Disclaimer: Shout out to Japan. I want to thank all my readers for supporting my story this means so much to me. For the sole fact that it has been a year and your still remain Fabulous to my Chad centric tale.
I own none of the retail store mentioned!
Dedication: xo-ChaylorGGQueen-xo
"Huh? Wait where are you going?"
"Away from there," Ryan said pointing to Taylor's house. "There's about to be a war council in there and I don't want to be anywhere near there when they decide to attack."
"Right you are," Zeke as he, Chad and Troy followed his lead.
"I thought the war was in Iraq," Jason said freezing the four boys in shock. "Just joking…I was trying to lighten the mood. How about we grab a pizza?"
"You sure about that," Zeke asked in mock worry.
"Dude shut up," Jason responded picking up the paste.
The boys stared at Jason for half a second and continued on to Troy's car where they all piled in figuring there was no need to waste everyone's gas.
"Just checking," as stale laughter filled the air but quickly died, as Troy drove out of the neighborhood.
They sat in silence for a few minutes until Ryan popped in a CD. Ryan smiled and bobbed his head to the lyrics as the rest of the boys made gagging noises.
One day when I came home at lunchtime,
I heard a funny noise.
Went out to the back yard to find out if it was,
One of those rowdy boys.
Stood there with my neighbor called Peter,
And a Flux Capacitor.
He told me he built a time machine.
Like one in a film I've seen,
Yeah yeah... he said...
I've been to the year 3000
Not much has changed but they lived under water.
And your great great great grand daughter,
Is doing fine (is doing fine).
"Dude I can't take this anymore," Chad cried out ejecting the CD out of the player then out the window, as Ryan watched in horror.
"Aw…I like the Jonas Brothers now I have to make a new mix tape," Ryan mumbled as Chad reached from the back seat to fumble with the radio.
"Ryan I worry about you."
"What do you mean Troy," he responded somewhat obliviously.
"I mean everyone's been wondering but no one has came out and said it," Zeke took over.
"Say What?" Ryan yelled out of desperation.
"Are you gay," Chad and Jason asked in unison.
"What," Ryan choked.
"You know trapped in the closet, playing on the other time, walking the crooked line-"
"I know what gay means Troy," Ryan responded clearly offended.
"Ryan how can you blame us? I mean you're in the drama club," Chad pointed out.
"So is Troy!"
"Um that was one play and I didn't sign up to be a permanent fixture," Troy quickly defended himself.
"Exactly plus you act like Sharpay's lap dog or something…dude she's a girl stand up for yourself man," Jason counted in the four on one tennis match.
"Wasn't Chad the one who cried…LITERALLY cried to the principle when she tried to beat him up…what did you call her? Oh yeah I remember a mountain lion!"
"Dude that was in like fifth grade and Sharpay use to be like eight feet tall before I grew besides we are talking about you. I'm not the one the whole school refers to as Sharpay's sister!"
"Yeah dud they had been calling you that since we were little…Troy started it by the way." Chad received a punch. "Ow, what was that for?"
"They do?"
"Yeah, man they say some pretty heinous stuff sometimes but since you hang with us the rumors have gone down some, we made sure of that," Zeke explained trying to soothe the blow.
"Is it that bad," Ryan whispered receiving an "oh yeah".
"Ry, you dress like a gay extra from Sex and the City…I mean how could you really be comfortable like that," Chad said. "But if you are that's okay with us."
"Geez, this is like Straight Eye for the Queer Guy," Troy pointed out making everyone but Ryan laugh.
"Damnit! I.AM.NOT.GAY!" Ryan scolded sharply in a deep baritone voice that none of the boys ever heard him use.
"But-
"No! No buts! I like girls, no scratch that I love girls as a matter of fact I invited Kim to go to the carnival tomorrow." There was a pregnant pause before laughter erupted in the car.
"Dude, I'm sorry to say but Kim is more of a man than you are," Jason pointed out as Ryan looked down.
"Don't feel bad your like Sharpay's mini and at the rate Zeke's going he is going to be right there with you…maybe even worse," Troy joked smacking hands with Chad while earning a frown from Zeke.
"I'm not…I just got use to it. Sharpay was always dressing me up when we were little and now she's kind of the one who picks out my outfit for me every morning. Whatever she says goes…oh my God who am I?" Ryan cried out in desperation.
"That's where we come in Ryan. We are the perfect combination of everything you need," Chad offered. "Troy make a left at the light we're going to the mall."
"Why," Troy asked but still made the turn nonetheless.
"Because if we are going to help Ryan out of the Year 3000 then there is no room for food," everyone stopped and stared at Chad in amazement.
"What about your whole Food equals Happiness theory?" Zeke asked as Troy turned in the large parking lot Albuquerque Mills the mega mall.
"Oh that still applies, why do you think I came here? Great stores, Jaspers, movies plus a killer food court," Chad said as Troy turned into a parking space near the door and shut off the car.
"Maybe he is a genius," Zeke whispered to Jason.
"So we're not getting pizza," Jason asked somewhat dejected.
"You half a meatball of course were getting pizza probably more than that seeing as it's going to take a minute to de-gay Ryan," Troy explained as they got out the car and walked toward the door.
"You guys are over reacting it can't possibly take that long," Ryan argued over his shoulder as he unconsciously strutted his best Sharpay walk.
"God help us," Jason whispered as the guys laughed and chased after Ryan before be did too much more damage to himself…
As soon as Gabriella set foot in Taylor's house she broke away from Sharpay and Kelsi and bolted for Taylor. Ignoring the deafening music she had to get to her salvation. Faster then a linebacker she ran through the small but well decorated house, zipping through the hallway until she came upon the door at the end covered in stars and comets. Without a knock she charged inside and fell at the foot of bed in a heap.
Taylor quickly whipped her face and turned off her stereo as Gabi almost fell into her lap. She did the only thing she knew how scoop the girl up into her arms and soothe her best friends woes. Her problems would have to wait but Gabi couldn't, she rocked Gabriella back and forth looking toward the door at Sharpay and Kelsi. She motioned for them to sit down but made eye contact with Sharpay who knew what that look meant. It was common knowledge that Taylor and Gabriella had a better connection between the four of them. When needed Sharpay and Kelsi had each other, it wasn't that they all were good friends it was deeper then that. The four girls respected that connection when it came to each other. Everybody has a go to guy when something goes wrong. So Sharpay got up went over to Taylor and kissed her forehead then bended down further toward Gabriella and hugged her. Kelsi followed suit and began to head out in pursuit of Sharpay. Just as she turned around Taylor lightly grabbed her arm.
"Be back later," Taylor mouthed Kelsi rolled her eyes and gave her friend a knowing smile.
Once she got outside she noticed Troy's car gone but the other's still remained. As she glanced around the sea of vehicles that invaded the small street, Kelsi spotted Sharpay bobbing her head in a prissy motion to some rap music Zeke had left the radio station on. Kelsi shook her head and got in the car.
"So where to? While Taylor Dr. Phil's that broken heart in there," she asked Sharpay as she buckled up.
"I don't know, what time do you think your grandmother will be home," Sharpay asked as she continued to bob her head while reapplying massacre.
"Probably late it's midnight madness at bingo so I may not see her until the wee hours of the morning."
"Great, lets hit the mall and buy us some time," Sharpay squealed as she put her foot on the gas…
"Taylor what am I going to do," Gabriella sobbed as she finished the story stilled curled up in Taylor's lap.
Taylor breathed out a sigh to calm herself. The blood pumped wildly through her veins as she forgot about her own troubles. How could Troy do this to her? At the same time it made her mad it confused her at the same time. Troy wasn't like the way Gabriella's story was portraying him and she didn't know what to make of it.
"This doesn't sound like the Troy I know," Taylor thought out loud.
"That's what I thought but you should have seen the way he stood out there lying to Ryan," she said cleaning off her face, regaining her sanity. "I mean he looked so guilty!"
Taylor simply nodded her head but remained quiet. Ever since the three-way win and the summer at Sharpay's resort, Taylor has learned one valuable lesson. Think first actions later because it could save a lot more then yourself in the end. In other words keep her mouth shut…especially when it came to other's problems.
"Am I wrong if I want to kick his butt," Taylor shook her head honestly.
"This just doesn't sit right with me, did he tell you what happened?"
"No! He just stood there and looked at me with those big blue eyes of his with such shock-…I just exploded at him," Gabriella confessed.
"Don't you think you should get the entire story first," Taylor asked as Gabi fell back on the bed.
"But what if he lies to me? Taylor I don't think I could handle that happening," Gabriella said making eye contact.
"Has he ever lied to you before today," Gabriella answered her mocha-skinned friend with a blank stare.
"I think the real question is why did he lie in the first place," Taylor nodded and stroked Gabi's hair calming the beast within…
"How about this shirt with these jeans?" Ryan said holding up a pink blazer in front of his chest as Jason, Zeke, Chad and Troy sat sprawled out in the chairs surrounding the fitting room mirrors.
"No!"
"Okay then what about these kaki shots with is Hawaii themed tank," Zeke growled jumping up and ripped the outfit from Ryan.
"Are we in Hawaii?" Ryan shook his head.
"Do you plan to make a trip there in the near future?"
"No, but my family is taking a two week vacation this summer in the islands before we go on our annual trip to Paris in July-," Ryan explained excitedly but noticed the fierce look in Zeke's eyes that caused him to trail off.
"Forget the vacations, dude if you want this girl to think of you then something more than a shopping buddy then you had better pull it together…ASAP!"
Ryan huffed and went back into the dressing room to change into another outfit waiting to be rejected. Ryan was insistent on picking out his own items to wear and stuck to his guns literally which was visibly warring down his male companions.
"I thought shopping with Taylor was Hell…I'm in Hell," Chad droned out as everyone nodded in agreement.
"I heard that!"
"I hope you did now hurry up! Just put back on your clothes so we can leave," Jason called out having had enough of Ryan's crap.
"But I have shown you the cheetah print shorts," Ryan pleaded.
"Hell No!" The boys said in unison as somewhat depressed Ryan appeared in the doorway.
"What do I do?"
"Let us take over and I do mean take over," Troy demanded very aggravated.
"But I don't wear all that stuff you guys do our style of dress is completely different. At the end of the day, Sharpay or no Sharpay I still have class," Ryan defended himself as if her were on trial.
"Ryan, you could never be us and we could never be you but with some work our style could clash quite nicely. I will do the attire, Troy you give the cool factor, Zeke teach him how to walk, and Jason you just be yourself," Chad ordered as they dispersed leaved a confused and slightly scared Ryan.
Chad came back moments later rolling his eyes while grabbing Ryan by the arm. He dragged the boy out of Gap kicking and screaming to the first stop on their escapade. Chad pushed Ryan into Guess where Troy was already waiting with a handful of items pushing him into the dressing room. A lot of the outfits Troy handed to him he nick picked saying either they were too dark or not comfortable. Pulling him up to the cash register Troy put on the table several belt chains, five pairs of jeans, seven shirts, four blazers; Ryan huffed at the expensive total but nonetheless handed over his credit card and retrieved the bag. Of course, Troy made a quick purchase and dragged Ryan out the store to Express. Ryan followed Troy around and watched as he thumbed through stuff and clearly most of it wasn't in Ryan's size.
"Are you sure your straight Troy?"
"Huh," Troy asked completely stopping in his tracks.
"I mean look at you…you're plowing through these racks worse than Sharpay would, but then again Sharpay doesn't shop at the bargain basement," Ryan scoffed in disgust at his surroundings.
"Whatever, I almost forgot! Do you own any tennis shoes?" Ryan tilted his head and gave Troy a blank stare.
"That's what I figured now we have to hit up Downtown Locker Room," Troy said as he paid for his clothes as Ryan his own and headed to their next destination.
There, Jason took over because if there was one thing everyone in East High was sure about was that Jason had the best foot action. Ryan was extremely nervous as he walked around the store sticking out like a sore thumb, watching Troy and Jason argue over some new shoes in the display case. What am I doing here? What am I doing at all? Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see the smiling faces of Chad and Zeke.
"How are you holding up?" Zeke asked while Ryan noticed him holding something his back.
"I fairing off alright, but these bags are drowning me," Chad chuckled suspiciously which made Ryan nervous.
"What now?"
"Ryan, as you know every outfit needs the perfect pair of shoes or everything is gone to hell," Ryan nodded at Chad's logic. "Well, I'm sorry to say that your pink cowboy boots don't do it for you man."
"I kind of figured that or you guys wouldn't be putting me through this hell right now," Ryan said as he plopped down on one of the seats.
"Ry, you're a special case so not every shoe fits you," Zeke confessed as Ryan looked down in disappointment.
"Except for one which totally describes you up and down…a classic all the way, they never go out of style sort of like you," Chad said pulling out the boxes from behind his back.
"Converses?"
Chad and Zeke frantically nodded their heads as Troy and Jason joined them. Ryan took one of the boxes and opened it only to reveal a simple pair of black on black high tops with leather embroidery, which Ryan had taken an immediate liking to. With a series of high fives the four boys had realized that they had just made a break through to Ryan. From there on the group continued to shop at the various stores such as American Eagle, Holister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Chad's personal favorite Up Against the Wall and Hot Topic. Coming out of the last store Ryan looked like a changed man all the boys could do was stand back and bask in their own glory. It took less than five minutes of persuasion but Chad made Ryan ditch his get up in the trash and put one of his chosen selections from his new wardrobe. It suited Ryan very nice with a mix of Kanye West and the Jonas Brothers.
Troy decided to make a quick detour at Game Stop in which Ryan opted to stay outside with the bags the boys played around a bit before they heard their stomachs began to chant, "Hungry Feed Me!" Zeke purchased Rock Band then they went back out to join Ryan but were not greeted by the same sight they left him in. There were a slew of girls who giggled and blushed at the oblivious heartthrob on the bench. Upon seeing the approval from the female they all looked at Ryan who was seemed to be cleaning his nails. Chad's mouth hit the ground as he and Troy shared a shocked moment of truth…Ryan might be a ladies man.
"Ryan come on we're going to the food court," Jason called out as they retrieved the bags and left before any of the girls mistook him for Justin Timberlake and attacked.
Troy and Zeke were practically racing each other there, while Ryan struggled to concentrate on his heavy load. Jason got ready to race ahead to catch up with Troy and Zeke when he noticed Chad out the side of his eye. He was leaned up against one of the pillars looking to be out of breath and extremely pale. Jason not knowing what to do approached his immobile friend.
"Chad you okay buddy," Jason said in almost a whisper.
Out of nowhere Chad hissed and began to wheeze while clutching onto Jason's shirt for dear life. He coughed heavy a few times before hacking one good time then dropped to his knee in a cold sweat. Jason stood paralyzed in shock he didn't know what to do as he watched the color return to Chad's face and his breathing slow to normal.
"Hey, what are you guys doing? Didn't you hear me say pizza on me," Troy interrupted with a worried expression etched across his face.
"Hell yeah man, just had to tie my shoe," Chad responding as he stood and walked past Jason to join Troy. What Chad did bank on was Jason's line of sight, which was concentrated on his white sleeve now specked with blood…
Sharpay and Kelsi pulled right in front of the food court in the first parking space. Sharpay got out and slammed the door and stalked to the mall with Kelsi trailing behind. They would have been there an hour prior to their arrival but Sharpay had been pulled over for speeding and plus there was major traffic.
"Are you sure that was Troy's car," Kelsi asked trying to make conversation.
"Yes Kelsi, for the eighth time he is the only one at East High with a bumper sticker King of the Court…King of my Shorts!"
"Very true," Kelsi agreed as they walked inside the crowded mall…
"Ew I cannot believe I just witnessed that," Ryan said as he watched the Wildcats scarf down the food in less then five minutes causing him to lose his appetite.
"What we're growing boys," Troy joked slapping hands with Zeke.
"Are you going to eat that," Chad asked pointing to Ryan's untouched piece who quickly shook his head and then watched as Chad inhaled it with no trouble.
"So we're done right," Jason said speaking up since they first sat down.
"Yeah, dude you ready to go," Zeke asked and Jason nodded getting up. Chad breathed out silently knowing that he had to squash his issues immediately before it went out of hand. He pulled out his phone and text Jason under the table.
Chad: Jay plz dnt sweat wat happened earlier! U kno I have astma n my nu meds 4 it were jus messin wit me.
Jason: Really?
Chad: Yeah man, shit is kickin my ass but I dnt want Troy n em 2 make a big deal out of dis so can u keep dis on da DL?
Jason: I got u, plus I owe u 1. Remember?
Chad: I kno…yea all debts paid..lol
Jason: Iight godfather lmao
The exchange took less than three minutes and no one even noticed the two were on their phones. Chad smiled and nodded his head at Jason who rolled his eyes and smirked but something in the back of his eyes could not shake the feeling that it was more to the story then Chad was giving. While walking back to the car the stares Ryan seem to be getting became more frequent but this time Ryan was the wiser and couldn't meet their stares.
"Ryan what are you doing these, chicks digging you," Jason noticed trying to pep up his cohort.
"I can't"
"What the fuck are you talking about you can't," Troy hissed confused.
"I told you I like Kim," Ryan whispered feeling as if he were under microscope.
"Nobody is saying you gotta get married and shit but dog you have to look at it as these girls practice…Kim the big game," Zeke rationalized.
"I can't…you don't understand I talked to Kim because she spoke to me first but I'm still scared I never really flirted before. What if I'm terrible?"
"Then your terrible, oh well," Chad counted in a humorous tone.
"I can't handle that," Ryan said defeated. Chad looked at him in pity, knowing all the pressure Ryan endured daily he knew Ryan couldn't handle it.
"I got an idea, Jason you're the smooth talker out of all of us show him how its done," Chad suggested as Jason shrugged his shoulders and selected a random girl out of the crowd.
"Ooh, a red head," Jason cooed as he slid up beside her and commenced conversation as Ryan stood back and took notes.
"Hey."
"Hi," the girl blushed.
"Here you go," Jason noticed that she was buying an ice cream so he made a point to pull out the bills and paid for it and handed her the treat. Ryan watched the girl and her friends gush over Jason's good deed.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem, a girl as beautiful as you is worth it," he complimented as he pushed a strand of hair out her head never breaking eye contact.
"Hey, um take down my number so I can pay…you…back," the girl said seductively as she dialed her number in on his phone.
"That would be lovely," he said flashing her his 100-watt smile.
"See ya around hot stuff," the girl said kissing him lightly on the side of his mouth and walking away with her friends.
Jason turned to his friends expecting to see looks of admiration or applause their typical reaction after one of his stunts but what he came face to face with was looks horror. Before he could ask what was wrong he felt a cold shake down his back…
ALL FINISHED THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! WHAT DO YOU THINK? GOT ANY QUESTIONS?
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