August 2006
The first boy Ryan kissed said it didn't count as gay because Ryan's "basically a girl anyway." He'd gone home and gathered every pink and pastel piece of clothing and thrown it away. His dad was enthusiastic to buy him a closet full of clothes for "real boys." It lasted a few miserable months and that summer Ryan switched back to dressing like himself, elated to find out his mom and Sharpay had kept all his old clothes.
After that though Ryan didn't talk about liking anyone, not even to Sharpay. He'd disappear at clubs on vacation. This part of his life was and is his own.
So now, as he hands a bag to Chad in the parking lot of a burger joint he wonders why he is biting down on the urge to text his sister. To get her opinion on the right thing to say and do. This should be his sign to quit, to stop hanging around Chad before there are any feelings he can't keep in their place.
"You sure you're cool eating in your car? We could go to a park or my house or something?" Chad finally speaks, popping his thought bubble. "I just don't wanna accidentally dirty anything in here."