Gift for Everyone
Author: jannika
Recipient: Everyone
Title: The way it makes you look
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan, a little bit of Troy/Gabi
Summary: Spring of Senior year: College essays, baseball, musicals, changes, and a big party to end it all.
Rating: Teen.
Warning(s): Nothing much. Very tame. Some cursing, a tiny bit of teen drinking, and boykissing. That is all.
Word Count: 4,700
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: This fic grew and grew, I tried to stay as close to the prompts as I could, but the fic kind of grew around them. More than I expected it to. I'm glad though, because it gave me a chance to play with Ryan and baseball. Which I enjoyed. I hope everyone else does too.
****************************
Ryan Evans sighed and checked his watch as he hurried across the baseball field. When Coach Harris had asked to speak to him after practice, Ryan had assumed it would be a five minute thing, but it had ended up an hour discussion about the possibility of Ryan helping to coach a local little league team. Now he was running late to meet Sharpay and she was going to kill him. She had some major shopping trip planned to kick off spring, and she'd been annoyed enough by having to wait till baseball practice was over. He knew this extra hour was going to earn him a four hour lecture on being a better brother. The locker room was quiet when he walked in, taking off his baseball cap to shake out his blonde hair as he went. He walked to his locker and pulled out his phone, sending Shar a quick text explaining the meeting, ignoring the seven texts and three voicemails she'd left. He started to get changed, assuming he was alone for several minutes until a heavy sigh reached his ears. Curious, he pulled a shirt over his head quickly and walked around the row of lockers to find Chad Danforth slumped against the wall, looking dejected.
"Chad?" Ryan asked, taking slow steps towards his friend.
"Oh.. hey," Chad replied, raising his head and looking a little embarrassed. "I thought everyone was gone already."
"Coach wanted to talk to me after practice. Are you ok?" Ryan asked, sitting down on the bench facing Chad.
"Yeah, I'm just-" Chad stopped, running a hand through his hair and sighing again.
"Just what?" Ryan prompted.
"It's just....college," Chad replied. Ryan raised his eyebrows,
"But you heard back from UC Irvine last week. I thought you were all set," Ryan said.
"I thought so too, but my mom left me this voicemail about how she got this letter in the mail about the tuition and the like projected costs or whatever, and we can't afford it unless I get a serious scholarship," Chad said, "Or I spend all summer working as a male escort." He added as an afterthought, shaking his head.
"I'm sure you can get a scholarship."
"For what? My grades aren't that impressive. I've got sports but I'm not a superstar like Troy, so that doesn't help. They don't give scholarships for being average." Chad said. Ryan's eyes widened. He'd never heard Chad talk about himself in a less than pleased way. Then again, college had a way of shaking up everyone's self perception. He remembered how nerve racking auditioning for UC Berkeley's theater program had been.
"You're not average." He told Chad, "you'll think of something."
"Thanks. I think. I don't know, my mom wants me to try and write an essay for their one scholarship program."
"An essay?"
"Yeah, apparently I can up to fifteen grand if they like what I write." Chad said.
"So go for that." Ryan said.
"Yeah but I hate writing essays. I have no idea what I'm gonna say, like 'I'm Chad. Give me a scholarship because I'm awesome?' I don't think that'll impress anyone."
"You should probably try for more than nine words." Ryan said, smirking a little. Chad groaned and threw his head back, hitting it off the thick wall behind him,
"Ouch. Shit. That hurt." He said, lifting a hand to his head, "I'm not bleeding am I?" He asked Ryan, shifting so Ryan could see the back of his head.
"No. You're fine," Ryan said, biting back a laugh.
"See that? I'm an idiot. I hit my head off walls. I can't figure this college thing out." Chad said, but he was smiling.
"I'll help," Ryan offered.
"What do you mean?" Chad asked, sitting up a little straighter.
"With your essay and stuff. I mean, I don't how much help I'll be, but I can like read it over, or help you come up with ideas, or make you mixes to listen to while writing it."
"Seriously?" Chad asked, beaming, "You want to help me?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you want me to."
"Totally. I need all the help I can get." Chad said, getting up to sit beside Ryan on the bench.
"Ok. I'm at your service then," Ryan said grinning.
"Awesome. Although, I'm not sure showtunes will help me write a good essay." Chad said playfully.
"I do not listen to showtunes 24/7. I like other stuff too!" Ryan said, putting a fake pout on his face.
"No, you don't."
"I do!"
"I don't believe you." Chad said, smirking.
"Well now I have to make you mixes, just to prove it to you." Ryan said.
"I'll believe it when I hear it," Chad said, "Seriously though dude, thank you. It'll be cool to have someone to talk to about all this. I know Troy won't be any help at all."
"Gabi said he's been stressed lately." Ryan said sympathetically, "something about his Dad? That and I think they're having some mini drama about the spring musical."
"Yeah. Troy has all these school offers, but he hasn't accepted anyone's yet because he and his Dad can't agree. It's hard on him. He hasn't mentioned the musical thing." Chad said with a shrug, shooting Ryan a questioning look.
"I don't know. Gabriella wants them both to do one last musical together, but auditions are on Friday and he still hasn't given her an answer. He keeps telling her he thinks it will be taking on too much. But then she pouts at him." Ryan said.
"He is busy." Chad said, rolling his eyes, "We can't all be you, doing eight extra curriculars at the same time. I don't know how you're going to manage baseball and the musical. Darbus is a slave driver."
"She's not that bad." Ryan said, "Besides, I like to be busy, and if coach has it his way I'll be even- hey!" He stopped, his face lighting up as something occurred to him.
"Hey what? What's with the grin?" Chad asked.
"You could help me!"
"Help you with what?" Chad asked, looking totally lost.
"Coach Harris wants me to Coach this little league team. His nephew is on it and he said their home field is actually Evans property, and -"
"You own a baseball field and you didn't know it?" Chad interrupted.
"Yeah," Ryan said, shrugging apologetically, "anyway- Coach said it makes sense for me to coach them, I guess they all dream of being Wildcats one day. You should help me!"
"You want me to help you coach a bunch of kids?"
"Yes. I don't really want to do it by myself, I mean, my baseball is still a bit rusty, but if you were with me it wouldn't be a problem. It could be fun." Ryan said, grinning again.
"You're serious about this?" Chad asked.
"Completely. It's only once a week and a couple Saturday afternoons and besides, it might give you inspiration for your essay."
"Like in a corny 'children are the future sort of way?' That's lame dude." Chad said, rolling his eyes but still smiling.
"I think college scholarship essays are all about the lame."
"I refuse to write an essay about the lessons I learned from teaching kids. Not a chance." Chad said
"But you will help me coach them?" Ryan asked.
"Only if you promise we'll figure out something better for me to write about," Chad said.
"Deal." Ryan said, extending his hand to shake Chad's. Chad laughed and pulled Ryan into a quick hug, shoving Ryan's shoulder playfully when they pulled apart.
"So when do we start this coaching thing?" Chad asked.
"Thursday." Ryan said grinning, "I think we should-"
"RYAN!" A shrill voice interrupted, followed by the angry stomping of stiletto heels across the locker room floor. Sharpay rounded the row of lockers and glared at Ryan, hands on her hips.
"Hey Shar," He said, grinning meekly.
"You are two hours late! Two hours Ryan!" She said.
"I know, but I had a meeting with coach, and then I got caught up talking to Chad. Sorry," He said, shrugging and refusing to give in to her dramatics.
"We have no time at all now! We have to be home in half an hour for dinner with the Jenkins! I was waiting for you!" Sharpay fumed.
"You have shopping bags in your hands," Ryan pointed out.
"Full of clothes that might clash with yours! We have auditions on Friday! We have to coordinate."
"I just got caught up. I'm sorry Sharpay." Ryan said simply.
"I don't know what is going on with your priorities lately!" She snapped.
"Sharpay-" Ryan started.
"Whatever! let's go! We can talk about it on the way home!" She said, turning on her heel and staring to storm out of the room,
"Um. I should go." Ryan said to Chad, standing up.
"Yeah. Good luck with that." Chad said, shaking his head in amazement.
"Thanks. I'll talk to you later." Ryan said.
"Ryan! Now!" Sharpay called, voice bouncing off the walls. Ryan gave Chad another apologetic shrug and turned to follow his sister out of the locker room.
*************************************
"Did you ever take a really exciting vacation?" Ryan asked. They boys were sitting in Ryan's room, tossing around ideas for Chad's scholarship essay.
"I went to see my great Aunt in Ohio once," Chad replies.
"Yeah that doesn't help." Ryan said.
"I know."
"Ok, how bout some traumatic experience, like did you ever break your leg or anything?" Ryan tried.
"When I was fourteen I walked in on my parents having sex. That was pretty traumatic." Chad said, shuddering.
"Very traumatic," Ryan agreed, wincing, "but you can't write an essay about that."
"You sure?"
"I'm pretty sure college essays are like the champagne room," Ryan said, "No sex allowed." Chad laughed.
"Yeah well my living room should also be like the champagne room. For my parents at least. I don't care if I was supposed to be sleeping at Jason's." He said, shaking his head like he was trying to erase the memory.
"Sorry," Ryan said.
"Me too."
"What about a pet? Did you ever rescue a dog from the animal shelter or anything?" Ryan asked, shifting the subject back to Chad's essay.
"I had a pig in the fourth grade." Chad offered.
"A pig?" Ryan asked, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Yeah, a little potbellied pig. Hank. My cousin gave him to me." Chad said.
"That could work. Did he do anything memorable?"
"Nah. He was really boring actually. He just slept all day." Chad said.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"We'll think of something else." Ryan said.
*************************************************************
"It's perfect Shar. It really is." Ryan said, sighing in frustration. He'd listened to Sharpay sing rehearse her solo at least twelve times already, and he could tell she was gearing up sing it again.
"No it's not. I was totally off during the whole second verse. Were you listening at all?" Sharpay demanded.
"It was not off. It wasn't off the last six times you sang it either. It's perfect. I swear."
"It is not! Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not!" Ryan insisted.
"I will not be upstaged by Gabriella Montez! I just won't have it!" Sharpay said.
"The song sounds amazing Shar, and we've still got a month till opening night. Between this song, our duet, and your number with Troy, you'll steal the show."
"Amazing isn't good enough anymore. All that girl has to do is look at people and they fall in love with her. She steals everything that way." Sharpay said, pouting and sitting down next to Ryan.
"She doesn't do it on purpose."
"Don't defend her! God Ryan."
"Sorry. It's just-" Ryan stopped and sighed.
"Just what?" Sharpay demanded.
"You're awesome Shar, I don't know why you worry so much about Gabriella and Troy and all of them."
"Awesome??" Sharpay repeated, dragging out the word and making a disgusted face, "Awesome?" She said again, shaking her head. "How can you accuse me of worrying to much about them when you're one of them now? With your baseball buddies and your Wildcat spirit."
"They're nice people. Most of them anyway, and we see them everyday. What good did acting like were better than everyone else ever do?" Ryan said.
"We are better than everyone else," Sharpay said. "Or at least I am."
"Being better than everyone else gets lonely," Ryan replied, catching his sister's eye.
"Yeah? And is Chad Danforth helping you fill your loneliness?" She snapped.
"What? What does Chad have to do with anything?"
"Oh please. Like you're not in love with him," Sharpay said.
"I am not, he's just-" Ryan sputtered, turning a bit red and scowling.
"You're so obvious. Well to anyone with half a brain anyway. I'm sure Chad has no idea. The idiot."
"He's not an idiot." Ryan snapped back.
"You love him." Sharpay said, shaking her head again.
"We're friends."
"Whatever. You're going to get hurt this way."
"By having friends?" Ryan asked.
"By being friends with them," Sharpay replied.
"You're paranoid."
"I'm right, and I'm worried about you," Sharpay returned.
"I can take care of myself Shar." Ryan said. Sharpay shook her head sadly.
"Whatever Ryan. Whatever you need to tell yourself, but don't come crying to me when your little possibly straight crush breaks your heart and then brags to all his friends."
"I really don't think that's something we have to worry about." Ryan said.
"If you say so." She said, "Listen to my solo again?"
"I'm listening," He said with a sigh.
******************************************************
"Is that rain? Oh crap!" Chad said, "We still have to get all this stuff back to the shed." The sky opened as he spoke, soaking both boys instantly.
"We'd better run then. Come on track star," Ryan said, smirking. They set off running, bases, bats and bags of balls in their hands, heading for the shed on the other end of the park. They didn't stop till they reached the shed, drenched and muddy by the time they made it. Laughing, they opened the shed door emptied their arms.
"At least the rain held out till after practice," Chad said, laughing and searching his pockets for the shed key.
"True. Rain covered nine-year-olds is not something I want to deal with." Ryan said, trying to keep as much of his body as possible under the overhanging roof of the shed.
"Me either." Chad said, locking the door and turning to look at Ryan again, "You lost your hat dude."
"I noticed. I think that mud puddle back there ate it." Ryan said, running a self-conscience hand through his hair.
"You look all disheveled. I like it." Chad said, grinning.
"Disheveled is not a good thing."
"Sure it is. You've got a mud streak on your cheek. It makes you look rugged."
"Rugged?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Totally rugged. It works." Chad affirmed. Ryan was tempted to say that the rain made Chad's eyes look even bigger then normal. That if Ryan looked rugged, than Chad looked somehow fragile. That it made Ryan want to take him home. He didn't want to ruin the moment though, not even a little, so he didn't say any of it.
"Are you suggesting I let myself get all wet and dirty more often?" Ryan asked instead, smirking.
"Yup." Chad said, still grinning, "Guess what?" he asked.
"What?" Ryan asked, slightly thrown.
"I picked an essay topic!" Chad said.
"Really? That's great!" Ryan enthused.
"I know, especially since the deadline is Saturday."
"So what did you decide?"
"It's a surprise." Chad said, grinning from ear to ear.
"What do you mean it's a surprise? You have to tell me!" Ryan said.
"Nope. I'll let you read it over when it's all done. Till then you just have to wait."
"You can't do that! That's torture." Ryan protested.
"Sure I can." Chad said, beaming. Then he tugged on Ryan's arm. "Come on." He said.
"Come on where? It's still raining." Ryan asked, pouting a little.
"We're already wet." Chad said with a shrug, tugging on Ryan's arm again. He pulled Ryan back out into the park.
"What are we doing?"
"Getting you wet and dirty. Well, getting you wetter and dirtier." Chad said, looking pleased with himself.
"So... we're just going to stand here?" Ryan asked, but he was grinning too.
"Did you have something else in mind?" Chad asked, raising an eyebrow. Ryan grinned and reached out a hand to touch Chad's shoulder.
"Tag. You're it." He said dryly, smirking at the shocked expression on Chad's face before taking off, "You have to catch me now." he called over his shoulder.
***************************************
"So?" Chad prompted. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect," Ryan said, handing Chad's finished essay back to him, beaming.
"You think? Really?" Chad asked.
"Really."
"It's not lame?" Chad asked.
"Not at all," Ryan answered, still grinning, unable to believe that Chad had written about him. Or sort of written about him. He'd written about learning to deal with change, about making new friends(like Ryan) and trying new things(like coaching little league), and how its prepared him for college. About how he was less terrified of college now that he knew change could be good, that change could be a lot of fun. About how grateful he was to have learned that lesson.
"It made my mom cry," Chad said.
"I can see why."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Ryan affirmed.
"Thanks, Ryan," Chad said, pulling Ryan into a long hug.
**************************************************
Sharpay had an entire cheering section by the closing night of the spring musical. She really did steal the show. Her applause lasted for longer than anyone else's, and she reveled in the attention. Ryan grinned watching her. His sister hadn't seemed this happy in months.
"Congratulations Shar," He said when they made it backstage.
"I was amazing wasn't I?" She asked, beaming.
"Completely and totally." Ryan said, giving his sister a quick hug.
"You really were amazing," Chad said, appearing out of nowhere and walking over to the twins. "Both of you," He finished, holding Ryan's gaze for a second.
"How did you get back here so fast?" Ryan asked, grinning back. Chad had made it to all three performances of the musical so far, but this was first time he'd shown up backstage.
"I have my ways." Chad said, grinning, "I know you've got the cast party and all that tonight, so I wanted to make sure I got to tell you were awesome before you got too busy."
"Thanks." Ryan said, as Chad pulled him into a hug. Chad stayed for a few more minutes, congratulating various other cast members on the show, joking around with Gabriella and Troy, and hugging Ryan two more times, before heading out.
"You know," Sharpay said after Chad left, "I think I approve." Ryan grinned
******************************************************
"Ryan!" Gabriella shrieked happily.
"Hey Gabs," he said grinning.
"I'm so glad you made it," She said, gesturing around at the party.
"Me too." He said.
"Chad has been looking for you." She said.
"Really?" Ryan asked, smiling a little.
"Yeah he said he has something to tell you. He wouldn't say what though."
"Oh." Ryan said, stilling grinning. Gabriella met his eyes and grins back, a knowing looking in her eyes.
"Yeah. You might want to find him fast, before he gets too drunk to remember whatever it is he wants to say." Gabriella said.
"It's 9:30, how drunk could he possibly be?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Jason made red and while jello shots. The team has been attacking them."
"You can make jello white?"
"Yeah- Zeke gave him some recipe." She said.
"Ah." Ryan said, nodding.
"Yeah, I think there might be pineapples in it? Maybe?"
"So you haven't had one?" Ryan asked.
"You know I don't drink."
"I know. I just thought you might make an exception for Jason's graduation blowout."
"Nah. Someone has to keep the rest of you out of trouble," Gabriella said.
"You'd be all organized and responsible even drunk." Troy said, coming up to them and slinging an arm about Gabriella, "Hey Ryan."
"Hi Troy. Congratulations. I heard you got that full ride at the U of A." Ryan said, smiling.
"Thanks dude," Troy said, wobbling a little, "It's such a relief." He finished, Ryan nodded. He knew from talking to both Chad and Gabriella that it taken Troy and his dad a long time to come to an agreement where he should go to school. So long in fact, that Troy was almost afraid he'd lost his spot when they finally settled on the University of Albuquerque.
"Troy's been so worried." Gabriella said, squeezing Troy's arm.
"No worrying tonight." Troy said, kissing Gabriella's cheek, "Hey!" he said, looking up, "Chad's looking for you." he said to Ryan.
"I heard. I just got here a few minutes ago." Ryan said.
"I thought so, I saw your sister head for the hard liquor a few minutes ago, with like, five guys following her." Troy said. Ryan smirked,
"Yeah. They met her at the door. I have no idea how. I don't even know who they are." He said, "so... where is Chad?"
"Umm... over there?" Troy said, gesturing towards the kitchen.
"Thanks. I'm going to go try and find him," Ryan said, smiling.
"Good luck Ryan!" Gabi chirped. Troy titled his head, clearly puzzled,
"Why would Ryan need luck to talk to Chad?" He asked. Gabriella just smiled and snuggled in closer to him.
"See you guys later," Ryan said, shaking his head and walking away. He worked his way through a crowd of people, keeping his eyes peeled for Chad. He made it to the kitchen before Chad spotted him, pulling him into a massive hug.
"Ryan!" He said brightly, "I've been looking for you!"
"I just got here," Ryan said, laughing and trying to judge how drunk Chad was.
"I have to tell you something!" Chad said, pulling back from the hug and tugging on Ryan's arm like he had that day in the park.
"Ok. I'm here now. Tell me." Ryan said, but Chad shook his head,
"Not in here dude, it's too loud. Come outside with me?" He requests.
"Sure," Ryan said, allowing himself to be pulled out Jason's back door and deciding that at most, Chad is tipsy.
"Awesome." Chad enthused, walking fast and pulling Ryan down on to the porch steps.
"So what's up?" Ryan asked once they were both sitting down.
"Look what I got!" Chad said, reaching into his pocket to pull out a piece of paper.
"Is that?" Ryan asked, letting the question trail. Chad nodded enthusiastically and beamed.
"I got the scholarship!"
"Congratulations!" Ryan said, pulling Chad into an excited hug. Chad had hugged Ryan a million times over the last few months, but Ryan had never initiated a hug before. Until this one.
"I'm so excited! My mom cried again. I wanted to call you right away, but then I thought it would be better to tell you in person." Chad said from inside Ryan's hug.
"This is amazing. You got the full thing? All fifteen thousand?" Ryan asked, pulling back.
"Yup. They loved it. I can afford college, and it's all thanks to you."
"I didn't do anything."
"Yeah you did." Chad said, still beaming.
"You wrote the essay." Ryan returned.
"Without you, I might not have even tried the essay." Chad said.
"I didn't do anything." Ryan repeated, blushing.
"Trust me. You totally did. Tossing out ideas, reading my essay, and all those mix CD's. I really did listen to them while I was writing you know." Chad said.
"You did?" Ryan asked.
"You have good taste." Chad said.
"I told you."
"I believed you." Chad said, smiling again, scooting a little on the step. He was silent for a minute then he said, "Plus you made me coach little league. That helped too."
"It would probably be more helpful if we won once in a while." Ryan replied, swallowing hard. He didn't know if it was just in his imagination, or if Chad was really trying to move closer to him.
"Hey. We still have four games left. We'll win one of them."
"Our star player is Kevin, and that's only because no one else has hit the ball yet." Ryan replied.
"That's just because we haven't hit our stride yet. We're headed for a hot streak. I can feel it," Chad replied, moving again, and this time it's definitely towards Ryan. In fact, it's practically on top of Ryan.
"Your optimism is so cute." Ryan said, trying to keep his tone playful.
"I have reason to be optimistic tonight. The world is good dude."
"Things do seem to be going your way." Ryan said.
"I noticed," Chad said, reaching out hand then putting it back down quickly, blushing a little. Ryan raised his eyebrows, then swallowed nervously again. It was possible he was reading signals all wrong, but looking down at Chad's face, Ryan decided to risk it. He leaned down and kissed Chad slowly, pulling back after a moment and watching Chad nervously for a reaction. The porch steps were painfully silent for a minute, and Ryan began to panic
"I'm-" Ryan started, but then Chad grinned and put a hand behind Ryan's head, pulling him into another kiss, and then another, and another until Chad really was in Ryan's lap, where he was making the most amazing little whimpering sounds.
"This is so weird. Good weird. But weird," Chad said when they broke apart. His cheeks were flushed and he was beaming. Ryan was pretty sure he had a similar expression on his face.
"Good weird?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, like, I never thought I'd be, you know, with a guy, any guy- but then you. You and me just, like are." Chad said, words getting stuck on each other as he rambled, blush growing even deeper.
"Yeah," Ryan replied, kissing Chad again.
"We should totally do this all the time," Chad said, kissing Ryan back.
"Totally," Ryan echoed, getting lost in kissing Chad again. And again. And then again. And then lost in trying work his hands under Chad's shirt, and in laughing into Chad's mouth when his hat got knocked off, and pulling every part him as close to Chad has he possibly can, and in discovering how soft the skin on Chad's collarbone is, and in Chad himself.
They were still kissing half an hour later when Sharpay and two of her fanboys stumbled out onto the porch and almost tripped over them.
"God Ryan, get a room," She said, but she was smiling and giving him a discreet thumbs up. Ryan grinned. He really did love his sister, "Public displays of affection are so tacky."
"This porch is hardly public," Ryan returned.
"There are other people here. That makes it public." Sharpay said, waving a hand as if it was obvious. Her companions looked too stunned, or possibly too drunk, to speak.
"There weren't other people here until about four seconds ago when you came." Ryan returned.
"Besides, I think public displays of affection are fun," Chad interjected. Sharpay raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him. Ryan grinned again, knowing that Chad had just won even more of his sister's respect, not only by talking back to her, but by implying he'd be willing to take his relationship with Ryan public.
"Well then," She said crossing her arms, "The arm chair in the living room was free last time I checked."
"Maybe we'll go occupy it." Ryan said, still beaming and looking back and forth between Sharpay and Chad.
"Let's go!" Chad said standing up and pulling Ryan up with him. Ryan wasn't sure how serious Chad was about the whole, 'making out in front of the whole party thing', but he did seem eager to get off the porch, and he was holding Ryan's hand, their fingers interlaced, so Ryan decided to just follow Chad. Wherever he led.
"Shoo!" Sharpay said, smirking and then turning to one of her sycophants, "I need a drink." She said. The guy ran off instantly, cutting in front of Chad and Ryan. Sharpay's smirk deepened, "Shoo!" She repeated.
"We're going." Chad said, using his free hand to wave to Sharpay. Ryan mirrored the action and the two of them headed back into Jason's house, hands still joined.
They never actually made it to the arm chair, they kept getting stopped by friends; Kelsi, Gabriella, Troy, Taylor and others. They got pulled into conversations and graduation toasts and stupid party games all night long, but Chad's hand never left Ryan's for more than a minute, and hours later, they did make it to Ryan's bedroom.
*****
Recipient: Everyone
Title: The way it makes you look
Pairing(s): Chad/Ryan, a little bit of Troy/Gabi
Summary: Spring of Senior year: College essays, baseball, musicals, changes, and a big party to end it all.
Rating: Teen.
Warning(s): Nothing much. Very tame. Some cursing, a tiny bit of teen drinking, and boykissing. That is all.
Word Count: 4,700
Disclaimer: All High School Musical characters herein are the property of Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: This fic grew and grew, I tried to stay as close to the prompts as I could, but the fic kind of grew around them. More than I expected it to. I'm glad though, because it gave me a chance to play with Ryan and baseball. Which I enjoyed. I hope everyone else does too.
****************************
Ryan Evans sighed and checked his watch as he hurried across the baseball field. When Coach Harris had asked to speak to him after practice, Ryan had assumed it would be a five minute thing, but it had ended up an hour discussion about the possibility of Ryan helping to coach a local little league team. Now he was running late to meet Sharpay and she was going to kill him. She had some major shopping trip planned to kick off spring, and she'd been annoyed enough by having to wait till baseball practice was over. He knew this extra hour was going to earn him a four hour lecture on being a better brother. The locker room was quiet when he walked in, taking off his baseball cap to shake out his blonde hair as he went. He walked to his locker and pulled out his phone, sending Shar a quick text explaining the meeting, ignoring the seven texts and three voicemails she'd left. He started to get changed, assuming he was alone for several minutes until a heavy sigh reached his ears. Curious, he pulled a shirt over his head quickly and walked around the row of lockers to find Chad Danforth slumped against the wall, looking dejected.
"Chad?" Ryan asked, taking slow steps towards his friend.
"Oh.. hey," Chad replied, raising his head and looking a little embarrassed. "I thought everyone was gone already."
"Coach wanted to talk to me after practice. Are you ok?" Ryan asked, sitting down on the bench facing Chad.
"Yeah, I'm just-" Chad stopped, running a hand through his hair and sighing again.
"Just what?" Ryan prompted.
"It's just....college," Chad replied. Ryan raised his eyebrows,
"But you heard back from UC Irvine last week. I thought you were all set," Ryan said.
"I thought so too, but my mom left me this voicemail about how she got this letter in the mail about the tuition and the like projected costs or whatever, and we can't afford it unless I get a serious scholarship," Chad said, "Or I spend all summer working as a male escort." He added as an afterthought, shaking his head.
"I'm sure you can get a scholarship."
"For what? My grades aren't that impressive. I've got sports but I'm not a superstar like Troy, so that doesn't help. They don't give scholarships for being average." Chad said. Ryan's eyes widened. He'd never heard Chad talk about himself in a less than pleased way. Then again, college had a way of shaking up everyone's self perception. He remembered how nerve racking auditioning for UC Berkeley's theater program had been.
"You're not average." He told Chad, "you'll think of something."
"Thanks. I think. I don't know, my mom wants me to try and write an essay for their one scholarship program."
"An essay?"
"Yeah, apparently I can up to fifteen grand if they like what I write." Chad said.
"So go for that." Ryan said.
"Yeah but I hate writing essays. I have no idea what I'm gonna say, like 'I'm Chad. Give me a scholarship because I'm awesome?' I don't think that'll impress anyone."
"You should probably try for more than nine words." Ryan said, smirking a little. Chad groaned and threw his head back, hitting it off the thick wall behind him,
"Ouch. Shit. That hurt." He said, lifting a hand to his head, "I'm not bleeding am I?" He asked Ryan, shifting so Ryan could see the back of his head.
"No. You're fine," Ryan said, biting back a laugh.
"See that? I'm an idiot. I hit my head off walls. I can't figure this college thing out." Chad said, but he was smiling.
"I'll help," Ryan offered.
"What do you mean?" Chad asked, sitting up a little straighter.
"With your essay and stuff. I mean, I don't how much help I'll be, but I can like read it over, or help you come up with ideas, or make you mixes to listen to while writing it."
"Seriously?" Chad asked, beaming, "You want to help me?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you want me to."
"Totally. I need all the help I can get." Chad said, getting up to sit beside Ryan on the bench.
"Ok. I'm at your service then," Ryan said grinning.
"Awesome. Although, I'm not sure showtunes will help me write a good essay." Chad said playfully.
"I do not listen to showtunes 24/7. I like other stuff too!" Ryan said, putting a fake pout on his face.
"No, you don't."
"I do!"
"I don't believe you." Chad said, smirking.
"Well now I have to make you mixes, just to prove it to you." Ryan said.
"I'll believe it when I hear it," Chad said, "Seriously though dude, thank you. It'll be cool to have someone to talk to about all this. I know Troy won't be any help at all."
"Gabi said he's been stressed lately." Ryan said sympathetically, "something about his Dad? That and I think they're having some mini drama about the spring musical."
"Yeah. Troy has all these school offers, but he hasn't accepted anyone's yet because he and his Dad can't agree. It's hard on him. He hasn't mentioned the musical thing." Chad said with a shrug, shooting Ryan a questioning look.
"I don't know. Gabriella wants them both to do one last musical together, but auditions are on Friday and he still hasn't given her an answer. He keeps telling her he thinks it will be taking on too much. But then she pouts at him." Ryan said.
"He is busy." Chad said, rolling his eyes, "We can't all be you, doing eight extra curriculars at the same time. I don't know how you're going to manage baseball and the musical. Darbus is a slave driver."
"She's not that bad." Ryan said, "Besides, I like to be busy, and if coach has it his way I'll be even- hey!" He stopped, his face lighting up as something occurred to him.
"Hey what? What's with the grin?" Chad asked.
"You could help me!"
"Help you with what?" Chad asked, looking totally lost.
"Coach Harris wants me to Coach this little league team. His nephew is on it and he said their home field is actually Evans property, and -"
"You own a baseball field and you didn't know it?" Chad interrupted.
"Yeah," Ryan said, shrugging apologetically, "anyway- Coach said it makes sense for me to coach them, I guess they all dream of being Wildcats one day. You should help me!"
"You want me to help you coach a bunch of kids?"
"Yes. I don't really want to do it by myself, I mean, my baseball is still a bit rusty, but if you were with me it wouldn't be a problem. It could be fun." Ryan said, grinning again.
"You're serious about this?" Chad asked.
"Completely. It's only once a week and a couple Saturday afternoons and besides, it might give you inspiration for your essay."
"Like in a corny 'children are the future sort of way?' That's lame dude." Chad said, rolling his eyes but still smiling.
"I think college scholarship essays are all about the lame."
"I refuse to write an essay about the lessons I learned from teaching kids. Not a chance." Chad said
"But you will help me coach them?" Ryan asked.
"Only if you promise we'll figure out something better for me to write about," Chad said.
"Deal." Ryan said, extending his hand to shake Chad's. Chad laughed and pulled Ryan into a quick hug, shoving Ryan's shoulder playfully when they pulled apart.
"So when do we start this coaching thing?" Chad asked.
"Thursday." Ryan said grinning, "I think we should-"
"RYAN!" A shrill voice interrupted, followed by the angry stomping of stiletto heels across the locker room floor. Sharpay rounded the row of lockers and glared at Ryan, hands on her hips.
"Hey Shar," He said, grinning meekly.
"You are two hours late! Two hours Ryan!" She said.
"I know, but I had a meeting with coach, and then I got caught up talking to Chad. Sorry," He said, shrugging and refusing to give in to her dramatics.
"We have no time at all now! We have to be home in half an hour for dinner with the Jenkins! I was waiting for you!" Sharpay fumed.
"You have shopping bags in your hands," Ryan pointed out.
"Full of clothes that might clash with yours! We have auditions on Friday! We have to coordinate."
"I just got caught up. I'm sorry Sharpay." Ryan said simply.
"I don't know what is going on with your priorities lately!" She snapped.
"Sharpay-" Ryan started.
"Whatever! let's go! We can talk about it on the way home!" She said, turning on her heel and staring to storm out of the room,
"Um. I should go." Ryan said to Chad, standing up.
"Yeah. Good luck with that." Chad said, shaking his head in amazement.
"Thanks. I'll talk to you later." Ryan said.
"Ryan! Now!" Sharpay called, voice bouncing off the walls. Ryan gave Chad another apologetic shrug and turned to follow his sister out of the locker room.
*************************************
"Did you ever take a really exciting vacation?" Ryan asked. They boys were sitting in Ryan's room, tossing around ideas for Chad's scholarship essay.
"I went to see my great Aunt in Ohio once," Chad replies.
"Yeah that doesn't help." Ryan said.
"I know."
"Ok, how bout some traumatic experience, like did you ever break your leg or anything?" Ryan tried.
"When I was fourteen I walked in on my parents having sex. That was pretty traumatic." Chad said, shuddering.
"Very traumatic," Ryan agreed, wincing, "but you can't write an essay about that."
"You sure?"
"I'm pretty sure college essays are like the champagne room," Ryan said, "No sex allowed." Chad laughed.
"Yeah well my living room should also be like the champagne room. For my parents at least. I don't care if I was supposed to be sleeping at Jason's." He said, shaking his head like he was trying to erase the memory.
"Sorry," Ryan said.
"Me too."
"What about a pet? Did you ever rescue a dog from the animal shelter or anything?" Ryan asked, shifting the subject back to Chad's essay.
"I had a pig in the fourth grade." Chad offered.
"A pig?" Ryan asked, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Yeah, a little potbellied pig. Hank. My cousin gave him to me." Chad said.
"That could work. Did he do anything memorable?"
"Nah. He was really boring actually. He just slept all day." Chad said.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"We'll think of something else." Ryan said.
*************************************************************
"It's perfect Shar. It really is." Ryan said, sighing in frustration. He'd listened to Sharpay sing rehearse her solo at least twelve times already, and he could tell she was gearing up sing it again.
"No it's not. I was totally off during the whole second verse. Were you listening at all?" Sharpay demanded.
"It was not off. It wasn't off the last six times you sang it either. It's perfect. I swear."
"It is not! Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not!" Ryan insisted.
"I will not be upstaged by Gabriella Montez! I just won't have it!" Sharpay said.
"The song sounds amazing Shar, and we've still got a month till opening night. Between this song, our duet, and your number with Troy, you'll steal the show."
"Amazing isn't good enough anymore. All that girl has to do is look at people and they fall in love with her. She steals everything that way." Sharpay said, pouting and sitting down next to Ryan.
"She doesn't do it on purpose."
"Don't defend her! God Ryan."
"Sorry. It's just-" Ryan stopped and sighed.
"Just what?" Sharpay demanded.
"You're awesome Shar, I don't know why you worry so much about Gabriella and Troy and all of them."
"Awesome??" Sharpay repeated, dragging out the word and making a disgusted face, "Awesome?" She said again, shaking her head. "How can you accuse me of worrying to much about them when you're one of them now? With your baseball buddies and your Wildcat spirit."
"They're nice people. Most of them anyway, and we see them everyday. What good did acting like were better than everyone else ever do?" Ryan said.
"We are better than everyone else," Sharpay said. "Or at least I am."
"Being better than everyone else gets lonely," Ryan replied, catching his sister's eye.
"Yeah? And is Chad Danforth helping you fill your loneliness?" She snapped.
"What? What does Chad have to do with anything?"
"Oh please. Like you're not in love with him," Sharpay said.
"I am not, he's just-" Ryan sputtered, turning a bit red and scowling.
"You're so obvious. Well to anyone with half a brain anyway. I'm sure Chad has no idea. The idiot."
"He's not an idiot." Ryan snapped back.
"You love him." Sharpay said, shaking her head again.
"We're friends."
"Whatever. You're going to get hurt this way."
"By having friends?" Ryan asked.
"By being friends with them," Sharpay replied.
"You're paranoid."
"I'm right, and I'm worried about you," Sharpay returned.
"I can take care of myself Shar." Ryan said. Sharpay shook her head sadly.
"Whatever Ryan. Whatever you need to tell yourself, but don't come crying to me when your little possibly straight crush breaks your heart and then brags to all his friends."
"I really don't think that's something we have to worry about." Ryan said.
"If you say so." She said, "Listen to my solo again?"
"I'm listening," He said with a sigh.
******************************************************
"Is that rain? Oh crap!" Chad said, "We still have to get all this stuff back to the shed." The sky opened as he spoke, soaking both boys instantly.
"We'd better run then. Come on track star," Ryan said, smirking. They set off running, bases, bats and bags of balls in their hands, heading for the shed on the other end of the park. They didn't stop till they reached the shed, drenched and muddy by the time they made it. Laughing, they opened the shed door emptied their arms.
"At least the rain held out till after practice," Chad said, laughing and searching his pockets for the shed key.
"True. Rain covered nine-year-olds is not something I want to deal with." Ryan said, trying to keep as much of his body as possible under the overhanging roof of the shed.
"Me either." Chad said, locking the door and turning to look at Ryan again, "You lost your hat dude."
"I noticed. I think that mud puddle back there ate it." Ryan said, running a self-conscience hand through his hair.
"You look all disheveled. I like it." Chad said, grinning.
"Disheveled is not a good thing."
"Sure it is. You've got a mud streak on your cheek. It makes you look rugged."
"Rugged?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Totally rugged. It works." Chad affirmed. Ryan was tempted to say that the rain made Chad's eyes look even bigger then normal. That if Ryan looked rugged, than Chad looked somehow fragile. That it made Ryan want to take him home. He didn't want to ruin the moment though, not even a little, so he didn't say any of it.
"Are you suggesting I let myself get all wet and dirty more often?" Ryan asked instead, smirking.
"Yup." Chad said, still grinning, "Guess what?" he asked.
"What?" Ryan asked, slightly thrown.
"I picked an essay topic!" Chad said.
"Really? That's great!" Ryan enthused.
"I know, especially since the deadline is Saturday."
"So what did you decide?"
"It's a surprise." Chad said, grinning from ear to ear.
"What do you mean it's a surprise? You have to tell me!" Ryan said.
"Nope. I'll let you read it over when it's all done. Till then you just have to wait."
"You can't do that! That's torture." Ryan protested.
"Sure I can." Chad said, beaming. Then he tugged on Ryan's arm. "Come on." He said.
"Come on where? It's still raining." Ryan asked, pouting a little.
"We're already wet." Chad said with a shrug, tugging on Ryan's arm again. He pulled Ryan back out into the park.
"What are we doing?"
"Getting you wet and dirty. Well, getting you wetter and dirtier." Chad said, looking pleased with himself.
"So... we're just going to stand here?" Ryan asked, but he was grinning too.
"Did you have something else in mind?" Chad asked, raising an eyebrow. Ryan grinned and reached out a hand to touch Chad's shoulder.
"Tag. You're it." He said dryly, smirking at the shocked expression on Chad's face before taking off, "You have to catch me now." he called over his shoulder.
***************************************
"So?" Chad prompted. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect," Ryan said, handing Chad's finished essay back to him, beaming.
"You think? Really?" Chad asked.
"Really."
"It's not lame?" Chad asked.
"Not at all," Ryan answered, still grinning, unable to believe that Chad had written about him. Or sort of written about him. He'd written about learning to deal with change, about making new friends(like Ryan) and trying new things(like coaching little league), and how its prepared him for college. About how he was less terrified of college now that he knew change could be good, that change could be a lot of fun. About how grateful he was to have learned that lesson.
"It made my mom cry," Chad said.
"I can see why."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," Ryan affirmed.
"Thanks, Ryan," Chad said, pulling Ryan into a long hug.
**************************************************
Sharpay had an entire cheering section by the closing night of the spring musical. She really did steal the show. Her applause lasted for longer than anyone else's, and she reveled in the attention. Ryan grinned watching her. His sister hadn't seemed this happy in months.
"Congratulations Shar," He said when they made it backstage.
"I was amazing wasn't I?" She asked, beaming.
"Completely and totally." Ryan said, giving his sister a quick hug.
"You really were amazing," Chad said, appearing out of nowhere and walking over to the twins. "Both of you," He finished, holding Ryan's gaze for a second.
"How did you get back here so fast?" Ryan asked, grinning back. Chad had made it to all three performances of the musical so far, but this was first time he'd shown up backstage.
"I have my ways." Chad said, grinning, "I know you've got the cast party and all that tonight, so I wanted to make sure I got to tell you were awesome before you got too busy."
"Thanks." Ryan said, as Chad pulled him into a hug. Chad stayed for a few more minutes, congratulating various other cast members on the show, joking around with Gabriella and Troy, and hugging Ryan two more times, before heading out.
"You know," Sharpay said after Chad left, "I think I approve." Ryan grinned
******************************************************
"Ryan!" Gabriella shrieked happily.
"Hey Gabs," he said grinning.
"I'm so glad you made it," She said, gesturing around at the party.
"Me too." He said.
"Chad has been looking for you." She said.
"Really?" Ryan asked, smiling a little.
"Yeah he said he has something to tell you. He wouldn't say what though."
"Oh." Ryan said, stilling grinning. Gabriella met his eyes and grins back, a knowing looking in her eyes.
"Yeah. You might want to find him fast, before he gets too drunk to remember whatever it is he wants to say." Gabriella said.
"It's 9:30, how drunk could he possibly be?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Jason made red and while jello shots. The team has been attacking them."
"You can make jello white?"
"Yeah- Zeke gave him some recipe." She said.
"Ah." Ryan said, nodding.
"Yeah, I think there might be pineapples in it? Maybe?"
"So you haven't had one?" Ryan asked.
"You know I don't drink."
"I know. I just thought you might make an exception for Jason's graduation blowout."
"Nah. Someone has to keep the rest of you out of trouble," Gabriella said.
"You'd be all organized and responsible even drunk." Troy said, coming up to them and slinging an arm about Gabriella, "Hey Ryan."
"Hi Troy. Congratulations. I heard you got that full ride at the U of A." Ryan said, smiling.
"Thanks dude," Troy said, wobbling a little, "It's such a relief." He finished, Ryan nodded. He knew from talking to both Chad and Gabriella that it taken Troy and his dad a long time to come to an agreement where he should go to school. So long in fact, that Troy was almost afraid he'd lost his spot when they finally settled on the University of Albuquerque.
"Troy's been so worried." Gabriella said, squeezing Troy's arm.
"No worrying tonight." Troy said, kissing Gabriella's cheek, "Hey!" he said, looking up, "Chad's looking for you." he said to Ryan.
"I heard. I just got here a few minutes ago." Ryan said.
"I thought so, I saw your sister head for the hard liquor a few minutes ago, with like, five guys following her." Troy said. Ryan smirked,
"Yeah. They met her at the door. I have no idea how. I don't even know who they are." He said, "so... where is Chad?"
"Umm... over there?" Troy said, gesturing towards the kitchen.
"Thanks. I'm going to go try and find him," Ryan said, smiling.
"Good luck Ryan!" Gabi chirped. Troy titled his head, clearly puzzled,
"Why would Ryan need luck to talk to Chad?" He asked. Gabriella just smiled and snuggled in closer to him.
"See you guys later," Ryan said, shaking his head and walking away. He worked his way through a crowd of people, keeping his eyes peeled for Chad. He made it to the kitchen before Chad spotted him, pulling him into a massive hug.
"Ryan!" He said brightly, "I've been looking for you!"
"I just got here," Ryan said, laughing and trying to judge how drunk Chad was.
"I have to tell you something!" Chad said, pulling back from the hug and tugging on Ryan's arm like he had that day in the park.
"Ok. I'm here now. Tell me." Ryan said, but Chad shook his head,
"Not in here dude, it's too loud. Come outside with me?" He requests.
"Sure," Ryan said, allowing himself to be pulled out Jason's back door and deciding that at most, Chad is tipsy.
"Awesome." Chad enthused, walking fast and pulling Ryan down on to the porch steps.
"So what's up?" Ryan asked once they were both sitting down.
"Look what I got!" Chad said, reaching into his pocket to pull out a piece of paper.
"Is that?" Ryan asked, letting the question trail. Chad nodded enthusiastically and beamed.
"I got the scholarship!"
"Congratulations!" Ryan said, pulling Chad into an excited hug. Chad had hugged Ryan a million times over the last few months, but Ryan had never initiated a hug before. Until this one.
"I'm so excited! My mom cried again. I wanted to call you right away, but then I thought it would be better to tell you in person." Chad said from inside Ryan's hug.
"This is amazing. You got the full thing? All fifteen thousand?" Ryan asked, pulling back.
"Yup. They loved it. I can afford college, and it's all thanks to you."
"I didn't do anything."
"Yeah you did." Chad said, still beaming.
"You wrote the essay." Ryan returned.
"Without you, I might not have even tried the essay." Chad said.
"I didn't do anything." Ryan repeated, blushing.
"Trust me. You totally did. Tossing out ideas, reading my essay, and all those mix CD's. I really did listen to them while I was writing you know." Chad said.
"You did?" Ryan asked.
"You have good taste." Chad said.
"I told you."
"I believed you." Chad said, smiling again, scooting a little on the step. He was silent for a minute then he said, "Plus you made me coach little league. That helped too."
"It would probably be more helpful if we won once in a while." Ryan replied, swallowing hard. He didn't know if it was just in his imagination, or if Chad was really trying to move closer to him.
"Hey. We still have four games left. We'll win one of them."
"Our star player is Kevin, and that's only because no one else has hit the ball yet." Ryan replied.
"That's just because we haven't hit our stride yet. We're headed for a hot streak. I can feel it," Chad replied, moving again, and this time it's definitely towards Ryan. In fact, it's practically on top of Ryan.
"Your optimism is so cute." Ryan said, trying to keep his tone playful.
"I have reason to be optimistic tonight. The world is good dude."
"Things do seem to be going your way." Ryan said.
"I noticed," Chad said, reaching out hand then putting it back down quickly, blushing a little. Ryan raised his eyebrows, then swallowed nervously again. It was possible he was reading signals all wrong, but looking down at Chad's face, Ryan decided to risk it. He leaned down and kissed Chad slowly, pulling back after a moment and watching Chad nervously for a reaction. The porch steps were painfully silent for a minute, and Ryan began to panic
"I'm-" Ryan started, but then Chad grinned and put a hand behind Ryan's head, pulling him into another kiss, and then another, and another until Chad really was in Ryan's lap, where he was making the most amazing little whimpering sounds.
"This is so weird. Good weird. But weird," Chad said when they broke apart. His cheeks were flushed and he was beaming. Ryan was pretty sure he had a similar expression on his face.
"Good weird?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah, like, I never thought I'd be, you know, with a guy, any guy- but then you. You and me just, like are." Chad said, words getting stuck on each other as he rambled, blush growing even deeper.
"Yeah," Ryan replied, kissing Chad again.
"We should totally do this all the time," Chad said, kissing Ryan back.
"Totally," Ryan echoed, getting lost in kissing Chad again. And again. And then again. And then lost in trying work his hands under Chad's shirt, and in laughing into Chad's mouth when his hat got knocked off, and pulling every part him as close to Chad has he possibly can, and in discovering how soft the skin on Chad's collarbone is, and in Chad himself.
They were still kissing half an hour later when Sharpay and two of her fanboys stumbled out onto the porch and almost tripped over them.
"God Ryan, get a room," She said, but she was smiling and giving him a discreet thumbs up. Ryan grinned. He really did love his sister, "Public displays of affection are so tacky."
"This porch is hardly public," Ryan returned.
"There are other people here. That makes it public." Sharpay said, waving a hand as if it was obvious. Her companions looked too stunned, or possibly too drunk, to speak.
"There weren't other people here until about four seconds ago when you came." Ryan returned.
"Besides, I think public displays of affection are fun," Chad interjected. Sharpay raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him. Ryan grinned again, knowing that Chad had just won even more of his sister's respect, not only by talking back to her, but by implying he'd be willing to take his relationship with Ryan public.
"Well then," She said crossing her arms, "The arm chair in the living room was free last time I checked."
"Maybe we'll go occupy it." Ryan said, still beaming and looking back and forth between Sharpay and Chad.
"Let's go!" Chad said standing up and pulling Ryan up with him. Ryan wasn't sure how serious Chad was about the whole, 'making out in front of the whole party thing', but he did seem eager to get off the porch, and he was holding Ryan's hand, their fingers interlaced, so Ryan decided to just follow Chad. Wherever he led.
"Shoo!" Sharpay said, smirking and then turning to one of her sycophants, "I need a drink." She said. The guy ran off instantly, cutting in front of Chad and Ryan. Sharpay's smirk deepened, "Shoo!" She repeated.
"We're going." Chad said, using his free hand to wave to Sharpay. Ryan mirrored the action and the two of them headed back into Jason's house, hands still joined.
They never actually made it to the arm chair, they kept getting stopped by friends; Kelsi, Gabriella, Troy, Taylor and others. They got pulled into conversations and graduation toasts and stupid party games all night long, but Chad's hand never left Ryan's for more than a minute, and hours later, they did make it to Ryan's bedroom.
*****