Hello everybody. I know it's been a looooong time but I hadn't forgot about this thing. I have been working on this particular chapter for 2 whoppin' years! And as I was reading over it, I realized. My writing... is complete crap. So as a gift to you all (which I hope you won't stone me to death, although I really deserve it), will be to redo this story so that it will read better... or if you want I can just drop this whole project. I don't want to but... you are my reviewers. But! I did realize I have a lot of grammatical errors. So if nothing else, I will go and fix those for you.

Contrary to how often I write, I do feel absolutely horrible for leaving. I found myself getting a little angry when an author started something really good and then didn't do anything with it, not even the little ABANDONED note on it, and I realized: OH NO I'VE DONE THE SAME THING AS THOSE REALLY MEAN AUTHORS DID! I'M SUCH A BAD PERSON! I'm so sorry! And if you promise to forgive me, I'll have a really fluffy chapter up soon to make up for all the missed time (and for all the depression going on at this part of the story). Hopefully within the next week!

Now that I've made my apology (again sorry), I would love if you would read this chapter.

Troy put his heart into it. He really tried everything to feel if there was any feelings left for Gabby. There wasn't. It was the sloppiest kiss he'd ever had, and he realized just getting a kiss from Chad on the cheek was better than this. But still he kissed Gabrielle with everything he had. This kiss determined their relationship, and Troy could already tell this was the end. Just when he was ready to pull away, he felt Gabrielle smirk into the kiss. Before he had had a chance to question her, someone behind them cleared their throat. He immediately pulled away to see who it was. Behind him stood Lisa, Sam, and Trey. All of which were sporting a scowl of some kind. He also noticed Chad wasn't with them.

"Uh, hey guys. What's up?" Troy stated lamely.

"Nothing," Sam said, rolling her neck and folding her arms together.

"Hey, what's with the attitude?" Gabrielle spoke up this time.

"There is no attitude," Lisa snapped.

"Ok... where's Chad?" Troy asked. It wasn't like his friend to just disappear.

"Donno." Trey shrugged his shoulders to emphasize his point.

"Wait, he was supposed to be watching you guys. He wouldn't just leave you alone. He's not that kind of guy. Now, where is he? Did you run him off?" Gabrielle demanded. She had hoped he would see them, but she hadn't thought he would run away. That was just a bonus.

"He said we Don't Know! Do you?" Sam now had her hands on her hips.

"Wait, did Chad say where he was going?" Troy sounded genuinely concerned.

"Probably away from you."

Troy's heart nearly stopped. Had Chad seen him and Gabrielle kissing? Was that why he wasn't with the kids? And if that was the case, why would Chad even care? Didn't he know how much Troy felt for him? Maybe the kiss really did look a little intimate. Maybe Chad thought Troy was playing with his emotions. Whatever it was, it would have to wait, because he seriously felt if he didn't choose his next words carefully, Sam and Trey would skin him alive. Lisa...he didn't want to think about what she would do to him.

"Well, we have to find him," Troy said cautiously.

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Gabrielle stated flatly.

"I think we should look for him," Sam said to Lisa, completely ignoring Gabrielle's rude remark.

"Me too! Me too!" Trey happily jumped up and down.

Lisa remained silent.

"Let me try calling him." Troy quickly looked at his phone. How had he missed six texts and three calls from Chad?

"Hey, did you hear my phone ring, Gabby?"

"No." Gabby turned so Troy wouldn't see her smirk. Troy was too attentive to his phone but Sam wasn't.

Troy shrugged and quickly dialed Chad's number from memory. He didn't have time to think about speed dial.

Troy listened as the phone rang. It rang some more...and more...and more...and...voicemail. He tried again... and three more times, all with the same results. Troy sighed. "He won't pick up."

"Well you better try again." Lisa sounded far too serious.

"I got a feeling that Chad doesn't want to talk with me. I'm going to call Taylor and see has she heard from him." Troy waited for the munchkins approval.

"Well do something!" Sam snapped.

"Lower your voice!" Gabby yelled back.

Lisa studied the faces of those around her. Troy was sincerely worried about his friend...or close friend. He stood holding his phone to his ear, his jaw set, waiting for an answer. Gabrielle stood, her eyes sharp, but a somewhat smug look was there. She planned this. Gabrielle's gazed turned to her, but Lisa's expression didn't change, staying stoney, calculating, and just a tad bit upset.

After staring at Gabrielle for a minute she turned her gaze to Trey. He was confused. He wasn't paying any attention to any one, only awaiting the directions from Lisa. She smiled softly and touched his shoulder; her baby brother needed the reassurance.

Her attention immediately flew to Sam. Sam was livid. She must have seen the same smugness Lisa saw. Hate radiated from Sam like smoke and Lisa knew in a couple of minutes that she would burst. She'd have to think of something fast. Something where she could talk to Chad alone, away from any distractions.

It was then Troy's face lit up. He thanked whoever was on the phone and sighed in relief before snapping his phone shut. Lisa saw that when he turned to the group he wore a big smile. She just rolled her eyes. He must've found Chad.

"He asked Taylor for a ride back to the house. If we leave now then we'll be able to get there around the same time they do."

"Do you honestly think the best thing to do right now is to right now? When he dropped us off here, he looked pretty upset," Lisa spoke, trying to gauge Troy's response.

Troy frowned down at her. "He's my best friend. No matter how mad he gets with me, we should always talk things out. You'll understand when you love someone someday."

Lisa blinked. That was not the answer she thought she'd get.

"What do you mean, love?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes, enlighten us." Lisa said. The first thing she needed to do was get Troy to admit his feelings for Chad in front of his conniving girlfriend. "I know what it is to love. I love Mommy and Daddy and Sam and Trey. How is that different?"

Troy just pat her head and smiled at Gabrielle. "We need to go make sure everything's all right with Chad. We'll catch you later Gabe." With that he ushered the children out of the mall to the car.

Gabrielle was satisfied for the time being. Chad was upset with Troy, and Chad was the type of person to hold a grudge for a long time. The only thing she was worried about, was those meddling children.

Sam and Trey were harmless enough, but Lisa; that one was a smart cookie. If she wasn't careful, that child would pull Troy right out of her grasp. And she couldn't have that. He was too important to her. She loved him... and they've been together for so long! She deserved to have him.

Whatever. She would pay another visit to the Bolton household soon enough. If she could win Troy's mother's heart, then Troy would follow. Not to mention that if Mr. Bolton caught wind of his son being with his best friend, he wouldn't tolerate it. They would force Chad away for her. And then she could comfort him and they would stay together. It was simple enough.

But, first things first: she had to make Troy think she was mad at him for leaving her at the mall. Then she'd go about talking to Mr. and Mrs. Bolton.

Troy was speeding! He needed to see Chad. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was for Chad to be mad at him. Their spats could get pretty bad and Troy did not want to be ignored. Not now when they had started recognizing each other's feelings.

Vaguely he heard someone ask 'What's the rush?' It was probably Sam. She'd been taunting him since they left the mall. He didn't care, though, his priority was Chad.

"Toy? We see Chad now?" That was Trey.

"I hope so, little buddy."

"Troy." Lisa.

"Yes?" he asked, almost impatiently. He was anxious.

"You might want to slow down, just in case the cops are out."

Troy glanced at his speedometer. He was going seventy-five. It would be wise to slow down. So, although reluctantly, he slowed down to the speed limit.

It was then he noticed a police car pass, looking at him suspiciously.

"You're welcome," Lisa said smugly.

Troy groaned. He was so close to getting to Chad. All he had to do was make it to his house without any extra stops...

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