Blood Will Out

Hello everyone, so yet another AU type fan fiction...I saw some amazing music videos dedicated to the TRYAN pairing and decided to give this a whirl. I never really thought about HSM in a supernatural setting but then I read BitterGrin's "By Moonlight", "By Gravelight" and "By Starlight" and it got me thinking on some interpretations I had on the various lores of supernaturals I have encountered. I want to try and avoid some of the apalling tropes and tripe associated with some of them and I think the first two stories of BitterGrin's trilogy really did a fantastic job at looking a new readings on old favourites. I don't know if this will be continuing into a long series, short series or if this is where it ends but I'd like to hear what you guys have to say. I advocate BitterGrin's stories as well as a few more that hooked me on the pairing of Ryan and Troy. High School Revisited by xBroken-Glassx for instance is a wonderful piece and Start of Something New by easytodancewith.

Warnings: Bad Language, Slash, Drinking, Gay stuff and this and that. Rated M for safety.

Blood Will Out

Ryan

Senior Year...God how it loomed. Summer was slowly crawling to completion and I was excited to be almost on the verge of graduation...it'd be a hectic year but...well it'd be worth it. I thought my life would be perfect...I was wrong.

I should try to start at the beginning. It was 2007, senior year was about to explode like a powder keg and we were partying down the fuse with the first of the last summer parties at the Evans estate. My sister had invited everyone who was anyone – which was a very strange term for her these days. That was the Brains, the Jocks and the Drama Club with a few skaters for good measure.

Troy and Gabriella were there...things were awkward between them lately, everyone could see, no hand holding, no arms around shoulders...Gabriella had even stopped wearing his pendant. Troy seemed a bit more distant too and they both looked melancholy whenever they had to talk to each other. I downed a shot of...well something...I'll get back to you on that one...it was green...it tingled my lips and I moved out onto the dance floor with Martha.

Gotta be honest, she could put me to shame something fierce with her moves.

Troy was dancing with Kelsi and Taylor, Chad had gone to get some punch and Troy was doing a half-assed kind of cha-cha. I took his and Kelsi's hands and we spun each other. Kelsi laughed before being goosed by Jason and shoving ice down his shirt. Flirtation much?

I laughed and pulled Troy into a mock tango; he seemed to fight a smile briefly but eventually succumbed to a parody of the famous dance. Hey it was a laugh, eventually Martha and Kelsi joined in alongside Taylor and Chad. Fun. Laughter. It was good.

Troy spun me, tipped me and threw his free hand to the air with a grin on his face, lost in joviality. It was good to see a friend smile and Troy was close to being a good friend, especially after all the baseball games we'd played with the Wildcats. I looked up at him and smiled and there was a spark...ah damn crushes!

I eased myself up quickly, laughing it off as the others gathered around. The DJ had turned on something by Aly & AJ...Like Whoa I think. Troy leaned in, his warm breath tickling my ear as he spoke loud enough to be heard over the music. "Thanks, man" he said.

I smiled at him. "No problem" I felt a burning sensation on my back and turned to look over my shoulder. The guy had dark eyes, dark hair, sallow skin and a slight smirk, just cocky enough to be charming. I felt his eyes on me like a set of gentle but firm hands.

I felt my hand slip out of Troy's grasp. "Um...I need punch" I murmured...I couldn't tear my eyes away from the guy...he was beautiful...Troy said something about getting some too but I was already moving through the crowd in my red and white shirt and matching hat. Team spirit and all that jazz... or a head start on it for the coming term.

"Hello" the guy said. He had an accent...I like accents...sounded vaguely Germanic.

"...hi..."I managed. I think I had something smooth to say...a witty line or a charming come-on but his eyes gleamed and his skin glowed and...Yeah forget it. "...m Ryan..."

"I'm Luke" he smiled, grinning with perfect teeth. "You're quite the dancer..."

"Uh that? That was just for fun?"

"No...I meant before that, your other dances, I saw you at Lava Springs and the choreography to that number was flawless. You remind me of a dancer I once saw in the Royal Ballet Company while it was in New York -" he smiled and leaned in just a little. "I like dancers...I'd like to see you dance with a more suitable partner" he winked and I felt my heart go into double time.

He raised his hand between us, palm out facing up, the skin on that well manicured hand looked so soft and the invite was so clear. He was dressed in black and his bronzed flesh looked so perfect alongside it... I touched his hand; his flesh was cool...even in the hot night air. It was pleasant.

Really nice.

Before I knew it we were dancing close together to "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer...I hate that song. Like with a passion, ever since Dawson's Creek and the 90s bashed my head in with it. But...well...Luke seemed to make it melt away. All I could do is stare into his eyes...the big dark pools of...desire... yeah Mills and Boon had nothing on what was going through my head.

"Can we go and talk somewhere?" he whispered. I blinked suddenly aware a whole new song was playing and I hadn't even noticed. Something felt off...I realise that now...but I ignored it.

"S-sure" I lead him towards the gazebo, there were people around but fewer near the gazebo. As I walked past Zeke and Sharpay grinned at me. My sister caught my hand and whispered "Hey, details over breakfast, m'kay?"

I flushed and hurried to keep up with the long strides of Luke. He had long legs and a nice ass to top them off...damn...I cast a glance back at the party; Kelsi had joined Zeke and Sharpay near the buffet where I had spoken to them. She gave me a little wave and a laugh and I felt myself blush. Don't get ahead of yourself, Ryan, I told myself. Play it cool.

Luke rested his left ankle on his right knee and sprawled into the swinging love chair. He looked like an underwear model...best thing about buying Calvin Klein...

"S-so...hi" I managed as I sat down slowly near the other arm of the narrow seat. His fingers touched my shoulder and slowly urged me towards him with surprising strength for those delicate limbs.

"Hello indeed, Mr. Evans" he smiled. "So...here we are"

I cast a glance at the couple making out a few feet away. "Um. Yup" my face was flushed and he leaned in.

"So...what shall we do..." I turned to look at him and he captured my lips in a kiss, it was cool and strong, it was how a king kissed or something. Mhm. Yup. Good Kiss. I felt honoured.

"You have such a spark" he murmured as he traced cool fingers down the side of my face. "Such... grace and elegance..." he kissed my ear lobe and I trembled, that was a sensitive spot of mine...real sensitive...he moved back and grinned. "Oh my...that bears further investigation" he mused. He leaned in and slowly sucked on my ear lobe. I gasped and he moved downwards, drawing the sensation with his lips.

"I – um – so...uh...where – where do you go to school?"

He stopped and blinked. "I study in New York, Xavier High School..." he said simply. "I'm here visiting my... family" he kissed my neck again.

"W-who do you know at the party?" I mumbled.

"No one as important as you" he said slowly. "A friend...to be honest I really just wanted to meet you..." I blushed and then whimpered as he slid an arm around my waist. "Maybe we can go out some time?" he mused. "I believe there are some very nice theatre shows coming up..."

Everyone knows I'm gay but...well there's everyone knowing I act gay and then there's everyone knowing I want to jump into bed with a boy. It's not actually six of one thing and half a dozen of the other its two totally different criteria.

"That – that'd be nice"

He flashed a grin and again I felt something...off...but he leaned in and kissed me then slowly made his way down my neck, there was a pinch and I gasped before the world melted into a haze of pleasure. Wow. Wow. Wow...wwww...

I woke up the next morning in my own bed, alone, thank you very much, I felt like my limbs were made of lead at first and as I sat up the world spun as if to spite me, a headache pumped along my mind and I groaned aloud.

I don't know how long passed but Sharpay eventually barged into my room and sat down on my bed as she set about doing her nails. "I said I wanted a dish-session at breakfast and here you are sleeping like a baby" she scoffed. "Come on, we can move it to lunch"

I peered at her from under my pillow. "Lunch?"

"Ryan...it's nearly one o'clock" she exclaimed. I sat up, the world threatened to do a head spin but I covered my eyes and rubbed at them a few times to calm my senses. "So...you must have had a few private drinks with your boy toy" she commented. "Who was he? He doesn't go to East High"

"Huh? Oh – uh his name was Luke, he's from New York, he's on vacation and he came with a friend"

"Oh? Who?" she was still filing her nails intently but Sharpay could multi-task anything with grooming.

"I uh...I can't remember" I muttered.

"Well he was hot" she shrugged. "Okay so how about a game of tennis at the club and then some spa treatment?" she paused and giggled. "Oh Ryan"

"What?" she was staring at my neck, I clapped a hand to it and rolled out of bed, rushing to the mirror. There was a small red mark, obviously a hickey under my jaw and another one on my collar bone. Damn.

I felt them tingle and for a moment I thought Luke was there, wrapping his arms around me...but...sadly no. It was just my sister laughing her heart out before snapping a picture with her iPhone and darting out the door.

"Shar!" I whined.

Summer's end was fast approaching. I couldn't find Luke's number but when we attended Troy's party (less booze because his mother was home that night) I knew I would be seeing him again. We pulled up in Sharpay's pink convertible; I always worried about how very...Barbie Dream Car it was. It was three days since our party and now we were off to the Barbeque at the Bolton house.

Gabriella was there, dancing with Taylor and Kelsi and of course Martha who never missed a beat. I grinned at the latter over the punch bowl as she came to refresh. "Hey handsome" she winked. "What's shaking?"

"Aside from you on the dance floor? Seriously, nice moves" I grinned.

"Thanks...oh shoot" she grinned and leaned towards me, I leaned in. "I have to tell you of all people. I've just gotten my teaching qualifications for dance. I'm now allowed to teach break dancing anywhere in the country...and I'm applying to this college in Maryland that's got a fantastic Education program". I could see from the way her eyes had lit up that Martha was facing the future with a smile. She had always loved knowledge and now she was getting to pass it on...she was elated.

"Congratulations" I smiled and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "I am so happy for you"

"Yeah I realised over the summer that dance or study, knowledge or rhythm...I can teach people, pass it on and pay it forward" she chuckled. "I am ridiculously excited, the idea of being able to show people new worlds and help them get there, being a teacher is what I want to do."

Wow. She was on top of her future.

I sure as heck wasn't.

Still I had time.

I turned around and nearly spilt punch over Troy. Martha giggled as we both recoiled to avoid ruining our clothes. I was wearing by black and white newsboy had with a white sweater and black slacks. Troy was in a pale blue short-sleeve shirt over a white long sleeve tee and jeans. I honestly feel I was more justified than he was...yeah I'm allowed to be shallow sometimes.

"Oh...hey" he said. There was an awkward pause. "Great party the other night"

"Thanks" I said flatly. "Um...this looks good...the...um veggie burgers are a nice touch"

He looked at my small plate of food. "Uh...yeah I don't eat too much red meat usually" I murmured. "I like the chicken".

Troy shrugged. "Did you hear about the football team in...like...Dallas? They ate a diet of chicken breast but it had been given like extra oestrogen and...Well they ended up..." he made a gesture in front of his chest, curving his hands into a very obvious shape. I laughed.

"Urban Myth" I snorted.

"No way, dude, it totally makes sense, in red meat you can trust" he grinned.

"Pshaw I say Mr. Bolton!" my accent went to a fine British imitation.

Chad bounded over. "I say old boys, are we having limey time without Monsignor Danforth the Third?" he guffawed heartily at the end and Troy and I shared a laugh. Chad was a decent guy, a little fidgety around certain topics, gay things, but he didn't hold it against me that I was...theatrical.

"Never good sir, why we were just -" Troy was interrupted mid Brit-speak

"Cross I am going to kill you!" Kelsi shrieked as she raced after Jason who was holding a super soaker and wearing her bowler hat.

"What is with those two?" Chad sighed.

"Sexual Tension" Troy and I said together. We exchanged a look and chuckled.

"First Zeke, now Jason...the Drama club is absorbing our boys" Chad shook his head. "Remember when we exclusively dated cheerleaders?"

"Yeah...that was me to a tee...totally into cheerleaders" I nodded.

Chad snorted. "I meant...oh never mind"

"Remind me again, Taylor was the head cheerleader...wait no...She was the head of the academic decathlon team" Troy patted Chad on the back. "I think we're all glad we left the comfort zones behind".

At that moment he spotted Gabriella at the far end of the table...and his face went...unreadable. Maybe not so glad now? I looked to Chad who seemed troubled as well and then to Gabriella who had spotted Troy and gave a small nod, pursing her lips as she did. Troy flashed a smile – but it didn't reach his eyes – he was good at being the Golden Boy but I was starting to read him like Chad. I glanced at him to gauge his reaction and he did the same to me.

Troy looked at us. "I think we need more ketchup...I'll go get some" he said and walked away briskly. I looked at the table and the three bottles of ketchup.

"What's up with him?" I asked Chad.

Chad shook his head. "He and Gabby, this thing about the show, there was a void and apparently she may be leaving sooner than expected..." he winced. "Don't spread it around, only me and Taylor know aside from Gabby and her mom and Troy...Stanford gave her a like intensive course thing and Troy found out by accident – he answered her phone by mistake and took the message."

"...ah..." it was all I could manage. I felt bad for both of them, Gabriella was a good friend and the distress between herself and Troy was not something I would want for any friends of mine.

"I should go talk to him" Chad murmured.

"Let me" I said. "I mean I want to try being a friend to him"

Chad considered for a while and then nodded.

I'd never had a tree house...well not a proper one, my parents had taken us to a South American tree village once...but that was as close to that trope of childhood as I had gotten. I peered over the hatch entrance at Troy's back and then knocked on the floor. He glanced at me and smiled. "Come on up"

I hurried up the ladder and perched on the balcony with him. "Hi"

"Hi"

Silence.

"Gabby is enrolled in a special program for Stanford" he said at last. "She'll leave for it in a few months, after Christmas I think, she'll miss Prom and...Everything".

"I'm sorry"

"It's just that...we know it has to end, I don't think I can do that long distance thing and ever since summer...well we just haven't connected so well since...I don't know...there's lots of stuff just getting me down" he frowned. "I feel kind of confused about...all the stuff going on now, senior year, college..." he looked at me with those big and beautiful eyes. "I am such a whiny little bitch" he chuckled.

"Ah we all have our off days" I smiled. "Feel free to vent"

"...So" he pursed his lips. "I'm not a venter but uh...let's talk..." he stared up at the stars. "So...who was that guy?" I tensed. "He seemed into you, though you may want to lay off the booze he had to carry you back to the party from the gazebo."

I didn't recall drinking that much. I mentioned this to Troy who shrugged lightly.

"You were a little loopy" Troy shrugged. "...he didn't slip you anything, did he?"

"Just tongue" I said without thinking and then slapped my hand to my face. "Sorry...you don't need to know that". Troy had a weird look on his face.

"Uh...okay...yeah...did not need that confirmed" he said...then chuckled. "It's cool you act as who you are...you know? I mean sure you happen to be gay but the other stuff, the singing and dancing... you're cool with who you are..."

I shifted uneasily. I wasn't so sure. "Mr. Evans" a voice called. Troy and I looked down to see Luke standing below in a dark muscle shirt, black long sleeve and tight black jeans. He gave a flawless smile to me and then a brief nod to Troy who grunted and returned it.

"Geez – Goth much?" Troy muttered.

"Basic black does not a Goth make" I chided in a sing song voice.

"The eyeliner on the other hand..."

I gave him a playful dig in the ribs.

"Go on, you go play with him" Troy smiled. "Just watch out for where you do it, my mother loves her Azaleas" he smiled; again it didn't reach his eyes. But it did come close to them...

I slowly descended the ladder and turned, walking straight into Luke's chest. Ooooh. Firm.

"Hello" he said. Again the strange feeling washed over me, there was a lack of...something...but then I looked into his deep brown eyes and everything flittered away. What was I saying? I swayed a little and he smiled. "I forgot to give you my number last time..." he slipped a small piece of folded paper into my left pocket, his fingers stroking my hip. "I was worried but then I heard about this party and...Well the fates spoke" he grinned and leaned in for a commanding kiss. "I think destiny has plans for you and me" he whispered as he pressed his lips to mine and made the world turn around.

As the kiss broke I heard a cough overhead. I looked up and Luke and I saw Troy who was looking a little red. "Uh...hey guys...look there's only one ladder down"

"Sorry!" I chirped and although Luke gave a little resistance he and I moved out of the way. I looked at Luke to see him glaring at Troy who was walking away. I think he was being Alpha-Male...that was nice. I'd like guys fighting over me...Troy could never be one of them but...hey a boy can dream can't he?

Luke wrapped an arm around my waist. "Let us take a stroll, Mr. Evans" he smiled.

"Call me Ryan, Mr. Evans is my dad"

"I'm more than happy to call you Ryan" he smiled. He leaned in again for another kiss. I smiled and gave him one, feeling his long fingers trail up my back and when he drew them back down I felt them digging into my back and send shards of pleasure up my spine. I trembled and moaned and he chuckled against my lips.

What was that? Damn! Something was amiss...and then he went and kissed me again. Oh well there goes that idea...and most coherent thought with it...wow. Wow. Wow.

An hour later and I was sitting with Luke amidst my friends, the girls (Kelsi, Gabriella, Taylor and Martha) had all given me approving nodes, smiles and winks as I introduced him to them. This is Luke from New York. Chad, Jason, Zeke and Sharpay had all been quite nonchalant...but hey...this was Luke...from New York...they should have been more impressed...or whatever...

"So who is it you know here" Martha asked.

"One of the technical crewmen, Steven" he responded simply with a smile, as he looked at her with an unwavering and charming gaze. "You know him, average build, dark hair, he's quite a bit more distinct when he smiles, plays the drums..."

Ah...damn...we didn't socialize with the crew that much now that I thought about it. I felt embarrassed. Then Martha nodded. "Yeah I know Steven" she smiled slowly.

"You must be Martha, he told me you taught him some dance steps before the summer" Luke smiled again and Martha matched his expression with one of her own.

"Oh yes! I remember now, I did him some dance steps before the summer" she laughed.

"He said you were a very patient teacher, I believe he was quite clumsy"

"Oh yes. Clumsy" Martha laughed. "He really was quite clumsy".

Sharpay raised an eyebrow. "Well that is just wonderful but tell us more about you Luke?" Sharpay pushed in one fluid, unpunctuated sentence.

Luke shrugged. "Not much to tell, I attend a high school, I have friends, I have family and I enjoy dancing." He looked at Sharpay. "I'm sure that answers all of your questions really"

Sharpay blinked and nodded. "Guess so"

"Hah – you're going easy on me" he smiled. "I appreciate it"

That was weird I admit, though hindsight is 50/50. Sharpay never went easy on anyone new, especially anyone I was close to, she was worse than the Spanish Inquisition and you expected the Sharpay Inquisition, even then, thumb-screws were preferable.

"Hey guys" Troy walked in and Gabriella shifted uneasily in her chair as he came in from the garden a tray of red cups and meats before him. "Last of Zeke's marinated chicken and lamb kebabs here and some punch, we'll be roasting marshmallows soon-ish".

Luke's lips twitched and for a moment I could have sworn he sneered at Troy as everyone reached up for the cups and kebabs. I grabbed two of each, a cup and kebab for me and another for Luke. I looked at the meat and vegetable covered stick. "Do you prefer the chicken?" I offered him mine but he smiled and instead accepted the punch.

"No, that was just very thoughtful of you, Ryan" he smiled and bit into the kebab. He nodded. "Very nice. My compliments to the chef."

"Zeke made it" Sharpay interjected and the young cook practically grew three feet in an instant with just that compliment. "He's an amazing cook, he made like half the food here...the good half"

"...hey" Gabriella said.

"SO!" I exclaimed, making Kelsi jump and nearly spill her drink. "Nearly time for senior year for us, us the gang, the gang of friends, the friends that don't kill each other".

Luke chuckled. "What colleges are you all looking at?" he enquired. "Or is that too early to say yet?"

"All of them" Taylor joked. Luke gave her a 1000-watt smile and Chad looked suitably un-amused, putting his arm tighter around her. Luke finished his punch, stood up and took my hand, I felt a little nervous...I mean I don't know why, everyone here was pretty damn cool about me and my sexuality but...that little gesture of taking my hand in front of witnesses...suddenly I was on my feet.

"I'm afraid I am going to have to go and find Steven...but..." he tugged on my hand gently. "Perhaps you will help me look for him? I need to ensure I get him home safely." I nodded and wandered after him. Chad gave a wolf whistle and Jason called "AWWOOOOGA" after us but I felt like I was floating on air.

We moved out into the back garden, everything was quieter and people were roasting marshmallows over a carefully controlled camp-fire device from The Gadget Store in town. Luke plucked a marshmallow off a stick, to the protests of perky Amber the head cheerleader. She was pissed off but the only notable thing she had ever done besides a perfect aerial splits was to welcome Martha onto the team for senior year.

Head cheerleader called Amber...that was so stereotypical... but she was quite nice really, though quite shallow and vapid when it came to boys and appearances. She had blonde hair that drifted just above her shoulders and an even shorter attention span. The sweet taste on my lips brought me rapidly back to Luke.

It was like my mind kept racing away from him and I gave him a quick peck on the lips (using a lot of my courage reserves in the process) to get her jealous. Then I turned my back on the symbol of the popular kids...and moved away with Luke.

"You have a diverse group of friends" Luke commented.

"Oh...yes I do, we all became closer this past summer" I smiled. "I play baseball with them"

"Oh you are a sporting man as well?"

"Hah, Nah...not really...well...actually I'm pretty good but...well I just played a little"

Luke walked around the side of the house with me, slowly, drawing out the walk with short paces and the occasional hesitant step. "Do you always feel so nervous about who is watching you? Like your friends or that blonde girl?"

"I – uh – I guess I do" I admitted. "Years in the theatre made me aware of eyes on me, but it's easier to hide when you're on stage than when you're off".

"Truer Words" he mused and leaned in for a kiss. I was more than happy to reciprocate as his hand slipped around the back of my neck, cool flesh making me shiver as it stroked the top of my spine with soft skin. He liked kissing me I think.

"So any sign of Steven?" I asked.

"Ah he may well be on the front porch with his friends. He and I were pen-pals, that is all, he has been kind to me since I came to visit my family"

"Who is your family?" I enquired at last. "I am so rude I never thought to ask"

Luke shook his head, his brown eyes peering deep into my mind. "Don't worry about them...let's focus on tonight...on a kiss, on you and me" and he kissed me again. Wow...from drought to deluge in less than a week.

He kept his hold on my hand and we came around the house to see people heading for their cars slowly but surely. "I hope you will call me" he smiled. "I would like to go and take in a show with you" he looked around and then led me out of sight of everyone. "Or just spend time in your arms"

I flushed again, geez he was charming...I was swooning like a school girl and my mind was all muddled...I mean...this was all so fast and yet...here I was being swept along with it. He leaned down and I felt a pinch before pleasure overwhelmed all my senses...everything just went into a haze...

And I felt myself floating in Luke's arms...

I woke up to the sound of tablets dissolving in water. I tried to roll over and promptly fell off the sofa I was strewn upon. My limbs felt heavy and I felt very, very warm but I struggled to turn onto my back and found myself looking up at Troy. "Morning" he said and offered me the fizzing glass. "For your head..." My pounding temples thanked him as I sat up and felt the bowling ball lodged in my skull roll around a bit. "Sharpay said you'd probably have a headache...and that a full scale nuclear war wouldn't rouse you"

I pulled myself up onto the couch and looked at the duvet and pillow around me and took in the sight of the Bolton living room. "What am I doing here?" I wondered aloud.

"I told Sharpay to leave you here, said I'd drop you home" Troy sat down at the other side of the sofa. "You were pretty boozed up last night...apparently" I knocked back the powdery water and then looked at the East High Golden Boy. There was something in his tone that sounded...accusatory?

"What do you mean?" The night was a bit blurry.

"Well, the guys found you acting like a drunken monk under my basketball hoop. Sharpay got Zeke and Chad to go find you. They were worried they might...interrupt but they found you curled up and asleep near the garage" he raised an eyebrow. "They think you were drinking hard with Luke"

"I – uh I don't think I was" I said

"You weren't, the punch wasn't spiked, there was minimal alcohol allowed and I watched how much you drank, you had nothing but punch all night" Troy looked me straight in the eye and I felt my stomach do a little flip flop. "Did he get you high?"

"What?"

"Because if he did you didn't smell like it when we found you and that smell doesn't dissolve that fast...dude...seriously your sister was worried, like obviously worried...in front of other people...she doesn't usually show that". He had a point. I picked my hat up and stood.

"I wasn't drinking. I wasn't on drugs. I – I was just feeling good..." I felt lame making excuses but Luke wouldn't drug me...I know he wouldn't...hah...no he totally wouldn't. I just remembered those dark eyes and I knew he wouldn't... "Thanks for looking after me, I should get home though". Troy grabbed his keys from the hall table as we walked past.

"I told Sharpay I'd drop you home, so..."

I grumbled but it was better than calling Sharpay for a lift. The lecture was one of those things that made being set alight seem like fun. I checked the clock in Troy's beat up old truck and saw that it was 11.22 – wow I never slept this late...I'd be so behind on my Yoga it would be a nightmare to catch up. Once you fall out of a routine it can be so hard to get back to it.

We drove in silence and about halfway to the house I took out my phone and checked my messages. I gasped and reached into my pocket, my hands locating the piece of folded paper and Luke's number on it. Troy's eyes darted to me and then back to the road. "He gave me his number" I explained.

"Oh...uh...great...just, be careful dude" he murmured.

I frowned. "Be careful of what?"

"Just...I mean you don't really KNOW this guy, you know? Plus there's something off about him"

"Same thing that's "off" about me maybe?" I grunted. God I felt cranky.

"What? That's not what I mean"

"You sure? I mean seems like if this was a girl I was seeing the accusations wouldn't be that I'm too dumb to notice when someone is dangerous" I growled.

Troy frowned and took a few moments to compose himself. "I don't care if you date guys or girls but I do care that there is something weird about this Luke guy". I know I should have agreed but instead I snapped at him: "Yeah sure Troy, the fact we're both guys doesn't bother you".

"Seriously it doesn't bother me, Luke bothers me, and there is something seriously weird about him!"

I just turned away from him. "Troy! Stop!" I snapped. "Just...stop".

The rest of the journey was awkward and I spent it wondering where all that anger had come from... I felt like I was guilty of something for standing up for whatever this was that I was having with Luke. This...sort of foundling relationship type...thing...god words were never my strong point.

We pulled up at the main gates and I practically threw myself out of the truck. "Thanks" I said. "See you at Chad's". Troy opened his mouth to say something and I felt myself shifting my body language to challenge him. He just closed his mouth gave a flat smile and nodded.

I used my key on the small gate beside the main gates and punched in the access code. The house looked bigger than it actually was; the fact we were on a hill for instance did a lot of the work in making it seem imposing. I cast a glance over my shoulder at the top of the steps alongside the driveway and saw Troy leaning out the window of his car watching me...I could feel the concern...

Chad's party was pretty unofficial; lots of drink, his parents were visiting relatives in Seattle and ...was that Michael Crawford in their refrigerator? What the hell?

Gabriella was standing behind the door when he closed it. "Hey" she said softly.

Ryan smiled. "Hi". Then I got a bit defensive. "You're not going to start probing me about my love life are you?" I asked warily.

Gabriella shook her head, her long wavy black hair shaking along her tanned skin as she did. "No, no that's none of my business" she said calmly. "I was going to ask how you're doing though...Luke, are you and he official yet?"

I shrugged. "We saw some late night movies on Tuesday" I thought back to the make out session in the theatre...late showings of classics a great place to find make out time. "Then before that we went to an Italian restaurant and a small cabaret show...he's a big fan of dance" I was so happy it was stupid, my logical brain said that I was blowing things out of proportion, that I was watching too many romantic comedies.

Gabriella offered me a cup of orange juice and poured a dash of blackcurrant punch in, she didn't drink alcohol...I on the other hand did. I added some vodka and took a sip, the heat of the liquid playing along my tongue. I shivered a little. "Thanks for not prying..."

"I heard Troy bugged you about it" she admitted. I cocked an eyebrow at her. "...Indirectly" she added. "I also believe you know that I won't be around for the full year". I nodded. "I'm going to miss everyone, I mean I will be back, this is the best home I've ever had...and Mom is pretty much a permanent fixture now but..." she shook her head. "I will miss everyone on a day to day basis, hanging out in the lab, watching the games...little things".

"We'll miss you too" I smiled. We hugged. It was nice.

"Keep an eye on Troy for me, a sensible one, Jason and Chad tend to get him to do stupid things" she said, her eyes getting misty with tears as she spoke. I nodded though I wasn't sure how easy that could be. "And I don't trust Sharpay not to jump him" she joked.

"She's pretty into Zeke"

"I know. I hope let's him know that otherwise he may pine away into an early grave"

"She's not good at admitting stuff like that" I agreed as I took another drink, the vodka and orange juice mixing properly into a different taste, something that was a little of both and something wholly of itself...like a good relationship formed from two individuals but neither totally lost in the big blob of what it had become. That's the stuff. The drink I mean.

Gabriella and I walked out onto the porch to find Martha and Amber talking, Amber had just arrived and was still wearing her cute blue coat over a cream dress and slip on shoes, she had her phone in one hand and was shaking slightly. Martha patted her on the shoulder and two of the other cheerleaders helped her to a seat.

"What's wrong?" Gabriella asked slight confusion on her features.

Amber was being fanned by one of the Cheerleaders. "It's Joey, the Mascot, The East High Wildcat... uh...he's missing" Martha said quietly. "He vanished before work a few nights ago and hasn't turned up since. He's Amber's next door neighbour and she's just heard, they want people to ask around"

"Joey's missing!" I practically jumped as Chad's voice rang out behind me and turned to face the large-haired boy. He was with Zeke (and Sharpay) and Troy and Jason. Kelsi and Taylor were approaching with a few other concerned faces.

"Yeah he was working the early shift at the 7-11 down on Bowers Avenue and he never turned up. His parents were out of town until Thursday so he was missing for two days before they realised he was gone..." Amber sniffled as Martha explained. "The reports are only getting filed now but...well... if anyone knows anything -"

"Dude can I grab your dads Karaoke Mic?" Troy asked. Sharpay and I raised duel eyebrows and Chad flinched, muttered something about "Music of the Night" and "Anniversary" and then nodded. Troy was gone in a flash and back a heartbeat later, moving towards the sound system which was pumping out some Eminem to the dancing students. Troy flicked a few switches and held the mic to his lips. "Hey guys" the feedback certainly got everyone's attention. "Hey, okay sorry to interrupt but we have a situation, okay so Joey Pescalini the Wildcat Mascot is apparently missing" he slid his free hand into his pocket. "He hasn't been seen since like Tuesday evening and if anyone saw him then or since could you please call the police and let them know?"

He was genuinely concerned...and I felt bad for talking to him the way I had. He turned the music back on but at a lower volume and several people were talking in shocked tones. Amber thanked Troy and she and Martha moved inside. Troy went with them and Kelsi looked at me with shocked eyes. "Wow...poor Joey, he's so quiet...I mean...he helped with front of house at Twinkle Towne, I hope he's okay" Kelsi murmured.

"How does Amber know him?" Sharpay asked.

"They've been neighbours since they were 3, everyone knew he had a thing for her, she still only dated footballers and basketball players but they were close" Zeke said calmly. "I think she liked him too, she just never said it and that's probably why she's so upset." Sharpay shifted uneasily.

"I'll go check on her" she murmured and moved into the house.

"Wow...downer..." Jason said as he came up to them. "I couldn't even load Kelsi' drink with tobacco anymore" Kelsi frowned and Jason cracked a slight smile. "Kidding, that's a step too far" he admitted. Kelsi gave a faint smile and then shook her head. "Geez. Poor Joey, I hope he's like, just forgotten to tell his parents he went somewhere..."

I nodded and looked in the window to Troy who was talking to a tearful Amber. This last party was not going to end on a high note.

They found Joey's body the next day, out in the desert at an abandoned gas station. Some trucker had seen lights on out there, thought it was pesky kids lighting up and decided to call it in because sometimes it was handy in getting minor violations overlooked or looked on favourably...and they found the body. If he hadn't called it in it might have been weeks...

Amber was devastated. Joey's family was horrified.

The papers had no consistent explanation...details remained sketchy and as we returned to school I was asked to fill in as mascot by Amber and Martha. Martha called in a favour from Lava Springs involving me getting locked out of my room in just a towel and I couldn't refuse her. Just if they couldn't find a junior class man that would do it.

Ever since they found Joey's body Amber had been handing parts of her captaincy to Martha who was so organised she was second only to Taylor. They were going to be co captains before midterm.

I had several dates with Luke, just the two of us. We saw Casablanca in the same cinema as last time, making out in the darkness when we weren't listening to the black and white icons on screen. Luke worked all day but he was always energetic and enthusiastic at night and it was incredible to see. Kissing him filled me with energy and he never pushed for more.

We went to the last night of the funfair, I was nervous, I mean it was well attended by East High students and people from the area I lived in. Would we hold hands? Would we ride the tunnel of love? He grasped my hand the minute we were in the gates and lead me towards the tunnel of love. "Seems ideal" he explained. "So near the entrance, an omen for us" he handed the tickets we'd gotten at the front gate to the attendant who raised an eyebrow at us but kept his mouth shut.

I grinned like an idiot as he lifted me into the swan boat (he was nicely built and very strong) and perched me on his lap to make out. There were cupids around us as he leaned in for a kiss and in the darkness interspersed with pink light fixtures he kissed his way down my neck, another love bite and the world went blurry with beauty...I gasped and when we emerged from the tunnel of love I stumbled a little, lightheaded from the rush he gave me.

He smiled at me and we enjoyed the fair together.

When I started school I was pretty okay, there were looks and mutterings but Sharpay and I had the big entrance we always had with the Drama Club and suddenly it wasn't quite so bad. I had other people supporting me and that's what mattered. The Winter Musical was going to be on and Shar had already convinced Ms. Darbus to do something big and flashy...the kind of thing that would dissuade Gabriella from getting involved. She may be petty, but she's my sister. I just prayed there'd be something for me in the script that didn't involve playing my sisters love interest.

Eww. Gross.

Troy was at my locker at the end of the day. There was a rose stuck to the locker with a note and he was eying it like it was nuclear waste. "You've got a fan" he noted.

I nodded and plucked the rose and card from my locker, peeling away the tape absentmindedly and checking the card. "Missing You Already, L". I put my phone and books in my locker and searched for my play script.

"Luke?"

"Yeah"

"That's nice..."

"He's gone back to New York" I said. "I saw him off last night...his flight left an hour ago"

"How'd he get the rose to your locker?"

"Probably got his friend to do it" I smiled. Troy made a noise in the back of his throat and I opened my locker with a bit more force than I had intended. "Need a lozenge?" I grunted.

"No...Just...so you guys are off then?"

"Don't sound so excited" my possessiveness was alien to me, but when it came to Luke. "We're trying long distance". Troy made another small noise and I slammed my locker shut. "What?"

"Nothing – nothing – look I'm sorry I don't mean to be pushy it's just, you know, look can we go and sit down and talk or something? I feel like I've put both my feet in my mouth and I'd like to try and smooth things out...please?" Troy gave me the puppy dog eyes and I sighed, relenting.

"Fine, you are permitted to buy me a coffee" I smiled at last, tucking my phone into my bag.

"Why thank you sirrah" he said in his best British accent. I chuckled a little and headed out to his truck with him. I winced as it wheezed to life and cast a glance at a flushed looking Troy.

"I'm saving for something new"

"Save faster"

"That's what Chad keeps saying"

"That guy is wise" I replied with a smile, sticking out my tongue. We chatted amicably about nothing in particular for the duration of the drive. The Coffee Pot was just enough out of the way that we wouldn't stand much chance of running into people we knew. I sat down with my Cappuccino and Troy with his regular coffee, half a pack of sugar, cream... the silence hung in the air for a while.

"So I'm sorry for being a dick about your relationship, I should have been more supportive and a lot friendlier" Troy said. "I mean, I know it can't be easy for you in High School but...well I'm happy if you're happy"

I sipped my drink and nodded. "Thanks Troy" I said at last. "If you got to know Luke, I promise, you'd see he was a nice guy and...And he makes me feel special" I flushed. "He writes poetry...I know it sounds corny but he says I inspire him and...And it's just nice to have someone who thinks of me that way".

Troy's smile didn't reach his eyes, it looked forced but though I felt the urge to say something about it I realised he was just trying to be supportive so I drank my coffee instead. "I-I'm glad" he said, his voice sounding forced. "I just want you to understand it wasn't...I just...you know when you just don't like a person on sight? That's how I felt about Luke and I really should have tried to get past that instead of throwing accusations around."

"Yeah. You should have. I don't like having to choose between friends and lovers" I sipped my coffee but could see over the rim a look on Troy's face that I categorically did not like. "What?"

"...well you chose him" Troy blurted out.

Everything seemed to go quiet. "Excuse me?"

"Dude you wandered off from your friends, you blew us off at the funfair when we waved at you, you started drinking heavily and it felt like you were kicking us to the curb now that you had a New York Boyfriend. We didn't get a chance to get to know this guy, you just kept going with him and ignoring us and it felt like you were saying we were beneath you two."

"Excuse me!" I exclaimed. A few people looked at us. I didn't care. "This from the guy that latched on to Gabriella and then dropped her for Italian Golf Shoes".

"You're the guy who actually wears all that stuff day to day" Troy responded, obviously getting angry, colour rising in his tanned cheeks and his eyes sparking with anger and frustration. "You'd die without your Prada."

"Oh nice one you jerk. Insult me because I dress well, God Luke is right about how I don't belong in East High" I stood up and grabbed my coat. "Fuck you Golden Boy; I don't need your approval, so fucking what if I spend time with someone who understands me it's better than being stuck with a group of people who barely tolerate my existence!"

"We're your friends"

"Yeah? Try acting like them rather than freaking the fuck out because I actually do something that makes me happy"

Troy was following me out of the shop as people stared. "He's weird"

"That's what you and your friends used to say about me" I gave a bitter laugh. "Sorry that implies you stopped saying it. Leave me the fuck alone Troy, Luke understands me. Luke accepts me. You guys could do with a few lessons". I stormed across the car park away from him.

"Hey! How are you going to get home?"

"I'll get a cab!"

"Ryan!"

"Or call my sister!" I shouted back, I felt like I was going to cry and I sure as heck wasn't going to let some dumb jock see that. It'd be a pretty long walk back home and the sky was already going red as sunset came. Ah I'd be fine...I let a few tears fall...it'd feel better if I did.

I didn't look back at Troy and cut through a small park to stop him following.

I was on the other side when I realised I'd left my bag in his truck...along with my phone...fuck...fuck...fuckfuckfuck.

Darkness had settled as I passed by East High again, that'd be the halfway mark really, not too long now. I looked at the stars and felt bad...I was being such a jerk, but then again so was Troy. My sister kept pestering me for details about Luke but I wanted just one think to be for me...damn it! "We don't talk anymore Ryan", "What's happening with you, Ryan?", "Where's he from? Who are his parents? Why don't you invite him over?" and so on and so forth until the end of time.

"Ryan"

I paused and looked around.

"Ryan" I was on a small side street, the last shards of sunrise fading away as night took hold. I looked to the source of the voice in the mouth of an alley and from the dark, emerging from it like he was part of the blackness came Luke. I blinked a few times. "Hello, beloved"

"Luke? I thought you were back in New York"

"I couldn't leave...not without you..." he advanced on me, his fingertips stroking my cheek in the empty street. "You and I belong together...you are my affinity, my love, my heart...I know that now... I see that..." he leaned in and kissed me softly.

"But..."

"Destiny spoke to me the day I saw you, Ryan. My heart was meant to beat for you, my lips were meant to kiss you..." he was quoting his poetry at me. "It said...take him away from this...he belongs in the night, like you...he deserves immortality"

I wasn't sure what he was saying but something in my primal brain tried to make me back off. His arm wrapped around my waist and I looked up into his eyes...the primal brain was silent and so I let him just hold me as we sank back into darkness. "You are truly my affinity" he whispered into my ear. "I want you to see how much you mean...where you belong..."he trailed his cool lips up my neck and I shivered, unable to move.

"We barely know each other" something inside me said and I felt him tense.

"That will change...shhh...I wish I could spare you some of what is to come...I wish I could be with you all of the way..." he kissed me and as he pulled back his eyes glowed gold in the dark...I gasped, I saw his canines extend and...the world swam with adrenaline, I arched my back and felt myself stiffen with arousal...he held the back of my head and had another arm around my waist...he held me close, let me grind against his firm body, I was barely aware of what was happening only the pleasure and fear building inside my body...it was so unlike anything I had ever experienced... I let out a small cry as I climaxed...and...darkness crept into my eyes, I saw the glowing gold of his eyes...they were the last things I saw as I fell back into death...my body sinking into the mire of silence...the afterglow ebbing out of my mind until there was only the feeling of coolness.

So this was it...

Troy had been right...

Oh God...how many more would lose their lives...if I'd listened I would be alive...hah...

Closing Thoughts: Truth told, High School Musical irritated me because it was so...happy...it was also obscenely unrealistic about high school/secondary school. But I liked some of the characters and the fact a lot of them never got fully explored was a total downer. I can also appreciate that HSM had some good comedy in it so watching parts of it was a chore but sometimes it was pretty good. I focused on the characters and found something I felt like working with, to be honest though most of this was down to the writers of fics out there that fleshed characters out and some of the bit parts in the movies that were so very amusing. My friend suggested I look at it for something to AU as is my style... so I did and when I saw the different ideas people had and the way the characters were developed by them and the many ways they could be I decided to give it a shot. I toyed with a Freshmen like situation - the random developing of superpowers or some such and the concept of a postappocalyptica inside the High School...but in the end after all my study on vampire literature...I gave in and wrote this.

Why? Coz im's a sucker for blood suckers.