Sorry for not updating yesterday, things got hectic. Hope you like this chapter, some problems are solved. Please review!

Doubts

A few days later Chad was taking a walk to clear his mind. His parents were worried about him because he had barely touched his food that night, and that wasn't like him.

Chad had been having a debate with himself for the past few days. He could understand Taylor's side of the story; he was just hesitant to believe it. He wanted to believe her; he was just scared that he would end up getting hurt in the end.

He loved her, he didn't question that. He knew that she loved him, even with knowing all of this; he was still hesitant to accept the story. He never really liked Alex; the guy just had a weird vibe about him that Chad couldn't place.

Chad took a deep breath of the night air, and continued on his walk. He had seemed upset at school, everybody saw through his fake smile. He would be surrounded by his friends, and for the first time in his life, he had felt utterly alone.

Taylor couldn't even look at him without crying. She wasn't her usual happy self, and Chad felt guilty. He was the reason that Taylor was suffering so much. He believed her; he was just trying to save himself from the pain.

He was in pain right now, he could fix it all just by saying that he was sorry for reacting horribly to Taylor. But the question that was haunting his mind was: Could he risk his heart again?

Chad sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair. He had gone on a walk to clear his head, but instead of it clearing he was left with more thought and questions.

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Taylor had to get out of her house! Her mother was driving her up the wall! Taylor could handle the looks of sympathy, but her mother saying that she was sorry over and over and over again, that was driving her crazy!

"I'm going on a walk! I'll be back soon!" Taylor said, thankful that it was a Friday, and her curfew was later.

"Okay honey!" Her mother called back.

Taylor walked out of the door and let out a sigh of relief. She felt as if she had been held prisoner inside of her own house for the past week! Taylor walked down the front porches steps and onto her driveway. She walked to the sidewalk and let her feet guide her.

She didn't know where she was going; all she knew was that she needed to get away from the house. Even if only for a little bit. Taylor had been acting happy in front of her family, putting on a brave face, but everyone, even her, knew what she was doing; she was running from the pain.

She held in her tears at school, unless she saw Chad, and then she would break down. When he didn't believe her, she felt betrayed. Chad had always listened to her, but not this time.

Do you blame him? Her mind asked her as she walked down the sidewalk. And the truth was no, she couldn't blame him, if the roles had been reversed, she would have thought the same thing about him.

She knew that she couldn't keep living like this, it would kill her. But she couldn't and wouldn't do the alternative. She would not just get over Chad, she couldn't move on. She had fallen in love, harder then she ever thought possible. And when Chad had broken up with her, she was left to pick up the pieces.

What she had told Gabriella was true, she had once believed that love was always enough, but now she had doubts. If love was enough, she wouldn't be in this situation, and she wouldn't have her heart shattered into tiny pieces that she didn't know if she could ever get put back together.

She heard footsteps behind her and gasped. She was being followed, and she was alone. She quickened her pace, hoping to find a person soon, but the footsteps behind her quickened also. Taylor was starting to panic when someone grabbed her shoulder. She turned around abruptly and gasped.

"Alex!" Taylor said relieved that he wasn't some crazy person off of the street. She wasn't happy to see him, on the contrary, she hated his guts, but she was happy that he wasn't some crazy stalker.

"Hey baby." Alex slurred his words together. He breathed on her face and Taylor about threw up. His breath stank of beer.

"Don't call me baby." Taylor snapped.

"But you are my baby." Alex said as he attempted to pull her into his arms. Taylor struggled and managed to take a step away from him.

"Your drunk!" Taylor accused.

"No I'm not, I had a drink…or two…or twelve." Alex said before laughing hysterically. He grabbed her again, and this time he had a firm grip.

"Get off of me!" Taylor yelled as his grip hardened slightly.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Alex yelled before slapping her across the face, leaving a bright red handprint on her cheek.

"LET ME GO!" Taylor screamed before being slapped again.

"I love you, why don't you see that?" Alex asked.

"You don't love me! If you loved me you wouldn't be hurting me! You made Chad hate me, and you ruined my life!" Taylor said before she tried desperately to get away.

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Chad continued on his walk before he heard yelling around the corner. He heard what was definitely a slap. Chad winced slightly before rounding the corner. There stood Alex, holding onto Taylor's arm, from the looks of it, Taylor was trying to get away before he slapped her again. Anger clouded his normally clear brown eyes.

"Get away from her!" Chad yelled as he sprinted to them.

"Why should I? You're not her boyfriend anymore; you broke up with her because I kissed her. And no matter how much she fights, she is going to be mine! And she is going to love me!" Alex slurred.

"I will ask you one more time, let her go." Chad demanded in a growl. He looked at Taylor, who had tears running down her face.

"No." Alex stated as he swayed slightly on the spot. Chad, seeing no other way walked up to him and punched him in the jaw. Alex groaned and let go of Taylor's arm. Taylor scrambled away from him as fast as she could.

"Chad?" Taylor whispered after Chad punched Alex again, this time knocking him out.

"Oh Taylor." Chad said as he pulled her into his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder and cried softly, heart-wrenching sobs shaking her body.

"I'm so sorry!" Taylor cried into his shoulder.

"I know baby. Lets get you home." Chad said as he guided her back to her house.

"Okay." Taylor whispered as she let Chad lead her. Chad and Taylor came up to the house five minutes later and Chad opened the door.

"Taylor? Is that you sweetie?" Taylor's mom's voice floated over to them.

"Yes Mrs. McKessie." Chad answered for Taylor.

"Chad?" The woman asked as she walked into the room. "Oh my God, what happened?" she demanded.

"I'll explain it to you, but first let me get Taylor into her room so that she can get ready for bed." Chad said before he let her up the stairs. Chad set Taylor on her bed before he spoke again.

"Take a shower and get ready for bed, I will be right back, and I just need to talk to your mom." Chad whispered before kissing her cheek lightly. Taylor nodded her head before Chad left to talk to her mother.

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"What happened to my daughter Chad?" Mrs. McKessie demanded.

"I was walking down the road and I heard shouting, I walked over to it and I found Alex More yelling at Taylor, then he-he-he smacked her!" Chad said, full of rage.

"I had to get her away, so I punched him twice, and got knocked out because he was drunk. He was rambling about getting Taylor to love him no matter what." Chad finished with a sigh.

"I'm calling the police." Mrs. McKessie said before she walked over to the kitchen to retrieve the phone.

"He should be about three blocks from here." Chad told her before going back upstairs to Taylor. He found her sitting on her bed, with her pajamas on and her hair brushed.

"Did you tell my Mom?" Taylor asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." Chad said as he walked over to her bed and sat next to her.

"Thank you." Taylor said softly.

"No problem." Chad said with a small smile.

"Will you stay with me?" Taylor asked hopefully.

"Taylor…" Chad began.

"Not that, I just want you to…will you just hold me?" Taylor asked desperately.

Chad didn't say anything; he lay down on the bed and motioned for her to lie beside him. Taylor turned out the light and lay next to him, her back to his chest. Chad's arm snaked around her wait and pulled her to him. Chad sighed in contentment while they both fell into a dreamless sleep.