Ok...Here's another attempt at Chad/Ryan... Reviews are very much appreciated. It gives me help when writing another fic. I am aware that this is probably very ooc (out of character) for most of them. Not sure if you would call this AU? Send me a line if you think the genres should be different..

Ryan had admitted that he was gay and he was paying for it, severely. Everyday he would get called horrible names, he would just brush them off and go on with life. But then the physical abuse started he couldn't just brush the bruises and cuts off. Soon after his parents and sister started noticing the cuts that appeared on his lips, the bruises the branded his arms, they could only imagine that there were more underneath his clothes. They questioned him about them until one day he exploded into a rage, screaming at them as he let out that he was gay, he yelled at them about what was happening to him, then he had slammed his bed room door and locked himself in. He hadn't come out until he was ready to go to school. Since then his whole attitude had changed. He wasn't putting effort into his school work and when it came to drama it was as if he'd lost all of his talent. Worried his parents hired a therapist but Ryan would have none of it.

It was a Tuesday when Sharpay ran after Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, Kelsi and Zeke as they were leaving the school at the end of the day. Ryan hadn't been at school that day.

"I need your help," she said in a tone that made Zeke want to reach out and hug her.

"You need our help," Taylor said quizzically.

"Yes...It's Ryan," she said, slightly annoyed at the abruptness of Taylor's tone, but expected as much since she wasn't exactly their friend.

"What can we do?" Zeke asked.

"Well...It's what Chad can do," Sharpay said. All eyes turned to Chad. "I can't believe I'm saying this...But...Ryan has a crush on Chad..."

"What?" Chad asked, his eyes wide. Sharpay nodded. "But how am I going to help?"

"I was hoping that if you agreed maybe you could come around to our place and try and convince him to leave his room, to act like the Ryan we all love instead of this depressed, horrible person that taken over his body," Sharpay said, a pleading look in her eyes.

"Sorry! I'm still lost at the bit where your brother has a crush on my boyfriend!" Taylor chimed in.

"Please Chad," Sharpay pleaded, ignoring Taylor.

"When should I come over?" Chad asked. He'd been keeping his secret at the bottom of his heart. If it was true, that Ryan had feelings for him, then maybe he would let his secrets out as well.

"Right now...If that's ok," Sharpay said.

"What?" Taylor almost yelled. "You can't go...He has a crush on you! Plus, you're my boyfriend!"

"Enough already," Chad said as he followed Sharpay to her car.

"Meet you guys at Sharpay's house," Troy said and with that the others were rushing to get to Sharpay's.