A/N: OMG I'M BACK! I know it's been forever since a new chapter of this story has been posted and I apologize. You don't want to hear my excuses and hellish life stories so let's just get down to this. If anyone is still actually reading this PLEASE review. What I have here is only a preview of chapter 10 to see if anyone is still interested, a full chapter will be posted if I get 5 reviews (feel free to flame me for being gone so long!) and I'd also like to ask if anyone is interested in being my beta. If so either PM me or include your interest in your review. I humbly beg your forgiveness for my extended absence and as a peace offering I give you…

Chapter 10 – Preview

Twenty minutes after Chad laid down he was still staring at the ceiling of his room. His mom must have convinced his dad not to argue while the kids were home for he heard nothing but the low buzz of the TV coming from downstairs. His thoughts kept coming back to his dad and Troy's reactions to his new relationship and doubt started blooming in his chest. These were people he'd known, respected, and even loved his entire life. His father had supported every decision he'd ever made and Troy had stood next to him through everything, even the inevitable fights growing up so close together caused. When Troy had decided to sing in the musical Chad had put aside his own feelings of being left behind (eventually) and supported his brother with everything in him. So if the two most respected people in his life thought he was making a mistake who was he to argue?

The sudden sound of his dad's footsteps on the stairs jolted him out of his musings and when the sound paused in front of his door he quickly turned his back to the door and attempted to slow his breathing, afraid his dad was going to come in and berate him more about Ryan.

Sure enough Chad saw a pinstripe of light grow and move across the wall as his door opened. His heart rate sped up as his temple throbbed in memory of his dad's reaction and Chad focused even harder on his breathing. In-2-3-4 Out-2-3-4 In-2-3-4 Out-2-3-4

"Chad?" His father called softly. "You awake, son?" Chad debated not replying until he heard something in his dad's voice. Doubt? No, it almost sounded like he hoped Chad would be asleep, that he wouldn't have to say what he came here to say. Chad turned to look at his dad.

Let him squirm. He thought heatedly as he spoke. "Yeah, I'm up." His dad still hesitated in the doorway but Chad was loathe to invite him in, to do anything in fact that would ease his dad's obvious discomfort. After another moment Charles sighed and stepped in to gingerly sit on the chair in front of Chad's computer desk.

"I saw you fighting with Troy earlier." A pregnant pause. Charles seemed to be waiting, expecting something from his son. For his part, Chad was already angry enough at his dad to want to ignore him and with the mention of his best friend's name a bitterness rose so strongly in his throat that even if he'd wanted to respond he would have been incapable of speech. So he kept quiet, letting his dad get to the real reason he'd come in here. "Does he know about…" Charles broke off again with a wince.

"About my boyfriend?" Chad filled in, the bitterness dislodging with the words, making his voice louder and sharper than he'd intended. His dad winced again though whether it was in reaction to the tone or the word boyfriend was unclear. "Yes, Dad, he does and he's not any happier about it than you are. With this Chad had to look away. The bitterness was still there and now it was threatening to spill out his eyes.

"Son, I just don't understand. You've never shown any signs of… feeling like this before. You've always been a good kid. Maintaining your grades, joining the basketball team. And what about that young lady in the Science Club? Taylor?"

Chad laughed to give a vent to his feelings that didn't involve tears. "Dad, Taylor..." He cut himself off before he could spill his friend's secret. He'd made a promise and no matter what kind of hell he was going through he didn't have the right to reveal her. Besides, telling his dad the girl everyone thought he was dating was gay probably wasn't the best argument for his case right now. His dad would likely start pointing to that as the reason his own son "turned". "Is a great girl, but she's just a friend. She's well aware I'm not interested in her as more and she has her eye on someone else." He covered.

"Well, there are plenty of other girls. In fact, I work with that girl Aislynn's dad. She's on the cheer squad you know? And according to her dad she almost never stops talking about you." There was a sick kind of hope in his dad's voice. Unfortunately Chad knew exactly who he was talking about and nearly gagged at the thought. Aislynn was gorgeous to be sure with her athletic curves and blonde hair that fell to the very lowest part of her back but she was known to be almost as spoiled as Sharpay. She was looking for nothing more than a conquest. The ability to show him off like expensive arm candy and say when it was over "That's right, I dated Chad Danforth." Chad was known around the school for never getting serious with a girl. Sure he'd checked them out right along with the rest of the guys but no matter what his dad said about never having shown signs of being gay before he'd always known he just didn't feel that "stir" when he looked at a girl. The few times he'd tried kissing one had just confirmed it.

"Dad," Chad said finally sitting up and looking his dad right in the eye, seeming more brave than he really felt. "I am in love with Ryan Evans. He makes me happy and I have no interest in changing that. So please either accept it or let me go to bed. It's not something I feel like discussing any further." And Chad lay back down with his back to the rest of the room. As soon as he heard the door closed a single, lonely tear escaped onto his pillow as he squeezed his eyes shut, curled up in a ball and forced himself to fall asleep.

A/N: Well? Please tell me it didn't suck terribly! This is far from the end of this conversation but tell me you're not proud of Chad standing up to his dad?! OK review time and I'll give you cookies (in the form of more story!)