A/N: I want to thank my beta, Sandshrew777, his edits made this chapter a million and one times better. Hopefully, I made Gabriella less lifeless in this version lol. All errors were made by me after his wonderful edits.

Also, this chapter is dedicated to Emeralden Rapley… I finally used your idea…well not quite but it's a little of what you said...won't say too much here cuz' I'll ruin it for everyone else (it's the very last scene) :D Thanks for the inspiration! (I hope you don't mind that I included it after sooo many chapters later :D)

x x xxxxx x x

The Problem with Ryan

Chapter 16: Intertwined views.

x x xxxxx x x

Gabriella watched the whole scene unfold.

Troy's eyes were dull, pain etched on his face. Gabriella felt so pathetic, just sitting there among the rest, watching.

Troy's anguished gaze followed Chad as he pushed past the quiet crowd and exited the cafeteria. He left Troy standing in the middle of the cafeteria, staring incomprehensibly at the large double doors as they slammed closed. A resounding bang echoed.

All were silent.

Watching. Waiting.

And Gabriella was part of the group, watching one of her best friends in pain, center-stage. She felt disgusted with everyone, this wasn't some show. Troy was hurt. She wanted to run to Troy, hug him or do something to make his eyes light again. But a rush of pink and glitter flashed through Gabriella's peripheral vision before she could move.

Gabriella turned and caught sight of Sharpay slipping her arm underneath Troy's. The blonde girl practically wrapped herself around his arm, and suddenly Gabriella felt herself stuck in her seat, unable to move. Instead, she watched the pair with slight annoyance.

How can she stand there and just take advantage of this? Gabriella thought appalled. Of course, because Sharpay wouldn't run to Troy's side just to comfort him, no, she needs the attention too.

But...what am I doing just sitting here?

She felt like such a jerk.

Gazing around the cafeteria she caught sight of Ryan, on the level above, his eyes trained on Troy and Sharpay. He looked slightly sick, his arms folded on the table and his shoulders slightly hunched. Maybe I'm not the only one who feels so…helpless…She suddenly thought.

Then Ryan jerked up, his shoulders straightened. Gabriella quickly followed his line of vision back to—

Troy.

Troy, staring back at Ryan.

Troy's gaze was so intense that he didn't notice Sharpay caressing his arm. His body was stiff. Her eyes narrowed in determination before she yanked at his arm roughly. Gabriella felt a bit of anger at Sharpay. Then Troy looked down at the blonde girl sharply, Gabriella had never seen Troy look so angry.

"Just leave me alone," he said hollowly. Then he yanked his arm free from her grasp. Sharpay gasped and fixed him a deathly glare of her own. And then Troy left. Gabriella felt her anger drain away as she watched Sharpay's glare soften, a brief glimpse of hurt covered quickly by a look of superiority.

Murmurs of gossip drifted around to Gabriella, but she didn't listen to them. It was all just white noise.

She watched Ryan abruptly rise. This was her chance, she thought, she needed to follow him. So, she lifted herself up and out of her seat. Ryan rushed to empty his tray. Gabriella dumped the contents of her tray as well. He went out the exit on the higher level as she went out the exit on the lower level.

I'm going to find him.

I am going to get answers.

….otherwise…what kind of friend am I?

x x xxxxx x x

Most people didn't notice him. He was just part of the team, part of the group, blending in with the red and white. He was just another boy among the sea of boys with identical red uniforms running around the glossy stretch of linoleum floor, tossing around basketballs. He was just another wildcat among the mesh of red and white that made up the basketball team's lunch table.

So, it was only natural that no one noticed when Jason Cross left the cafeteria to go after Chad.

While roaming aimlessly around the hallways, Jason's stomach grumbled.

I can't believe I missed pizza day for this.

As he turned the corner, a bustle of dark wavy brown hair and pastels bumped into his chest. He looked down and realized it was Gabriella Montez. He rubbed his chest absently, feeling a little sore.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed. She brushed at her shirt quickly, not realizing that it was Jason who she ran into.

"Gabriella?" he said hesitantly. She looked up and her eyes widened in recognition before she blushed in embarrassment.

Awkward, Jason thought as he took in breath.

He went out on a date with Gabriella at the start of the school year. It was filled with averted glances, polite smiles, and stretches of awkward silences.

Of course, the type of awkward silence he experienced with Gabriella was different than the one from the day before with Chad. This type of awkward silence started with the silence itself…the lack of something to say seemed to morph into a tangible entity; and as if alive, it seemed to grow and grow until it just became so awkward that…he couldn't really explain it.

He just wanted to avoid it.

Jason didn't blame Gabriella anymore than he blamed himself. They just weren't meant to be. And that was fine with him.

"H-Hey, Jason," she said. Then she looked up at him and stretched her lips in the same polite smile he remembered.

"Hi."

She knew she'd said 'hey' already, but…

This is so awkward, Gabriella thought.

"Hey," Jason said. He gave a small nod in greeting.

He looks like he wants to be anywhere but here.

They hadn't talked since their disastrous date. That was four months ago. It was when the weather was a warm remainder of summer, and when she had shorter side-sweep bangs.

And that was ages ago.

Well, it felt like it, anyway.

The hallway was deserted during lunch. No one to hide behind now, Jason was forced to confront the unavoidable: Gabriella Montez in all her glory.

Who knew Jason Cross is afraid of a little brunette girl? His mind mocked.

I'm not afraid! Jason shot back in irritation. She's just…it's awkward…

He did not want to deal with this.

Gabriella rushed to speak before another stretch of silence could gain in length, "I was looking for Ryan. Um, have you seen him?" She said quickly.

He shook his head. "No," he responded simply.

Her eyes went past Jason's head, watching Chad disappear behind an exit leading to the parking lot. She thought this was sort of strange but didn't mention it to the rather quiet - too quiet - raven-haired boy in front of her.

"Oh, okay," she said.

Instead, she concentrated on trying not to make a fool out of herself.

But she couldn't help but wonder why Chad would go through an exit in the middle of lunch?

Stop that!

She needed to focus on finding Ryan.

You need to mind your own business, a voice cut in inside her mind. It sounded suspiciously like Taylor.

Gabriella looked at Jason, who looked back at her blankly.

Another silence.

"Okay," he said finally, for lack of a better thing to say.

They awkwardly made to pass each other but as Gabriella went to her right, Jason went to his left.

"Sorry," they both said.

And as Jason went to his right this time, Gabriella went to her left, and they blocked each other again.

"Sorry!" Gabriella said quickly.

"Sorry," Jason said, wincing as he almost bumped into her again.

Then as he was about to walk past her - again - Gabriella suddenly halted.

"Wait," she said abruptly. She stepped in front of him, her brown eyes hesitant for a moment before she finally said, "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Jason said. He felt flustered suddenly, "And you?"

"I'm good," she smiled.

Jason felt his cheeks heat in discomfort. This was way more awkwardness than he was used to. After this he knew he reached his quota for the week.

Suddenly, Gabriella let out a breath of frustration.

"We shouldn't just—I mean, we can still talk, right?" she asked.

When he nodded, she smiled.

"Good, because as awkward as this is," she admitted, "We can't avoid each other forever."

Jason let out a nervous chuckle in relief and she laughed, pleased.

"Yeah, you're right," he grinned, feeling more comfortable. "I guess, I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, definitely," She smiled widely, this time genuinely happy.

They finally parted, and Jason felt good about their odd encounter. He felt as if a weight he didn't know was on his shoulders lifted.

After a long walk, he suddenly realized he forgot to ask her about Chad.

Oh, man!

He turned around and found the halls deserted, it was already too late. Gabriella was gone.

Where the hell is Chad?

x x xxxxx x x

Ryan's cell phone wouldn't stop vibrating. Clutching it one hand, Ryan gazed at the screen.

Michael.

Sighing in irritation, he turned off the annoying device. As soon as Ryan stepped out of the cafeteria Michael had started to bombard his cell phone with text messages.

'Hey, you there?'

'Ry?'

And, after a long pause:

'You can't ignore me forever.'

Ryan snapped his cell phone close.

Oh, yes I can.

Troy looking him at him like that and now Michael bothering him…since when had he become so desirable? Ryan snorted, shaking his head. It wasn't exactly desire fueling Michael; well, at least not desire for purely Ryan. As for Troy…

Troy was a mystery. He was smoldering blue eyes and confusion. Ryan sighed heavily, passing endless lockers, doors, posters until he found himself at the end of the hall, wide steps open for him to climb or descend. He didn't know where he was going.

He felt hopeless, anxious, and frustrated all at once. Ryan tried to comprehend the look Troy gave him, trying to find any other explanation other than—

That.

But every time he pictured Troy looking at him from below, his head tilted upwards, it blurred in his mind.

All he felt was the longing, longing Troy felt for him.

And it hurt.

Ryan knew that he and Troy could never be together. Not when Sharpay had such deep feelings for Troy. She loved him.

Ryan wasn't sure what he felt for him. Every time his thoughts turned to Troy he started to feel everything around him blend and smudge and twist. And his chest would squeeze as he considered how his sister must feel the same way too. He just wanted to be able to love Troy…to be able to have him.

And when Troy looked at him in the cafeteria just a few moments before, his focus solely on Ryan, there was an intensity that Ryan couldn't explain.

It gave Ryan too much hope. It made the tight hold on his chest lessen.

But Sharpay loved him, so Ryan shouldn't feel like this…he shouldn't even be thinking about this. Period.

Ryan would never betray his sister that deeply.

But, the way Troy looked at me…

Ryan bit his lip. It felt nice. Just for a moment, Ryan felt happy. And even the slightest thought of Troy having feelings for him lifted him in a way he wouldn't have thought possible.

But I can't hurt Shar that way, Ryan thought firmly.

"I can't," Ryan muttered to himself, "I just can't."

And as Ryan chose yet again to put his sister's interests ahead of his own, he decided to go down the stairs.

As he went down, he spotted Jason going up the stairs, muttering to himself.

"Uh, Jason? You all right?" Ryan tilted his head as he halted on a step.

Jason looked up, his eyes blinking in confusion.

"Ryan?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ryan said in confirmation, and Jason's face suddenly seemed to just wipe clean of all confusion. Ryan smiled faintly at Jason's ability to change emotions so quickly. Ryan wished he could do that.

Jason chuckled, "Gabriella was looking for you," he said brightly.

"Oh?" Ryan feigned interest. Inwardly, he rolled his eyes.

What could she possibly want with me?

"Yeah, and, uh, have you seen Chad around?" Jason asked.

"No, I haven't seen much of anyone, actually," Ryan replied.

"Oh, okay. Thanks anyway," Jason said faintly, climbing the steps before Ryan had a chance to say his farewell.

Jason seemed to have his mind elsewhere, so Ryan didn't blame him for his quick exit. But standing on the step, now alone, Ryan felt a little deserted.

Suddenly, he felt alone. Looking around the bare staircase, it was eerie without any students and so very quiet. It was suffocating. Ryan descended the stairs quickly. In a split-second decision spurred by his sudden need to escape, he glanced at the exit in front of him briefly before he pushed the unusually heavy door and—

"Oof!"

"Huh?" Ryan muttered, confused. He pushed the door more firmly, stepping out into the chilly air. Looking down, he found Chad sprawled on the floor looking very grumpy.

"What the hell?!" Chad yelled. He looked up and saw Ryan standing over him.

Tilting his head, Ryan looked at him in confusion.

"Chad?" he asked.

Then he chuckled.

"Do you always block important exits?" he added.

Chad lifted himself off the cold cement floor with a grunt, clearly annoyed with the day in general. "Do you always attack people innocently leaning?" he asked Ryan pointedly, brushing roughly at his torn blue jeans.

"On doors?" Ryan chuckled, putting his hands into the pockets of his pastel white slacks.

"Well," Chad huffed, rubbing his abused bottom briefly as he glared at the laughing blond, "I forgot it was a door for a second."

The cold air blew past them, and Chad hugged himself. Suddenly his thin long-sleeve shirt and jeans seemed like a very bad idea. At least Ryan was better off, Chad thought, noticing his deep blue fedora hat as Chad felt the cold air brush past the nape of his neck.

"So," Ryan said, "Why are you out here…in the cold?" He turned to look at the curly brunet, who decided to lean against the school wall this time. Ryan decided to join him.

Chad shrugged, "Didn't feel like bein' in there," he nodded over to the door.

Ryan nodded, "Are you... is everything okay?" Ryan asked hesitantly. He didn't want to pry into Chad's personal issues with Troy. But Chad was his friend, and he knew he would do the same for him if something like this happened. Whatever this was.

Chad eyes remained on the parking lot in front of them, not meeting Ryan's concerned ones.

"I guess not, I mean, you probably saw what happened in there," he said quietly, looking at Ryan for confirmation. When Ryan nodded, Chad sighed. His eyes turned back to the parking lot as he added, "Yeah, well, then I guess everything is definitely not okay."

When Ryan looked at Chad his mouth was drawn in a frown. He looked upset and confused.

There seemed to be a lot of that going around.

"Well, I guess everything can't be okay all the time," Ryan said softly.

"Yeah, I hear that," Chad muttered to himself.

The sky was white, filled with clouds. The air was chilly but not freezing, Ryan and Chad stared at the parking lot, both quiet and deep in thought. The silence wasn't awkward or uncomfortable but a blanket of blankness they both could escape under just for a few short moments.

"Jason was looking for you," Ryan said finally.

Chad turned to him, "Really?" He looked surprised. Then he sighed, "It sucks when your cell breaks, you lose connection with society."

"You want to use mine?" Ryan offered.

Chad shook his head.

"Nah, I don't feel like talking to anyone right now," he waved it off.

"Oh. Do you want me to leave?" Ryan asked suddenly.

"No, no, I just...I don't know," Chad sighed, "I don't know what I want."

"Oh, okay," Ryan said. Then Ryan sighed, letting his head fall back on the wall.

Chad looked at him, "You okay?" He asked, and Ryan looked at him in surprise. "You seem kinda down," Chad added.

Ryan leaned further against the wall. He felt like sinking into the brick but he knew that was impossible, instead he found comfort in his back pressed against the wall. He didn't like opening up much but maybe…maybe he could just let loose whatever was in his head just this once….

"You ever just feel like…everything is happening and…you just—it just becomes too much to handle?" Ryan looked at Chad, and found him staring at him. "Chad?"

"Yeah, yeah, I do," Chad said finally, "It's just...the way you said that—"

Was like you were reading my mind.

"Anyway," Chad shook his head, "I think...I may have been too busy worrying about everything that I guess I got all mad," Chad sighed heavily, "I don't know."

Ryan furrowed his eyebrows.

"You got mad? At Troy?" he asked, trying to understand Chad's jumbled words.

Chad chuckled a little to himself.

"Yeah."

He looked at Ryan suddenly, "Look, I guess I can talk to you," he said as if he were deciding on the spot. But he knew Ryan didn't have Gabriella's know-it-all eyes, Zeke's 'it'll all be okay' attitude, Taylor's 'you've got to be kidding me' look, Jason's high eyebrow clueless expression, and Troy's … recent standoffish vibe….

And there was no way in hell he'd talk to Sharpay.

Ryan was just...Ryan.

And he's cool…in an off-beat sorta way.

Chad looked him dead in the eyes, and after some hesitation he spoke quickly, before he could change his mind.

"The whole college-future stuff...it kinda freaks me out."

Ryan's lips quirked in amusement, only Chad could be so blunt and make it look so easy.

And when Chad finally said those words aloud, it felt as if something opened within him. He felt the need to just spill everything he'd held in.

"And…I thought—I think that this school year'll end and everyone will go to college or whatever an' all my friends, everyone I met here and everything, will just go away, you know? They'll just leave and I'll have to start all over again in college…and when that all happens I'll really hate it cuz' I'll…"

Miss everyone.

Ryan's eyes widened slightly.

He put a hand on Chad's shoulder.

"You do know that Troy's your best-friend, right? And he'll always be that, no matter what," he comforted.

"Yeah, but how do I know that he won't go off to college and just leave? Just like—" Chad began.

"Chad, you know Troy realized he made a mistake this summer, but he learned from that," Ryan interrupted. "If anything, that just proves he'll always be your friend, even if my sister offers him the world."

And, suddenly, it occurred to Ryan as he said those words that it was true. No matter what schemes or plans she had for him, Troy would never choose his sister.

Where's that leave me?

He still couldn't betray her.

Chad chuckled.

"Yeah, you're right, I just got …I don't know, carried away," he admitted.

And scared.

Ryan's thoughts drifted away at the sound of Chad chuckling.

"Yeah," Ryan agreed, "It's alright, but even you've got to admit…you can never doubt the Wildcats."

Chad grinned.

"How could I ever?"

Ryan shook his head as they stepped back into the school. As Chad pushed the door ahead of him, Ryan noticed he seemed more at ease, Chad's frown was replaced by an easy grin. Ryan felt good about helping his friend.

Suddenly the bell rang loudly, its sharp timbre resonating through the halls. Students spilled into them, crowding and filling so much that Ryan and Chad had to hug the lockers.

"Thanks, man," Chad said, smiling.

Ryan nodded, "No problem, Chad," he replied. He grinned.

x x xxxxx x x

When the bell rang, Troy rushed down the stairs from the cafeteria.

As Troy stepped out off the staircase, his eyes spotted a dark blue fedora hat far at the end of the hall, transfixed, he stared at it until the crowd moved slightly and revealed a smooth pale forehead, pale blue eyes, and then finally Ryan's beautiful smile.

The crowd of kids moved in front of Ryan again, showing Chad near him. The crowd shifted again, showing Ryan leaning in and Chad hugging him. The crowd swayed and dispersed slowly, showing Troy only glimpses of Ryan and Chad hugging and close and happy…

And, for one long moment, Troy just couldn't think.

All Troy felt was his throat constricting tightly, and the surge of white-hot-blinding pain that sparked within his chest.

His eyes fixed on the two teens far away, behind the crowd, hugging closely. He didn't register the touch on his arm, or the world around him.

"Hey, Troy!" Troy jerked in surprise at the sight of Gabriella beside him. He looked back at the end of the hall.

Ryan and Chad were gone.

Gabriella tugged on his arm gently.

"Troy...? Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

He broke away from Gabriella as he swallowed thickly. He looked down at her concerned eyes and then he turned away.

"I-I gotta go," he choked out, and left a bewildered Gabriella in front of the wide steps.

x x x TBC x x x

Sorry for the lateness!! But I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter :D

And any suggestions or comments are very welcome!