Just Getting Started:(part 1)

A/N: So guys, another chapter for you.

In my last chapter I've realized that I didn't make things as clear as they should have been. Hopefully the two parts of this update will answer your quires, if not feel free to nag the hell out of me.

Also excuse the rate the chapters are being produced now, I have coursework to be dealing with too.

Much Love!

Troy reached over Ryan and gave the passenger side door and extra hard tug. His brow was furrowed with effort as he straightened back out again. He planted his hands on the steering wheel and backed out of the parking space. Ryan was rigid in his seat. His eyes stared wide and frozen out of the windshield. Again, an uncomfortable silence crept into the truck.

Troy glanced left and flicked his indicators on as he waited at a junction. Techni-coloured traffic whizzed past them.

"Sorry 'bout that," Troy said apologetically, fiddling with the many dials on the dashboard.

"The door's a bit dodgy," he said ,tuning the radio in and shouting over the white noise and distant boom of a presenters voice. He turned his attention back to the road when the rest of the traffic began to pull off. Loud obnoxious pop music filled the cab as a signal was caught on the aerial.

When the second track had finished Ryan turned the volume down until it just buzzed in the background.

"Where are we going?" he asked dully. Troy shrugged and blasted through a set of amber traffic lights before they could flash red. He shook his hair from his eyes.

"It's just a place I used to visit when I was a kid, nobody goes there this time of year," he paused for a moment and then added on , "it's one of the only peaceful place I have left,"Ryan nodded and flashed a polite smile, but he interrupted with an air of irritation.

"Your dad works in the school," he pointed out with a frown. He fixed Troy with a piercing gaze that seemed to be the human equivalent of an x-ray.

"You're crazy to ditch class," he mumbled staring absently out of the window. Troy laughed darkly and turned onto a deserted stretch of road, dusty banks ran either side of it. Ryan snapped his head back over, his attention captivated again.

"What?" he demanded. Troy purposely ignored him ,pretending to be concentrating on driving, even though there was no traffic at all and the road was poker straight.

For the rest of the journey both boys sat devoid of any conversation. After an eternity the truck slowed to a halt.

"We're here," Troy said sliding out of the ruck and slamming the door. Ryan listened to his footsteps crunch on the gravel and then freed himself of his seatbelt. He sighed heavily and then pulled the catch to open his door. Nothing happened. He tried again, but the door didn't budge. Ryan shoved the heal of his right hand at the metal frame while the other yanked at the catch furiously.

"crap!" he hissed, starting to panic. He glanced over the driver side door and then slid over. Bits of the car stuck into his hips painfully but eventually he was sat in the drivers seat. It was still warm from the short time it took for Troy to drive him here. He bit his lip and then opened the door, sliding out into the air. By no means was it a fresh day, the air was hot and heavy. There was no breeze.

By the time he'd caught up to Troy his shirt was already sticking to his back.

"Hey," he gasped, bending over and clutching the top of his knees while he caught his breath. Troy gave his an incredulous look.

"You're out of breath already?" he laughed tauntingly. Troy carried on walking not stopping to wait for him.

"No!" Ryan said defensively, appearing by his side. He had his lips slightly parted, taking in steady controlled breaths. Troy chuckled and shook his head.

"Liar," he shot, back pushing Ryan away harshly by the shoulder. He staggered off the path and then righted himself.

"Stop it man," He demanded gathering his balance again and falling back into pace with Troy. He laughed and stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets.

The gravel was starting to run into a patchy grassy field and trees lined the outskirts. Clouds were starting to creep over the sun. The shade it provided was a welcomed comfort for the two boy's squinting eyes.

"Can you hear it?" Troy asked suddenly, his laughter died on his lips and gave way to genuine curiosity. Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"Hear what?" he replied , his face hardened as he strained his eyes to pick up any hint of noise. His own breathing and birds twittering was the only thing he heard. He shook his head.

"The river," Troy replied walking a bit quicker. He glanced over his shoulder, "come on!" he called out to Ryan as he cut across the field. Ryan ran after him , his chest heaving.

---------------------

"Your car is crap," Ryan said arrogantly twisting a long piece of grass around his finger. He cast a sideways glance at Troy and grinned. Troy nodded,a slightly offended smile playing on his face.

"It gets me around town though," he said defensively, "hey at least I don't have to catch a ride in my sister's pink car!" he laughed, earning himself a thump on the shoulder. He rubbed his arm but still grinned smugly.

"Hey," he said, jabbing Ryan slightly harder than necessary. He pointed at a gap in the trees. The sound of running water was much louder here.

"There it is," Troy ducked into the vegetation. Ryan stared blankly at him.

"What?" he mumbled just a fraction too late. He rolled his eyes at the clouded sky and followed.

Ryan stood in shocked silence. It was like he'd stepped into an alternate universe.
There must have been a break in the clouds because suddenly glittering sunlight filtered through the trees and made everything sparkle. The river was huge, fast and furious. It gurgled over stones and rushed down stream. They were both stood on a pebbled bank. Troy reached down a plucked a stone from the ground. He weighed it in his hand and then threw it gently into the river. The sound was lost as Hundreds of liters of water swept it away. He stood squarely in front of Ryan.

"Earth to Ryan," he teased, waving his hand in front of his eyes and snickering. Troy frowned when he didn't respond.

"Hey, What's up?" he asked, sitting down on a huge mossy boulder. He patted the bare rock next to him. Ryan sat down blankly. He was still staring at the river.

"Nothing," he replied blinking himself out of his trance.

"It's ...nice here," he said uncomfortably. He stood up and bent over to pick up a pebble. Troy roared with laughter. The seat of Ryan's trousers had a dark damp stain from the boulder. His eyes streamed with tears as he tried to gather his control again.

"What!?" Ryan persisted angrily, his neck craned over his shoulder as he turned in a full circle. Troy coughed and gasped.

"Your ass," he roared, "is soaking," Troy buried his face in his hands, shoulders shuddering.

"has ickle Ryan had a little accident?" he cooed mockingly. Ryan glared furiously at him.

"That's it!" he stormed over and grabbed Troy by the shoulders.

"Stand up!" he demanded. Troy did so with difficulty, still trying to gain his composure. Ryan swung around so he could see the other boy's offending wet patch. Troy's jeans were spotless.

"Ha see you've got-" Ryan cut off staring blankly at Troy's backside.

"Completely spotless jeans?" he supplied cockily. Ryan gazed at him with one eyebrow raised in confusion.

"How?" he spluttered looking down at the boulder they had been sat on.

"I sat on my jacket," Troy explained with a grin. He tried to brush a food stain off it.

"It's already ruined," he sighed letting it drop back onto their makeshift seat. Ryan frowned childishly, making Troy laugh even more. He went over to the other side of the clearing and stood facing Troy so the wet patch was concealed in the bushes.

A light bulb seemed to flick on behind his eyes.

"Troy!" he called, squatting down and slyly pretending he'd found something of interest.

"Look at this," he said, glancing up at Troy with that x-ray gaze again.

He squatted down opposite Ryan with his back facing the river, heels just resting on the mushy banking.

"what?" Troy asked with excitement. Ryan fought to keep his face straight.

"This!" he cried and shoved Troy's shoulders with all his might. Troy's eyes went as wide a dinner plates and he windmilled his arms, trying to balance. Ryan gave him another experimental push. That was all it took for Troy to land, rear first in the river. He sat still, a mask of pure shock on his face.

"Cold," he gasped, struggling to get up, "ass-hole!" he hissed, pulling himself back onto the bank, his nails dug into the earth, embedding dirt under them. He resembled a drowned rat, and now it was Ryan's turn to laugh. He didn't just laugh though, he howled and hooted.

Troy plucked at his sopping shirt, trying to stop it from sticking to his skin. Goose pimples erupted all over his body and his teeth chattered spontaneously.

"I-c-can't believe you d-did that!" he spat, pulling his shirt over his head and twisting the water out of it. He draped it over a branch to dry out. Ryan grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"You got some crap in your hair," he pointed out. Troy flattened his hands to his head.

"Where?" he asked, raking his nails through it. Ryan sighed and got up.

"here," he said, plucking green weed from Troy's head.

Troy gulped noticeably.

"Uh thanks," he muttered in a voice that seemed too loud in the suddenly quite clearing. He took a step back.

"That's two outfits I've ruined in one day!" he laughed nervously. Ryan didn't laugh with him.