Underneath My Skin

Chad Danforth is struggling with who he is and afraid to speak to anyone about his situation. His withdrawal from the Wildcats is raising eyebrows at East High, but what lands at his feet one dark and stormy night, will change his life forever. ChadxRyan (Chyan)

Authors Note: For the lovely reveiwers that wanted to know if Ryan was ok. This shortish update is for you. Next installment coming soon. On with the story below. xoxo

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own it…

Beep…Beep…Beep

It was the single most annoying sound in the history of the universe and Ryan couldn't work out what the hell would be making that sound. His mind was fuzzy and he didn't remember anything except walking home from school. His mind since then was a painful blur and his eyes felt so heavy. Ryan felt like there were weights sitting on his eyelids as he attempted to open them. He shut them again when the light hurt his eyes even more. White walls. That was what he had seen for the nanosecond that his eyes had been open. This set his mind on a whirlwind, as much of it that was working. His room certainly didn't have white walls, neither did Sharpay's, the living room, Troy's living room, Chad's living room, Zeke's living room or Chad's bedroom. East High had white walls but Ryan was sure that he wouldn't be lying on his back listening to beeping in the middle of the school corridor.

Beep…Beep…Beep

It was starting to get really irritating. Ryan was getting a headache. He decided to move his limbs, just to make sure that they still worked. His arms felt very still and really sore, something which he decided to ignore for the moment. As he moved his legs, his body came into contact with something and he heard and felt the rustle of sheets. Ryan then opened his eyes and tried to sit up and couldn't. His body felt like it was on fire. He let out a small whimper and fell back against the cushions. As he took in surroundings, he realised that was his legs had come into contact with was in fact, a person. That person had their head down on the bed next to his legs and was snoring loudly. Ryan was surprised that he could hear the beeping over the snoring.

Chad Danforth was lying at Ryan's knees. His bush like hair everywhere all over Ryan's sheets and an ipod earphone in one ear. Ryan attempted to sit up again glaring at the heart monitor which was still beeping. Again, his body protested the seemingly enormous effort of making that once simple movement and he again fell back against the sheets with a larger groan and he again let his eyes fall shut. They just felt so heavy. He heard and felt Chad sit up but his eyes just felt so heavy and he was so tired.

Chad sat up after what he swore was Ryan letting out a cry. It was the first sound that he had heard. The doctor had told him that Ryan had broken ribs and a dislocated knee and elbow as well as internal damage and severe bruising but that Ryan would live. Several people the rushed around the ER. A major traffic accident nearby was blocking several roads and traffic was banked back for miles. Chad suspected that Sharpay and the Wildcats wouldn't be there for a while. After clearing it with the doctor, Chad headed into sit next to Ryan's bed. It broke his heart to see Ryan, almost as pale as the sheets. He sat there and started at Ryan for what seemed like an eternity until he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. He had laid his head down and had drifted off to sleep, listening to the playlist that Ryan had made for him.

Now he was looking at Ryan again. He didn't look as pale as he did before. He reached over and squeezed Ryan's hand. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Ryan, ever so gently; squeeze it back. Chad leant further forward and picked their hands up off the bed.

"Ryan…Ryan…Ry…talk to me…"

Chad was barely breathing as he saw Ryan gently open his eyes and look at him. Chad had never felt happier, not even when the Wildcats had won the Championships or over the summer. Ryan took a few breaths before giving Chad a small smile that made Chad's heart soar.

"Hey"

Ryan's voice was hoarse and seemed like it hadn't been used in weeks even though Chad had only talked to him that very morning.

"Hey…how are you feeling? I thought that…I thought was we had lost you. Jesus Ry. Why were you out there…I thought that you were practicing with Sharpay. Why were you hurt."

Chad knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to be throwing so many questions at Ryan but he couldn't help it. He had been riding so many emotions since he first found Ryan on the side of the road.

"I don't know…I don't remember what happened."

Ryan smiled sadly at Chad again but inside Ryan was lying. He remembered what had happened. As he opened his mouth to tell Chad, the door burst open.

Sharpay burst in closely followed by the Wildcats. Sharpay had been crying and Chad could see that Gabriella and Taylor had been too. As they crowded around Ryan's bed, Chad sat there and looked at him and he could tell that Ryan knew exactly what had happened.