Enjoy!

Science Fair

Taylor sits exactly two seats away from Chad in Mr. Levy's chemistry class, which isn't even enough to not hear Chad Danforth ramble on making excuses on why he doesn't have his homework, or joke around with his lunk headed wildcat teammates. Even if she tries super hard to ignore him, Taylor can never blank out the annoying sound of Chad's voice.

"Today, I will be choosing science fair partners." Mr. Levy announced. "The fair is coming up, and I hope all of you will be very excited to participate in it."

Chad make a spit noise with his mouth and held up a thumbs down which made everyone laugh. Except Mr. Levy.

He sighs and looks at Chad. "Uh, Mr. Danforth. How many times do I have to tell you to pay attention?" Mr. Levy looks at the board, then back at Chad. "I'll choose your partner first." He tapped his chin and looked around the class. Taylor kept her fingers crossed, hoping that Mr. Levy will show her mercy. "Chad, your partner is Taylor McKessie."

"What?" Taylor gasped.

"You heard him." Chad said, shooting her a sly smile. "You're my science fair partner. Consider you lucky."

Taylor glared at him. There is nothing lucky about having Chad Danforth as a science fair partner. He make Albert Einstein want to come out of his grave and slap him in the face. "No, you're lucky." She scoffed.

Chad smiled wider. "You got jokes, huh?"

Taylor, unamused, rolled her eyes at him. "I refuse to fall to your level." She informed him.

"What's my level?" Chad asked.

"Street smart." Taylor replied. Everyone laughed, which surprised Taylor because she isn't the class clown type.

Chad raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, better than being so smart my brain has stretch marks." Everyone laughed at that too.

Taylor glared harder at him. "Your brain can't have stretch marks if you don't have one." Everyone laughed even harder.

"Classic burn." Chad said to Taylor, still smiled that sly smile.

Taylor looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Did Chad just let her win the burn contest? Was it just her imagination or was Chad not going to assault her with his words and jokes? She smiled and crossed her arms. "No more burns up your sleeve I see."

"I'm saving them for later." Chad pretended to stick something up his sleeve and he winked at Taylor. "I could probably use a lot of them since you're my science fair partner."

"Ok class quiet down." Mr. Levy interrupted. "The next partners are... Harlem and Daisy." Everybody quietly turned and looked at Harlem. He's that weird kid who never talks to anyone, but loves video games and writing in a journal so secret no one can touch it.

"What?! No fair!" Daisy yelled. "Can I trade partners with Taylor?" Daisy has obviously been crushing on Chad, despite him. To be honest, Chad often avoided her. She's not weird like Harlem, but she is kind of over obsessed. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

Taylor would. "No... that's ok." She informed Daisy. "I want Chad as a science partner."

Chad smirked at her. "Yeah. It's cool Daisy. I'm fine with having Taylor as a partner."

Daisy rolled her eyes. "Ugh, whatever."

After Class...

It was time for lunch, but Taylor decided to skip so she could try to find an experiment to do. "Yo! Taylor!" Chad called to her. "Wait up!"

"What is it?" Taylor asked, not slowing down her pace.

Chad smiled as he caught up with her. "I think you were telling the truth in there." He said. "You know... when you said you want me as a science partner? I know you're telling the truth."

Taylor laughed. "Really? You think I want to be your partner that bad?" She started going down the stairs, Chad behind her. "No. I just didn't want to be partners with Harlem, and I know how much you dislike Daisy."

Chad nodded as they entered the empty lab room that Taylor studies in. "That is the truth." He watched as Taylor picked up a book and started to flip through it. "You know, you're really funny."

Taylor didn't take her eyes off the book. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." He nudged her with a pencil. "If you weren't so uptight, you would probably be class clown material."

Taylor snorted as she stopped at a page. "Why would I want to be the class clown?" She started taking notes in her notebook. "I'm absolutely fine with the role as the Einstein smart girl."

Chad pointed at her. "See? That's what I mean." He sat next to her. "What do you even plan on doing for the project?"

"I have been planning this all year." Taylor said. "I want to prove that things can be undone. Everything can be redone. Everything can get a do over." She showed him her notes. "I'm- I mean we're- going to create a time warp."

Chad examined her notes. "Are you sure that that's going to work?"

"Yes." Taylor answered. "It's all in the math and science Chad."

"Why would anyone want a do over anyway?" Chad asked her.

"Everybody." Taylor said to him. "Wouldn't you like to get a redo on all the mistakes you ever made? All the regrets in your whole life?" She put her head down. "To make some one you hurt forgive you?"

Chad looked at her, worried. "Are you ok?"

Taylor sighed, then went back into know-it-all mode. "Yes I am, and this project is going to win us the gold." She smiled. "Imagine Chad, our names on the Hall Of Fame in a fancy museum of the arts. Receiving awards for our accomplishments and hard work. Even the president of the United States would want to meet us to congratulate us!"

"Sounds like a nerd fest." Chad commented.

Sometimes Taylor forgets that the only thing that interests Chad is sports. "Never mind that. The point is, our project is going to be so good, we're going to win first place in the science fair, ok?"

"Cool." Chad said.

Just then, Troy and Gabriella walked in, hand in hand. "Hey Tay! Hey Chad!" Gabriella greeted. "I knew I would've found you here."

"Hey guys." Taylor and Chad waved.

"Hold up, Chad, are you studying?!" Troy exclaimed.

Chad laughed and shook his head. "No way dude. I'm just here because Taylor and I are thinking of a science fair project to do."

"Ooo!" Gabriella sat down in front of Taylor. "What are you doing?"

Taylor covered her notes. "It's a surprise." She said smiling.

"I'm hungry." Chad said. "Let's go to the cafeteria. I can't work on an empty stomach."

"I'll catch up with you guys later." Taylor waved.

Chad turned around. "What? You work too hard." He nudged her with a pencil the same way he did earlier. "My mom told me, studies show that when you're hungry your focus decreases. Come on, we can work later. It's only Thursday."

Taylor couldn't argue with Chad's mom. It is true that focus can decrease when you're hungry. She packed up her stuff. "Fine, but you can't stop me from studying at free period."

Chad raised an eyebrow at her. "I didn't think I can stop you at anything. You're pretty tough."

"Compliments wont change my mind." Taylor informed him. Chad laughed and they all left the lab room.

"I think he likes you!" Gabriella whispered to Taylor.

Taylor turned to her. "Who?"

"Chad!" Gabriella said. "He was obviously flirting with you."

"Haha." Taylor shook her head. "You are hilarious." Romance it the last thing on Taylor's mind. She's a woman of science. There is no way that a boy, especially Chad Danforth, was going to distract her from her studies. Even if Chad doesn't want to help her with the experiment or if he doesn't care about any of it, she still has to do it. She needs to do it. Everyone deserves a redo.

Especially after what she did.

To be continued...