Take Me There
Chapter 15
A/N: I am so glad everyone liked the last chapter! I was a little bit afraid of what some might say, seeing as I had Ryan completely go off on his mom. And I huge THANK YOU to all of my reviewers! It is now over 200 reviews! I can't believe it! Hope you all enjoy this chapter:)
Previously...
"What hopes? What dreams? You mean getting married and having 2.5 kids and living in a house with a white picket fence! What makes you think I can't still give you that? Granted, you would be getting a son-in-law and not a daughter-in-law, but I can still marry! I can still have children! Hello, have you ever heard of adoption?"
"But Ryan, it's not the same. You have to understand..."
"That's where you are wrong. I don't have to understand anything. I no longer have to understand anything that comes from you or father or Thank God, even Sharpay! For all I care, you can all go to hell!" He shouted in her face. He could see she was on the verge of tears but he didn't care.
"Please, Ryan. Just listen to me."
"No, I'm done here. Chad and I have plans today. Plans with Gloria. We have to be going now or we'll be late. Goodbye, mother." He took Chad's hand and left the dinning hall.
He left his mother in tears but he didn't care. She was no longer a part of his life now. That chapter of his life was closed. He was now on his way to opening a new one.
One with Chad and Gloria. And he couldn't be happier.
HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM
It was as if by walking outside into the warm, summer air that the reality of the situation hit Ryan with full force. He gasped and staggered backwards. If Chad hadn't been standing behind him, he would have hit the ground. Panicking, Chad lowered Ryan to the floor.
"Ryan, what's wrong? Are you ok?" He asked, frantically.
Instead of answering Chad, Ryan continued to gasp. He was starting to shake now. Chad was scared. He had no clue what was going on.
"Ry, please, tell me what's wrong? Breath, Ryan, breath!" Chad was almost screaming now. He was starting to draw attention to himself and Ryan now. Before he knew it Mr. Fulton was running towards them.
"Mr. Danforth, what's going on here? Why is Mr. Evans on the floor?"
"I don't know, Mr. Fulton. One minute he was fine and the next he was gasping for breath and shaking."
Looking down at Ryan, Mr. Fulton spoke again.
"Ryan, can you speak to us please. Tell us what's wrong. We are trying to help you."
"Can't...breath..." Was all he could say. Chad started panicking even more now. He dropped to his knees and pulled Ryan into him. Looking up to Mr. Fulton, Chad spoke.
"He's having a panic attack! Get him some water! Now!" Mr. Fulton took of running faster than Chad had ever seen him run before. He turned his attention back to Ryan.
"Ryan, look at me! Look at me and listen to my voice!" After a few more seconds, Ryan's startled eyes made contact with Chad's. He had tears in his eyes now. Still gasping for breath, he clutched onto Chad's shirt.
"Help...breath...can't...hurts." Again, all he could manage were small words in-between gasps for breath. Chad placed both hands on either side of Ryan's face. He spoke again, in a calming voice.
"Listen to me, Ryan. This is just a panic attack. You can overcome it. Do not let this defeat you. You are stronger than this. Now breath with me." As Chad would take a breath and let it out, he wanted Ryan to do the same. Instead of listening to Chad, Ryan only started panicking more. This scared Chad. He knew how bad panic attacks could get. He also knew that Ryan could breath through this. He just needed him to calm down.
"Please, Ryan, listen to me. I'm trying to help you but I need you to stay calm. Watch me breath. When I breathe in, you breathe in, when I breathe out, you breathe out. Watch me." Again Chad tried to get Ryan to follow his breathing. After a few more seconds, it seemed like Ryan was finally calming down. His breathing steadied out and he was no longer gasping.
"Chad..." Was all he said.
"No, Ry. Don't speak. Just breath." Still he wanted Ryan to take slow, calming breaths. After a few more minutes of this and seeing that Ryan was going to be fine, Chad pulled him into a hug.
"Don't do that to me, Ryan! You scared me! I thought I was going to lose you!" Chad was rambling. Ryan wasn't even sure if Chad knew what he was saying. They held onto each other until Mr. Fulton came running back. He was panting as he stopped in front of the boys. He handed Chad the glass of water.
"Here, Ry, take a small sip. Not too much." He helped Ryan take a few small drinks. Seeing that Ryan was all right now, Mr. Fulton told Chad to take care of him and make sure he rested. After saying this, he walked away. Sighing as he went. Chad turned his attention back to Ryan and saw that he was crying.
"Ryan, what's wrong? Are you having trouble breathing again?" This time it was Chad who started to panic first.
Coughing, Ryan answered.
"No..uh, no. It's not that." He sniffed.
"Then what is it? Please, Ryan, tell me." Chad pleaded with him.
"I was so cruel to her."
Chad was somewhat puzzled by this.
"What? Ryan, what are you talking about?"
"She's my mother and I treated her like she was a stranger. How could I do that? I stooped to their level. Oh God, Chad, what have I done?"
"Ryan, slow down and explain to me what you mean."
"I didn't even let her talk. I just started yelling at her. Did you see the look on her face? She was devastated. And I caused it. I caused my mother so much pain." Chad only listened as Ryan spoke.
"I treated her no better than father and Sharpay treated me. If she didn't hate me before, she does now. Why couldn't I just let her talk? Why did I have to be so mean? Chad, what have I done?" He looked to Chad, tears running down his cheeks. Chad finally spoke.
"Ryan, she deserved it. You were right in everything you said. She didn't take up for you. When your dad and Sharpay were treating you as though you weren't worthy of them, what did she do? Nothing! She stood there and said absolutely nothing! All she had to do was open her mouth. Say something, anything, but did she? No. I say you have nothing to be sorry for. She is the one who should be begging you to forgive her."
"But what if that's what she wanted? I didn't give her the chance to talk! For all I know, she came here today to apologize for the way she has been acting. I don't know because I wouldn't let her speak."
"Ryan, calm down. You're gonna send yourself into another panic state." Ryan seemed to listen to Chad. He stopped talking and started taking deep breaths again. Turning to Chad, he apologized.
"Chad, I'm so sorry."
"For what? For having a panic attack? That is not something you need to apologize for. I'm just glad you're ok now. You had me scared there for a minute." Chad smiled at Ryan and pulled him into a hug. After a minute or so, they pulled apart.
"But seriously, Chad, what am I going to do about my mother? I mean, now that I think about it, she never did anything. Except, maybe not doing anything in this situation is just as bad. Oh, I'm so confused." He hung his head. Chad lifted his head back up to meet his eyes.
"Whatever you decide to do, know that I am right behind you. If you choose to try and talk to your mom then I'll be there for you. But if you decide it's not worth it, I'll be there as well. Its up too you." Chad smiled. For the first time since breakfast, Ryan smiled as well. Looking down at his watch, he saw that it was now 1:36pm. He gasped again.
"Chad, we are going to be late! We have to be at the house in like less than half an hour!"
"Dude, chill. You just had a panic attack. Calm down. Are you sure you even still want to go? I know mom would understand if you decided you wanted to stay here and rest up."
"I'm fine now. I want to go. It will help take my mind off of things. Now come on! Let's go before we are way too fashionably late." Chad rolled his eyes at Ryan's over dramatic view of things. They walked silently to Chad's car. All the way, Chad kept his arm around Ryan's shoulder.
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The first thing Ryan noticed when they arrived at Chad's house was the amount of cars that were parked along the drive.
"Chad! I thought your mom said it was only going to be a few of your family members! This looks like everyone and then some!"
Chad laughed.
"Yeah, I guess mom forgot to mention that we had kind of a big family."
"How...what...I CAN'T DO THIS!"
Again, Chad laughed.
"Calm down. And yes you can. Since when has a large crowd ever stopped you before? Hello! You are Mr. Drama King!"
"Damnit, I hate it when you're right."
"I'm always right, so you may as well get used to it." Ryan smacked Chad in the back of the head. Laughing, they got out of the car and made their way into the house. Once inside, Chad was bombarded with family members coming up to him and hugging him. Ryan stepped back away from all the madness.
That's when Gloria spotted him. She made her way over to him.
"Ryan, dear! I'm so glad you could make it!" She pulled him into a hug, which he gladly returned.
"Hi, Gloria."
"Oh, enough with the 'Gloria' nonsense. I've already told you to call me mom. That is, only if your comfortable with it." She smiled at him. It seemed to warm him from the inside out.
"Ok, mom. It might take some getting used to, but I think I can handle it." He smiled at her.
"So, how are things going with you and my son?" She asked, getting right to the point. Before he could respond, Chad came running back over. He was looking at Ryan, with a panic state.
"Oh God, Ryan, I turned around and you were gone! I freaked! Are you ok?" Chad asked, in such a rush his mother almost didn't catch it all.
Ryan rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine, Chad. You were busy with your family, so I just hung back. I'm fine, Chad, really."
"What are you boys talking about?" Gloria asked, not understanding why Chad would freak out.
"Mom, Ryan had a panic attack today at the country club." Chad stated.
Gloria went into 'Mother Overdrive'. She started checking Ryan over, making sure he was indeed fine.
"Oh my goodness, honey! Are you ok? What happened? Did you hurt yourself?"
"I'm fine, mom. It was just a slight panic attack. I had a run in with my mother and I kinda lost it afterwards."
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. Are you ok now?"
"I'm fine. You'll be happy to know that Chad took care of me. He calmed me down. Actually, now that I think about it, he basically saved my life."
"Oh, my babies!" She exclaimed, pulling both Chad and Ryan into a crushing hug.
"Mom...can't...breath!" Chad gasped out.
"Oh, sorry! It just, I'm so proud of you Chad! And you, Ryan, I'm so glad you're ok!" She had tears in the corner of her eyes.
"Oh, don't cry. Everything is all right now. I promise." Ryan smiled at her. It seemed to calm her. She changed the subject.
"So, Ryan, are you ready to meet the family? I know that they are ready to meet you. Come along boys. We have people to meet!" She began pulling them towards the backdoor. Once the reached the door, she took them outside, where all the family was. Some were eating, some were talking, and others were sitting, talking and eating at the same time.
"Excuse me everyone! Can I have you attention?"
To Ryan's utter embarrassment, Gloria pulled him forward.
"Everyone this is Ryan Evans. He is now living with Chad and myself. Ryan, this is the family. Say hello."
"Um, hello everyone." He blushed. Turning around, he saw that Chad was trying to hold back his laughter. He stuck his tongue out at him.
"Come along Ryan. Let me introduce you to some of the family."
Chad must have thought he was getting out of it, he was however, very wrong.
"CHAD! Come along dear. You can't leave Ryan all alone." While Gloria and Ryan were smiling, Chad was scowling.
They stopped in front of an elderly woman. She must have been getting up there in age. Ryan guessed she was somewhere in her 70's.
"Ryan, this is my mother, Edna, mom this is Ryan. You remember me telling you about him, don't you? Ryan, this is my mother, Chad's grandmother, Edna."
Edna smiled at Ryan as she made her way to him. She stopped in front of him, looking him from head to toe. It was as if she was taking him in. Finally, she spoke.
"So this is the famous Ryan. You know son, my daughter and grandson can't seem to stop talking about you. You must be something pretty special to them." She smiled at Ryan and pulled him into a hug.
"Now I see where Gloria gets it from. She's just like her mother."
"Hello, Edna. Its nice to meet you."
"Oh, such a gentleman. Seems my grandson did good in finding you." At Edna's words, Ryan's smile grew even bigger.
"Thank you, ma'am. I have to say though, I think I did pretty good myself." Ryan turned to see that Chad was now blushing. It felt good to turn the tables on Chad.
For the next hour or so, Gloria took Ryan around, introducing him to the rest of the family. He met Aunts and Uncles, Nieces and Nephews, Cousins upon Cousins. He met Gloria's younger brother and his wife. They all seemed like such a lovely family. He smiled as he thought of them as his family now. Even though this might be the only time he would ever see some of these people, he was still happy to know that they were there.
As the day went on, they ate and talked. Ryan found that he had a lot in common with some of Chad's cousins. There were even a few that were in their school's Drama classes. That made Ryan smile.
The later it got, the more people started to leave. By the time nightfall rolled around, Chad, Ryan and Gloria were all that remained. After saying goodbye to the last guest, Gloria made her way back into the house. She smiled as she walked into the living room. Chad and Ryan were sitting down on the couch, both laying on one another for support.
"You boys seem tired." She said
They looked at her, almost to the point of rolling their eyes.
"DUH!" They said at the same time. This caused her to laugh.
"How about you both stay here for the night? It's getting kind of late and I don't really want you driving back if you are this tired."
The boys looked at one another. Ryan spoke.
"Thanks, Gloria. That would be great. I'm so tired, I don't know if I can even make it up the stairs, let alone all the way to the car."
Without warning, Chad scooped Ryan up into his arms. Ryan screamed.
"CHAD! Put me down! What are you doing?"
"You said you were tired. I'm taking you to bed. Duh."
Chad walked to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. Ryan did the same.
"Night, mom." They said at the same time.
"Goodnight, my sweet boys. Sleep tight."
With that, Chad made his way upstairs. Stopping outside his bedroom, he opened the door. Making his way inside, he looked down to see that Ryan had fallen asleep. He smiled as he placed Ryan on the bed. He took his shoes off. As well as his pants and shirt. Ryan always slept in his boxers anyway. Stepping back, Chad began taking his clothes off as well. Getting down to his boxers, he climbed into bed.
Looking over at Ryan, he placed a small kiss on his forehead.
"Night, Ry."
Both boys slept like they had never slept before.
A/N: Another chapter down. How did everyone like it? Review and let me know. As always, the next chapter will be up tomorrow! Until then, Tootles:)