hey, new chap

enjoy

Eventually dinner comes, and the news of Taylor's almost rape circulated around. Though for some strange reason word kind of got to Chad a little late. Oops.

OOOOOOOOOO

Chad stormed into the cafeteria, looking ready to kill. A lot of people were happy they weren't Carter right now; and to tell you the truth not his friends either.

"Uh oh." whispered Ryan.

"How could you? How could any of you not fucking tell me about this?" Chad raged.

"To tell you the truth I already said I wasn't going to do it." Ryan said meekly.

"This is some friendship. I had to find out from random people, that Taylor almost got raped." he growled.

"For good reason to." The aforementioned female said.

"Excuse me? Am I hearing this right?"

"You're overreacting. Nothing happened."

"Yo you it seems like nothing, bit to people who care about you, their whole world falls apart." he said.

"What ever."

"I'm sorry for what my cousin did. Really I am, but I'm asking you to come visit me in jail."

"Chad don't." ordered Troy, even though they could see its taking a lot of effort for him not to murder Carter to.

"Troy, man how can I not?"

"He's not worth it." answered troy.

"If he wants to hurt me so bad, let him Bolton." Carter said, finally showing himself. Chad growled and lunged at him, but Troy was faster and grabbed him.

"Aww, is Chaddy waddy mad 'cause I defiled his crush?" he asked mockingly.

"Almost." Troy snapped.

"It's as good as done." He scoffed. "Teach any girl to ever try breaking up with me."

"Cocky, self-centered bastard." Chad spat.

"I'm sorry I have both my parents, unlike someone." he retorted.

"You're not the smartest thing on the planet. You're in a room full of people and you're spewing at the mouth."

"Your point?" he asked.

"If you can't read between the lines then you're dumber than we thought." Kelsi said.

"I honestly think you guys are blowing this out of proportion." Taylor said.

"Honestly, Tay?" asked a shocked Gabriella.

"Yeah."

"I can't be around you right now." she said walking out with Sharpay, Kelsi, and Jason.

"Suit yourself." She called after them.

"Why are you being like this?" Chad asked, walking towards her. Troy had let go of him when he stopped snarling like a wild animal. Carter stands off to the side forgotten.

"You all blew this out of proportion. Making it bigger than it bigger than it has to be. I was better off not having friends." She exclaimed.

"You really believe that? You obviously don't understand how much we care about you. Some more than others, but-."

"Please don't tell me you love me." She said tersely.

"If you don't want to hear it I won't tell you, but-."

"Stop talking Chad. Say you care about me all you want. I've heard it plenty of times. They never mean it. They just say it to placate me. I'm over it. Leave me the fuck alone from now on. All of you." She said. Then she turned and did what she did, walk away. Except this time she had a shadow.

OOOOOOOOOO

"I'm pretty sure I said leave me alone." She said sighing.

"Thought since we were your parents, it didn't apply to us." Her father said.

"Yeah well you thought wrong."

"But Taylor-"

"Nancy I asked everyone to leave me alone, and since you and Jeff have been doing it so well the last ten years. You've had enough practice." was her scathing reply. She barely paid attention to the hushed conversation they were having behind her.

"Taylor, please let us-." Nancy begged.

"Let you what? Explain!" she exclaimed, quickly rising to her feet. "Oh please do. Explain to me where you've been the last decade of my life. You have no idea what I've gone through. What I've done to get your attention. You never noticed, no matter what I did, what award I won, you didn't pay attention. But as soon as I do something that might tarnish you reputation, you decide that I'm worthy of you presence again. I don't think so. I've done fine by myself the last ten years, and will continue to do so without your help. So please leave me alone." By the end of her speech she had tears streaming down her face.

"Oh Taylor." Nancy whispered her own tears falling.

"No I don't want to hear."

"Taylor Amelia McKessie, you will sit here and listen to you mother." Jeff said holding onto her shoulders.

"No I won't. You can't make me."

"Stop acting like a petulant child."

"God you've known me an all forty-five minutes and you bossing me around. Hoe do you expect me to do anything for you, with that attitude?"

"Stop. Stop, the both of you!" yelled Nancy. "The both of you are going to shut up and listen to each other."

"Sorry to burst your bubble mother." She spat." But I'm not staying here or anywhere around you. Now I'll tell you for the last time, leave me alone.

"Schawn says hi." She said. All Taylor could do was stare at her.

"He's your brother." Jeff answered the unasked question.

"I fucking hate the both you." She hissed. This time she didn't walk away, they did.

OOOOOOOOOO

The gang minus Taylor sits in the girls' living room, completely engulfed in their thoughts. They can't believe this happened. They all seem to be in a state of shock, but anger is close to the surface; at Carter for being a disgusting pig, and at Taylor for being so nonchalant about it, acting like its nothing. But mostly their angry at her parent, their neglect has cause such emotional trauma to that when life gets to hard her emotions to close to the surface, she detaches herself and becomes a walking shell. Not giving a rat's ass about anything.

OOOOOOOOOO

After a subdued breakfast the nest day, the gang, again, minus Taylor walks into the auditorium and take their places on stage. They were a bit thrown off balance when Candy and Mr. Brown walked center stage, looking sad.

"We have some bad news." Mr. Brown said.

"What is it?

'This morning Dean Cooper told us that Taylor is no longer with us." He answered.

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