Nobody noticed Ryan slip his coat on and close the door quietly behind him. Sharpay was too busy complaining about her new karaoke machine which she'd broken already, and his mother was trying to pacify her with a promised shopping trip the following day.

The air was crisp and cool as Ryan left his driveway. Pushing his hat further down to cover his ears, he made his way towards the nearby park. He'd hesitated for a full 10 minutes over whether to bring Chad's present with him – after all he wasn't certain if he would be meeting him. Finally he'd decided to hide it in his pocket and hope he'd have an opportunity to give it.

As he drew closer his nerves almost got the better of him. What if this was nothing more than an elaborate hoax, a cruel trick played on him by some other students?

He self consciously adjusted his clothes, fiddling with the angle of his hat and clearing his throat. The ball in his hands made him feel slightly ridiculous – he was supposed to bring it with him, right? How should he hold it? He tried resting in under one arm, as Chad did, but he was at a loss of what to do with his other hand. Then he tried balancing it up on the points of three fingers but it slipped out of his grasp and rolled into the empty road. Embarrassed, though there was no one there to see him, he scooped it up and decided to hold it with both hands as he entered the park.

As expected, the park was completely deserted. The swings creaked in the slight breeze and the tarmac was littered with damp leaves. It was only when Ryan turned to leave that he noticed a familiar figure, leaning on the fence near the solitary basketball hoop.

"I'm so glad you showed up, I was beginning to feel stupid about the whole idea."

Ryan just stared open-mouthed, unable to believe that his 'wishful thinking' was actually a reality.

"Er, dude.......are you okay? I mean, you did want to learn, you said so in the summer."

"Y-yeah I do.....I'm just....surprised....."

"Well, that was the idea. C'mon throw me the ball."

Wordlessly Ryan threw it, without much force, and Chad caught it with ease. He bounced it up an down several times before shooting at the hoop and throwing it back to Ryan.

"Now it's your turn. Stand here and aim."

Ryan positioned himself slightly in front of Chad, raised the ball and threw it with all his might at the hoop. It bounced off the wire fence, forcing him to run and retrieve it.

"You may have shocked me with your baseball skills, but basketball is clearly not your forte."

Ryan felt his cheeks colouring and almost left the park there and then, but Chad's hand, patting him on the back, prevented him from moving.

"Here, let me show you."

Chad reached around and covered Ryan's hand on the ball with his own. With the other he pointed out where to aim and explained how to throw in such a way that the ball dropped through the net, without bouncing off the board. Ryan couldn't help himself from leaning backwards into Chad's arms and inhaling his scent. Together they counted to three before hurling the ball at the hoop. It dropped cleanly through the net causing Chad to cheer loudly.

"Maybe if you trained up a bit you could make it as a Wildcat reserve!"

"Ha ha, I doubt it."

Ryan realised that Chad's hand was still resting on his own and turned the face the other boy.

"Thanks," he said, whispering, "I didn't expect you to get me anything."

"You're my friend, Ry, I had to do something."

A glow of happiness spread through Ryan, warming him, and his stomach seemed to be doing somersaults. They stood there, inches apart, for a full minute, just observing each other's features in close proximity. Ryan felt the tension increase, it was almost tangible. Like every shitty romcom he'd been forced to sit through with Sharpay, this was the moment when the two protagonists kissed for the first time, and realise their unconditional love for one another. As cliché as the idea was, Ryan willed it actually become a reality. He almost leaned in, but Chad seemed to come to his senses and, blinking, took a step back.

"So, do you......er.......would you like to come back to mine?"

Stunned for a second or two, Ryan eventually nodded. No one had phoned his mobile, asking where he was, so he figured no one would mind if stayed out for a bit longer.

****

From the outside it was evident that the Danforth's celebrated Christmas in an entirely different way from the Evans'. The path to the front door was lined with models of Santa and fairy lights hung from every window sill. Inside the decorations were as garish as the wrapping paper Chad had used. Whereas Ryan's mother had spent hours colour-co ordinating the tinsel and baubles with the furnishings in each room, Chad's family had bought anything and everything remotely festive and draped over the furniture or hung it from the ceiling. The finished result was rather overwhelming but the house was warm and Chad's mother, dressed in a festive apron, was quick to welcome him. Grabbing a plate of warm mince pies, Chad led the way upstairs.

Though devoid of Christmas decorations, Chad's room was just as cluttered as the rest of the house and Ryan, struggling to find a path through the piles of junk, perched himself on the end of the bed. Chad sat down next to him and in silence they nibbled at the food, feeling awkward in each other's company. After a while Chad cleared his throat and said,

"Can you believe this is our last year? It's gone so fast."

"I know, I don't think I'm ready for college at all."

"You'll be fine, man, but yeah, it is a bit......daunting."

"I wish that......" Ryan broke off, unsure whether to continue.

"You wish what?"

"That we'd, you know.........become friends earlier."

"So do I, Ryan. I don't know how I would have been able to get through all of Troy's bullshit if you hadn't been there."

Chad put the plate on the floor and looked into Ryan's eyes earnestly.

"We'll stay in contact though, and meet up when we can."

Ryan nodded but his reply got caught in his throat when Chad shifted closer, their legs touching. The silence between them returned, but suddenly Chad turned to face him and, resting his hand on Ryan's thigh, tilted his head so their lips brushed.

Ryan was too shocked to even breathe, but Chad's insistent pressure on his mouth forced his lips open. Their tongues jostled together, uncertainly trying to explore each other and as they shifted positions their noses rubbed together, foreheads knocking. Chad pushed Ryan down on to the bed and rested his body on top.

If Ryan was to compared this to movie standards it was by no means a perfect kiss. Chad tasted of mince pies and something sickly, probably the candy he had eaten that day, and Ryan was at a loss about what to do with his hands. However, a sudden hardness pressing into his leg put all cynical thoughts right out of his mind.

Chad kept his eyes tightly closed until his hand wandered up Ryan's torso and he felt a distinct lack of warm, rounded flesh. He sat up abruptly and tried to take in what he had just done.

He'd kissed Ryan.........Ryan........who was, anatomically speaking, a boy.

Okay, so he was the most effeminate boy in the school but that didn't change his lack of.......ahem......bosoms, nor, judging by the tent in his trousers, his fully functioning male organ.

He should have been disgusted, ashamed at his actions but, oddly enough, it all felt perfectly normal. No, more than that;

It felt right.

Chasing after Taylor had just seemed what was expected of a high school jock – wanting what he couldn't have, but taking advantage of several cheerleaders along the way. In all honesty, he'd never been physically attracted to her. Sure, she was a beautiful girl, but her feminine curves didn't stay imprinted on his mind night after night.

To say the very idea scared him would be an understatement. There was no way he could be.......surely not........wouldn't he have always known? He couldn't bring himself to even think it, let alone say it out loud.

The confused look in Ryan's eyes and his pale exposed neck, just waiting to be ravished, brought him back to the present and, as he always had done, he put all serious thoughts out of mind, intent on seeking pleasure to blank everything else out.

Grasping hold of Ryan's hips, he rolled over, switching their positions so the smaller boy was straddling his waist. He grabbed a fistful of the brightly coloured shirt, ignoring Ryan's squeak of protest, and brought their lips crashing together. Fumbling with his belt, he finally wrenched his zipper down and directed Ryan's hand, moving uncertainly around his stomach, there. Ryan seemed reluctant to touch him, the long pale fingers wandered around his crotch until finally they seemed to settle on a hard object in Chad's jeans. Apparently this gave Ryan some confidence because he started moving his hand up and down furiously. Chad tried really hard not to burst out laughing.

"Er, Ryan, man....that's my cellphone."

Flushing a deep, and in Chad's opinion adorable, crimson, Ryan hid his face with his hands. Prising them away gently, Chad forced him to make eye contact.

"It's ok, really, it is. If you're nervous we don't have to do anything. Wait, was this your first time?"

Ryan laughed shakily.

"Y-yes, but I don't want to stop, let me...."

He broke off and slipped his hand inside Chad's jeans, the warmth radiating from there surprising him, and fisted up and down. Chad smiled encouragingly and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Ryan had read about it, heard people talking about it, even (secretly) watched movies with it in, but he had yet to try it for himself.

Shifting down Chad's body he hesitated, before tentatively taking the tip of his penis into his mouth. Chad's gasp and the arching of his hips pushed it further in, almost choking him. Taking a breath he tried to slide it all in, inch by inch. A firm hand rested on the back of his head and pulled him up, then pushed him down again. Realising what he was supposed to be doing, Ryan started his own rhythm, trying to build up speed, and grating his teeth against the underside, eliciting a loud moan from Chad.

Chad thrashed about, bucking his hips, one hand on Ryan's neck and the other clutching the sheets beneath him. All of a sudden, with no warning, and catching Ryan completely unawares, he came hard and fast into his mouth. Ryan struggled to swallow it all, unable to stop some overflowing his mouth and uncertain about what to make of the taste. It was a little salty, but not too unpleasant, and after all, what had he expected it to be like?

Chad pulled him closer so they were face to face, and paused, before thinking; "If Ryan can swallow it, I can damn well taste it," and kissing him slowly at first, trying to explore every corner of his mouth. His arms encircled the smaller boy and their legs twined together. Ryan pulled away and rested his cheek on Chad's shoulder, placing soft, lazy kisses along his jawline.

Forcing himself to stay awake, Chad ran his fingers through Ryan's fine hair. A shout from his mother startled both of them and, leaping off his bed, Chad only remembered to do up his jeans as he opened the door. Reappearing a second or so later, he picked up Ryan's hat from where it had landed on the floor, amongst his clutter.

"She just wanted to know if you were hungry."

Ryan let out the breath he was holding, and lay back on the bed.

"I thought my parents had called or something, but that's ridiculous because they have no idea I'd even be here. I doubt they even know who you are."

Trying to lighten the mood, Chad jammed the hat on to his head and strutted up and down his bedroom, causing Ryan to giggle and forget about his family for a while.

"Okay, now that you've done that, you can't get any gay-er!"

Chad froze.

"I was imitating you, actually."

"Yes, I guessed, but you can't keep it a secret for long."

"I don't exactly have a neon rainbow sign flashing above my head, proclaiming "I'm Gay!" to the world. I bet no one suspects a thing."

"Be that as it may, would you rather have the school find out by accident, or tell them to their faces and prevent any unpleasant rumours?"

"It's not as easy as that, though, is it?"

Ryan opened his arms and Chad fell gladly into them. Stroking his curls, Ryan added quietly,

"No, it won't be, but you'll have me, always, and in less than a year you'll be away from everyone else."

Smiling, Chad allowed himself to be soothed by the caresses but they stopped abruptly when Ryan remembered the contents of his coat pocket.

"I still have to give you your Christmas present."

Chad chuckled and pulled Ryan closer, whispering,

"After what you just did to me, I think that's all the presents I deserve."

"But, I made you a mix CD! I can teach you some moves...."

A finger on his lips prevented him from continuing.

"Save it for another day. It's your turn now, consider it a thank you gift."

Chad unzipped the other boy's close-fitting trousers and closing his eyes, Ryan surrendered.

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