Author's Note: Here's chapter ten! Enjoy!
Chapter Ten: A Father-Son Moment
"Taylor, I...ow."
Chad winced as he tried to explain to Taylor about his fight with Demtiri, but Taylor only shook her head.
"Chad, please. Your just hurting yourself."
"No, give me...ow!"
The cut on his lip prevented him from talking, and the pain getting even worse.
"Chad, you don't need to explain anything to me. You told me that you stood up for me, and that's all I need to know."
Nurse Lopez came into the room just then.
"I called your father Chad. He should be here any minute."
Even with one of his eyes bruised, Chad's expression changed.
Chet Danforth was a tough old bat, but he was soft-spoken as well. And just like Troy and Chad, Chet and Jack were the best of friends. It was amazing, but it was no surprise that two sons of basket-ball obsessed fathers would one day become friends.
"No! If He finds out that I had a fight with another guy, he'll surely tell--"
But, the pain prevented him to finish.
Taylor shook her head.
"Chad, what's more important? The team, or your safety?"
Chad glared at her, as if that was the stupidest question on earth.
"Well--"
"Chad? What on earth happened to you?"
There was no telling Chad that his father was here: just by hearing his voice, he was here.
"Dad, I can explain--"
"I don't know if you need too! I'm surprised that Jack doesn't know about this, and kick you off the team!" Chet bellowed, while Chad sank lower on the comfy bench.
Well, truth be told, Jack Bolton didn't. Troy, even though lying to his dad wasn't his style, promised not to tell Coach Bolton about Chad's fight with Demtiri.
"Sir, I can explain! Chad was sticking up for me." Taylor said.
Chet looked at her, then at Chad, and then back at Taylor.
"He...was sticking up for you?" Chet asked, abit surprised.
Well, even Chet knew about Chad and Taylor's relationship.
Taylor nodded.
"Yes. And I think of yelling at him, you should be proud." she said, getting up from the bench.
When she left, Chet turned to Chad, and he asked, "Is that true? You were sticking up for Taylor?"
Chad nodded.
"Dad, you have to hear me out. Demtiri...he was being a traitor to her, and--"
Chet held up a hand.
"No. Let's just get you home. During the ride, you can tell me all about it."
Chet thanked Nurse Lopez, and they left the school building.
On the way back to their house, Chet asked, "Now, tell me what happened."
"Demtiri Sanchez is this new guy that tranfsered, and for awhile, it seemed like Taylor liked him, and on Friday, he stood her up to go to Sharpay's party, and it just went downhill from there. I'm telling you, that guy is seriously bad news." Chad explained.
Chet was quiet for a moment, but then he smiled.
"Chad, I respect you for what you did for Taylor, but you could have gotten into alot of trouble if a teacher saw you fighting." he replied.
"Dad, Demtiri started the fight, not me!" Chad stated.
"I believe you, Chad. I really do."
"Well, it doesn't sound like it." Chad replied instantly.
Chet sighed.
"Well, I didn't think you'd actually fight this guy...you were never a fighter, Chad. You always got what you wanted, and you never had to fight for anything."
"Dad, things change. People change. Taylor was getting used, and what did you want me to do? Stand back and watch? That wasn't going to happen. I've known her partically my whole life, and I never liked her, not even as a little kid. But, now..."
Chet smiled.
"You like her, don't you? You know, I've always known you two would end up together, but you always said never."
"That was because I was a little kid, dad. Little kids didn't get crushes. And were not together...not yet." Chad said, reminding his father.
"Of course." Chet replied, driving up to a white house with black shutters on them.
Chad got of the car, and without another word to his father, he went upstairs to his room, where almost instantly, his cellphone started to ring.
"Hey...?" he asked, still wincing at the little pain that his lip caused him.
"Chad, it's Taylor. Are you okay?" Taylor asked.
Chad smiled as he sat on his bed.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Taylor. Stop asking already."
"Sorry. I just wanted to make sure, because this was all my fault, and..."
"Taylor, it's okay! None of it's your fault. It's mine." Chad replied.
"No, it's not okay! If I didn't like Demtiri, and Demtiri for standing me up, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
When you got Taylor on the ball, Chad learned, she never knows when to quit.
"Taylor, I'm fine! Look, I'll be back in school tomorrow, so you don't need to worry. And I'll talk to Demtiri." Chad stated.
"No, Chad. It's best if I talk to him. You tried, but you failed. Besides, he'll likely talk to me more than you, anyways." Taylor explained.
Chad shook his head, and sighed.
"Fine. But, if he tries to hurt you, I'll beat him up for you."
Taylor laughed.
"No need, Chad. I think if I can handle you, I can handle him."
"What am I now, some kind of a lion?" Chad asked.
"Well, you look like one." Taylor said, and Chad swore he heard her grin.
"McKessie, I'm a basketball player, not an animal who kills."
"And Demtiri isn't as dumb as you think." Taylor responded back.
"No, he has rocks for brains if he used the prettiest girl I have ever seen." Chad said.
Wait, did I just say that...? Chad thought.
"Um...but, I need to go. I'll seeyou later!"
The line went dead with a click, and Chad smiled, realizing that he might have just changed her impression on him.