The day's slowly passed, Chad had phoned asking what was going on wanting to know why his best friend wasn't at school. Troy told him it was personal but he should be in on Monday, Chad asked if he was okay and when Troy said he was Chad left him too it. Friday and Saturday were spent mostly outside in the garden, Ryan would sit and read his English text or do the maths he was assigned and Troy would do his work half heartedly before practising his jump shot and Ryan would watch him. It wasn't till Sunday that Troy noticed how Ryan was becoming a little distant.

"Everything okay?" Troy asked, it was nearing lunch time and Ryan was sat outside watching as Troy and his father shot some hoops, Troy's dad had even offered to help Ryan with his shooting skills but Ryan turned the offer down. Ryan hadn't realised that Jack; Troy's dad, had left them to it. "Ry..."

"Huh?" Ryan shook his head. "Sorry."

"It's cool." Troy smiled and sat next to Ryan, he noticed that the blond boy was almost finished his book. "Must be good." He said pointing towards the book.

"Yeah, it is." Ryan shrugged.

"Are you okay?" Troy asked, when Ryan shrugged weakly he knew there was something wrong.

"I don't want to go back to school," Ryan said quietly. Troy sighed, Ryan hadn't spoken to anyone other then him and his parents, but even when he spoke to Troy's parents it wasn't a full conversation normally he would just answer with yes no answers.

"I know." Troy sighed, he put an arm around Ryan holding him next to him. "I'll ask my mum if we can stay off."

"You've got a life Troy," Ryan said as he moved away from him. "You've got friends who miss you, classes you need to attend. You can't put it all on hold because I'm too scared to leave the house."

"Can't I?" Troy asked. He wanted to move closer to Ryan because it felt wrong not being close to him. He was used to holding him when they spoke, he had grown comfortable having his body heat close to him, and when he was without it everything just felt wrong.

"No." Ryan answered simply.

"Okay. Well how about if I go to school and you stay here?" Troy asked, though he didn't want to leave Ryan alone. Ryan thought about it and shook his head.

"I don't think I could be on my own." Ryan answered honestly.

"We'll talk to my mum okay?" Troy suggested, when Ryan nodded Troy decided he wanted to get the physical contact back and walked slowly over to him and wrapped an arm around him, it was a light hug one that Ryan could pull away from easily if he chose to. But Ryan didn't choose to pull away instead he held on tighter.

"Can we go out?" Ryan asked in Troy's ear.

"Where do you want to go?" Troy asked as he ran his hands up and down Ryan's back in soothing motions, he could practically feel Ryan melting into the touch.

"To the mall?" Ryan suggested. "I... it'll be crowded there and I need to get used to being near other people."

"Are you sure?" Troy asked, he knew what a big deal this was for Ryan. Ryan nodded. "Okay. We'll take my car then and when ever you want to leave we will." Ryan nodded and hugged Troy a little tighter before moving away.

They walked into the kitchen hand in hand, Troy's parents didn't question what was going on between them, they both knew what would eventually happen and neither frowned upon it. "Where you two going then?" His mum asked.

"To the mall," Ryan said almost proudly. Troy's mum looked a little anxious. "I need to get used to it." Ryan added. Troy smiled, Ryan was really trying to get better.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Troy's dad offered. Ryan shook his head.

"We'll be okay." Troy smiled and squeezed Ryan's hand tight. Troy's mum smiled at them both and reached into her purse, she handed both boys a twenty dollar bill. When she went to give it to Ryan he pulled away.

"Please take it," Troy's mum said. "It's not charity, just get something nice with it. Please."

"I..." Ryan stared at the money and then took it, "Thank you." He pocketed the bill and then stared at the floor.

Troy smiled to his mum and dad before walking out of the house with Ryan attached to his hand. When they got into the truck, Ryan handed Troy the money. "Hold onto it for me?" Ryan asked nervously. "I don't want to get something I shouldn't." Troy couldn't describe how proud he felt of Ryan then.

"Sure." Troy smiled and put the money in his pocket. Ryan sat close to Troy who put one arm around him as he started the engine. "Remember, when you want to leave just tell me." Ryan nodded his head and took a nervous deep breath.

When they reached the car park they found it hard to find a space which meant the mall was packed tight. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Troy asked as he rubbed Ryan's arms, Ryan was still wearing Troy's clothes which were slightly too big for him.

"Yeah." Ryan nodded his head and when Troy opened the door he took another deep breath and then followed Troy out of the truck. Troy reached out and grabbed Ryan's hand.

"I wont let go, I'll be here with you every step of the way." Troy said squeezing Ryan's hand as though he was proving the point. Ryan smiled sheepishly and walked hand in hand with Troy into the mall.

Troy could feel Ryan shaking next to him, people were walking around them a few staring at their hands but not saying anything. "You okay?" Troy asked gently. Ryan nodded too scared to actually speak. Ryan moved a little closer to Troy who put an arm around him as well. "I think we should get you some clothes." Ryan nodded and they headed to one of the many clothes stores.

"Oh look a two for one sale," Troy pointed out at the jeans. Ryan nodded and picked up a pair of black jeans and a pair of blue jeans and when he started to laugh Troy stared at him.

"I used to laugh at people who shopped here." He mumbled. "And now look at me, a charity case."

"You're not a charity case." Troy stated. "But you do need clothes. And these aren't that bad. You can't keep wearing my clothes they're way too big for you."

"I know, I just... I wish things were back to how they used to be, you know?" Ryan sighed.

"I know." Troy smiled weakly and they headed over to a few tee shirt stands. Ryan picked up a couple of plain shirts.

"Troy?" Ryan asked nervously.

"Yeah?"

"When we go back to school, do you think I'd be able to wear your jumper?" Ryan blushed at his question he knew it was stupid.

"Course." Troy smiled, Ryan hardly took it off only when they were outside, even then it was wrapped around his waist. Troy often saw him hug it to himself when he got upset. He wasn't too sure why, a jumper was just a jumper.

Troy paid for the clothes, and he brought himself some new tops too. "You want to get some hair dye?" Troy smiled. "To cover the black?"

"Have I got enough?" Ryan asked. They walked out of the shop and the crowded mall was all Ryan could see, he held on tight to Troy's hand who held back just as tight.

"Yeah, come on." Troy directed him into one of the discount beauty stores and they headed to the hair dye section. Ryan picked up a colour that was his natural hair colour. When they paid they walked around. People bumped into them and Ryan was starting to feel a little over whelmed.

He took a deep breath, and his body started to shake as more people walked past him. Troy noticed and stopped walking, he put his hands on Ryan's shoulders and made him look directly at him. "It's okay, I'm here... you're safe."

"Troy... can we go home now?" Ryan asked, his eyes watering. Troy nodded and took his hand again and they headed out of the mall and into the truck. Once the door was shut, Ryan started to cry.

"Hey, it's okay." Troy whispered as he pulled Ryan close to him. "Was it too much?"

"Yeah." Ryan sobbed.

"But you did it." Troy said proudly as he rubbed circles on his lower back. "You did it, you were brave and you faced the crowd." Troy smiled.

"I was brave?" Ryan sniffed.

"Yes, my brave boy." Troy blushed when he realised what he had said, but he wasn't embarrassed by the words, just that Ryan had heard. He stopped crying and looked up at Troy before smiling slightly.

"Your brave boy."