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Ryan walked in to the gym of East High. It was very relaxing to watch Troy Bolton's figure casually move down the basketball court. Troy crouched low, dribbling the ball affectively between his legs, switching from left hand to right hand. Troy's body unfolded as he jumped into the air. The ball was released with a flick of the wrist and traveled in a perfect form towards the basket... Swoosh. Nothing but net.

"Nice shot."

"Oh, hey, Ryan. Thanks." Troy brushed the back of his arm against his forehead. While Ryan approached him at the sidelines, Troy bent down and grabbed his water bottle. He took a long, deep drink. Ryan's gaze focused on his throat as he swallowed. Suddenly his mouth was feeling a little dry. Ryan shook his head trying to turn his mind back to there conversation.

"So, how are you Troy? What have you been doing lately?" Ryan asked in a concern attitude.

"Oh, well let's see! Last week I found out that I'm in love with someone of the same sex. I confessed my love by making out with them. They also have a boyfriend. Oh, and my girlfriend saw me kiss him too." he replied in a dry tone.

Troy saw the oh shit look come onto Ryan's face while he had unloaded everything on him.

"Seriously! Gabriella saw what happened? Did you two break up?"

"No we're still together. She not really trusting me right now. But I told her there was nothing there. There isn't. Your dating someone and I still love her. So yeah, honestly, I don't know what to do."

"Troy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you."

"I should be the one apologizing. I'm the one who drove off and left you standing there." Troy responded looking down at the ground.

"Its okay, there's no hard feelings. I understand its hard figuring things out like that. But I do like you a lot Troy. Everything that happened this summer at the country club and with your moms death."

"Do you want to play some one-on-one?" The abrupt change in topic caught Ryan off guard.

"Uh, sorry Troy, I don't ..."

"Fine, sure, forget it." Troy said with anger and, let's face it, and disappointment. But he couldn't help it.

"It's just..."

"I said it's fine, Ryan."

"Troy..." He didn't want him to go like this.

"I don't get it, Ryan" The look in Troy's eyes made Ryan want to turn away.

This situation between him and Ryan, he wasn't ready to confront it yet. He didn't want to do any more questioning, any more soul searching. Why couldn't he be a normal teenager for once? He resented Ryan for pushing. Why couldn't he just leave it alone?

"God Troy would you let me talk." Ryan said raising his voice.

"Yeah." Troy replied looking at the floor again.

"I don't know how to play. I cant shoot or dribble worth a crap."

"I could teach you, If you want?" He replied in a shy tone.

"Troy, I'm your friend and I'm here for you. Even though things might seem awkward. Plus I'm still your only sane friend." Ryan replied with a small grin on his face.

"Yeah that's true. Ryan."

There was a moment of silence. Ryan didn't know how to proceed.

"Oh and I'm not with Chris anymore." Ryan blurted out.

"What? Why?" Troy raised an eyebrow at Ryan.

"Well, If there is any chance at all that I can be with you. I'm going to be here. You need to figure out what you want and I'm here to help you."

Troy realized at that moment he got it. He could either face the truth or he could try to pretend he didn't feel the way he did about Ryan. He could try to play it off, but, no, he won't. He wanted Ryan. He craved his presence. Somehow, the tension had dissipated.

"Hey Ryan, I've got some time, how about I show you how to play a little?" Troy offered.

"Sure." It wasn't exactly the response he had hoped for but Troy would take whatever he could get. For now.

The two of them went over the basics of a while. For Troy it was nice. He was able to be near Ryan without feeling guilty. He was just teaching him basketball. Nothing else. Well, occasionally they would rube up against each other and he enjoyed that. Soon the two of them were interrupted but Troy's cell phone. Leaving Ryan in the middle of the court Troy walked over to his bag and retrieved his phone. It was a text from Gabriella.

Meet me in the chem lab when u get a chance

Troy turned around to Ryan "I have to go but ill talk to you later."

"Okay, I had fun. Troy, thanks for teaching me."

"Anytime. Bye."

Standing in the door way to the chemistry lab. Troy just stared at Gabriella. She was so beautiful, smart, innocent, and kind. Why? Why after what I did would she still want to be with me? He was thrown off his train of thought when she looked up at him. She waved him over to her.

"Hey Gabriella, what's up?" While walking through the maze of lab stations.

"Nothing much, Just working on project with Taylor. Which she went on a break twenty minutes ago to meet Chad and hasn't returned." she removed the safety goggles.

"Gab, why are you still with me." Troy asked at a whisper.

"Troy, I'm your girlfriend and I'm here for you. Even though things might seem awkward right now. I understand. You have a lot going through your head and its hard figuring it out. But I do love you. I love you so much Troy. Everything that happened this summer between us and with your mom dieing. You need someone and I want to be that person."

Geez she sound like Ryan. Know wonder he was confused with Ryan and Gabriella, they where one in the same.

"Thanks. I love you to." he said trying to smile.

"My mom is taking me to Western to look at the campus. So I'm going to be gone for a few days." She smiled at Troy.

"That sucks." She raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean that suck that your going to be leaving me, not that your looking at the college." He smiled.

"Yeah well, will you be okay without me?" She said in a sarcastic tone.

"I think I will manage."

"Can I trust you?" she said that looking at him. He felt like she saw staring at his soul.

"Yes." He replied in a whisper looking at her in the eyes.

Let me know what you would like to see happen. Maybe I can fit it in to my story.

Review please.