Title: Faithfully

Author: Me!

Rating: PG-13 but there is a good possibility for an 'R' or 'M'.

Feedback: I'd love me some it!

Summary: Taylor McKessie and Troy Bolton are connected. Though their best friends date the other, these two teens have no idea of the untapped potential they have. And when that potential is tapped into, there is nowhere to hide. There will be consequences.

Disclaimer: I own not High School Musical…still. What a pity.

kb2121This will be interesting…if I have any say in this!

EndlessDreamer1024I noticed that no one had any Traylors out there. I thought it would be exciting to start on.

Mondler4EvErI like this so far as well. I really like it a couple of chapters in! Oh, the drama.

blueprincess972I loves this too.

HauntedWhisper714Yes I will continue this! Yes, I want to! Please stop poking me! My arm hurts.

tylerhiltongrupie53I'm completely honored that you've already put this story on alert and on favorites. I'm happy!



Discussing Your Livelihood.

Taylor.

"Okay. This is awkward." laughed Troy as he balled up his napkin, tossing it onto his tray. "It's been a few minutes since we decided to learn about each other yet-"

"There's nothing that we can think of asking." Taylor smiled. "Yeah. This is awkward. Maybe we shouldn't bother."

"I want to get to know you. I really think it's ridiculous to not know anything about my best friend's girlfriend."

Taylor slid her magazine into her tote bag, preparing to leave. "I agree. I'm in the same boat as you. If I have to hear another one of Gabriella's guilt speeches about how wonderful you are and how I should just give you a chance, then I'll scream."

Troy leaned back in his seat. "She can be quite passive aggressive when she wants to get her point across."

"Passive aggressive? You know that psychological characteristic? I'm impressed."

"Sorry but not all jocks are idiots."

Regret over her mouth and not filtering what came out of it instantly hit her. She hadn't meant to offend Troy. She knew jocks weren't idiots. She dated one! "I am so sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes,"

But that couldn't stop her. Her mouth continued to babble on. "I would understand if you couldn't. I mean, I wouldn't know what to say if someone I knew insinuated that I was a lunk head."

"It's okay. Wait. You think I'm a lunk head?" His question went unanswered. In fact it was unheard as Taylor could not stop herself.

"That was really insensitive of me. I really want to get to kn-"

"Taylor! It's okay. Just stop." Troy placed his hand on the table, his fingertips barely brushed her nails.

"Huh? What?"

Troy smirked. "I said 'yes' as in 'I forgive you'."

"You do?"

"I do. I really just want to get back to figuring out more about you."

Sighing, Taylor flung her purse on the table. "So, let's try this again."

"Let's."

"Troy, I've always wanted to know how you knew that basketball was your thing."

"I'm sure it was the same way you knew that academic decathlon was your thing. I had always heard stories about my dad playing basketball when growing up. And whenever he himself would join in on the storytelling, he would seem so happy. He would get this gleam in his eye and he would stare off in the distance. Whatever the story may have been, my dad always appeared to be content. Life was so simple for him. I guess I wanted my life to be simple but that was another story."

Taylor carefully watched the teen across from her. His eyes were now focused intently at the tray in front of him; he picked at the paper wrapper from his sandwich. "Well, how do you feel about basketball?"

"I love it. It's my life."

It was as if Troy Bolton metamorphosed. His posture straightened and perfected itself. His blue eyes sparkled and a smirk was cocked at his lips.

"It's more than my life – it's me. It's the friends I've made at school and at tournaments. It's the scholarships I'm already collecting so I can further my education. It's the discipline I lack from time to time. It's the leadership I've gain, earned, and appreciated. It's every opportunity I've had and those I have yet to have. Basketball is more than a game or sport. It's Troy Bolton and every wonderful thing I've had."

"But you said that you wanted a simple life through basketball. From what you've described, basketball has made your life complex."

Troy chuckled to himself. "I forgot that I'm talking to another 'Einstein-ette'. Wouldn't be able to get that passed you, huh?"

"No," Taylor hitched an eyebrow. "You don't have to answer you know."

"I know. I don't mind. It's not like you haven't already been there with me…in a sense."

What could he be insinuating?, she thought to herself.

"You know what I mean. Gabriella and I went through it during junior year."

It clicked. "Oh. Right. Doing things that weren't supposed to be your 'thing'."

"Can we give the lovely lady a prize?"

She blinked in shock and amusement. "Are you making fun of me?"

"Maybe,"

That boyish smile was a challenge to her. She had to get him for that little jab at her – even if it really wasn't a poke at her ego. Taking the straw out of her cup, she flicked it, causing a few droplets of her melted drink to sprinkle Troy.

"I meant no harm!" His voice rang in her ears. She chuckled, replacing her straw so she could take one long sip.

"What ever do you mean?"

"Like you don't know." Troy said, making a silly face.

"I'm so glad that we're all mature here."

"I am too. All right then. Let's get back to it. Do you really like academic decathlon?"

"I wouldn't be captain if I didn't."

"You know what I mean."

Running her fingers through her ponytail, Taylor tried to put into words what she felt while on the scholastic team. "I can't really describe it. You put it quite eloquently, what the sport is to you. Well, ditto for me. It's just a rush, searching through the catacombs of your mind for the answer – the knowledge you're seeking. This is who I am. I love academics and it will get me far in life."

"Yeah. I know."

A moment of silent reflection overcame to two Wildcats. Just listening to the crowd around them wasn't the uncomfortable affair it was twenty minutes ago. This quiet was what it was. A moment in time between two people who weren't awkward with the other – at least for the moment.

"I guess I should get going. I've been here for too long." Taylor pulled out her phone, checking on the time and for any missed calls.

"What's the time?"

"Quarter 'til four." She shouldered her satchel. Looking up, she giggled. The look of confusion on Troy's face was hilarious.

"Sorry. I've been spoiled on digital clocks."

"How do you know if you're late or not when in school? There are no digital clocks."

"I'm usually late or I discreetly check my phone."

"Because you can be discreet when using your phone?"

"Oh, you got jokes? I see."

The two teens shared the laughter. "Troy, I still can't get over that move in Ms. Darbus' class. I mean, come on. You know she can't stand cell phones." Thinking back on that first day back to school after Winter Break caused Taylor to erupt into more laughter.

"When you are a man in love and looking for said love, you become desperate."

"I see. Well, next time, I hope this man in love can keep me out of detention when searching for his love."

"You didn't have to speak up about Chad." Troy pushed his metal chair back, stood up, and languidly stretched.

"Tired?"

"It's draining, summer. I don't know about you but if it gets too hot, I get tired."

"I do from time to time." She got to her feet as well. What would she do know? Would she go back to walking the mall or would she try to pry Kelsi from Jason for a few hours? To be honest with herself, Taylor wanted to spend more time with Troy. He seemed as nice and as deep as Gabriella insisted on countless occasions.

Not knowing what to do with herself, Taylor followed Troy to a nearby trash container. He dumped his left-over paper and soda cup into the container, then looked up at her. "You want to hangout at my house?"

"Would you mind?"

"There's not much to do. Jason and Kelsi are now attached at the hip since they did the deed."

"He told you that?"

"We're guys. We're friends. We're teammates. We share things. I wouldn't have but he did."

"Chad better not be divulging any intimate things about our relationship."

Troy's gaze never quite connected with Taylor's chocolate brown eyes. "He hasn't."

"Gabriella has." She teased.

"What! Wait. How did you know Kelsi and Jason were on the next level?"

"She told me."

"Girls," With a roll of his eyes, Troy placed his food tray in the bin where it would later be collected.

"You love us. I'll just follow you to your house."

"You don't know where I live?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Taylor glanced at Gabriella's boyfriend with apologetic sympathy. "I don't really pay much attention when Chad drives over."

"You know where Gabi lives?"

"What sort of friend would I be if I didn't?"

"I live two courts in front of her." Troy exited the building, holding the door open for Taylor.

She smiled as she passed by him. "Thanks. You know, Chad doesn't open doors for me."

"Chad is Chad."

"Very true. I still love him."

The trek to the parking lot was what it was – a trek. It seemed that (without the knowledge of Troy or Taylor) during the day at certain hours, a child time/day care program began. Music, face painting, and games were abounding in the lower level plaza. Maneuvering through the throngs of mothers and their toddlers proved treacherous.

"I never knew that Albuquerque had that many little kids." Troy watched the events.

"Turn around before you walk into something."

"Okay, mom." Troy stopped in his tracks and jumped around, facing the exit that led to the parking lot.

"Do you remember were you parked?"

"Lot A, row 3. You?"

Taylor blindly fished for her shades that were somewhere in the mess of a bag of hers. "I'm over in Lot E."

"Yikes. Why walk that far?"

With her sunglasses finally on, Taylor began to dig around for her keys. "The entrance over thereis closer to the store I wanted to visit."

"Makes sense. Just come with me and I'll drop you off at your car. From there, you can just follow. My house is easy to find."

"It probably is." Taylor went with Troy to his car, taking the bricked crosswalk straight to Row 3. They quickly found Troy's charcoal gray Toyota truck. A hand full of seconds later, Taylor slid out of Troy's car, hopping into her own.

"Next stop: the Boltons." announced Troy, leaning out of his window.

"Can't wait."