AN: Sorry it took it me so long to update. My life has been a little crazy. I hope you enjoy the new chapter and please let me know what you think.

Chapter 7 – Start of Senior Year

The night before school started…

Right after dinner at the Montez house, Chad was starting to get nervous. He knew that this year was going to be different than the past three but not because of the wheelchair, no Chad had gotten used to it now that the looks he occasionally got didn't faze him. No this year was different because it would be the last with all his friends and even his sister. Chad decided at that moment that nothing was going to stop him from having the best senior year he could.

Gabi in the room above him was also nervous but it was just her normal night before school jitters. Only thing different was that her brother wasn't in her room to try to calm her down. Shortly after she realized the problem her phone dinged to tell her that she had a text message. 'I know you're nervous but this year since I can't come 2 U, Y don't U come 2 me. Bring whatever movies U want, I'll get the popcorn & soda from the kitchen.' Gabi got a smile on her face instantly. She changed into her PJs since usually the Montez sibling night before school ritual ended with them asleep in Gabi's room well this year Chad's. Once changed she went to her movie collection and grabbed a few choices mostly chick flicks or musicals but she knew her brother wouldn't care as he would probably spend most of the night texting with Ryan like he has done the past couple years. Once she had the DVDs she headed downstairs and found Chad lying on his bed ready to begin their ritual. Gabi put the first movie in and climbed onto Chad's bed and hit play. Halfway through the second movie Chad paused the movie.

"What are you going to do next year at college when you don't have me to watch movies with?"

"I thought you didn't want to talk about college?"

"I have gotten over my anxiety about college and no basketball. Why don't you answer my question?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead. I don't even remember when I started becoming nervous but I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there. Now can we go back to watching the movie?"

Chad resumed the movie but he wasn't focused on it anymore. He knew this ritual was all for his sister's benefit so he worried about what she would do next year till they both fell asleep.

Morning of the first day of Senior Year…

Chad woke up before his sister and decided that he might as well start getting ready for school, as he was wheeling out of his bathroom he found his sister was awake and was talking to someone on his phone.

"I don't know, oh wait he just got out of the bathroom let me just hand him the phone." She said to whoever was on the other end of the phone. She then proceeded to walk across the room, hand Chad his phone and mouth Ryan before walking out to get herself ready.

"Hey, babe"

"Hi sweetie, I was calling to see if you wanted me to pick up for school or if you were going to ride with Troy and Gabi this year."

"I had assumed I was going to end up riding with Troy and Ella. You and Sharpay have always gone together on the first day in her car so I just assumed it would be the same."

"Shar already left this morning and even if she hadn't I kind of decided that I would like to arrive to my first day of senior year with my boyfriend by my side"

"I would like that too. When should I expect you?"

"I'll be there in 30 minutes. I have to finish getting ready and I'm sure you do too."

"You're right I do have to finish getting ready and for some reason I feel that this year I have to be more on my game than I have been in the past."

"It's probably because you know the second you roll through the doors every eye will be on you. It sucks but you know it's true."

"I know your right. I just wish that you weren't. I should probably hang up and get ready, I see you in half an hour. I love you."

"Love you too, see you shortly."

After Chad hung up with Ryan, he rolled over to his closet to get dressed for school. He had no idea why he cared so much what people thought but he was determined to look like nothing changed. 15 minutes later, Chad was rolling out of his room and into the kitchen for breakfast all dressed and ready to go.

"Good morning mom." Chad said as soon as he saw his mother.

"Good morning sweetie. Do you need a ride to school this morning because I'm sure your dad would be happy to take you on his way to work?"

"No, Ryan is picking me up in 15 minutes so I should probably eat something before he gets here."

"Of course sweetie, pancakes are waiting on the table. Your sister should be down shortly. I imagine she is riding with Troy this morning."

"Of course, when have you known Gabi to not ride to school with Troy except for when he has been sick?"

"True, well I should finish getting ready for work myself. Enjoy breakfast and I will see tonight for dinner."

With that Chad's mom headed back upstairs and Chad pulled up to the kitchen table to eat breakfast. Chad had just finished filling his plate when Gabi joined him at the table. The siblings ate breakfast in silence while they waited for their respective boyfriends to pick them up. They finished eating just as Ryan arrived. Ryan let himself in when he got there, when he walked into the Montez kitchen he went over to Chad and leaned down to give him a good morning kiss but as he was standing back up Chad pulled him into his lap.

"Oomph. Are you ready to go baby?" Ryan asked.

"Yep, just have to grab my backpack from my room"

"Ok, I meet you at the front door then." With that Ryan made to stand back up but Chad wouldn't let him.

"Nope you are coming with me."

"Chad, you do realize you go twice a slow when you have me on your lap?"

"I know but we still have 45 minutes till we have to be at school and it only takes us 10 minutes to get there from here so I figured I would keep you on my lap while you actually let me."

"Alright fine, but if you purposely go slower than you normally do with me on here then I am getting off because we do need to get to school early. Remember you have to get to homeroom with Ms. Darbus on time and she will not care if you are late just because it takes you longer to get there now. Remember she doesn't give any special treatment, well except to maybe Shar but still I don't want you to end up in detention on our first day of senior year."

By the time Ryan had finished his speech, Chad was rolling into his room and over to his desk. Chad grabbed his back and handed it Ryan who draped it over the back the wheelchair. Once that was done, Chad headed back out of his room and towards the front door. When they got to the door, Ryan insisted he get up which Chad finally allowed and they headed to Ryan's car. Ryan helped Chad into the front seat, then handed him his backpack and then proceeded to fold up the chair and place it in the trunk. The drive to school was uneventful however; as they pulled into the parking lot Chad started to get butterfly in his stomach which was something that he never encountered. Ryan looked over at Chad once he pulled into a space and could instantly see how a wreck his boyfriend had become.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"It's just that I realized that I am actually going to need to rely on others to make sure I get to class on time. I may have mastered get around in a wheelchair and sure for the first couple of days people are going to stop and get out-of-the-way while they stare but then when the novelty of seeing me in the chair wears off everyone is going to go back to business as usual which will make my life twice as hard. No one is going to care that they need to move so that I can get to class and I can only move so fast on my own. It's like you said earlier none of my teachers are going to care that it takes me longer to get to class and if I'm late they aren't going to give me special treatment or at least not after the first couple of days. I just don't want to burden anyone with helping me get to class."

"Chad Montez, you are not a burden and don't let anybody make you think different. We love you and don't mind helping. Besides we normally walk to class together so now one person will just push you instead. No major change, no one has to go out of their way to help you."

"I know, it still is just going to be something I have to get used to. No one wants to admit defeat and to me be pushed around campus instead of getting around on my own just feels like a defeat."

"Baby, you are not going to need assist to get to every class just the ones far away from each other. So you are not giving up totally control just partial."

"I guess that true, thank you Ry. You always seem to know what to say."

"You're welcome babe, now let me get your chair and then we can go into school and head to homeroom."

With that Ryan got out of the car and grabbed Chad's chair from the trunk. He then draped Chad's backpack over the back of the chair and helped Chad into the chair. Once Chad was settled he grabbed his own bag and they proceeded into the building. Like Chad had predicted, the entire student body stopped what they were doing when he rolled in and stared as he rolled by. Chad and Ryan made their way to Ms. Darbus' classroom and met up with the rest of the gang, who slowly started to trickle in after them.

The rest of the morning proceeded along the same lines. As Chad rolled down the hall students stopped to watch him and most had looks of pity on their faces. Like Ryan had predicted no one in the gang cared about helping Chad get to his classes that were too far from him to push himself to.

Lunch was another story altogether. Some underclassmen decided now was a good time to pick on Chad since he seemed defenseless in the chair. As Chad was rolling into the cafeteria alongside Troy since they had class together before lunch, the kid decided to drop a book on the floor right in front of one of the wheels and did it at the right time that neither Chad nor Troy saw. Chad rolled over the book causing his chair to tip over and sending him to the ground on his side in front of most of the school. Of course the kid didn't get the reaction he was hoping for, which was for the entire school to break out laughing; instead they were either too shocked to react or gasped at the stupidity of their classmate. Troy helped Chad right himself and noticed what had caused Chad to fall. He grabbed the book before the other kid could and saw a name written on it. The kid realized he was ultimately screwed and decided to run for it after he walked calmed out of the cafeteria. Troy told Chad to continue to their table. Once Troy was alone he headed to his dad's office to hand over the information and then went back to enjoy lunch.

The rest of the day after lunch was uneventful. The team didn't have practice this week so afterschool the group headed home. Chad hoped that the one event today would be the only one taken to try to humiliate him. He didn't show it at lunch but the kid did get to him. He realized that he may the advantage he used to. No one picked on a member of the basketball and now that he technically isn't on the team anymore may make him open to being picked on and the face that he is in a wheelchair makes all that much easier. Chad decided not to tell anyone his little fear. He just hoped that the rest of the year remained uneventful.

AN: Please let me know what you think. I love reading your reviews. Also let me know if you have any ideas for what you would like to happen to any of the characters. I have a general idea of what I plan to happen but am always welcoming new ideas.