A stormy January Morning at East High School, Albuquerque
Chad looked over at Taylor and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was electric. She was magnetic and he didn't know why. Yet at the same time she made him frustrated. Yes she, Taylor Mckessie, made him Chad Danforth, frustrated and secretly he did not want to admit that deep down he knew exactly why she did that to him. Deep down the truth was too compelling for him to handle and no other girl had ever done this to him and mysteriously enough, he knew from within that no other girl would. It was simply a fact to him – no other girl was Taylor Mckessie – she was one in a million, unique, different…yes different from all the other girls he's ever taken notice of at East High. Why had he never noticed her before is the question he constantly asked himself? But yet again he found her frustrating. Just being in the same chemistry lab with her was frustrating and inside he felt like the boiling kettle of water right next to him, which he was going to use in his lab experiment.
Ugh, I hate chemistry lab experiments, he thought as his gaze switched from Taylor's frame to the sizzling kettle. I don't get how she can worship them so much, he mused as his gaze swiftly returned to her again. His light brown, honey glazed eyes lingered on the back of her neck for a long time before shifting to her hair and then to her back. Chad felt something within him burn and it was not pleasant. At the same time, he found himself subconsciously thinking, she's-
"- hot!" came the interjection into his thoughts. Chad broke out of his day dream to see who had spoken so loudly. He turned to see his lab partner Stacey.
"Excuse me?" Chad queried glaring at her.
"The kettle is hot! It's so damn hot" Stacey whined gently rubbing her slightly scorched finger.
Chad just rolled his eyes and said "run it under the cold tap Stacey, that's the obvious thing to do". For some reason Stacey was especially getting on his nerves today and he was quite mortified when he discovered he'd be having her as a lab partner for that day.
As Stacey sulked over to the sink, Chad took control over the experiment whilst sneaking several glimpses at a laughing Taylor. Her lab partner was Gabriella and Gabriella had just whispered something into her ear which was obviously making her laugh…ALOT. Chad took notice of her melodic laugh; it struck an unexplainable chord within him. Who was he kidding; it actually struck an explainable chord within him, one that he didn't want to confess up to any time soon. The problem was…
…Taylor Mckessie was so damn beautiful to him. She had grown up into a slender, curvaceous young lady with gorgeous curly hair that bounced every time she shook her head. Chad found her chocolate skin very delicious and her dark, sparkling eyes touched him every time he looked into them. But above everything else, she knew things about him; things that he did not want other people knowing. Taylor Mckessie knew all these things about him…because of what she wasn't supposed to see.
Damn that intelligence of hers, Chad screamed in is mind just after Taylor had stolen a glance at him, as though she had felt his red hot stare burning a hole in the back of her head.
Chad caught her looking at him and their eyes fused what seemed like eternity in his mind. Chad wondered whether Taylor could feel the fury that was burning inside him.
"He's frustrated by me again", she whispered quietly to herself as she began pounding the Canadian pondweed with the pestle and Mortar.
Taylor always usually thoroughly enjoyed scientific experiments, but today was not very pleasant for her. She was having painful period cramps, her back ached and all she wanted to do was go home and lie down. To top that all off, lunk-head basketball man Chad Danforth had basically been piercing holes in her with his constant stares throughout the entire experiment so far. Taylor could not understand why he was doing it because it was really unnerving. She felt like giving him evil stares to make him stop but she just did not have it in her today.
But deep down, very much like Chad, Taylor knew exactly why he was giving her those stares and exactly why it was always so unnerving for her. Taylor looked over at Chad again and watched his lack of motivation with distaste. At that moment Chad had begun unenthusiastically grinding the pond weed while Stacey was just watching him flirtatiously and twirling her blonde locks around her perfectly manicured finger.
Ugh, I hate cheerleaders, she thought. And I don't see why he likes them so much, especially when they have IQ's lower than common ants, she stated in her head Taylor quietly chuckled at that last statement – to her it was a private joke.
Yet Taylor could not control it either. She found herself taking in Chad's breath-taking handsomeness. His dangerously glittering eyes shone on his flawless toffee-caramel skin, and she had to admit that she was mesmerised. There was just something about 'lunk-head' Chad Danforth that she could not understand.
It had all started at the after party of the triple win just before winter break. Chad and Taylor had gotten on so well at that point and she was ecstatic that he had asked her as his 'date'. She had grown to learn more about him in such a short space of time and soon her image of the annoying, basketball Chad who she always used to argue and bicker with, slowly began to change.
Flashback
Taylor and Gabi had just arrived at Chad's house for the after party. They could already hear booming music, cheer and laughter from inside the house.
"Oh my God Tay, will you stop worrying. You're gonna knock his socks off with that outfit!" Gabriella said to her best friend.
"But Gabi, what if he doesn't like it – not that I care of course" Taylor finished hurriedly, staring down at her lovely lilac top and skinny jeans.
Gabriella lifted one eyebrow and said, "Are you being serious Tay? He's going to love it and even if he doesn't then there's no doubt that he's going to love you! And c'mon I know you like him so you can't pretend to me – I'm your best friend remember. If I can't tell by now then who can?
Taylor burst out laughing and said "Ha! I do NOT like him ok, he's just much sweeter than I thought and I happen to care what he thinks…that's it."
It was Gab's turn to laugh, "Wow, who'd have thought your opinion of Chad Danforth would change so dramatically."
The door then opened and they were greeted by none other than Chad himself.
"Ladies! Glad you made it, come in come in", he said amusedly before leading them inside. He winked at Taylor before smiling. Taylor could've melted right there and then. Instead she responded with "Hi Chad".
Inside the guest area, Gabi had run off to find Troy, leaving Taylor alone with him. They stared awkwardly at each other, neither quite knowing what to say. Up until their plot to separate Troy and Gabriella two weeks ago, they had been very accustomed to hurling insults at one another since the eight grade.
"So" Taylor began, twiddling her thumbs.
"So" Chad repeated staring slowly at her from head to toe. "You look very nice tonight Taylor, can I get you a drink?" he finished off.
Taylor could feel herself start to blush. "Thanks, and yeah a coke would be nice please".
While Chad ventured off to the kitchen to get them some drinks, Taylor observed his house. It was the first time she'd ever set foot in it despite the fact that her mum and Chad's mum were good friends. Wow, she thought as she took it all in. She stood up and decided to take a tour of the house knowing fully well that Chad would not really mind. She ventured upstairs towards the bedrooms and to her surprise found one particular room was open – it looked like Chad's room…
And on his bedside table was what looked like a personal hand written poem. Taylor had not meant to pick it up. Curiosity told her to. She had not meant to unravel those intricate and deep thoughts about him. Intrigue pushed her to it. She had not meant to keep reading those words. Emotion encouraged her to do it. Taylor Mckessie had not meant to finally discover what she knew all along was the real Chad Danforth…
Back to reality- Chad's POV
"I can never forgive her for reading that poem. Never" he whispered to himself whilst looking out the window on that stormy afternoon in Albuquerque.
