This chapter was edited on July 22, 2008.

Warnings for slow updates, slight OOC, SLASH, semi-angst. PLEASE if you feel uncomfortable by the very thought of two guys together romantically or sexually then DON'T read this, you'll feel a lot better if you don't.

Rated M: For some much later sexual activities…and slight, very slight cursing.

This story is set in sophomore year of college. And certain events happened in freshman year that won't be revealed immediately, so I hope no one get's confused. This story takes place after those events and therefore the characters have changed slightly because of them. This story will be very long but I have everything planned out, the outline is complete.

The main couple is Chad x Jason, but don't worry, Troy and Ryan's relationship with be expanded on much later in the story.

Enjoy.

—o—O—O—o—

Room for Rent

Chapter 1: Trusting Time.

—O—o—O—O—o—O—

"It's perfect!" Chad said. His eyes were wide with excitement.

Jason sighed. His seat was opposite Chad's in the local diner near their home, a place they discovered their senior year of high school and often visited when they came home for weekends or break.

"C'mon, Jase," Chad urged. "A three bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, a large spacious living room, a kitchen, and a dining room," His brown eyes scanned the newspaper quickly, "Is looking for two Albuquerque University students to share the rent."

"Yeah, Chad," the raven-haired male drawled, "I heard you the first time."

"Two," Chad repeated. "Me," he pointed to himself, "And you," he pointed to Jason. "It's practically made for us."

Jason had the newspaper pushed at him, his food covered by the sight of grey and black print. He looked at the section of advertisements apprehensively as Chad leaned over the table to point at the specific advertisement circled in blue ink. It looked as if the ballpoint pen was pressed onto the paper repeatedly.

Jason could feel Chad's eyes, filled with high hopes, boring into him. And he wished he shared his enthusiasm …but he didn't.

It was just…Jason didn't like experiencing the unknown. He didn't like the new, and he usually refrained from experiencing new things unless he was forced to or the circumstances weren't too scary.

And the idea of living with a stranger—some person from who knows where—for a long period of time didn't sound so great.

He could understand why Chad was so eager to jump on this opportunity. Chad and Jason were roommates all of their freshman year at Albuquerque University, and they both saw how the expense for room and board alone left a huge dent in both of their families' income, let alone the cost of tuition.

It'd be nice to go into their sophomore year worry-free, at least in the financial department.

Jason remembered half-way through their freshman year how Chad had tried to find shortcuts to shallow the growing empty hole that was their savings. Jason was pulled into schemes that always led to trouble, forced into plans that didn't make sense, and put into jobs that led into some embarrassment.

Maybe that's why Troy always made the plans. Jason soon realized.

But Troy was gone by then. Half-way through freshman year, Jason wouldn't hear from Troy until a long time later.

Good riddance. Jason had thought then.

With Troy gone, a bewildered Chad was left to Jason. And Jason didn't mind having a friend so devoted to him, even though he knew it was only because Troy had abandoned the curly brunet.

And sometimes Jason's thoughts drifted into territories that made him feel uncomfortable, so he forgot about them, leaving them buried deep within his mind.

Jason watched as Chad's brown eyes flickered with utter hope. Jason internally winced at letting him down. But he didn't feel good about sharing a space with some stranger.

The reason he ended up as Chad's roommate the year before was because he got paired up with a jerk to live with in his dormitory and Chad's roommate ended up transferring to another school. Chad could have had a room all to himself but offered Jason the space to share.

Chad is a really good friend. And Jason was grateful.

"Jase," Chad said, "Don't you think it's better than working at the Burger place again?"

Jason took a sip of his soda. He could hear the quick tapping of Chad's foot on the floor below their table. Jason knew Chad only did that when he was excited about something. He knew with some dread that when Chad was set on something he didn't let go of it easily.

"I don't know about the whole living-with-a-stranger thing," Jason replied quickly.

The uncertainty in Jason's voice didn't deter Chad, and Jason suspected it never would. "Let's just meet the guy," Chad tried, "If you don't like him then we'll try to find some place else or get jobs or something."

Chad knew he couldn't go anywhere without Jason. His friend had become a part of him, and to live without him left an odd empty feeling in Chad's chest. He really couldn't explain it nor did he try to.

"We're going to have to get jobs anyway," Jason replied, slightly annoyed. "And either way, if we meet this stranger and like him who's to say he won't turn into some jackass later."

Jason pushed the newspaper away from him, and then grabbed his cheeseburger and took a big bite, his stubbornness etched on his features with a furrowed set of dark eyebrows, his mouth full of food and closed with a near pout.

"I'm saying we don't have to move in if you're uncomfortable," Chad said unfazed. "Who knows? Maybe if you meet him then you won't feel like he's a stranger." He didn't touch his food, and Jason knew that was a bad sign, the curly brunet was too focused on trying to convince Jason, forgetting everything else, even his rather large hamburger, and when Chad forgot about food then it was really serious.

Jason chewed slowly, unwilling to answer Chad and feeling if he just prolonged this silence that Chad will eventually bring up another topic, how about football season starting up soon? Jason swallowed thickly, and took a very long sip of his soda.

Right before Jason took another large bite, Chad sighed in impatience.

"Jase…"

Jason ventured a look over his burger at the determined curly brunet. Deep brown eyes were concentrated solely on Jason so intensely that he almost forgot what he was being asked.

Chad watched the uncertainty edge around Jason's deep green eyes. He could see Jason's internal struggle to let himself go into a situation that didn't really feel right to him. But Chad had a very good feeling about this, and he knew if Jason was with him that everything would turn out alright. After everything they went through their freshman year of college, Chad was certain that they could get past anything.

And all he needed to know was that Jason would let himself believe in Chad just like he did the year before.

So when Chad said, "Trust me," with warm eyes and a gentle smile. Even as Jason looked at him with hesitance still shining though his eyes, Chad watched in satisfaction as Jason smiled a little anyway.

"When don't I?" Jason replied easily. He continued to eat his burger, so Chad took that as a yes and grinned at his friend widely, picking up his now cold burger and eating it in an amazing speed.

—O—o—O—O—o—O—

Troy was trying really hard to keep up. He really was.

But it was like he was sinking, and the water above his head started to rise every time he had the smallest hope of reaching air. He wanted to breathe.

Stepping out of his front door, he felt the cool early morning air hit his still warm skin.

He started his morning jog around his neighborhood. It was the only part of his daily routine he felt relaxed doing.

His red basketball shorts flapped against his strong tan legs as he increased in speed. Strands of his shaggy light brown hair flew onto his forehead, as his deep blue eyes closed briefly, so he could just feel.

In a few short days he would be going back to Albuquerque University and starting classes. He was itching to start school and basketball practice. In the long summer break he found it difficult to ease himself back into a normal routine.

Everything had changed.

Ever since Troy had come out, officially stated that yes, he, Troy Bolton, was in fact gay—his routines were just something he tried to hold on to from his 'good-old Troy' past.

His summer vacation had been nothing but a readjustment to his old life.

A life he tried desperately to throw away and forget before he realized he was just running away from it.

And by distancing himself from everyone that cared about him the year before, he realized he made things worse. Everyone that loved him, everyone that expected him to be something he knew he wasn't—he couldn't handle letting them all down.

Not after the way his father reacted…

Months ago, Troy thought by hiding away, avoiding anyone that really knew him, he could feel better. And he did…for awhile.

But now, Troy realized he was just putting off the eventual, he had to face his life. He had to face his family and friends.

This summer was like a punch in the face, Troy reflected.

Home felt like an extended torture session. His father was getting better with the idea of his son being that way.

And his mother…it was like she was trying too hard to make sure Troy was okay, and normal. But by acting like everything was normal, she was making everything not normal at all.

Troy realized he had changed a lot. Sometimes he felt like his family was meeting him for the first time.

And sometimes Troy felt like an outsider, someone better off alone. He had a lot of time to think alone—when he was off in his own head, away from everyone's gaze, just inside his mind—turning his thoughts over and over again. Until he felt like he was in another world.

And now that he was confronting everything he tried desperately to get away from, he felt disconnected from everyone.

It was partly his own fault though, he had hurt his friends.

Lying, missing calls—being a general no-show when your friends needed you the most. And they didn't care if he was gay or not. Troy tried to deny they accepted him just because of his father…just because his father had said that they wouldn't.

And so Troy abandoned them.

Yeah, he was jerk.

In retrospect, Troy knew what he was doing when he was doing it. But it was hazy too. Looking back, everything blurred and became disjointed.

A year had gone by, and Troy knew it changed everything.

He noticed it when he hung out with Chad, the way Chad's light demeanor would dampen ever so slightly when last year was brought up. Chad seemed different. It was almost like Chad was trying very hard to look at the silver lining in everything. He didn't used to be that way, but now he seemed…Troy couldn't explain it and he felt guilty when he thought that maybe he was responsible for Chad's change.

How bad must it have been for Chad to suddenly try and drag out the slightest tiniest amount of good in the mess that was last year?

He was just glad Chad was speaking to him again.

It was different with Jason though. Troy felt as if the other male was shying away from him in fear of Troy deserting him again. Troy remembered how hard it was to get Jason to open up in high school, Jason's quiet nature made it difficult to really get close to him. Troy was considered a close friend before…now, all the time it took to really be good friends with Jason was reversed in the span of a year.

Talking to Jason now felt like talking to someone he just met. No, it was worse, there was no clean slate, instead, there was a barrier that Jason won't ever let Troy get past.

All of Jason's trust in Troy eroded away.

Troy just hoped that if enough time passed everything will just slid into place.

Troy let out a breath as he slowed his pace. He had started to run a lot faster than he intended without realizing it.

Looking around his quiet neighborhood, he noticed he ran farther than he usually did in the mornings.

He didn't see much of his high school friends other than Chad and Jason. The rest of the wildcats seemed to be living their lives elsewhere. He could understand that, he guessed, not everyone was willing to stay in one place forever.

Sometimes Gabriella would call him but the calls came far and few in-between. He was surprised how much he missed her even though he knew his love for her had faded away. She talked to him about Harvard, and sometimes Troy felt like she was so focused on her studies that she forgot about everything else. He sort of lost contact with her a few months ago, and now, he didn't know if he should talk to her again.

Maybe drifting away was all that was left.

He knew Ryan and Sharpay had left to New York City. He wondered about them sometimes.

He started to jog back home. He felt tired already, his body was warm, and sweat had collected above his eyebrows, causing the strands of his hair on top of his forehead to stick to his skin.

He felt dread as he neared his home, the process of everything settling, healing, and mending back to some form of comfort took time. And right now, Troy was in the middle of it.

He just wanted speed up time, to let the relationships broken and torn to heal.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he went to his mailbox. Going though junk mail and bills, he found something strange. A letter addressed to him from Mr. Evans, Sharpay and Ryan's father. He hadn't heard from the rich man since his senior year of high school.

Ripping open the envelope, his eyes scanned the letter with interest.

"Honey," his mother said, watching her son read the letter in the doorway. "At least come inside," she admonished, "Settle down and then read your mail." She put her hand on her son's bent arm, leading him into the kitchen after she closed the front door.

Troy sat on the stool in front of the counter in the center of the kitchen as his mother curiously watched him read. His eyes were concentrated solely on the paper before him. She sighed softly, and decided to make some breakfast instead of asking him what the letter contained.

"Apartment complexes?" Troy said aloud, looking at his mother in confusion.

His mother pursed her lips, one hand settling on her hip. "Are you planning on letting me know what's in that letter?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. "Or do I have to guess from that little excerpt?"

"Mom," Troy sighed slightly amused. "Mr. Evans sent me this…he said he's buying all this land near the university to make buildings and he's already built some …he's offering me a single apartment in one," he looked at the letter again.

When Troy looked up again he found his mother deep in thought. He could understand her hesitancy. Mr. Evans had already helped him get a partial scholarship and his own pride was nudging him to deny the offer, but it was so expensive to live on campus, and a cheaper apartment could help his family so much.

"We'll ask your father about it," she said finally. Then she went back to making breakfast, warming the pan, Troy heard the butter sizzling. "How about some pancakes?" She smiled at Troy.

Troy grinned. "Yeah, blueberry please," she laughed softly. Her son acted like he did when he was five sometimes. Troy watched as his mother smiled warmly at him, her soft laugh lit up her face, and suddenly Troy thought, maybe she wasn't pretending after all.

Maybe normalcy wasn't that far-fetched of a dream.

—O—o—O—O—o—O—

"How are you settling in?"

"Fine."

"Is everything coming in, all your bags have arrived?"

"Yes."

"Do you need more maids to put everything in order?"

"No."

"How are you?"

"Fine."

Mr. Evans sighed deeply into the phone, "Ryan." He wanted to say something to get his son to open up, to talk to him like he used to, with open enthusiasm and admiration, but instead he said nothing. He waited in the tense silence as he heard his son breath softly over the phone, griping his cell phone more tightly he simply said, "Well, I'll call you later, son."

"Okay," Ryan replied tiredly, hanging up the phone and then looking around the apartment he would be living in for the next couple of years.

"Mr. Evans, do you need anything else?" The maid asked. Her name, he learned was Linda, a middle-aged woman his father hired to help Ryan move in. She didn't care much for their status and often made known what she will and will not do.

He smiled softly. "No, you can go home Linda, thank you," he said, walking over to the door to let her out.

"What about your room?" she asked, "It's still—"

"Don't worry about it," Ryan said quickly, raking his fingers through his blond hair, and looking off to the other side of the apartment, away from Linda's scrutinizing gaze.

She pursed her lips. "Well," she said, slightly put off at how Ryan interrupted her, "Don't complain later, I asked you about it," she said tersely, letting herself out.

Ryan sighed as he watched the door close. Then he walked through his newly clean and bought apartment. Well, it wasn't really his more like his father's. He looked into his room, boxes scattered and unpacked, the emptiness and bareness comforted him in a way.

"When you decorate the bedroom then it's your room, Ry, it's your home."

He remembered Sharpay telling him that when they moved into their apartment in New York City, now it was just his sister's.

And he was back in New Mexico.

Back here while his sister lived in New York.

Since his father needed help with the family-named company, he needed someone with his own blood to help him run his business because he couldn't trust anyone else. He wouldn't tell Ryan why, instead the only reason he received was, "that is what an Evans man does, he helps his father, he continues the legacy."

So he was enrolled into Albuquerque University, his father pulled some strings, and his major was business, the absolutely last thing his high-school self would ever image he would be doing now, at this moment in his life.

He should be on Broadway, he should be acting, singing, living.

His sister was on Broadway and he was here.

And as his thoughts centered on that aspect, on that single fact, he couldn't bring himself to feel bitter, not at his sister and not even at his father. Instead all he felt was numbness as he just let it be.

He took one last look at the bare room and left.

He needed to call his sister.

Yet, as he reached for the phone he spotted something yellow, he didn't notice it before but there was a post-it.

"Man called for roommate, has friend, coming at 2 O'clock, tomorrow," Ryan read with furrowed eyebrows. He could never decipher Linda's handwriting.

Another two candidates for the two empty rooms, Ryan decided. He didn't really need roommates since his father paid for everything but he could use some company and some cash his father didn't know about. Maybe if he collected enough he could leave unannounced.

And suddenly Ryan thought maybe he was better at business than he thought.

He hoped these guys weren't weirdoes like the other men who he interviewed. One guy had wanted the other room to be for his snakes, Ryan shuddered at the thought.

And maybe I'll make some friends.

Friendships that would help ease the painfully slow pass of time here.

I can only hope.

Crumpling up the small sticky note, he called his sister.

—O—o—O—O—o—O—

Jason tossed a basketball above his head as he lay on his bed.

He could hear the chatter of his family in the living room but he couldn't bring himself to join them. He just felt like staying in his room and tossing the basketball up in the air above his head and catching it as it came back down.

A knock on his door made Jason jerk up, surprised at the noise, "Come in," he said, holding the basketball on his lap and sitting up on the bed.

His older brother's head peaked in through the door, "Hey Jason," he said as he let himself in, "Why aren't you downstairs?"

"Because I don't feel like it," Jason said. He tossed the ball on the floor, reclining back on his bed.

His older brother made himself comfortable on the chair by the desk. His jet-black hair, pale skin and deep green eyes were remarkably like Jason's. He was almost an older version of him in his middle twenties.

"You know you're going away in a couple of days and we won't see you again for a long time, you can at least spend some time with us," his brother said calmly, "With mom," he added.

Jason shrugged, "I spent all summer with everyone," he gazed at the ceiling, "And I just feel like being by myself for awhile, that's all." He looked at his brother suddenly, "David," his brother looked at him, "You think mom is still upset with me?" He asked quietly.

"No," he replied, "I think she just wants the best for you and maybe for you to spend some time with her," he smiled at his younger brother, "Was that what was bothering you?" he asked with a small chuckle, "You're such a baby," he laughed.

"No!" Jason said indignantly, "I'm not upset." He sat up suddenly. "And why did you come up here anyway?" he asked, suddenly annoyed at the other's presence.

David shrugged, "Had to make sure our little baby didn't cry all by his lonesome," he laughed quietly, his deep green eyes held great amusement as Jason narrowed his strikingly similar deep green eyes in irritation.

"Whatever," Jason muttered. Then his lips tugged into a half-smile, "You just don't want to admit you'll miss me."

"Yeah, I'll miss someone cleaning their share of the house," David said unconvincingly. "Just come downstairs will you," he said as he got off the chair and left the room.

Jason smiled at the open doorway, after his brother left, and decided to follow him.

Gong down the stairs, he heard the noise of his family's chatter get louder.

"Hey! Jasey!" His younger brother jumped at him excitedly, "Jasey's here, Jasey!"

Jason chuckled as he picked up his three-year-old brother, his black hair rumpled at the excess amounts the young boy played and rolled around. "Hey, how many times did I say just call me Jase," Jason said lightly. His smile widened as his younger brother's deep green eyes widened slightly ibefore he giggled and hugged him tightly.

"William," his mother called, "Put these toys away before someone falls over them," she walked toward the staircase and found Jason holding William, "Will, let's go," her voice was gentle but the young boy pouted as he was forced out of Jason's arms and into his mother's. "Jason, how nice of you to join us," her tone held disproval and Jason suddenly felt like he was William's age again.

"Sorry, I was just—"

"Jason!" David yelled out, "Telephone!" Jason looked toward the kitchen while his mother took William out to the living room to collect his toys.

When he reached the kitchen he heard his uncles talking and drinking beer, his mother scolded them and the older men grumbled. They were his mother's brothers and all worked in the automotive factory near by.

"Hello," Jason said into the phone, covering his other ear to block out his uncles' loud banter in the living room.

"Hey Jase," Chad's warm voice came through the phone. Jason found himself smiling at the sound of his friend's voice. "I tried you're cell but you didn't answer," he said. Jason could hear someone talking to Chad on the other end but it wasn't clear.

"I probably turned it off," he replied. Suddenly, his older brother came in, curiously staying by the counter and drinking a can of beer.

"Oh God," Chad groaned in annoyance, "Hold on for a sec, okay?"

Jason could hear Chad speaking to his mother. "Mom, I'm not dying okay! Just relax, sheez," Chad groaned.

Jason found this odd but didn't say anything, instead he chose to glare at his brother, who looked like he was eavesdropping.

"Jase, you there?" Chad said.

"Yeah," Jason said, abruptly looking away from his nosey brother to focus on Chad, "What's going on?"

"My mom is crying about how fast I'm growin' up because I told her about the apartment," Chad groaned again, clearly annoyed by his mother's behavior. "Do you want me to live with you until I'm thirty," Chad yelled in the background. Jason heard more crying.

Jason laughed at Chad's dilemma, "This is just like graduation," he laughed more as Chad huffed at the memory. "I haven't told my mom yet," Jason shrugged. Then he looked at his older brother suddenly, who leaned in on the counter interested in Jason's conversation. Jason glared at him again.

David smiled innocently, taking a casual swig of his beer.

"I'll pick you up at one thirty tomorrow and we'll go meet the apartment owner," Chad said quietly, he didn't want his mother to hear and start crying even more. Jason could hear the wails of 'he's growing up so fast' in the background. And suddenly he realized the both of them had single mothers, yet Chad was a single child while he was the middle child.

"Alright," the raven-haired male sounded slightly down.

"Hey," Chad said suddenly, "I promise we won't move in unless you like the other guy, okay?" Jason felt better at the promise so he smiled into the phone.

"Alright, see you tomorrow," Jason said before he hung up the phone.

He started when he turned around and saw David sitting, both elbows on the counter, and his chin resting on his palms. Jason forgot his brother was sitting right behind him.

"So, that was Chad?" David said with a tone that Jason didn't like.

"Yeah, you're the one that picked up the phone," he replied annoyed, walking toward the living room.

David was right behind him, the taller male chuckled suddenly, "And what didn't you tell mom, that you're coming out?"

Jason turned around in irritation, "You know you're really starting to bug me," he said tightly. "Just because you have repressed desires for Jonathon doesn't mean you have to project your weirdness onto me."

David barked out in laughter, "Repressed desires? Have you been reading mom's romance novels?" he laughed, "And I haven't talked to Jonathon in a year," his laughter died when he said his ex-best-friend's name, "You really have an overactive imagination, Jase, been taking psych classes?"

Jason narrowed his eyes at David's bitter tone.

"I'm surprised you would know about that class," he replied, taking a swing at David's lack of education. Then he felt guilty for saying it, but David left him alone, and it gave Jason a lingering feeling of satisfaction.

When Jason left the small hall and entered the living room he saw his mother cleaning up after her brothers left. When she spotted Jason she waved him over.

"Help me clean between the sofas," she said.

His mother was a slim woman. Her hair was a light brown, and her eyes a light blue. He looked nothing like his mother and neither did his brothers. He imagined him and his brothers looked just like their father.

He never met his father but he figured he looked like his older brother except with a few wrinkles.

His mother had to look at the images of the man that left her in her three sons, and Jason wouldn't understand that until much later.

"Every time Len and Ronny come over they leave such a mess," she complained, cleaning the table of all the crumbs and spills of soda and beer.

Jason wiped away the crumbs. He cleared his throat nervously, "They left so soon?" he asked as he reached in-between the cushions for more crumbs.

His mother ignored his question, "Take the cushions out Jason, really," she shook her head.

"Mom, I gotta tell you something," Jason said quickly. He just wanted to get this over with. "Me and Chad found an apartment near campus, it'll save us some money," he said with slight hope.

"Well," his mother replied tiredly, "At least you're considering what I'm doing for you." She continued to clean the table, "I don't know what you're doing at that college," she said to herself.

Jason frowned, then looked away, and continued to clean up the living room.

—O—o—O—O—o—O—

"Hey!" Chad waved at Jason from outside his car. Jason ran out of his house after a quick yell of "I'll see you later" to his older brother.

"What the hell took so long?" Chad said as he restarted the car and started off toward the university. He was simply dressed in his basketball shorts and a tee shirt. He didn't care to put on more dressy attire for meeting the apartment owner.

Jason shrugged. "I had to help Will get dressed this morning and then make sure David didn't forget to feed the kid," he laughed slightly.

Jason rubbed at his jeans, they were slightly worn but he didn't mind as long as they were clean. The house had been in chaos after his mother had been working more hours, and Jason found himself doing the cleaning, the cooking, and the everything else. He doubted David had any plans of helping out.

Chad narrowed his eyes at the mention of David, "What's with David anyway, he's kinda weird."

Jason turned to Chad, suddenly feeling anxious, "Why? Did he say something weird?"

"No, he just kept making everything I say sound odd," Chad said.

When Chad called the day before and asked for Jason, David had asked him if he really wanted to speak to him badly. What was that about? Chad just shrugged if off.

"Hey everyone's allowed one weird family member look at my cousin Gregory, he likes to dance to polka," Chad shuddered at the memory of his cousin trying to make him dance with him. Maybe that was why he hated dancing so much he thought suddenly.

The sound of Jason laughing made Chad grin widely as he drove into the university parking lot.

"Are you sure we can park here?" Jason asked looking around the deserted parking lot with skeptical eyes.

"Yeah, whatever, we're student's here plus I got the sticker on my car, so they can't say anything," he walked off in the direction of the street away from the campus, Jason followed Chad curiously.

"So, where is this place?" Jason asked finally. He watched Chad turn his head to look at him with a smile, Jason smiled back despite himself.

"It's only a ten minute walk from here!" Chad said excitedly, "I really hope this guy isn't a weirdo," he put his palms together and looked up to the sky, "Please, please, please!"

Jason laughed quietly at his friend, "Even if this guy is a weirdo, maybe the building has a two room apartment available," he said, "We can find some place on our own."

"Maybe we can even ask Troy about living there," Chad said, unaware of how tense Jason became at the shaggy brunet's name.

"You sure?" Jason asked quietly.

They were approaching a winding path that led to a walkway with several buildings scattered along the side of the long road. The place was surrounded by trees. It was a clean area, with several benches and even a park.

Chad bit his lip suddenly, and Jason felt a little worried about Chad's demeanor changing to something slightly more serious. "I know what he did last year hurt us both but I forgave him for it," Chad said looking down, his eyes focused on his sneakers. "And he was going through stuff Jase. So what if he's gay—"

"I don't care if he's gay or turned into a woman," Jason said sharply, "Whatever, it doesn't matter, I just don't trust the guy after what he pulled last year."

"Troy would make an ugly woman," Chad chuckled.

Jason's anger deflated. "Chad…" Jason sighed. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know," Chad said. He wanted to change the topic. Whenever Troy was brought up it made them both tense and Chad hated feeling agitated and frustrated.

He just wanted everything to be okay.

"It's that one," Chad pointed to building 213 and Jason left the topic alone.

When they reached the apartment, "E4," Chad read, "It's this one," he called to Jason who was on the other side of the hall.

After ringing the doorbell Chad bounced on the balls of his feet, excitement filling him as he heard the door being unlocked.

Jason felt nervous, the noise of the lock being opened heightening his anxiety.

The door opened to reveal a short blonde, middle-aged woman. "You the two guys for the apartment?" She said gruffly.

Chad looked down at the women slightly aghast. "Yeah," he said slowly, dread crept up his spine. He turned to Jason to find the same look on his features.

The women clucked her tongue in annoyance. "Well? You comin' in or not?" She asked impatiently, her foot tapped in irritation at the long wait.

Chad felt Jason's hand on his arm, pulling him away from the scary small woman. Chad looked back at the raven-haired male incredulously, "We can't just run away," he whispered in annoyance.

Jason's eyes widened as Chad pulled him into the apartment.

How do I always get into these situation? Jason thought.

He looked at the curly brunet ahead of him.

Oh yeah, that's how. He thought in irritation.

"Hold on a sec while I get Evans," the small woman went into the hallway.

"Evans?" Chad furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh god," he turned to Jason in fear, "You think Sharpay owns this place?" He asked in a whisper.

Jason glared at the curly brunet. "Oh, and why couldn't we just run again?" He whispered harshly.

"I think I would rather live with the short old women," Chad muttered.

"Chad? Jason?" Chad and Jason turned around to the sound of their names.

"RYAN EVANS?" Chad exclaimed. The blond looked shocked to see them as well. Suddenly Chad launched himself onto the startled blond male. "Wow, what are the odds?" Chad said as he hugged him, "How are you?"

Ryan looked a little different. Jason noticed his hair was slightly longer and more around his face. He still had the hat and dressy clothes though.

"I'm fine," Ryan finally let out after Chad's almost suffocating hug. He smiled at the jocks he knew from high school. "Um, nice to see you guys," he said awkwardly, still slightly stunned by their presence.

"Hey," Jason greeted with a nod and smile. Ryan smiled back.

This is odd, Ryan thought privately.

"Linda, you can go home now," Ryan said. The maid was more than happy to oblige, picking up her bag and leaving the three males.

"Whoa! This is a huge screen," Ryan turned around and found Chad gazing at the big screen television dreamily.

Jason shook his head in amusement while Ryan smirked self-appreciatively. "Yeah," he said as he put both of his hands in his pockets. He walked behind Chad. "I got it as a gift from my father when I moved in," he shrugged, "It's nice to watch games on," he said casually.

Jason took in a breath of appreciation. It was quite a beauty, a flat screen, high definition, sleek and shiny. "Nice," he supplied.

"Well," Ryan smiled, "You guys are interested in living here right?"

Chad looked to Jason for confirmation and after finding the raven-haired male smiling at him, he nodded at Ryan, "Yeah, can we look around?"

"Sure," Ryan led the way, "I'll give you guys a tour," he said.

Ryan didn't feel the need to drill them with questions. He hadn't spoken to them in almost two years but he doubted they changed much.

After going through the kitchen and dining room they headed to the hall.

"There are three bedrooms, mine is here," Ryan pointed into a rather large room, sparsely decorated. "I just moved in," he explained. "So I still have to unpack and decorate," he awkwardly stated. "And the other rooms are down here," they walked down the hallway until they reached two doors opposite each other, "And there's another bathroom here closer to these rooms," he added.

Once they reached the living room, the tour was over and they were back to where they started.

"So, now comes the interview portion," Ryan smirked as Chad and Jason looked at each other nervously.

"Well, what do you want to know?" Chad asked.

Chad stood next to Jason as Ryan stepped in front of them both, folding his arms over his chest and narrowing his pale blue eyes, seemingly scrutinizing them.

For a tense moment Jason and Chad watched as Ryan seemed to be thinking of a good question.

Suddenly Ryan smiled, "When do you want to move in?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Chad chuckled and then looked at Jason, "What do you say?"

Jason looked between the two males hesitantly. It was up to him. He knew only time could tell him how the three of them will live together. And he trusted Chad. So after he watched Chad look at him hopefully and Ryan's gaze turn anxious, Jason took in a silent deep breath before he smiled and said, "As soon as we can."

Chad looked relieved and Ryan smiled more widely.

This was going to be an interesting sophomore year of college.

TBC

A/N: This is just slight glimpses of everyone and their relationships with each other at this moment. Hope everyone likes it so far.

Feedback is greatly appreciated, so please review.