. Anything to dominate over the little gay boy."

"What?!" Troy stared at nothing, wide-eyed.

"Troy Bolton, I never want to see you again." Ryan said simply, raised eyebrows.

"What do I have to do to prove it to you?!" Troy pleaded. He nodded to himself. He reached at Ryan, grabbing him by the belt and pulling him close to him. He started to try and undo his belt.

"I'll show you. I'll show you who dominates who."

Troy finally got Ryan's belt undone, and set to work undoing his pants.

"Troy!" Ryan jumped away when he realised what he was trying to do.

Ryan would later remember that moment as the best display of restraint/madness he had ever displayed.

"Stop being silly." Ryan sighed, trying his best to get his hitched breath back to normal. He couldn't believe what Troy was about to do, and that he'd stopped him.

"I wanna prove it to you. I just… felt like I wanted to kiss you. So I did. I might not be gay but… I did want to kiss you."

"We'll figure that out another time." Ryan smiled, taking Troy's hands in his.

Suddenly there was a unified shouting from inside Ryan's house.

"A new year." Troy raised his eyebrows.

"Don't tell anyone what you were doing at midnight."

Ryan leaned in and pressed his lips against Troy's, feeling once again all those things he fantasised about. And now he had memories.

"I won."

"What?"

"Sharpay wanted to kiss you at midnight."

"Please, Ry. I'd rather kiss you any day."