I look at Ryan as we enter the McDonald's just inside the city limits of Socorro, NM. I had placed my order and gotten a salad for Mr. I'm-Not-Hungry-Because-Your-Dad-Caught-Us-Making-Out-And-Now-I'm-Afraid-That-He'll-Kill-Me. As I grabbed the food from the counter, my father whispers into my ear, "We need to talk." I quickly turn to find him holding Ry by his elbow. It looks as if all of the color in the younger's faces has been washed away and flushed into the elder's. I set down the food and followed obediently, expecting the worst and yet, expecting nothing at all.

"All I have to say is that I wish you boys had come to me before you started sleeping with each other. Do I not deserve that much respect?" His voice holds a harsh timbre, yet he isn't angry.

"But Dad, we aren't sleeping together." I state almost apologetically. He shifts his gaze toward Ryan who nods in agreement.

"But saw you two on Monday. You were in the same bed naked." Dad continues.

"We were only shirtless, Sir. We always sleep in the same bed and the room got so hot that we took off our shirts in the middle of the night. I swear." Ry pleads.

"We've only been going out since 11:30 this morning, Dad." I interject.

"And Evans here makes you happy Son?" He inquires. I nod and Ry blushes. "Well, I would've guessed that you would've picked Dachshund, or whatever her name is."

"Dad, her name's Sharpay, not Dachshund." I chuckle.

He forcefully grabs Ryan and shakes him once for effect. "If you hurt him, I swear to God in Heaven that it'll be the last thing you ever do." Ryan just stands there wide-eyed and blanched. Suddenly, Dad guffaws, slaps Ry on the back harshly, and walks back to his table.

"Whew." He whispers, falling into my arms. I kiss the top of his head and proceed to the table and to our food.

Chad, Zeke, and Jason suddenly pile into the booth with us and after about five minutes Jason asks, "Ryan, why do you eat with your left hand? I thought you were right-handed."

I see that Ry is trying to come up with a good answer but I beat him to it. "This is why." I state just before slamming our clasped hands atop the table.

Chad was the first to react. "I know that you two are really touchy-feely, but seriously, get a room you two." All of us laughed to some extant, ranging from a slight chuckle from Ry to a belly rending guffaw from Zeke.

Ryan took a bite from his salad and with his mouth full, "But, what if we were together?" The others sat silent and obviously bothered by the situation.

As he takes another bite, I see some dressing on Ry's cheek. "Here, Babe." I say as I peck his lips and lick up the offending sauce. Chad quickly stands and goes to sit next to some other teammates. I start to worry, but about five minutes later I receive a vibration in my pocket. Chad has texted me.

Dude! Enough's enough. Stop playing like you're gay all of a sudden.

I decided to respond. This is who I am C. No jokes, no games, just the real me. I hope that you can be happy for me just like I am for you & Tay.

Another Message. I seriously want to congratulate you, buddy. But I just need some time to sort all of this out. I'm just not used to the whole gay thing.

And that was the last contact I was to have with Chad for a good chunk of the semester. Jason and Zeke are talking about a six-some or something like that… I decide not to listen. I wish I could afford the same luxury to my Drama King, though.

Suddenly, I see a familiar Caravan pull up to the restaurant (if you really can call McDonald's a restaurant. That would imply that they serve food; and of course, we all know that that's not the case.) It is followed by a bus driven by none other than Esmeralda Montez.

Three boisterous women rush into the building and usher all of us into the bus. Of course I speak of Ms. Montez, her lovely daughter Gabriella, and the Chem Club President Taylor McKessie. Ms. Montez announces, "The school board is allowing the girls and I to stay the weekend, so we can get the boys' thing in my van and meet up at the hotel."

But, Sweet Gabriella counteracts, "Mom, can Taylor and I take the bus instead? We want to be with Chad and Zeke." So it was arranged that the three would take the bus and Ry would go back to the bus with me.

As Gabby tosses me the keys to her mom's van, Ry murmurs, "Maybe we can have some fun in the bus… alone." I squeeze his hand and notice my divining rod returned.

Should they – or – shouldn't they? First five votes decide.