Disclaimer: i do not own high school musical, i have merely created its dark side

Chapter 9: the 24th of July

troy

i climbed the stairs two at a time in anticipation. I didn't want to knock because i wanted it to be a surprise. But if i caught him at an awkward moment then the whole day might be ruined. I knocked on the door to his bedroom an heard the creak of his mattress threw the door. " Sharpay?" he asked muffled by the walls and door. I smiled knowing he had no idea. The door cracked open and his eyes met mine and in an instant the door was open. " troy" he said. He was only in his black boxer briefs. And i found my eyes searching his body.

We stood there for a few moments in silence before i pulled him into my arms . He rested his head on my shoulder and i warped my arms around his bare shoulders. It had only been a week and hell i had gone a whole year not seeing him before, but that was also before i knew how much he meant to me. " i missed you" i said into his hair.

" you called every night after Friday" he said pulling his head back, we shared a look for a moment. I looked down at his lips and made the connection. It was short once again but more wet then the first. I felt my groin tingle and stepped back. He looked almost disappointed but the look vanished and i couldn't decide if it was real or my imagination. I couldn't lie the temptation was there. But i was scared to act on it, for a lot of reasons.

" i still missed seeing you" i said holding his cheek. " touching you"

" getting high with me?" he asked.

" that too" i scoffed. He turned towards his closet and was gone for about 5 minutes. I sat on his bed and wondered how deep that closet actually was. When he came out he was dressed in his usual black shorts black t- shirt attire. Today though he matched the outfit with a solid black fedora and an image of the old high school Ryan brought a smile to my face. " it took you that log to decide on all black?"

" i was torn on the hat" he explained. I got up from the bed and crossed the room to where he was looking at himself in the mirror.

" i like it" i said " got any big plans for the day?"

" not really" he said turning around " i knew you where coming home today but i just didn't expect you to be here at 11 in the morning" he sounded pleasantly surprised.

" yeah usually its something you have to wait all day for" i said shrugging. " would you have waited all day for me?"

" yes" he said in all seriousness. I took his hand in mine, i played with it for a few seconds.

" yeah well i didn't want to wait all day to see you either" i said pulling him back to the bed. He took his hat off and lay his head on my chest. " so what did you do with yourself when i was gone anyway?" he raised an eyebrow and laughed.

" as if my life is so boring without you..." he said

" i know its not" i said " i just want to know what kind of trouble you have been up to while i was thinking about you"

" well most nights i just go to the bar Naomi works at" i said honestly. " oh and that reminds me... guess who i saw?"

" do i have to guess or are you just going to tell me?" i asked

" you can guess if you want" he said with a giggle. I wondered if this was going to make me feel weird again. He saw someone and i don't know a lot of someones at least none i want to see. I pinched his arm and he slapped my hand. " ouch, fine... i ran into Taylor"

my eyes widened " Taylor" i said a little awkwardly Ryan turned in my arms.

" yeah and Kelsey" he said with a nod.

" wow" i said knowing i was not providing a lot to the conversation. " how was that?"

" fun" he said to my surprise then some of the excitement deflated. "well Taylor was fun Kelsey left as quickly as she could with a shabby excuse" he shrugged. " i ran into them in front of the old theatre down town, we decided to go in together and she split at intermission, so we went to a bar"

" with Taylor?" i asked perplexed. " brains Taylor?"

" oh you mean Taylor gives brains to frat guys, smokes pot and binge drinks like a proper sorority girl?" he laughed " yeah , guess shes changed"

"that's surprising to say the least" i said

" i guess" he said

i thought of chad and Gabriela and wondered if Taylor had mentioned anything about it to Ryan. I mean while drinking those kinds of things come out right? " did she talk about...?"

" a little" he said looking me right in the eyes " she just seems to want to move on with her life, just like you do" i nodded.

" shes doing a hell of a lot better then i am i guess" i confessed, Ryan kissed my chest and then boldly climbed to straddle my chest. I could feel the heat in my groin.

" well to be quite honest" he said leaning closer to my face. " she didn't go through what you went through, she knew chad cheated on her but she didn't see it" he put his hands on the bed on both sides of my head to hold himself up. We where really close. " and like i said shes changed, so its not really surprising that she went away and fucked a bunch of ivy league boys and drank to excess, it was a coping mechanism, just like pounding chads face in was for you" i looked into his eyes i could feel myself getting harder and i rubbed my hands up his legs and grabbed his waste. In one quick motion i sat up and threw his back to the bed and i was on top of him, Ryan's smile spread to his eyes. " you're doing good"

" thank you" i said genuinely, i kissed him gently and pulled away, he smiled and i kissed him again this time i licked his lips he laughed into the kiss. " what?" i said my lips full of his.

" you've never kissed me this much" he said, i thought about it. I felt sort of bad, Ryan gave me a lot of time with this. I never promised myself to him or that i was even gay but that didn't mean he wasn't patent.

" just felt like kissing you" i said. He smiled but this time it didn't reach his eyes. To most a kiss is something that would make anyone happy but Ryan was to smart to see it like that. For him it was something personal and i knew he had a lot of doubts about me about how he should feel. I wished i could give him what he deserves. I kissed him again and then put my head over his heart. It was beating fast. "So tell me more about this bar Naomi works at?"

"chasers?" he asked " yeah its kind of a dive, but its a local joint and they have good chicken wings"

" do you maybe want to go tonight?" i asked.

" yeah that sounds fun" he said siting up. He went to his desk and grabbed his pot.

" its like you can read my mind" i said with a chuckle. He rolled his eyes.

" I've turned you into a monster troy" he said pulling a perfectly rolled joint out. We passed it back and forth for a few minuets and then Ryan decided to order food for lunch, he ordered Indian because he said he was pizza'd out. I had no complaint except for the fact that i wanted to pay half the bill. " where are you suddenly starting to get money?"

" my aunt payed me for the work i did around the farm" i said with a grin. Even though i had money of my own now he still refused. " i want to pay"

" what if you don't even like the food i am making you eat?" Ryan said

" you aren't making me eat it Ryan" i protested but he wouldn't have it. It was kind of annoying him paying for me all of the time. Doing the math in my head i don't think i would ever be able to pay him back at this rate.

" why the somber face troy?" he asked

" i have my own money now" i said biting my lip. " if you keep paying for stuff i don't know if i will be able to pay you back that much" he dead panned.

" you don't owe me anything" he said " nothing ever" i scoffed and he scrunched his eyebrows " you are here right now, that's all i have ever cared about, you care about me, you kiss me even though you don't feel the same way about me"

" wait" i said taken aback. " i do feel the same, i know i do" he looked back at me and i could see that doubt. " I've never felt this way about anyone"

" except Gabriela" he said getting up and crossing the room towards the door. Realization dawned on me as he left his room, he thought i was still in love with Gabriela. I didn't know if it was true or not, i wanted to be over the raven haired girl i wanted not to love her but there was a lingering longing to see her, touch her , kiss her. I shook my head and followed Ryan out of the room slowly. He was at the bottom of the stairs by the time i reached the end of the hallway. I frowned. I never thought kissing someone i loved would cause so much trouble. My eyes widened at what i had thought to myself . did i love Ryan? I followed him down to the patio. He dove into the pool, i wondered if he was doing it to avoid me but i was here and he couldn't avoid me now so i figured he just wanted to swim.

I pulled off my shirt and he watched. I opted out of jumping and walked in at the steps so only half of my body was emerged. Ryan quickly rectified that by splashing me in the face. We both laughed for a good few minuets as i tried to chase him threw the pool, but he was always faster. I guess he put more use to his own pool then i had mine. Then again i also had a half court in my back yard so my achievements are self explanatory.

We swam around each other not saying much until he decided to get out. " I'm starved are you starved?"

" i love you" i said he froze. I stood in the cold water and the sun disappeared behind a cloud so the mood of the situation instantly became a little more somber. I bit my lip while he just stood there looking at the door. " Ryan did you...?"

" get out" he said. My eyes widened.

" Ryan i just.."

" would you please just leave?"i climbed out of the water. I was a little angry to tell you the truth. I have done nothing but think about Ryan since i had first met him there in that abandoned house. I've contemplated and wondered and stressed over and over about him about how i feel about him.

" no" i said i grabbed his arm. " its the 24th of July,do you know what that means?" Ryan looked over his shoulder confused i could see the tears welling in his eyes.

" don't say things you don't mean" he said with his arms crossed, goose bumps prickling his skin. I pulled him into my arms and he resisted.

" i do mean it" i said knowing now i did. " the 24th"

" what the hell are you talking about" he said pulling out of my arms.

" its our one month anniversary" i said with a creeping smile. He looked me in the eyes. I could see the night in the park dawn on him but it didn't change his frown. " do i still love Gabriela, i don't know i haven't scene or heard from her i hope i never do" he just stood there looking heart broken. " but when i say i have never felt this way about anyone that includes her all the way over in California, and i love to say it, i love you Ryan" i took his face in my hand and kissed him hard our lips opened and the kiss deepened, tongue and body parts flailing we collapsed onto a lounger. He grinded into me and i felt my self getting harder. I had never crossed this line with Ryan but i knew it was the time. I pressed against him and trailed kissed down his chest. I felt his length against mine and let out a low growl. " shit" he said biting my lip. I felt his hands travel down to my shorts before i knew it he was stroking my dick threw them. I started breathing heavy. " i love you" he gasped in pleasure. He pulled my shorts down enough that my penis fell out. He stroked it slowly and i let out a whimper of pleasure. I grabbed his bulge and started rubbing as well.

I had been hesitant about the whole penis thing but as soon as my hand made contact it felt right. i let my hand reach into his waste band and felt his member, it was hard and soft and i felt my self shudder at the touch. This was the furthest i had gone sexually with anyone let alone another guy but i couldn't deny i only wanted it to go further. I had the urge to kiss it and suck it all of the sudden, i wanted to taste Ryan and the idea aroused me. I had never thought of a penis as sexy. Maybe my own but i never had a desire to suck it until i had touched Ryan. I stroked it, as his wrist movements became faster so did mine i couldn't get the idea of oral sex out of my mind, was he ready for that? Would i be crossing boundaries? I decided i didn't care i started to kiss down his chest slowly i looked him in the eyes and he had a flash of confusion until i kissed the tip of his dick. He shuddered.

" fuck troy" he moaned. It was weird having his penis in my mouth but I'd lie if i said i didn't enjoy it. I began to lick around the base and suck as Ryan held his head back on the cushion in ecstasy. " I'm gonna... soon" i took my mouth off of his length and started to stroke again, he began stoking me. We where both sitting looking each other in the eyes jacking each other off. He smiled and i kissed him i felt a warm liquid stream up my stomach as he let out a pleasurable groan. " amazing, you're amazing" he continued to jack me off and it didn't take long when he decided to return the favour. If giving a blow job felt good receiving one was the best thing i had ever felt in my life.

We lay there on the lounger after everything was said and done, i didn't know what to say and i don't think he did either. " that was..." he breathed. " i cant believe that was just real" i arched an eyebrow. I had often wondered about Ryan's crush on me, how long he had harboured feelings for me. Every time i showed him any sign of endearment he would shy away from it as if it wasn't real as if i didn't mean it the way it sounded or that he wasn't worth it. He was worth it.

" then you're stupid Ryan" i said " if you don't understand how much you mean to me" he looked me in the eyes and smiled, one of the first real ones i had scene out of him in a while. The food he had ordered arrived and we ate , we decided it wold be a good idea to catch a nap before we went out to the bar. Naomi had given me the id of a guy named Zac she had slept with who remarkably looked like just like me.

we put on a movie, i let Ryan pick sixteen candles because he had missed it the other night at the movies, we turned off all of the lights and he lay next to me in my arms. I don't think we saw the first fifteen minutes before my eyes where shut and i could feel Ryan gently breathing against my chest.

I woke in the darkness of Ryan's room to a buzzing in my pocket. I looked at ryans sleeping form lightly breathing in his slumber. Before picking up my phone.

" hello?" i asked expecting it to be my mom but was surprised when i heard a familiar male voice.

" hey troy? " he said his voice scratchy and coarse. My heart skipped a beat. Zeke had put no effort into calling me or contacting me since i had dinner at Sharpay's. I actually thought he didn't want to be my friend.

" whats up man?" i asked wiping my eyes

" yeah um have you talked to Evans lately?" he asked. I wasn't sure if it would be right to tell Zeke he was lying right next to me asleep. Something told me that was something best kept to myself.

" yeah , why?" i asked confused as to why Zeke cared in the first place.

" do you think you could ask him about Sharpay for me?" he asked, i felt a little pang of insult that one of my best friends was only calling me to ask where his supposed girlfriend was. The fact that i had barely scene him in a year and he hasn't put a shred of effort into seeing how i am or trying to reconcile yet had the gall to phone me up to try and get back in Sharpays good graces.

" right because i am a delivery boy" i dead panned, there was no emotion in my voice i was completely monotone. " because what good am i to you unless I'm helping you?" he didn't say anything , i believe he was even a little shocked. " because its not like I've needed my friends, its not like we where in kinder garden together" i was angry and i realized Ryan was waking up and it just made me more angry. I wasn't sure what i expected him to say but it hurt all the same.

" we went to kinder garden with chad too troy" he said. If i didn't need it desperately i would have crushed the phone in my fist. That's all he had to say , as if i meant nothing at all.

" well then maybe you should ask him about Sharpay" i said, teeth clenched. " go fuck yourself" i hung up the phone turning to Ryan whose eyes where on me. I knocked my head back and breathed in and out, i almost wanted to cry, its like every time i am almost happy something happens to ruin it.

"you're good troy" he said into me, i rubbed his shoulder. " you're doing good"

" i know" i lied, i wasn't feeling good that was the lie but weather i was feeling good or not that's not what he meant. I was dealing good and that's what is important.

" if you want to cry cry, scream break a glass" he said " i don't care what you do, i will be here either way.'

" i don't want to cry" i said with my eyes closed. " i just want to breath" the tension was in my voice even though i tried to hide it. I didn't want Ryan to worry about me because i know he often did. He lightly kissed me on the cheek and it brought a shy smile to my lips.

I thought of my parents, i had pretty much just come here after getting home from Texas. My father just sat there in his chair as he so often did. Sometimes i noticed him looking out the window sullen, he was looking at the basketball net no doubt. My mother couldn't hide the disappointment when i left. I felt like my mom didn't like Ryan, for what reason i don't but my mothers emotions where an open book and i just knew there was something gnawing in the back of her head.

When i thought about what they would do if they knew how i really felt about him my heartbeat would quicken and my gut would clench. As a religious woman it would kill my mother and my father, well who knows what he would do?

Ryan made me happy, i hadn't known happy since my Senior championship but my happiness would inevitably cause pain and chaos for myself and others. When i thought about it, it made me no better then chad.

" its 7:30" he said holding his cellphone up illuminating our faces. He clapped his hands and the lights came on my eyes took a few moments to adjust but before i knew it he was kissing me on the neck and taking a picture. I looked like a sleepy goof but he thought i looked cute so i didn't make him delete it. " I'm gonna have a shower" he got up from the bed and walked over to the bathroom. I shut my eyes again thinking about Zeke and Sharpay. I felt as though i should tell Sharpay he called me, what she planed on doing with that information i didn't care about. I couldn't hold down the irritation that i was doing something for Zeke. I sent Sharpay a quick text and lazed back on the bed with my arms behind my head. I could hear the lull of the shower and thought of Ryan's naked form showering and before i knew it i could here voices.

" awe" said a voice i didn't recognize at first it was definitely female. " troy wake up" my eyes cracked open and none other than Taylor Mackessy was hovering over me. A rush of anxiety hit me and i sat up.

" Taylor?!" i said " you're here" i looked around the room and saw a pile of cloths at the door of Ryan's closet another article hit the pile.

" i didn't realize i owned anything orange" he called.

" i am" she said ignoring Ryan's clothing obsessed mind. " I've been thinking about you, i mean i always had thought about you after it all..."

" Taylor" i said uncomfortable with the awkward moment. " just , don't worry about it I'm doing okay"

" i know" she said quickly " i know you are, I'm just happy to see you more happy then i thought i would be" i was still half asleep, the whole idea of her just being there when i woke up threw me for a loop

" what time is it?" i asked randomly. I looked over at the alarm clock. It was 9:45. " Ryan you let me sleep for two hours?"

" you looked so peaceful" he said standing at the door of his closet shirtless. I rolled my eyes at the fact that he had gone to have a shower at 7:30 and still hadn't decided on a shirt to wear just like his sister he was fashionably indecisive.

I got up and made my way to the washroom to splash water over my face. I had almost forgotten about Zeke call but when my memory was my own it still sent a wave of irritation through me. i felt another soft vibration telling me my mom is wondering where i was. When i had woken up the first time i had about 4 messages from her i wonder how much that number has jumped. I looked at my phone and saw about 12 messages one was from Naomi welcoming me home the others where all from my mom. I let out a sigh of impatience as i read threw the various messages of where are you?, are you coming home tonight, why wont you answer, troy Anthony Bolton you answer me before i am on the streets of Albuquerque looking for you. The idea made me laugh, my mother would never do that. I left the bathroom to the spacious hallway i dialled my house phone and let it ring, it didn't ring for long.

" troy i have been text messaging all day" she said emotionally "where have you been?"

at first i had let my mothers sheltering slide off of my back but it was really starting to overwhelm me. " mom I'm with friends" i said not wanting to say Ryan impracticality. " its only 10"

"but not calling all i day, i didn't know if you where coming home for dinner..." she rambled and i took the phone away from my ear.

" yeah mom that's great but I'm calling you now" i said " and I'm a grown up so i can manage my own dinner and you don't have to worry okay?"

" that's it, that's all i get from you now troy?" she was upset and i got that but being home felt suffocating. " you may be a grown up but you live under our roof and under our rule" i wanted to laugh at her hard tone my mother was never the disciplinary though i had never been trouble as a kid so i never really needed to be punished.

" what more do you want mom?" i said defeated, she fell silent on the other end of the phone.

" troy your father and i care about you" she said pleadingly " and i know you are saying you are better now but, we just aren't seeing what you are" i felt the pain of her words, both hers and mine. I knew what they wanted, they wished for troy Bolton golden boy, kind to strangers helpful to friends and family a pro on the court... but that person just didn't exist anymore , that person died with high school. She sighed giving up " just... be safe , will you be home tonight?"

" no" i said truly not knowing if it was the truth or not.

" oh... okay well" i pressed end on the phone and slid down the wall so i was sitting in the floor. I needed to stop answering my phone calls and messages.

A/N: okay so i have been struggling lately to write so i hope you like this chapter because it took me almost a week to produce and I'm not sure i like it. The next chapter has been just as gruelling but i am fully committed to this and want to get out the next couple of chapter within the next two weeks.