Ok you guys, there was a lot of confusion about the whole Evan/Alex thing. Well see, when I originally wrote the story his name was Evan. Then Jordan said it would be too confusing if his name was Evan, so we changed it to Alex. Jordan, however, did not take my advice on using the 'Find and Replace' feature that Word offers. Therefore, she missed a whole bunch of parts. But now, I have shown her the places and she has corrected them. Sorry for the confusion! (Shut it, Allyn! I'm slowly losing my vision, okay?! Sniff sniff. -Jordan)

Ok. Done with that.

Enjoy chapter 7!


Emily and Chad were a happy couple for the next couple of days. The school was buzzing with their 'love story'. But, their happiness could only last for so long…

It was the next Monday when the love birds strode into a school of hushed whispers and awkward stares in their direction.

"What is their problem?" Emily whispered.

Chad just shrugged and they continued down the hallway.

It wasn't until lunch that the explanation came out.


(DO NOT SKIP THIS PUT A LINE!)(I dunno...-Jordan)

Chad and Emily were sitting at the lunch table with Sadie, Natalie, Troy, Sharpay, Kelsi, Gabriella, Jason, Zeke and Ryan. (Yes, the table was quite crowded.)

"HEY DANFORTH!" someone yelled.

Chad whipped his head around to see one of the lacrosse players yelling at him.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING SITTING WITH THE LITTLE BOLTON SLUT?" his voice echoed through the cafeteria.

"Ok, A) What are you talking about? B) Don't call her that," Chad replied.

Emily was confused, along with everyone else at the table – except Natalie and Sadie, that is. Emily shot them both a look, but they just looked down quickly.

"OH YOU DIDN'T HEAR? EMILY'S BEEN SLEEPING AROUND!"

Emily's jaw dropped. Along with everyone else's – except Natalie and Sadie, that is.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Chad stood up.

"DUDE, BOLTON'S PREGNANT. WITH LOCKWOOD'S BABY!" his voice boomed even more. The whole cafeteria was silent.

Murmurs of agreement ran through the cafeteria. The whole school had heard it.

Emily caught some of the remarks that were flying in her direction.

"Yeah, Bolton, screw yourself instead of someone else!"

"A Bolton got knocked-up. Guess she couldn't stand her brother being in the spotlight!"

"What will your father say, huh? No more singing? Gah, your such a spoiled brat!"

Emily put her head in her hands. She couldn't believe this. This couldn't be happening.

Gabriella stood up quickly, "Come on, Em. Let's go," she whispered. Gabriella steered her out of the cafeteria. The last thing Emily saw was the guys standing up in a circle around the lacrosse player.


Emily collapsed in the gym in a crying fit. The whole school had turned against her! All the girls gathered around her – except for Natalie and Sadie, that is.

She was showered with hugs and whispers of encouragement.

"Don't worry, Em. We know it was just a vicious rumor," Kelsi said.

"Yeah, only fake people believe those stupid rumors!" Gabriella hugged her.

"I wonder who started it," Sharpay thought aloud.

They all looked up at her. None of them had thought about that.

"I mean, the only person who started rumors was me. But, I totally didn't do this I swear!" Sharpay paced the gym floor.

"I know, Shar. But who did?" Emily responded in a congested voice.

They sat in silence for a moment racking their brains to figure out who would do this. Their silence was short-lived, though.

They all jumped at the sound of the gym doors bursting open. The guys stood in the doorway. Each had angry looks on their faces, but Chad and Troy had – by far – the angriest-looking faces.

Troy had the lacrosse player by the arm. He slung him into the gym. Right in front of Emily.

"What's he doing here?" Sharpay sneered.

"He's going to tell us who started the rumor," Chad turned to the guy, "Aren't you?"

"Y-yeah. Sure," he stammered.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Kelsi raised her eyebrows.

Emily couldn't do anything but scowl at him.

"Look, I didn't start it. I swear," he looked at the two guys then back at Emily.

"Then who did you hear it from?" Zeke chimed in.

The guy remained silent. Troy grabbed him by the arm tighter.

"He said who did you hear if from?" Troy spat.

"I-I can't t-tell you," the lacrosse player stammered once more.

"Oh really? I think we can get you to tell," Chad walked closer to him, intimidating him.

"Ok. Ok. Ok. I heard it from that McKessie girl!" he admitted.

The group was in shock. Troy let go of the guy and he ran out of the gym.

"I should have known," Emily whispered. She got up and ran out of the gym up to the roof.

(JORDAN PUT A DANGED LINE HERE!)(Not when you yell like that, missy! -Jordan)


Chad ran after her. He ran the steps two at a time and caught up with her as soon as she hit the landing.

"Emily," he said softly.

She walked to the railing and looked out. "She hates me, Chad. She really hates me," she whispered.

"It doesn't matter what she thinks," Chad wrapped his arms around her, "Because I don't hate you. I don't think I could ever hate you."

"The whole school thinks I'm pregnant. With Alex Lockwood's baby!" she turned around.

"Then they're stupid! Em, don't worry about them. Your true friends were the ones sitting in that gym with you today. They were the ones that got angry when he humiliated you like that in the cafeteria. They were the ones…"

Chad was broken off by Emily kissing him. "You were ranting," she explained, "It's the only way I know to shut you up."

He smiled at her, but she only returned it with a half-hearted smile. She turned back around.

Chad wrapped his arms around her shoulders and put his chin on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Everyone's here for you," he whispered.

"Everyone – except Natalie and Sadie, that is," she replied. A tear softly fell down her cheek.


"Hey, Ems!" Sadie slid into the desk next to her.

Emily flipped another page in her book. Apparently, oblivious to Sadie's greeting.

"About the thing in the cafeteria, I can't believe he did that to you. That was so wrong!"

"Oh, so now you're going to be there for me? Wow, you have delayed reactions," Emily replied coolly.

"Emily," she started.

"You believed the rumors, didn't you?" Emily looked her in the eye.

"I didn't…"

"Didn't you?!"

"Emily, I didn't know who to believe," she looked hurt.

"Gee, maybe your best friend. But, oh yeah, that's just crazy isn't it?" Emily stood up and moved to another desk before the tardy bell rang.


Finally, the day had ended. Emily walked to her locker wearily. The day had been long and stressful after lunch. Everyone made stupid remarks to her while she walked down the hallway, she felt their stares boring into her back during class and not to mention the lovely lecture her father gave her.

She opened her locker door and saw something fall out. Emily looked at her feet. Sitting there, was a home pregnancy test.

There was a note taped to the inside of her locker door.

Here Bolton,

Thought I'd save you the trip.

The note became blurred by Emily's tears. She crumpled up the note into a tight ball and threw it into the nearest trash can.

"Ooh, looks like you can sing and play basketball. You are a true Bolton," Chad's cheerful voice rang behind her.

She turned around with tears welled in her eyes. Chad's smile fell.

"Em, what's wrong?" he came close to her.

"I can't take it anymore. I hate it here. These people are stupid. They don't know when to stop. I mean what do they have against…"

She was stopped by Chad kissing her gently on the lips. "You were ranting," he smiled, "It's the only way I know how to make you shut up."

"Gee, where have I heard that before?" she smiled. Being near him made her feel happier.

"I don't know!" Chad said in mock surprise. The two laughed and walked out of the school together.


"Well, Taylor, seems like your plan didn't work. They've only become closer since you started that rumor," a decathlon member said.

"Shut up! You don't think I realize that?" Taylor snapped back.

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"Something a bit more evasive," Taylor smirked.


Chad was practicing his free throws in the gym during free period. He knew Emily needed some alone time. The school had backed off of her some, but there were still those people who just wouldn't let it go. Including Taylor.

"Oh Chad!" a voice called out. He turned around to see Taylor's smiling face walking towards him.

"What do you want?" Chad sneered.

"You," she smiled and caressed his cheek.

"Get off of me," he slapped her hand away.

"Ooh, feisty," she smirked.

"GO AWAY, TAYLOR!"

"Do you have to be like that?" she ran her finger down his chest and put on a fake pout.

"Yes," he hissed.

The next thing Chad knew, Taylor's lips collided with his. He tried to force her off, but she just pulled him closer.

Once he finally broke free of her grip, he saw Emily standing in the gym doorway. She had stopped in her tracks with a look of horror on her face. Only, it wasn't just horror. It was mixed with hurt and rage.

"Emily," Taylor said in mock surprise, "Why goodness, this is embarrassing."

"Shut up you whore," Emily spat, "How dare you? HOW DARE YOU? I know you're jealous of me, but you can back off MY boyfriend. I wouldn't think you'd be happy with just one guy anyway. But you proved me wrong, McKessie. You should be oh so proud.

"And I tell you what, I won't make your life a living hell if you tell everyone that stupid rumor was just a rumor."

Taylor blinked at her, while Chad was laughing slightly.

"Oh and while you're at it, McKessie, you should really start a diet. You're looking a bit plump. I guess that's what sex does to you now-a-days."

Chad let out another burst of laughter as Taylor left in a huff.

"Thank God," Chad said as Taylor slammed the gym doors shut, "I thought you were going to believe I was actually kissing her."

"Who said I didn't?" Emily looked at him.

"Because," he laughed nervously, "Why would I be kissing Taylor?"

"Why don't you tell me?" Emily's voice was filled with anger.

"Em, come on! I wasn't kissing her!"

"Well, gee. It certainly looked like your lips were meeting to me," Emily crossed her arms.

"She kissed me. I tried to push her off!"

"Oh really? Because I only saw you groping to get closer to her."

"WHAT?!? Emily, please! You have to believe me!" Chad pleaded.

"I give up," she threw her hands in the air, "Maybe we just weren't meant to be."

"Emily you can't say that," he pleaded more.

"Look, you obviously want to be with Taylor."

"No, I don't! I want to be with you," he looked into her eyes.

"I'm done, Chad."

"Done with what?!"

"Us," she walked calmly out the door.

Chad stared at her walking out the door. He wanted to go after her, but his feet seemed glued to the floor.

Him and Emily were over; again.


I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my two friends Ashley and Kelsey. (What am I, leftover turkey? -Jordan)

Ashley inspired me to come up with the whole Taylor spreading the rumor thing.

Kelsey inspired the cafeteria scene.

Thanks guys:-)

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. And again, sorry for the confusion with Evan/Alex thing. (My bad. -Jordan)

Review! Please and thank you!