Once everyone had finished eating they all continued to walk around the stores, Sharpay's shopping antics had rubbed off on the rest of the girls and they all walked in and out of the shops coming out with more bags for the boys to hold. Ryan, Chad, Troy, Zeke and Jason couldn't help but laugh.
"How come you're not shopping?" Chad asked Ryan, all the boys were waiting outside a shoe shop.
"Well because me and Troy haven't been dating that long, and it's far too early to make him carry my bags." Ryan smirked.
"I don't mind if you want to go and shop I shall carry your bags," Troy smiled. Chad hit him around the head laughing.
"It's cool maybe later though." Ryan smiled. Troy grinned and linked held his hand pulling him closer.
"You know that's just the cutest thing ever." Taylor chuckled as she walked out of the shop handing another bag to Chad. "You make such a sweet couple." Ryan blushed and Troy just smiled and laughed.
"Thanks," Troy grinned. "Here that Ryan she thinks I'm cute."
"No, she said we're cute. Without me you wouldn't be as cute." Ryan giggled. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and pulled it out. "It's my mum, I'm going outside to answer it." Ryan kissed Troy's cheek quickly and answered the phone as he made his way to the exit.
Sharpay and Kelsi walked out of the shop, Sharpay asked where her brother had gone and when Troy told him she nodded. She had said Troy's mother was going to phone at six today. The group made their way through the mall, Troy suddenly felt a little left out as everyone else was holding someone's hand. He missed Ryan already.
"Dude you're lost with out him!" Chad laughed.
"I'm not." Troy said defiantly, though he knew it was true. "Fine I am." Chad laughed and the boys started to make whip sounds. "I'm just really happy."
"Good." Chad grinned. The girls all wondered into yet another clothes store and the boys sat outside. They started talking about basketball, and then moved onto baseball. "Least we know you can still talk about manly things." Chad smirked.
"What do you mean?" Troy asked with a raised eye brow.
"Now that you're gay," Jason laughed. "Figured you'd start wearing pink and I don't know doing even more musicals." Troy just laughed.
"You know that's unfair." Troy sighed. "I did one musical and that was for Gabriella." They all looked a little awkward when Troy said her name, as though they were expecting him to fall over with guilt. "And any way, Ryan is gay and he does lots of manly stuff."
"We don't need to know about his manly abilities." Zeke chuckled.
"Funny. But I mean he plays baseball." Troy laughed.
"Ryan? Plays baseball?" Jason laughed.
"Yeah he played little league he has a few trophies in his room," Troy smiled at their shocked faces.
"Why doesn't he play on the team?" Chad asked curiously, he was on the baseball team and they were pretty bad, if Ryan was as good as Troy was making out they could really use him on the team.
"Don't know," Troy shrugged.
"We should have a game some time." Zeke suggested. "The girls could play too."
"Girls don't like sports." Chad muttered. "Do you know how many times I've tried to get Taylor to watch a game with me."
"But playing it is different, I bet they'll be excited about the outfits." Jason laughed. "Oh I bet Troy would be excited about the outfits too."
Just as Troy was going to say something he noticed Ryan walking up to them, only this didn't make him feel good. His Ryan had a bloody nose, a cracked lip and his shirt was ripped from where someone had been holding it roughly. "Ryan what happened!" Troy said loudly as he ran over to his boyfriend, he wasn't surprised to see tears running down the blonds face.
Ryan just shook his head and fell into the embrace. Chad, Jason and Zeke all rushed over. "Dude are you okay?" Ryan just shrugged and pulled out of the hug. Chad pushed his hands in his pocket and pulled out a pack of tissues and handing them to Ryan who took them shakily.
"Who was it?" Troy asked, Sharpay and the girls headed over and shrieked when they saw Ryan.
"Who was it Ryan?" Sharpay shouted. "Are you okay?" Ryan nodded as he held a tissue to his nose.
"Ry, who was it?" Troy asked gently.
"The boys who spread it around." Ryan said his voice a little muffled from the tissue.
"Come on, I'll take you home." Troy said, Ryan nodded weakly. "Sharpay do you want a lift?"
"I... I think I'll give you two some time alone." She smiled slightly. "Zeke can drop me home later. Around eight so make sure you're decent."
"Thanks, Shar." Ryan smiled. Troy took his hand and held him close to his side as they walked towards the car park. He opened the door for Ryan who laughed lightly. The drive to Ryan's Estate was silent, Troy thought maybe Ryan was scared or in pain to talk but when he looked over he noticed that Ryan had fallen asleep; his head leaning against the car window. He smiled, that was the most peaceful he had seen his lover in a while.
Troy didn't want to wake him, but when the truck stopped outside his house he knew he'd have to. "Ry, time to wake up baby." Troy said gently. Ryan opened his eyes wearily, the bruise that was just fading from before now looked a dark blue colour. "That's it, up you get baby." Troy smiled as he opened the car door for Ryan. He held his hands out and helped a sleepy Ryan out of the car.
They walked to the house and once the maid answered the door she looked sadly at Ryan and asked if there was anything she could do, he shook his head and followed Troy to his bedroom. Troy sat Ryan who was still shaking on the corner of the bed and then headed to the bathroom where he got some more tissue and a basin of water. He walked back in and saw Ryan staring at the floor, he put a gentle hand on his shoulder and guided Ryan's face towards him where he placed a soft kiss on his lips. "You okay?" He asked as he dabbed the cut forming on Ryan's right eye with the tissue, cleaning up the dry blood.
"Been better." Ryan answered truthfully.
"What happened?" Troy asked as he cleaned up Ryan's wounds.
"I was outside talking to my mum once I finished the call I was coming back in to find you when I heard my name being called, I turned around and there was this group of boys from school. I wanted to run, I really really wanted to run. But I was stuck." Troy felt Ryan shake more and knew he was crying.
"Shh, it's okay baby, you're okay now." Troy said as he caressed Ryan's face with his fingers gently.
"They called me dirty, useless, and they wouldn't stop hitting me." Ryan cried. "They said I deserved it."
"Hey, listen, Ryan listen to me." Troy said strongly. Ryan looked up and Troy wanted to kiss all his cuts and bruises but he would do that later right now he needed Ryan to listen to him. "This isn't your fault, okay. I promise you it isn't. You're perfect, beautiful, caring, you're not useless or dirty. You're amazing. And it will get better. Okay."
"Okay," Ryan sighed.
"I'm going to phone my mum and tell her I'm staying her tonight, and I'll look after you, okay?" Ryan nodded his head, that's what he needed. He needed his Troy to make everything feel better.