Here's Chapter 23. Hope you guys like it, leave reviews! It gives me motive.


Chad got to Troy's house and found Troy, Brad, Jason, Ryan, and Zeke watching TV. Kevin had already left.

"Hey, how'd the date go with Tay?" Troy asked.

"Crazy."

"Really? That bad?" Jason laughed.

"Nah man. Not like that, I took her to go help me with Mrs. Siggs' students so she could have fun, and still feel like she acomplished something since it was helping the kids. We finger painted. Then I had to take some of the kids home, and one of them couldn't go because his mom was being abused and didn't want him getting hurt, so he's staying with the girls tonight."

"Lucky! Man he gets to spend the night with the girls and he's how old?" Jason joked.

"Six. Hah, anyways, how'd your date go with Gabby the other day? I never got to ask you." Chad said.

"It wasn't a date." Troy said but was cut off.

"He wouldn't tell us anything good this morning." Zeke told him.

"Yeah, so Brad and Ryan were doing some crazy thing by reading Troy's face." Jason said.

"What the heck?" Chad said with a confused look on his face.

"Sharpay taught me. Long story" Ryan said.

"Okay, fine I'll tell you guys what happened. And it wasn't a date."

"Whatever man." Chad said.

"Long story short, I couldn't win her a prize so the booth guy helped me out, we raced and she won, blah blah blah, and we took pictures in the photobooth because she never did before, and we kissed. Then I took her home, and that was it." Troy explained quickly.

"Wait. What? You guys kissed!" Chad exclaimed. "Congrats man. So you tow together yet?"

"No."

"What!" Chad yelled once more.

"You mean, you guys kissed and nothing happened?" Jason asked.

"Yep"

"And you didn't ask her to be your girlfriend?" Zeke asked.

"Nope"

"But she did kiss you back right?" Ryan asked.

"Yep."

"And yet, you still didn't ask her to be your girlfriend?" Chad asked.

"Nope."

"Slick one cousin." Brad said.

"Geez you guys, I don't want to rush into things!" Troy told them.

"Uhh, I think you've already waited long enough. Like a month already." Chad said.

"Don't worry. I was planning on asking when I take her out tomorrow."

"Good." Chad said. Then Troy's phone started to ring."


Taylor arrived at Martin's house, and parked on the opposite side of the street just as they did earlier that day. Once she put her car in parking, she opened the door and walked towards the house. All the lights were off except for the front upstairs window. Taylor wasn't sure who was there, but she saw a moving shadow and hurried to the porch. She saw Martin's bag under the bench, assuming his mother hid it there so her boyfriend wouldn't see it. She grabbed the duffel bag and noticed a note on top, grabbed it, and paced towards her car. Once she was inside her car, she opended the note and read:

Taylor,

Once again, thank you so much for doing this. Don't worry, I already have your house number; Your mother is Martin's doctor... I knew that last name sounded familiar. Anywho, if you still want to leave your number just put it under the front mat. I'll check it when I can. I packed some of Martin's toys, and some extra clothes in case something comes up. I'm not sure when my boyfriend Tommy will calm down, but please don't tell anyone. He's a cop, so it's hard for people to believe me. If Martin becomes too much of a hassel then just bring him back. I'm home alone between the hours of 3-5 in the afternoons. Here's my number 657-4909. Thanks again.

-Grace

Taylor didn't know what to do; she wanted Grace to find help. She took out a piece of paper and wrote a quick note:

Grace,

Here's my cell number since I'm at a friends house. 998-4306. My friend's mom will be back tomorrow, so Martin will be safe. And don't worry, even if he is a hassel, I won't let come back unless it's truely safe. But Grace, you have to get out of there too and get help asap.

-Taylor

Talor quickly folded the note, ran back to the porch and slid the note under the front door mat, then ran back to her car. After taking a minute to catch her breath and make sure no one was watching her, she drove off.

"Hey guys, I'm back!" Taylor said closing the door behind her.

"Hey Tay," Gabriella greeted her. "How'd it go?"

"Good actually, I didn't run into any problems."

"Great."

"Oh hey Tay!" Kelsie said walking into the downstairs hallway followed by Sharpay with Martin in hand.

"Hey" Sharpay smiled.

"Hi Taylor!" Martin said letting go of Sharpay's hand and running to Taylor to hug her waist.

"Hey Martin." She hugged him, fearing what was going to happen to him and his mom. "So what did you guys do while I was gone?"

"Oh nothing much, just got to know the guy a little more." Sharpay smiled.

"Yeah, he's a pretty cute kid." Gabriella said playing with his hair.

"Well, you're a pretty girl." He told her.

"In your dreams," She said rolling her eyes. "You know there's a girl you age a few houses down, maybe you have a better chance with her." she said sarcastically.

"Prolly." He sighed.

"Looks like Chad rubbed off on you a little too much." Taylor said.

"What?" Martin asked.

"Nothing, c'mon you, time to get you washed up and changed into your pajamas."

"Okay..." He gave in easily, and they all marched upstairs. After showing him where the bathroom was, and setting up the bath for him, the closed the door but didn't lock it just in case, and the girls sat in Gabriella's room talking.

"So what happened, I mean like why's he here?" Sharpay asked curiously.

"Yeah, I mean, kids don't just pop up at your feet Tay." Keslie added.

"Well, he was one of the kids Chad and I were helping today. And something came up so the bus didn't show to take the kids home. Chad offered to drive the group we had home... and when we got to MArtin's house last his mom asked me to take care of him because her boy friend was being abusive." She told them, but what she didn't know was that Martin was just outside of Gabriella's door and had listened to the explaination while walking in without the girls noticing.

"Uhm, you forgot to leave my shirt." He spoke up. Only Gabriella heard him and turned to his bag since she was closest to his it.

"Here you go sweetie." She said taking out his thermal shirt with race cars on it and walked over to give it to him. Then she gasped and dropped his shirt as she saw Martin. The rest of the girls turned around after hearing Gabriella gasp. "Oh my gosh." was all Gabriella could say.

"Gabby what's wr---" Taylor paused, and her jaw dropped, same with Sharpay, and Kelsie covering her mouth in shock.


You like? LOL. Review! Oh, and I already started writing my other story, not the sequel..the other one that kinda goes with it,but I won't put it up until after i finish this one, and start the sequel.I'll try and update later today, if not, then tomorrow.