Take Me There

Chapter 8

A/N: First off, I am so sorry it's taken me a couple of day longer to get this posted! Real life got in the way. That and the fact that I am now sick! My brother's best friend got me sick! I mean, who gets a freaking cold in August! So, I apologize if this chapter isn't the best. Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. :)

Previously...

"Please, Chad! I need the space!"

"For your HATS! You want me to move my basketball things so you can line all your pretty little hats up! You're kidding me, right?"

"No, Chad, I'm not and you know it! How about we split the space? Please! Its not like I can just throw them in the closet! They would get ruined and that would make me sad. You don't want to make me sad, do you?" Ryan put on his best puppy dog face, knowing Chad would never be able to resist it.

"Ah, man! Not the puppy dog look! You know I can't say no to that!"

"I know." Ryan grinned.

Chad sighed.

"Alright, fine. We can split the space."

Ryan was so happy he started jumping up and down. He threw himself into Chad's arms and placed a small kiss on his cheek. Chad was stunned. He turned away so Ryan couldn't see him blush.

Silently closing the door, Gloria made her way back downstairs. She was smiling to herself.

"Oh yeah. There is defiantly something there. I give it til school starts back."

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

After what seemed like an eternity Chad and Ryan had finally gotten all of Ryan's stuff unpacked and put away. After much debate over where Ryan's many hats would go, Chad had finally given in and let Ryan put them on one of his many shelves. Ryan had been so excited he had kissed Chad. Oh the cheek, but nonetheless, it was still a kiss and Chad couldn't have been happier.

They had decide to drive back to the country club and stay there for the night, since they didn't have the room entirely ready for Ryan yet. It was nearly 1:00am when Chad and Ryan made it back to their rooms. Chad walked Ryan to his door. He told him goodnight and said he would see him sometime in the late afternoon hours.

"Night, Ry. Try and get some sleep. It's been a long day and we could both use the rest."

"K. Night. Sleep tight and all that good stuff." Ryan was barley keeping his eyes open. He was so tired.

Chad laughed.

"Go to bed. See ya later. Much later!" He turned and walked away.

Ryan finally made it into his room, kicking his shoes off as he went. He pulled his shirt and shorts off, leaving nothing on but his boxers. He had barley had enough time to lie down and close his eyes when he heard a knock at his door. Groaning, he placed his extra pillow over his head. Again he heard the knock. Deciding it wasn't worth it, he got out of bed and made his way back to the door. Pulling it open, he found Chad standing on the other side.

"Dude, what happened to going to bed and getting some sleep! I'm tired!" Ryan sounded like a small child whining about being woken up. Chad smiled at that thought.

"I can't find my room key. I think I left it back home. With my bag and everything else."

"You're joking, right?"

"I so wish I was. I just thought I'd let you know I'm gonna drive back and get it."

Ryan grabbed Chad's wrist and looked at his watch. It was now 1:25am. He looked back at Chad with a wild look in his eyes.

"Are you crazy! It's after one in the morning! No, you are most certainly not driving back this late." Ryan crossed his arms over his chest, as if to say he had the final word in the matter.

"Ok, so what am I supposed to do? Sleep out here in the hall? Doubtful." Chad rolled his eyes.

"Not in the hall. You'll sleep in my room." Ryan smiled, a sleepy smile but a smile nonetheless.

"Wait...what?"

Ryan had to laugh. Chad was so cute when he was clueless.

"My room. You can sleep with me tonight. Uh, well, not with me but in here, in my room. You know, what I mean."

"Yeah, I do. Are you sure? I don't wanna put you out or anything."

Ryan laughed.

"You have got to be kidding me! You just opened your entire home to me and you think you would be putting my out if you stayed with me for one night!? Chad, think about it. Once the summer is over, we are gonna be living together anyway. We may as well get used to sleeping in the same room with one another."

"I guess you're right. All right, I'll stay with you but only for tonight. Tomorrow I'll go back home and get my key."

Ryan smiled as he stepped aside to let Chad enter his room. In his mind, Ryan couldn't be happier. He was finally making progress with Chad. After his slip tonight with the kiss, he was sure he wouldn't be able to control himself around Chad but he was about to put it to the test.

As he walked back towards his bedroom, he stopped when he saw Chad just standing there.

"Something wrong, Chad?"

"Um, where exactly am I going to sleep?"

That's when Ryan realized. He only had one bedroom. And no couch. There was no need for one, so he had it removed.

Ryan said nothing. Chad spoke.

"If you have some extra blankets and a pillow, I can sleep on the floor. It looks kinda comfortable."

"Chad, No. You're joking, right?"

"No, not really. I'm tired and I just wanna get some sleep."

"Listen, why don't you just sleep with me in my bed. It's big enough and we are both adults. Plus, I trust you."

Chad was stunned. After a minute or two, he smirked.

"Oh, Ry! I never knew you thought about me like that!" He winked at Ryan, which caused him to blush.

"Oh, shut up! I have a King size bed, we can totally share."

"Dude, you got a King bed! I only got a stupid Twin size! Not fair!"

Ryan had to laugh at Chad's immature banter.

"Yeah, so what do ya say? Wanna share the bed?"

"I guess so. I'm too tired to worry about anything else anyway." Chad said before he realized. Looking to Ryan to see if he caught the slip up he saw he was no longer standing there, but instead he was walking through the hall to what Chad assumed to be the master bedroom. Following Ryan, he stopped in his tracks when he saw the room. It was huge! Chad loved it.

"So, I'm gonna go to bed now. The bathroom is the next door down the hall. Do whatever you need to do and turn the light off when you are finished." With that, Ryan climbed into bed.

Deciding he didn't want to sleep in his clothes, he took his shirt off along with his pants. He was left in only his boxers, same as Ryan. Very carefully, as not to wake Ryan, Chad climbed into bed. It was a warm night, so he opted to lay on top of the blanket whereas Ryan was now under it.

Turning on his side, he watched Ryan. He watched him breath and listened to the faint snore that he was making. Chad smiled to himself. He could get used to this. He wanted to get used to this. There was no denying it now. Chad had feelings for Ryan. He knew it and he was right, his mother had known for a while now. He just wasn't sure exactly how Ryan felt. He knew Ryan cared about him, he just wasn't sure what those feelings meant.

Chad rolled onto his side almost the same time Ryan rolled over. He looked so peaceful when he was sleeping. Like he didn't have a care in the world. Chad reached his hand out to push the blonde hair out of Ryan's eyes. He smiled. Chad closed his eyes, thinking of all the things he and Ryan would be doing in the future. Their future together.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

The first thing Ryan noticed when he woke the next morning, or afternoon if he guessed right, was that he wasn't alone. It took a minute or two for his to remember that Chad had come to bed with him the night before. Opening his eyes, Ryan saw how close he was to Chad. While they were facing each other, they had somehow ended up with their legs intertwined. Chad had one arm under his own head and the other wrapped around Ryan's waist. Ryan had both of his arms around Chad.

Smiling to himself, he decided he liked being this close to Chad. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

"This feels so right. I never wanna wake up."

When Chad woke a few hours later, he awoke with Ryan pulled up against him. Ryan's back was pulled up to Chad's chest and their arms and legs were wrapped together.

"I could so get used to this. This feeling of having Ryan in my arms...wow...I never thought I would feel this way."

Chad smiled as he fell back asleep.

"No need to ruin a good thing. Never know when I'll get the chance to hold Ryan like this again."

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Somewhere in the distance, Ryan could hear a phone ringing. It took him a while to realize it was his phone. Pulling himself from Chad's arms, he made his way to the phone, glancing at the clock as he went. It was 5:30pm in the afternoon.

"Wow! I can't believe we slept that long! I feel much better though."

Finally reaching the phone, he answered.

"Hello?"

"Ryan, dear is that you?"

It was Gloria.

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, I just got up."

"My goodness. You sound like Chad sleeping in like that. Actually, that's why I'm calling. I can't get him to answer his room phone. Would you happen to know where he is?"

Still being partially asleep, he answered without hesitation.

"Yeah, he's in my bed."

When he was met with silence he realized what he had said.

"Oh No! No, Gloria! That's not what I meant! I mean, he is in my bed, but he slept here last night! Crap, he didn't have his room key and I offered him my bed." Silently swearing under his breath, he heard a small chuckle from Gloria.

"Um, are you laughing?" He asked, puzzled.

"A little." She answered truthfully.

This time it was Ryan who remained silent.

"Ryan, dear, its ok. I know what you meant. There's no need for an explanation. I know that nothing is going on with you and my son. Not yet anyway." Ryan could have sworn he could hear her smile over the phone.

"Wh..what do you mean 'yet'?"

"Sweetie, I can see it in you eyes. Don't try and hide it."

"Hide what?" Ryan was not about to give in and just tell her. He had no way of knowing how she would react.

"I know you like Chad."

"Well, of course I like Chad. He's my best friend. I've never had someone like him in my life before."

"I know, dear. But what I meant was, I know you have feelings for him. I'm not sure if it's love yet, but I know how deep your feelings for him go. I can see it every time you look at him."

"Is it that much of a giveaway?" He knew there was no need in denying it anymore. Not after everything she was saying was the truth.

"Only when you know what to look for."

"Is it hopeless then?"

"Is what hopeless, dear?"

"Me thinking that I would have a chance with him? I mean, he could do so much better than me."

"There is nothing wrong with hoping. You have just as much of a chance as any other young man. Except you now have a major advantage."

"What's that?"

"Sweetheart, Chad asked you to move in with us! If that's not a sign of something, then I don't know what is!" She laughed as she spoke.

"I never looked at it that way."

"Well, you should. Now, I don't want to hear anymore talk about you not being good enough. My son would be lucky to have you in his life. And if he hasn't already realized it, he will soon. I know my son. Just give him some time."

"Thanks, Gloria. I'm glad you feel that way. Cause I would never get into a relationship with Chad without your permission."

"Well, consider it granted."

"Thanks. Oh and was there a reason you were trying to get a hold of Chad? Did you wanna talk to him?"

"Not anymore. Just have him call me when he wakes up. You boys have a good day and behave yourselves. Love you both."

Ryan smiled.

"Love you too." And with that, they both hung up.

Deciding to take a shower, Ryan made his way back into his bedroom. Chad was still sleeping. Ryan grabbed some clothes and made his way to the shower.

That's the sound that woke Chad. The sound of someone in the shower. Rolling over and looking at the clock he saw that it was now going on 6:30.

"Holy shit. I slept the whole day away."

"Yes, you did."

Chad turned in time to see Ryan walking back into the bedroom, in nothing but a towel. Chad's jaw dropped. His eyes began traveling up and down Ryan's half naked body. As skinny and pale as he was he was, Chad still found him attractive. Extremely attractive. Especially with water dripping off of him. When Chad looked back to Ryan's face, he saw that he was smirking.

"See something you like?"

"Uh..um, well..I mean, yes! Wait, no. Uh, I mean...RYAN!" Ryan was doubled over with laughter.

"Chad, I was just teasing." He managed to get out in-between breaths.

Chad blushed.

"I knew that." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Making his way to his closet, Ryan grabbed a white tee shirt and a pair of sweat pants. Since the day was almost over, there was no way he was dressing like he usually did. Making his way back towards the bathroom, he turned and looked at Chad.

"You're mom called while you were sleeping. I told her I'd have you call when you woke up. You can have the bathroom now if you want. I'm gonna change in my dressing room. There are some clothes you can wear in the second drawer on the left. Meet me in the living room in thirty and we can order something to eat."

Ryan turned and walked back out. Swaying his hips as he went, knowing Chad was watching.

Ryan was right. As soon as he left the room, Chad leaned forward and watched as Ryan made his way back down the hall. One thought kept repeating itself over and over in his mind.

"That boy is so gonna be the death of me! But its gonna be a hell of a ride along the way."

Groaning, he flopped back onto the bed and placed a pillow over his face.

A/N: First off, let me say again how sorry I am this is two days late! I felt horrible not being able to get it out until now. And being sick sure as heck doesn't help things. So if this chapter isn't the best, I blame this stupid cold I have! I promise, the next chapter will be better and have much more stuff going on. Until next time, Tootles:)