Ok I know I haven't updated all day and I'm really sorry to keep you waiting. But like I said, I had work today. And it wasn't fun. Luckily, for my not-life I have the rest of this week off from school before going back, so that means more time to update and everything. So if I don't get in anymore tonight then be in for about three or four by tomorrow. Anyway, this chapter is a request from digigirl02. I spelled that right, right? Hope so. But she asked for something from Beauty and the Beast, so here it is!
Once again, I don't own Beauty and the Beast, the song, HSM, or the characters. But you already knew that right?

"Depressed much?"

The curly-haired boy turned to see Taylor standing a few feet away at him. He was at his locker and, as much as he hated to admit it, he was a bit down. "Why do you think that?"

"Because your mind looks like it's somewhere off the basketball court." Taylor observed. "So what's going on Chad?"

Chad sighed. Nothing could get past Taylor's keen eye. "I made plans with Troy so he and I could hang tonight. But then this morning Gabriella comes in and Troy jumps at the chance to go out with her even though the whole school must at least think they're a couple by now." He explained. "So it's almost night on a Friday and I've got nothing to do and no one to hang out with."

"So they got to you too, huh?" Taylor asked, making a face.

Chad glanced at Taylor. "Gabs broke plans with you, too?"

"We were going to get a head start on that extra credit project in Chemistry Class." Taylor replied. "But apparently science is nothing compared to Troy Bolton."

"And I guess sports and video games take a back seat to Gabriella Montez." Chad added with a nod. But maybe this wasn't so bad; it kind of gave him an idea. "Hey, do you wanna do something tonight?"

Taylor raised an eyebrow. She briefly looked around the slowly emptying hallway to see if Chad was talking to someone else. Ok sure, she did like Chad. Sure, they have gone out a few times before. But the two of them still didn't talk much. Their nerd and jock cliques didn't match, except for Troy and Gabriella.

Realizing he was indeed talking to her, Taylor turned back to him. "You're just desperate aren't you?" she assumed.

Chad chuckled. "Yeah, I'm so desperate that I can't think of a better way to ask you out." He nodded. "We have a date?"

Taylor wasn't one to show emotion easily. She'd try to act strong when she was scared. If she were upset, she'd act as though nothing were wrong. But in this particular case, it was different. Taylor really liked Chad and right now she was getting the vibe that he liked her back. So naturally she'd be excited for a date with him. But she wasn't going to go all girl crazy on him or anything; she had to keep it cool.

"It's a date." She agreed with a smile.

"Cool." Chad grinned. "I'll pick you up at seven then."

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Then somebody bends

Unexpectedly

"And then when he goes in to bob for those apples, he doesn't pull an apple out of the water. He pulls a soggy raisin cookie out of grape juice mixed with milk!" Chad burst out laughing.

Taylor hit her forehead. "How could you play such a disgusting practical joke on someone?"

"Hey the guy had it coming." Chad replied in between laughs. "And let me tell you, it was hilarious!"

All the two were doing was waiting for their food to arrive at the restaurant so they could eat dinner. And now because of Chad's whacked sense of humor Taylor was losing her appetite.

"It sounds more like an excuse to find out the worst possible food combinations." She stated, crossing her arms.

"Ok then McKessie, what's your idea of a bad food combination?" Chad challenged.

"You're joking, right?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"I joke you not. Bring it." he replied.

Taylor shrugged. "A sandwich."

Chad laughed. "That's it? Just a sandwich?"

"I'm not done yet." She shook her finger. "The sandwich, to reach its maximum gross content, would have to have the perfect combination of foods a person hates the most. And since it varies from person to person, here's how I see it. First, a slice of rye bread. Place some sliced pickles on the bread, then gently rub some margarine on them. Next make a small pile of raisins and combine them with onions and ice cream. Once that layer is complete, check the flavor of the ice cream. If it's a preferred flavor such as vanilla then quickly throw a worse flavor on top of it, ie, a mixture of Cherry Garcia and watermelon. And before adding that final slice of bread to top it off, make sure that either your least favorite cereal is in the mix or take your least favorite flavor of candy and put it on top."

Chad blinked. He never knew Taylor's mind could be so creative. A grin came on his face, clearly interested. "I'm liking the way you think Tay."

And although Taylor wouldn't admit it out loud she was enjoying Chad's thinking. Compared to the dinners with her parents when all they'd talk about is work and school, this was much more entertaining.

Just a little change

Small to say the least

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

Beauty and the Beast

"No, no, no. There is no way in heck I'm doing the tango." Chad shook his head repeatedly.

"Oh come on Chad, the tango isn't going to kill you. And it's barely even a slow ballroom dance." Taylor replied.

"I don't dance Tay. Why do you think I hang around the guys or food table every time there's a dance at school?" he asked.

"I always thought it was because you couldn't get a date." She teased.

Chad blinked. "What, are you saying I couldn't get any girls before you?"

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not." She replied innocently.

"Ok, so you could be saying that. But if you're not then what are you saying? That I can't dance?" he folded his arms.

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not." Taylor repeated in the same tone.

"Then prepare to be schooled McKessie." Chad challenged.

"Bring it on, Danforth." Taylor accepted.

One could only imagine how that dance went. Chad tried to take the lead but Taylor refused to follow and he only ended up doing it all wrong. She found it entertaining, but Chad thought it was more embarrassing. So Taylor ended up taking the lead and Chad reluctantly followed her, move for move. And she stepped back to let Chad take the lead again and Chad didn't even see it coming. He almost tripped and lost his grip on Taylor. That made Taylor lose her balance and nearly fall, but Chad grabbed onto her again and she ended up only slipping slightly in his arms. She stood up straight and locked eyes for a minute with Chad. Everyone else was still dancing but they had stopped dead in their tracks.

Finally, Chad shook it off with a smirk and tried to act like nothing happened. He took the lead once more. Taylor smiled and shook her head, knowing he was just putting on some kind of tough guy act or something. So she placed both of her arms around him and her head on his shoulders, which threw Chad off guard. He almost forgot the moves for a minute but quickly regained his position and kept dancing. It only took him five minutes before he got comfortable as he was and wrapped his arms around Taylor as they continued dancing.

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Ever as before

Ever just as sure

As the sun will rise

"How much longer are you going to show off Chad?" Taylor asked as she sat on a bench by the basketball court in the park. She was watching Chad show off his new basketball moves and work on his free throws.

"Oh come on Tay, you know you enjoy watching me work out." Chad teased.

Taylor only smiled and shook her head. "In your dreams maybe."

"Like you can do better?" he inquired.

Now Taylor was the one who smirked. "Pass me the ball." She replied.

Chad obeyed and tossed Taylor the ball. She caught it rather easily and walked onto the court. She stood where Chad was and threw the ball towards the net, only to miss the shot completely.

"Looks like you can talk the talk but you can't walk the walk." Chad stated as he went to pick up the ball.

"One must learn to crawl before learning how to walk." Taylor countered. "Show me how to crawl and I'll show you how far I can walk."

"You got yourself a deal." Chad replied. He walked back over to Taylor. He handed her the ball and stood behind her. He placed his hands over hers exactly where they needed to be on the ball. He helped her make that shot perfectly. He didn't even realize that he was still holding Taylor's hands after the shot was made. "One point for me." He grinned as he looked at Taylor.

Taylor turned her head upright to look at Chad, as his chest was now right up against her back and he was still holding her hands. "Then let's do it again." She decided.

"You're on." Chad smiled. He let go of Taylor's hands and went to get the ball. The cycle went on like that for a while, going back and forth like that. And Chad was really under the impression that Taylor couldn't make a shot without him. He backed away so Taylor could make one more shot by herself. She did exactly as she was shown but still ended up missing the basket.

"You really are pathetic." Chad chuckled.

"Then let's make it interesting." Taylor smiled. "I bet I can make the next shot from half court. I make the shot on my own, I give you a dare. I miss, you give me a dare."

"Then boy, you better hope you miss that shot. Cause I've got the perfect dare for you." Chad grinned.

"We'll see about that, lunkhead." Taylor teased. She walked over to get the ball. She dribbled it a little and then walked over to the middle of the court. She eyed her target carefully, squinting to make sure she'd get it right. And then she let the ball fly out of her hands and it swished right through the basket.

Chad's jaw nearly dropped. He really didn't expect her to make the shot. "Guess I'm a pretty good teacher huh?" he gloated.

Taylor giggled as she turned to him. "Maybe. Or maybe I just used the angles we learned in math class and applied them to the current situation to ensure I'd make the shot." She replied. "Or maybe it was a little of both." She added with a wink.

"So now I can't give you my dare huh?" Chad asked.

"Nope. I give you mine." Taylor replied.

"And that would be?" Chad asked.

Taylor only smiled. "I dare you to kiss me."

Chad was nearly frozen for a minute. But as soon as it sunk in that it was the dare, he was more than happy to do it. He leaned in and kissed Taylor, and she kissed him back.

Tale as old as time

Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong

"So we're finally seniors." Chad realized as he lay slightly on the beach. He was on his side with one arm in the sand and on a blanket and the other on his bent knee. "The big head hanchos at East High."

"Which means we really have to focus on our futures." Taylor stated. "As in, after high school."

"Well why can't we focus on right now?" Chad asked.

"Well we can…" Taylor assured him. "But we have to keep our priorities straight."

"We do have them straight." He replied. "I've got basketball and you've got the Scholastic thingy and Chem Club."

"Scholastic Decathlon." She corrected, slightly rolling her eyes. "And there's more than those and you know it. You're co-captain of the basketball team now. And captain of the baseball team. And I'm head of the Decathlon and president of Chem Club. And don't forget student body president and co-editor of our yearbook."

"So when do we have time for each other?" Chad asked.

She sighed. "You don't have to keep seeing me, Chad. I know what's really behind this."

Chad raised an eyebrow. "You do?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "The only reason we spend time with each other is so we're not lonely when Troy and Gabriella ditch us for each other. And the only other reason you'd even agree to be near me is to flatter me."

Chad sat up so he faced Taylor, who had been sitting upright the whole time. "What gave you that idea?"

"Just face it Chad. You wouldn't even be with me if I didn't give you that dare that night." Taylor replied.

"You don't know that." Chad defended himself.

"There's a lot of things I know Chad." She replied. "And I know that there is no us." Taylor shook her head and stood up. "I think I'll just go take the bus home."

Taylor started walking away, but Chad sprung to his feet and grabbed her by the wrist as she started walking away. He spun Taylor to face him and the pulled her in for a kiss, which he did.

Taylor broke the kiss and looked at Chad like he had five heads. "Really, what kind of fool do you take me for?" she asked.

"Look, I never back down from a dare." Chad replied. "But you never even knew what dare I would have given you. And if I didn't wanna be with you at all I would've tried avoiding you every time we would run into each other or every time we were with Troy and Gabriella as a group thing."

Taylor shook her head, not believing him. "Forget it. I should have never made you kiss me that night." She tried to leave again, but Chad would let her go. He got closer to Taylor so they were once again only inches apart. Chad paused for a minute so their eyes could lock, then he kissed her again. It was a gentle kiss, but it almost felt like he was trying to say something with it.

Taylor looked at Chad long and hard, unable to refrain from not holding a confused look. "You don't have to kiss me if you don't want to." She said softly.

"Who ever said I didn't?" Chad replied quietly. He kissed Taylor once more and wrapped his arms around her. Taylor returned the gesture and wrapped her arms around his neck. Neither pulled away.

Certain as the sun

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast

"So I guess this is it then huh?" Chad asked, not letting Taylor go.

"Yale is waiting. I have to get on that plane." Taylor replied, her forehead practically up against his.

"So we're not giving up on us then right?" he asked.

"Of course not." Taylor shook her head. "We said we were going to make this work, so we're going to make this work."

That made Chad feel a little better. He smiled. "Good. Because I'm not letting the best girl I ever met go without a fight."

Taylor smiled back. "And I'm not going to sit back and listen to some other boy drive me crazy when I've got the craziest one of the pack right here."

Chad kept smiling. He and Taylor gently kissed each other, but her rams stayed around his neck and his around her waist even after they pulled away. "So I guess I'll see you at Thanksgiving then?" he asked.

"Definitely." She nodded. She broke eye contact with a minute and looked down, then slowly picked her head back up. "I love you." She confessed.

"I love you, too." Chad replied, meaning every bit of it. "Just get there and back in one piece, ok?"

"Ok." Taylor agreed.

Then they shared one final kiss and slowly pulled away before Taylor boarded her plane for Yale University and Chad made his way back to town and attend the University of Albuquerque.

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast

Ok if i owned HSM, there'd probably be more of this around. The movies aren't just about Troy and Gabriella, you know. Maybe making a series for kids and another one for teens wouldn't be so bad either. Something both parties could relate to, you know what I mean? But sadly, I don't own HSM and that's never gonna happen. But we've all got those dreams huh? So back, to the ending author's note of this chapter. I wanna say thanks for all the reviews I'm getting. Man there's so many I don't even know if I can type out all of the names without getting confused at some point or something. xD Maybe I can thank like two each chapter for reviews or something? But that would be even more confusing then wouldn't it? Oh well, on to the next chapter then! Another request for a song was "Two Worlds" from Tarzan. So which version would you rpefer? The original or Corbin Bleu's version? Love to see the responses for that one! XD But I'll wait a couple of chapters and put votes up for anyone who cares or even votes so then everything can be written and such. And now I shall take my cue and shut the heck up!