Underneath My Skin

Chapter Five

AN: I know I will never be able to say sorry enough for not updating for so long. I just haven't been in a good mental state for a very long time. It's not the best excuse and I am not using it as one but I found that things weren't going right in any areas of my life and I didn't have the motivation or inclination to write. I didn't want to write sad one-shots or write things into my stories that would be hard to undo later so I took a very long hiatus. I can't promise that updating will be frequent. As you may have seen, I had been blessed by my muses and have managed to update all of my WIP stories as well as a very old one I found on the remains of my hard drive after a virus tore through it. I also managed to salvage the outline for this story and I CAN reveal that the culprit will be revealed in the next few chapters and I will be revealing suspects to see if any of you can guess who did it so stay tuned for it.
Once again I am so very sorry that I haven't updated but enjoy the chapter below and thank you to the people who PM'd and emailed me with support for my story and me while I was away, it was very nice to have your support.
Brisbanegirl xx

Plot outline: 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

Sharpay Evans sat in the family kitchen, sipping on a latte and looking out the window. It was Ryan's first day back at school and she was nervous. Although the rumours around the school were basically spot on about what happened to Ryan, nobody outside the other Wildcats had actually seen him since he was attacked the previous week. Their parents had insisted that Ryan should remain at home until the worst of his injuries had mostly healed. It had been a difficult week for Ryan, stuck at home by himself during the day. Sharpay had taken the first day off with him, making sure he was ok but her Father had forced her back to school; telling her that Ryan had more than proved he could look after himself during the day. Sharpay wasn't worried about Ryan's ability to look after himself. She wanted to be close to him. He was her twin, her best friend and she knew she had failed him. Coming in to see him at the hospital and seeing how injured he was; it had very nearly destroyed her. She didn't like being at school without him, it wasn't right. People stared and it was beyond irritating. They had no idea what had happened to Ryan and she was determined to keep it that way. The standard answer when anyone enquired about Ryan was that he was sick with the flu and would be returning when he was better.

Ryan himself was sketchy on the details of exactly what happened and was unsure of many things surrounding that day. He did not remember what he did before the attack, his last memory before waking up in hospital was attending Drama Club with herself the previous afternoon. Gabriella and Taylor had confirmed that Ryan had stayed slightly later than usual to chat to them before he departed for home. He would usually wait with them for Basketball practice to be let out and the group would go on to get a milkshake some afternoons but Ryan had insisted (according to Taylor) that he had homework that needed to be completed. His car (which he had taken to school that day because it was raining and she had a dance lesson that afternoon) was at home in its usual spot, which meant that Ryan had managed to make it home from school. He had ended up a great distance from their home when he was found by Chad and Sharpay had many suspicions as to how he ended up there. It was obvious (to herself at least) that Ryan had not walked all that distance. He had to have had some assistance to get there (be it voluntary or involuntary) and he would not have taken public transport, he was far more against it than she ever was. There was nothing in that neighbourhood of interest to Ryan, no reason for him to have been there at all. It was puzzling for many reasons and their Father was threatening to hire a private eye to do his own investigation as the police had failed to turn up anything that could lead to a solid suspect.

Sharpay had spent the week alone at school but (she felt) that she had used the time wisely. In her opinion, the attack seemed to personal, to brutal and the person behind it had gone to a great deal of trouble to conceal the act, by removing Ryan to a destination far from his area and ensuring that he would be unable to identify those responsible (Sharpay was almost certain that more than one person was involved in the attack on her brother). During the week, she had observed the behaviour of her classmates, drama peers and others within the East High Community and made careful observations about them. Hidden at the bottom of her locker was a notebook, within which she had recorded her observations and complied (a rather broad) list of suspects based on their previous attitude and interactions with Ryan as well as comments and behaviour since Ryan's attack. She was hoping that with Ryan's return to school today, she would be able to further reduce the list and (she hoped) soon be able to present the information as proof of their involvement. Although she doubted that anyone would take her very seriously and people would probably disregard her observations, Sharpay felt that she was doing the right thing. She wanted to help her brother and this was one of the only ways that he was allowing her to do so (although he had no idea that she was doing it). Ryan seemed determined to appear strong despite the fact that for the first two days, he could barely move from his bed without a monumental effort. It was this effort that made him angry and sullen and all around unpleasant to be around. The Wildcats came often but rarely stayed long (with the exception of Chad) due to Ryan's bad mood. His temperament had improved over the last few days and he had been happy to see Zeke and Chad for dinner the previous night, his first real social interaction since the attack.

As she heard Ryan call out to their mother on the way down the stairs, she leant over and picked up her bag. She was driving them today, presenting a united Evans front to East High. They would meet the other Wildcats and all go to homeroom together. Chad and the other Wildcats (as well as Ryan) felt that this was particularly important. They wanted to present a united Wildcat front to the school but more importantly, they would be presenting a united front to Ryan's attacker. Proof that the attack had failed in its intent and execution and that Ryan was patched up and moving on. Sharpay felt that this would force the attackers hand but they would be ready for them this time. Sharpay smiled to herself as she picked up her car keys and headed to meet Ryan. The attacker would be getting their comeuppance soon, she would see to it. There is no revenge in the world, quite like hers.