Chapter Text
Every guy Ryan’s gone out with has been a total ass. He doesn’t know how it happens, but every single guy had been a complete disaster. He’s gone out with another guy in theater, a football player, a guy in the marching band, a guy his dad set him up with, and even a guy he’d seen at the country club. They were all short lived and all broke up with him for one bad excuse or another. He decided to not get attached to anyone for a while to avoid any more heart break. Sharpay was beyond thankful for that.
When Ryan started to fall for Chad Danforth he knew he was planning his own funeral. There was absolutely no way crushing on Chad could end well. He avoided him surprisingly well until the stupid staff baseball game. He wasn’t planning on going, but him and Sharpay were fighting and Gabriella is actually a lot nicer than he realized and so what if he dusts off some of his little league skills.
At some point or another the game turned into some sort of a metaphor that he really didn’t mean to make, but here they are.
“So Evans, what would you have me do in the little talent show thing you were talking about?”
“The star dazzle?” He grins.
“Yeah. That. I’m not saying I’ll do it, but if I did… what would you have me do?” Chad says in a way that tells Ryan that he definitely isn’t talking about the star dazzle.
“I was thinking anything that puts your hands to good use. Maybe some jazz hands.” Ryan smirks.
“Mm. What else?”
“Nothing that can be talked about out here. Too may ears… Sharpay could be trying to spy on us.”
“You sure you’re not the spy?”
“Positive.”
“Where’s the best place to go to avoid any spies?” Chad says, close enough to Ryan that he can feel his breath, eyes only looking at Ryan’s lips.
“I have my own locker room. No spies will turn up there.”
“Not even your sister?”
“She has bigger problems that are named Troy Bulton.” Chad rolls his eyes.
“Alright. I’ll follow you.” And he does. Or- he does until they’re right out front of the door. Ryan goes to reach out for the handle when Chad pulls him into his lips. Ryan hums into it. Chad grins at the feeling. Ryan kisses back before coming to his senses- sorta…
“Someone’s gonna see…” Ryan says, pupils already blown.
“Right.” Chad says with a goofy smile. Keeping a hand on Ryan’s waist, the other scratching the back of his neck. Ryan goes for the door before remembering he needs the key.
“Shit…” He huffs, going for a keychain with several keys on it. Chad shakes his head, smiling nonetheless. He takes the keys and gets the right one on the second try. “Thanks…” Chad grins before pushing him into the room, kissing him again.
“You’re so pretty.” Chad says against Ryan’s neck as he trails kisses along it.
“I’m not hot?”
“No you’re totally hot. You just also happen to be pretty.” Chad smiles. “Can I take off your shirt? I’ll take mine off too.”
“Yeah.” Ryan smiles softly. Chad unbuttons the shirt while gently pecking his lips. Ryan has to stop thinking because he’s already thinking about how this, whatever they’re doing, is better than half of his past relationships.
“You okay?” Chad smiles softly, thumbs gently rubbing circles into his waist. Make that all of his past relationships. He nods softly, smiling back. “Good.”
One thing leads to another and they end up switching clothes for the staff picnic that Chad convinced Ryan to go to.
“Nice hat.” Taylor says, sending them both a knowing look. Shit. Chad and Taylor are together and he totally just- “I guess it’s a good thing we broke up then, huh?” Chad grins, sending her a look that says ‘thank you’. Chad links their hands together under the table, smiling gently at Ryan any chance he gets. Ryan can’t help but smile back.
“My mom’s here… I gotta go.” Chad frowns. “My shift’s at ten and my mom has work so she’s dropping me off early. Like eight… if you’re up maybe we could get breakfast together?”
“Sure.” Ryan smiles.
“Cool, I’ll see you tomorrow, Ry.”
“Bye, Chad.”
“Hey!” Chad grins when Ryan opens his hotel room to Chad. “You look so pretty!” He grins impossibly wider, hands going to his waist.
“I like… just got out of bed…”
“Yeah, but you’re like totally gorgeous, especially like this.” He says, pecking Ryan’s lips.
“Thanks.” Ryan says with a blush. “Um… we can order room service if you wanted that.”
“If you want that then that’s fine.”
“Yeah. I usually get their pancakes, but the new chef doesn’t make them the same.”
“Oh.” Chad frowns.
“The French toast is good, do you like French toast?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, then I’ll order it.”
“Cool.” Chad smiles, moving his hands away.
“You can sit wherever.”
“Hey, Ry!” Chad grins holding a takeout box.
“Whatcha have in there?”
“Actually,” he smiles, opening the container. “Zeke made pancakes and he does it differently than most people, but they’re like heavenly and I know earlier you said-“
“The other chef doesn’t make them as good, yeah.” He smiles widely.
“They’re for you. I don’t know if you even want them, but I want you to have them.”
“Thanks!”
“Yeah, of course.”
After two long weeks of Chad doing absolutely everything and anything for him, Ryan needed to know what was up.
“So I was thinking-“ Chad starts from Ryan’s side, wrapped around him softly.
“Chad… what are we doing?”
“What do you mean?” He frowns.
“Like… we’re acting all couple-y. I’m just trying to understand what it is we’re doing. I’ve been with guys before and I just… they weren’t great, and you are, but those relationships all ended dramatically and not good and- Sorry. I just don’t want to go down the same path again…” Ryan says, getting up and moving off the bed.
“Well… I was under the impression that we were a couple. I told Taylor and Zeke that we were dating.
“What?!”
“Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t have assumed, but we have been couple-y.”
“Oh!”
“Yeah, but I can ask you if that’s what you want.”
“No, it’s okay we can just be-“
“No, you brought it up. I’m gonna ask you formally.” He says, standing up, grinning widely. He goes on one knee infront of him, smiling widely, linking their hands. “Will you do me the honors of letting me be your boyfriend?”
“Yeah, sure.” Ryan grins, pulling Chad up. Chad pecks his lips before picking him up and putting him back on the bed. Ryan giggles at the feeling before Chad is on top of him, kissing all over his face.
“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” Chad grins when he’s catching his breath.
“Says you.” Ryan grins.
“I am sorta hot aren’t I?”
“Yeah, just a little.” Ryan grins, pecking his lips. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Proving me wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Chad smiles softly, laying next to him, linking their hands.
“I didn’t think this would be anything more than us messing around and I was worried it’d be like the guys before, but it’s not and I’m really glad that I was wrong. I’m really glad that you’re my boyfriend.”
“I’m really glad I’m your boyfriend too.”
“Good.” Ryan grins, kissing Chad softly.
“As I was saying before… I was thinking about homecoming, which I know it’s like three months away, but I also know that you like to plan things early so everything isn’t last minute. So, will you go to homecoming with me? I know you and Kelsi go together as friends, but I mean… Taylor is going to need a date too, so we could get them to go together.”
“You want to go to homecoming with me?”
“Yeah, and I want to get cheesy pictures together like everyone else. I want us to get pictures with the guys like Troy and Gabi and I want to show you off to like… everyone.”
“I’ll have to talk to Kelsi, but would you be willing to wear pink?”
“Gladly.”
“God you’re amazing.” Ryan grins, pushing their foreheads together, rubbing their noses softly. Chad smiles back, pecking his lips.