Corrupted
Three weeks had passed since any one had tried talking to Ryan, they all saw him. He showed up to school every day and he attended most classes. Trevor on the other hand turned up every day but wasn't in most of his classes. Chad and Troy were now spending their day looking after Sharpay who seemed to spend most of her time either more bitchy than normal or an emotional wreck, neither boy knew which was worse.
It was Monday morning and home room had just started, Mrs Darbus was talking about the theatre when their was a knock at the door. They all looked up wondering who was interrupting the class. Troy and Chad exchanged looks when Ryan walked in. “Ryan...why...what happened?” Mrs Darbus asked once she noticed his bleeding lip.
“Walked into a wall...sorry I'm late.” He said.
“Take a seat.” Ryan sat in his normal seat at the back of the class ignoring the looks every one was sending his way. Chad noticed that his eye looked kind of swollen too and he guessed it would be black by the end of the day. Mrs Darbus spoke for a while on the importance of theatre and kept on sending looks in Ryan's direction. Ryan had his face prodded up with his hand and was staring at Trevor's empty desk. “Right... I shall be back in a moment.” She said. “Drama business to attend to.” With that she walked out of the class.
“Ry...” Sharpay started.
“What?” Ryan mumbled not looking at any one.
“Where's Trevor?” Gabriella asked.
“No idea.” Ryan said and mumbled something under his breath, he used his sleeve and pressed it against his lip and frowned at the blood.
“Who did that to you?” Troy asked. Ryan raised his head and rolled his eyes.
“Please, we want to help. We miss you.” Sharpay said softly.
“Save it.” Ryan sighed and stood up. “I don't deserve it.” With that he walked away. The group were surprised when Chad ran after him.
“Ryan...please, wait up man.” Chad called. Ryan surprised, turned around. “Can we talk? Just you and me?”
“What's left to say?” Ryan asked.
“You look like crap,” Chad sighed. Ryan was skinnier then normal, his hair was a mess, and his skin pale and he could see spots on his face as a result of the weed.
“I know.” Ryan mumbled.
“Is it Trevor?” Ryan simply nodded. “I know you don't want any help.” Chad said as he moved closer to Ryan. “How about a friend?”
“Me and you?” Ryan laughed. “Friends?”
“Why not? Stranger things have happened.” Chad smiled.
“I'd like that.” Ryan nodded his head a little. “But I...I don't deserve your friendship Chad.”
“Everyone deserves a friend,” Chad smiled. “So how about we ditch maths and go throw a ball around?”
“Sounds fun, but I said I'd meet...actually....yeah lets go.” Chad smiled once Ryan had said that and they headed to one of the many sports fields.
Chad used his basketball status to grab a baseball ball from one of the supply closets and the two threw the ball aimlessly back and forth, Chad noticed that Ryan had a mean arm. “So you're angry huh?”
“What?” Ryan asked.
“You're throwing the ball pretty hard.” Chad mused.
“Sorry didn't think you'd mind, always thought you could take it.” Ryan smiled. Chad grinned and threw the ball back a little harder causing Ryan to laugh.
“So...want to talk about it?” Chad asked after ten minutes of throwing the ball around, his arm ached a little. Ryan shrugged and sat down cross legged on the grass, Chad sat next to him. “I'm not going to judge you, Ry. Just listen.”
“You know they always said Troy was the smart one.” Ryan laughed. “He's always trying to fix things, when some things are so beyond fixing.”
“Are you beyond fixing?” Chad asked.
“I'm scared that I am.” Ryan admitted. “I've fucked everything up.” Chad squeezed his arm silently urging him to talk more.
“Why did you do drugs Ry?”
“I wanted to escape.” Ryan sighed. “But no one understands why.”
“Tell me, maybe I'd understand.” Ryan shook his head.
“You wouldn't.”
“Tell me any way.” Chad said gently, he didn't want to push Ryan into doing anything he'd regret after all this had been the first time any one had spoken to him properly in three weeks without him being stoned.
“I always thought my family loved me.” Ryan sighed, his hands drawing patterns on the grass. “The weekend before Trevor came to the school I heard my parents talking, about me.” Chad waited for Ryan to continue, it was obvious that Ryan hadn't told any one else this. “I always thought my dad was okay with me being gay.” He continued slowly. “He was talking to my mum about a social event and the Anderson's house, a huge charity event for the children's hospital and you know what I heard...'Can't take Ryan.' I didn't understand why but then my mum said Sharpay was going to go, she had to go because they had arranged for her to spend some time with Michael Anderson an important son in some business...my mum was going to pay me off with a weekend trip to the spa so I wouldn't have to embarrass them.” Ryan finished quickly and wiped his eyes, not wanting to show Chad just how much he had opened up to him.
“Ryan!” Chad cursed inwardly at the sound of Trevor's voice. Ryan sighed and looked up. “What's wrong? Why are you crying did he do something?” Trevor asked looking at Chad.
“No he was just being a friend.” Ryan smiled.
“What happened to your lip?” Trevor asked. “And your eye, Ry...” Chad frowned, he had thought that Trevor had done that.
“Doesn't matter.” Ryan smiled.
“Well...you coming to you know?” Chad wanted to reach out and grab Ryan and make him stay with him. He didn't want him to go and 'you know', but he knew that was Ryan's choice. He just hoped his friend would make the right one.
“Yeah sure. See you around Chad, and...thanks.” Ryan smiled and allowed Trevor to take his hand and pull him away.