Chapter Text
—-
Night of day one
Everyone was asleep. That’s what Chad thought. He laid uncomfortably on his side of the bed. Next to him was Ryan, who was fast asleep. His right arm was crossing on Chad's side of the bed.
It unnerved Chad, even though Ryan couldn't have known he crossed some imaginary line Chad made up in his head.
However, it irritated Chad so much that he couldn't sleep. He was looking at the ceiling, wondering why they don’t have any functioning digital clocks in their room.
With a groan, he stood up and left the room.
—
Gabriella wondered how long it would take for Troy to wake up. He had been asleep since 5 pm and it was already nearing 2 am.
She, unlike Troy, couldn't fall asleep. Everytime she laid down and closed her eyes, ideas and absurd scenarios flooded her mind. Normally that wasn’t anything bad, but today her brain couldn't stop coming up with things that made her upset.
That’s why she got out of her bed and went to the kitchen for a quick drink.
She was already halfway through of making her mojito. Usually she didn’t drink alcohol, especially not at 2 am in the morning. But today it might actually help her instead of harming her.
She grabbed a lime that was laying in a bowl on the counter, when suddenly Chad walked into the kitchen.
“Oh, hi Chad!”
“Gabriella? Why are you up?”
“I should be asking you the same thing. Actually, I’m just making myself a mojito. Do you want one?”
He looked at her weird but smiled nonetheless.
“Yeah I want one. I thought you didn’t drink?”
“I do occasionally. It gives you that little kick of happiness, which is nice sometimes, and terrifying other times.”
He walked over to the couch that was close enough to the kitchen so Gabriella could hear him.
“Right, I do consider that pretty awesome.”
She grabbed the same lime from earlier and squeezed it into his glass also.
“Alright, but I’m not gonna give you that much alcohol because we still need to be responsible adults.”
She poured both of them about the same amount of gin before taking the glasses in hand. She sat down next to Chad, and gave him his mojito.
“Thank you. I didn’t know you knew how to make these.”
“It’s pretty easy. I used to make these without alcohol when I was younger, still do sometimes. They’re really good.”
Chad took the first sip of his drink and his face lit up.
“It’s good.”
“Thank you.”
There was a beat of silence between them.
“So will you now tell me why you’re awake this late?” Chad asked and looked over at Gabriella, whose drink was half empty already.
“I don’t know, I just couldn't fall asleep.”
He nodded, he didn’t believe her but he wasn’t going to interrogate her.
“You?”
He should have expected she would ask that.
“I also couldn't fall asleep.”
“Sleeping with Ryan bothers you that much?”
His drink got caught in his throat, going all the way up into his nose until he started coughing.
“Oh my god I’m sorry! I was just asking!”
She patted his back until he slowly stopped coughing and caught his breath.
“What? No! I don’t mind being in the same bed as him. We're friends!”
“I’m sorry for asking! I was just wondering.”
“I know.”
Gabriella was looking at him. He was looking down at his drink or the floor. She wondered if he was avoiding eye contact with her.
“So it’s all good with Ryan?”
“Of course. He’s cool and all. Yeah it has nothing to do with him.”
She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it but under the faint moonlight coming from the outside she could see Chad’s cheeks redden up.
“I did notice you and Ryan get along well! You guys kinda remind me of Troy and I when we first met. Except you two are a little bit more stubborn.”
After that he finally looked at her. His face was filled with confusion and what Gabriella assumed was a bit of fluster.
Gabriella chugged down the last sip of her drink and Chad looked awkwardly away from her.
“We are not like you two at all! No hate but you two are all clingy and sappy.”
He was smiling and Gabriella gasped, but she was smiling also.
“We’re forward with each other! Sorry you guys can’t handle our adorableness.”
“Dude no. Ever since Troy met you he has been all like ‘Gabriella! Gabriella’. It’s getting annoying.”
Gabriella pretended to be offended but still blushed a little. She knew Troy loved her but it’s cute to think about him bringing her up in conversations just so he could talk about her.
“Okay. Ryan also can’t shut his mouth up about you. You two have been together constantly since summer last year.”
Chad kept his eyes straight ahead and shifted in his spot uncomfortably.
“He talks about me?”
He looked down and smiled. “Weirdo.”
Gabriella rolled her eyes affectionately.
—-
The next morning
Troy woke up way earlier than usual.
He rubbed his eyes and saw what he assumed was the sun setting. His hand naturally reached for his phone and to his surprise it was already 5:34 AM. So it was the sun rising, not setting. Huh.
He never wakes up this early. Approximately at 6 AM for school. but he usually procrastinates waking up until 7 AM anyway.
His eyes shifted to Gabriella. She was curled up in the blanket Troy and her share, even though their room seemed to be under fire.
He directed his smile at Gabriella before hurrying to take a cold shower.
—--
Ryan had his alarm set for 5:30 AM. He wanted to remind himself to turn it off before going on this trip. But obviously when he remembered what he had to do, Chad started to tease him about meaningless shit. So in the end he always forgot to turn it off.
The alarm started screeching in Ryan’s ear. He was used to the sound already but he quickly realized that the person next to him wasn’t.
Chad groaned and Ryan quickly woke up and reached his left hand to turn off the sound.
He looked over at Chad, to make sure he didn’t wake him up this early. But luckily Chad looked completely zoned out. The thing that shook him was that Chad’s arms were hugging Ryan’s right arm.
He tried to shake him off but every time he made any sort of movement Chad snuggled closer. What was he supposed to do? He didn’t want to wake him up. This would be so embarrassing for both of them.
His pajamas started to feel very tight on him and the heat in the room was definitely not helping. He wanted to get up and leave the fucking room.
Unfortunately Chad’s grip accompanied with his good amount of muscles was impossible to get out of.
He shifted closer to the edge of the bed, away from Chad. He could feel his cheeks burning, which he assumed was from the insane summer weather outside.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. And before Ryan could even respond the door was already open.
“Ryan? Chad?”
It was Troy. He was wet for some reason with a towel around his head. He must have taken a shower, Ryan really wanted to leave the room and go take one as well, but he really didn’t wanna wake up Chad.
“Oh hi Troy. You’re awake.”
“Oh yeah uh.”
He shifted his gaze between the two guys awkwardly. Were they really not dating?
“What do you need?”
Troy kept his eyes on Ryan, trying with all his might to not look at his best friend who was basically hugging Ryan’s arm. Chad never does clingy shit like this. He hates it actually. Troy thought.
“I just - I heard the alarm and went to check on you guys.”
“I’m awake. I just really wanna get out of bed without waking up Chad.”
“I see.”
There was an awkward beat of silence.
“Well are you gonna help?” Ryan asked and looked at him strangely.
Troy knows Ryan is confident and self aware. But was he not wondering why Chad is clinging to his arm? Are they dating? Why is Ryan so casual about this? Is he just acting?
Questions filled Troy’s mind and he could feel himself getting overstimulated.
“I don’t know man uh. Just get up, he’ll probably stop doing that.”
Ryan sat down at the edge of the bed, swung his arm up once and Chad groaned but when Ryan stood up he eventually let go.
“Okay good. I was scared he was gonna wake up and get all weird.”
“Dude I don’t think you could wake him up even if you threw basketballs at his head.”
“Do you have to sneak basketball into every conversation?”
They talked their way all the way into the kitchen, where they found Taylor making tea.
“Morning Taylor” “Good morning!” Said Ryan and Troy simultaneously.
Troy jumped to sit on the kitchen counter.
“Do you seriously not have any mannerisms?” Spatted Taylor at him before taking her tea a few steps away from him.
“Sorry..” He murmured quietly, still remaining in his spot.
Ryan walked over to grab a cup so he could make his usual morning coffee. He was about to ask Taylor where the coffee beans were, when he caught a glimpse of the tea she had in her cup.
“Do you not drink coffee? I would assume a person who wakes up this early would drink some.”
She leaned on the kitchen counter and took a sip of her drink before replying.
“I try not to.”
When Troy heard that he gazed over at Taylor with a face that could only indicate he was going to say something he thinks is smart.
“Is it because coffee can fuck up a developing brain? And you don’t wanna scar your brain?”
He expected Taylor to be impressed with his statement, instead of that he received a neural facial expression and even a more neural response.
“Yes, coffee can severely fuck up a developing brain. However I don’t have to worry about that, since my brain fully developed a few years ago. While I can see why a person like you shouldn't drink coffee, I do it simply not to cause higher blood pressure and anxiety.”
Ryan glances at Troy whose eyebrows were furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line. He felt a little bad for Troy, poor guy.
“Uh anyway Taylor, do you know where the coffee beans are.” Ryan finally asked, holding his cup in both hands and waiting impatiently for her response.
“No. We didn’t bring any. I can make you tea if you want to.” She took a few sips of her own tea just as Ryan was looking around for anything that could contain caffeine.
He came to the conclusion that there’s nothing else around except for one or two energy drinks that Troy and Chad bought. But he didn’t want to drink that.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just go on a run or something to get my blood pumping.”
“Dude! Do you wanna go shoot some hoops?” Troy shot out of his spot and quickly sprinted off to his room, disappearing from sight.
“What? No, Troy! I don’t know how to play basketball!” He yelled but to no avail.
In less than a minute he rushed back into the kitchen while pulling a clean shirt over his head and jiggling his basketball in his hands.
“Come on! Let’s go!”
He walked past Ryan and gave him a little push on the shoulder. Ryan could only look at Taylor who just shrugged her shoulders.
After Ryan caught up to where Troy went, he figured out that behind the cabin there was a small basketball field with a basketball hoop. Troy was already shooting clear shots into the hoop.
“Come on! Have you ever played basketball before?”
Ryan came just a little closer and Troy pushed the ball into his hands.
“No I haven’t. Not really my lane.”
“Okay…I’m going to teach you the basics then.”
“Well if you insist. But I’m telling you I know I’m not good at this.”
Ryan smiled smugly, he knew he can’t play for shit. And Troy was training ever since he was a kid so he doubted he even knew how to teach the basics.
—
After about an hour Troy didn’t get bored of teaching him. Ryan was actually a natural at this. Troy heard from Chad about the baseball game, so he already assumed Ryan had some sportsman in him. He just didn’t know how much.
Troy passed the basketball over to Ryan who finally after a few failed attempts got a shot in.
“Woho! You’re seriously not that bad at this.” Said Troy and went to pick up the ball from the ground and pass it over to Ryan again.
“Thanks. It’s not as hard as I assumed it would be.”
Troy smiled and mindlessly started ranting about some basketball techniques and stuff. He kept talking but in the corner of his eyes he noticed Chad and Taylor walking out of the cabin together, heading over to sit at a small coffee table outside in close proximity to the basketball field.
Troy took one glance at Ryan who was trying his best to get the hoops in. Then one at Chad, who was talking about something, but he noticed that Chad was looking over at them.
Troy smiled and finished his meaningless rant about something that he was making up on the spot. He walked over to Ryan and took the ball from his hands.
“Are you going to teach me something else now?”
“Ah I actually wanted to go check on Gabs. But I know someone who could.”
Before Ryan could protest or even question anything he just said, Troy was already turning in Chad’s direction.
“Chad! Mind teaching Ryan here some basketball stuff? I’m going to check on Gaby.”
Chad stopped to stand next to Taylor, seeing Troy approaching him. He was just processing whatever Troy was saying when suddenly a basketball was thown into his hands.
Troy patted him on the shoulder and leaned a bit closer. “Take it from here.” And walked towards Taylor.
What the hell?
Chad stood with the basketball in his hands.
“Are you coming?” Ryan yelled from the basketball field, his smug smile appeared on his face and Chad couldn't help but smile at him challengingly.
“You think you got what it takes to play?”
He walked all the way to stand in front of Ryan.
“Yeah, bring it on.”
Chad smirked and started dribbling the ball on the ground. He pushed back Ryan and threw the ball into the hoop.
“One for me, zero for you.”
“Hey, that's not fair! You were supposed to teach me something.” Ryan suddenly snapped the basketball from Chad’s hands and ran away from him.
“What the fuck man? The hoop is here, you know that right?”
Ryan rolled his eyes from where he was standing but rushed back to circle around Chad and score a basketball in.
“Wow dude you’re actually not that bad.”
“Maybe I don’t need teaching afterall”
Ryan shrugged his arms. He adjusted the ball in his hands and tried to score another one, but this time the basketball missed the hoop.
“Okay nevermind.” Chad picked up the basketball from the ground and handed it over to Ryan again. “Your technique is completely wrong. You look like you’re about to play volleyball and not basketball.”
Ryan took the ball and grinned slightly. “I don’t know. Same thing to me.”
“Haha of course it is.” Chad positioned himself behind Ryan, who turned his head at Chad confusingly.
“Dude stop looking at me and focus on the hoop.”
Chad wasn’t sure if he heard that right but he could have sworn he heard Ryan mummer a quiet “sorry.” unusual for an Evans, he thought, a tiny smile tore his way into the corner of his lips.
“So are you gonna teach me the correct technique or stand behind me like a creep?”
Chad snapped out of his trail of thought and immediately placed his hands on the ball in Ryan’s hands.
“Okay so what you want to do is position your hand like this.”
He put one of his hands on Ryan’s and dragged it under the basketball.
“Good. Now your other hand should be at the top.”
He did the same with his right hand. Dragging it at the top of the basketball.
“Great.” He let go of Ryan’s hands completely. He noticed Ryan didn’t say anything or even nodded.
Whatever. He was just helping him with the correct hand positioning. Nothing weird.
Ryan just stood there.
“Actually no. You have to spread your fingers more.”
He reached one of his hands to lay it over Ryan’s and spread his hands in one shift motion.
“Now you’re all good.”
“Oh thank you. Do I just shoot like this now?”
“Yeah. Wait, let me show you.”
Chad once again went to stand behind Ryan. He pressed his body against his and moved to place his palms on top of Ryan’s.
He moved Ryan’s hands the same way he would move his while shooting into a hoop.
He finally let go of the basketball. Man this would be much easier if Ryan decided to put any energy into it. His body was just standing there like a zombie.
The basketball went in.
“Woohoo! See? Aren’t I the best teacher?”
Chad didn’t even notice that one of his hands stayed on Ryan’s.
“Yeah. You’re not half bad.” Ryan said after an entirely too long beat of silence.
Chad finally realized his hand was looming on top of Ryan’s right hand. He quickly let go and patted him on the back instead.
“Uh next time you need something, I’m your guy!” He jogged over to pick up the basketball.
He glanced at Ryan, who seemed to be way less talkative than when they started.
His right hand was hanging in the air freely. Chad quickly passed him the ball.
—------
“Good morning Taylor.” Waved Troy happily, walking away from the tiny basketball field.
“Morning. I see you occupied Chad.” She held the hot cup Chad gave her before running off to Ryan.
“Is that Chad’s?”
“Yes. I suppose I’m gonna drink it since Chad ran off to his secret crush.”
Troy laughed. “Isn’t the word crush too childish for you? Even when I was like 10 I already thought it was a word for babies.” He crossed his arms with pride.
“I don’t think there’s another way to describe love this oblivious. It’s gross but also cute at times.”
Troy rubbed his neck nervously. The idea of Chad having a crush on Ryan Evans still surprised him. He was happy for them though.
He turned his head back to look at them. Chad was putting his arms around Ryan and Ryan’s cheeks were turning very red.
Okay, he was happy for them but he doesn’t need to see them doing lovey dovey stuff.
“Let’s go inside.” Troy suggested as he grabbed the cup from Taylor’s hand.
Taylor almost smiled and followed after him.
“Now you know how we feel when you and Gabriella are together.”