Started on April 22, 2008 — (wow a month ago) All I knew then was that Ryan hit his head, and I wanted more Tryan.

I know, I still have two other stories in progress but this will be a short one. No worries :D

Warnings: SLASH—please, if you feel even the slightest bit squeamish toward the idea of two boys liking each other romantically or even sexually then get the hell out of here. RUN AWAY! You'll feel a hell of a lot better if you didn't read this. Why are you still here? Go back! Back I say!

Summary: Ryan is an actor, so he's allowed to twist events in life to fit his character. Right? Troy decides to play along in a-oh-so irritating way, damn his sexy wiles. Slash! TRYAN.

Start Again

Part I

—x.O.x—

Laughter boomed in the cafeteria. It was utterly loud and completely at the embarrassment of Ryan Evans.

Ryan lay on the floor. He felt the hard glossy layer against his back. God, did it ache.

"Oh my god, Ryan!" Ryan's head lolled on the linoleum floor, the noise of Sharpay's heals were distinct, each sharp step vibrated by his ear. He turned his head to gaze at the high ceiling of the large cafeteria, seeing a brief image of red banners just below the white roof before he shut his eyes tightly.

I don't wanna to get up.

He felt like groaning, but he didn't, instead he retreated into the darkness behind his eyelids. The bright florescent lights made him see nothing but red.

"Ryan! Oh my god! Somebody get the nurse!" Sharpay screamed.

A mixture of mummers and whispers floated around him. He could hear laughter just beneath it all.

"You," she yelled at some poor soul, "Get the damn nurse!" Ryan felt a headache pound into his skull. "Useless freshman," she muttered. He felt her presence somewhere near his side, it was a soft warmth. Then her long manicured nail poked his side, "Ryan! Are you okay?!" She poked him again, "Ryan! Don't die!" She shrieked.

"I'm alive," he groaned. He kept his eyes closed as he heard more laughter surround him, echoes seemingly from all directions. "Oh god," he muttered to himself, "Take me now."

"Oh, Ryan," She wailed. Ryan felt his sister, no doubt dramatically, throw her arms around him. His headache grew. "You could have brain damage from your head just dropping on the floor like that," she wept.

Ryan had the distinct feeling that she was doing this more for theatrics than actually caring about his well-being. He heard more sniggers from the crowd he guessed had gathered around him.

Ryan imagined a spot-light.

A bright circle of light illuminated his lain body, everything else covered by darkness. A silent audience watched as his sister dutifully wept atop his body, the focus solely on the heroic, fallen protagonist and the grieving but radiant supporting female lead expressing her utter hopelessness.

Yes, that is exactly what's happening out there. The dancing red mirage beneath his eyelids showed it so clearly.

"Excuse me, what is going on?" A woman's voice rang, silencing the sniggers and chuckles around him. He figured it was the school nurse. Hmm. That freshman wasn't so useless after all.

"I want to know what happened. Now." She said sternly.

Ryan shut his eyes tighter. Spot-light! Damn it, there is a god-damn spot-light out there!

The students provided a vague but painful recollection of Ryan's embarrassing fall in a fragmented chorus.

"Ryan fell—"

"He tripped over—"

"There was food on the—"

"SHUT-UP!" Sharpay screamed. Thank you. Ryan could count on his sister for at least something, her rudeness.

"—that's how the garbage can fell over," Chad finished lamely.

Ryan imagined the curly brunet was a little embarrassed at being caught off guard.

Well, good then, Ryan thought, feeling grumpy. At least he wasn't the only one embarrassed today.

A few chuckles broke out. Sharpay huffed in agitation, "You idiots." She lifted herself from beside Ryan and strode over to where Ryan wasn't quite sure, her heals clicking determinedly, halted soon, "My brother is almost dead!" She screeched.

Ryan would have rolled his eyes… if they weren't currently shut.

The nurse cleared her throat, "I still need an explanation, maybe we could try a clear one this time?" she said tightly, "Ryan?"

Ryan pretended to be unconscious.

Ryan acted unconscious.

He felt a nail poke him again. Damn it Sharpay! "Ryan?" His sister said hesitantly.

"Oh my goodness," the nurse said, "Quickly, I need someone to carry him to my office!"

He was heroic, Ryan thought. He was a valiant fallen soldier at his last breaths of life. He was a noble fighter for the good of the world struggling after his most trying battle. He was a noble traveler in the valley of almost-death and not-quite-darkness.

He was going to act like this incident never happened.

—x.O.x—

The nurse was at her office, clearing the dusty patients' bed that no one ever used, by the time the three teenage boys made it three feet out of the cafeteria.

"How the hell did we get stuck doing this?" Chad grumbled as he hefted the petite blond male on one arm.

Ryan made a note to himself to kick Chad later.

"I thought," Troy started as he slid an arm around Ryan's middle, letting most of the weight settle on him. "Never mind," he said after some time.

"What?" Chad asked. "Hey, Ryan is a light-weight," Chad chuckled slightly, "Why don't you just carry him bride-style? It's not like he'll ever know."

Ryan struggled to breath. WHAT?! I'm not some girl! Oh, Chad is getting a kick in the shins.

"No way," Troy said, "Ryan would hate that." Ryan always knew he liked Troy. "Plus, why do I have to carry him? Why not you?" Okay, revoke that last thought, Ryan internally said. He didn't like either of them. Idiots.

"Because, you're stronger than me," Chad replied easily. "And you'd make a better couple," he teased.

"Yeah, you're right about that," Troy chuckled.

Ryan felt his ears burn. That was not a funny joke. He felt uncomfortable suddenly.

"So, what were you going to say?" Chad asked. Ryan imagined Troy looked at him blankly. "Before, remember, you said 'never mind.'"

"Oh, I thought Ryan said something, you know when he fell," Troy replied.

Ryan felt Troy's hands slip a little below his waist before going back up and he stiffened involuntarily. He could feel Troy's fingers press into his waist, the heat seeping through his dress shirt. The grip was far tighter than Chad's. In fact, it felt like Chad was slacking off, Ryan dipped slightly, the top of his blond head landing softly underneath the side of Troy's chin.

"Hey, are you pulling your weight?" Troy breathed. Ryan felt the wisps of breath through his hair.

"I got a cramp," Chad complained, "Wait a sec."

Ryan felt his body shift and then tugged until two firm hands surrounded his middle. The heat on his back, and the chin on his shoulder indicated it was one person holding him tightly.

"What are you doing?" Ryan felt Troy's voice vibrate in his ear, Ryan slipped and Troy held him tighter. That feels nice, Ryan thought, really nice.

He also felt dizzy, really dizzy.

"I'm stretching," Chad replied a little miffed. Ryan heard a distinct pop and Chad groan, "That hits the spot," he said.

"Urgh, Chad!" Troy yelled, "I'm doing all the work while you stretch?" Troy leaned back slightly causing Ryan to fall more onto his chest, Ryan's arm was pulled over Troy's neck. "I'm taking Ryan to the nurse myself! For all we know this time could be critical." Ryan felt the floor beneath him slide under his dress shoes.

Wow, I never knew Troy cared so much, Ryan thought warmly. Troy is such a nice guy. He definitely made Ryan's nice list.

"Critical? He just hit his head," Chad scoffed, "He'll be fine, I hit my head plenty of times." Ryan resisted the urged to snort.

"That explains it," Troy mumbled under his breath. Ryan had to hold his breath not to laugh, willing his lips not curve into a smile.

"What?" Chad asked.

"Nothing," Troy said more clearly, "Just hold his bag and hat, could you at least do that?" He asked annoyed.

"Yes," Chad replied, equally annoyed, "I'll do my best," he replied sarcastically.

Ryan felt a breath of frustration brush past his ear and he felt guilty suddenly. He was well enough to walk and more than well enough to get to the nurse's office on his own. All this just to avoid embarrassment, Ryan thought, how pathetic.

Then he heard chuckling.

"Did you see the way he fell, man, that was classic," Chad said, "I never saw anyone slip over a string of spaghetti and then tumble into a garbage can." Ryan felt the shake of Troy's body as the brunet tried to hold in his laughter, "Oh and then it doesn't end there he rolls under the table all the way out into the middle of the floor and since that wasn't enough, bangs his head on the floor."

Troy and Chad were laughing at him!

They are laughing really hard, Ryan thought angrily. He could be dying right now! He was fallen hero, a valiant soldier!

"Oh, and th-hen," Troy added, "Sha-rpay!"

They both laughed even harder.

"Oh Ryan!" "Don't die, Ryan!" Their voices shrill imitations of his sister.

Forget the shins, Ryan internally fumed, Chad is getting a kick in the balls.

And Troy was no longer on his nice list. If his hands didn't feel so god damn nice around me he would've been on the kick list right along side his best-friend.

Chad sniggered, "That was so funny! Moment of the year even."

Suddenly, Ryan thought maybe it was a great idea to act unconscious. Maybe he should even fake a mental illness just to guilt these bastards up. Although, if Ryan really thought about it he would admit it was slightly-kinda funny, but he wasn't! No, it was not funny. Not at all.

"Hey, stop alright, Ryan was hurt, and he didn't wake up," Troy said. Ryan felt Troy's hand slide up his torso. He held back a shiver. "I hope he's okay," Troy whispered, the warm soft breath brushed over Ryan's ear, buzzing the shell, tingling down his neck. Ryan felt like groaning. Instead his head lolled atop Troy's shoulder, the soft skin of Troy's neck just a hair's width away from his lips. He could almost taste him.

"Yeah, you're right, I feel sorta bad now," Chad said finally, "He'll be fine, don't worry, I have a good feeling about it."

Troy snorted, "What? You have a sixth sense or something? The same guy who thought eating ice cream in mid-December outside 10 degrees below freezing was okay," Troy chuckled slightly, "four words: pneumonia for a week."

"Well, at the time it didn't seem all that bad," Chad said matter-of-factly, "In health class we learned that cold weather doesn't give you a cold but germs do." Troy chuckled at Chad's suddenly academic attitude. He was spending way too much time with Taylor.

After a hazy moment, Ryan heard a door click open.

"Oh, finally! What took you boys so long?" The nurse sounded worried.

"Sorry," Chad said uneasily, "There was traffic."

The nurse clucked her tongue in disapproval, "Oh, just lay him on the bed, please."

To Ryan's surprise the floor beneath his feet disappeared and his whole body was lifted. Warm and firm hands lay just underneath his knees and just between his shoulder blades. And just as soon he felt the waxy paper of the patients' bed below his body.

He heard chuckling further away, probably Chad.

Yet, Troy's hands lingered before they disappeared and left nothing but their heat.

And to Ryan's embarrassment, he felt his cheeks heat. Troy just carried me. Ryan felt like such a girl.

"Hey, I think he's flushed," Troy said, which made Ryan blush harder.

Suddenly, a stick was poked into his mouth, a thermometer, Ryan realized, as his tongue swept over the bulb.

"Well, his temperature is fine," The nurse noted, "His head doesn't have any bruises." Ryan felt prodded on his head and neck by latex gloves. "Everything is normal."

"I need to call the hospital, will you boys stay here? Or do you have class?"

Ryan started to panic. She's going to call the hospital! I don't want to take it that far. What if they inject something in me? What if I'm put under the knife?

Okay, this was the point where he would pretend to miraculously awaken—

"I have class," Chad said.

He would just twitch his hands slightly—

"I'll stay, I have free period after this anyway," Troy spoke up.

He just needed to open his eyes slowly—

Wait. Troy was staying? Alone. With him. Alone.

"Good, good," The nurse sounded pleased, "Well, Troy just sit here." And here happened to be right next to Ryan's legs. "I just need to check with the principal, and notify his parents." Footsteps rushed out with a click of a door.

"I'll see you later man," Chad's voice drifted over and then he was gone.

Ryan already knew he had taken this far enough. He was going to be sent to the hospital! But he was also slightly disturbed that he wasn't sent sooner. Shouldn't this be an emergency? Him being unconscious should warrant an immediate response and ride in an ambulance. Instead, he was lying in the nurse's office with Troy Bolton as his babysitter.

Well, he did just trip and his body didn't have any apparent signs of injury.

Suddenly, warm fingers brushed back the stands of hair covering Ryan's forehead, slowly.

The fingers trailed down his cheek, and went round his chin. Soft and warm, they pressed lightly, teasingly, along his neck. Then they halted.

Ryan's heart started to pound in his chest.

He felt the collar of his shirt move briefly, and then cool air-conditioned air hit the skin just below his collar bone. The top button of his shirt was undone.

What is Troy doing to me?!

One finger dragged across his collar bone, the pad under his finger felt slightly rough, probably because of the countless amounts of handling a basketball.

Then the finger was gone.

And now Ryan felt cold, wishing those warm fingers back.

He heard a frustrated sigh, then a shuffle near his legs. God, having your eyes closed is irritating!

Suddenly, a weight settled just beside Ryan's head, then another on the other side of his head. They were Troy's hands. Then the red underneath his lids blackened as only darkness could or the presence of someone blocking the light from reaching his eyes.

Ryan struggled to breathe as the warmth grew, and a scent of fresh oranges, crisp and clean like soap became stronger. He could only imagine Troy leaning forward, his hands on either side of Ryan's head. Is he coming closer? Is he staring at me? What is he doing?! Ryan's head was clouded with questions.

The warmth became a stifling heat. Ryan couldn't stand it. It was unnerving. It was tingles running down his arms, his stomach tightening, his face and neck heating. It was unbearably hot.

A sudden brush of—warm and wet—against his lips, pressed so briefly, so faintly, it felt unreal. Did he just kiss me? Ryan frantically thought. He willed his heart to slow down.

"Ryan?" Troy said softly. His voice cut through Ryan's hazy thoughts, so suddenly that the blond had to struggle not to jerk in surprise. Don't move.

Struggling to breathe evenly, Ryan's thoughts centered on his lungs. That's it Ryan, nice and even breaths. Inhale. 1, 2, 3, 4. Exhale. 1, 2, 3, 4…

"Ryan, can you hear me?" Troy whispered in his ear— Inhale. 1, 2—Smooth and low, his voice carried into his ear—3, 4. Ex—Breath so warm and wet—hale. Ryan almost choked, a knot forming in his throat, he tried to breathe out as smoothly as possible but it came out as slow pants of air.

His lean chest pressed against Ryan's as he reached to blow warm air in his ear. Why is he torturing me like this?! Ryan thought—oh god that felt good. Ryan twitched involuntarily. Ryan's warm blood was going down—

Troy whispered his name again—

His arousal spiking, Ryan felt heat pool in his groin.

Just a few more minutes and the nurse would barge in here. Ryan could withstand a few minutes of wet dream material until then.

Ryan groaned internally, frustrated beyond belief. And Troy was still hovering closely above him.

He imagined half of Troy's taunt body over his upper half, leaning over him, Troy's faintly muscular arms on either side of his head. Troy's shirt stretching across his hard chest—

Maybe I should stop, Ryan thought, his head muddled and dazed.

And suddenly the weight by his head lifted while the other stayed, and the hand instead was sliding down his side. This is molestation! Ryan thought, this is wrong. This is—Oh. A warm hand ventured down his belly.He shivered uncontrollably.

Then over his waist, down his thigh, back up his side, passing over his chest and sliding down the side of his neck—a whimper escape Ryan's throat—and the fingers softly grazed over his Adam's apple, the thumb dipping down to drag across his collar bone again.

Ryan forced a breath out, willing his hands not to grip the bed underneath him for support, for restraint.

He couldn't withstand this anymore. The dark warmth filled with nothing but feeling—it drove Ryan crazy—his arousal swirled in his belly. His pants were embarrassingly becoming tight. Ryan couldn't think—

He couldn't breathe.

A low chuckle warmed his insides, and a heavy voice dripped with amusement, "I know you're awake."

And Ryan's whole body stiffened.

TBC

A/N: Hope you guys liked it!