Beep, beep, beep.

Ryan stirs from a sound sleep.

Beep, beep, beep.

Ryan groans, begging without words for the alarm clock to stop beeping.

Beep, beep, be-

In one swift movement, Ryan does a 180 in his bed and his palm lands on the blinking red button, bringing silence. Ryan stares at his ceiling for a moment. It seems fairly dark outside for 7:30.

Ryan sighs as he sits up in bed. On a normal Saturday, he would have slept until at least nine or so. But today, Ryan had a special appointment with his not-so-favorite teacher, Coach Bolton: Detention.

Ryan's parents had been fairly angry; actually, down right pissed; to find Ryan had gotten his first detention ever. No Evans for three generations had ever gotten a detention before. Not only that, but it was only the second week of school.

'And just what were you thinking when you decided to skip gym?' his mother had exclaimed.

'Were you trying to be cool?' his father joined in.

But no matter how much they yelled or questioned, Ryan would never tell them that he had been skipping every gym class because he was afraid of the jocks. He knew exactly what would happen if he did. His father would march down to the school, scream his lungs out at Coach Bolton, scream his lungs out at the principle, then pull Sharpay and him from school and send them to some private school- in Boston. So instead, he opted for the Saturday detention until he and his guidance counselor could work a change into Ryan's schedule, where he could take the last gym of the day instead of the one before lunch.

Ryan sighs once more before he swings his legs over the edge of the bed and pushes himself out. Ryan hadn't been to a detention before, of course, but Kelsi had been to a few because of missing some of her own classes so she could rehearse with some of the members of the drama club. She told him it was all very boring, that all you had to do was sit in the cafeteria and do your homework from eight to twelve. And if there was anyone else in detention, you could get away with talking because Coach Bolton usually just left you so he could go grade papers or work on new strategies for the basketball team.

But even though he knew it would be a breeze, nothing more than a waste of four hours, Ryan was still upset over something. Nothing school related, or friend related, but family related. This particular Saturday happened to be the one year anniversary of Ryan's grandfather's death, and here he was going to spend it sitting in his school cafeteria studying. Ryan had loved his grandfather dearly, more than most every other of his family members. Ryan's grandfather had been the one who had always encouraged him, believed in him, been there for him; he'd been the only one who'd ever really understood Ryan, even more so than Sharpay.

As soon as he had showered and pulled on his cloths, Ryan was out the door. He knew that his entire family was already up and about, trying to keep busy so they didn't have to think about what day it was. But Ryan knew that the longer he stayed around and watched that, the more he would think about what day it was and the more depressed he would get. So he had to get himself out of the house as soon as possible, even if it meant getting to the school that much earlier; anywhere but home was good.

…anywhere but home was good.

Or maybe not.

Ryan got to the school at about 7:55, just on time. He entered through the front doors and began making his way to the cafateria.

'Wow,' he thought to himself, 'I've never seen these halls so...empty.'

He passed most of his classrooms, and even a few teachers were there grading papers or preparing lesson plans. Everything was dark though, except for when he passed the office, which was still as busy as ever. Finally he reached the cafateria.

"Coach Bolton?" he said as he entered, looking around. "Coach Bolton, sir?"

"He's in the gym," a voice from overhead said. Ryan looked up to the second level of the cafateria and saw Troy Bolton smiling down on him. "He should be back any second, though I doubt he'll do nothing more than tell you to sit, then leave again. He's pretty grumpy today."

Ryan stood, starring up at Troy, shocked and confused. 'What's Troy doing here on a Saturday? And he's talking to me? Since when do I exist as a living being to him?'

Troy creased his eyebrows. "Ryan? Earth to Ryan, are you in there?"

Ryan shook his head, as if to shake off whatever it was that was keeping him quiet. "Uh, yeah, sorry. Troy, why are you here on a Saturday?"

Troy smiled again. "Same reason as you. I've got a detention."

"You got a detention?" Ryan said. "And from you own dad?"

Troy laughed. "Yup. Pretty sad, isn't it? I missed some classes to practice with Kelsi, and dad got pretty upset. He's been in a bad mood lately since the budget cuts."

Ryan nodded, and continued to stare up at Troy.

After a few moments Troy said, "You know, you could stand down there for the whole detention, or you could come up here and sit with me."

Ryan was speechless. Troy wanted him to sit with him? What was going on here? Ryan's liked Troy for years, since fifth grade, and Troy has never said more than three words to him at a time on the rare occasions he decided to speak to him. Now all of the sudden he wanted to converse and was inviting Ryan to come sit with him? 'He must really be bored,' Ryan decided. He also decided he wasn't about to pass up the chance to sit with him, so he climbed the stairs and sat down a few seats away from Troy.

"So you skipped out, too?" Troy said to Ryan.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, not to many people are fond of me in that class."

Troy nodded. "I guess not...But they're just jocks; picking on people is the only thing they know how to do, besides play basketball."

They both laugh.

"Uh, but Troy, aren't you a jock?" Ryan said.

Troy shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so. But I don't pick on people. I guess the jock crowd is just where I seem to fit in most because of the whole basketball thing."

Ryan nodded. He wasn't really sure what to say.

After a little more conversation, Coach Bolton appeared out of nowhere and told the boys to start working on their homework.

Troy got right to work, Ryan was surprised to see, so he too pulled out his binder. But the more he tried to work, the more he couldn't stop thinking. The more his mind kept flashing back to a year ago. To a funeral home. To a coffin. To a crying family.

Soon Ryan gave up all together and just put his pencil down. He rested his head in his hands and starred out the window, trying to think of something besides the date. He had to keep himself from crying. But the more he tried to do that, the more he felt his eyes getting watery, and soon he felt the first tear slidding down his cheek. He choked back a sob.

"Ryan?" Troy's worried voice broke the silence. "Ryan, what's wrong?"

But Ryan didn't want to answer. He just wanted to be invisible to Troy, like he normally was. He didn't want his crush to see him cry. Anything but that. "Nothing," he managed to say weakly.

But Troy scooted over the seats until he was right next to Ryan, who could see him starring out of the corner of his eye. "Hey, look at me," he said as he turned Ryan's head so that they were starring at each other. "C'mon, tell me what's wrong. Please? I want to help."

Ryan sniffled a little. He felt embarressed, but comforted at the same time. Maybe Troy really did care. "Today...today is the fifteenth."

Troy looked a little confused. "Yeah, but what-"

Ryan cut him off. "A year ago today...my grandfather died."

Troy sat there, looking sad and shocked, but he didn't say anything; he waited for Ryan to keep going.

"He was my best friend, Troy," Ryan said sadly, voice shaking. "He got me. He understood me in ways Sharpay didn't. He was the one who was always there," he fought against more sobs, "I used to spend every summer with him up at the lake he lived on. We used to fish, and swim, and ski, and-" he let out a strangled sob. "And now he's gone." And no longer being able to hold them back, the tears started falling.

Ryan closed his eyes, trying to cease the tears, trying to turn away so Troy couldn't see his face. But his surprise, Troy grabbed his wrist and pulled him into his arms. Before Ryan knew what was happening, he was sitting in Troy's lap with his arms around Troy's neck and his face buried in Troy's shoulder, crying. And Troy was rocking him, and rubbing his back, and stroking his hair. Ryan was so confused, but all he could do was cry.

Finally Troy spoke. He, too, sounded like he was crying. "Ryan, I wish I could do something. I wish I could make the pain stop, I really do. I'm so sad for you. I can't even imagine what it must be like to lose a grandparent. Mine are still alive."

Ryan wanted to tighten his grip around Troy's neck, but he didn't. He couldn't. He was too afraid that Troy was just being a good friend. If he hugged tighter, Troy would know and he'd let go.

But then Troy gently pushed Ryan back a little, so that they were starring at each other. Ryan whiped his eyes with his sleves. "Sorry," he mumbled, and tried to get up. But Troy snaked his arms around Ryan's waist, and held him down. They starred at each other for a moment, then Troy leaned in and brushed his lips against Ryan's. Ryan just sat there and let himself be kissed, too shocked.

Troy blushed, "Sorry."

But Ryan leaned in and brushed his lips against Troy's again. And as he began to pull back, Troy used one of his hands to push Ryan's head closer, keeping their lips together. Troy's tongue slipped into Ryan's mouth, and Ryan felt his own do the same to Troy's. Was this really happening?

Minutes passed like hours before they both slowly pulled away. Troy was smiling, almost grinning, and blushing. "I...I've wanted to do that every day since school started," he said quietly.

Ryan smiled. "Really?"

Troy nodded, smiling.

"So...you weren't just doing it because you felt bad for me?"

Troy shook his head, looking a little hurt. "No, I wouldn't-"

"No, please don't take that the wrong way," Ryan said quickly. "I just meant I never expected you of all people, the East High Playmaker, to-"

"Kiss you, the East High Drama King?" Troy finished with a smile. "Neither did I, until about two weeks ago at the mall."

Ryan laughed a little at the Drama King part. "Troy...is this...what are you...are we..." he couldn't seem to find the right words.

"Am I going to ask you out and be open about it to the whole school?" Troy said. "Even if it means certain ridicule?"

Ryan just held his mouth open before nodding.

"Only if you'll be there for me every step of the way," Troy said with a smile.

Ryan smiled, taking in what he was hearing, "Every step of every day." And he leaned in and brushed his lips against Troy's, as if putting his promise into a physical form.

Troy deepened the kiss and held Ryan close before saying seriously. "Good, because...I'm really going to need you."

Ryan looked at him with all seriousness, "You've got me."

"And you've got me," Troy said with a smile. "But first, how about we get lunch after this. My treat."

Ryan smiled and let the words roll off his tongue, "It's a date."

------

Ok, so what did you think? Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, but I just couldn't think of what to put next. Now, should I end it here? Or add more? Or maybe make a sequel later? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Well, be sure to review and tell me what you think about the story and what to do next.