Hey Everyone! So I made a lot of you cry, and I apologize. :) The reviews were amazing as usual and they were really long and I love long reviews, so thank you! This chapter is a little more upbeat, so I hope you're smiling instead of crying. Enjoy!
I'll Email You
Chapter twelve
Avoiding Feelings
It had been a few days since Taylor shared her news about her parents with Gabriella and it had been a few days since Gabriella talked to Troy, embarrassed after she broke down in front of him minutes after receiving her mother's phone call. Sharpay, Taylor, and Gabriella were now sitting in a booth at a local restaurant, hiding behind the large menus that were in their hands.
"This is ridiculous, Tay!" Sharpay said to her good friend. "If you wanted to hide from Chad, then you shouldn't have picked the restaurant he works at to go for dinner!" Sharpay whispered as she peeked around her menu, noticing Chad a few tables away from them.
"I'm not hiding from him!" Taylor explained. "He's hiding from me! He got a job so he wouldn't have to hang out at Gabriella's house after practice! He knew I'd be there and every time I get a glimpse of him around town, he's running away from me at all costs!"
"Gosh, Tay, what'd you do to the poor guy?" Sharpay asked as she looked at Taylor and Gabriella next to her.
"Nothing!" Taylor said quickly.
"Wait, are you hiding something from me? And Gabriella, why are you not talking to Troy? Zeke told me that he hasn't seen you around the house lately, and Troy hasn't even been at his computer for more then two seconds in almost four days!" Sharpay explained to her friends.
She sat up and put her menu down, sick of the game of hide and never seek they were playing. Taylor shrieked as their cover was obviously blown and Gabriella sighed, setting her menu down as well.
"Thanks guys. I thought you had my back." Taylor mumbled as she sat up as well.
A waiter made his way over to the table and he smiled at the girls, getting his pen and paper ready for their orders.
"Hi." Taylor started before he could speak. "I need you to do me a favor." She began as she cleared her throat. "I need you to get that guy over there to be our waiter."
"Okay." The guy said slowly, turning away from them and walking over to Chad.
The girls watched as their waiter went up to Chad, whispering to him and they saw Chad look their way and sigh deeply. Taylor gave Gabriella a look and she shrugged, continuing to watch. Chad walked up to them, avoiding Taylor's gaze as he flipped open his notepad. His formal outfit made Gabriella laugh quietly to herself, but she stopped when she noticed the familiar people coming through the restaurant doors. She grabbed her menu, pulling it in front of her and watched as Chad eyed her suspiciously.
"Are you avoiding me?" Taylor asked as Chad was writing down Sharpay's order.
He avoided the question and glanced at her quickly.
"What would you like?" He asked her.
"For you not to avoid me!" She said quickly.
"I don't think the chef can prepare that, but I can ask him for you." He said seriously.
"Chad!" Taylor huffed in annoyance.
"Crap!" Gabriella shrieked.
"What are you doing Gabriella?!" Taylor asked her, pulling down the menu as Chad looked around the restaurant.
Noticing Troy walking towards a table with Zeke, Chad stepped in front of Gabriella when he knew she had no cover anymore. Gabriella shot him a thankful look and he shrugged, knowing how it felt to be discovered when trying to avoid someone.
"Are you two working together now?" Sharpay asked them suspiciously.
"No, I just…" Gabriella started.
"I am sick of this." Taylor sighed, grabbing Gabriella's arm and pulling her out of the booth with her.
Gabriella's eyes widened when she noticed where Taylor was taking her and she looked back at their table to see that Chad was gone and Sharpay was looking at them in confusion. Troy and Zeke exchanged a look when they saw Taylor pulling Gabriella towards them and before Gabriella or Troy could even think of what was happening, Gabriella was pulled right onto Troy's lap, her arms wrapping around his neck so that she wouldn't fall right onto the floor.
"Work it out!" Taylor told them quickly, leaving to find Chad.
"What is going on?" Troy asked her as she cursed under her breath.
"Oh…um… nothing! Chad's just avoiding Taylor and she's upset about it." Gabriella explained.
"I never thought that I would hear that." Zeke said with a laugh as he got up, noticing Sharpay sitting alone.
"So does the fact that Chad is avoiding Taylor have anything to do with the fact that you're avoiding me?" He asked her with a faint smile.
"No, that's not the reason." Gabriella told him unconsciously.
"So you are avoiding me?" He asked.
"I walked right into that didn't I?" She asked with a sigh.
Troy nodded and waited for Gabriella to explain herself.
"I don't know… I was kind of embarrassed that I cried in front of you. It's not like me, I guess." She said with a shrug, looking over at Sharpay and Zeke who were sitting across the room.
"You don't have to avoid me just because I saw you when you weren't all tough like you usually are." Troy said with a shake of his head. "It won't change the fact that you're my best friend and that I'm always going to be there for you."
"Well, since we haven't talked in forever, I have a few things to fill you in on." Gabriella smirked as she got up from his lap and sat down in the chair across from him.
Troy leaned forward, ready to hear what she had to say and he smiled at her before she started.
"Taylor is falling for Chad." She said seriously.
***
Taylor walked outside quickly, making her way around the restaurant and she tiptoed as she walked towards the back door of the kitchen. She smiled softly when she spotted Chad hauling a bag of garbage into the dumpster and she stepped closer to him.
"You didn't think you could avoid me for this long, did you?" Taylor asked, watching as Chad jumped, unaware of the fact that she was just behind him.
"Gosh, Taylor, way to scare a guy." Chad said as he walked away from the dumpster and towards the door.
"Chad, please, don't leave me back here alone. I'm trying to talk to you." She said impatiently.
"I have to work." He told her.
"I'm sure Sharpay and Gabriella can wait a little bit for their food." Taylor told him.
Chad stopped, but kept his back towards her, sticking his hands in his pant pockets.
"Why are you avoiding me, Chad?" She asked him.
"I didn't think you'd have a problem with it. You did all that you could to get me away from you before." He said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I always thought that I was some kind of joke to you, Chad. That's why I never gave you the time of day." Taylor explained. "But you helped me a lot the other day and you're the only one who understands how I'm feeling right now."
"Well, I'm glad I could help you, but I have to go, I'll see you later." He said as he walked up the stairs that led up to the kitchen door.
"But, Chad!" She said quickly.
"Goodbye, Taylor." He said as the door closed behind him.
Taylor walked angrily into the restaurant and sat down at Troy and Gabriella's table, ignoring the fact that they were just deep in conversation. Gabriella looked at Troy worriedly and then she turned her attention back to Taylor.
"So, did you talk to him?" Gabriella asked her.
"Yeah. Let's just say that Chad no longer thinks I'm looking hot, if you will." Taylor said quickly.
"What do you mean?" Troy asked her as he furrowed his brow.
"He doesn't like me anymore and oddly I'm not okay with that." Taylor admitted.
"I'm sure everything will work out." Troy assured her.
"I hope you're right." Taylor said with a sigh.
***
Troy and Zeke were sitting at a table in the middle of the restaurant after the girls had left and they were waiting for Chad, watching as the tables around them slowly emptied and the chairs were starting to be stacked on top of the tables. Chad walked over to them once he was done working and sat at the table, looking at them somewhat embarrassed.
"What's up, man?" Troy asked him as Chad loosened his tie.
"Nothing, dude. I'm just stressed out." Chad told him, sighing. "Why is everyone bugging me today?"
"Well, it's not normal for you to reject Taylor." Zeke pointed out with a shrug.
"I didn't reject her." Chad explained stressfully.
"Well, you've been ignoring her, right?" Troy asked. "Why are you?"
"I don't know… I just don't want to force her into liking me. I want her to want to like me." Chad explained.
"Trust me, Chad. I think she always has." Troy said with a smile.
"And you know this because?" Chad asked.
"Remember that I'm Gabriella's best friend. She tells me stuff and plus Taylor was all sad after she talked to you." Troy told him.
"Well, I guess I blew it. I give up with Taylor. I've tried too hard anyways." Chad answered as he stood up from his chair.
"You're giving up just as she is falling for you, idiot!" Zeke said, raising his voice, which was not like him at all.
"Are you really going to give up on her when she needs you most?" Troy asked him seriously.
Chad groaned angrily and left his friends at the table, getting in his car and driving to his mom's house. He slammed his car door after grabbing his basketball bag and he tossed his keys in the air, catching them as he walked towards the front door. He stopped quickly when he saw Taylor sitting on the swinging chair on the front porch. She stood up when she saw him and she eyed him angrily.
"How long does it take to get here, Chad? I'm freezing!" She said angrily.
"It's summer." He replied in a monotone.
"Whatever." Taylor answered.
Chad sighed and grabbed his sweatshirt out of his bag and tossed it to Taylor. She looked at the sweater for a few seconds, but then put it on.
"Well, since you're my stalker now, why don't you sit down?" Chad said, smiling softly at the fact that she looked comfortable in his sweatshirt that had his last name on the back.
Taylor sat down quickly and pulled her legs under her as Chad sat down next to her, rocking the swing as he moved his foot softly. The stars and moon were the only lights visible and they sat there for a few minutes before either of them talked.
"I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you." Chad said as he tilted his head back, looking up at the stars.
"Well, I'm sorry that it took me until now to realize that you're not such a bad guy." Taylor replied as she looked over at him.
"I didn't exactly give you reason to think otherwise." Chad replied with a soft laugh.
"I came to say thanks, Chad. I really do appreciate what you said to me the other day." Taylor said to him, smiling softly.
"There's no need to thank me." Chad smiled. "I'm just glad you're doing better."
"I am." Taylor nodded with a small smile.
Chad smiled at her as he turned his head towards her and she smiled back as she sat up slowly.
"I better get going. My mom will probably kill me if I'm any later." She said quietly.
"Okay." Chad nodded as she stood up.
"Goodnight, Chad." She smiled.
"Night, Tay." He replied.
Taylor walked towards the steps and she stopped when she heard Chad laugh from behind her.
"Ta-ay-lor you're looking hot in my basketball sweatshirt." He smirked.
Taylor turned slowly and put her hand on her hip, eyeing him and then she smiled, coaxing her hip to the side. She walked over to him, bending down close to him as if she was about to whisper in his ear, but instead she kissed him on the cheek and then made her way back towards the porch steps.
"I do, don't I?" She asked with a smile.
Chad nodded, half speechless and mainly shocked as he stayed seated on his front porch, watching Taylor get into her car and drive away with a smile clear on her face. Maybe avoiding people didn't always turn out so bad after all.
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Much love,
unknownbyhim22
