This is my entry for the Holiday Fic Challenge on the Fan Fiction Board of Fan Forum. The entries are due on January 6th, so there's still time to enter if you'd like! Just check out the details here:
http://www.fanforum.com/f24/challenge-thread-4th-challenge-up-deadline-extended-january-6th-62844310/index18.html You can also vote on the entries when they get posted :D
It's HSM slash, but G rated ;)
Can't Fight This Feeling AnymorePink cashmere sweater, turned-up collar of a striped shirt, feathered fedora tilted askew upon short blonde hair. A toothy grin and big blue eyes that were focused on only one person.
Ryan sat on the hearth of the fireplace watching across the room.
Her hair was long and wavy, dark like the midnight sky, as she walked towards the window where he stood. Her red cardigan had slipped from her shoulder as she grasped his arm, and there was tension in her beautiful face. Ryan watched them, as Troy looked away from her. Tears welling in her eyes, Ryan could see her defeat. He turned back to her, a flash of regret upon his face, before looking down at the floor. She walked away, her arms wrapped around herself, pulling her sweater tight, questions and accusations and secrets filling her mind. All the memories of the past year twisting and falling apart.
Ryan rose from the hearth and took a few steps towards the window. His courage faltered when Troy looked in his direction, and he stopped by the Christmas tree. He pretended to be interested in one of the shiny ornaments, looking in close and turning it around on its hook. Ryan stole a quick glance across the room as Gabby ran through the door. He breathed deeply, reaching into his pocket to feel the small box. It was still there, where it had been all night.
Troy grabbed his coat from the back of an arm chair and pulled it on, zipping it up. He began wrapping a soft scarf about his neck when he stopped, remembering her smile when he opened it on Christmas day. The guilt was too much, and he tore it off, leaving it on the chair. He pulled his collar up close to his neck instead, and headed for the glass door that led to the patio.
He stood alone, looking up at the stars, trying to formulate a wish but his mind was too muddled. He couldn’t even think of the words to the song he’d known all his life. Putting his hands in his pockets, he felt his phone. He pulled it out and searched for the photo he took in that very spot one year earlier. The New Years Eve that brought her into his life. Now, he had to face his truth, as much as it hurt.
Chad and Jason and the other guys, they accepted him with Gabriella, the braniac. They accepted him singing in the musical. They even accepted it when he gave up tickets to a Redhawks game to go to the ballet with Ryan. But, could they accept….
“What the…?” Troy turned around, wiping at the snow that had hit his back. “Oh, you!” he laughed.
“Just me,” Ryan smiled, making jazz hands. “Dork!” he thought to himself. He blushed and stuffed his hands back into his pockets.
Ryan breathed in deeply and took a few steps closer to Troy. “I saw…” he gestured inside the lodge, as he stepped closer.
Troy nodded slightly as he looked down. “We just couldn’t…”
“Work it out?”
Troy laughed softly and smacked Ryan on the arm. Even through his sweater Ryan could feel the heat of Troy’s hand.
“It’ll get better. You’ll meet another girl, and…”
“I don’t want another girl. I want…” he looked into Ryan’s eyes, before stopping himself. He looked away, focusing his eyes on a snow-covered branch of a tree. The snow shimmered in the moonlight, glistening, dancing.
Ryan shivered then, and pulled his arms closer to his body.
“You’re not wearing a coat. You must be freezing. We should go back inside.”
“No, I’m okay. I like it better out here. It’s quieter.” He could still make out the beat of the music from the karaoke machine.
“I never thought of you as the quiet type,” Troy laughed.
Ryan smiled. “Sometimes you need quiet.”
“Mhm. Here, take my coat,” Troy said, as he unzipped it.
“No, I couldn’t! I’m fine…”
“I insist. We can take turns,” he laughed, as he slung the coat over Ryan’s shoulders. It was warm and soft inside when Ryan pulled it around himself. It fit perfectly. Ryan zipped it up and pulled the collar up against his neck, like Troy had worn it. It smelled like him.
“It’s been fun having you here, Ryan. I’m glad Sharpay got your parents to bring you guys.”
“Yeah, it’s been a great break!” Of course, a ski trip to Colorado had been his idea, not his sisters. She had wanted to go to Hawaii, until Ryan convinced her how good she’d look in a Prada ski suit.
“Troy, I have something for you.” He figured that he had to just get it over with, or he’d hang onto that box until next Christmas. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, wrapped in silver paper with a delicate blue ribbon. Troy looked at him curiously as he reached out for it. “Merry Christmas. Late, I know, but, well, I hope you like it.”
“A present, for me?”
Troy smiled as he tugged at the ribbon. Opening the box, he looked back at Ryan. There was a red iPod, engraved with the words
You Are the Music in Me – R.E. Ryan was blushing, biting his lip.
“It’s my entire collection of musical soundtracks!”
“It’s perfect!” Troy reached out and hugged Ryan, holding on longer than a usual hug. When he did pull back, he looked into Ryan’s eyes. There was something in them, something that told him not to let go. So he didn’t. Not for a long time. Not until all the words had been spoken.
“I wasn’t sure, if you knew how I felt,” Troy said. Sometimes, I’d think you felt the same way, but then, I’d think you liked Gabriella.”
“Deflection. Something you got pretty good at yourself.”
Troy nodded, then said, “Let’s see what we got here.” He put one ear bud in Ryan’s ear and one in his own, and started random play. They laughed together as the Rod/Nicky duet came on, from Avenue Q, Troy's hand slipping into the pocket of his coat that Ryan was still wearing.
As the countdown to midnight began inside, for both Troy Bolton and Ryan Evans, it was the start of something new.
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christig428 for the CD! <3 ) and a very vivid Kradam scene came into my mind during "To Make You Feel My Love." I probably have listened to the song 20 times in the last few days, and just had to write this story. The song is posted below, if you'd like to listen while reading :)