A/N: Here it is, and after such a long time. I know the update is short, but I have been busy working on other projects. I apologize. I've been mulling over the idea of getting this story published. I have names I could use as replacements for the majority of the main cast's, with the exception of Ryan and Troy, who will be keeping their first names. How many of you are on board with this? Would you guys like to buy your own copy of this story to own and would you be thrilled at seeing it on bookshelves? Let me know. Obviously, there will be some edits made, but nothing too drastic. Leave a review, sharing your thoughts with me, okay? Because you know without your support, I don't think I would have finished this.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable. Now, onward!

Chapter 30: D.S. Al Coda

A hand ran tenderly across Ryan's porcelain cheek. The touch, warm, loving, roused him quietly. His eyes fluttered open as he stretched his sleep-stiffened muscles. H was greeted by the sight of Troy's divine sun-kissed visage, his white teeth reflecting the sunlight as his pink lips parted in a smile. "Morning, sleepy-head."

"Morning." Ryan smiled softly, warmth filling his chest cavity.

The glow the sun cast on his lover's shimmering ivory flesh as it filtered through the curtains made Troy's heart flutter in the manner of a school girl. "How does living feel?" He asked, pulling the smaller boy into an embrace.

"Wonderful," Ryan replied, nuzzling into his partner's chest. "And as long as I wake up to see you every morning…" he let a contented sigh pass from his lips. "It can never be anything less."

"Mm, here's to that."

The blond gave the brunette a loving kiss on the mouth, incapable of summoning the words adequate for conveying his gratitude. He relished the tingling that danced along his lips as they were pressed to Troy's. His arms wrapped about the boy, clutching him tightly. I'll never let you go, he vowed to himself, never again.

- -Don't Let Me Drown- -

The two males leaned against the shabby pick-up, waiting patiently as a pink convertible decorated with the "SE" insignia that belonged to Sharpay parked itself in the EHS parking lot. They watched as the blonde female and her passenger stepped out of the car.

"Hey, Troy." Zeke Baylor nodded to his friend and captain.

The brunette returned the greeting with a wave and a smile.

"Hey, Ryan."

Ryan regarded the tall athlete with a smile. Zeke had never been truly unkind to him, and in order to live, the blond had made the decision that he would let bygones be bygones. The only reminder that he wanted of the past four months was at his side, thumb poking into the back pocket of his jeans, tracing circles on his pert rear as he flushed delightedly at the action.

Sharpay joined them, coming up on Zeke's side. Pulling out a pair of oversized, pink-rimmed sunglasses, she slid them effortlessly up the bridge of her nose. "Ready, brother dear?"

Extracting his own pair of dark-tinted shades, Ryan mirrored his sister. "Ready."

The two pairs entered the building as if they were Hollywood superstars strolling the red carpet. They instantly became the focus of their peers' attention. Ryan and Troy matched one another's stride, radiating confidence and fully nonchalant even as they were gaped and gawked at. Without breaking stride, the couple that was the talk of the halls cuddled closer together, their message unmistakable; This is who we are. You'll never change it. If you don't like it, you can look the other way.

- -Back From the Dead- -

Gabriella was in drama rehearsals that day. Her ankle, which had been sprained just as Troy's arm had been in the "incident", was bandaged. Allison waited on her hand and foot and it came as no surprise to either Ryan or Troy how close the girls had gotten after the dark-haired scholar and her "partner in crime", Chace Cooper, had mutually broken things off.

"They just lost interest in each other," was the justification Kelsi and Martha had given the two boys when they asked.

I can see why, Ryan mused to himself as Gabriella beamed at the younger girl, more bubbly and "Gabriella-esque" than he had seen her since the early months of the summer.

"Weird, huh?" his lover's tenor-baritone broke in.

Following Troy's blue gaze, the performer realized he was speaking of the two girls as well. "It's not anymore weird than us."

"I like us "weird"!" The taller boy gave his boyfriend a playful nudge. ""Weird is what makes us "us"!"

Ryan looked him over, his gaze soft, his heart on overflow, liquefying his muscles, his bones and transforming the rest of his organs to gooey mush. "I wouldn't have "us" any other way." Gracefully he leaned in and captured the athlete's lips with his own. His flesh tingled enticingly in what became, to his disappointment, an all too ephemeral kiss.

"Ryan!" He heard his sister call. To anyone else, her voice held the signature demanding note of East High's self-proclaimed queen.

But to Ryan alone, a softness was discernible. He detected her fear of doing or saying something to upset him, her mind-numbing terror of him taking off and inflicting something irreversible upon himself.

"Kelsi and I need your assistance with our choreography."

The male twin glanced back at his lover, reflexively seeking permission, encouragement.

Troy gave a lopsided grin in recognition of this. "Go on. I'll be here."

A mega watt smile breaking out on his face, Ryan turned on his polished heels. He found himself blowing a kiss at the brunette golden boy which was caught and clasped tightly before being stowed away in his pocket.

Since Gabriella was rendered nearly useless as a performer due to her injury, she couldn't stand for any duration of time, let alone dance without letting out pained yelps, Sharpay had put word in and "presto" got Kelsi as a replacement.

Yes, Ryan felt a surge of guilt whenever he saw the girl in such a pitiful state and his heart was leadened whenever he looked upon the dark, hideous blots that marred Troy's golden forearm. It required coaxing and low murmurs of reassurance from his partner before he would warily, adroitly ghost his fingers over the appendage. But, no one blame him for the deed. Chace's name was the one that was whispered as Allison and Gabriella walked side by side, the younger auburn haired girl assisting the elder with hr books. Chace was the name Chad muttered death threats under his breath at while vigorously stabbing his fork into his tray.

It was by a stroke of divine intervention that Troy was able to make the basketball team. Ryan could never remember a time that he had hoped so fervently an athlete would prove successful at his profession. Although the tryouts were closed, Coach Bolton had allowed his son's boyfriend to watch, if only to give his son the moral support he needed. Ryan would never forget the rush he felt as he flung his arms about the brunette, the pair of them grinning like idiots after the execution of a flawless jump shot.

Troy was so suave and laid back his injury. He merely shrugged it off as though it was a minor inconvenience, rather than a cumbersome hindrance. "So I have to be reliant on my left hand for a while, it's no big deal. I have you, and that's all that matters." He had then let out a pft of laughter. "Although it wouldn't have killed me to have taught myself to be ambidextrous when I was younger."

The petite boy thought to himself, Troy is the most immaculate lover I ever could have asked for. He's sweet, romantic, funny… I'm one lucky fruitcake! He could feel his lips curling up into a dopey, positively inebriated smile of pure, thick, oozing love. I'll never take him for granted. He's my heart, my soul, my-

"Ryan!" There was a click as his sister snapped her freshly manicured fingers under his nose.

His posture straightened reflexively in accordane to Sharpay's will.

"You're more in tune with this "Lady Gaga" garbage than I am."

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Lady Gaga was voted the break out star of the year in 2009 by Rolling Stone Magazine. Obviously her music isn't garbage." He folded his arms, a trifle upset with his sibling's choice of words. "I would be honored to sing one of her songs. They're raw and illustrate the nit and grit of the real world."

Sharpay responded with a blank and inattentive stare. "That's lovely, brother dear. Now can we get back to the real world? As you know, we have a show in less than a week's time."

That's my sis, he thought. You can count on Shar to prioritize herself. Switching into autopilot, Ryan found the banter between himself and his twin to be comforting. It re-established the bond between them that the rift had nearly consumed. There was nothing falsified, nothing forced about their interactions anymore and this relieved him immeasurably. True, it was not going to be easy to let the ghastly events that had transpired to merely be "forgotten". It would be a long time before he could bury them all away. But, I no longer hate myself. I don't want to die anymore… and… His gaze shifted to Troy, the boy that he owed everything to. I have Troy. I don't have to dream about living a better life. Yes, it will require refurbishing and nurturing, but a better life is mine. Everything was starting over anew. Time can heal most all wounds.

If he closed his eyes, Ryan could almost pretend those hellish months never happened.