Drama Kings 2

Drama Kings
***
Chapter Three: I’m Loving Where We’re At
***

After a long afternoon of practicing for both basketball as well as the winter musical, Troy was exhausted. He came home to an empty house. He figured his dad was probably at school writing up plays for the team. And, his mother was probably at work late working on some project or something.

“Well,” Troy said to himself. “I’ve got the house to myself. What should I do?”

The thought of inviting Ryan over popped into his head. The thought quickly slipped away as Troy figured his parents would be home soon. He trailed through his house up to his bedroom.

“Guess I can relax a little,” Troy said entering the bathroom joined to his room. He walked up to the sink and turned the hot water on and splashed it on his face.

“Ah,” he sighed.

He walked back through the door and jumped on his bed, landing on his back. He turned his stereo on with the volume on low and let out a deep breath. He stared up at the ceiling. He was so tired that just laying there felt so great.

A soft knock came to the door. Troy looked over.

“Come in,” he said.

His mother opened the door.

“Hey mom,” Troy said. “What’s up?”

“Nothing Hun,” she said. “Troy I think we need to talk.”

Troy sat up and leaded on his bed’s backboard. “Sure,” he said.

Troy’s mother sat down on the bed and faced him.

“What’s up?” Troy asked.

“Honey,” his mother said. “The other night after you fell asleep I came in to tuck you in. I moved your phone to your nightstand but while it was in my hand it vibrated. You got a text message from Ryan Evans. It said he loved you.”

“It did?” Troy asked, “I don’t remember getting a text that said that.”

“Yeah,” his mother said. “But I read it Troy. I know I did. So be honest with me. Are you dating Ryan Evans? Do you love him? Are you gay?”

Troy gulped.

“Honey,” she said. “If you are it doesn’t matter. But be honest. What’s going on?”

Troy sighed, “Ryan and I have been dating for like three months now. Well almost three months.”

“You’ve been hiding this for three months?” His mother sighed, “Troy, we love you. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I don’t want to mess our lives up with the possibility that I might be gay,” Troy said. “It just happened. Originally it was because he was the first person who I could talk to about Gabriella moving away. Then she moved back.”

“I won’t say anything to your father,” she said. “I’ll let you tell him when you feel its right. Dinner will be ready in an hour.”

“Okay,” Troy sighed.

“You okay?” His mother asked.

“Well,” Troy said. “I’m just really overworked with basketball practice and rehearsal. We started the musical way early this year. So now I have to juggle both.”

“You just relax,” his mother kissed his forehead. “It’s the weekend. I’ll tell your father you need to relax and take it easy for the weekend instead of just practicing.”

“Thanks mom,” Troy said.

Troy’s mom stood up and left the room with a smile.

***

The next day Troy walked through the halls to his locker. Ryan was waiting for him.

“Hey Ry,” Troy said.

“Troy,” Ryan smiled. “Can you believe that next week we are going to New Zealand?”

Troy’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah,” Troy said. “I totally spaced that we were going. Can you believe what else?”

“What?” Ryan asked.

“Our three month is during that week,” Troy said.

“You’re right,” Ryan grinned. “That will make it all the better.”

“So Ryan,” Troy said not looking away from the inside of his locker.

“Yeah?” Ryan looked a Troy with his usually happy grin.

“My mom found out about us,” Troy said.

“What?” Ryan looked shocked, “How?”

“I fell asleep before you sent that text saying you loved me,” Troy said. “I guess she came to tuck me in and realized I had one. So she read it.”

“What an invasion of privacy,” Ryan said. “I won’t send anything like that again I promise.”

“No,” Troy laughed. “She was okay with it. Send anything you want. Especially ones saying you love me.”

Ryan smiled.

“Maybe we should tell our parents,” Troy said. “I mean my dad, and your parents.”

“Oh,” Ryan said.

“I mean after our trip to New Zealand,” Troy said. “That way they won’t tell you you can’t take me with you. But I think we should be honest.”

“What happened to my not so sure boyfriend?” Ryan asked rubbing Troy’s arm. “When did you become so okay with being gay?”

“I’m still not sure if I’m gay Ry,” Troy said. “But we can be honest about our relationship. Then we won’t have to feel like we’re hiding it from our parents. Besides, my dad is bound to find out with every student in school knowing.”

“Okay,” Ryan said. “Whatever you want is what I want.”

“Good,” Troy kissed Ryan. “I have to run to class.

Troy walked away with a smile.

***

“Hey babe,” Chad said sitting next to Sharpay at her lunch table.

“Hey boo,” Sharpay said as she fixed her makeup using her compact mirror.

Chad leaned and kissed her cheek.

“So I was thinking,” Sharpay said. “Ry is going on his senior trip to New Zealand. I thought Japan might be fun but in New Zealand we can tan all day.”

“Babe,” Chad said. “I don’t need to tan really.”

“Please Chad,” Sharpay looked at him. “You’re basically the whitest black guy I’ve ever met. Tanning won’t kill you.”

Chad frowned.

“I just have to tell daddy to change my tickets to there and we will be going there.”

“Wait,” Chad said. “We are going to New Zealand now? With Ryan and Troy?”

“Yes,” Sharpay said. “Not like we have to hang out with them. We are just going to share their hotel suite. Daddy said if we ended up going to the same place that we’d have to do that.”

“Oh,” Chad gulped.

“That’s not a problem is it?” Sharpay asked.

“No,” Chad blurted out. “I can’t wait.”

“Perfect,” Sharpay kissed him

***

Troy’s cell phone vibrated on his night stand. He reached over from his bed, which he was laying on, and answered the call.

“Talk to me,” Troy grinned knowing it was Ryan on the other end.

“Hey,” Ryan said.

“What’s up?” Troy said.

“I have some bad news,” Ryan said. “Well I mean, it’s not that bad but its not really good news.”

“What is it?” Troy sat up.

“Well,” Ryan sighed. “Sharpay decided she wanted to go New Zealand too. So my dad upgraded our room to a suite room that we have to share with her. And Chad.”

“Chad and Sharpay are going to be there with us?” Troy sighed, “Well that’s not too bad right? We still get one room to ourselves and they get the other. We won’t have to like hang out with them or anything.”

“Yeah,” Ryan sighed.

“Are you okay Ry?” Troy asked, “You sound like you really aren’t okay with this.”

“No,” Ryan said. “I’m fine I promise. I can’t wait to spend a week with you in New Zealand.”

“Yeah,” Troy said. “I’ll let you go though.”

“Love you,” Ryan said.

“Love you too,” Troy said.

Ryan hung his phone up and sighed. He thought back to the summer. He had had a good time. Too bad it meant nothing to him. But having Chad there was going to ruin his time with Troy, he just knew it.

***

Chad was lying on the grass outside the school. His back was touching the ground and he had sunglasses on. Ryan noticed him as he walked out of the school.

“Chad,” Ryan said walking up to him.

Chad sat up and pulled his sunglasses off. “Hey Ryan.”

Ryan sat down next to Chad. “Chad can I talk to you?”

“Yeah,” Chad smiled. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you too. But you first.”

“Actually you first,” Ryan said.

“Okay,” Chad said. “Ryan I’ve been doing some thinking. I know what happened between us over the summer was just supposed to be a one time thing, but I feel like it should have gone on from that.”

“Chad,” Ryan said. “You’re the one who said you wanted that to be a one time thing. You were afraid of what people would think. And I finally let you go. And now I have Troy.”

“I know,” Chad said. “I guess it just took you in someone else’s arms to make me realize that I might really like you.”

“Well I’m sorry,” Ryan said. “I love Troy. And it’s a little late for you and I to have anything.”

Chad looked to the ground.

“Plus,” Ryan continued. “You have my sister. She seems to really like you. And I won’t trade what I have with Troy on a chance that you might think you want to be with me. I know he wants to be with me and that is all I need.”

“But,” Chad said. “I just want to give it a chance.”

“You lost your chance Chad,” Ryan said. “I’m sorry.”

“Okay,” Chad said. “That’s fair. What did you want to talk about?”

“Right,” Ryan said. “I guess you and Sharpay are going to be in New Zealand with Troy and I next week.”

“That’s what Sharpay told me,” Chad said. “So?”

“So,” Ryan said. “What you feel for me, that can’t be apparent, especially when we are in New Zealand.”

“I can try,” Chad said. “I’m not going to say it will be easy for me. Seeing you with him kills me on the inside. I wish I could go back and tell myself to give you and I a chance.”

“Well Chad,” Ryan said. “You can’t. Just chill about it. Please. This trip is very special to Troy and I and we would like to have a good time. Your feelings are the least of our concern.”

Chad looked hurt, and then looked down to the ground.

“Sorry,” Ryan put his hand on Chad’s shoulder. “That was mean, and slightly untrue. I do care how you feel Chad. I really do. And if I weren’t with Troy I might act on it. But I really love him Chad. And if you care about me you will respect my wishes. Okay?”

Chad nodded. Ryan rose and began to walk away.

“Hey Ryan,” Chad said.

Ryan turned around and raised his eyebrows.

“If you ever feel like exploring what he might have had,” Chad bit his lower lip. “Let me know. I promise I won’t tell anyone about it. Especially Troy.”

Ryan turned around and walked away from Chad and the school.

TO BE CONTINUED…