I try sneaking up to my room when I get home. I don't want to speak to anybody, I want to go to my own room. Just me and my favourite tunes. No chance of that happening, though. Mom hears the slam of the back door.
"Ducky!" she exclaims joyfully from the living room. "How was your day?"
"Fine, Mom," I'm lying through my teeth here, but I couldn't care less. "Just fine."
"Where's Sharpay?"
"Chad's. Movies. Oh, and she's been rehearsing her audition for the musical. She's determined to get the lead part."
"Oh, so we're going to see both of you as the stars of the show, for the 18th time?"
"I don't know, Mom, I don't know. I want the lead part but…Sharpay is set on Troy getting it. Guess she just can't let some things go," I smile weakly, approaching the large staircase. "I'm gonna head up to my room now. I have a bit of a headache. Long day." Again, lying through my teeth. I have no idea if my mom can see through everything I'm saying to her.
"Okay, Ducky! Just make sure you're downstairs in time for your dinner!" She calls after me, my pounding footsteps on the stairs almost drowning out her speech. After reaching my bedroom, I gratefully flop down onto my bed, inhaling the fragrance of the fabric conditioner Mom uses. Blindly, I grope for a remote on my bedside table, pressing the 'on' and 'play' buttons when I find it, making one of my favourite songs blast out of my stereo. Smiling and closing my eyes, I begin to focus on the music and the music only. It makes me feel better to lose myself and cut myself off from reality.
It's only too soon before Sharpay comes home; the banging of the door brings me back to Earth, with an unwanted jolt. I sit up on my bed, listening, wondering what mood my sister is in. It's more likely to be in a good mood seeing as she was at Chad's with everybody, but I'm not taking any chances here. As her twin, it's almost like I automatically signed some kind of contract that allows myself to be the number one target for all of Sharpay's tongue-lashings and tantrums. I pause my stereo, my ears pricked.
"Yeah, the movie was pretty good, I'm just not into action movies as much as some of the others. It was more of a guy's movie…Well, Chad rented it, and Troy was into it. Of course, you'll see Troy in the musical…Starring alongside of moi!" Sharpay squeals excitedly. "Me and Gabriella are best friends, don't get me wrong, Mom. You know I've wanted me and Troy to get the lead roles since, like, forever!"
"I didn't think Troy Bolton had been interested in theatre and musicals for very long?" Mom asks in an amused tone, and I suppress a snigger.
"Whatever, I have to keep rehearsing for my audition. It has to be perfect. I have to get the part, I just have to!"
"It will have to wait, honey, our dinner's ready. Could you go and get Ryan, please, Sharpay?"
"Okay," my sister clears her throat. "RYAN! DINNER!" She yells, obviously being too lazy to move from where she was standing, even if it means deafening everybody.
"A – I'm not a dog," I shout back downstairs. "B – I'm not hungry." I add. I can't really stand the thought of food right now. My mind keeps replaying these past few days; it makes me feel sick, and full of dread. I used to enjoy school, but now I don't want to go, even though I know I have to. I can't fake illnesses at all. Mom and Dad always see through them.
"Ryan," Mom knocks on my bedroom door and I grunt a 'yes' at her. "Are you feeling okay? Are you sick?" She rushes over to me, placing a cold hand on my forehead. I try – and fail – to wriggle away from her.
"No, I'm just not hungry."
"You went straight to your room and nobody's heard a peep out of you since. Ducky, what's going on? Talk to me."
"Nothing is going on," I sigh, feeling so bored. "I'll admit, there's some stuff going on at school that's getting me down, but I guess it'll be sorted out. I just had a big lunch today, Mom, I'm not hungry, that's all. Just stop fussing, please." While I love that there's one person in my life giving me attention, I feel completely humiliated that it's from my mom, and not any best friends. No teenage boy would feel like that. No normal teenage boy.
"I'm not fussing!" she says sternly. "Oh, you must eat something! This can't be healthy." I reach for my pillow behind me, put it in my lap, and bury my face into it.
"I fy mm. Doh owwy."
"What?" I lift my head up so I can speak clearly.
"I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry," I repeat myself. "Seriously. I'm feeling a little down right now but I'll cheer up." I immediately lower my head to my pillow again so Mom doesn't see the pink shade beginning to creep onto my cheeks. Again, lying to my mom. I hate doing it but I don't see another option at the moment. I don't know if I'll cheer up, or if this whole situation will be fixed. I'm relying on Gabriella to help me regain my place in the group, the place I wrongly lost.
My cell phone rings, and I motion for Mom to leave the room as she does so. Glancing at my phone, I notice it's Chad. I'm still on speaking terms with Chad because we'd been pretty tight, but it seems to be when it suits him. I brush that thought aside, and plant a smile on my face to make me sound naturally happier.
A/N: I had to split this into 2 parts because it was so long, so where it ends here is really lame!! Sorry...