Chapter 1

Imagine waking up at two in the morning because of a crash in the hall and when you open the door, armed with a baseball ball, you come face to face with your sister. Who is carrying a large duffel bag, intent on sneaking out of the house. Sound pretty bad doesn't it? It gets worse. This is no dream.

Riley froze from her position half-way down the hall and turned to smile sheepishly at Ryan. "I'm really sorry. I really should've been quieter." She paused, and Ryan got a sinking feeling that it was not going to be good. "I need you to do me a HUGE favor."

He stared at her in disbelief and yanked her into his room. She continued, "I'm going on a tour with my band, and I need you to make an excuse for me. And please don't tell the 'rents."

He scowled and started listing the weak points in her plan.

"What if the school decides to see if you're really hospitalized by calling our parents?"

She groaned. "Then you go as me. We look nearly the same anyway. And you already finished school. It's not like you'll be missing much, lounging around at home all day."

"Why would I want to dress up as a girl? I may be gay, but I very much like being a guy."

"You get to be with Wes all day," she sing-songed. He glared at her. Not fair.

""What am I going to tell the 'rents? That I went traveling with friends?"

"Good idea. Glad I can count on you." She clapped him on the shoulder and turned to her room. He gaped at her.

"I wasn't agreeing with the plan."

She winked. "But you haven't said no either."

Damn it, this wasn't turning out well.

She rummaged in her closet and pulled out a set of suitcases. "My uniforms are here, and whatever fits you can take, but if you break it, you pay it."

"Why would I want your clothes?"

She sneered. "Like you would go shopping on your own."

"I'm not doing this." She stared at him. "I'm not."

She grinned and dashed past him, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and disappeared into his room with her bag. He followed and saw her climbing out of his window.

"There's a door, you know."

She shrugged. "If I'm rebelling, might as well do it right?"

"Riley." She stuck her head back out to face him. "What about your exams?"

"Oh…those." She grimaced and waved carelessly in his direction. "I'll be back to take them. Don't worry."

Oh, was that meant to be reassuring?

She disappeared from view, just as his cellphone rang. He checked the display and groaned. Just great.

"Ryan! Sorry for waking you up, but I need you to take Riley to the airport next week. We're having a blast here and your father and I decided to stay a little longer in Venice."

At least something is going right. "Sure Mom." Now for the first step of the plan. "Hey, Mom…do you mind if I go with Andrew and the guys on a road-trip 'round the States?"

"That seems sudden." She paused. "Well, I suppose there's no reason why not. I'll put some money into your account then. Where are you guys heading to?"

"Don't know yet. You know Andrew. We might just make it up as we go."

"Ok. I guess, then, I'll see you when you come back."

"Thanks Mom. Tell Dad I said hi."

"Tell your sister we miss the both of you."

"Yeah, same here."

He tossed the phone carelessly on the mattress and flopped down. This was going to be an interesting year, that's for certain.

"Rise and shine, my dear!"

Ryan groaned as someone pulled the covers off of him. He lazily opened his eyes and grinned at seeing his boyfriend. Wesley Deming aimed a dashing smile at him and kissed his cheek.

"So where's your sister?"

"How did you get in?"

He grinned cheekily. "I pulled a Romeo. Climbed the trellis and everything." Ryan stared disbelieving at him, and he gave an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. Your butler let me in. So where's Riley?"

Ryan laughed nervously. "That's a good question. You see…she's on a tour with her band. For months." He looked balefully out the window. "And guess who's covering for her."

Wes snickered and Ryan groaned again as he threw his pillow at his boyfriend. "I need you to help me get in touch with my 'feminine' side, Wes."

Wes wagged his eyebrows. "I'm going to enjoy this."