Hi,

I regret to inform you that there is no Chapter 14.

No seriously. It's not there.

Ok, yeah. It was a sucky lie. Haha. SORRY!

Anyways, thanks to my reviewers! You guys are awesome! And Jordan would love to extend her thanks to all the people that were devastated when Ryan liked Emily. (Note how Em is based off Allyn and Nat is based off myself...HAHA, ALLYN, THEY LIKE ME BETTER! -Jordan)

But for now, onwards with the chapter because Jordan has a certain part she wants to read.

JORDAN, DON'T TELL THEM! (Grr, fine. -Jordan)

"Thanks for coming, Emster," Chad looked at her.

"Your mom called and said she couldn't come with you. Of course I was happy to come," Emily smiled.

They sat in the sports medicine clinic waiting room. Chad was restless in his chair.

"You nervous?" she laughed gently.

"No."

She laughed at his pathetic attempt to lie. Emily grabbed his hand.

"It's going to be okay," she looked him in the eyes.

"Yeah," he sighed, "I hope so."

"We're home!" Emily called as she stepped inside the front door with Chad.

Jason, Kelsi, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Natalie, Troy, and Zeke crowded around Chad asking him question after question.

"Guys! Give him room to breathe," Emily pulled him through the huddle and led Chad to the couch.

"You're wearing a brace!" Troy pointed at Chad's right knee.

"Nothing gets past you, does it Troy?" Emily rolled her eyes, "Do you want something to drink?"

"Ooh, I want something!" Jason raised his hand.

"Not you! I was talking to Chad!"

"You could be nice and get me something, too," Jason acted hurt.

"Jason," Kelsi said, "Get over yourself."

Natalie gave Kelsi a high five.

"Can I have some water to take my medicine?" Chad asked.

"Yeah. I'll get it," Emily stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Everyone crowded around him again.

"Chad, what's wrong with you?"

"What did the doctors say?"

"Why are you wearing that brace?"

"Will you be able to play?"

"It's not cancer is it?"

"GUYS! BACK OFF!" Emily cleared the group. She handed Chad the glass of water.

"Thanks," he took the glass, "Oh, I hate to bother you again, but could you get my medicine?"

"Chad, don't worry about it," Emily smiled and dug through her purse until she found the bottle of pills.

"Thank you," he smiled.

"Now can someone answer my question?" Natalie asked.

"Which one?"

"What did the doctor say?" Zeke asked.

"It's called Patella-Femural Syndrome."

"What's that?" Gabriella got a confused look on her face.

"Basically, my knee cap isn't lined up correctly so it grinds against my knee joint," Chad explained.

"Ouch," Jason commented.

"So, why are you wearing the brace?" Kelsi questioned.

"It's supposed to move my knee cap back into position so it doesn't rub."

"Why do you have to take medicine, then?" Natalie also looked confused.

"It's an anti-inflammatory. It helps along with the brace," Emily answered this question.

"Can you play basketball?" Troy asked.

"Well," Chad started.

Emily gave him a look that said "tell the truth'.

"I can once I finish a month of physical therapy."

"A MONTH?!"

"Troy," Gabriella said warningly.

Troy sighed, "I mean, as long as you're okay."

"He'll be just fine," Emily sat down next to Chad and smiled.

"Be careful," Emily told him.

"Emster, it's just down the street," Chad laughed.

"Ok, but it doesn't mean that you can't get hurt."

"You're a hopeless case," Chad smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Call me when you get there!"

"Em, you're being insane," Troy turned to Chad, "Just go home."

Once Chad had left, only Gabriella, Ryan, Natalie and the Bolton siblings remained.

"I've got to go to work," Gabriella looked at her watch.

"Can you give me a ride home?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, come on."

Ryan kissed Natalie goodbye and Gabriella gave Troy a quick peck on the cheek.

Once the two had left, Natalie noticed Emily's expression. Her mouth was wide open and her eyes were wide.

"Em? Something wrong?" Natalie cocked her eyebrow.

"Ryan just kissed you," Emily stuttered.

"Oh, I didn't tell you? We're officially a couple now."

"WHAT?!? You've been a couple for like what? Two days? And you didn't tell me?!?"

"Em, it's more like two hours. He asked me right before you brought Chad home."

"Oh," Emily calmed down, "Okay, then."

Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Emily, Troy, can I talk to you for a minute?" their father called into the living room.

Emily shot Troy a look, but it was only returned with a shrug. The siblings got up and walked into their dad's study.

He looked sad and worried and angry at the same time. Yet, his face contained a look that was almost weary. Like he had been stressed for a long time.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Troy asked.

"Sit," he pointed at the sofa on the opposite side of the room.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Emily's voice was filled with anxiety as she sat next to her brother.

"I talked to your mother today," their father sighed and rubbed his eyes. He looked like he was holding back tears.

"She's alright, isn't she?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's fine."

"Then, why do you look like you're about to cry?" Troy said.

"Your mother was having an affair with her business partner."

"No," Emily whispered in disbelief. She couldn't believe it.

"Dad," Troy struggled to find words.

"Your mom and I are getting a divorce," Jack said quickly.

"What?!" Emily stood up.

"Emily, I know this is hard, but we made this decision together."

"Daddy, I'm so sorry," Emily hugged her father.

Jack Bolton closed his eyes, fighting back tears, and hugged his daughter.

"So, she's really not going to come back?" Emily whispered.

"She'll be back in a few days to pick up her things," her father croaked.

"Oh, Daddy," Emily hugged him tighter.

"Oh, Em, that's horrible," Natalie hugged Emily after she told her the news.

"I'm fine," Emily looked down.

"It's okay to be upset, Em," Natalie looked at her.

"I know."

Natalie sighed. Emily was too quiet.

"Aren't you even going to ask how my date with Ryan went?"

"Oh, how did it go?"

"It was excellent!"

"I'm glad," Emily smiled, "Ryan's a good guy."

"What, no teasing? No asking if we made out or something at the end?"

"Nope."

"Why not?!" Natalie was shocked. Em had always loved picking on her love life.

"Because, it's about time you found someone to love you."

Natalie smiled and hugged Emily again. "Thanks, Em. You're the best friend ever."

"I try," Emily smiled.

"You Boltons are so full of yourself," Natalie laughed.

"Don't hate!"

"Girls, time to go to sleep," Jack peeked into the bedroom door.

"Night, Daddy!" Emily turned off the lamp and drifted to sleep.

"Hey, is Emster here?" Chad asked as he stood in the doorway.

"You can't just come and see your best friend?" Troy laughed and let him inside.

"She seemed upset at school. I wanted to make sure she was okay."

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Troy looked apprehensively at him.

"No. Tell me what? She's not having those nightmares again, is she?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Then what is it?"

"Our mom was cheating on Dad. They're getting a divorce."

"Oh God. Troy, I'm so sorry," Chad patted him on the shoulder.

"Em's taking it harder than everyone. Besides Dad."

"Well, it was her mom, Troy."

"She was my mom, too!" Troy's voice took on a defensive tone.

"I know, but girls have stronger bonds with their mothers. Plus, now Emster's the girl of the house."

"Never thought about that," Troy grumbled.

"Anyways, where is she?"

"She's taking a nap."

"Oh, okay. I guess I'll check on her later."

"Do you have time to shoot hoops with your best friend now?" Troy grinned.

"What are we standing here for? Let's go!" Chad ran to the backdoor with his basketball in hand.

"HA! I won!" Chad collapsed on the ground.

"Only because I let you," Troy teased and sat beside him.

"You're just going easy on me because of my knee!"

"Yup, pretty much," Troy laughed.

Chad glared and flopped back onto the grass.

"You know we have to talk about what happened, right?" he said looking up at the sky.

"Yeah," Troy sighed.

"Troy, you know I would never do something like that. I love Emster, and I respect her decisions."

Troy stared out across the basketball goal. "Yeah, I know. I don't know why I reacted that way."

"She's your little sister. That's why."

"This Alex thing just put me over the edge. I'm real sensitive about guys around her now, and you came home late."

"I get it, Troy."

"Just," Troy struggled for words, "Don't hurt her, okay?"

"Thought never crossed my mind," Chad replied.

Troy thought on this reply for a moment, then smiled to himself with contentment.

"You boys look tired," Emily stood behind them.

"We are," Troy turned around.

Emily smiled and sat in between Chad and Troy.

"You okay?" Troy put his arm around his sister.

"Yeah," Emily whispered and nodded.

"Good," he squeezed her arm and pulled her into a hug.

"Can she give some love to the boyfriend over here?" Chad laughed.

"Of course, where are my manners?" Emily joked back. She left Troy's arms and gave Chad a soft kiss on the lips. "How's your knee?"

"It's fine," Chad smiled at her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

Emily laid her head on Chad's shoulder.

For a moment, they soaked in the quiet and calm. They were all at peace for a moment. But, just for a moment.

"TROY! EMILY! I'M HOME!"

Troy, Emily and Chad exchanged looks. The Bolton siblings eyes got wide as their mother appeared at the backdoor.

Hope you enjoyed Chapter 14!

Jordan also is in the process of writing some stories of Natalie, kinda like a Behind The Chapters thing. It's really awesome! She's already written two, so I do recommend you check them out. Especially if you want to know about the French Club meeting that Natalie starts liking Ryan. (Aww, I love you too, Allyn! -Jordan)

Sorry for the long wait for 14. (We were contemplating on every single little detail...or at least Allyn was. -Jordan)

Hope you guys had a Merry Christmas! I know I did! (I got a Zune player, I'm happy. -Jordan)

Please review!