Chapter 12
Ryan woke up the week before graduation with Troy soundly sleeping by his side, Sarah smiled from the door way.
"Did you want something mum?" Ryan asked.
"Its time to get up honey, you need to be in school in a couple of hours you both were so tired that you slept through the alarm clock." she said to him as he woke up Troy who looked grouchily at his mother. "Troy you slept through your alarm clock love time to get up." she said to him softly as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Oh, hey it's the last Friday of school." Troy said to him.
"Sure is." Jack said.
"You mind getting out of our room, so we can change in privacy." Troy said to his parents.
"You nude in that bed son, if so I don't think we haven't seen it all before." Jack teased him Troy actually growled at him in no mood to be teased that morning. "You brought your tux yet?" Jack asked moving to safer ground.
"Picking them up tomorrow." Ryan said to him.
"Nervous?" Sarah said to him.
"A little." Troy admitted.
"Well don't be little brother, your meant to be enjoying it." Alex said.
"What the hell is this, open season in our bedroom." Troy asked his boyfriend Alex laughed. "Come on guys get out so we can get ready for our day please." Troy said to his parents who both nodded leaving them in the room Alex gave him the thumbs up.
"You know I'm so glad this ends in a couple of months and we won't have the wake up call." Troy said shaking his head.
"Your going to miss it Troy don't lie to me." Ryan said with a grin.
"Your right of course but it doesn't mean I have to like it." Troy said Ryan laughed at that.
The two of them entered the kitchen twenty minutes later looking fresh and with wet hair, sitting down to breakfast with the rest of the family they sat in companionable silence.
"So boys tell me how are you going to get your cars to Cambridge?" Jack asked.
"Alex volunteered to bring Ryan's car up to Cambridge on the condition I show him around and buy dinner." Troy said to him. "We'll get what we can into the cars that I have the rest will go into Ryan's." Troy said to him with a grin.
"You think that we are just going to wave you of? Your wrong we are driving down with you so you can have all your gear with you straight away." Jack said to him. "Neither of your cars or Ryan's for that matter are all that functional for your bags." he added. "Plus we want to see you all of." he added with a smile.
"Embarrass us more like it." Troy said with a wicked grin his dad laughed. "But its appreciated." he added.
"What are your plans for graduation night?" Alex asked.
"I don't know Troy hasn't told me." Ryan said to him with a grin on his face.
"Troy?" Sarah asked.
"Sorry it's a secret if I told you I would have to kill you." Troy said. "At least in Ryan's presence." he added with a grin on his face.
"Its that kind of night is it?" Alex asked.
"I haven't got the foggiest idea what your talking about Al." Troy said to him with a grin on his face.
An hour later and the two of them were leaving the house to head to school, Troy insisted that Ryan be used to driving both of his cars owing to the fact that if he was going to drive one of them on the way to university he had better know how they handle. When they pulled into the lot as one Chad and Jason with Chuckie and Sharpay were waiting for them Troy stepped out of his car smiling at Ryan who had gotten out of the Ferrari not long before he had gotten out of his own car for the day.
"You decided to come in separate cars why?" Chad asked.
"If his going to drive either of these all the way to Cambridge I am insisting on him knowing how they both handle." Troy said to Chad who laughed at him.
"He doesn't trust me." Ryan pouted as Troy took his hand in his own.
"Its not a matter of not trusting you, it's a matter of knowing that you can handle the cars." Troy said to him. "You got to admit that the Ferrari as a hell of a kick to it." Troy said to him he laughed but nodded in understanding. "Now you know why I won't let anyone else near it." he added with a grin.
"So Chuckie you didn't tell me where you ended up getting accepted?" Troy asked him.
"Um. I'm going to be with you guys next year, I got accepted into the arts course with Ryan, I went there for easter to check things out with my parents." Chuckie said Troy looked at him for a moment before giggling.
"Ryan you have another friend to keep you company next year." Troy said to him with a smile.
"I know its so cool isn't it." Ryan said with a smile. "You tell your parents yet?" he asked Chuckie who grinned sheepishly at them Chad laughed. "How did they take it?" he asked.
"I was told to make sure I didn't get impregnated by some jock next term by dad, mum cooked a feast." Chuckie said Troy laughed as well. "You were right Troy I didn't have anything to be afraid of." he said to Troy who smiled. "Thanks." Chuckie added.
"That's what best friends are for." Troy said to him shaking his hand before dragging him into a hug Ryan smiled. "Just remember when you tell everyone else, if they can't accept you for who you are they aren't your real friends." Troy said Chuckie nodded. "Now did you invite Blake to prom?" he asked the boy who grinned.
"Yeah I did, his going to UCLA so it's the last thing as a couple we will do together." Chuckie said sadly.
"Hey look at it on the bright side Charlie, your be young free and single for university, that and your as hot as they come your find someone new." Troy said to him with a grin on his face. "Chad will be able to keep an eye on him for you UCLA is his chosen destination." Troy said to his friend who laughed. "He can tell you whether he ever manages to tame his hair or something." Troy said Chad snorted as that was said.
"I can't believe this is our last full week." Jason said to them all Troy looked at the outside of the school fondly.
"I'll tell you what I won't miss, Darbus." Troy said to them all who laughed. "Okay so here's the plan for after the ball, make sure your packed." Troy said to the group.
"We leaving that early?" Chad asked.
"You need at least a month in Australia Chadwell." Troy said.
"We are leaving prom night?" Ryan asked. "I don't have enough time to pack." he growled at Troy.
"That would be why I have pack most of your stuff already." Troy said Sharpay laughed.
"Wait now I know why I can't find anything, you're a sneak Troy Bolton." Ryan said kissing him. "But I love you none the less." Ryan added Troy laughed as they walked into the halls off the school a smile flitting across his lips as he saw so many things that were a constant reminder to the last few years he had spent at the school.
"I'm going to miss this place." Troy admitted to Ryan as they opened their lockers.
"I know, we have so many great memories here." Ryan said.
"Winter musicale last year was fun." Troy said Ryan smiled.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked Troy closed his locker leaning against the locker.
"I can't help but think of Gabi and Zeke." Troy said to him Ryan nodded in understanding. "I wish they were both here." he said to the blond.
"We all do." Ryan said to him. "I know Zeke would kick your ass though for getting depressed graduation week." Ryan said Troy giggled.
"Your right of course, they aren't the only people on my mind though." Troy said.
"Matt." Ryan stated Troy nodded with a smile.
"I know, I know, you don't need to state the obvious." he added Ryan laughed. "What about you?" Troy asked.
"Nervous as hell, we have been dating a long time and engaged almost as long. I'm worried that it will change when we get to Harvard." Ryan said Troy took his hand twisting him so he was against Troy's chest facing him.
"Everything changes this summer Ryan, we can't stop that. But us moving to a new school starting out on our own isn't going to change how I feel about you blondie… the ring on my finger means a lot to me." Troy said to him with a smile. "We are both going to do some major readjustments in our lives because of where we are moving." Troy said to him Ryan nodded in understanding and agreement. "It will only change for the worse if we let it." he added.
"Your right." Ryan said smiling his eyes shining vibrantly into Troy's. "The future is always scary when it involves moving away from everything we know isn't it." Ryan added Troy nodded.
"I had a similar talk with Alex not to long ago, he wanted to know if I was worried about us." Troy said to Ryan.
"What did you say?" Ryan asked interested.
"I said I was terrified." Troy said to him.
"Why?" Ryan asked worried.
"That I'd lose you." Troy said to him. "You're the best thing to happen to me in a long time Ryan I don't want to lose that any more than you want to lose what we have." he added as an afterthought Ryan smiled kissing his boyfriend.
"Your not going to lose me." Ryan said softly.
Hsmhsmhsm
Troy had just gotten out of the shower seeing his tux on the bed laid out perfectly, Troy straightened himself out grabbing his own boxers and slipping into them the rest came readily. Troy walked in to the kitchen his bow tie in hand his dad and Alex looked up.
"I could use some help with this thing." Troy said to him.
"You sure white is a good idea?" Alex asked.
"Ask Ryan he picked the colours out." Troy said with a grin. "I liked the black one." Troy said with a grin. "Speaking of which he Chad Jason Sharpay and Taylor should be here shortly in their cars, Chuckie and Blake are coming across the road now." Troy said to him with a grin. "I can't believe this is it." he added as the door bell rang his dad took the tie and went to work.
"There you go kiddo." Jack said to his son.
"Thanks pops." Troy said to him with a smile on his face.
Ten minutes later and the rest of the gang were there, Ryan was wearing his matching Tux looking incredibly sexy in it, the way his backside tended to jiggle in it Troy wondered if he had any under wear on underneath it.
"Troy honey you got a call earlier something about the plane being ready when you guys are." Sarah said as she came into the room. "You mind telling me why its ready this early?" she asked.
"It sounded like a good idea at the time, still does actually we can't all go over at once in the plane their isn't enough room, so your come over next week in the plane." Troy said to them Alex laughed. "I want as much time with our friends before we all go of in our own directions." Troy said to her she smiled in understanding. "All of their families know before you ask." Troy added to his dad. "You were the last ones to be told out of fear of being screamed at." Troy said to him with a wicked smile.
"You drop this with hours notice and you think that we are not going to be annoyed." Jack said to him.
"You have a good point." Troy said kissing his mum in time for the hoot of the horn from the stretch limo. "That's our call." Troy said to him as the cameras came out. "Dad." Troy groaned.
"You need photos." Jack said to him. "We want photos of this." he added.
"Fine it's a tenner a pop." Troy said with a grin.
Twenty minutes later and they were all in the back of the limo watching the streets passing by through the windows, "Did you all have someone pick up your bags?" Troy asked them.
"Yeah like three hours ago." Chuckie said to him.
"You sure its okay me coming along Troy." Blake asked him.
"I said yes didn't I, Blake relaxed I ran it by Nana over the phone last week she said it was only fair that I invite you." Troy said to him then smiled. "Relax would you, between the two of us we are going to have a good summer, I'm hoping you can get me up to speed with skateboarding." Troy said to him Blake grinned while Ryan groaned.
"You think you can keep out of the er." Ryan teased Troy laughed.
"You sure I can't persuade you to join us." Troy asked his boyfriend who shook his head. "Surfing is enough for you eh." Troy asked him Ryan nodded. "You don't mind me picking it up again do you?" Troy asked him Ryan stared. "What you're my fiancé, if you say you would rather I didn't do something for what ever reason I would consider it." Troy said to him Ryan smiled. "Just like if you did something or wanted to do something that I didn't like I would say so and I'd hope you would do me the same." Troy said to him with a grin on his face.
"I would, it doesn't necessarily mean I wouldn't do it anyway but I'd at least talk to you about it." Ryan said to him Troy grinned.
"Likewise." Troy said to him with a grin on his face.
"Your going to join a fraternity aren't you?" he asked.
"I don't know maybe." Troy replied.
"Its cool if you decide to do that, I might even think about joining one." Ryan said Troy quirked an eye brow at him. "Okay never going to happen, but you wouldn't mind if I did." Ryan said with a grin on his face.
"No I wouldn't mind." Troy said to him honestly. "You know I'll support you as long as its not something suicidal." Troy added. "Then your on your own." he added Ryan giggled.
"That would be taking the whole death do us part thing way to seriously." Blake said.
"We are here." the driver called.
"Lets make sure that this is a good night, one that Zeke would have been proud of." Troy said to them.
"Damn straight." Chad said to him.
Troy opened the door of the limo and got out first being closet to the door, Troy looked around finding faces of people he knew and waved at a couple of people. "Wow I hope your okay for big crowds tonight Ryan." Troy said to his boyfriend who stood up next to him.
"I'm fine I can always take a walk if it gets to much." Ryan said to him.
"Your gorgeous Ryan." Troy said to him Ryan smiled. "Lets have a good night and then we can all sleep on the plane." Troy said to him with a grin on his face.
"I don't like that plane." Ryan said Troy laughed. "I don't like small spaces Troy, I can't sleep on a plane." Ryan growled.
"Ryan your not just afraid of small spaces and the dark your afraid of flying as well." Troy said to him Ryan ducked his head. "You're an idiot, you could have just told me you know." Troy said to him with a grin he took a bottle out of his pocket. "They help me get through a flight." Troy said to him. "Sleeping pills." he added at the questioning look. "I hate planes, my parents don't know about it, but every time I go abroad on that monstrosity I take them to help me sleep." Troy said to him with a grimace on his face.
"You're a strange one Troy, every time I think I have you figured out you come up with something new to surprise me." Ryan said Troy laughed as he took his boyfriends hand in his own an lead the way to the dance floor. "If we are going to be here we might as well dance." Ryan said.
"True, you think we'll still be friends with everyone that we know when we come back?" Troy asked..
"I think that we have true close friends in all of the guys that are coming out with us to Australia with the exception of Blake who we are all getting to know, but I think we will be friends with them all at the end of it. You and Chad are pretty close not to mention you and Chuck." Ryan said to him Troy smiled at him.
"You think me and Chuck had a thing don't you." Troy said to him Ryan laughed nodding. "We really didn't, he used me as an experiment and kissed me." Troy said to him Ryan laughed.
"I can't imagine you were to happy about that." Ryan said to him.
"At the time I wasn't, he told me why he did it a month later." Troy said to him with a grin.
"Meaning you gave him the silent treatment." Ryan said.
"Meaning I gave him the black eye and a broken nose he had last year." Troy said to him with a smile.
"You broke his nose." Ryan asked.
"I was embarrassed angry confused, he apologised for kissing me and I apologised for breaking his nose we moved on." Troy said to him with a grin on his face. "I love Chuck like a brother, he started the confusion for me over my sexuality." Troy said to him with a smile Chuckie was near by and smiled at the two of them.
"So I have Chuckie to thank for you coming to me." Ryan said to him.
"Chuckie and Nick." Troy said to him with a smile.
"You never told me this because?" Ryan asked.
"Your pissed at me for not telling you that Chuckie kissed me a year ago, or that Nick kissed me in Australia last summer while I was on holiday." Troy said to him Ryan nodded. "Ryan it was a year ago and nearly two in Chuckie's case, like every gay guy I am allowed to be confused about my sexuality. Ryan your jealous of something that you don't need to be jealous about." Troy said to him Ryan glared at him.
"I'm just saying you could have told me." Ryan said to him.
"Ryan something's are not for me to tell, Chuckie didn't come out till recently I had no right to tell you that we kissed while he was in the closet." Troy said to him. "If it was you, you would have done exactly the same thing and you know it." Troy said to him Ryan sighed.
"Your right Troy." Ryan said. "I'm just being protective." Ryan said to him.
"Yeah because after this summer its going to matter anyway, will you stop with the whole I'm going to leave you crap. I am engaged to you Ryan I chose you over and over again, what do I have to do for you to stop thinking I am going to run a mile every time a good looking guy walks into our lives." Troy said to him Ryan stared. "Chuckie is my best friend, he and I are probably closer than I am to Chad, when we moved here after Matt he was the first person to make me feel welcome." Troy said to him with a grin on his face. "When I needed someone to be my sounding post when I needed someone to scream at, because I didn't think my parents wanted to know he let me use him. He was there when I was at a vulnerable time." Troy added.
"He let you do that." Ryan asked.
"He'd scream back at me from time to time." Troy said. "Mum saw it once its how I got to go see Mike." Troy said to him.
"Your councillor?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah." Troy said.
"You were a lot angrier back then." Ryan said.
"Kind of understandable." Troy said to him. "I don't excuse what I was like but I had issues hell I still have issues about what happened to Matt, last summer I didn't go straight to Australia." Troy said to him Ryan stared as they stepped of the dance floor.
"Where did you go?" Ryan asked.
"I went to see the person who did it he wrote to me through Mike, Mike said it might do me some good." Troy said to Ryan who stared. "I turned up at this big house in New York, I was their just sitting in the car for three hours looking at his house." Troy said to Ryan. "I saw the school bus turn up and three kids get of heading up to the house, one of them was my age Ryan, I was so angry that he destroyed more than one persons life." Troy growled.
"Troy I understand." Ryan said.
"That's the point Ryan you can never understand that feeling until its happened to you, I hope you never do because it kills a part of you. A part of me died the day my brother did." Troy said to him with a sad smile. "I know you love me Ryan, it helps me get through the day, ten years on it's a struggle, I some times have to take sleeping pills just to get to sleep at night. I hide everything well, but you need to know that about me." Troy said to him.
"I never realized how bad it is for you." Ryan said to him. "You could have told me it all straight of." Ryan said taking his hand in his own.
"Sometimes people are scared about admitting the truth." Troy said to him.
"Is there more?" Ryan asked as he pulled Troy to him wrapping his arms around Troy.
"Probably." Troy said to him Ryan stared.
"And?" Ryan asked.
"When we come back I want you to meet Mike, he'll explain a lot of it that I can't, but some of what happened is still a blank to me." Troy said to him. "I can't tell you it all because I don't know it all." he added.
"Don't know it or can't remember it?" Ryan asked.
"Both probably." Troy said to him. "His recommended someone in Cambridge, and made me an appointment with him a couple of days after school starts." Troy said to him. "I wish I could tell you it all but I have blanks in what happened." Troy said to him. "It may never come back to me and to be honest I am not sure I really want it to come back to me." Troy said a frown crossing over his face.
"Have you ever asked your parents or Alex?" Ryan asked.
"No." Troy said to him. "If your that curious you can ask them, I don't want to know." Troy said to him conviction in his voice.
"I wouldn't drag those memories up." Ryan said to him.
"Thank you for being understanding." Troy said to him he smiled.
"How can I be anything but understanding Troy, I'm not sure I'd be in any better state than you are if it had been Sharpay that had died not your brother. This year as been hard on all of us because of what happened to Zeke." Ryan said.
"Come on lets get back on the dance floor we are missing our prom night." Troy said to him Ryan laughed taking his hand as they stood up again heading back to the dance floor.
Hsmhsmhsm
They arrived at the airport just after midnight an hour before their flight was scheduled to leave Troy took out his sleeping pills, Ryan stared as he downed the pill with a bottle of water while they were in the first class lounge.
"I've seen you on a flight twice before how do you get that past me?" Ryan asked.
"The bathroom I used it to take my pill and drop the tub in my luggage, you make me sound like the kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar." Troy said Ryan laughed. "You want one of these?" Troy asked. "This is a long flight." Troy said to him Ryan nodded taking the bottle.
"You two ready to go." Sharpay asked Troy looked up at the clock nodding.
"They usually allow us to get aboard now." Troy said to them.
The group walked to the departure gate that the plane was at, "Its ready for boarding Mr. Bolton, the plane as been equipped for a night flight for the first half of the journey, your be stopping over in Singapore." the gate guard said to him with a smile.
"Thanks Nathan." Troy said as they walked down the walkway to the plane.