Take Me There

Chapter 4

Previously...

"Its ok. You can let it out. I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

With those simple words, Ryan let the floodgates open. He cried harder than he ever had. He cried for what he had lost. A mother and father. His sister. His sense of belonging.

And Chad was right. He was there. Deep down Ryan knew he would never leave him. And somehow it made things a tiny bit easier.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

After his run in with Sharpay, Ryan had yet to leave his room. That was almost a week ago. Everyday Chad would come to his room and ask him what was on the agenda and everyday Ryan would say he just didn't feel like doing anything today and before Chad could get another word out of his mouth, Ryan would close the door.

After an entire week of having the door slammed in his face, Chad had had enough. Ryan was going to leave his room today even if it meant Chad would have to drag him out.

Making his way to Ryan's room, he knocked. It took a few minutes of knocking before Ryan opened the door. When he did, Chad was shocked to see the state Ryan was in. He looked like he hadn't slept at all the previous night. His hair was sticking up all over the place. His eyes were red and puffy, almost of if he had been crying most of the night. He looked absolutely miserable. Chad was even more determined to get him out of his room.

"Ryan, man..."

That was all Chad got out before Ryan cut him off.

"Look, Chad, I know you mean well and everything, but I'm just not up for going out today." This time instead of having the door closed in his face, Chad stopped it with his foot. Which, now that he thought about it, might not have been the greatest idea.

"Ow! Shit! That freaking hurts!"

"Oh, God, Chad! Why'd you do that for?"

"Cause I wasn't finished talking to you yet! All you've done for the past week is slam that damn door in my face and I'm tired of it!" Chad was screaming now. Ryan looked around and saw that they had a small audience.

"Damnit. Fine. Come inside. As long as it shuts you up. People are starting to stare." Looking around, Chad saw that a few people had stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to them.

Chad smiled.

"Thanks. Now, back to what I was trying to say to you before your tried to slam the door in my face. You look like shit."

"Gee, thanks. That makes me feel a whole lot better! Where were you when I needed a pep talk?" Sarcasm was starting to become one of Ryan's finer points. Chad liked it.

"Ok, first things first. Drop this stupid act your putting on. I know you're hurting, so freaking act like it! If I was you, I would be mad! How dare you let your stupid sister make you feel like this. Its her lose if she can't see what a great person you are."

Ryan was shocked at how Chad was talking to him.

"Well, guess what? You have no clue how I feel right now! So don't stand there and act like you do! In a matter of weeks, I have lost everything! My parents, my sister, my house! I have nothing left! Maybe Sharpay was right. Maybe I am worthless."

"Ry, you have to know that's not true."

"How can I, Chad? Huh? Everyone in my life has abandoned me! My own family thinks I'm disgusting! No one here at the country club even wanted to work for me! I'm just some nasty fag! How stupid was I to think that people would be ok with it? I should have just stayed in the closet."

"But Ryan, you were living a lie. I know what that feels like. Its a horrible feeling." Chad looked ashamed. He knew he was gay. He just wasn't ready for everyone else to know.. And this was the exact reason why. He knew everyone would look at him differently. He was scared. Only two people knew and of those two, one had left him. He knew exactly what Ryan was going through. He knew because two years ago he had gone through the same thing.

Flashback

He was finally ready. He was going to tell his parents tonight. He honestly believed they would be ok with it.

Chad Danforth was gay. He had been for as long as he could remember. He knew it for sure when he was in middle school. He had just made the 8th grade basketball team, along with his best friend Troy Bolton. They loved playing ball and when tryouts rolled around, the both went out for the team. They were ecstatic to find out they both made the team. It was after their first practice game that Chad and Troy were in the locker rooms, getting ready for a shower. Chad had never liked the fact that he would have to shower with a bunch of other boys, but seeing as he was now on the team, he had no choice.

Walking into the locker room, he was laughing at something one of the other guys had said. Truthfully, he wasn't really paying attention. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the thoughts he had been having for Troy. Thoughts he didn't think a normal boy should be having for his guy best friend.

"Yo, Chad! You gonna stand there all day or you gonna shower man! I mean, dang, you stink!" Troy shouted at him. He laughed it off. His mind was elsewhere. He remembered what it felt like to be pressed up against Troy out on the court. He loved the feeling of being that close to him.

"Yeah, man. I'm coming." Chad started to take his sweaty basketball jersey off. He kicked his shoes off and bent over to take his socks off. When he looked back up he saw that Troy and most of the other guys were now completely naked and heading into the showers. Chad was shocked. Mostly at the fact that he liked what he was seeing.

"Oh no! I cannot be having these thoughts about Troy again! But, what do they mean? Why do I like looking at him? Oh, God, I'm so confused!"

Taking the rest of his clothes off, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. He sure as hell didn't want all the other boys to see his 'little' problem. They would never let him live it down. He waited as long as he could. He wanted to make sure that most of the boys were out of the showers before he went in. Just as he was making his way into the showers, Troy was walking out. Still naked as the day he was born. Chad tried his hardest not to look. He tried, he really did but his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. As Troy walked past him, Chad got a perfect look at Troy and well, let's just say his not so little friend.

"Chad, you ok, man?" Troy was talking to him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm good."

Troy smiled.

"Ok then. I'm gonna head out. Mom should be here any minute to get me. Want me to wait on you?"

"No, I'm good. Dad's gonna be late getting me today anyway, so, I thought I would take my time."

"Cool. So, I'll see you later then?"

"Yeah, later." And with that Troy turned as left, leaving Chad as confused as ever.

Finally making his way into one of the shower stalls in the far back of the room he turned the water on. Extremely hot. All his thoughts seemed to travel back to Troy and just how good he looked. That's when Chad remembered something his father had said about a cousin of his 'coming out of the closet'. His gay cousin. He remembered how is father had reacted when he told Chad and his mother. Something about how he liked boys instead of girls.

"Is it possible? Is that what all these feelings mean? That I like guys more than girls. I mean, I've never gotten this excited over seeing a girl naked before. Am I gay?"

As Chad reached down to take care of his ever-growing problem, one thing kept coming to his mind. Troy. Shirtless Troy, naked Troy.

When Chad came all over the shower wall the only thing he could think was..."Dear God, I'm gay!"

That was nearly three years ago and Chad was now ready to come out to his parents. He had come a long way since that day in the locker rooms. Once he realized Troy was nothing more than a fantasy, he moved on to other boys. He realized he didn't like boys with dark hair, but blonde instead. He liked blonde much more than guys with dark hair. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Green eyes were good too.

So, tonight was the night. He was ready to come out to his parents. Walking down the stairs he called for his mother and father to come into the living room. Once they were there, he informed them that there was something very important he needed them to know.

"Dad, Mom, I need to tell you both something. Something very important. Its about me and the lie I have been living."

"Chad, honey, what lie? Is everything ok?" His mother had asked.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just not sure how you guys are gonna take this. Its not something to be taken lightly."

"Whatever it is, honey you can tell us." His mother was so caring and loving. Chad was afraid he would lose that forever. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

"Mom, Dad, I've been keeping something from you guys for a long time now. I think its time you knew the truth."

He paused.

"I'm gay." There, he had said it. It was finally out. He could finally be himself. Somehow he felt lighter.

He was not ready for what happened next. His father stood and walked to him. Looking down at his son, he pulled his hand back and slapped him hard across the face. Chad was so shocked, he fell to the floor.

"Roger! What on earth is wrong with you?!" His wife had screamed.

"I will not have a fag for a son!"

"How dare you call him that!" Gloria walked to where Chad was laying on the floor. He was now crying. She pulled him into her lap and just let him cry.

"Its ok, honey. Mommy's here for you. Thank you for telling me the truth. I'm fine with it. Whatever makes you happy. That's all I care about." She hugged him. In the distance they could hear Roger ranting and raving. He was screaming and throwing things.

"Don't worry about him. If he can't accept you then we don't need him in our lives."

One week later, Roger Danforth packing his belonging and left. Gloria received divorce papers the next day.

End Flashback

Chad snapped back to reality when he noticed that Ryan was staring at him.

"Sorry, I must have spaced out for a minute there."

"More like 10 minutes. I've been trying to get your attention for a while now. You ok?"

"Dude, I think I should be asking you that. I'm fine and its obvious you're not."

"No, Chad, really, I'm fine."

"Ryan Evans! Do not stand there and lie to me! Now, you have 30 minutes to shower and get dressed."

"What? Why?"

"Because I am taking you out of the God forsaken room today! You need some fresh air. Now, I will be in the lobby waiting. You are going to play golf today and I am going to be your caddy. It is what they are paying me for after all. I'll have your clubs ready and waiting when you get there. See you in 30!" Chad dashed out of the room before Ryan even had the chance to respond.

Ryan smiled to himself. The first real smile in almost a week now. It was good to have someone around who understood him. Even if he didn't really know what he was going through. Chad was a good friend. Something he hadn't had in a long time.

Looking at the bedside clock, Ryan saw he only had 27 minutes left to get ready. Running to the bathroom, he turned the shower on and jumped in.

"Maybe things will turn out better than I thought. As long as Chad is with me, I'll be ok."

A/N: So, I thought a little back story on Chad was needed. Maybe things will make a little more sense. Anyway, I hope you are all enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it! Thank you to everyone who is reviewing! They mean the world to me! Next chapter will be up tomorrow. Until then, Tootles:)