Ryan woke up an hour before the alarm though it was debatable whether he actually got any sleep at all. He had a quick shower and got dressed pulling on the clothes he brought yesterday, he combed his now blond hair and stared at his reflection just as Troy was woken up by the alarm. Ryan watched as Troy woke up, it was probably one of the cutest things he had ever seen. Once Troy woke up and realised Ryan wasn't next to him he looked up to see Ryan standing at the foot of the bed.

"How long have you been up?" Troy asked sleepily.

"About an hour," Ryan answered truthfully.

"Nightmare?" Troy asked, he knew that Ryan had been having more nightmares even if he hadn't woke up screaming causing Troy to wake up to, the signs of Ryan not sleeping were pretty clear.

"Yeah and I just couldn't sleep." Ryan sighed. "Maybe once today is over and it isn't too bad I'll be able to sleep more."

"Maybe, or if you get too bad I can ask mum to pick up some sleeping tablets for you?" Troy offered, he kicked his legs over the side of the bed and Ryan sat down next to him. Troy wrapped his arms around him and smiled as he leaned in closer.

"Yeah, if it doesn't get better." Ryan smiled. "You should probably get dressed." Troy nodded.

One and a half hours later Ryan and Troy pulled up outside school. Troy's parents had wished Ryan luck, reminding him that if it got too bad he could go to see Jack at any time and he would be able to go home. Troy hugged Ryan before they got out of the truck and they walked closely, but not touching each other, to the gates. Ryan flinched as excited students rushed past him.

"Troy!" Chad called. "Dude I missed you man." He laughed, pulling Troy into a manly hug. "Hey Evans," Chad smiled, he went to give Ryan the same hug but the blond flinched away. "Sorry dude, everything okay?"

"Yeah every thing's fine." Troy smiled, he looked over at Ryan who was staring at the floor. Not caring if Chad saw, Troy reached out and took Ryan's hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "You okay, Ry?"

"Yeah, sorry." Ryan mumbled. Chad noticed the interaction between the two boys, he didn't think twice on it. He could tell something was happening between them, and it didn't bother him and when Troy was ready to tell him just what it was he'd be there for him, after all they were brothers. Chad could also tell that something had happened to Ryan, and he knew it wasn't his place to pry.

"Don't worry." Chad grinned.

They walked into the building, Chad walked on the other side of Ryan which Troy was thankful for. Ryan knew Chad wouldn't hurt him and he hoped the blond boy felt a little protected. Troy and Chad walked with Ryan to his locker and as the blond was getting his books out his name was called. Troy turned around and groaned as Sharpay stormed up to him.

"Ryan!" She shouted. Ryan looked up, his body was shaking as Sharpay got nearer. Troy and Chad both felt this and moved closer to Ryan. "Father has a message for you." Her voice was still raised, and she either wasn't aware or didn't care that her brother was shaking in front of her. "He wants you to tell your faggot boyfriend to never come near the estate again!" Every one who was near looked over at what was going on.

"He.. Brett went to the estate." Ryan said shakily.

"Looking for you!" Sharpay spat in disgust. "I told him you were most likely fucking some one for money for a place to live." Ryan gulped, at the time that was partly true. "Dirty little fag." She said in disgust before walking away.

"Hey, Ryan. You're okay look at me." Troy said holding tight onto Ryan's shoulders. Ryan looked up at him as tears fell uncontrollably down his face. "You're okay, you're safe." Troy said gently, the words had become a kind of mantra between them. "You want to go home?"

"No," Ryan wiped his eyes quickly. "I... don't want to be weak any more."

"You were never weak." Troy insisted, not caring about the people around he pulled Ryan into a tight hug and held him close. "You're my brave boy, remember?" Troy whispered in his ear. Ryan nodded into the hug and Troy smiled and pulled away.

"Here," Chad offered Ryan a tissue who took it gratefully.

"Thanks," He mumbled.

"Don't worry." Chad smiled. "Come on, we'll walk you to class." Troy smiled at his friend and the three of them headed towards the gym. Troy guided Ryan to his dads office and knocked on the door. When Coach Bolton saw the tear tracks running down Ryan's face he instantly felt guilty for pushing Ryan into school too soon.

"Hey, everything okay boys?" Jack asked kindly. Over the past two days he had seen the relationship change between the boys, and he felt as though Ryan was now part of the family.

"Yeah, we just thought we'd walk Ryan to class." Troy smiled.

"Have you got work to do?" Jack asked gently.

"Yeah," Ryan answered quietly.

"Okay, do you want to stay in here or be in the gym with the class?" Ryan thought about it for a second but then said he'd rather be in the gym because he didn't think he would be able to spend two hours alone in a small office. "Okay, well Troy and Chad you two should get to your lessons, Ryan will be okay with me."

Troy looked at Ryan who nodded, he hugged him tightly reminding him that he would be okay and then left with Chad.

"Dude, what happened?" Chad asked. "He looks really scared."

"He's had a bad time of it." Troy answered though he knew those words didn't cover it at all. "I can't tell you what happened."

"But is he okay?"

"No." Troy answered bluntly. "He came to my house on Wednesday night, scared out of his mind. He's staying with me, my parents are looking after him."

"That's why you wasn't in?" Chad asked and Troy nodded. "Dude what ever I can do to help Ryan, I'll do it."

"I think he just needs to know he has people around him who cares. But don't get offended if he doesn't talk to you or if he flinches away. He wouldn't talk to my parents until Friday night and when my mum goes to hug him he still pulls away."

"It's that bad?" Chad asked a little shocked.

"Worse." Troy sighed. Chad patted his mate on the shoulder, Troy sighed he already missed Ryan's touch.

"You two are really close now." Chad said as they walked to their class.

"Yeah, he only talks to me." Troy smiled.

"I saw you two holding hands," Chad pointed out. "You really like him." Troy thought his mouth had fell open when Chad said that, and when Chad laughed he realised his mouth had actually fallen open. "It's okay." Chad smiled. "It's cool, I mean you and Ryan you're cute together."

"But we're not together." Troy stated.

"You want to be though." Chad laughed.

"I... it's complicated. And I don't want to talk about it." Chad nodded, he felt a little odd talking about it too so dropped the subject.

At break, Chad and Ryan headed to the gym to meet Ryan. The blond was sat in the coaches office, Troy's dad sat at his desk doing paper work as Ryan read. "Hey," Troy smiled as he walked in. When Ryan saw Troy he walked up to him and hugged him tight. Troy grinned, he needed that hug just as much as Ryan. "Hey, you okay?" Troy asked gently, he tried to ignore the knowing smiles Chad and his dad were sending his way.

"Sorry," Ryan mumbled.

"Don't be," Troy smiled squeezing him tightly.

"You two got maths together next right?" His dad checked.

"Yeah." Troy nodded his head.

"Okay, well I'll see you two at home then. Remember Ryan, if you want to go home early just come here and I'll drive you okay."

"Thanks." Ryan smiled. The three headed out of the gym and walked to the main area of the school. Troy put an arm around Ryan's shoulder in a friendly embrace.

"How was class?" Chad asked, he was standing on the other side of Ryan.

"Fine." Ryan answered. Troy squeezed his shoulder a little and Ryan looked up at him and smiled.

"Hey!" Taylor and Gabriella chorused as they walked towards the boys. Chad smiled and wrapped his arms around Taylor and Gabriella stood awkwardly between the couples.

"Ryan, you're blond again." Taylor smiled. Ryan just nodded. "Looks good."

"I did it!" Troy grinned proudly.

"You dyed his hair?" Gabriella laughed.

"Yeah, and I did a good job too, right Ry?" Troy asked again squeezing his shoulder gently letting him know he was okay.

"If you mean good as in getting it all on my forehead then yes Troy. You did good." Ryan smiled. Troy grinned, there was the Ryan humour he had missed.

"Funny." Troy smiled. The group walked around the campus aimlessly throughout break, Ryan stayed quiet for most of the conversation he felt safe around Troy and his friends, though mainly because Troy had an arm around him and Chad never failed to leave his side. Though once the warning bell rang out and everyone made their way to classes and he and Troy were alone, he felt much better.

"So how was your lesson, really?" Troy asked.

"I... horrible." Ryan replied.

"Did something happen?" Troy asked. Ryan shook his head and stared at the floor. "Then why was it horrible?"

"I missed you." Ryan said quietly. "You weren't there when I closed my eyes and saw him, and I guess I'm just used to you being there."

"Oh but I am." Troy smiled. He picked at the jumper Ryan was wearing. "See, when ever you need me and I'm not there just hold on tight to this."

"Okay." Ryan smiled weakly. Troy smiled.

"I missed you too you know," Troy added casually as they walked towards the maths block.

"Really?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, Really."