Chad felt complicit in a crime of passion. He couldn't help feeling queasy as he saw Troy's heartbreak because of his actions. He'd wanted to believe that this was the best thing for his team, his relationship, and the status quo. But in reality, he was just denying love, the way he knew some people would try to deny his relationship with Ryan.
And it wasn't right to deny love. Fortunately, Taylor came to the same conclusion, and they were able to get Troy and Gabriella back on track for their relationship and the callback.
Only for Sharpay to almost shatter all of their hopes and dreams.
"I'm sorry," Ryan said, he must have said it a thousand times, actually, ever since the callback got moved to the same day as the championship and the academic decathlon.
"It's okay, it's not your fault. We're going to figure out how to work around this. As a team."
They were sprawled out on the couch in Chad's living room, which is where they rendezvoused these days.
"Do I get to be a part of your team?"
Chad pressed a kiss to Ryan's cheek.
"You'll always be a part of my team."
They sat there in comfortable silence before Chad brought up something that had been on his mind for a while, which had gone overlooked in the chaos of scheming and double-teaming.
"Ry? You promise you don't mind that I'm using Taylor as a beard?"
"Of course not, babe. I know she doesn't mean anything to you and that you're doing it for us."
Now that things were mellowing out a little at school they'd become more comfortable using pet names like "babe," "baby," and even Ryan's personal favorite, "love."
"I'd do anything for us," Chad said earnestly.
"I don't need that. I just need you to do your best."
"I can do that, too. Thanks for being a part of my team, Ryan."
"Thanks for letting me. And y'know, I think your guy has a chance."
"I'm sorry I probably won't get to see your audition, I'm sure you'll do amazing. I mean, not to say that Troy won't blow you guys out of the water…"
"Hey!" Ryan swatted Chad playfully.
"I'm kidding, love," Chad said. "Why don't you sing a snippet for me?"
"Will you dance with me?" Ryan asked.
"Oh, no, no, no baby, I don't dance."
Ryan snorted.
"We'll see about that." Ryan got up and moved to an empty space on the living room floor and began to nod along to the music in his head. Then he started belting it out.
"I believe in dreaming, and shooting for the stars, Baby to be number one, you got to raise the bar. Kicking and a scratching, grinding out my best, anything it takes to climb the ladder of success."
The whole time he sang he was bopping around the room. Chad was captivated by the music, but he could not take his eyes off Ryan's hips. He was beginning to get very flustered.
"Sharpay mostly takes the lead on that song but I memorized her lines too, in case something happens because the show must go on. What did you think?"
"Babe, you were mesmerizing. I swear, I couldn't look away. I could watch you perform for the rest of my life and I'd never get tired of it."
Now Ryan was just as flustered.
"Stop it…"
"I mean it! Obviously, I gotta cheer for Troy, but no matter what happens, you're the leading man in my eyes."
Ryan pulled Chad to his feet and kissed him like the rest of the world wasn't there. Like there was no high school drama to worry about, like their future was secure.
And then, as he pulled away from the kiss, he remembered their future wasn't secure.
"My sister knows about us."
"What?" Chad asked, fear replacing the dreamy look in his eyes.
"The other day, when I skipped rehearsal to come to see you, back when you were still trying to break up Troy and Gabriella, she told me she knew about my 'basketball boyfriend.' I don't think she's going to tell anyone, but that could change."
Chad looked dizzy and sank back down on the couch.
"The two meanest girls at school know about us. This is a disaster." Even if Taylor was becoming tolerable, Chad was vexed.
"Hey, it's okay, I'll talk to her. I'll make sure she knows I meant business when I told her not to tell anyone."
Chad took a few deep breaths, he'd already gone off the deep end once this semester and it had nearly destroyed his friendship with Troy and hurt his relationship with Ryan. He was not going to spiral again.
"I trust you. If you think you can keep Sharpay from spilling the beans then I'm just going to focus on getting Troy to that callback."
Ryan nodded, before breaking out into a grin and crashing down on the couch next to his boyfriend.
"Hey, Chad?"
"Yeah?" Chad asked, thinking that he was about to get a smooch.
"What team?"
"Oh! Wildcats!"
"Let's go Wildcats!"
"Look at you with the school spirit."
"I mean, I finally have a good reason to support local athletics."
"I mean, I look good playing basketball but just wait until you see me playing baseball."
"I've seen you play, I'd love to see you play again. Come up to my family's country club, babe, we have our own diamond."
"I didn't need another reason to visit you, but I won't say no to that. You play?"
"I've dabbled," Ryan said with a casual shrug. "I'll definitely play if you dance with me."
"I don't dance," Chad said again with a laugh.
"Anyone can dance. You'll see. Anyway, callback is tomorrow and Sharpay will bite my head off if I miss our last rehearsal."
"Well, I would be very sad if you got your head bit off. Bitten off? I'll ask Taylor." He let out an involuntary groan. He was technically friends with Taylor now. That was just as improbable as the possibility of him becoming a dancer. But he would have to become a bit of a performer to sell his sudden romance with the Geek Queen of East High.
"Bye, see you tomorrow. Good luck with your scheme."
"Good luck bopping to the top!"
"Oh, in the theater we don't say good luck, we say break a leg."
"Then I hope you break a leg, babe."
"It's okay if you're rooting for Troy."
"Oh, I'm definitely rooting for Troy. But with my best friend and my boyfriend up for the same part, it really seems like I can't lose either way."
Ryan brightened as he grabbed his coat, "That's what drama club is supposed to be about. No leads and supporting roles, just a bunch of theater nerds supporting each other."
"I really, really underestimated drama club," Chad said, getting up so he could walk Ryan to the door and steal a quick kiss before his boyfriend was gone.
"Well, we're all in this together, right?" Ryan said, lingering long enough for a kiss before heading off to put the finishing touches on his show-stopping performance.
Unfortunately for Sharpay, Troy and Gabriella put on a show-stealing performance. Ryan wasn't too upset about that though. Because no matter what it said on the casting list, he knew he was way more than just Troy's understudy.