A week passed slowly, and Chad's bet on Ryan returning to normal hadn't come true. If Troy was honest with himself he could tell that Ryan was slowly getting worse. It was lunch and they were all sat at their usual table. Ryan and Trevor were sat with them. Trevor had a possessive arm around Ryan's shoulder who seemed to love the attention. No one at school seemed bothered by them, though Troy knew a few people had called them both names but other than that no one seemed to care and he was glad.

"Ryan don't forget mum and dad are back tonight." Sharpay said, Ryan looked up at his sister slowly. "Ryan!" She waved a hand in front of his face.

"Yeah I heard. Mum and dad are back tonight. Fun times." Ryan yawned.

"You look really tired," Taylor said. The girls had guessed something was wrong, but they hadn't shared their thoughts with the boys, and Sharpay could tell something was wrong too she just hadn't voiced any of her thoughts.

"I kept him awake all night," Trevor grinned. Ryan laughed and rested his head against Trevor's shoulder as he ate some of the chocolate cookie.

"If you continue to eat that crap you're going to get fat." Sharpay said, Ryan ignored her and ate the cookie any way. The group spoke aimlessly and were soon interrupted when the principal walked over.

"Ryan, can I have a word please?" He asked.

"Sure thing." Ryan said and slowly pulled away from Trevor.

"Is everything okay?" Sharpay asked looking from Ryan to the principal.

"Wont take long, Mrs Evans." The principal smiled.

"Come back here yeah babe?" Trevor asked. Ryan nodded and followed the principal out of the cafeteria.

"I swear if you've gotten my brother into trouble." Sharpay threatened.

"You'll what curl my hair?" Trevor grinned. "I haven't gotten your brother into anything he didn't want."

"Really?" Troy asked. He couldn't believe that Ryan would willingly get high ever let alone during school.

"Believe me, Ryan can be a lot of fun." Trevor grinned. A few minutes later Ryan walked over chewing his lip.

"What's going on?" Sharpay demanded.

"Nothing." Ryan shrugged.

"The principal wanted something what did he want?" Chad asked.

"I'm...failing." Ryan laughed.

"You?" Sharpay asked. "You're like really smart how could you be failing? And we're not even into the full term yet!"

"Even I'm not failing yet." Chad put in.

"Well I am. Must be some form of record." Ryan chuckled.

"How can you laugh? This is serious." Gabriella said.

"Ry if you fail this semester you can't graduate." Taylor said. Ryan simply shrugged.

"So tell mum I'll be home late." Ryan said.

"Why?" Trevor asked.

"I'm being forced to get tutored." Ryan pouted.

"I can do it if you want." Gabriella offered.

"Don't care really." Ryan shrugged.

"Ry...we should you know..." Trevor nudged his head a little signalling to the door.

"Oh right yeah come on. Bye." Ryan got up from the table and Trevor wrapped an arm around his waist and they walked away from everyone.

"If he gets chucked out it will be his own problem." Sharpay groaned. "Then at least he wont be with Trevor."

"He's your brother." Troy said loudly. "How can you just act so normal?"

"When I get involved he shouts and screams at me. You think I've not tried talking to him. He wouldn't listened just told me to fuck off. So yeah he deserves to get kicked out. Maybe then I can get my brother back." Sharpay said and walked away, they all noticed the tears in her eyes.

"That's it tonight I'm going to talk to him." Troy stated. Chad patted him on the back, he wasn't even sure that would do any good now. Ryan really needed a reality check.

The day went quickly, and Troy was pleased that Ryan had attended all of his lessons so far. Maybe the talk with the principal had shaken him up just a little. But Trevor was there too, laughing with him neither of them doing much work. When ever Troy turned to look at them, Ryan would be doing his work or making it look as though he was doing something and Trevor would have an arm draped around his shoulder, holding him tight next to him.

When the bell signalled the end of the day, Troy watched with painful eyes as Trevor kissed Ryan so hard he was sure it was going to bruise their lips. "Get a room fags." One of the jocks said as he pushed past them both.

"Don't worry later we will," Trevor smiled. "See you tonight."

"Yeah. Meet you around seven." Ryan said and watched him walk away.

"Hey Ry," Troy said once Trevor was a safe distance away.

"Hi." Ryan said as he wrapped his jacket around him.

"You okay?"

"Fine." Ryan shrugged.

"You've not been yourself for a while, and I know you said before about me not knowing you...I know we're not exactly best friends, but I know that this person you are now, isn't the Ryan Evans we all love."

"Well get used to him, because he is now." Ryan smirked.

"Why are you being like this?" Troy asked.

"Being like what, Troy?" Ryan sighed.

"The drugs." Troy said in disgust. "The pot, Ryan...getting high seriously. Why?"

"Something to do?" Ryan asked with a smile.

"It's stupid."

"It's fun." Ryan grinned. "Now I'm more than the drama guy, Sharpay's poodle."

"Is that what you think we all thought of you?" Troy asked a little shocked.

"It's true." Ryan sighed.

"So what now you're Trevor's little side kick?" Troy shook his head. "Can't you just be Ryan?"

"I am Ryan. I haven't changed my name."

"That's about the only thing you haven't changed." Troy muttered. "You know what. I really thought Sharpay was out of order when she said that you deserved to get kicked out of school for being such an idiot. But now, maybe something like that's the only way to help you."

"I don't need any help." Ryan said defiantly.

"No?" Troy laughed shaking his head. "You do Ryan, you really do. And when you want it, you better hope you still have friends and family who want to help you. But you better hurry because you're already throwing away the friends you have." With that Troy walked away, leaving Ryan standing in the corridor alone.