Chapter 14: Trailing

Troy buried his head in the crook of Ryan's neck, kissing at it. Beginning to unfasten the buttons of the blond's collar, he made his way up the boy's slender ivory throat to his lips, which he nibbled at.

This was not quite enough to sate, and Ryan let this be known. His fingers twining into strands of silken brown, he drew the boy in with coaxing whimpers.

Troy smiled to himself as the assertive side of the boy emerged. I'm piecing him back together. But I have to admit… "You know," he began, navigating the terrain of attempted speech through the insistent lips and tongue that busied themselves with seeking the attention their owner craved. "It really turns me on when you get like this."

"Does it?" There was a tantalizing lilt to the blond's voice that seized Troy's heart and dropped right below the waistband of his baggy jeans.

"Hell yes."

"Well," Ryan lowered his voice, permitting it to take on a huskiness, "when you talk like that, it drives me wild."

The brunette grinned. "Really?"

"Hell yes." The performer parroted the athlete's tone, but Troy was not the least bit embarrassed.

"You are so weird," he chuckled, kissing the top of the boy's head. Breaking off slowly, they locked eyes.

Ryan felt words on the tip of his tongue, but his motor skills failed him. His mouth hung open as he floundered helplessly to summon up a response.

It wasn't needed.

"Troy, man!"

"Auugh!" A groan of pure frustration came from Troy.

Recognizing the voice, Ryan sympathized.

A lanky brunette traversed the panel flooring of the classroom and plopped down on the desk opposite where they were standing. It was Jimmie Zara.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" The sophomore announced.

Troy heaved a hefty sigh. 'That's great, Jimmie," his tone was hardened, annoyed with the interruption, "But can't you see I'm bu-"

"Call me Rocketman," Jimmie offered.

"Okay…" Troy rolled his eyes. "'Rocketman", do you have a reason for traipsing in here when I'm preoccupied?"

"Ah, dude! Were you guys like making out or something?" Jimmie's eyes sparkled excitedly.

Taken slightly aback, the two older boys stared at one another, hoping to find sense in each other's eyes.

"Is he…?" Ryan's inquisitive sky colored eyes asked.

"I don't know," answered the beautiful ocean shaded orbs of Troy Bolton.

"I saw his picture in your locker dude," Jimmie said, directing his words to the golden boy. "And there was a picture of this girl that you drew a monocle, a goatee and devil horns on."

Although the pink of blush filled Troy's tanned face, the ends of his mouth curled into a triumphant smile. Eyeing his lover, Ryan knew that the "girl" that was the object of the defamation was none other than Gabriella Montez. And the childish thrill the golden boy received from such a juvenile act was all too attractive.

"That's wonderful, Jimmie. Is that all?" Troy was obviously eager to return to his earlier activities.

"Not quite." The sophomore flipped his bangs out of his eyes, further irking the older brunette, as this was one of his habits. "I wanted to ask if I could hang out with you guys after school."

"Hang… out?" Troy looked to Ryan, helpless and brain-dead.

Backing him up, the blond piped up for the first time, "Jimmie, I'm sure that friend of yours…" He found himself groping for the name.

"Deon," Jimmie assisted with a proud bob of his head.

"Yes, I'm sure he'll miss you if you choose to, "hang out"," he air quoted, "with Troy and me."

"Nah," Jimmie dismissed the comment. "D-man's cool with it. He said he had a date with a fine lady."

Kids, Troy thought, so polluted by television and the internet. He could only shake his head.

Ryan turned to the basketball god. Whatever his decision was, he would support it.

Reluctantly, Troy accepted. The kid can't do too much harm. At least he isn't trying to come onto me…. or Ryan. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he knew just how important the latter was to him. In such a short time, the blond boy that had always faded into the background when he was swallowed by the swarm of worshippers, casting an imprint into his subconscious, had become the center of his universe. He voiced his decision. "I guess."

"Alright!" Jimmie leaped off of the desk in a celebratory fashion.

Ryan's gaze shifted from the lanky sophomore to his own built and defined lover. There's another reason Troy is so adored by everyone, and it goes beyond skin deep.

"Come on, Ry."

He looked up to see the golden boy extending his hand. The gesture was so familiar; it filled the performer's chest with blissful warmth. Sticky, flowing, wonderful warmth. Without a second thought, his hand attached itself to the outstretched limb, their digits linking. Troy's beauty is not only there on the surface. He's warm; every ounce of him and that comes from the inside.

Once Ryan was at his side, Troy motioned to the other boy. "You too, Rocketman."

Ecstatic, Jimmie jumped up and trotted after the pair like a puppy.

The three boys hung out on the tennis court in the community center. The thwack of the racquets against the balls rang out sharply. Ryan couldn't help but stare as a player that had his back to them leaned in for a volley and his shorts rode up. He recalled the days of summer when he had played tennis on the court at Lava Springs, watching far more than the swinging of their racquets. The swinging of man meat was much more his fancy.

It was as if Troy and he were wired to one another's thoughts, however, for right as the recollection dawned on him, he heard the tenor-baritone of his love asking him, "You used to play tennis, didn't you, Ry?"

"And golf and baseball," the blond answered absent-mindedly. Blinking, he noticed the detachment of his tone. He had never been comfortable playing sports. "It just wasn't me," he added, his voice now carrying more sentimentality. "I always knew that I was meant to be onstage and when I'm up there, singing, dancing, I don't have to be confined to the limitations of the myself. I can become whoever I want."

Nodding along, Troy put in, "My dad had me on the court ever since I could hold a ball." His smile was wistful, nostalgic. "'You're gonna be great, Troy', he'd always say. He wants me to follow in his footsteps, continue his legacy after he threw the towel in and lost the championship for East high in his last game. He's-" Hesitating, the youngest Bolton looked to the younger Evans twin, seeking support, understanding.

The things he feels his father will never give him, Ryan acknowledged, feeling a surge of indignancy at such a folly thing. He's their only son; shouldn't they support his decisions? My parents don't care what I do. His heart sank. This was the very first time he had ever had to face the harsh reality of the situation with his kindred. He pushed grief for his own problems aside. Troy needs me, now. He has the appearance; the unearthly beauty of a god, but he is not invincible. I can't keep relying on him to be my crutch. I need to help him, for once. I need to be there for him.

Troy's voice dropped. "He's not exactly so open to the idea of me exploring opportunities to find myself. He has a path set out for me already."

"I was taught that you set your own path," Ryan relayed pensively. "Nothing is set in stone."

"My dad wants me to be perfect, Ry." Those blue eyes were so intense. "My dad and everyone else. They're all pressuring me to be some sort of pillar of society, and I'm not." Wistful, he at last pulled his penetrating stare away.

With maturity beyond his years, Ryan's voice took on a maternal tone. "Troy look at me."

The brunette turned to him.

His pale slender hand clasped the large tanned one, stroking its knuckles reassuringly. With his free hand, Ryan gently touched the athlete's cheek. Once he had the undivided attention of the distraught boy, he spoke, each word sharp, clear and meaningful. "No-one-is perfect. We're people, Troy. All of us have our faults and imperfections." I have faults to spare, he mused internally. "Very rarely do we find someone that isn't constantly analyzing people, seeking out their faults so that they can judge them. And it's even more rare to find someone that can look past all of your faults, your weaknesses, and see untarnished beauty and perfection beneath them. When someone is capable of doing that," he whispered tenderly, a fierce glow in his orbs of sky blue, "that's love."

Leaning in, Troy closed off the distance of between them. The contact between their lips was hot, fiery, sparks pinging off. There was a momentary lapse in the time frame of the ephemeral heaven.

"Do you think I'm perfect?" Troy asked.

He was pleading.

Ryan felt the world shift beneath them. Troy's arms were around him and he was steady once more.

"Even when no one else does."

They kissed again, the fire raging, resistant to any method of dousing. Jimmie reappeared. "Hey, dudes!" He greeted the pair. "I brought beverages."

"Oh, thank you!" Ryan gave a polite, breathless smile.

"Thanks," Troy murmured.

"I got a bottled water for you guys to, you know, share and all, and I got myself a cherry Pepsi!" the sophomore announced proudly.

"Um… Good job…" the older brunette said awkwardly. Reaching out, he took the bottled water and removed the cap without even thinking about it and handed it to Ryan.

"You didn't have to do that," the blond conveyed quietly. His cheeks had reddened a bit.

"I know," Troy answered. " I wanted to make things easier for you."

You do, Troy, Ryan thought. Everyday you're with me, everything becomes so much easier. Living, existing, they're no longer drudgery tasks for me.

"So, Troy, Ryan."

Four blue eyes fixed on the one that had spoken their names.

Casting a glance over his shoulder to assure that no ears had strayed toward their conversation, Jimmie lowered his voice, leaning in in an effort to be secretive, "How did you guys know?"

"Know what?" Troy asked calmly, his hand resting on Ryan's where it gripped the plastic bottle.

"That you guys like…" The younger boy began to blush. "You know, other boys?"

Eyes wide, the athlete and the actor rapidly turned to each other. Was Jimmie really following in Troy's footsteps so far?

A/N: More insight to what formed the rift between the Evans siblings. Also, David, the catalyst, is

introduced for the first time. Stay tuned!