AN: I thought I would put the author's note at the top this time so all of you can read this. Sorry I haven't updated for four months! I have been so busy with exams. I'm not going to lie for a long time I couldn't find inspiration to write this chapter. I didn't know how to write this chapter! I've written other chapters to this story, just I needed to write this chapter to submit the other chapters. Plus I've been working on my original novel so that's taken a lot of my time. Although I know my novel will not be finished any time soon! I've been writing this for about four hours straight so you all better love me. It's an extra long chapter as well because I felt bad about not updating for four months.

Q&A!

TheDoctorsTrueCompanion chapter 6 . Jun 8

Question: So is Tia the only one that can hear the music? Is she crazy or is everybody else crazy please answer my question!

Answer: she's not crazy! You'll have to read to find out. The clue is Tico. They can all hear the music.

That-Stubborn-Bitch

Question: Hey, keep writing girl, this story is da bomb! Just a question, is this going to end up as a lo

ve story or just a (absolutely amazing) story about a girl?

Answer: thank you so much! A little bit of both actually. Once again the key is Tico.

Enjoy!

I Did Not Leave South Side For This!

Chapter VII - Tico

Double English was a pain. It turns out Tico sits directly in front of me. That answered my question as to why there was always an empty seat in class. However I had an excellent view of the board before Tico resumed his normal seat. He kept turning round in his seat to talk to me. Our teacher, Mr Hemming, must have told off Tico at least twenty times throughout those two hours. You would think Tico would condescend to listen to our teacher considering he missed two weeks of school, but it appeared not.

I learnt a lot about Tico within those two hours. I can tell you that his favourite colour is green, he likes peaches with cottage cheese, he is obsessed with Britain and wants to study there someday. He has a brother called Rafiki, who is three years older than him but is in the same year as us because of being held back three years. His dad is called Nicolas and his mum is called Suzanne. He tried getting on the basketball team last year but didn't even make the tryouts because he was pigging out on McDonalds. So he applied for the newspaper instead. He's a fucking nerd and is in love with Nico Di Angelo from the Percy Jackson series. He nearly threw a fit when I said I wasn't too keen on Nico, and that I actually preferred Rachel Elizabeth Dare. He didn't talk to me for a good ten minutes. I was pleased about this because it meant I could get some work done.

We were learning about Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' Let me tell you it is literally the worst play in the world. All I've learnt about it after weeks of studying it is that Romeo is a horny bastard with a huge sex drive. He is the ultimate fuckboy. I will never understand what Juliet saw in him. If I was Juliet I would just marry Paris to keep everyone happy and then I would kill him if he got on my nerves. Naturally I have his baby first then kill him off because I could take care of all his money until the day my child turned eighteen. Romeo would move on with his life soon enough because he's a horny dude and would go lusting after other females. Juliet was so stupid, oh my god! Back in Shakespeare's time they didn't have DNA tests so I could have quite easily gotten away with murder. Nobody suspects the wife. If I was Shakespeare his plays would have been so much shorter and much more interesting.

I was in the middle of ranting about the Crapulets in my paper when Tico turned round to talk to me again. "Taylor Swift." He stated. Although he said her name more like a question than an actual sentence.

I put down my pen and lifted my head. I gave him a confused look. "What about her?" I frowned. What did this guy want?

Tico bore a grin as wide as the Cheshire cat's own. "I knew that would catch your attention!" He looked rather smug with himself. My frown deepened. You did not just say my queen's name randomly. Was he about to insulting her? I would not hesitate to give him a piece of my mind if he did. Tico seemed to sense he was treading on thin ice. He answered my question with a nervous smile on his face. "Thoughts on her?"

I placed my hands on the desk and pulled my chair in, giving him my full attention. My voice went deadly low. "She is my idol and if so dare to utter a bad word about her I will have your head."

Tico's warm smile vanished. His eyes widened and he put a hand to his throat subconsciously. It quite comical now that I think about it. My eyes narrowed. I flipped over my paper before continuing to write.

There was silence for a few moments before a quiet laugh cut through the air. I glanced up to see Tico giggling away in his seat. I raised my eyebrows. "What?" Tico glanced at me and laughed loudly. He earned a stern look from Mr Hemming, which caused him to stifle his giggles.

"I can't believe you got the impression that I hate Taylor Swift! Damn I'm a good actor."

I tipped my head to the side. "So you don't hate her?"

"Oh hell no! I could never hate her! She is the next best thing next to Beyoncé!" Tico exclaimed. He fiddled with a pen in his hands. There was a moment's pause. "And the backstreet boys." Tico added sheepishly. He looked embarrassed to admitting he liked the backstreet boys.

I leaned in, edging closer to Tico. "I want it that way..." A light of recognition played in his eyes. His grin returned. I almost broke down laughing myself. I managed to keep control and just smiled instead. "So you're a fellow swiftie?" I asked.

Tico nodded eagerly. "Been in love with the girl since her first album."

"Same!"

"Favourite song by her?"

I clicked my tongue in thought. "This is a tough question." Tico's grin grew again. If it grew anymore I was worried his face would split in half. "It has to be Should've Said No. I love it when the guitar solo hits in. That's the best part!"

"I know right!"

"What's your favourite song by Taylor?"

"Love Story, no doubt." He spoke without a moment's hesitation. He must be really passionate about the song if he could pick so quickly, I concluded. "What do you think of Beyoncé?" Tico's voice was full of excitement.

This was where I deflated his balloon. "Eh, she's too shouty for me."

Tico placed a hand on his chest and gasped. He looked so offended. I was trying so hard not to laugh but the look he was giving me was making it really difficult. "Gurl, you're a beautiful liar, everyone loves the Queen B."

I lost it.

And that's the story of how I got my first detention at East High.

When the bell for the end of English sounded I stormed out of the classroom. I had just received my first detention, my clean slate had it's first hole in it. My mother was going to be so mad. My good reputation was ruined. The world was ending. I might as well book my funeral service now and say my goodbyes. I would not be alive to see the next day once my mother was done with me.

"Tia! Tia, wait!"

Tico.

My ears pricked up at the sound of my name but I chose to remain oblivious. I was not in the mood to talk to the guy who had just earned me a detention. Round the corner I went. Round the corner to find my locker. Round the corner to get lunch. I was grumpy and hungry. Those two things combined did not make a happy Tia. If anyone dared fuck with me anymore than they already had today then I would seriously consider suing the school. All this musical stuff was causing me trauma and mental scarring.

I reached my locker, punched in the code before nearly tearing the door off its hinges. As I was placing my books in my locker I heard my name being called again. "Tia!" I continued unloading things as Tico reached me. I tried to pretend he wasn't there, but that was very hard when you could hear his heavy breathing. He must have ran to catch up to me. "Tia, please. I'm sorry."

I slammed my locker shut and looked at him. "Sorry is not going to suddenly make everything better, Tico!" I spat. I glared at him, making him recoil. Then I felt guilty.

Tico looked truly apologetic. "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you that detention. Honestly."

I was miles away as I ferreted through my purse, counting my money. Shit. I was 20 cents short for spaghetti and meatballs. Shit. I was going to have eat mushroom soup instead. I hated mushrooms. Shit. Tico waved a hand in front of my eyes. Apparently I was frozen. I was internally debating the pros and cons of eating mushroom soup. He etched an eyebrow, scanning me over for a moment. "Are you okay...?" He reached out to touch me.

"Mushrooms." I whispered, staring straight ahead. My soul was crippling internally. Even the word made me cringe.

"Uh... What?"

I gazed at Tico, my eyes wild. "I don't have enough money for meatballs. I have to eat mushroom soup. I loathe mushrooms." Tears started to brim my eyes.

Tico's expression changed from one of concern to one of bewilderment. He stepped forward when he heard me whimpering. "Are you crying?"

I put a hand between myself and Tico. "Don't look at me!" I yelled. I felt like The Phantom Of The Opera right now. I just wanted to hide my ugly crying face away from the world.

Tico bit his lip. "Tia, if it bothers you that much I will just buy you lunch. Then will you accept my apology?"

I removed my hand and opened my eyes. I blinked the tears away. I stared at Tico for a good couple of minutes. "Oh my god yes!"

That trademark grin returned.

I swear all Tico was made of was ten thousand smiles.

"Fantastic!" Tico said. He held out an arm for me. "Shall we?"

I raised an eyebrow and threw him a questioning look. "I hope you're not trying to flirt with me."

Tico threw back his head and laughed. "Oh darling, I'm hella gay."

Tico had bought me lunch like he had promised. I sat with him and Jess, happily munching away. I was wrapped up in my own little world as Jess and Tico chatted away amongst themselves. I listened to them with a feigned interest. I pitched in my opinion now and again but besides that I was relatively quiet. Jay waved to us as she passed us with Doug, Zachary and Louis. This British exchange student sat with them. Tiara Gold was her name. She was okay from what I had heard of her. However, she was in affiliation with the enemy, I could not be associates with the enemy's comrades.

I was about to stuff another forkful of spaghetti in my mouth when I heard music start up. I immediately froze over. My spaghetti was dangling from my fork as I stared in shock. Fuck no. This was the first time I had gotten into the dinner hall in weeks. I just wanted to eat some food in peace without having someone burst into song. Was that too much to ask?! When you attending a school which was a living musical, then yes. Yes it was.

"Imagine having everything we ever dreamed. Don't you want it?" My ears pricked up the moment it head that voice. Sharpay Evans. I should have known. She sat on the middle table in the canteen. I sat with my friends on the right hand table behind her. I physically facepalmed, earning a few strange looks from my friends. I gestured to Sharpay. Tico nodded in recognition but said nothing. Sharpay pushed Ryan's food away from him.

Rude.

I mean that was perfectly good food and I would have eaten that if it hadn't of had so many greens.

Ugh salad.

Ryan sat next to her, trying to reach out for his food. Once it was out of his reach he leaned back and gave a small hand gesture. "Maybe."

"Can't you see it?" Sharpay gave one of the famous jazzhands, like there was a vision before her. She then turned to her brother.

He raised an eyebrow like he was having a hard time picturing it. I couldn't blame him. Becoming famous was a longshot. "Kinda."

"Imagine first audition after college. I get the lead!" I spat out my drink of orange juice at this point. This was getting ridiculous. I began to choke on my orange juice. Jess thumped me on the back until I was done dying.

"A part for me?"

"Well of course!"

"Yeah right!"

"Same Ryan same. Don't believe your sister or trust her. She's a manipulative little minx." I stared at the twins, rubbing my hands together like s mad woman. Jess and Tico shared a look, both concerned for my wellbeing.

"Tia, are you alright?" Jess asked. She tentatively placed a hand on my shoulder. Tico sipped his water bottle slowly, watching me cautiously.

I waved a hand idly. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"If you say so, champ."

"You gotta believe it!" Sharpay grinned at her brother. She was trying to pull the wool over his eyes. He better not fall for it, I thought.

"Keep talking."

"Shit. He fell for it. The cute twin fell for it. We're all doomed!" I exclaimed and threw my hands in the air. I leaned back, watching the twins intently.

Jess frowned. She looked almost amused. "Wait, you think Ryan is cute?"

I glanced to her, my eyes widened at the realisation of what I had said. "Yes...?" My voice was an octave higher than usual and a blush was creeping onto my cheeks.

Jess' eyes gleamed. "Oh this is perfect. We just have to get you guys together!" Jess clasped her hands together and beamed.

"Wait what? No! No way!" I waved my hands defensively but that did nothing to stop Jess' mind from hatching a plan. I rolled my eyes. "Don't you dare do anything." I warned before turning my attention back to the twins. "Are you literally shitting me?! They're on the table now! The table!"

"Sound exciting?"

"Inviting."

Sharpay clapped her hands. "Let's do it then."

"Listening!" Ryan sang his reply. He adjusted his hat. I cocked my head slightly to one side. He was rather cute.

I was drawn from my thoughts by a light tap on the shoulder. I turned my attention to the person who had hit me. It was Tico. "Isn't Ryan a dream boat?" He nodded to the hat boy. "I've been admiring since we first came to this school. He's just so yummy." Tico licked his lips.

I pulled a face.

Jess laughed. "We might have to start calling you thirst, Tico. You're so god damn thirsty all of the time." Jess smirked at her friend, punching him playfully in the arm.

"Guys!" I groaned. "You're making me miss my brooding i-hate-musicals time!" I gestured to the twins. I looked down at my food. I had lost my appetite. It was time to put this in the bin.

"Don't you want it all!" I was suddenly on my feet, aiming to walk away from this musical nightmare and dump my rubbish. I cried out in alarm when my feet automatically moving to Sharpay without my consent. What the heck was happening? Tico and Jess followed me like it was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.

Sharpay continued to sing as I continued to walk around her table in a circle pattern. "You want it, you know that you want it. The fame and the fortune and more." I threw my arms in the air in sync with my other friends who had been subjected to this torture. I spun round and sat down. I sang along with Sharpay, smiling all the while. Wait. I was singing and dancing? Holy heck no. I had finally caught the High School Musical disease. There was no going back now. I couldn't fight it. I had to give in.