Okay, this was quickly edited because I'm on my way out to see a movie. I know, not very professional, but bare with me. As always, alert me of any errors you spot, and always, R&R!! Enjoy.

Mr. Clark's bathroom pass had gum on it. Actually, just about 75 of the thing was covered in squished up, stale pieces of chewing gum. Sharpay cringed as she held the wooden, two-dimensional apple out in front of her by its stem. She was only willing to tolerate the unsanitary slice of maple because feigning female problems was a much better option than sitting through Clark's theories.

Just as she was about to push open the large swinging door of the girls' bathroom, someone called Sharpay's name. After turning in just about every other direction she finally spotted Chad coming at her from the wing that was the fastest route to the gym. What could he want? She hadn't expected him to gather the news so quickly, let alone skip out of his favorite class just to get the information to her. She waited as patiently as she could, tapping her foot lightly.

The closer he got, the more irritated he appeared, until finally Sharpay realized he didn't look very happy at all, and that it wasn't just her imagination telling her so. When he got within talking distance, he stopped and folded his arms, looking at her expectantly. Sharpay sighed. "If you have a question or something, hurry up and ask it. I have to use the facilities, as you might be able to tell." She pointed over her shoulder at the door, forcing a smile.

"The sooner you start talking, the sooner you can go piss," he all but hissed at her.

Sharpay was so taken aback; she had to very much resist the urge to smack him just like she'd smacked Gabriella only a few periods earlier. Instead, she just settled on sending him daggers with her eyes. She sighed. "I take it things with Troy didn't go very well?"

Chad laughed. "I thought he was gonna try and hit me! What the hell is going on, Sharpay? Because whatever it is, he knows we're trying to figure it out, or if you already have it all figured, he knows we're trying to help him. Just what is going on with him and his dad and how did you find out?"

Defeated, Sharpay sighed. She could tell by Chad's defiant tone that he wasn't about to drop it, and even if she could accomplish getting him off the topic, she knew he wasn't about to spy for her without more information. "Are you sure you wanna know? Cause this is sort of like matrix crap. I can't just give you some stuff, and then have you decide you don't like it and back out. In for a quarter, in for a pound."

For a moment, it looked like a flick of doubt flashed across Chad's face. Sharpay doubted he would actually go through with it. As much as she knew he cared for Troy, she also knew that Chad was just a guy, and, like all guys, she knew he found ignorance to be bliss. Of course he would back out. But then he nodded solemnly and stood on, still looking expectant. Chalk one up for Danforth.

Sharpay shrugged, signaling to him, It's your funeral. "Alright. I'm not gonna go into major details, but here's the just of it; Ryan and Troy have been seeing each other. As in, hand holding, kissing, boyfriend and boyfriend kind of thing. I didn't know anything about it until I showed Mr. Bolton up to Ryan's room, where we walked in on the two in the midst of... extreme intimacy. Bolton senior totally freaked, beat the hell out of Troy, and slapped Ryan and I around in between for good measure. Earlier this morning Troy showed up and dumped Ryan, with Mr. Bolton within good hearing distance. Over all, Troy's dad is basically beating him straight."

Chad gave the predicted reaction. He stood, looking unphased, but probably would not have responded had Sharpay done anything from ask a question to slap him across the face. It took almost a minute for him to manage, "You're shitting me. Right?"

"Yes, she is." The deep, angry voice sent chills all through Sharpay's body. She didn't have to turn around to know who was shuffling slowly towards her. It took all she had in her to pull on a confident face when she turned to face him.

Coach Bolton had his arms crossed over his chest, and was chewing at his bottom lip. Something must have been funny, maybe the way Sharpay looked at him, because after a moment he laughed. Then his eyes darted to Chad. "I honestly hope you didn't believe any of that, Mr. Danforth. Now get back to class." Chad mumbled something along the lines of 'Yes, sir' and hurried past them, eyes downcast. Just as Chad was about to turn the corner, Coach Bolton yelled over his shoulder, "And Mr. Danforth? You'll be staying after school to run laps today. Five miles. Be at my office by 3:20."

When Chad had gone, neither of them spoke. Sharpay guessed it was probably to make sure no one was in hearing distance. The longer the silence prevailed, the more nervous she got, though she tried her hardest not to show it. If she failed, Mr. Bolton portrayed nothing of it, because the smirk never left his lips. "Look, Evans. I don't think you get exactly what you're playing in here. But what you should know is that Troy is my son. And I'm not gonna have my son blow everything—his chance at a scholarship, his chance to be something, his fucking life—just because he's hormonal enough to suck cock between girlfriends. So you listen to me," He stepped over a line Sharpay didn't think he was crazy enough to cross when he grabbed the front of her shirt and shoved her up against a locker, "You are gonna back off, you understand? It's not my problem if you don't care about your brother enough to let him live that way. But you sure as hell aren't gonna drag my son into it. He's normal, and he's gonna stay normal."

He shoved off when he let go of her shirt, knocking the wind out of her. While she coughed, holding a hand to her chest, eyes watering, he gave her one last threatening glare before heading off in the direction of the gym. Only when he'd gone did Sharpay allow her knees to buckle, causing her to slide down the wall. She put both arms around her knees and cried into the end of her skirt, and then sat in stunned silence until the end of the period, trying to figure out what she should do next

Home at last. Even Ryan's mental voice sounded as miserable as he felt. His body ached for no reason, his sides throbbing, his hands tender, and his muscles in knots. What he wouldn't give for one of Troy's massages...

After Troy dumped him abruptly in the gym, the day had passed surprisingly fast. He figured it was probably due to the fact that he paid no attention in classes whatsoever, but instead thought about the short time he'd had dating Troy, and then the strange break up earlier in the day.

"I know I probably sound really corny right now, Ryan, but I don't care, because I'm telling the truth. I've been happier these past few weeks with you than I've been doing anything else; than playing basketball, than acting in the play. You just, you make me really happy, Ryan."

"Is something wrong, Troy? I mean... you're telling me all this. And it's making me feel nervous. There's something wrong, isn't there?"

"I... I can't see you anymore. It's just too hard right now. I just wanted you to know that it isn't you... you've been so much to me lately. It isn't you. I love you."

And then he leaned over and kissed Ryan before walking out.

All day, all Ryan could think about were Troy's words, Troy's lips, and the pulsing feeling that when his parents' bedroom light went out, he'd hear soft, undistinguishable singsong words floating in through his window before Troy himself climbed through. He expected it so much; it was so routine, that even when he knew it wasn't going to happen, that as he flopped down on his bed upon entering his room, his eyes drifted to the open window, where his gaze held firm against his will.

The new door to Ryan's bedroom drifted open. When the old one had been replaced, the hinges had been well oiled, so the only reason Ryan knew the door had been opened was because it lightly hit his desk whenever opened to far.

Someone sat on the edge of the bed, his or her weight tilting the mattress just so Ryan had to turn to keep from rolling. A hand ran through his hair, and for a brief moment, he almost felt hope, because the fingers brushed through his hair the way Troy used to toy with the locks. But the more the hand moved, the more deflated his hope became, because he knew who it wasn't. "Hey, sis," he exhaled sadly.

Sharpay matched his sigh and pulled herself up onto the bed so she could snuggle up next to Ryan. It felt like forever since they'd used to do this, when either of them was upset or anxious. In fact, the last time Ryan could recall the fading ritual being performed, was the night before they entered high school. He missed feeling close to her.

"He used to come in through the window, didn't he?" Her voice was empathetic, and she didn't wait for an answer. "I remember one night about a week ago, I thought I heard something hit the side of the house. But when I looked out the window, I didn't see anything at first, and I just told myself I was imagining things. Then I thought I saw something go behind a tree across the street. It was fast... so I wasn't sure... but it was him, wasn't it?"

Ryan nodded just enough so she knew it was his answer. His eyes felt hot and itchy, but he couldn't cry; if there were any tears, they would have been shed in the bathroom he'd retreated to earlier in the day. Why he couldn't cry, he didn't want to admit he knew. But it was because, in the way Troy had said goodbye, it didn't feel like it was really over. And so, Ryan knew he couldn't cry until that fact registered in his brain, and then all the pending tears would fall, and it would be worse than if he'd been caught sobbing in the guys' bathroom at East High.

"I still feel like he's just waiting for all the lights to go out," he heard himself whisper. He was gripping lightly at Sharpay's hand, pulling her closer. "It's like half of me thinks he's still gonna climb in, just after dark."

"You guys did a Romeo and Juliet?" The voice wasn't Sharpay's. It was deep and slightly high on some words, like it was about to crack. "Please. Cliché is so last month." A moment later, a dark hand gripped the windowsill, then it's twin, and just after that, Chad pulled himself completely through the open window. When he was standing up straight, he spread his arms and grinned. "I know, not who you were expecting, but you're about to love me just as much."

Sharpay sat up, looking confused, her head tilted. "But I thought Bolton made you stay after to run laps?" She seemed to be completely ignoring Chad's last comment, which was completely unlike her; Ryan knew that under normal circumstances, she would have sent him a warning kick in the gut. He guessed these weren't normal circumstances.

Chad laughed. "He told me to stay after to run laps. That doesn't mean I have to obey. I know he's gonna keep me for an extra hour or two come practice tomorrow, but I thought this might be worth it, seeing as how if things work out right, there won't be a practice tomorrow." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny, thin, digital camera, turned it on, and tossed it to Sharpay. "From the locker rooms."

Once she started flipping through the pictures, Sharpay's look of confusion and slight annoyance disappeared; her mouth fell open and her eyes got wider. Ryan leaned over to get a look, and only became confused. They were shots of a rib cage, only with purple blotches spread through out. There were also some pictures of a back with a couple greenish looking bruises that made Ryan cringe. Only when he saw the full body shot did it all click in Ryan's brain; it was Troy. They had picture of Troy's bruises, proof that he was being abused—evidence to turn in.

"He was off where no one could see him changing," Chad said, a hint of remorse evident in his tone. "I had to sneak over to take them."

Ryan only nodded, almost smiling he was so elated, when he heard the grin in Chad's voice. "Wanna do the honors, Ryan?" Ryan looked up, and Chad was twirling a cell phone with his thumb and pointer finger by its antenna. Then he tossed it up in the air, and Ryan caught it, eyes glued to it like it was some sort of Holy Grail.

Sharpay egged him on. "I don't think Principal Donald has left yet. We have to talk to her first. If you hurry..."

Ryan was way ahead of her. He called to place an appointment for that afternoon. When they asked if it could wait until the following afternoon—a rhetorical question meaning Donald is on her way out and refuses to take your call—Ryan told the receptionist that one of the students was suffering abuse from a teacher. A quick rustling noise, and Donald's' squeaky voice was put on. Bingo.