Take Me There

Chapter 13

Previously...

"My mother? You took my mother with you?"

"Of course I did! She called, I asked, she accepted, we shopped. End of story."

"And she let you buy all of this? She didn't protest or something?"

"Oh she tried. But in the end, I guess you were right."

"About what?"

"She does love me more than you! Once I bought he something pretty, she was putty in my hands. After all, it's the least I can do. I mean, you offered your home to me. I had to pay you both back somehow."

Chad couldn't believe it. Ryan had spent all day shopping for him. That had to mean something, right? He wouldn't just spend all that money unless he cared, would he? All sorts of questions were running through Chad's mind.

"Maybe there's a chance for us after all." He smiled as he watched Ryan pull item after item from the bag.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

"Ryan, I still can't believe you spent all this money on me. I mean, its just clothes, I coulda bought it myself."

"I know, but I wanted too. Plus, like I told you before, I am so over your lack of good clothes. If I'm going to be seen with you, then you are going to start dressing better." Ryan winked at Chad.

"So, what, now that I'm out it means I have to start dressing the part? If people didn't know before, they sure as hell will now."

"Oh, so your saying just because I dress nice and all my clothes actually match, its a tip off that I'm gay?" Ryan asked, in mock anger. He was trying to hold back his laughter.

"Exactly." That was all it took. Ryan picked up the closest thing he could find, which turned out to be a book, and threw it at Chad. He ducked, barely missing it.

"RYAN! That could have hurt!"

"I know. Why else do you think I would throw it?" He laughed. In the end, Chad started laughing with him.

That's when Ryan thought of it.

"Oh, Chad!" As soon as he heard Ryan talking in a singsong voice, he knew he wasn't going to like it.

"No, Ryan. Whatever it is, no."

"But you don't even know what I was going to say."

"It doesn't matter. I know that tone. Nothing good ever comes from that tone."

"At least listen to what I was going to say before you say no."

"Ry..."

"Please Chad. For me?" He asked, knowing there was no way Chad would say no. He could see the resistance fall.

"Fine." Chad sighed.

"Seeing as I went out of my way to buy you all these nice clothes..." He began but Chad interrupted.

"I never asked you too!" Chad threw out.

"...how about you try them all on and let me see what each outfit looks like?" He finished. Ryan waited for Chad's answer.

Chad was debating. On one hand, Ryan had gone to a lot of trouble to get him all these nice things, it was the least he could do. But on the other hand, Chad never asked him to do it in the first place. Looking at Ryan he could see he was waiting for an answer. Sighing in defeat, he agreed.

"Fine. I'll do it." Ryan was so excited. He ran to the closet and started pulling out the outfits he had only just put away.

And that's how things went for the next three hours. Chad was dead on his feet. He honestly didn't think he had ever tried on so many clothes in his life. And it wasn't just the clothes, oh no, Ryan wasn't satisfied with only seeing the shirts and pants, he wanted to see Chad in the new boxers as well.

"Good. Now that we've established that I am a fabulous dresser, no matter how bad the case may be, let's get to the unmentionables." Chad knew he should be scared when he saw a look in Ryan's eyes he had never seen before.

"What are you talking about?"

"Boxers. I want to see you in the new boxers I bought."

Chad's jaw dropped.

"You can not be serious!"

Ryan crossed his arms over his chest.

"And why can't I?"

"Because..uh..well, just because."

"That's no excuse. Now, take your boxers and show me what you got!" Ryan laughed at himself.

Chad could not remember a time when he was more embarrassed. He couldn't believe he was about to model boxers for Ryan. Of all things! That's when it hit him.

"Why else would Ryan want to see me in my boxers? Maybe I can turn this around on him and see how he reacts. If Ryan likes me, then I'm about to find out."

Chad was excited now. He hurriedly took his clothes off and put on the first pair of new boxers. They were black silk with red lines running through. He couldn't believe it but he actually liked them. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled.

"Oh yeah. This is gonna be good."

He called out to Ryan.

"You ready, Ry?" Ryan called back.

"Yeah. Ready and waiting."

Ryan had made himself comfortable on the bed. He was leaning against the headboard, sitting with his legs crossed at his feet. He had his arms behind his head. A smirk was placed on his face. He couldn't believe he had actually talked Chad into modeling the boxers for him. At first, it was just something funny that popped in his head but when Chad actually agreed, he was stunned. A happy stunned, but stunned none the less.

The smirk that was on his face, however, faded as soon as he turned to see Chad making his way back into the bedroom. His jaw dropped. His eyes were bugged out of his head. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Chad Danforth was standing in the doorway to their bedroom with only a pair of boxers on. A sexy pair of boxers at that. As many times as Ryan had seen him like this before, he honestly couldn't remember Chad ever looking this sexy before. Of course he had always looked good, but there was something about the way Chad was carrying himself just now that made Ryan was to jump him.

"Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into? He's gorgeous! Oh, God, if I didn't want him before, then I sure as hell do now!" On the inside Ryan was overjoyed with the sight before him. On the outside he was trying to keep in cool. He couldn't let Chad see how much he was affecting him. Finally, Chad spoke.

"Well?"

Ryan stuttered a tiny bit when he answered.

"Wel...uh, well, what?"

"How do I look?" For affect, he walked into the room, swaying his hips as he went.

Ryan had to bit his tongue to keep from moaning out loud.

"Nice. You look nice, Chad." "Better than nice." Ryan thought.

"Just nice?" He pretended to pout. Chad knew he was baiting Ryan but he wanted to see how far he could take it with Ryan.

"Um, real nice? I don't know Chad, what do you want me to say?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about great, sexy, amazingly awesome?" He smirked at Ryan.

"Ok then. That's how you look. All of those things put together."

Chad smiled. Ryan blushed.

"I love it when Ryan blushes. He looks so cute."

"Ok then. I'll be right back with another pair on." Chad walked back towards the bathroom, ready to put on another pair.

"Phase one of 'Get Ryan to admit he has feelings for me' complete." Chad silently spoke to himself.

As soon as Chad was out of the room, Ryan groaned.

"Dear God, what have I gotten myself into?" He spoke to no one in particular. He grabbed the nearest pillow he could find and placed it over his ever-growing problem. As soon as he laid his eyes on Chad, he downstairs friend decided to pay a little, eh, not so little visit. He was praying Chad hadn't noticed and he was pretty sure he hadn't.

He didn't have much time to think on it because Chad was now walking back into the bedroom, this time with the red pair on.

Ryan had no choice but to laugh. He had gotten these at the last minute, only as a joke. They were bright red with a kitten on the back. It reminded him of the Wildcats. He had no choice but to get them. He knew Chad could at least get a laugh outta them as well.

"Oh my God! That is so cute!" Ryan exclaimed.

Chad was laughing as well.

"Dude, Ryan, I love these!"

"Seriously?" Ryan asked.

"Yes! I mean, hello, Wildcats! Er, in this case, kittens! Its funny!"

Chad walked over to the bed and laid down beside Ryan. That was when Ryan remembered his little problem. He shifted on the bed, trying to make sure Chad couldn't see.

"Dude, Ryan, stay still man. I'm trying to get comfortable."

"Sorry." Was all he said.

After a few minutes, Chad rolled onto his side and faced Ryan. He was smiling as he noticed Ryan's obvious discomfort.

"So it did get to him. I'm guessing that answers my question."

"Hey, Ry."

"Yeah, Chad?"

"I just wanted to say thanks."

"For what?"

"For everything you did today."

"It was just clothes."

"I know but it still meant a lot to me. I've never had anyone do something like that for me before. It's just been mom and me for a while now. It feels good to have someone else in my life that I can depend on."

"Believe me when I say this and it comes from the bottom of my heart, you are more than welcome. If it wasn't for you and Gloria, I would be homeless. You and your mom have treated me better than my own family. Or at least, my old family. As far as I can see it, you and Gloria are all I need. You guys are my family now."

"Thanks, Ry. I know how much it means to mom that you are happy living with us. She was afraid that since we can't give you what you are used too, then maybe you wouldn't be happy."

"What do you mean, what I'm used to?"

"We don't have a lot of money like your parents do. Mom and I are lucky we get by on what we do. Your family has never wanted for anything. We can't give you a life like that."

"I don't want you too. Chad, I have enough money to take care of myself. Even though my family has disowned me, I still have my trust fund. No one can touch that except me. I have enough money to take care off the three of us. I know you and your mom won't let me, but just so you know, I could. And I want to help out in whatever way I can. I'll take care of everything I need. I won't have your mother spending her hard earned money on me when I can take care of myself. I'm not a charity case and I know neither of you see me that way, but I saw myself that way. At first, I did anyway."

"Ry, we don't see you like that. We care about you and want to help you. You don't deserve to be treated the way your parents have done you. No one does. Mom loves you as if you were her own son. I still say she likes you better than me." Chad smiled as he spoke.

"Yeah, I'm starting to believe you." Ryan smirked back. Chad just laughed.

"But anyway, like I said before, I just wanted you to know how much it meant to me that you would go out of your way for me like that."

"And like I said before, your welcome."

Unlike the previous times when Ryan had been the one to kiss Chad, even if it was just on the cheek, this time it was Chad's turn. He leaned over and placed a small, feather-light kiss on Ryan's lips. Not waiting for Ryan to react, Chad smiled, rolled over and turned the light off. He pulled the blanket up over himself.

It was soon after that Ryan could hear Chad's soft snores. Ryan on the other hand was now wide-awake. He didn't think he was gonna find sleep all that easy tonight. For the longest time he laid there, next to Chad listening to him breath and watching him sleep.

"So this is what love feels like." Was his last thought as he finally drifted off to sleep.

Ryan Evans was in love with Chad Danforth. What an interesting summer this was turning out to be.

A/N: So, how did everyone like it? I know it was a tad bit shorter than you would have liked it. The next will be longer, I promise. Was the Chad/Ryan interaction better than the previous chapters:D I hope so. I really liked writing this chapter and I hope you all liked reading it. As always reviews are welcome. I live for reviews! Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far! I love you all!...:) Next chapter will be up tomorrow. Until then, Tootles:)