Chapter 18
November gave way to December and the time to go home for Christmas was fast approaching, Troy was enjoying life at college and the two of them were settling into the house quite comfortably. Troy had spent a fortune getting the place up to speck and with Ryan hiring the best interior designers to get the job done.
"Ryan are you packed?" Troy asked his boyfriend as he moved around their rooms.
"Almost." Ryan said to him.
"Ryan we are going for two weeks." Troy called after him as Ryan ran around the room finding his things, Troy was close to pulling his hair out from frustration. "Will you please finish your packing tonight we leave tomorrow for home." Troy snarled at his boyfriend.
"I am almost done so chill Troy." Ryan said to him.
"I have a long drive a head of me tomorrow Ryan and I do want to sleep at some point tonight." Troy said to him Ryan who nodded. "I'm going to make some food for all of us." Troy said to him Ryan smiled at him.
"A sandwich would be good." Ryan said to him.
"You don't get to eat until that suitcase is shut Mr." Troy said Ryan pouted. "What would you like?" Troy asked him Ryan smiled.
"Roast beef." Ryan said to him.
"You want me to use the left over meat from Sunday?" Troy asked Ryan nodded.
"Fair enough, I'm chucking the rest before we leave tomorrow it will be no good by the time we come back." Troy said to him Ryan nodded. "The one and only time I am sending you to buy meat for the week." Troy said to Ryan laughed.
Ryan had gone shopping for the last week at the house before Christmas and come home with food that would easily have made a large family comfortable for a week when their were just four people in the house how ever it was a struggle. Troy had been laughing his head of when he saw it annoying Ryan until he calmed down enough to tell him why he had been laughing, Ryan had forgiven him with some forgiving sex and chocolates as well as sharing in the joke.
The four of them had been comfortable since moving in to the house and since they all drove getting to and from college was no problem at all, Troy had organized a party for them and their friends during the refit most of their classes and teams had turned up for it and the night had not been without its entertainment and near misses in the pool.
Troy walked into the kitchen to find Nick and Chuckie fawning over each other as they ate their lunch.
"Do I need to get a bucket?" Troy asked his friends who glared at him.
"Your not funny." Chuckie said.
"Yeah I am, you have to give me that." Troy said. "I am your land lord after all." Troy said to him Chuckie laughed. "Are you guys packed?" Troy asked.
"Yeah we finished up this morning." Nick said to him.
"Good we are driving so you know we'll be there after you for a change." Troy said to them.
"Why are you driving?" Nick asked.
"You know I am not leaving the Ferrari in the lot over Christmas right." Troy said to him. "My grandparents and cousin are coming home for Christmas." Troy said. "That an I get to see my nephew and niece for a little more than a couple of hours for the first time since they were born." Troy said to him Nick nodded. "I had to send a load of our stuff ahead last week because it wouldn't all fit in the car." Troy said Chuckie laughed.
Hsmhsmhsm
The drive back to New Mexico was a long one, Troy pulled up his old house's drive at ten in the evening his parents car was out front so he knew that they had likely only just got home. Ryan was sleeping in the passenger seat of the car, "Ryan we are here." Troy said shaking the boys leg gently the blond opened his eyes.
"How long have I been asleep?" Ryan asked.
"Since about five." Troy said to him with a smile. "I've had the radio for company since the fourth stop of the day." Troy said to him.
"You could have woken me." Ryan said to him.
"Yeah I know but you looked like you needed to sleep." Troy said to him as they climbed out of the car Jack and Sarah were already in the door way to the garage smiling goofily at the two of them. "Hey pops." Troy said as he hugged his mother.
"Good drive?" Sarah asked them.
"Yeah good drive our luggage is in the boot." Troy said to her.
"We'll fedex the rest back before we leave." Ryan said Sarah laughed.
"The bad thing about driving one of these things, space is always an issue." Troy said to his dad. "Cool car though." Troy said to him. "Ryan's present arrive?" Troy asked Ryan perked up.
"It did as a matter of fact." Jack said.
"Your not going to tell me are you." Ryan asked Troy nodded.
"When does Nana get in?" Troy asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon." Jack said to him.
"Alex and Jen settle into the new house?" Ryan asked him.
"Yes they moved in last week permanently, they said they wanted their own space what with Luc and the twins." Sarah told them.
"I know what they mean." Troy said to her.
"Was Gabriella serious about her offer after school?" Jack asked.
"Yea she was." Ryan said Troy smiled.
"That's great news for you both." Sarah said to them Troy nodded.
"Lets get settled in." Troy said to his boyfriend who nodded and grabbed his bag from the car before following his boyfriend out of the garage.
"Your dinner is in the oven." Sarah said to them.
"I'm going to turn in." Troy said to her. "I've been driving all day and I am exhausted." he said to his mum nodded.
"See you in the morning." Troy said to her kissing her cheek before heading up the stairs to his old room.
"His grown up." Jack said to her she laughed.
"He definitely has." Sarah said to him. "Our little boy doesn't need us for that any more." Sarah said Troy appeared at the top of the stairs with a smile.
"He still needs his parents mum." Troy said to her. "I'm happy and finally at peace with myself." Troy said to her. "Matt isn't a spectre in my life any more not the way he was anyway." Sarah smiled at her son for maybe the first time she believed him when he said something like that. "See you in the morning." Troy said to them before disappearing to their room.
Hsmhsmhsm
Troy walked down the following morning with a smile on his lips, Ryan was still asleep and snoring lightly as Troy entered into the room his older brother was at the table with Jen eating breakfast.
"Can I never get rid of you?" Troy asked as he sat down next to his brother.
"Of course you can when I am to old to embarrass you." Alex said to him Troy laughed.
"No Ryan?" Sarah asked him.
"His still sleeping of the effects of the flu so I let him sleep." Troy said to her. "The whole house as had in at some point in the last couple of weeks." Troy added at her frown. "Its what we get for sub zero temperatures in December." Troy added she laughed. "We all learned that next year we need jabs." Troy said to her.
"Your going to love being here then going back in January." Alex said to him.
"Tell me about it, the last couple of months the central heating as been on full blast all day." Troy said to him Alex shook his head. "I almost feinted when I saw the bill." Troy added he laughed.
"Helps to be rich?" Alex asked.
"You got that right." Troy said to him Alex laughed.
"Hey." Ryan said from the doorway, Troy looked over his shoulder with a smile on his lips. "You could have woken me." he said to Troy and the others could see that he didn't look all that bright.
"You have been ill for the last few days, I wasn't about to interrupt your sleep." Troy said to him he growled. "Ryan you know damn well you needed time to recover so don't get pissy with me." Troy snapped at his boyfriend who stared at him before he hugged Troy kissing him Troy kissed him back before wrapping an arm around the small of the other mans back.
"Sorry I don't like being sick." Ryan said.
"You and Troy both." Sarah said to him Ryan laughed as the door bell rang. "That will be either Chad or Chuckie and their boyfriends." she said to them Troy laughed as he walked to the door opening it he smiled at Chad and Blake who came into the house with Troy's consent they walked back into the kitchen together.
"Hey Chad, who is this then?" Jack asked.
"This is Mikey, Mikey this is Jack, Lucille, Alex, Jen and their kids." Chad introduced them.
"Nice to meet you Mikey we were just starting breakfast would the two of you like to eat with us." Lucille asked Chad said yes for them both when his stomach growled at the room Troy snorted looking at his best friend.
"Your stomach never could keep quiet." Troy said to Chad Mikey laughed as Chad growled. "I never get to have all the pancakes when you're here do I." Troy said Chad laughed with him this time. "So how is training with the Lakers going?" Troy asked Chad smiled at him.
"Its all good." Chad said. "I didn't realise how tough it would be when I signed but I love it really." Chad said to him Troy nodded. "I have my own apartment in LA, I brought it on mortgage of course." he added Troy nodded. "I have a great view of the city from our bedroom window." he said Troy nodded.
"All good then." Troy said Chad laughed but nodded. "Your getting me tickets to your first game right?" Troy asked Chad laughed nodding his head.
"Good because I would kill you if you didn't invite me along for the ride you know that right." Troy said to him Chad nodded his head. "Join me on a run pancy boy or are you to chicken." Troy asked Chad's eyes widened.
"Breakfast then your eating dust Bolton." Chad said.
"You sure your starting to look a bit porky." Troy said to him Mikey laughed at this. "Its all that Californian breakfast your getting, I here the sausage is something to die for." Troy said with a wink at Mikey who blushed as Chad was trying to fathom what he had just implied the growl from his friend told Troy that he had figured it out Alex meanwhile was laughing with Ryan. "Of course if your not man enough for Mikey we can find him a new boyfriend or girlfriend to satisfy his needs." Troy said to him Chad glared at him.
"How exactly did you end up with such a close hair cut?" Jack asked knowing that Troy liked his locks Ryan giggled.
"Frat hazing night." Troy said to him Jack stared. "I got a little drunk along with most of the others which by the way includes boy wonder there, so don't let him tell you he didn't get involved in it." Troy said to his father who laughed. "Some of the guys decided that I didn't need long lochs any more and shave it completely off, I'm just glad they left me my eye brows." Troy said his father laughed as his mother ran her hand over his short spikey hair.
"It looks good on you." Jack said to him Troy growled at him.
"I went insane at them, the two responsible ended up with no eyebrows or hair of any sort a week later." Troy said to his father who giggled. "We even drew some pretty pictures on them and posted them on the college bulletins board under have you seen this man." Troy said to him Jack laughed. "We put the video on you tube." Troy added his mother snorted. "I love my hair." Troy said fingering his short locks agitatedly.
"It still looks good on you." Chad said to him a smirk covering Troy's lips suggested that he was up to something.
"You like the look Chad?" Troy asked Ryan was shaking his head at Troy.
"Troy don't you dare touch my afro dude." Chad said to him.
Hsmhsmhsm
The following day the friends and families of everyone who had gone away to college came for a BBQ at the house, Troy watched as Chad and Mikey arrived and entered the house he smiled at Mikey who didn't quite meet his eyes Chad looked depressed about something and Troy looked at his friend.
"Lets take a walk." Troy said softly in his friends ear.
"Sure." Chad replied Troy led him upstairs into his room.
"Chad what's happened?" Troy asked as he closed the door.
"Troy its nothing." Chad said sitting down on the bed Troy sat next to him.
"Yes it is don't lie to me you never could do it well." Troy said to him Chad sighed turning to face Troy his eyes clouded with pain. "Chad?" Troy prompted.
"I have cancer in my balls." Chad said Troy placed a hand around his friends shoulder. "Its spread." he said softly Troy moaned he felt like a part of his world had ended.
"What can they do?" Troy asked.
"Nothing its to advanced Troy, I have months if not less." Chad said to him Troy turned to his friend and pulled him into a hug Troy closed his eyes fighting back the tears he knew was coming, he could feel his friends shoulders shaking and here the shallow gasps that told him Chad was crying Troy let his own tears fall unable to fight them any more.
"How is Mikey coping?" Troy asked him.
"Like a lost puppy." Chad sobbed Ryan looked into the room from the open doorway Chad shifted causing Troy to break apart to look at his boyfriend.
"Troy." Ryan said sitting down the other side of Chad. "Mikey told me." Ryan said to Chad hugging him as Troy furiously wiped away his own tears Troy took Chad's hand as Mikey came into the room as well with Chad's parents. "I'm sorry for what its worth." Ryan said to Chad who nodded. "Do you want me to stay Troy?" Ryan asked Troy nodded Ryan sat on Troy's legs and found himself being crushed by Troy's grip it was only the fact that he heard his boyfriend sobbing as he struggled to come to terms with his friends illness.
"What are you going to do?" Troy asked.
"I'm moving home, Mikey is transferring here." Chad said to him.
"Will you promise to call me when its time." Troy said to Mikey who nodded numbly Troy pushed at Ryan to get up of his legs and moved to Mikey without even thinking wrapping his arms around his friends shoulders he hugged him Mikey knew that he had suffered loss closely Ryan watched the two of them interact at a loss for what to do that would ease the suffering of his boyfriend or their friends no words seemed to be strong enough to express the sorrow he felt for them.
Troy broke apart from Mikey to stare into his eyes.
"We'll get through it together." Troy said to the two of them. "Anything you need you call okay." Troy said to his friends Troy gripped Chad's shoulder. "Call. Is their anything you want to do before you know?" Troy asked him Chad laughed. "Seriously anything you want to do?" Troy asked.
"Theirs a lot I want to do before I die." Chad said to him.
Troy walked to his draws pulling a cheque book out Chad couldn't see what he was doing though Ryan could his eyes widened, they both knew that Troy was hard up on cash because he was on a pay if you play contract with the Lakers. When he turned around he had the cheque in hand and was walking back to the bed, Chad eyed the thing in his hands.
"Troy…" Chad started.
"Take it cash it and do what you want with it, this should get most of the things you want done." Troy said to him. "Their will be enough to help Mikey afterwards to and if their isn't I will write another one." Troy said placing it in Chad's hands. "Theirs a lot of money on that paper Chad so after Christmas do something you know we would both agree on." Troy said Chad's eyes watered slightly. "I've always thought of you as a brother and the fact that I am going to lose you before your time is hurting me so much I can't form the words to describe." Troy said Chad nodded numbly.
Hsmhsmhsm
The morning after all of this happened Troy woke up numb from the night before Ryan was already awake sitting watching the sunrise in the windows of the room, "Ryan." Troy said softly Ryan looked at him tears in his eyes Troy knew why as the night before events replayed in his mind and he sat up in bed to look at his boyfriend who had his arms wrapped around his knees and was rocking slowly back and forward.
"I can't believe this is happening." Ryan moaned softly.
"I can't either." Troy said softly as he pulled the blond to him it was only the surprised squeal that told him he had caught him of guard. "Ry I don't want to wait we should do it now while his still here." Troy said to him. "I want my best friend to be my best man." Troy said to him Ryan stared at him before nodding.
"I'm going down to get it arranged." Troy said as he pulled out of the bed drawing a robe to him he wrapped up.
"Troy I love you." Ryan said to him.
"I love you to baby, we'll get through this." Troy said to Ryan smiled as he got out of bed. "Are you okay with me bringing this forward?" Troy asked his boyfriend nodded his head.
"Your right we should do this while his still with us and healthy." Ryan said Troy nodded as Ryan joined him and they headed down to breakfast together Chad and Mikey were already at the table having stayed the night along with Sharpay Chuckie and Nick. "Morning." Ryan said Chad smiled weakly at them as their parents came into the room.
"Mum I want you book the registry earlier much earlier." Troy said to his mum.
"How much earlier?" she asked.
"This week." Troy said her eyes widened. "I don't know how long Chad has and I want him to be my best man so it needs to be Christmas." Troy said to her the room stared at him Chad nodded his head he had told them but none of them thought he would want to bring it that forward that quickly. "Can you get it done?" Troy asked her she smiled.
"It will be tight but I will make the call." Sarah said to them as Troy sat down next to Chad.
"You want to be there right?" Troy asked his friend nodded. "Good." Troy said then he kissed Chad's cheek Ryan smothered a smile he had never realized how close they were but he got the impression that their could have been more than friendship in their somewhere had they admitted there feelings for each other sooner.
"You mind not hogging my boyfriend Chadwell." Ryan said to him with a chuckle Chad glared playfully at his friend. "You keep kissing him I might start to get jealous." Ryan added to Troy who crashed his lips to his boyfriends lips and proceeded to kiss him thoroughly in front of everyone in the room Ryan looked breathless when they broke apart. "Great kisser." Ryan panted at Chad who laughed at his friend.
"I know he is." Chuckie said to Ryan Troy blushed. "His always been handy with his mouth." he added Ryan and Troy snorted at this.
The group went out to the pool for a swim it was still very hot at this time of year and the two of them Ryan and Troy decided not to hover around Chad and Mikey, they figured the two of them could use the space Chad swam over to Troy and Ryan and smiled at them.
"You avoiding me Bolton?" Chad asked.
"No just wanted to give you and Mikey some space." Troy said to him.
"Mikey and I spoke to your mum she's arranging for us to tie the knot to at the same thing, I wanted you to be my best man, I figured I should walk down the aisle before I die." Chad said Ryan nodded at Troy they had spoken briefly about it and Troy pulled Chad to him kissing him softly on the lips Chad had been surprised but Mikey was smiling from the doors the two boyfriends had planned the whole thing Troy would find out much later but Chad had opened up and responded to the kiss Troy wrapped his arms around his friends lips closing his eyes while the others watched shocked and amused.
When the two of them broke apart Ryan kissed Troy softly whispering in his ear afterwards, "I'll let the fact that you enjoyed that slide but your biting the matress later." Troy giggled.
"You mind telling me what that was for?" Chad asked.
"I figured that since we both had a secret crush we should you know make it a non secret and just for a one time thing kiss." Troy said to him. "My boyfriend concurred that I should do it, your boyfriend is laughing his head of amused at the put out look you got on your face." Troy said to him Chad looked over his shoulder and sure enough Mikey was rolling up causing him to blush. "When you're as close to each other as I and Ryan are, you trust that the other won't cheat without permission anyway and I had permission for that kiss." Troy said Chad chuckled then pushed himself into Troy kissing him again Troy looked at Ryan who was smiling as he watched the whole thing amused Troy wrapped an arm around the middle of the boy deepening the kiss amused and a little worried but Ryan nodded his head as he came into view.
"I'm fine Troy I know where your sleeping tonight." Ryan said and watched his boyfriend close his eyes the second kiss was one of emotion and to see the two of them crying let them know that it was a last time thing and that they were pouring emotion into the kiss that was going on Ryan found his other hand taken by Troy's free one when they broke apart Chad smiled at him.
"You better even it out." Troy said to him pointing at Ryan who stared in shock as Troy swam over to Mikey who was sitting in the pool. "You okay?" Troy asked.
"Yeah you looked like you enjoyed that." Mikey said to him. "I know he did, I'm cool with it I love him and that was on his wish list which is why I spoke to Ryan and got him to suggest it to you knowing that you wanted it almost as much as he did." Mikey said smiling Troy laughed as he turned to watch his passive boyfriend getting very hot under the collar. "His a good kisser no." Mikey said to Troy who smiled.
"They both are actually, their giving everyone a show." Troy said to him Mikey laughed. "I'm pretty cool with it though, I mean how many guys get to see their best friend and boyfriend make out in a pool like this its pretty damn hot." Troy said crossing his legs Mikey laughed. "I have a largish problem down there that Ryan is going to have to deal with later." Troy admitted as the kiss went on. "I kissed him twice and this is torture." Troy said to Mikey they were alone in the pool the others had gone inside probably to get drinks they could hear laughing Troy looked back at the house seeing his parents staring and his brother looking thoroughly confused.
When the other two broke apart Troy and Mikey were sitting with their legs crossed and red as anything, they had enjoyed the show way to much, Troy pulled Ryan to him where he sat down on Troy's lap and laughed.
"Is that a pole in your pocket or are you just happy to see me." Ryan asked Troy laughed.
"Your show with Chad as made me horny you little devil." Troy said to him. "See I enjoyed it a lot and I was jealous I didn't get to have in on the fun that was damn hot, Mikey and I both agree on that by the way." Troy said to them Chad was smiling. "You can cross that wish of your list as having been done." Troy said to him Chad laughed.
"I had a crush on Chad big time before I started dating you Ryan, what you don't know is that Chad had one just as big on you sure he liked me a lot but you blondie were the one he really liked. You were set up Ry." Troy said Mikey and Chad laughed as they stared at him. "I conspired with these two when they told me what you had spoken to Chad about getting my dream kiss, then I said well we have to get Chad's to or that just wouldn't be fair, I knew that you wouldn't mind this one little bit because you were willing to let me kiss him." Troy said Ryan then decided to kiss him to shut him up the moan that left Troy's lips because Ryan was rubbing his crutch as he moved to get more comfortable made the others laugh.
When they broke apart everyone was in the pool having fun again.
"You set me up?" Ryan asked Troy nodded. "Thanks." Ryan said Troy nodded.
"I trust you Ryan, that was the ultimate show of trust." Troy said to him Ryan laughed but he understood what his boyfriend was saying. "You trusted me enough to be allowed to kiss Chad twice which by the way was fucking hot, and watching you kiss Chad was so fucking hot I still have the boner to prove it." Troy said to him Ryan laughed. "By the looks of things so does Mikey." Troy added Mikey was still sitting cross legged on the bench while Chad was in the middle of the pool playing ball with Chuckie and Jason.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've done some major rethinking about the way things will go for the story, so any Chad lovers I apologise in advance I didn't have any real plans for Chad who is a great character. This one just jumped into my head, next chapter we will be in London for Christmas and maybe back to Australia for a honey moon or sorts and new year before returning them to university.
Anyway this one is for my grandmother who passed last week.
Review please.