Hello there! Back for chapter two!

I hurt my hand so it's hard to type. (What? You did? Jeez, Allyn, I'd like to be informed once in a while. -Jordan)

But anyway, onward with the story!

Enjoy!

"What's that?" Emily asked when she returned to her room.

"Um, nothing," Chad stuffed the note into his pocket. He didn't want to confront her until he knew everything about it. He quickly went back to Troy's room to ask him about it.

"Troy, do you know why Emily broke up with me?" Chad asked Troy.

"Dude, I told you like a bizillion times, I don't know!"

"Well," he said holding up the note, "Now I know."

Troy snatched the note from his head and read the note. Troy looked just as shocked as Chad had been.

"Wow," was all he could manage to say.

"I know! Dude, we could have stayed together," Chad plopped on Troy's bed and covered his face with his hands.

"Dude, you could be with her now. Em totally still likes you," Troy went back to what he was doing before.

"Yeah, right."

"Why do you think she doesn't get along with Taylor? She can't stand her because you are dating Taylor instead of her!" Troy continued to write on the piece of paper in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Chad tried to change the subject.

"Nothing," Troy replied and hurriedly put away the notebook paper in the desk drawer, "Wanna go shoot some hoops before it gets dark?"

"Sure," Chad picked up the basketball that was in Troy's room and walked downstairs.

"Oh God. I'm so tired," Chad collapsed onto the ground in the Bolton's backyard. It was getting dark, so they decided to stop the game. This activity had helped Chad get Emily and Taylor off his mind for a while, but now that he was sitting still again, he started to think about them again. The note stuck out in his mind. For the past two months he had longed to know why Emily had suddenly ended things. He thought back to that day.

"Chad." She turned around and plastered a fake smile upon her face.

"Didn't you see me coming down the hall?"

"Guess not! You know what Troy says. I'm blind as a bat!" She was talking really fast and was giggling nervously.

"Emily, what's wrong with you? You've been avoiding me around school and on the phone. Please tell me what's up." He took a step closer.

She rubbed her forehead.

"Emily, come on. You can tell me. I'm your boyfriend!"

Emily continued to rub her forehead. She was racking her brains for the words, but her searches came up blank.

"Em," Chad started.

"Chad, we need to talk."

"Em, don't you do this." Chad started to suspect what she was going to say.

"I don't think it's working out." Emily lowered her face and her eyes threatened tears.

Chad stood there. The words she said, they just didn't comprehend. It was almost as if he had been slapped, for no apparent reason. And that's how he felt, like he had been slapped.

"Emily--"

"I should go." Emily whispered so he wouldn't hear her voice crack. She walked around him, leaving the hallway. Leaving Chad in silence.

"Earth to Chadinater," her voice called out.

'Her voice is so beautiful,' he thought. He shook his head as if to shake the thoughts away. He was with Taylor now. He couldn't be falling for Emily again.

"I brought you guys some water. You look tired," Emily handed him a bottle of water.

She was always considerate that way. Chad loved that about her. She was considerate, kind, patient and friendly. She had a smile that could warm you up on the coldest winter nights. Her voice was able to soothe him no matter how he felt and her touch could calm him in an instant.

But, he had to forget all that, right?

Sure, Taylor was great to him. But, her touch wasn't calming and her voice wasn't soothing. Taylor made his heart race instead of slow down. The touch of Emily's lips was soft and inviting, while Taylor's was excited but hurried.

She was always rushing off to some meeting or study group. They never got much time alone like he had with Emily.

'Stop comparing them, Chad,' he thought. He found himself constantly doing just that – comparing them.

"Something wrong, Chad?" she asked him.

"No, just tired," he answered. He took the bottle of water she was still holding out for him.

"Well, I have some homework to finish. See you guys in the morning," she walked back into the house.

"Dude, you were totally thinking about her," Troy said sitting beside him.

"No, I wasn't," Chad took a long drink from his water.

"Whatever," Troy did the same.

Chad woke up the next morning still tired. He had tried to sleep, but found himself still thinking about Emily. He tried to remember he was with Taylor now, but his thoughts kept wandering back to Emily.

He stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen table. Mr. Bolton and Emily were already seated while Troy was still sleeping upstairs.

"Good morning," Emily smiled at him as he took a seat.

"Morning," he grumbled, "I thought you weren't a morning person."

"I'm not, but I found the wonderful world of caffeine!" she exclaimed and took a sip from a coffee mug she had in her hands.

Chad rolled his eyes and poured himself a glass of orange juice. "How did you sleep?" he asked her.

"Fine," she stated, "How about you?"

"Apparently not well," Troy's voice floated down the stairs as he entered the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" Emily look confused but still had her eyes on Chad.

"He kept tossing and turning all night."

"Oh really?" she didn't take her eye off Chad still. She was asking him the question, but Troy seemed to be answering it for him.

Chad looked down. "Just thinking," he answered.

"About what?" Emily asked.

'Does it matter?' Chad asked himself but then answered, "Just things."

'Me?' Emily thought. She scolded herself. 'We're over.'

Troy studied the two interacting. It was different than usual. They had just been friends, but now, they were acting more intimate. He smiled to himself and started to eat his toast.

"What are you smiling about?" Emily whipped her head over to look at Troy.

"Nothing," he continued to smile. Maybe the couple was finally going to realize they still had it for each other.

On Monday, Emily walked into school with a smile on her face. She opened her locker and caught Chad's eye down the hall. They smiled at each other for a while, before being interrupted by Natalie.

"You're so not over him," Natalie broke their contact.

"Good morning to you, too, Nat," Emily said with a fake smile on her face.

"Well, you're not!" she leaned against the locker next to Emily's.

"I am, too, over him," she unloaded books from her messenger bag.

"Sure you are."

"Goodbye now," Emily closed her locker and walked down the hallway.

"Hey, Emster," Chad greeted her as she passed his locker.

"Hey, Cha—"

"Morning, babe," Taylor walked up to Chad and gave him a peck on the lips. Taylor smiled sweetly at Chad, but once he looked away, shot a glare at Emily.

Emily glared back and walked off without saying anymore. Sadie joined her as she walked down the hallway.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked.

"I can't stand her! What does he see in her?!" she angrily ranted.

"Ooh, Taylor again?"

"Yes, Taylor. It's always Taylor. She gets under my skin!" Emily waved her arms angrily.

Sadie started to smile. "You're jealous," she said.

"What? Why would I be jealous?" Emily squinted her eyes at Sadie.

"Because, she's dating Chad and you still like Chad."

"I DO NOT STILL LIKE CHAD!" Emily separated from Sadie and wandered into the music room.

Kelsi was playing softly on the piano and Gabriella was singing along.

"No, it still doesn't fit," Gabriella stopped.

"What doesn't fit?" Emily said setting her stuff on the floor next to the piano.

"The music and Gabriella's voice. Sharpay came in this morning and tried, too," Kelsi answered.

"Hmm," Gabriella thought aloud, "Em, why don't you try?"

"Oh, no," Emily objected, "I couldn't. I don't know the song."

"Well, here. Sing something you know," Kelsi suggested.

"I know! Sing Part Of Your World!" Gabriella offered. It was Emily's favorite song from her favorite story: The Little Mermaid.

Emily gave Gabriella an exasperated look, but took a deep breath and plunged into the song she knew by heart.

"Look at this stuff

Isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the girl

The girl who has…everything

Look at this trove, treasures untold

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Looking around here you'd think

Sure, she's got everything

I've got gadgets and gizmos a plenty, I've got whos-its and whats-its galore

You want thing-a-ma-bobs? I got twenty

But who cares? No big deal. I want more

I wanna be, where the people are

I wanna see wanna see 'em dancing

Walking around on those, what'd ya call 'em? Oh feet

Flippin' your fins you don't get too far. Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'

Strollin' along down a…what's that word again? street

Up where they walk, Up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun

Wandering free, wish I could be part of that world

What would I give, if I could live out of these waters?

What would I pay to spend a day warm on the sand?

Betcha on land, they understand. Bet they don't reprimand their daughters.

Bright young women, sick of swimmin'. Ready to stand

And ready to know what the people know

Ask 'em my questions and get some answers

What's a fire and why does it…what's the word? Burn

When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love

Love to explore that shore up above

Out of the sea

Wish I could be

Part of that world"

Kelsi and Gabriella stood dumbstruck as she finished the song.

Emily stood there with an uneasy look on her face.

"Em," Gabriella blinked, "That was…amazing."

"Thanks," Emily felt shy suddenly.

"You have to try out for the musical. I think your voice would fit perfectly," Kelsi said.

"Oh, no. I couldn't…" Emily shook her head no. Just then, the warning bell rang and the girls quickly picked up their things and rushed out the door.

The bell sounded ending first period. Emily gathered her things and walked up to the roof. She sat on the familiar bench and soaked in the welcoming silence.

Emily found herself arguing with herself inside her head. Something she did often.

'I am over Chad!'

'So why are you so jealous of Taylor?'

'I'm NOT jealous of Taylor! Why would I be jealous of such a prissy know-it-all?'

'Because it's her giving Chad that peck on the lips instead of you…'

'Don't even start with that!'

'Come on. Admit it! You never stopped liking Chad.'

'That's besides the point.'

'IT IS THE POINT!'

Emily rubbed her forehead. She couldn't believe that she was fighting with herself, yet again.

"Something wrong, Em?" Her brother's voice called out from behind her.

"Hey, Troy."

"I heard you put on quite a show in the music room this morning," he sat beside her.

"I just sang a song. No big deal," Emily looked at him.

"No big deal huh? Well, Gabbi was still in shock when she walked into Darbus's class."

Emily didn't respond. Troy gave her a concerned look. Last time they had been up here together, Emily had told him about Michael's plans to kill her.

"What's bothering you, sis?" he wrapped his arm around her. She leaned her head onto his shoulder.

"I'm so not over Chad."

Uh-oh. Emily has finally admitted that she still likes Chad! Yay!

Well, I don't have much to say here. Please review!

Jordan shall add something stupid, I mean, interesting. (MY REMARKS ARE INTERESTING!! Anyways, the part where Emily's arguing with herself ('That's besides the point.'...'IT IS THE POINT!'), that was totally based off of Allyn's and my conversations. We argue about a different Chadly...AND I ALWAYS WIN!! -Jordan)

Chapter Three coming up!