Chapter 2:

Gabriella covered her eyes with my hand as we all stood in the pregnancy test aisle. While she loved her best friend more than life it's self, Taylor's logic in times of emotional crisis was just a little too much at times. Like driving to the nearest Walgreen's in the middle of the night simply because they knew it would be open containing the type of test they were looking for was not Gabriella's idea of a good time. So the four girls stood in the aisle staring at the boxes in front of them with confused looks on all their faces.

"We should buy more than one," Taylor suggested raising an eyebrow. This was not the way she expected to be spending her final weekend of summer vacation.

"This one says clear, digital, and easy to read fast results," kelsi said grabbing the bright blue box in front of her.

"I like the design on that one... It looks easy to use and it says it is 99.9 percent accurate," Martha added looking over Kelsi's shoulder.

"Oh Troy," Sharpay's voice quietly said near by with giggles and then silence filled the entire store.

Just as the two girl were about to hand Gabriella the box, she quickly threw a finger to her lip motioning for everyone to stay silent and follow her. She could have sworn she heard the slut's voice in the next aisle saying his name... the name of the man who shall not be named...

Taylor looked at he friend squinted her eyes and took charge of the situation standing up straight she started to walk into the next aisle... when she ran into a tall muscle toned body instead...

"Tay?" Chad asked looking down at the small box in Taylor's hand. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Taylor for the first time in her life did not have an answer. If she claimed the test as her own, she would create friction with her boyfriend for the simple reason they have yet to make love for the first time. If she outed Gabriella, things would get way out of control way to fast. She had to be quick on her toes with an answer that would soothe all parties involved. "It's for my mother apparently I should be expecting a little baby brother or sister..."

"Cool..." Chad said kissing her lightly on the cheek and waving to all the other girls.

"What are you doing here?" Taylor said putting her hands on her hips. "in the condom aisle..." She finished raising an eyebrow. Under pressure the only thing she could think of, was that she had to put Chad under pressure.

"I'm here with the guys... It was a stupid dare..." Chad mumbled thinking of anything that would sound good. "I respect you and in no way would I jeopardize our relationship by pressuring you to move too quickly..." he finished his ramblings with a grin.

"i shouldn't punish you for the stupidity of your friends, but I can punish you for the choice of listening to them!" Taylor said gently pushing him on the shoulder. "Why don't we go outside and talk for a minute about something."

Chad nodded at his girlfriend and started heading for the door.

"Can you buy these for my moms," Taylor asked her friends just for show as she followed Chad out the door. At least they had a cover up story. If Gabriella was pregnant, everyone would know soon enough anyway. There was no reason to unveil her secret torment any sooner than was necessary.

"what's up?" Chad said leaning over his girlfriend as she stood against the wall with a a hand on each side of her. He smiled at her looking at the door, obviously waiting to see if Troy would be coming out.

"Were those condoms for Troy?" Taylor asked impatiently. She knew exactly what her friend was worried about inside the store. They had heard Troy giggling and laughing with Sharpay.

"No," Chad stated flatly. "I haven't seen troy all night. The honest truth is... Alright I will tell you, just don't laugh."

"Chad?" Taylor said warning him she was getting impatient.

"Jay and I were going to practice our free throws with Zeke, but we got hot and wanted to try something new and creative out. So we thought instead of a water balloon fight, we would have a water condom war! The other two are in the car waiting... they were too embarrassed to be seen buying contraceptives."

"Well tell your little boy friends... they shouldn't be playing with contraceptive devices if they can't handle buying them and kick their lunk-head asses." Taylor said kissing him hard on the lips as she saw her friends walk out the main entrance. She winked at him as she started to walk towards her friends.

"Hey?" Chad called after her catching up to her half way between the building and her car.. "what was that about Troy? You know he is my best friend and I got his back."

Taylor looked over at Gabi who climbing into the passenger seat of the car and turned back to Chad. She had never lied to Chad, about anything except who the pregnancy test was really for. She didn't know if she could lie to him about this. She sighed and started to whisper... "Gabi seems to think Troy is having an affair with Sharpay. When we were in there trying to figure out what kind of test to get my mother. Picking out pregnancy test is not one of my expertise."

"what the great Taylor Mckessie is not a genius about everything? That is it we have to break up this instant!" Chad said joking and pulling her in for one final passionate kiss. He turned to run back in the store and get the condoms for their twisted game but turned around simply said one last thing to his girlfriend. "If it makes you feel better, Troy hasn't even been hanging with us guys lately. I don't know where his head is at... If he is in there... I promise you, I would not have been covering for him."

Chad walked back into Walgreen's and decided it was best to settle for simple balloons this time, but he happened to walk down that magic aisle and saw the one thing he never thought he would see... He saw his best friend making out with the ice princess... which in Chad's mind was like trying to wrestle a mountain lion. Shuddering he kept walking towards the small section of party supplies in the back of the store by the greeting cards, grabbed his balloons and ran out of there...

Meanwhile the girls were settled back at Gabriella's house drinking down as much juice as they could handle trying to make Gabriella have to go to the bathroom. She had to admit that she did not like the idea of peeing on a stick but she would rather know the truth about elephant in the room.

Taylor put an arm around her friend as Gabriella walked out of the bathroom holding the two small white sticks in her hands and looking at her friends. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I drank enough water to drown myself to death," Gabriella said as she started walking towards the living room again. "It says we have to wait ten minutes." She sighed and set them down on a napkin as she sat back down by her sleeping bag.

Just as Taylor was about to sit down in her sleeping bag next to her closest and most dear friend, she felt her phone vibrate. Glancing at the other girls, she quickly picked up her phone and read the message:

"I promised I would never lie to you... Troy, is cheating on Gabriella."

"it is almost time to see the results" Martha said happily. The sooner they all knew what the results were, the sooner they could all think of the way to solve it. They were friends and in the end it was all about helping Gabriella get through this.

Taylor smiled at Gabi and took her place in her own sleeping bag. She debated typing back, and finally settled on the thought that if Chad was going to be honest with her she was going to be honest with him. He deserved her honesty:

"You can't tell anyone, but Gab thinks she might be Preg."

"It is all you." Kelsi said to Gabriella as she glanced at her watch. "It's now or never"

Gabriella put one hand on her heart and slowly reached for the test with her other hand. Inhaling deeply she brought the test right in front of her eyes. Still holding her breath, she opened her eyes and just stared at the results still holding her breath.

Tears flooded through her eyes as she scream! "It's negative!" Gabriella wanted to laugh, cry, and scream in frustration all at once. She just laughed at herself for being the mimic of a pregnant woman who's hormones were out of balance and she couldn't keep her out emotions in tack.

Taylor looked at her phone than at her best friend. She knew that if she told Gabriella about Sharpay, she would be breaking an unspoken trust between chad and herself. She once again was caught in the middle of breaking someone's trust. She told Chad about Gabs, so it was only fair to tell Gabriella the truth.

"Taylor" Gabriella said this time waiving her hand in front of her friends face. It was obvious Taylor was deep in thought and clearly somewhere else. "Thinking about Chad? Don't think I didn't see you send that little text!"

Taylor's face went cold as she turned to her best friend and frowned... "I am sorry Gab... Chad just texted me to confirm that Troy and Sharpay were getting it on at Walgreen's."