The Workout

CHAPTER 4



Only Troy knew why Ryan had been ditching baseball practice, but he'd sworn his secrecy. "Ry will tell you if he wants to, when he's ready...." Chad interrupted, "I thought we were part of a team! Something's up and we want to know what's going on! He's never going to be ready for the Series and now that it's down to us and West High again, we need him." Troy just shook his head, "He'll come around. I did, even with the Twinkle Town auditions going on at the same time as the basketball play-offs, didn't I? I'm sure it's nothing too serious."



Later that night, Troy and Ryan were studying together when Ryan burst out, "I can't take it anymore!" Troy jumped, "Ryan, come on, it's not THAT hard. If Sharpay can do this, so can we." Ryan looked at him, "I wasn't talking about the algebra homework. I'm talking about Sharpay." Troy turned away, "Well, she obviously likes Zeke..." "No, she doesn't. She's just using him so it looks like she's dating someone...anyone...to throw people off. She can't really scream 'I'm fucking my brother', can she? I understand, I really do, but..." "But you're in love with your sister in a not-so-brotherly way. I get it...I'll never understand it...but I get it. I used to think she was hot, too. Until Gabby came along." Ry looked at him in shock, "Whoa! No way!!" Troy shrugged, "Well, she IS hot. I just....love Gabby." Ryan turned back to his homework, "So, did you audition because of Gabby or because of Sharpay?" "Honestly, back then, I think it was a little of both."



"Well, anyway, I know we can't exactly come out at school, but...I don't know. Something about her being with Zeke pisses me off." Troy closed his book, "It's because Zeke is so into her, you're worried she'll end up falling for him and it'll be over between you and her." Ryan packed his books up, "Maybe...I don't know....yeah." "Don't worry. She'll never like Zeke, not like that. He's just arm candy. It's the whole jock thing. I know Sharpay puts us down, but it seems the whole school wants to date one of us. Since Zeke likes her, it was easier for her to just go out with him than find someone else on the team." Ryan shrugged, "I guess you're right, but...it doesn't change my feelings."



Troy left, wondering how he could help, but he knew Zeke was nuts about Sharpay so if he knew Ryan was ditching practice because of him, he'd leave the team and they needed him as much as they needed Ryan. It would also raise quite a few questions. Troy knew Ryan's feelings went beyond brotherly love for his sister, but no one else on the team did. "Why did Ryan have to trust ME with this?" he thought furiously. He liked Ryan, now that he was acting normal...and he was a hell of a ball player. "Guess it's because we have more than just ball in common." He let himself into his house. The walk home was good, he was glad he refused Ryan's offer to drive him. He wasn't any closer to figuring out how he could help his teammate but he was working on it.



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Sharpay bellowed, "Ryan! Where are you??" Ryan came running down the stairs, two at a time. "I'm here, what's up?" "Oh, nothing, except Zeke just broke up with me!" Ryan was stunned. "He...WHAT??" Sharpay nodded, crying. "Why would he? He's hooked on you. That little jerk. I'm gonna go over and..." Sharpay shook her head, tears still flowing, "No, Ry, you can't. You've never been that protective of me. It might get everyone suspicious." Ryan sat down on the couch and beckoned Sharpay to come over.



Hours later, tears finally dried, Sharpay awoke to the sound of their parents' car in the drive. "Ryan, get up! They're back." Ryan opened his eyes, "It's 3 in the morning! What the hell are we still doing down here? They're gonna expect us to be in bed." They rushed upstairs and climbed into bed, still fully clothed.



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Practice that day was horrible. Ryan kept committing balks. Normally Coach Bolton wouldn't mind, as long as he didn't in a game, but as they were playing 8 on 8, it was important for Ryan to pitch. The team that won their little scrimmage would comprise the starting line-up for the first game against West High the following week. Not having a catcher didn't help, either. Most of Ryan's throws were wild. He looked over on the sidelines and saw Zeke waiting to bat. "Damn it," he thought, "I hate not being able to say anything, but Sharpay's right. He'll know something's up if I suddenly become the overprotective big brother." Zeke was staring back at him so hard, it took his team 2 minutes to get his attention. It was his turn to bat. Ryan mis-read the stare and fired the ball a tad inside. Zeke threw down his bat and started to run out to him but Chad held him back. "What the hell are you doing??" Zeke looked at him, "Nothing..." He picked up his bat again and got set. Ryan's next pitch was wild, 2 feet over Zeke's head. Troy came in from the outfield to grab Ryan, Chad grabbed Zeke. "Okay, team meeting!" The rest of the team came in, but Chad and Troy waved them off. "This is a personal matter, guys. No need for the whole team to come in." Coach Bolton told the rest of the guys to stay warmed up and they all grabbed their gloves to hit some fungos.



"Okay, what's up with you two?" Chad asked. Zeke stared at the ground while Ryan looked out towards the field. "Come on, someone say something!" Troy practically begged of them. Ryan turned, face red with fury, "He dumped my sister! I had to stay up with her all night, mopping her tears. I thought he loved her!" Zeke looked up in shock, "Yes, I broke up with her, but it's not what you think." Chad and Troy both started talking. "Why would you break up with someone you're crazy about??" "That makes no sense. I wouldn't suddenly dump Gabby out of nowhere!"



Zeke sighed. "Well, I heard her talking to Gabby and Taylor about some other guy." Troy and Ryan both looked uncomfortable, but said nothing as Zeke continued. "I heard her saying that he was great in bed and that she wanted him, but didn't know how to tell him or what people would think and that she couldn't say anything about it and I'd never even get to...." he looked out at the field, "...first base." Troy and Ryan now looked scared. "She didn't say who it was, did she?" Ryan asked. "No, but it's probably one of the skaters or something." Troy almost laughed, but Ryan hit him in the arm. A move not unnoticed by Chad. "Alright you two, you know something about this. What gives?"



Troy took a few steps away, pulling Ryan with him, and whispered, "You're going to have to tell them." Ryan stared at him, "Are you insane? The whole school will know!" Chad came over, leaving Zeke alone, "What team??" Troy and Ryan both answered weakly, "Wildcats." "What team?" "Wildcats." "If something is wrong with this team, we NEED to fix it!" Zeke strolled over, "So, what's going on?" Ryan tensed, but finally turned to look at him, "I know who the other guy is, but I can't say." Zeke clenched his hands, "Who?? I need to know Ry." Ryan couldn't get it out and looked towards Troy as he spoke. "Look, it's kind of....confusing and odd and...weird. I don't get it myself. However....well..." he stalled. Zeke looked ready to hit one of them before Ryan spoke again, "You can't tell ANYONE...and I mean anyone!!!" Zeke nodded, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear it. "It's me," Ryan finally admitted, then ran back onto the field, "We're ready coach!"



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Two days later, Zeke had calmed down. He had been devistated to find out his princess was fucking her own twin, but she was hot and had to admit, if she was his sister, he didn't know how he'd react either. Ryan had told him the whole story, from the night at Lava Springs up to now. Chad was just as shocked, but Troy wasn't. Troy admitted that the mysterious stranger in the video that played a few weeks ago was Ryan and he was the one who taped it. Ryan had editted it on his computer so no one would know who it was. They also knew that Troy wasn't the only one who had been keeping secrets. Sharpay had obviously gotten closer to Gabby and Taylor than they thought.



"At least the team got it together and we ended that scrimmage in a tie," thought Zeke. The coach could now freely pick whoever he felt was best to play the opener for their first game against West High the following day. His thoughts jumped back and forth from the news about Ryan and Sharpay to the game all day long and he couldn't concentrate on any of his studies.



"Little lost, are we?" came Taylor's voice in the cafeteria. "Yeah...I've got a lot on my mind." Taylor gave him a quick hug, "Yeah, the game's gonna be rough. West High hasn't lost a game yet." Zeke looked around to see who was by them, "No, it's not that...well, part of it's that. The other part is why I broke it off with Sharpay. I overheard her talking to you and Gabby about the other guy she was seeing." Taylor looked worried. "Don't panic, I know. I know everything now." Taylor started to say something, but he cut her off, "Look, I know it's weird, but I understand...I think...or, maybe I will later? I don't know. It just seems weird she's with....him." Taylor shook her head, "No, you don't understand. She's not with him. I mean, yes, she's with him, but she's not with him." Zeke looked confused. "Think about it, Zeke. How would it look if she told the school." Zeke knew she was right, but wanted to know if Taylor, or Gabby for that matter, knew the whole truth. "But...her own brother?!" Taylor looked shocked, "What??" Zeke stared at her, "Wait, you didn't know??" "What in the hell are you talking about??" Taylor asked him. "Well, that's who she's 'with, but not with', isn't it?" he asked, trying to cover. Taylor told him Sharpay had only said it was someone else at the school then she got up and left him there.



Ten minutes later Chad, Troy, Ryan, Zeke, Taylor, Gabby and Sharpay were alone in an empty classroom. "Okay, spill!" Gabby demanded. "Sharpay, what's up?" Taylor prodded. Ryan looked at the guys, "I told them...I told them everything. I couldn't hide it any longer." Sharpay stared at him, "What the fuck did you think you were doing??" Ryan looked at the group, "Sharpay, you have to trust someone eventually." Shar turned towards the girls, "Yes, it's true. Ryan is the other guy." Gabby and Taylor gasped. "No..." "You can't be serious..." "When..." "How...?" Ryan and Sharpay took turns telling the story one more time. Sharpay looking towards Troy and Gabby often. "Yes, I liked him, you know that, but it was about his status at this school, not that I was all that into him." She turned to Troy, "Uhh, no offense." Then, she added, turning to Zeke, "I'm sorry. I just knew you liked me...the whole school did...so it was easy to play along and not have to say anything about Ryan being the 'other guy'." Zeke looked at Ryan and held out his hand, "No hard feelings?" Ryan shook it. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner."



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The game went well. It was hard fought, but East High prevailed finally winning it 7 - 6. Two more games to go, one if they played well again on Saturday afternoon, and they could put East High on the map as League Champs for the first time in 10 years. Zeke asked to catch for Ryan and they were a good combination. It was the ultimate act to show Ryan he didn't have any hard feelings towards him anymore. He was still amazed at the two of them, and like the others, he'd never understand, but he had found someone else. Kelsi had been secrectly in love with him since jr. high and finally told him so after she heard about his break-up with Sharpay. It hadn't registered at first, but Kelsi was beautiful in her own way, so he was happy.



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TO BE CONTINUED????? Review if I should go on...