The week passed slowly and the school had seemed to move on from the Evans drama, except Sharpay. Troy and Chad were both worried about the younger of the twins as Ryan had seemed to push himself away from everything and everyone. Troy had also taken Ryan's advice and spoke to Gabriella, explaining how he felt. She was upset but agreed that they didn't work as a couple. But now all Troy could think about was Ryan, and it scared him.

"There he is, maybe we should corner him and just get him to smile?" Chad offered. The two had been talking about ways of cheering Ryan up the past week. They had gotten to know the young dancer during the school years and even though they weren't as close as they were with other people, they were still worried.

"I'll go," Troy smiled mainly because he wanted to spend as much time alone with Ryan as possible. "I think he'll open up if it's just me and him." Chad nodded and headed over to Sharpay who was sat on her own.

"Ryan, wait up!" Troy called as Ryan walked past the canteen, he stopped and turned around. Troy stopped dead when he saw him, he looked pale and tired. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, fine." Ryan shrugged. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to do something tonight," Troy rambled.

"I can't," Ryan mumbled.

"How come?" Troy asked a little disappointed. Ryan looked down and Troy placed an arm on his shoulder squeezing gently.

"Brett... he doesn't like me going out much." Ryan sighed. "Sorry."

"But it's not as though we'd be doing anything, just mates right?" Troy asked a little confused.

"It's complicated." Ryan sighed.

"Well tell me about it?" Troy asked.

"I can't." Ryan said pulling away from Troy's grip.

"I thought we were friends, Ry?" Troy asked, he knew he was giving his best puppy look expression, he just hoped Ryan would give into it.

"I don't need any friends, and I don't need you." With that blunt statement Ryan walked away from Troy, leaving the basketball player feeling as though someone had punched a hole in his heart and ripped it out. Troy wanted to call out to him, but he had lost his voice. Everything around him seemed to be going fast and he was stuck shock still. He hadn't even had Ryan yet but he had already lost him.

The bell rang for the end of the day and after spending the remainder of his lessons zoned out thinking about the blacked haired boy that had broke his heart, Troy was relieved to be free of school. He walked out of the bricked building and caught a glimpse of black hair, he followed him with his eyes and watched as Ryan approached a man. He looked to be in his early twenties, covered in muscles that were hidden behind a dark black top. He was leaning against a black truck. Troy walked closer, not to listen in but to get closer to his truck.

"What are you doing here?" Ryan asked. "I said..."

"I know but I thought I'd drive you to work." Troy frowned, Ryan worked?

"I told you I didn't want to..."

"I know but it'll be okay." The man, Troy assumed was Brett wrapped an arm around Ryan. "I'll be there with you. And it's money right?"

"Yeah but it's cheap and dirty..."

"It's just money." The man hissed and opened the door and Ryan got in silently. Troy headed towards his trucked completely confused. In his mind he was adding up the pieces and he hated to think about the conclusions his thoughts had jumped to.

He got in his truck and drove home. He sat on his bed trying not to think about what Ryan was doing right now. Ryan couldn't be doing... that.

Troy spent the rest of the night not thinking about what he was thinking about and doing homework. His mum called him down to dinner, and asked what was wrong. She also asked about Ryan which didn't help when he was trying and failing and not thinking about him. "I'm worried about him." Troy sighed.

"The school's worried too," His dad put in, Troy looked at him to go into more explanation though he was a little worried that he didn't want to hear it. He didn't want more proof that Ryan was doing... that. "He doesn't show up to most of his classes. He's behind in all his assignments, and they're worried about his well being. I've noticed how drawn back he is."

"So have I." Troy sighed.

Just as they were finishing dinner there was a knock at the door. Troy got up to answer it, Chad normally came around with no invitation but after growing up with him the Bolton's were all used to it. When he answered it he was surprised to see Ryan standing in his doorway. His clothes ringing wet from the rain outside, his face pale and covered in blood.

"Ryan oh my god what happened?" Troy asked, he went to pull Ryan inside but he flinched away. "It's okay, come in I'll get you some dry clothes yeah?" Ryan nodded and stared at the floor. Troy gestured for him to come in, his mum and dad were standing near the door both expecting it to be Chad but when Troy called Ryan's name they both looked up. Once they saw Ryan they both headed over to him.

"Come upstairs yeah, mum could you make some hot tea?" Troy asked when he realised how much Ryan was shaking.

"Yes sure," His mum said she wanted to wrap her arms around Ryan and hold him tightly but she knew that would scare the boy away. She watched as her son delicately led Ryan up the stairs, he made sure not to touch him but was gentle with him non the less.

Ryan stood awkwardly in Troy's bedroom. "Are you hurt?" Troy asked, he couldn't look at Ryan's face it was covered in pain and he suddenly realised what a stupid question that was. Of course he was hurt, his lips were cracked and bleeding he had a bruise forming on his right eye, his nose bloody... Ryan simply nodded. Troy frowned, so far Ryan hadn't said anything to him. He looked through his closet and pulled out his large wildcat hooded sweater that was his favourite comforter, he also grabbed a pair of simple tracksuit bottoms, he also grabbed boxers and warm socks. He handed the clothes to Ryan who stared at them blankly.

"I'll wait outside the room whilst you change," Troy said softly. Ryan looked up at him, fear in his eyes. "Or do you want me to stay?" Ryan nodded again. "Okay, do you need help getting changed?" When Ryan nodded Troy gulped nervously. He had imagined getting Ryan undressed in several ways over the past year, but he had never expected it to be like this.

He unzipped Ryan's jumper and frowned when he saw that he wasn't wearing a tee underneath, the boy must be freezing. Troy headed over to one of his draws and pulled out a tee at random. He looked at Ryan who seemed to have zoned out, just staring at the floor. "I'm going to put the top on you okay." When Ryan nodded weakly in response Troy scrunched the top over his head and Ryan put his arms up with robotic motion, as though he didn't really know what was going on around him. Troy thought it best to put the jumper on as well, as he was still shaking. "Better?" Troy asked as he ran his hands up and down Ryan's now covered arms, the black haired boy simply nodded again.

"Can you do your trousers?" Troy asked. Ryan nodded and pulled down his trousers and Troy tried not to stare at all the bruises or the dry blood around his thighs. "Ryan, who did this to you?" When he didn't answer Troy just gulped. "I'm going to go and get some tissue to clean you up okay..." Ryan nodded and watched as Troy left the room. Troy came back a few minutes later with a warm cloth, "Sit on the bed," Troy said gently, when Ryan did, Troy didn't miss the pained expression on his face.

All the thoughts he had earlier all seemed to make sense now. He cleaned up Ryan's legs, trying not to think about what was mixed in the blood on his legs. Once done, he removed Ryan's underwear not looking at him whilst doing it, he pulled on a pair of his and then the tracksuit bottoms.

"You going to tell me what's going on?" Troy asked gently.

Ryan just stared at the floor.