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The Problem with Ryan

Chapter 7: Stray emotion.

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Ryan tittered with a napkin on the glossy restaurant table, he gazed around and saw people laughing and talking happily around the restaurant. His table was near the back for two, slightly dim lighting and a bit away from the larger grouped tables. He sighed again, ever since his "talk" with Sharpay, she has been on the 'show Ryan I care' rampage, which is irritating the hell out of him.

Since she spent the majority of her plans getting Troy, she decided her brother needed some love. So here he was forced into a blind date, with God knows who Sharpay set him up with.

He hated the intimacy of the scene, and although it was a beautiful restaurant, it made him feel so awkward. He finally let the napkin free and watched his wrist watch, the second hand ticked by slowly, and suddenly he felt the need to leave, just pretend he never showed up. But that would be rude and he would hate for someone to feel let down because of something he did.

"Are you ready to order?"

Ryan looked at his watch again, it was still a little early, "No, I'm waiting for someone," he looked up, not really paying attention.

His eyes locked with blue ones and he was faced with none other than Troy Bolton, "Troy?" The brunet's eyes were wide, he stood stiffly, note pad in hand, his hand still.

"Ryan?" Troy looked surprised to see the blond, the dim light created a shadow partly hiding Ryan, Troy hadn't expected to find the blond there. He gazed over Ryan's form; he found the blond dressed exceptionally well, clad in light blue dress shirt that brought out his blue eyes and black pants, a deep blue tie and no hat, nothing covering his fair hair. Troy felt so bare in his waiter's uniform. He didn't care this summer, he thought, why did he suddenly care now?

Suddenly someone passed by Troy, "Sorry I'm late," he smiled, his cheeks flushed as if he ran. Troy glanced at the dark-haired boy, seemed to be well-off if the designer clothes was any indicator. "Damn traffic," he half-smiled at Ryan. Troy did not like this guy.

"Oh," Ryan looked between the two, suddenly he felt awkward, "Michael," he said a little startled, "I thought Sharpay said—"

"Yeah," he said, interrupting the blond, "I told her to tell you that you wouldn't know me," he winked. Troy stiffened, who was this guy? "I'll get the chicken with salad," he handed the menu to Troy, who felt a little ticked off at the less than polite way he pushed the menu at him.

Ryan suddenly felt a bit of anger at his sister, she set him up with the most spoiled, rude, yet annoyingly charming son in his family's circle of friends. Of course, because Sharpay would never actually set him up with someone who was kind-hearted, he thought bitterly, no, he has to be rich and spoiled …just like her.

"And you, sir" Troy said, as if he didn't know Ryan, the last thing he wanted was for Ryan to feel embarrassed, he could imagine how people perceived himself, and he himself wasn't bothered by it but that doesn't mean Ryan felt the same way.

"Uh," Ryan a little surprised at Troy calling him sir, looked at him oddly, "Troy, you don't have to call me that, I'm not my dad," he said, confused at Troy's tone.

Michael's eyebrows went up, "Oh, you two know each other?" He glanced at Troy more meaningfully, "Interesting," he said as his gaze analyzed Troy. "You know how you're father feels about you socializing with …staff," he said when he looked at the blond.

Ryan looked at him annoyed, "He goes to my school," he narrowed his eyes, "And there's nothing wrong with talking to those who work for you, they're people too."

Suddenly Michael looked at Troy, "Did you say Troy? Troy Bolton?" he asked.

"Yeah," Troy said, not really wanting to talk to this guy. He looked at the dark-haired boy, he noticed he had emerald green eyes, bright amid his fair skin, his hair was jet black, the dim lighting made his skin glow, slightly ghostly if you ask me, he thought bitterly.

"Oh, you're the one," the jet-black haired boy's lips quirked up, yet he didn't continue, choosing to just take out his blackberry and check his e-mail.

Troy's lips thinned. Who does this guy think he is? "The one what?" The brunet asked, annoyed by the other boy's presence and his obvious superior attitude.

"The charity case," he said not bothered, he continued to view his blackberry, seemingly reading something.

"Michael!"

"What?" the raven-haired boy replied, looking at Ryan, "Your sister really has such a kind heart," he looked at Troy again, "Taking in a stray puppy," he watched as Troy's eyes flickered, anger welling just behind them.

"Troy, that's not—"

"I really have to get your orders," Troy said tightly, interrupting Ryan, Michael looked pleased.

"I guess I'll get the soup," the blond said kindly, "I'm not really hungry."

Troy jotted it down quickly and left, he couldn't stand to be there any longer. He placed the orders with the cooks and waited by the kitchen door, watching Ryan and Michael through the door window. Ryan seemed to be angry, telling something to Michael, who seemed a bit apathetic.

When the food was ready, he placed everything on the tray, readying himself he stood and carried the tray of food. Suddenly Troy halted in front of the kitchen door, he did not want to go out there not with …Michael, he said the name with such distaste in his mind. And Ryan, why would he be with the guy? He felt something sting in his chest, swelling and thumping harshly. His mouth felt sore and his throat clogged, he didn't know what he was feeling but he knew he felt bad.

He had to suck it up. He had a job to do, so he held his head high, took the tray of food and stepped out of the door.

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After basketball practice, Troy and the rest of the team went to the locker room, joking and generally happy to leave after a grueling practice. Troy, however, was in his own world, thinking about Ryan and last night at work, and how that guy was with him, possibly his boyfriend. He didn't want to admit he was jealous so instead he believed Ryan didn't deserve to be with that jerk and that was the reason he felt so awful when he saw them together.

All he did was bring them their food, he got a thank you and a smile from Ryan and a curt thanks from Michael, but he could care less what that guy said to him. The night ended and they left sort of soon, he even got a tip, but he felt kind of empty. He didn't know what to place what he felt, but it left him confused and a little sad.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize he was taking so long to change, "Oh, I forgot my history text," Troy finished changing from his basketball uniform to his clothes, he looked over and saw Chad already dressed, "Hey Chad could you tell my dad to wait for me outside the front gate?" he asked the curly brunet, as he threw his jersey in his locker.

"Sure thing," Chad replied, "See you tomorrow," he said as he left the locker room. Troy sighed as he left the quiet locker room, the last to leave.

When he reached his locker in the hall he found his history text, stuffing it into his book bag he started down the hall, suddenly he heard faint music playing, moving his head slightly, he found it came from the direction of the auditorium.

Curious, he walked into the auditorium.

The music was soft but intense; it carried across through his body, resonating in his heart, synchronizing with its beat. He felt his feet carry him down the aisle, closer and closer to the stage, closer to the fair haired teen, dancing a bout the space. His blue eyes held a look of concentration and seriousness as his body lifted off the ground, muscles stretching as he gracefully leaped across the stage, landing in a strong spin, his hair blurring into his clothes, slowing into a stop, his face covered in a sheen of sweat. Ryan.

He's really, the blond danced across the stage, his body swaying, "Beautiful," Troy spoke.

The music slowed to a stop and Ryan stood in the center, head down, breathing deeply, inhaling and exhaling slowly, his back to Troy.

"Ryan?" Troy found his voice, he was now at the bottom of the stage, looking up at the blond, who turned around startled at the sudden call.

"T-Troy," he said surprised, his cheeks scarlet as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Y-you saw me?" he asked, eyes wide. He never let people see him dance like this, especially when he wanted to relieve stress, it wasn't something he showed others, even his sister.

Dancing like this, Ryan thought, was personal, it was private. And now Troy saw him and he felt revealed and slightly embarrassed.

"What are you doing here?" Ryan asked, grabbing his water bottle off the stage floor in the corner, and drinking an amazing amount. Troy watched a drop of water make its way from the corner of Ryan's cheery lips down his cheek and throat. The brunet looked away, suddenly flustered and unable to answer.

Ryan stopped drinking his water when he heard no answer after a moment. He turned slightly and found the brunet's head turned in another direction, looking at the other side of the auditorium. Please don't make this awkward, Troy, I don't think I can get any more awkward. Ryan thought frantically.

Troy cleared his throat suddenly, looking straight at the blond, they held each other's gazes, Ryan confused and slightly entranced while Troy grew increasingly aroused. Both boys blushed, each for different reasons.

And again, Troy forgot what he was about to say, feeling his throat close up, his mind went blank.

"I was just," Ryan looked around, anywhere but at the brunet, "Dancing," he smiled awkwardly, "For no real reason," he chanced a look at the brunet, who looked slightly surprised, maybe at the revelation, Ryan wasn't sure.

"So," Troy cleared his throat again, "You were just dancing for fun?" he asked, genuinely curious. He finally got over the initial hurdle of talking to the blond.

"Yeah," Ryan breathed, slightly looser, "Except it wasn't so much for fun but for," Ryan searched for the word, "Um, relief." Suddenly he blushed, "From stress," he added, he didn't need Troy thinking he was some weirdo.

"You were really," Troy almost said beautiful but stopped, and instead said, "Great," he watched as the blond took out a CD from the stereo and put on his messenger bag.

"Thanks," Ryan smiled, "I've never showed anyone that type of dancing, it's just something I do myself," he walked down the stage stairs and next to Troy, "I would have danced in my dance studio at home but Sharpay is having it remodeled again," he looked at Troy and found his total focus was directed at him, it made him feel special suddenly, and he didn't know why.

They walked beside each other down the hall, "I didn't know you could leap that high, it was cool," Troy said, watching the slight color on Ryan's cheeks darken.

"To be honest, I didn't know myself," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I think I'm going to need a long hot shower tonight, my muscles are so sore," he said, unaware of Troy's darkening eyes.

They reached the front gate, Troy's father's truck parked at the corner, his father reading a newspaper, seemingly unaware.

"So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," the blond said, starting off to the parking lot, where his own car was, a small wave before he turned around and walked away.

"Y-Yeah," Troy said, as he watched the blond walk away. He sighed deeply, before turning to the truck and getting in the passenger's seat.

"What took you so long?" his father said, as he put away the newspaper and started the car, "I think I've out here for an hour or so," he chuckled.

"Dad, it's only been like 20 minutes," he looked out the window, suddenly depressed.

His father glanced at him from the corner of his eye, "Hey," Troy looked at him, "What's wrong?"

Troy fidgeted in his seat, "Dad, what if," he couldn't really say what was wrong could he? He looked at his dad, who had his eyes on the road but his ears open, "What if you felt something about someone you weren't supposed to?" he asked quietly.

"Hm," His father narrowed his eyes in thought, "Well, I say you follow your heart son," he looked at Troy, "It's always true," Then he looked at the road again, satisfied with that answer.

Troy sighed. If only it were that easy.

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A/N: hmm, Emeralden Rapley, you gave me a good idea on how to use Chad but it's not exactly what you suggested, and since I planned the next couple of chapters out already it won't come up until a bit later. Thanks for the advice!

And Thanks for the reviews guys, keep them coming I love hearing from all of you.