"I don't think I can do this." Ryan said as he stared at the group of boys already out on the baseball field.

"Ry...you're good, like freaky good. You're already on the team, you just got to show everyone else what you got." Chad said.

"I haven't got anything." Ryan sighed and sat on the floor. Chad sat next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders pulling him close. "They don't want me on the team, Chad."

"You saw what Danny did for you today, Ry." Chad said. "He wouldn't have done that if he didn't want you on the team."

"I'm a fag. Fags aren't supposed to do sports." Ryan muttered.

"You're not a fag." Chad sighed. "That's a horrible word."

"It's true." Ryan sighed. "I really can't do this Chad."

"I believe in you." Chad smiled. "I'll be there with you every step of the way."

"What if I make a fool of myself?" Ryan asked desperately. "What if I fuck this up like I have my life and you realise what an idiot I am?"

"You're going to do amazing, come on Evans." Danny said from the door. Ryan blushed under Danny's gaze. "Look most of us saw you in gym today, you hit that ball so far out that you managed to get the other three people home and you walked to the last diamond. If you screw up today so what? We can put it down to nerves, or we can put it down to you know not having any crap in your system when you're used to it." Danny frowned. "We just need you on the team. And I think this will help you too."

"I know I'm just scared." Ryan sighed.

"Use it to your advantage. The ball is your fear coming at you, so hit it as far away as you can. Make Chad run to get it." Danny smiled. "And as for not wanting a fag on the team, no one really cares. If anyone gives you a hard time just tell me. We look out for our own here."

"Thanks." Ryan smiled. Chad grinned up at Danny and got up, he held out his hand for Ryan who took it a little shaky and they all walked towards the game.

-x-

"What did he say to you earlier?" Sharpay asked curiously, they were all sat on the bleachers watching Ryan making sure he was okay and making sure that he knew he had his friends supporting him.

"He apologised." Gabriella smiled. "He had said some hurtful things to me when he was high and he just apologised. I told him I forgave him obviously, but he's going to need help getting out of his habit."

"Well we'll all help him." Troy smiled.

"Guys Ryan hasn't got any where to live." Sharpay said. "Can he stay with one of you?"

"Wait what do you mean?" Jason asked.

"Mum and dad kicked him out last month. My dad is still angry at him and my mum still cries about him, and I know he's going to get better but for now I mean he's going to be really angry and I think if we put him back at home mum and dad would kick him out again, so yeah just till he gets better?"

"Chad has the only spare room in the group, and his mums really nice so we should ask him." Gabriella said.

"Okay well we'll ask after the game." Troy said and they all turned their attention back to the game.

-x-

"Evans you did good." Coach grinned at him. "Consider yourself on the team. Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday after school. Games are normally every other Friday. We're going to need your parents to sign some forms..."

"I... I can't...my parents I mean they kicked me out." Ryan sighed.

"Well I'll call them and just explain to them what's happening okay?" Coach smiled. "Where are you staying?"

"I...well...I don't know." Ryan mumbled. "At a friends house." Ryan shrugged.

"Well if you haven't got a place to stay we can find you somewhere." Coach said and patted him on the back.

"Dude you were great." Danny smiled.

"Thanks." Ryan blushed. All the team were standing around him, no one made a nasty comment or looked uncomfortable with him they were all just glad he was so good.

"Ryan!" Sharpay shouted from the bleachers, Ryan smiled up at them as they were all giving him the thumbs up sign. Ryan rolled his eyes and turned to Chad who had done the same, Ryan playfully slapped him on the arm.

"Thank you," Ryan said softly. "If it wasn't for you I think I'd still be you know..."

"We all want to help." Chad smiled.

"But you're the only one whose managed to help me." Ryan sighed. Chad patted him on the shoulder and then wrapped his arm around him and they walked into the building, they met up with Troy and the gang who smiled at them.

"So Ryan you were great I think this calls for a celebration coke." Gabriella giggled. Ryan smiled at her. "So what do you say?"

"Sure." Ryan shrugged. They walked to the small diner across the road from their school and sat down in one of the large booths.

"Ry..." Sharpay started.

"Mm?" Ryan asked.

"Where are you staying?" Sharpay asked concerned.

"No idea." Ryan mumbled. "I can't exactly go back to Trevor's."

"You can stay with me." Chad grinned.

"I wouldn't...I can't...you've done enough already." Ryan said quickly.

"So a little bit more wont hurt." Chad grinned. "I have a spare room, a mum who cooks way too much food and it would be fun."

"If your mum doesn't mind, then okay. Thanks." Ryan smiled.

"Mum wont mind." Chad grinned. Ryan smiled at Chad and started to drink his coke which Gabriella had brought him, she even got him a cookie which he started to pick at too.

After a good hour of sitting and laughing they all decided it was time to go as Gabriella said she had far too much homework to do. "Tomorrow I'll tutor you after school Ry." She said and Ryan smiled back in thanks; something to look forward to right.

Chad and Ryan walked to Chad's house. "Are you okay?" Chad asked once he noticed how quiet Ryan was.

"Headache." Ryan sighed.

"Well when you get in mum will make you something to eat, you can take some painkillers and have a nap." Chad smiled. "Sound good?"

"Yeah," Ryan said quietly.

When Chad walked in the door he was greeted with a hello call from his mum and they followed the voice into the kitchen. "Mum, this is Ryan."

"Hello dear," She smiled.

"Hey." Ryan said back.

"Mum...I know it's short notice but would it be cool if Ryan stayed for a while?"

"How longs a while?" Chad's mum frowned.

"Just till he sorts some stuff out at home." Chad said.

"Okay... well as a mum would it be okay to call your parents let them know where you are?"

"Sure." Ryan shrugged, he doubted that his parents would actually care.

"Okay so give me the number and Chad will show you to the spare room."

"Thank you." Ryan smiled politely.

"Thanks mum." Chad smiled. "Come on Ry."