A/N: Sorry for the wait. But the good news is this chapter was beta'd! By the wonderful Sandshrew777. Thank you! :D All errors in this were made by me after his wonderful edits.

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The Problem with Ryan

Chapter 15: Look.

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His pale slender fingers ran over the soft strip of fabric over his lap, caressing the dark velvet. Troy wanted those long fingers touching him with the same care. He wanted them caressing his skin, trailing over his chest, stomach, waist—everything.

The air was stifling; dust mixed with wet air. The cramped space made Troy fidget. His legs were bent, uncomfortably, so he leaned forward slightly—but the heat of the other boy stopped him short.

Staring into his clear pale blue eyes, impossibly wide, framed by straw-colored lashes, Troy was surprised to find a little fear. Fear of...him? What could he possibly have done to make Ryan so guarded and afraid? He never wanted to make Ryan afraid of him—never.

His cheeks were still colored; their close heat was starting to spread from his cheeks into Troy. He felt it everywhere—Ryan's heat was starting to take him over and before he knew it he was leaning over so he could capture those red lips so irresistibly close to his.

So close.

Troy's mind went blank.

The feeling of wisps of fast—cold—air against his lips made Troy snap back. He watched Ryan back away from him in haste, his eyes darting all around.

Troy swallowed back his fear. Had Ryan seen something—or worse, someone?

"Is something wrong?" Troy finally choked out.

Ryan looked so...afraid.

Troy felt his heart drop.

"Ryan?" he asked again.

He moved a little closer, his hand about to reach for Ryan's—in comfort—but the blond boy backed away again.

"I have to go!" Ryan jumped. Flying fabric, a box knocked sideways, a confused and so cold Troy was all that was left in Ryan's wake.

Troy stared as the particles of dust still floated up in the air. He left the back room to follow Ryan, but when he stepped out onto the stage he found it empty. He looked out into the auditorium and found Gabriella looking at him, concerned.

Tearing his eyes away from her questioning gaze, he left the stage. He didn't want to deal with her questions right now. Right now he wanted to leave the dim—cold—auditorium.

It made his eyes sore and his heart thump harshly against his ribcage.

It made him remember Ryan's eyes filled with fear and confusion.

It made him think horrible thoughts. What if he'd read Ryan wrong? What if he didn't like him that way? Maybe he's disgusted with him.

What the hell did I just do? I made a move on another boy without even thinking about it! The look on those light blue eyes was frozen in Troy's mind. The fear. It made Troy's blood run cold. Ryan jerking away from him replayed over and over again in his head. What am I going to do?

He found himself in the empty classroom of his next class. He sat down and looked at his hands. He could still feel Ryan's fingers brush against his own and he was disappointed in himself for still wanting to feel it, for still liking a boy who so obviously just rejected him but he just couldn't—wouldn't—stop.

A shuffle of books and paper made Troy snap out of his contemplations. He looked around and noticed most of his classmates had already settled in their seats. Troy sighed as his gaze fell on the empty seat beside him. Its bareness seemed to stare haughtily back at him.

Chad sauntered in just at that moment and as soon as his gaze landed on Troy his light demeanor morphed into rigidity. His brown eyes hesitated for a moment—Troy hoped he'd just flop down in the seat next to him like yesterday—but then Chad looked away and chose a seat on the other side of the room. Troy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

He couldn't understand Chad's sudden withdrawal. Why was he so angry? It didn't quite add up. At first, he thought Chad suspected he was gay. That thought pulled at him daily but he knew Chad would be okay with it in the end. He knew that but he still couldn't bring himself to confront it. He didn't want to tell him because if he told Chad then he'd have to tell his parents and if he told his parents then it would be real. He would really be gay.

I am gay.

Troy shut his eyes as the thought wedged itself into his mind. He couldn't run way from it could he? He wasn't sure he could handle all of this right now. But was his choice to hide his sexuality from Chad the reason Chad had said that their friendship was over? Troy tried to unscramble Chad's angry speech from yesterday but it all blurred in his mind. All he remembered was his panic at Chad's question:

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You're acting weird."

Could...could everyone tell he was gay? He quickly glanced around the room. Everyone seemed busy talking, laughing, or doodling in their notebooks. Nothing was out of the ordinary, nothing shifty.

He looked at Chad and found the curly brunet avoiding his gaze. He felt the ache already in his chest grow just a bit more. Soon Troy heard faint whispers around the room, several kids leaning into each other to talk and look at him and Chad.

If yesterday wasn't the worst day I've ever been through then today definitely is.

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Gabriella was itching to talk to Troy, but the stubborn brunet was avoiding her. And she knew he was avoiding her. She bit the end of her pencil—his pained face right after Ryan stormed out of the auditorium filled her mind.

Suddenly she gasped. Ryan!

Of course, she could ask him what happened!

"You found the answer?" Taylor asked.

Gabriella looked at Taylor in confusion for a moment before she shook her head, "No, I just," she smiled to herself, "Thought of another way to approach the problem."

"Okay," Taylor said slowly, eyeing the brunette girl across from her oddly before going back to her own homework.

Gabriella giggled a little to herself but reminded herself to stay quiet. She was in the library. She was supposed to be studying.

But...

If she talked to Ryan then maybe she could gauge his reaction when she spoke about Troy, and then maybe she could find out the reason he left so quickly this morning during free period. It was so odd the way he tensed at the news that he would have to help Sharpay and Troy backstage. She could understand if Troy had been in Ryan's shoes because Troy liked Ryan so much and would be afraid to make an idiot out of himself, not to mention he didn't want Ryan to know he liked him, because he's an idiot who wouldn't—

Wait.

Could that mean...

Could Ryan have...feelings for Troy?

Awww! It's just like it is in the movies!

"Okay, tell me what's up," Taylor said bluntly, pushing her books aside and leaning in.

Gabriella jumped. "Up?" she repeated, shaking her head quickly, "Nothing! Nothing's up!" Oh, God! Could I be anymore transparent? How can I expect Troy to tell me anything if Taylor can read me like a book?

Taylor's lips thinned, but Gabriella saw the hint of a grin in them.

"Is this about Troy and Chad?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and letting the smug grin out.

And now Taylor knows something's up with Troy and—"What?" Gabriella asked, bewildered. "…Chad?"

"Yeah," Taylor said slowly, as if talking to a third grader about addition, "It's all over school—the whole Troy and Chad separation," she continued, quirking an eyebrow at Gabriella, "That's what you were thinking about, right? I mean, I don't blame you, it's a big mystery. There are rumors but none of them make sense, and besides: they're best friends. Why would they suddenly stop talking?"

Gabriella had no idea whatsoever. She saw Troy this morning in free period and nothing seemed off. But she still hadn't had class with Chad and Troy together yet, only math with Chad and then English with Troy. She hadn't noticed anything odd since they were separated anyway.

Not wanting to seem out of the loop, as Gabriella hated to admit she often was, she asked a question instead. "What do think's the real reason?"

Taylor pursed her lips in thought, tapping her chin with her pointer finger.

"Well, they obviously had a fight." She narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the possible causes, "And it couldn't be because of a girl like some have been suggesting because we both would know if they were seeing someone, so it either has to be about basketball or something else trivial."

Gabriella laughed, "Don't let Chad hear you call basketball trivial," she warned, smiling.

Taylor smirked.

"Oh, he's heard me," she replied easily.

Gabriella laughed—fully, this time, forgetting where she was as she pictured Chad's reaction.

A group of girls, glaring, passed them with towering stack of books in their hands.

Suddenly Gabriella remembered the more-than-usual amount of chatter in her previous class.

"So what kind of trivial rumors have you been hearing?" she asked.

Taylor counted off with her fingers.

"One, Troy stole Chad's 'love interest'," she started, air quoting when necessary, "Two, Chad is jealous of the attention Troy's getting at games," Taylor rolled her eyes before continuing. "And well," she let her fingers fall as her demeanor became more serious, "Some have been saying that Chad wants nothing to do with Troy."

"Maybe Troy lied to him. I don't know—but the main point is that Chad is the one mad at Troy," she finished.

"Oh, no," Gabriella mused. She sat back as she wondered if this had to do with her advice. 'You know, your best friend, practically your brother. If you can't tell him then how do you expect to tell…anyone?'

She wanted to help her friend so badly. Troy was one of her best friends. And after their break-up—when she told him she didn't love him—she felt she sort of owed him.

If she couldn't love him then she was going to find someone who did.

Fine. If Troy doesn't want to talk to me, I'm just going to have to try Ryan.

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The doorbell had rung a few moments ago.

And now, after the front door opened to reveal a visitor on the other side, there was this odd awkward silence, the type of awkward silence that was filled with confusion because of its unexpectedness.

Jason Cross was a little too used to this type of awkward silence.

He still didn't know how to deal with it.

"So," Jason started.

Silence.

"Uh," he added, scratching the back of his neck, "What's up?"

Chad folded his arms over his chest and cut his eyes at Jason, who had accidentally blocked the doorway. The curly brunet suddenly let out a breath in frustration.

"Let me in," he ordered, pushing past a very puzzled Jason.

Shrugging to himself, Jason closed his front door. When he turned around and stood in front of it, his dark eyebrows rose up in silent question. Chad matched his stare.

"Don't you usually go to Troy's house?" Jason asked, confusion coloring his voice.

"What? You don't want me around or something?" Chad shot back immediately.

"No, it's just—" Jason started, taking a step forward.

"Let's watch some TV," Chad said flatly. He walked out of the small hallway, leaving Jason behind as he went into the living room.

Jason's puzzled features soon relaxed with another shrug of his shoulders.

Whatever.

When Jason entered his modestly sized living room he found Chad had shed his coat and was reclining on the single sofa tilted toward the television. Jason sat down on the adjacent couch, eyeing the curly brunet several times. He was a little surprised to find Chad in his house. It wasn't that Chad never came over—but the unexpected visit was a bit...strange. Something more Troy and Chad, not Chad and Jason.

Jason wasn't jealous of their close friendship because he was tight with Chad too but...everyone on the basketball team knew that Chad and Troy were like brothers. They were inseparable. And almost a strange version of the Evans Twins…Except without all the flashy colors and theatre stuff.

They were together since pre-school and no one could break that bond. So, to find Chad suddenly at his doorstep instead of Troy's and without Troy with him was a little...weird.

It was their senior year and Jason couldn't remember a time when the curly brunet had ever done that. Even when the team found out Troy tried out for Twinkle Towne last year, Chad never just suddenly appeared at his doorstep. And when Troy acted all aloof and flaky and kind of like Ryan Evans in the summer, Jason couldn't remember Chad ever going to just him instead of collecting the team.

Everyone at school was talking about the sudden rift between Troy and Chad. At first Jason didn't pay much attention, mostly because he often never paid attention to rumors…or anything in general. Then some of the team started to talk about it at lunch—and both Troy and Chad didn't show up to lunch.

Even Zeke said he didn't know what was going on with those two.

And if Zeke didn't know, then how was Jason supposed to figure it out?

The team was divided between their captain and his guard.

And Jason still had no idea what was going on! Was it just him? It all made Jason feel uncomfortable. He wasn't used to this divide. A team was supposed to be a team. He didn't want to take sides. Who would he chose?

"Just spill it," Chad finally said.

Jason started. Caught eyeing Chad again, his eyes widened in surprise before he quickly pretended to look at the television set.

"Whatever it is, just say it, Jase, because we all know you're horrible at hiding stuff," Chad spat—but he couldn't hide a small grin, Jason noticed.

At least something's still the same about him.

"Why are you here?" Jason blurted out.

"Hey, I thought we were friends! Can't a friend go over to another friend's house once in a while?" Chad inquired.

Yeah, but..."Unexpectedly?" Jason asked.

Chad nodded in agreement, and then Jason tilted his head.

"Why not go over to Troy's?" Jason suggested.

Chad scowled.

"Troy?" he scoffed, but then his tone turned suspiciously sweet, "Why would I do that when I could see you?"

Okay, even I'm not falling for that one.

So, Jason sat back and let Chad believe that he actually got away with bypassing the Troy topic.

"Oh, that's cool," he said off-handedly.

Chad looked smug.

Jason smiled to himself. "So, you'll see Troy later, right?"

Chad's smugness dissolved as he slowly turned to glare at a grinning Jason.

"No," he muttered, "I'm not going to hang out with Troy later."

And with that he folded his arms over his chest and returned his attention to the television.

Jason hated it when one of his friends was bothered and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Um," Jason felt at a loss as to what to say, so he did what he always did: he changed the topic.

"You ready for winter break? Seems like it's taking forever to get here."

Chad grunted.

"I was thinking we could go snow boarding, you know, up on the resort."

Chad made another noise in response and Jason gave up.

Chad wasn't going to suddenly feel better or get into a better mood—no, he wanted to sulk on Jason's brown cushiony couch.

Fine. Be that way.

After a few moments of staring at the television, Chad spoke, almost to himself, "Is this last time we're going to do this?"

"Huh?" Jason asked. He looked at Chad in confusion.

Chad's eyes widened as he realized he spoke aloud.

"The last time to what? Watch TV? You can come over whenever, Chad."

"No," Chad gritted out after blowing out a breath in frustration, "I meant hanging out, after we graduate," he explained, starting to speak faster and faster.

"After graduation? Yeah, why not?" Jason countered.

"No, I mean like all of us together, when we're in college and stuff!" Chad said desperately.

Jason wondered why Chad almost looked...scared.

"Uh, why wouldn't we?" Jason asked simply.

Chad blew out another annoyed breath. "Because it's not the same!" Chad cried, "Not like," he gestured between them in some vague explanation, "This."

"Huh?" Jason furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Oh, just forget it!" Chad yelled, shuffling to get his coat as he stormed out of the living room. He gave an aggravated "See you later" somewhere in the

hallway.

Jason sat on the couch a while after he heard the front door slam close. What was that all about?

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Gabriella Montez was an intelligent young lady who knew the difference between someone who was busy and someone who was ignoring her. She didn't like the excuse "I'm busy." She thought it was a half-assed way of saying "I don't feel like talking to you very much."

Slightly annoyed that cornering Troy didn't work yesterday, and trying to arrange a talk with Ryan last night on the phone led to excuses—such as his state of busyness—she decided to try the stalker method today. Observe and follow.

And that was what she was doing at this moment; observing Ryan.

The blond was currently at the upper level of the cafeteria, eating. But he hadn't taken a bite in over four minutes now. He looks absolutely miserable.

He was pushing food around his plate, his newsboy hat pulled down a little, shadowing his eyes and showing only the frown of his lips.

What could she do to fix this? It all felt like it was bigger than herself, bigger than even the two of them.

What can I really do? Gabriella felt hopeless.

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When Ryan settled his lunch tray next to Sharpay's usual but currently empty seat, he decided he was going to sit down at their usual lunch table and brood. His cheery mood of the morning deflated. He hated the constant ache in his chest—withholding his feelings to the point where it hurt at the sight of a familiar shaggy mop of golden brown hair.

God, why couldn't things be a little different?

Wouldn't it be great if Sharpay stopped liking Troy, if she suddenly said, 'Hey, Ryan I don't really like Troy anymore, you could have him.'

What am I thinking? Troy wasn't a used toy that Sharpay just handed over to him because she just got tired of it.

He sighed, his Spork scraping against the Styrofoam plate. Why, of all people, was he crushing on Troy Bolton? The most popular guy in school, with his handsome smile—he really needed to stop.

And when Troy leaned into him Ryan could have sworn he almost…it was as if there was this...moment.

Ryan could spend all of his lunch period thinking of more questions; hell, he could spend his whole life asking himself these useless questions. Questions that in the end didn't matter at all—that was how it was. He would never be with Troy, his sister wasn't going to magically stop liking Troy, and he would never, ever go after a guy his sister cared deeply about.

Even if I'm the one who cares just a little bit more.

Damnit!

I really need to get over this.

He looked down, through the railings at the floor below and saw Gabriella quickly turn her head away. Why was she staring at him? Ryan thought in annoyance, she wouldn't leave him alone.

He valued her friendship but he felt smothered and he got enough of that from his mother even though he felt bad for lying to her about not having any free time to hang out or talk or whatever she wanted to do but she was obviously trying to talk to him and find out what was bothering him but he never did like talking about things, not since...

Breathe, Ryan.

Suddenly the usual drone of chatter around him was replaced by complete silence. Ryan looked up for the first time and realized everyone was frozen. Following their gazes he saw Troy and Chad in the middle of it all.

Chad stood a bit to the side, and Ryan couldn't get a good look at the curly brunet except for his head full of curls and his clenched fists. Nobody moved as Troy and Chad stared at each other. The basketball team was all huddled together at their usual table, except for Jason who, interestingly enough, stood a little behind Chad, his eyes darting between the two.

It's almost like he wants to stop them, but he can't, Ryan thought.

Chad glared at everyone standing around them and Troy kept his gaze carefully averted from the curious stares as he tried to approach Chad.

Ryan heard the rumors but he didn't quite believe it. Troy and Chad had no reason to fight. There wasn't anything that seemed life-changing...

Was there?

No auditioning for a musicale for the first time or college scholarship opportunities that required severing ties with old friends. Ryan couldn't think of a single thing that would cause both boys to stop being friends. Of course, he was still just an outsider. He didn't really know if they had a reason to fight or not.

"Just go eat your lunches!" Chad growled in annoyance, "I'm not some...just...find something else to watch!"

And he stormed out of the cafeteria.

Damn. Wish I could do those kinds of dramatic exits.

"Oh, Troy!" a girl's voice broke the silence.

Ryan rolled his eyes. Of course. Sharpay wouldn't want the spotlight to be off her for this long.

"Oh, you must be so upset," she soothed, her arm—irritatingly—looped around Troy's firm, tight, but probably so soft...Ryan growled to himself in annoyance. He needed to stop. He told himself he would—

But Troy's eyes seemed to miss hers as he looked past her to the door Chad just went through.

Then he looked up—and at him.

Ryan's eyes widened.

He's looking at me.

It was that look again. That look that made his heart freeze right as it jumped into his throat. Deep blue eyes so far away but seemed to enlarge, seemed to just drown him into their icy depths.

And soon he was tugged away from them as Sharpay yanked on his arm.

But then Troy jerked his arm away from hers, he said something Ryan couldn't hear as soon as the cafeteria burst into whispers and gossip. Then Sharpay fixed Troy with one of her glares.

Ryan immediately lifted himself out of the lunch table with his tray in his hands, his heart pounding. Does she know?

He dumped his plate into the trash and hastily dropped his tray with the others as he fled the cafeteria, not noticing a pair of brown eyes watching his every move, and dumping the contents of her own tray on the level below.

All he knew was that he was done eating and he wanted to get the hell out of the suddenly small and cramped cafeteria.

Ryan couldn't help but think.

Did she see Troy look at me? Did she see his eyes?

That look filled with something. Something Ryan was too afraid to define.

Then it suddenly hit him.

Troy looked at me…like that.

x x x TBC x x x