Thanks to: ZacEfronLuver, Lissical, zAcEfRoNiSmYwIlDcAt, HauntedWhisper714, RyanEvansFansDoItBetter, dancerlittle and Volleyballgirl-2892 for reviewing chapter 2, you were the only ones.

Chapter 3

Chad picked at his food that night at dinner. Kathy looked at her son before giving her husband a look. This was unusual for Chad, who usually talked about things that Kathy and Chris didn't have a clue what they meant. The only time they actually tuned in to Chad was when he said: Troy, Zeke, Jason, Ryan, Cam, basketball or school.

"Are you okay Chad," Kathy asked.

"Why is everybody asking me that!"

"Woah, Chad," Chris said. "Calm down, you're just a little quiet."

Chad took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm fine. Can I be excused?"

"Yes."

Chad walked from the table and ran up the steps. "I going up there to see what's wrong," Kathy said.

"You shouldn't eavesdrop," Chris said.

"I'm not, I'm using my authority as a parent to find out what's wrong with my son."

Chris rolled his eyes before following his wife up the stairs. She was standing outside of Chad's door. "Hey," he whispered. "Shh listen," she shot back. So he put his ear to the door.

"Troy you've got to promise me to tell someone...if it happens again yeah...your dad has no idea...yeah they think something is wrong with me...I know, you're fine but you're giving me a headache...please Troy promise, I don't want you getting...okay...bye."

Kathy and Chris walked down the stairs into the kitchen and started to put away the dishes. It was silent for most of the time. "I think we should tell Elaine and Jack," Kathy said. "I mean, Jack called when he thought something was wrong with Chad, we should do the same."

"I think we should let the boys figure it out," Chris said.

Kathy dropped the plate that she was holding. "Chris, Elaine is my best friend and I don't want to know something that could be harmful about her son and not let her know."

"But we don't know about that, it could have been like a test score or something."

Kathy raised an eyebrow. "A test score making Chad quiet? Do you know your son at all?"

"I'm just saying, Chad and Troy are best friends and maybe Chad...is taking something too far. You and I both know that he reads into things and isn't always right. Especially with the year they had last year! It was a roller coaster ride. Maybe that's influencing Chad's thoughts. If Troy thinks he's fine then who should question that?"

"I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right," Chris said.

"Right about what," Chad said walking into the kitchen and sitting in a chair.

"Nothing sweetheart," Kathy said. "I'm going to go call Emma and see how she's doing."

"Ask her if her dorm is clean," Chris yelled as Kathy walked out of the room. Chris shook his head, "I don't know how that girl could be so messy. You aren't nearly as bad as your sister." Chris turned and put the plate in the drying rack then sat in the chair opposite Chad. "You want to talk?"

Chad thought about it for a minute before he nodded. "Picture yourself in high school again."

"Alright."

"Now, your friend is ashamed of something."

"Like what?"

Chad thought for a minute before saying, "he has a problem."

"That doesn't give me much Chad. Is is a girl problem-"

"Oh no, your friend has that covered."

Chris laughed and shook his head at how Chad said that. "Okay, is he hurt?"

Chad sighed, "yeah, he has...lets just say he has...a bad heart."

Chris' eyes narrowed, realizing Chad was trying to get indirect help. "This wouldn't concern Troy would it?"

"No. But, getting back on subject. What would you do if you thought that they aren't being as careful as they should be?"

"I would convince him first, then if that didn't work go to someone close to him."

"Thanks Dad," Chad said as he stood up and turned to go up the stairs. "I know what I'm doing," Chad said once he shut the door to his room. "But convincing Troy will be the hard part."

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

Over the next week, the teachers started to get used to seeing Mack and Mikaela together. Bailey and Keisha enjoyed her company as well and you rarely saw one without the other three. Mack was amazed that they were all still alive after the first week of school. She had gotten run over by a junior, who -after noticing that she was Troy's sister- apologized profusely.

"So girls, should we have pepperoni or cheese," Mack asked putting down the menu for the pizza place.

"Pepperoni," Bailey said.

"I agree," Mikaela said.

"Pepperoni it is," Mack said grabbing the phone. This was the tradition they started in fifth grade. Bailey and Keisha always slept over Mack's house the first Friday of the school year. The three invited Mikaela to come- the more the merrier.

"What should we do," Mikaela asked once Mack had ordered the pizza.

"How about we play truth or dare?"

"Keish," Mack said. "That's boring."

"No way!"

"Okay," Bailey said. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Keisha said.

"See you already put Mack asleep," Bailey said pointing to Mack who was fake snoring.

"Then you guys come up with a better idea!"

"We will," Mack said, waking up from her pretend sleep. "Karaoke?"

"No," Keisha said. "You sound like a dying cat. No offense, but Troy got all the singing genes."

Mack narrowed her eyes. "Okay," Bailey said. "How about we..."

"Lets go ask Troy if he has any ideas," Mack said. The four girls filed out of Mack's bedroom and headed to the dining room table to where Troy was trying to read a book for Ms. Darbus. Mack looked over his shoulder and started reading the text. This caught Troy's attention and he turned to face her. She turned her head so they were looking at each other. "Romeo and Juliet. Good read."

"It would be that much better if you weren't reading over my shoulder."

"We need something to do," Mack told him.

"Why don't you go outside?"

"It's dark."

"Watch T.V.?"

"There's nothing on."

"Um...paint your nails pink and talk about the cute guy that sits in front of you in Darbus' class?"

"Good idea, but the cute guy sits next to me," Mack said.

Troy rolled his eyes. Mack laughed, sensing that she was annoying him. The doorbell rang, signaling the pizza was waiting. "Thanks for the ideas,Troy. I'll leave you to read."

She bounced into the kitchen and opened the door. Her smile vanished. "Calum? What are you doing here?"

"He's back Mack, and he went after Cam."

Sorry if it was kind of slow, I haven't had much computer time so when ever I got an idea, I would forget it by the time it was my turn! So anyway, all my projects will be done on Thursday, yes! Then only (about) a month of school left!

Review!