A/N: takes deep breath Okay, I kind of cried but you probably won't. It's just I've been really emotional lately as I'm under a lot of pressure. Stupid teachers!! Fanfiction is my only solace and you guys make me happy. I've never told anyone this and I'm telling anyone who's interested but...I write because I can make it what I want. If I want a happy ending, I can have one. If want one to be realistic, it is.

A/N no. 2: This kind of focusses on Chaylor and I think you guys will like this chapter as I think both Troy and Chad are really sweet.

I don't own:

HSM

I do own:

Storyline

Chapter 5 – I'll always save you

Taylor sighed, dumping some plates into the tray of dirty dishes as she cleared the tables of the restaurant in Lava Springs. She knew Gabriella was really confused. Troy kissed her. And just left it! He was being an idiot and Taylor knew that. And Ryan knew that, Kelsi knew that and even Martha knew that.

"Taylor?" A voice asked.

Taylor swivelled around and saw Troy. "Troy, she's not working." She smiled and raised her eyebrows.

He scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, I'm not going to hide it. I like her. A lot." He then thought about it and changed his mind. "No. Ignore that. I love her. I don't know what happened. I've never fallen for a girl before and I'm scared, Taylor. I need your help."

Taylor stared at him thoughtfully. "You're serious about her, aren't you?"

Troy nodded. "Yes. I've seen her around but I never even knew her name and then that one day on the rooftop and I fall for her. Taylor, please!"

Taylor rested the tray on a table and wiped her hands on her apron. "Okay. I'll help you."

"Really?" He asked in excitement.

Taylor nodded. "Yes. Just be honest with her. But, be careful because she has grown up with no love or respect from her father and she's built up walls. You knocked them down and that's great. But, please don't make her build them back up again. She's going to be vulnerable to you and Sharpay and that's going to scare her to death." She stared at him. "She's my sister. Don't hurt her."

Troy nodded. "I won't."

"And be quick because she won't wait forever." She said softly. "I have to go. I'll annoy Gabby's dad if I don't work. I'll see you around."

Troy nodded. "Thanks Taylor. For everything." He smiled at her before turning around and leaving the restaurant.

Taylor shook her head and continued to clean the tables. She jumped when she felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around and saw Chad standing there, his basketball secured under his arm. "Danforth, I'm working."

"I know. I'm sorry but I need to do this. Umm…right. Well-" He started nervously.

"Get on with it!" Taylor ordered.

"Will you go to the prom with me?" He mumbled quickly.

"Huh?" Taylor asked in confusion.

Chad sighed and looked up into her chocolate brown eyes. "Will you, Taylor McKessie, be my date for the prom?"

Taylor frowned at him. "Me?"

Chad nodded eagerly. "I know that you've never really liked me but I really like you and I'd like a second chance." He dug into the pocket of his jeans and took a silver chain out with a heart shaped pendent. It had smaller hearts cascading down the centre and a bronze and green leaf on the right hand side. "I bought this for you as well."

Taylor took it tentatively then stared at Chad. "You're serious? This isn't a joke or a dare, right?"

Chad shook his head. "Please, Taylor?"

Taylor sighed and smiled softly, kissing his cheek. "Yes lunk-head-basketball-man. I'll go to the prom with you."

Chad pumped his fist into the air. "Yes. Taylor loves me, she's going to the prom with me…" His voice trailed off when he saw Taylor's raised eyebrows. He smiled sheepishly. "I'm glad you said yes."

"Me too. I've gotta get back to work. I'll see you later." Taylor promised.

"I'll call you." Chad smiled.

The phone rang in the Montez household and the four siblings pushed each other out of the way to get the cordless phone. Taylor picked up and pressed 'answer'. "Hello?"

"Hey Taylor. Is Brie there?" Troy's voice asked.

"Oh. Right. Yeah." Taylor said dejectedly as she handed the cordless phone to Gabriella. "It's for you."

She smiled to herself and pressed the phone to her ear. "Hey, Troy." She giggled.

Sharpay glared at her. "Give me that!"

Gabriella shook her head violently. "Sharpay, go away. Troy wants to talk to me."

"No he doesn't!" Sharpay screeched as she snatched the phone away. "Hi Troy." She giggled flirtatiously.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and sighed before turning around and walked up the stairs. Troy was calling her and Sharpay ruined it. She ruined Gabriella's life. She pushed her bedroom door open and grinned to herself at what she saw. "Troy?" She asked in amazement.

Troy looked up from his lying position on her bed and rolled his eyes, pointing to the phone in his hands. "Sharpay, I've got to go. My dad wants me. Bye." He quickly hung up before she could reply. "I need a hug." He said in a baby voice.

She smiled at him and laid down next to him as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her further towards his chest. He noticed how she seemed to fit perfectly against his body. Like a jigsaw. "So you climbed my balcony?"

"How'd you guess?" He whispered, resting his head so it was directly above hers.

She shrugged, fiddling with his fingers that were resting on her right hip. "Because I know you more than I know myself."

Troy nodded. "I know what you mean. By the way, you are going to lock that balcony. I don't want any axe murders coming in and killing my best friend."

Gabriella laughed. "On about being a drama king."

There was a knock on the door and Gabriella stood up. She pulled the door open and Sharpay marched in. "Gabriella! Have you done my homework?"

Gabriella threw her head back. "I'm working on it."

"Sharpay, I don't think you should treat Gabriella like that." Troy spoke, still lying on Gabriella's bed.

Sharpay swivelled round from inspecting the work Gabriella had done. "Oh, Troy. What are you doing here with her?"

"I'm hanging out with her." Troy explained.

"But why? She's a geek!" Sharpay exclaimed, hands on her hips.

Troy raised his eyebrows as he stood up, standing protectively in front of Gabriella, holding her hand tightly. "You want to be careful what you say."

Gabriella stepped to the side of him. "Sharpay, get out of my room. I'll finish your homework soon. I promise."

"No you won't because Sharpay will finish it. If she doesn't, I'll tell my dad who'll tell the principal who will kick her off of the cheerleading squad. Isn't that right, Sharpay?" He asked sweetly.

Sharpay glared at him. "You wouldn't dare."

He took a deep breath. "Never dare Troy Bolton." He took his cell phone out and flipped it up. "All I have to do is press one button."

Sharpay huffed and grabbed the books before storming out of the room. Gabriella turned to Troy, her hand still clasped in his. "That has got to be the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me, Troy."

He smiled softly. "Forget about it."

She shook her head. "I'm serious. Thank you." She leaned up but she was still too short so she reached up and brought his head down, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek, her lips lingering there longer than needed. "And I'll never forget it." She whispered in his ear.

He smiled to himself and hugged her tightly. "I'd only do it for you."

Taylor and Chad walked into East High together the next morning. She nudged his arms in a joking manner. "Chad that was kindergarten."

"But you shared your cookies with me which proves that you've liked me for a long time." Chad declared, his basketball tucked under his left arm and his right was around Taylor's shoulders.

She shook her head and sighed, resting her head on his shoulder as they slowly walked down the nearly deserted hallway. They had left early to have some time together. "Chad, what should we do about Troy and Gabby?"

"Well, he kissed her, right?" He asked.

Taylor nodded. "And he stopped Sharpay from making Gabby do her homework."

"Really?" Chad asked in surprise.

Taylor nodded slightly. "Yeah. She told me last night after Troy went home."

"Whoa! He was at your house." He exclaimed.

She nodded again. "He climbed her balcony."

"Since when?"

"Since yesterday." She giggled slightly.

Chad breathed out deeply. "Okay, so how do we get them together?"

Taylor shrugged. "I don't know."

"What if we lock them in a closet?" He suggested.

She shook her head. "No. That won't work. There are air conditioning vents. They could get out. But, something along the same lines could work. How about we go to the mall after school?"

"What are you planning?" He asked curiously.

Gabriella jumped out of Troy's car, slinging her bag over her shoulder and slamming the door behind her. She was wearing a denim skirt that fell just above the knees with a pale blue jacket over a white tank top.

Troy followed suit but shut his door carefully. He was in a simple pair of jeans, white polo shirt and a denim jacket. "Be careful with my baby." He stroked her bonnet gently.

Gabriella smirked. "Your baby? Real manly."

He glared at her playfully. "Hey! She cost me a lot of money."

She looked at the beat up truck. "It doesn't look like it."

He shook his head. "It was supposed to impress the ladies."

"It ain't impressing this lady." She exclaimed as they walked into East High.

"You're fifteen. You're not a lady!" He glanced at her and saw she had raised her eyebrows. "That came out wrong didn't it?"

She nodded her head and spun the combination into her locker. "Yes. It did. But, I've spent my whole life being insulted. That's more of a compliment."

Troy frowned, leaning against the locker next to hers casually. "Well, you should be complimented. You're smart, funny, beautiful, caring and you live with Sharpay."

Gabriella laughed at the last comment as she shut her locker. "I suppose."

"Hey guys." Chad greeted as he approached with Taylor.

"Hey." Troy and Gabriella responded in unison.

"We're going to the mall tonight. Want to join us?" Taylor asked.

Gabriella glanced at Troy who nodded. "Yeah that's cool."

"Great. We'll see you there." Chad agreed as he dragged Taylor away.

A thought hit Troy. "Since when does Chad want to go to the mall?"

"Since when does Taylor hold his hand?" Gabriella questioned back.

Troy shrugged. "My best guess is he finally asked her to the prom. But, that doesn't explain why he wants to go to the mall. When he needs new clothes, his mum actually drags him there."

Gabriella laughed. "Well, we'll see what's up with them later. Let's get to homeroom or we'll have detention. But, Troy?"

"Yeah?" He replied as the walked slowly towards their homeroom.

Gabriella glanced at him before taking his hand and pulling him into an empty classroom, confusing him.

"Brie, what are you doing?" He asked in bewilderment.

Gabriella took a deep breath and placed the hand she was holding on her chest. "You feel that?"

"Your heart?" He whispered.

She nodded. "That has been beating my entire life just because I lived not because I wanted to live. But…" She stopped and looked down as a tear slipped down her cheek.

He wiped it away with the pad of his thumb of his free hand. "But what?"

She took another deep breath and looked up into his beautiful ultramarine eyes. "But now it beats because I know that you're with me, in my life. And that is the best thing that I've ever known. And I want to thank you." She used her other hand to push his head down to whisper into his ear. "For saving me."

Troy, knowing her well enough, wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as she sobbed into his chest. "I'll always save you."

A/N: Ooooh! So what are Chad and Taylor planning? Well, I know but you guys don't! Haha I'm mean! Anyway, even though I'm mean to you, be nice to me and click the pretty review buton :D