Work Text:
“I'm saving up for a car. I'm saving up for a car.”
Ryan couldn’t help but huff a humourless laugh as he realised he’d been left behind with his father’s bag. At least Chad was being paid to wait on them. Ryan got the honour for free.
“Oh, I wish,” he muttered, straightening his back when Chad turned back to glance at him. His shoulder throbbed under the weight of the clubs.
“You don’t have a ride, Evans?” he asked, seeming genuinely taken aback by that rather than mocking as Ryan had been expecting.
“My parents thought it would be better if we shared. So, theoretically, yes I do have a ride. In application? Shar has a ride and I have a passenger seat,” he explained, wrangling the bag as it started to hang at an angle.
To his surprise, he heard a snort of laughter beside him. He hadn’t noticed Chad slowing down to wait for him but took mental note of the gesture, in case he needed to pay it back.
“That sounds about right. Honestly, how do you handle her?”
He shrugged, shifting the bag up his shoulder uncomfortably as he did.
“Do you have a technique for carrying these? Cause I don’t feel like I’m getting this,” he sighed, giving up on wrangling it and allowing it to be a trip hazard.
“I only have like an hour more experience than you, man,” Chad said, shaking his head with a shrug. “Surely you know how to do this better than me. Don’t you play?”
“Hardly. This is the first time we’ve all come out together in years.”
Chad paused his step, brows drawn, but quickly righted himself.
“This isn’t like a regular thing for you guys? Why now then?”
Ryan gave him a pointed look but was met with nothing but confusion. He tilted his head, motioning ahead of them and towards the cart Troy and Sharpay were cuddled up in. Chad groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically at the realisation.
“Of course.”
“Besides,” Ryan added, sensing that the mood was plummeting the longer Chad lingered on this revelation, “I’ve never been a big fan of golf. It’s kinda...”
“Stuffy?”
“Exactly,” he agreed, face cracking in a smile he couldn’t hold back, so not used to talking to anyone outside his golf-oriented family about sports.
“I didn’t expect that to be an issue for you. Don’t you guys do like Shakespeare and shit?”
He gave him an offended look and gasped at the words. Raising a hand to his heart, he watched Chad raise an amused brow, light smile playing on his lips.
“Shakespeare is not stuffy,” Ryan huffed.
“Dude, there’s literally nothing stuffier than that. The magnum opus of stuffy, rich, middle age shit.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a Neanderthal?” he asked, going to cross his arms over his chest but stopping himself as the action almost makes him drop the bag.
“Oh, I’ve been told,” Chad chuckled. “I’m still not sold though.”
“On Shakespeare? He’s great! There’s a dick joke every five pages, the costumes are always amazing and every character is a little gay,” he said, skipping over themes and lyricism as he assumed it would go right over his head.
“And a little gay is important because you’re...” he tried tentatively, trailing off.
“Gay,” Ryan finished for him, feeling himself slow down as his gut swam with anxiety.
He sighed quietly in relief as Chad nodded, offering him a bright smile.
“Cool. I didn’t want to assume,” he explained, raising a fist in Ryan’s direction.
Ryan stared down at the fist for a few moments, wondering if he’d read the signs all wrong and was actually being threatened. He almost kicked himself as he realised what it meant and had to scramble to bump it with his own fist before Chad could drop it. He had his closest call to almost dropping the bag as he did so.
“Thanks, being gay does make Shakespeare a lot more fun.”
“Not sure I believe that one yet. Do you do anything not stuffy?” Chad asked, clearly joking but leaving Ryan thinking about it.
“Tap?”
“Tap dancing is so stuffy.”
He gasped at that.
“Tap is not stuffy! Have you seen Gene Kelly?”
“Wait, that’s tap?” Chad asked, blinking in surprise.
Ryan blinked back, taking a moment to process Chad even knowing who Kelly was.
“Yes, a lot of it. He’s kinda known for it.”
“I thought tap was more like traditional, y’know? Gene Kelly is more... just more, I guess,” he explained starting off as if imagining the two.
“That’s more like river dancing. Tap is like this huge ball of energy you can use to make music as you-“ he broke off, to desperate to ask: “I’m sorry but how do you know Gene Kelly?”
“My mum,” Chad groaned with a roll of his eyes. “She’s a Broadway nut but she always made me watch the oldies with her.”
Ryan paused for slightly too long at that. He didn’t even notice the bag almost slipping off his shoulder again, too lost in thought trying to reconcile this with the meathead jock image Chad projected.
“Whoa,” Chad said, lunging over to catch the strap before it could fall.
Ryan blinked stupidly up at him, brain frying as he mentally repeated “boy, boy, boy, boy” like it did whenever a boy his age got a little too close. He cleared his throat, moving away from Chad as he felt his face heat up.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
“No problem. I’d probably get blamed if anything broke anyway,” Chad joked, or at least Ryan assumed he was kidding from the half smile he offered.
“I’d argue but it’s not likely to get pinned on Troy so it’ll definitely be one of us,” he said, hoping Chad would take it as a joke in return.
“Oh, come on,” he chuckled, nudging Ryan’s shoulder, much to his relief. “You’re their ‘little ducky’, right?”
He groaned dramatically, feeling the warmth at the tips of his ears as he tried to hide his face in his hands.
“When did you hear that?”
Chad’s chuckle turned into a roar of laughter at that. He struggled to compose himself enough to reply. Ryan couldn’t even look at him.
“I was serving your table last night when your mom said it,” he grinned, pausing when he met Ryan’s eye and seemed to notice his pained expression. “Uh, nobody else knows about it. I thought it was sweet.”
“Thank god,” he gasped, not realising he’d been holding his breath in his anxiety.
“If it helps, mine calls me bubble,” he offered, seemingly waiting for Ryan to take the olive branch.
“How did that come about?” he asked, grinning.
By now they were starting to catch up to the others but lingered behind slightly out of ear shot. Ryan was surprised Chad didn’t push forwards but figured he was better company than his sister.
“I blew bubbles into Troy’s eyes once when we were little. I was in so much trouble once my mum stopped laughing,” he explained, smiling fondly at the memory. “Ducky?”
“Apparently I used to look like a little duckling following the mother swan when me and Shar would go to and from school,” he said, shaking his head as he gave his own soft smile thinking back.
“Not much has changed there,” Chad snorted.
“Hey! I do not follow Sharpay like a duckling!” he laughed, playing offended as Chad guffawed loud enough to earn them a curious look from his mother who hadn’t seemed to notice them until then.
She waved them over and, sharing one final pained look, they joined the others. When they made their way to the group, the two stood at the sideline, sharing looks as his father and Sharpay lavished Troy with praise. After a minute, Chad shuffled over to him and he couldn’t help but smile at the gesture.
“They’re really laying it on thick,” he stage whispered, though Ryan amused himself thinking he would hate to know it was an acting technique.
“When does Shar do anything by halves?” he whispered back, enjoying this low effort rebellion.
“Touché. No offence but your sister is pretty wack.”
“I get that a lot. Kelsi once told me I should get her secretly tested,” he joked, earning him a snicker that Chad struggled to muffle behind his hand.
“I didn’t know you and Kelsi were friends,” he replied eventually.
Ryan shrugged. It was starting to become apparent to him how little they actually knew about one another. All that time spent two seats apart in homeroom and Chad didn’t even know they had mutual friends. Then again, he didn’t expect Chad to even know what Broadway was, so perhaps they’d both made assumptions.
“Yeah, Sharpay may try and take advantage of that fact but me and Kels did a lot of behind the scenes work for the play in first year so we got pretty close. Did you really think Kelsi sits with us for Sh...” he trailed off, sighing in realisation. “Actually, she might sit with us for Sharpay a little.”
“You don’t seem so sunshiny about that. I thought sunshiny was your natural disposition,” Chad said, raising a brow curiously.
“My best friend is in tragic unrequited love with my sister. Who’d be cheery about that?”
Chad blinked, pausing for a few seconds.
“I didn’t realise Kelsi was... y’know...”
Ryan stared at him for a few seconds, confused. Eventually he snorted, earning him a momentary glance from his father before he turned back to Troy.
“It’s hardly news. She came out to the class in Freshman year.”
“She did?”
“You were there!” he shook his head with a grin as the other boy stared blankly for a moment.
Suddenly, Chad’s face lit up in realisation. He facepalmed at himself, earning him a laugh.
“Yeah, yeah, I was not paying attention during... well most of freshman year,” he admitted, defeatedly.
“That’s your jock privileges. The rest of us only have gossip to sustain us while you get...” He thought for a moment, drawing up a blank. “Actually what do you guys talk about?”
“Gorgeous shot!” his father practically yelled, slapping Troy on the back.
They shared a knowing look, breaking out into smiles.
“Girls, basketball, Zeke’s cooking,” Chad listed on his fingers, clearly struggling to think of more as stared down at the fingers he hadn’t put up.
“I shouldn’t have expected anything else,” he laughed, earning him a fond eye roll. He couldn’t help but straightening his back, pride blooming in his chest as he saw the friendly reaction.
“Come on, it’s not that bad!”
“Learning that the jocks really do only think about girls, sports and food? This is fascinating stuff!”
“Oh, come on. Don’t you guys just talk about like clothes, the play and, I don’t know, Britney Spears?”
Ryan raised a brow at that, shaking his head silently.
“What? I’m right, aren’t I?” Chad challenged, smiling widely.
“The gay kid only cared about fashion, theatre and pop music?” he replied, making Chad freeze, face morphing into an apologetic expression.
Ryan was tempted to let him sit with that but sighed, offering a smile. He was starting to get Chad or, at least, he thought he was. He didn’t seem the type to say something like that on purpose. Really, he just seemed pretty clueless.
“I didn’t mean-“
“It’s fine. I’m more offended that you’re right,” he chuckled, watching as the tension drained out of Chad’s shoulders. “Well maybe not Britney.”
“You don’t like Britney Spears?” Chad gasped, catching himself and ducking his head.
“You do?” He grinned.
“She’s got great tits?” he tried, meeting Ryan’s eye and sighing at his knowing look. “Fine! Me Against the Music is my big guilty pleasure!”
“Oh, Madonna can do no wrong,” he agreed, still grinning at the revelation.
“Don’t tell a soul,” Chad said, giving him a look he understood as a veiled threat.
“My lips are sealed!”
Chad nodded for a moment before cracking.
“You really don’t like Britney Spears?”
“I like her more than the average straight boy but less than the average gay one,” he joked, not expecting Chad to nod as if he’d said something profound. He smiled to himself, glad someone saw his natural genius.
“I guess I like her about the same,” Chad said, looking into the distance as if speaking aloud. He turned to Ryan, offering a smirk. “We have more in common than I thought.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth, Danforth.”
xxx
Dinner that evening was painful. The only saving factor Ryan could see was that, with Troy as the centre of attention, he could sink into the background and enjoy his meal without anyone making comment. It wasn’t as if people were rude to him, especially not in front of his parents, but jabs and jokes at his expense weren’t really kept quiet. Sometimes it was worse to see his parent laugh along than it was to hear the hilarious gay jokes their business partners and family friends decided to test out that day.
As he ate, he watched Troy try and fail to share some of the praise he was being given. Ryan didn’t miss the way Chad’s grip tightened when his father dismissed Troy’s comments as being too humble. As he watched him, Chad glanced his way, scowl softening as their eyes met. Ryan offered him a smile, which he returned weakly, walking over to him to play staff.
“It helps if you remember he’s never stepped foot on a court,” he whispered, glad to see Chad’s tight grip ease slightly as he bit back a laugh.
“I can’t laugh, I’m working,” Chad reprimanded lightly, not hiding the smile that spread across his face as he whispered back.
Ryan didn’t miss the way his mood shifted, enjoying the knowledge that it was because of him. He was used to people laughing at him, not with him. It was a nice change and one he wouldn’t have expected that morning.
“So’s Troy,” he said, eyes widening at the bitterness in his voice. “I mean, if my sister can cover for him then I must be able to cover for you, right?”
“I don’t know, I think you might cause world war three. Your sister isn’t my biggest fan.”
“She’ll recover,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Chad grinned but, noticing Jason moving onto another table, gestured to him and turned to leave, offering a last smile. He felt slightly deflated watching him go, knowing he had another couple of hours of this at least. Unless...
xxx
An hour later, once he was sure the dinner rush had died down, Ryan made his way towards the staff only entrance. Making sure the coast was clear, he crept in, turning the corner to the kitchen without seeing Fulton. He was fairly sure the older man was overseeing some errand Sharpay had set him on so wasn’t too worried about getting a slap on the wrist for being where he shouldn’t.
Slumped over the counter, flipping through a magazine half heartedly, was Chad. The rest of the kitchen was equally low energy, barely anyone even looking up to notice him enter.
“Hey,” he said, as he came up behind Chad. The other boy jumped at the hand on his shoulder.
“God, Evans, you scared the shit out of me,” he groaned. “I thought you were Fulton coming to make me do something for Sharpay.”
“Lucky for you, Sharpay is busy scheming.”
“As usual?”
“As usual.”
They shared a grin and Chad gestures for Ryan to take a seat on the stool beside him.
“We’re probably done for the day now,” he explained, closing his magazine and facing Ryan. “Technically we’re on the clock but hardly anyone actually eats this late.”
“I doubt Kelsi would agree,” he argued, remembering how he’d found her asleep at the piano on her first night there.
“God, yeah. Her shift is later than ours and she actually has to be doing stuff for it. I guess she has the morning off though.”
“She wouldn’t do it if she didn’t love it. I just wish she wouldn’t let Fulton bully her into missing breaks,” he sighed, not wanting to burden Chad with his worries but feeling like someone else needed to know about his concern for his friend.
“That’s so illegal, man,” Chad huffed, shaking his head with a look of disapproval directed out vaguely towards where Fulton might be.
“She could do so much better too.”
“Hey, a job’s a job,” Chad shrugged.
He couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at that. He knew he was lucky, privileged enough to ride on the back of his parents wealth, but it left a bitter taste in his mouth to watch his peers struggle and know he couldn’t understand if he tried. He already felt detached enough. Being the gay kid and the rich kid really didn’t add up well for making friends.
“Ryan?” came a questioning voice behind them, filling the momentary lapse in conversation.
Zeke stood behind them, offering Ryan a warm, if slightly confused, smile and a pat on the shoulder.
“Zeke,” he greeted, slightly awkwardly.
He liked Zeke more than he’d expected to like a jock. Especially a jock who was chasing his sister. As much as his opinions on the basketball team were starting to get shaken up, he still felt odd talking to Zeke without Sharpay around, as if he were breaking some unspoken rule.
“Did you want something cooked up? I can do anything you want!” He paused for a second and continued with less certainty. “Well, unless you want sushi. Apparently seaweed isn’t my area.”
“Oh, no. I was just popping by to get away from my family. I don’t think I could take multiple hours of it.”
“I’m sure your mom wouldn’t make you stay. You really needed an escape?” Chad asked, seeming slightly concerned with his creased forehead.
“You’ve seen how Team Troy my mother is. She may love me but she loves a project more,” he sighed.
“Hm, I see where you get it from,” Chad replied jokingly, earning him a playful slap on the arm. “For the record, not cool of her.”
“Thanks,” he smiled, shaking his head at the antics.
“So Troy isn’t coming back, huh?” Zeke asked, seeming more curious than concerned.
“Don’t, dude,” Chad sighed, mood bought back down. “I have no clue what’s going on there.”
“Sorry about my parents,” Ryan offered to the pair of them. “And Sharpay. Mostly Sharpay.”
At that, his phone buzzed erratically in his pocket, blowing up with text after text. He groaned, pulling it out to confirm what he already knew.
“Speak of the devil?” Chad asked, smirking at the coincidence.
“Looks like that’s my cue to leave. Turns out her scheming assumed my presence.”
“That doesn’t sound promising,” said Zeke, not even his crush on Sharpay enough to blind him to the terror that was her plots.
“Wish me luck. I have to go get into my tiki costume before Troy arrives,” he said, rolling his eyes as he pushed himself up and made his way out. Behind him he heard a laugh and a muffled “tiki costume?”
xxx
He’s so busy storming away from the music room, he hardly noticed bumping into someone until he was laying on the concrete, back aching from the impact. Blinking up, he saw a figure hovering over him.
“Evans? You okay?” Chad asked, offering him a hand up which he took absently, letting himself be pulled to his feet.
“Sure, nothing broken anyway,” he said merrily and smiled, knowing it looked and sounded as fake as it was.
“I feel that,” he chuckled humourlessly. “Need to blow off some steam?”
“If you’re about to suggest throwing holes then no,” he said, trying for joking but landing on exhausted.
“Throwing holes?” Chad snorted.
Ryan raised a brow, challengingly. Shaking his head, Chad gave a chuckle.
“Okay, I was gonna suggest shooting hoops,” he confessed, stressing the last words to slyly correct him. “But, yeah, can’t imagine you on the court.”
“I can totally imagine you in the studio, though. We could dance it out,” he offered.
At the words, Chad’s face screwed in disgust. He stared at Ryan like he’d gone crazy.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“I don’t dance, Evans.”
With a sigh, he gave in. There was no point in fighting it (at least not until he’d whittled him down a little more.)
“Fine! No dancing!”
“There has to be something we both like.”
The idea struck him immediately and he gave an excited sound at the thought. Chad gave him a confused look, motioning for him to share.
“When I was little I used to go to the batting cages whenever Sharpay was driving me insane. It was the one place she refused to come looking for me,” he explained, revelling in the way Chad stared at him, awed.
“You used to play ball?”
“Little League. World Series. Newport, Rhode Island,” he grinned, shrugging as Chad gave a surprised laugh. “I’ve got a little game.”
“Baseball it is!”
“One sec,” he said, digging his phone out of his pocket and dialling Fulton. He replied after a few rings. “Fulton, can I request for Chad to assist me at the baseball court? No, I know where he is, don’t worry. Okay? Okay, thank you!”
He clicked his phone shut and gave Chad a thumbs up.
“You got me out of work?” Chad grinned. “Thank god for little league.”
They made their way down to the courts, idly sharing anecdotes of childhood games. At some point along the way, Chad insisted Ryan should try for the school team. Of course, he tried to play the “I don’t have time cause of theatre” card but the other boy saw right through it. As they set up camp at the bench, Chad rounded on him.
“I think you’re just scared,” he said, arms crossed over his chest.
Ryan sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to drop it.
“Look, I haven’t played since I was a kid.”
“So? It’s like muscle memory!”
“I don’t think I’d last long enough for muscle memory to kick in.”
“Nah, you should see some of the other guys who try out. The bar is on the floor and you’re in shape from all the tap,” he grinned, jokingly poking his chest.
“Chad,” he said louder, trying to make the other boy stop long enough to actually get what he was trying to imply. “Jocks don’t want... someone like me on the team.”
“Evans,” Chad scoffed, rolling his eyes, “the whole clique thing is old news-“
“They don’t want a gay guy on the team, Chad!”
Realisation sparked on Chad’s face immediately followed by a genuine sadness he hadn’t been expecting. Before he had time to process it, he was being pulled into a tight hug, yanked hard against Chad’s chest.
“Have they,” he started hesitating before continuing resolutely, “ever said anything to you? Or done anything?”
“Everyone has, Chad,” he sighed, trying in vain to pull away and he’s tugged even closer. He gives up, wrapping his own arms around Chad’s waist to return the gesture.
“Fuck,” he muttered, loosening his grip and eventually letting him go.
“It’s fine. I mean, it’s not fine but-“
“Is that why you were upset today? I don’t get it but... if someone said something then that’s like illegal or something, right?”
“Nah. That’d be unconstitutional,” he huffed humourlessly. “And no, it wasn’t anything like that.”
“Then?”
Ryan gave him a searching look. He couldn’t work out where the other boy was going with this. They were barely friends so could he really be asking him about this?
“You want us to talk about our feelings?” he asked, sure that the other boy would recoil at the thought.
To his surprise, Chad just shrugged and sat down, tilting his head to the space beside him. Ryan took a seat, still watching him in confusion.
“I know I have to get some shit off my chest if I wanna actually get some hits outta this. Not like I can go to Troy.”
He nodded, accepting that as reasonable enough. Chad was so full of surprises, he shouldn’t let them keep catching him off guard.
“Shar ditched me for the talent show. We do it together every year and we already had this one all planned out,” he explained as Chad nodded along.
“Tiki costume?” he interjected.
“Exactly. She forced Kelsi to give her the song she wrote for Troy and Gabriella and now she’s making Troy duet it with her.”
“No offence but your sister just gets crazier.”
“Don’t I know it. I feel like I should be more worried about comforting Kelsi for losing her song but I’m just so angry. My sister can be a nightmare but never like this.”
“That’s fair, man. If Troy were to form a team without me or something I’d be pretty pissed. It’s fucked up,” Chad offered, giving him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
Ryan was suddenly very aware of how much Chad had been touching him. His family weren’t the physical affection sort and neither was Kelsi so the feeling was foreign to him. Not to mention getting touched by a cute boy. He had to will the blush off of his cheeks with the reminder that he didn’t have enough friends to risk making this weird. He was not gonna start crushing on the first boy who was nice to him.
“Thanks,” he said weakly.
“No problem. Mine’s pretty similar. Troy talked to me like staff when I was serving him earlier. I mean, I know I am staff but he’s my best friend. Him talking to me like that wasn’t cool,” he vented, shaking his head as his face twisted into an angry pout.
“I can’t even imagine Troy acting like that,” Ryan said as he tried and failed to picture it. Troy and talking down to workers didn’t feel like two things that should even go near each other in a sentence.
“Me either until it happened. God, how has he changed so much? It’s only been a couple of weeks,” he groaned.
The wire fence creaked as Chad leaned back onto it dramatically. He seemed put out remembering whatever Troy said to him. Ryan decided that talking wasn’t working and got to his feet, grabbing a mitt and ball with the assumption Chad would follow. He did, grabbing a bat and silently heading to the home plate.
“You sure you can pitch that far?” Chad goaded as he got to the mound.
“In my sleep,” he called back, smirking as they lined themselves up.
He made sure his windup was as big and dramatic as he could make it, catching sight of Chad’s eyes glistening as he watched. Throwing hard, he watched eagerly as the ball soared straight past the other boy, in perfect position to hit if Chad weren’t staring dumbly at it as it sailed by. He turned back to him with an even more excited grin.
“Oh, you’ve been holding back on me, Evans.”
“Not at all. I always have perfect pitch,” he joked, knowing it would fly over Chad’s head but making himself chuckle.
Later, after a few turns pitching and batting each, they noticed people starting to gather just outside the pitch. Ryan stopped what he was doing mid-throw as Gabriella popped her head in.
“Hey, we were gonna set up the pitch for the game later. Are you two still using it?”
“Oh, the staff game is today?” Ryan asked, gathering up what was in his reach. “I had no idea.”
“Evans, dude, it’s fine. We have hours left,” Chad called over, gathering up the used balls behind him.
“Are you playing?” Gabriella asked, head tilted in innocent curiosity.
“I'm not staff,” he explained, shaking his head. “Wasn't invited.”
“Hey, everyone's invited,” she countered, looking to Chad for support which he seemed to understand wordlessly.
“Come on, man. We can’t have a pitcher like you on site and not let you play,” he grinned.
“Okay,” he agreed, trying and failing to suppress the wide smile that broke across his face. “Sure.”
“Speaking of,” Chad cut in, jogging to collect his stuff and running back, “I need to head off. I’m meant to get in a little two-a-side with the guys before the game.”
“Two-a-side?” Ryan asked, baffled by the basketball lingo.
“Throw some holes,” Chad responded sarcastically, earning him a slap on the arm as he made his exit.
Gabriella stared between them, offering Ryan a smile.
“I didn’t know you two were friends,” she commented innocently. Ryan was sure the girl didn’t have a single bad intention in her.
“Recent development. Our mutual better halves are otherwise engaged,” he joked, surprised by the fluttery giggle he received.
“I wouldn’t have expected it but it’s nice to see you out of the drama room.”
“I don’t spend all my time in the drama room...” he trailed off, sighing defeated. “Okay, maybe I do.”
xxx
“All right, so you call that a ‘little’ game?” Chad teased later as they grabbed food.
It was Chad’s idea to switch uniforms. Something about good sportsmanship and a show of union or something. Ryan didn’t really listen, his heart too loud to hear over at the words “swap clothes”.
He kept finding himself zoning out, staring at the boy beside him wearing his clothes. It was like a dream come true if it weren’t very public, aggressively heterosexual and with a boy he was absolutely not going to let himself start hopelessly crushing on.
“Like I said: Little League. World Series. Newport, Rhode Island,” he repeated, pausing for a moment before adding: “Champions.”
That earned him a playful shove and a surprised laugh and, okay, maybe that hopeless crush wasn’t his to refuse. He’d always imagined Chad as the class clown sort: loud and always laughing but usually at his expense. They’d never specifically not gotten along. Out of all the jocks, he was one of the least difficult, offering him polite smiles and stilted conversation when he had to. Now, though, he was all loose limbs and bright smiles. His laugh didn’t feel like a weapon anymore and Ryan wondered how on Earth it ever had.
“That’s it. If you don’t try out for baseball next year I’m dragging you there myself,” Chad chuckled, nudging him playfully.
“Fine! Fine,” he laughed, batting away the elbow at his side. “But, you’re dancing for me first.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Chad waved him off. “You’ve already broken me on that. I can’t make any promises about quality but I’ll do what I can.”
“I am ninety percent sure you’ll be a pro in no time at all. You’ve got the stamina and the coordination for it,” he said, smiling devilishly as he leant forwards and whispered. “Plus you must have picked up a thing or two from Britney by now.”
Chad groaned, dropping his face into his arms.
“That’s low,” he said, words muffled by his arm.
“Good game, guys,” Taylor said from behind them, breaking them out of their little bubble. “Ryan, I didn’t know you played.”
“He’s been holding back on us,” Chad joked.
“And now he’s bullying me into trying out next year,” he told Taylor.
Taylor looked down at the two of them affectionately. She looked between them for a few seconds before nodding.
“I see,” she said, giving Chad a look that Ryan couldn’t read but, from the way he groaned, he assumed Chad understood.
“Can we?” he gestured away, asking her if they could go somewhere else.
Ryan would have thought it was some kind of hook up if the two didn’t look so tense. Taylor nodded stiffly and they both offered him polite smiles as they ducked away.
xxx
“Ryan Evans?” Taylor asked, implications rife in her tone.
He groaned, letting himself fall against the wall on the dugout. It was secluded there, a fact he knew from the few times they’d needed a place to sneak kisses over their lunch hour. It felt almost like they were defiling the space by talking there rather than making out.
“Look Taylor-“ he tried to start but stopped as she held up a hand.
“You’re either about to deny what I can clearly see or apologise for it. Both of which would be stupid.” She dropped her hand to her side, fixing him with a searching look. “We talked about this, right? It was a summer romance. Nothing set in stone and no commitments.”
“Yeah, but just because you didn’t want it to get in the way of your studies next year. I always expected it to keep going...” he said guiltily, as Taylor’s expression turned frustrated.
“Well I didn’t. Do you want me to be upset?” she asked sarcastically.
He shook his head and fiddled with his fingers. Taylor had an amazing way of assuming the characteristics of a middle aged maths teacher whenever it suited her. Chad, being barely average at maths, was always dreading it coming out.
“C’mon, Tay, this is still a breakup, right? I have to feel something,” he argued, earning him an unexpected hum of agreement.
“I guess it is technically a breakup. I’m just shocked about, y’know, Ryan freaking Evans?” she repeated, clearly not seeming his first response to Ryan’s name good enough.
“I didn’t expect it either!”
“Since when do you like guys?” she asked, seeming more confused than anything else. Chad was grateful for that if nothing else.
“Since I watched a certain someone sliding into home base,” he admitted, raising a hand to rub his neck.
“Just now?”
“I’d say it could be something else but that shit hit me like a train,” he sighed, thinking back to it like a daydream.
“Wow, only a couple hours. I’m jealous,” she said with that devilish smirk he loved on her. “You never looked at me like that.”
“I wasn’t looking at him like that,” he argued, grinning as he added, “I was thinking about him like that.”
“I feel like I ought to be offended by it.”
“Don’t be,” he replied, more seriously even though he knew she was joking. She had a tendency to deflect like that. “You were a slow burn romance.”
She scoffed.
“Very polite way of telling me you weren’t that into me.”
xxx
As he and Kelsi started to put together an act for the staff, Ryan found himself having less time to spend with anyone or anything else. He was glad he at least had rehearsals to see everyone but he couldn’t help but lament those few days where he saw Chad one-on-one before.
It isn’t until he’s sat at the piano, absently playing, and Chad wonders in that they get a moment without rehearsal pressure. Chad slips in behind him, sliding in next to him on the bench. Even then, it takes him grabbing his hand on the keys to get Ryan’s attention.
“Oh, hi,” he says, still half in his daydream.
“You good, man?”
“Yeah, fine,” he sighed, dropping his hand down into his lap.
“Yeah sure,” Chad countered sarcastically, not letting up. “You were playing the same note over and over again. Something is definitely up to get you in your head like that.”
Ryan pouted, knowing Chad had him there but still embarrassed to admit what was bugging him.
“I like that key. B flat. It’s a good one,” he said flatly, already knowing it was a pointless excuse to try.
“Did something happen?” Chad asked, leaning closer as his face morphed in worry.
“It was nothing,” he sighed, catching Chad’s disbelieving look. “Really! It’s more embarrassing than anything.”
“I think we’re past embarrassing by now?”
Ryan groaned, staring up at the ceiling and trying to will god to just smite him.
“I think Troy thinks something is happening with me and Gabriella,” he relented.
“Okay?”
He snapped his head around to look at Chad, confused by his nonchalance.
“Okay? Not okay! What do I do?”
“Honestly dude, you just leave it,” Chad said, seeming as confused as Ryan for the opposite reasons.
“I don’t wanna cause drama. How does he not know?”
“Not know...?” Chad asked, searching his face for explanation as he gave him a blank stare.
“That I’m gay.”
“Oh!” Chad gasped, nodding along as he paused to think about it. “Troy’s always been in his own little world about stuff like that. I’m not sure he even knows gay people exist.”
“Really?” Ryan chuckled, amused at the prospect of the star basketball captain never having heard of gay people.
“Boy’s been my best friend since we were like four and Taylor, my almost girlfriend of six months, was the first to work out I liked dudes.”
Ryan froze at that, staring at him wide eyed. He opened and closed his mouth but couldn’t find the words. His brain felt like it was melting. Chad? Liking boys? Suddenly, he knew there was no denying his massive, catastrophic crush.
“Huh?!” he settled on.
“I didn’t tell you?” Chad asked innocently. Ryan shook his head furiously. “Yeah, I’m bi.”
“But you- you said you didn’t get it?”
“Yeah, being out. Literally only Taylor knows about me. Well, you too.” He shrugged.
“I- I’m glad you told me,” Ryan said, still reeling.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Chad offered him an apologetic smile.
“Oh, no, you’re so good on that one,” he stuttered out, waving his hands in front of him. “Sorry I’m so shocked.”
“Yeah, it was a surprise for me too,” he joked, easing the tension just enough for them to both cool off.
“So,” he started, changing the subject away from awkwardness. He settled instead on playing at his own heart strings. “You and Taylor? ‘Almost girlfriend?’”
“Oh, no it’s not like that,” Chad chuckled, playing with the hair at his nape awkwardly. “She ended things, actually.”
“Oh,” Ryan said, taken aback by that. He was sure something was going on between them so hearing that it was over so abruptly surprised him. “Was that what she talked to you about at the baseball game?”
“More or less,” Chad said simply, looking away. “We’ve both met a lot of new people working separately and it’s summer and we’re going into our last year, etcetera etcetera.”
“I’m sorry, that sucks,” Ryan said, offering him a pat on the shoulder like Chad always did to him.
“It was inevitable. We’re better as friends anyway,” he smiled genuinely and Ryan wanted that to be enough to ease his mind. Something about it was a lie and he didn’t know what.
“Well,” he replied, trying to brighten the odd mood. “You better be as good friends as you say. I’m not having any awkwardness in my performance.”
“Of course. Top priority,” Chad chuckled, grinning at him.
“I’m winning that award if it kills me. Or you.”
Chad gave a low whistle at that, shaking his head.
“So extreme,” he joked, nudging Ryan with his shoulder. “Have you and Kelsi finished the song?”
“It’s Kelsi’s song. I can’t take any credit.”
“You have final say though, Mr Director,” he said, stressing the name jokingly.
“Don’t,” Ryan laughed, shoving him lightly but swallowing hard when he rocked back into his side. “And yes, it’s done.”
“Right then,” Chad smirked. “You gonna show me or do I have to beg?”
The thought of that wasn’t unappealing. Ryan had to pinch his thigh to snap himself out of thinking about it. He cleared his throat, turning to the keys so as not to look at the boy to his side. Letting out a deep breath, he played him the chorus, the familiar feeling of the keys under his fingers cooling him off.
“Its nice.” Chad nodded. “Who’s singing lead?”
“Probably Gabriella. Kelsi likes writing for her so I think that’s how she’d want to hear it,” he explained, not missing the confused look Chad gave him. “What?”
“Gabby is great and all but really man? It’s your show.”
“I’m not gonna ask the staff to sing backup for me,” he countered, hoping Chad would understand why that would make him feel uncomfortable. “I don’t want you guys to think I’m taking advantage. ‘Theatre nerd makes basketball team sing backup for him’ sounds like a recipe for senior year bullying.”
“Stop doing that. We’re friends,” Chad said seriously, before his face broke into a small smile as he added, “surprisingly.”
“Oh thanks,” Ryan laughed sarcastically in surprised amusement.
Friends. He could work with friends.
xxx
“It’s not your fault,” Chad said, not announcing himself as he walked in but making his way into Ryan’s room as he spoke. He shut the door behind him and Ryan felt like the room was far too small.
He shuffled around on his bed to face him, looking up at the other boy as he stood in front of the bed. Chad stared down at him, giving him a look that told him he was waiting for a reply.
“She asked me when I became one of you,” he sighed. “If I wasn’t involved she wouldn’t have cared. She’s only doing this cause she’s upset that I’m not her poodle anymore.”
“Okay, one: you were never her poodle. Nobody thinks that and especially not anymore,” Chad said pointedly, not letting Ryan avoid his eye. “Two: I know Gabby messaged you. Did you even open it?”
“No,” he admitted, pouting, red faced.
“Sharpay told her she ‘won’. It was about Troy,” he said, rolling his eyes as he grit out the words. “Your sister just wanted to win.”
“Great. So, she threw me under the bus for a boy who doesn’t like her anyway,” he groaned, falling back onto the mattress.
His hat flew off his head but he didn’t have a energy to put it back in place. Staring up at the ceiling, he was just happy Chad couldn’t see his face as he blinked back tears. He almost didn’t notice the bed dip beside him until he heard a deep breath.
“God, are all the beds here this comfortable?” he asked.
Ryan could feel him beside him wriggling in place to get comfortable. He smiled but breathed shakily as he felt a tear finally drop down from the corner of his eye.
“Yeah,” he replied, appreciating the chance to take his mind off things. “Luxury resort and all.”
“I could fall asleep like this,” he sighed, stretching his arms over his head.
“Don’t. If they find me with a waiter in my bed I’ll never live it down,” he joked, only realising after he’d said it what he was implying.
Chad was silent for a few seconds and Ryan worried that he’d freaked him out. He almost sat up to check when a hand curled around his. Glancing down, he watched Chad’s fingers thread through his. His breath caught in his chest like it was trapped under a cobweb of emotions.
Silently, they laid there, hands linked as they stared up. Chad’s palm was sweaty and rough, a big athlete’s hand practically made to hold a basketball. He felt completely wrapped up in it.
“I don’t think sneaking into a guests room would look good for me,” Chad whispered, breaking the stillness.
“We’ll just have to make sure nobody finds us,” Ryan huffed a quiet chuckle.
“A secret affair?”
“If only you didn’t have a curfew,” he smirked, earning him a laugh.
xxx
When they crossed paths again at lunch the next morning, Chad met his eye directly, not avoiding it or him as he’d expected. Feeling a blush spread over his cheeks, Ryan offered a smile.
He was lucky that his family were as preoccupied as ever, today with Sharpay going over the guest list for the show again. He didn’t even bother to ask his family to make her stop, knowing it wasn’t worth trying. Instead he settled on Chad as a distraction, watching him work.
It didn’t take long for him to round the table towards him. Over the summer he’d grown particularly good at pretending to work which, having seen how Fulton snapped at them for any moment of rest, Ryan assumed was a desirable attribute.
“Dude,” he whispered, trying to hide his talking through awkwardly positioning himself to face Ryan and shield them from his family. “Troy freaked over the announcement this morning.”
Leaning forward, he covered his mouth with his hand as inconspicuously as possible.
“What? Freaked out how?”
“Screwed it up and ran off,” Chad whispered, barely hiding his expression. “Gab didn’t even show up this morning. I didn’t think she’d actually do it.”
“She’s tougher than she looks,” Ryan agreed, still struggling to believe how quickly everything managed to fall apart. “She shouldn’t have put up with it at all.”
“Nobody’s seen Troy all day, though. He literally stormed out, man.”
“Do you think he’s okay?” he asked, the look on Chad’s face screaming that he was more worried than he wanted to admit.
“I don’t know,” he said simply, shaking his head as he made his way around the rest of the table.
Ryan kept watching. The further away he got, the less sure Ryan was of anything. He wanted to just hug him and let him be upset like he’d done the night before. He wanted so much.
xxx
If there was anyone he wasn’t expecting to see when he opened to the incessant knock at his door, it would be Troy Bolton. Perhaps he should have expected it a bit, after Chad’s worry, but he’d put that down to the divide between the two becoming even wider. Clearly Chad had been somewhat justified in his worry if Troy was coming to Ryan’s door unannounced.
“Hello?”
“I have a plan and you’re the best person I know to make it happen,” Troy said in a rushed voice, not bothering with pleasantries.
He couldn’t help the frown he gave. Stepping aside, he raised a hand, motioning for Troy to enter and closing the door behind him.
“So?” he asked.
“Right, look,” Troy said, clearly uncomfortable being so open with him. “I’ve kinda been being a dick to my friends for most of the summer.”
Ryan waited a moment for him to elaborate. Clearly, Troy thought this epiphany was a grand declaration in itself.
“I’m very aware of that.”
“Right,” Troy said with a hard swallow. “Well, I think I know how to make it up to... some of them.”
“I’m not gonna lie to you Troy,” he said, trying to be careful with his words. “A lot’s happened while you’ve been off living the dream. People aren’t just gonna forget that without good reason.”
“I know-“
“But,” he said, holding up a finger to pause him, “if you’re coming to me, of all people, you must have something figured out.”
“I asked Fulton for my kitchen job back,” he said, nodding enthusiastically.
“Well, that’s a good start,” he agreed.
“No, think about it. Staff aren’t allowed to participate in the show,” Troy explained. “If I’m staff Sharpay either has to get rid of the rule or drop out.”
If it weren’t Troy, Ryan might have hugged him. He was practically buzzing with excitement as he explained and Ryan could completely see why.
“That’s brilliant!”
“I thought so,” he said, cocky grin seeming a little more endearing when he wasn’t using it to make fun of him.
Ryan was starting to think the wildcats might actually be his kind of people and shook himself slightly as he thought about it, remembering his friends.
“You have to apologise to them first, though,” he said. “Plotting is great but they need to hear it from you.”
“I will but-“
“No buts! They deserve an apology if you want them to hear you out. Chad deserves an apology.”
Troy looked away at that, guilt clearly hitting him again. He’d almost feel bad if he didn’t know it was his own fault.
“Yeah, he does,” Troy nodded, looking back up to him. “You do too. I’m sorry I was so weird about you and Gabby. I don’t think I’ve ever really been jealous before and you two get along so well, I didn’t really realise. So, sorry I blew it out of proportion a bit.”
“It’s fine,” he said immediately, not having expected the words. “I just wasn’t really sure how to handle it.”
“I get it. Gabby’s just so perfect I wouldn’t even blame you for trying,” he said, sighing embarrassingly wistfully at even just the thought of her. “Don’t actually try though, man. Bro code and all.”
“Troy...” he said tentatively. “You do know I’m gay, right?”
Troy paused his movements. He stood almost comically rigid.
“Wait, really?”
“Really really. Like, not even into Gabriella gay.”
Troy’s jaw dropped at that, possibly just at the thought of anyone not being attracted to Gabriella.
“Dude, that’s so crazy. I’m sorry I didn’t realise. I’d never have guessed.”
“Really?” he asked, recoiling slightly in shock. “Not at all?”
“Maybe a little but I honestly kinda thought you just weren’t good with girls. Don’t guys usually join theatre for the girls?”
“Wow, Chad really wasn’t kidding about you having no clue,” he said in awe.
“Wait, Chad knows? Oh, Jesus, does everyone know?”
“Not everyone but it’s not exactly a secret,” he said, unable to help but be entertained.
He was quickly growing to realise that, actually, he could see himself getting along with Troy in future. Assuming the next few hours went smoothly.
xxx
The two quickly rounded up the staff for a meeting, with Troy excusing himself for twenty minutes before to go and talk to Chad. It wasn’t long after that Ryan’s phone lit up with a call, just as he was making his way to their meeting spot.
“I’m guessing he talked to you?” Ryan asked as soon as he picked up.
“He was totally sorry and all but he seemed so distracted I asked what was up cause I thought he might be, like, depressed,” Chad ranted in response. “You wanna know what he said?”
“Please tell me he was thinking about how pretty Gabriella is.”
“Better,” he said, huffing a small laugh. “He was so shocked you’re gay that he can’t process it.”
“God, I’m not surprised,” Ryan chuckled. “I thought I fried his brain telling him.”
“Oh, it wasn’t too fried but it definitely was after I came out to him too.”
Ryan paused staring at the screen of his phone like it might be lying to him. Chad being out even just to his close friends didn’t feel real.
“Was it... alright?”
Chad just chuckled.
“He tried. I think the poor boy nearly fainted, though.”
“God, I hope you didn’t break him too badly. I need him for my own plan later.”
“Always up to something, aren’t you?” Chad chuckled.
“I called Gabriella and she’s on her way here for our performance.”
“Okay?” he asked, clearly impatient for details.
“So she can sing lead in our staff duet.”
“Wait but it’s- oh my god,” Chad gasped. “Oh my god.”
“Don’t tell him. It needs to be a surprise,” he said.
“Hell yeah, it does,” he agreed, enthusiasm obvious. “That’s brilliant.”
“Thank you. I do have my moments.”
“You have more than just moments, Ry,” Chad said and Ryan though he might catch alight with how hotly he flushed. It would be a good way to go.
xxx
The day became hectic quickly and they didn’t see each other again, after the staff meeting, until the storm had passed.
Ryan couldn’t bring himself to let go of the award once he had it in his hands, holding it close to his chest as he sat at the empty stage edge. The feel of the cold metal against his hands and chest felt like a reminder of how things were different now. Having the trophy was different enough.
“You really like that thing, don’t you?” Chad said, motioning to the award in his arms as he broke away from the huddle of staff to approach.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than this,” he said, as if that was enough to explain it all. “I think this is the first award I’ve ever gotten that wasn’t actually Shar’s and it was for something so important and something I’m so proud of. I’m treasuring this forever.”
“You should. You definitely deserved it,” he said, absolutely genuine as he hopped up to sit beside him.
Ryan rolled his eyes, instinctively wanting to reject the compliment. He didn’t though. Chad was right: he did deserve it.
“How did you rate it?” he asked, grinning. “More Britney or more Phantom?”
“Definitely more Britney,” Chad said, voice bubbling with a chuckle. “You should keep it and get her to sign it.”
“I’ll have to hand it over to the resort eventually. It’s our trophy, not just mine,” he said, already mourning the loss as he sighed down at it. “They’ll want it on display.”
“Nobody would be upset if you took it. Think we all would have given it to you anyway.”
Ryan turned to stare at him, eyes wide. He looked like a deer in the headlights but this deer couldn’t even tell if the car was really there. God, he wanted it to hit him. He wanted it to wash over him like he’d never felt before.
“We?” he asked, suddenly too aware of how Chad’s gaze burned him.
“Hey, guys!” Troy called, jogging over.
The two sat rigidly up, neither realising how far they’d leaned into each other until they pulled so quickly apart. Troy just stopped in front of them never noticing.
“Hey,” Chad said, clearing his throat as he spoke.
“We’re all going down to the golf course to light some lanterns. You coming?” he asked, clearly rhetorically as he scurried off without an answer.
They both followed quickly, lingering behind the rest of the group but not meeting each other’s eyes. Ryan was sure he could feel Chad’s body heat beside him with how tuned in he was to him. Hopefully, that didn’t mean Chad was as focused as him or he might be able to hear his rib-breaking heartbeat.
He blinked, almost tripping over his own feet as he felt a touch against his hand. Looking down, he could see Chad’s hand against the back of his own. He wordlessly moved to link their fingers. Chad’s palm was hot against his, a little sweaty even, but he’d never felt anything so right.
Once they were by the lake, people settled into lighting their lanterns quickly. The pair stayed back still. Ryan knew that if either wanted to take part they’d have to let go and, if Chad was on the same page as him, that was the last thing they both wanted.
The touch was so tentative every second was imbued with questions and maybes. The minutes flew by and seconds turned to minutes and minutes were concrete. Their grips tightened.
When the lanterns went up, though, it was absolutely certain. The cheers that rang out were muffled by the blood his heart was pumping through his veins and the breaths he knew were too heavy.
Out of the corner of his eye he was Troy and Gabriella kiss sweetly. He spared a glance to Chad to see if he noticed but Chad’s eyes met his. He was looking at him—staring at him—with eyes so wide you’d think Ryan had dropped a huge bombshell on him. Like just looking at Ryan was magnitudinal enough.
And god, Ryan understood. Because under the faint glow of stars and lanterns, Chad was like a painting. Every pour was magnified, every fleck of colour in his eyes highlighted; every inch of him glowed and Ryan felt himself fall.
He was sure he fell gradually but feeling it was different. When he could feel the drop of his heart and his gut and all the walls he’d built so high, it felt so sudden and so obvious.
He was going to love this boy until he hit the ground and broke. He’d probably love him even then.
Chad’s eyes flitted down for less that a second and Ryan thought he’d die if his heart beat any faster. He wanted to ask if he had just looked at his lips. He wanted to ask permission.
He didn’t need to.
Chad rushed forwards, hands messily framing Ryan’s cheeks as he guided him into a crushing kiss. It was painful and uncomfortable, as their teeth clanged together, and Ryan wondered if it always felt like that. He hoped it did because he knew immediately he couldn’t go without this ever again.
He bought his hands up to rest against his jaw and collar. Chad just kept kissing him, moving their lips together hungrily.
As his movements began to slow, they didn’t pull away. The kisses became lazy and languid as they struggle to stay in the moment. They already had a bad record with wanting to let go. Ryan was sure they’d be the couple begging each other to hang up first. The thought didn’t gross him out like it probably should have.
Eventually, Ryan could feel his face flushing with the struggle to breathe and pulled away. He panted for a few seconds as they stood a little too close and unspeaking.
“Well,” Chad said, breaking the ice. “Definitely bi.”
Ryan couldn’t help but let out a surprised gasp of laughter. The tension between them drained away and they were left with chuckles slowly becoming laughter. He laughter so hard he had to grab Chad’s arm for support. Chad just smiled at the touch.
From the corner of his eye, Ryan could see the glances their friends sent their way, smug smiles adorning their faces. Even his sister, inching conspicuously closer to Zeke, spared him a wide eyed look followed by a knowing smile. Even just in those glances, he could feel how much his inner circle had expanded in just a few weeks.
The warm body under his touch told the same story tenfold. Even in the Albuquerque summer, the night air was chillier than they were dressed for and Chad was like a flame. By that logic, though, he was a moth, flying forward into the fire regardless of the burn. He could take it. They could.
Half of him wished the moment would last forever. The other half, though, was almost buzzing as he looked out at the lanterns, now in the far distance. His world was filling up and, when the school year started, his word would still be just as full. Now, like never before, he looked forward to sunrise.