"How was he today?" Troy's mum asked. They had been home for a while, they had sat in Troy's room doing work and talking, once their work was done Troy had put a film on and Ryan had fallen asleep almost straight away. Troy had wondered down stairs in search for dinner when his mum had asked.

"He... was scared at first. But he was okay, well dealing?" Troy said a little unsure how to put how Ryan really was.

"It'll take some time. How is he now?" His mum asked concerned.

"Fast asleep." Troy said as he grabbed two bottles of water. "He hasn't been sleeping properly."

"Nightmares?" Troy just nodded.

"Well let him sleep for now, but wake him up for dinner okay?" Troy nodded again, kissed his mum on the cheek before heading back up to his room. He stared at Ryan; the blond was curled around Troy's pillow holding onto it tightly. Troy knew he was falling fast but with Ryan looking as cute as he did then he didn't care. He sat on the bed and slowly detached Ryan's body from the pillow, the blond instantly curled into Troy and the older boy couldn't help but smile as he held on back.

Troy flicked the channel over and started to watch a game. His eyes focused on the players, his mind making comments about their jump shot or dribbling skills but his body was too wrapped up in Ryan to care what was going on. Half way through the game Ryan started to move and Troy watched as the blond slowly woke up, he was pleased that he seemed to wake up before the nightmares hit.

"Hey sleepy head," Troy smiled warmly.

"Hey." Ryan replied, his voice full of sleep. "Time is it?"

"Almost six." Troy answered. "Did you have a nice sleep." Troy started to comb his fingers through Ryan's hair, he loved how Ryan would move closer to him to get more out of the touch. Ryan didn't say anything just settled closer to Troy and got comfortable.

"What do you want to do tonight?" Troy asked.

"What would you normally do? I mean, if I wasn't here."

"I'd... erm. Probably be out with Chad or with Gabriella."

"Why don't you go out with Chad?" Ryan asked. "I mean, I don't want you thinking you have to be here with me."

"I want to be here with you." Troy smiled. "Besides, Chad's with Taylor, their still you know a new couple I don't want to get between them."

"Oh." Ryan sighed.

"Do you not want me to spend time with you?" Troy asked, he was trying not to sound as needy as he knew he was coming across.

"No I do, I just don't want you to feel like you have to."

"Ry, I want to be here with you. Not because I think I have to, but because I like spending time with you."

"Really?"

"Yes." Troy answered quickly. "I can't explain it, but today when I wasn't with you I wanted to be with you."

"I know, I was like it too." Ryan sighed, he snuggled closer to Troy and took his hand in his. "You make me feel safe." Troy smiled and squeezed Ryan's hand tighter.

"I need to tell you something," Troy said awkwardly and he almost regretted it because now he would have to say it. Ryan looked up at him, "I like you. Like, like like you." Troy knew he had confused Ryan because he had confused himself too. He sighed and moved closer, he pressed a soft kiss against Ryan's lips and moved away as quickly as he moved in.

"I..."

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything." Troy insisted.

"I like like you too," Ryan smiled. "But I'm not ready to be with you. With anyone."

"There's no rush." Troy promised.

"Good." Ryan smiled.

"When you're ready, I'll be ready too." Troy smiled. Ryan placed a soft kiss to Troy's cheek and then placed his head on his shoulder and they started to watch the television again.

At half six they were called down to dinner. Ryan sat next to Troy who held his hand under the table as he knew how scared Ryan was around older people. Troy's parents spoke to Ryan as though he was their son and Ryan felt welcome in their house, he was just still scared.

They spoke about school, about homework and classes and then Troy's dad started to talk to Troy about the upcoming basketball game. Ryan listened curiously even though basketball wasn't exactly one of his strong points. Once dinner was finished, Troy's dad asked if Troy felt like a game and Troy said yes. Ryan smiled at Troy and then headed up to their room.

"How is he really?" His dad asked.

"He's still really scared." Troy sighed as he scored a basket.

"It's going to take time for him to be used to being around people again." His dad said and Troy knew it was true. "But I can see the way he is around you and the way you are around him."

"What do you mean?" Troy asked though he wasn't too sure if he really wanted to have this conversation with his dad, not yet anyway.

"I mean you look at him as if he's the only one you can see, and you're not scared to be yourself around him. And he looks at you as if you're the only one who can save him."

"I like him dad," Troy said softly. "Like really like him."

"I know, son." His dad laughed. "It's obvious."

"You're mad?"

"No. of course I'm not mad." His dad stated. "I don't care whether you like boys or whether you like girls. I just want you to be happy."

"Thanks." Troy grinned.

"How does Ryan feel?"

"He likes me too," Troy smiled. "He's just not ready to be in a relationship."

"Don't blame him. He must be terrified to get that close to someone again. You just got to show him that you're not like the person who did that to him."

"I know, dad. I know."

"Good. Don't hurt him. Your mother likes him a lot. He's like you, just without the basketball and more manners." Troy laughed at his dad and then they continued to play a proper game.

Forty minutes later, Troy walked up to his bedroom in just his shorts feeling in need of a shower. He opened the door to see Ryan drawing on the bed. "Hey." Troy smiled. Ryan looked up and smiled sheepishly, and the blushed when he realised he was staring at Troy's toned body. "What you drawing?"

"Just..." Ryan blushed even more and made an attempt to hide the paper but Troy saw it and smiled. It was the same one he had seen the day before, of them. This time it was a little more coloured in.

"It's really good." Troy smiled and sat down next to Ryan.

"You think so?" Ryan smiled brightly at the praise.

"I know so. When it's done can I have it?"

"You really want it?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah." Troy grinned. "I'll frame it." Ryan laughed and nodded his head.

"You smell." Ryan smirked. "Did you have fun with your dad?"

"Yeah I did." Troy laughed. "And I smell very manly."

"If that's what their calling sweaty now then yes, very manly." Ryan chuckled.

Troy grinned, it felt so good to hear Ryan laugh and make jokes. He missed it in him before. "How about I go take a shower, then we get ready for bed and watch a film?"

"Sounds good to me." Ryan smiled.