(ALLYN, REMEMBER THESE AUTHORS' NOTES!! -Jordan)

"Where's Alex?" Sadie sat next to her in the library during free period.

"Oh, he went to go play some basketball with Troy, Chad and Zeke," Emily looked up from her book.

"Well, um, why don't we go watch?" Sadie asked.

"I know what a basketball game looks like, Sadie," she laughed.

"So? Come on. You can go support Alex. See him all hot and sweaty," she said in a sing-song voice.

"Ok, EW."

Sadie sighed and walked back behind the bookshelf.

"She won't budge," Sadie told Natalie.

"Well, gee I wonder why," Natalie said sarcastically.

"What? I couldn't think of anything!"

"Here. Watch and learn," Natalie walked over to Emily.

"Hello, Natalie," Emily said.

"Hey, wanna come with me to the gym? I stole the key to the refreshment stand again," Natalie said.

"Ooh, I'm right behind you!" Emily gathered her things and followed her to the gym.

"Told ya," Natalie said to Sadie as they passed each other.

"Oh shut up."

"Nice shot, Lockwood," Zeke said as the basketball hit the gym floor.

"Oh, you guys I have to go practice with Gabriella," Troy picked up the ball and threw it at Chad.

"Fine, Bolton, just make sure you sing well!" Chad called out as Troy ran out of the gym.

"Sing?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, Troy's in the musical," Zeke said.

"Oh," Alex said.

Troy quietly stood outside the gym door. The girls walked up to him and he made idle chatter with them until they got to the good part of the conversation.

"So, why are you really dating Emily?" Zeke questioned.

"What do you mean?" Alex replied.

"Oh, come on man. You can tell us," Chad elbowed him playfully.

"I d-don't know what you're talking about," Alex whipped around to look at Chad.

"Sure ya do. I mean dating a Bolton," Zeke scoffed, "That could really boost your chances to get on the team."

"Really? I n-never thought about that," Alex looked down, dribbling the basketball.

"Come on. You had to think about it some time," Chad said.

"Ok. Ok. Ok. I'll admit it. I'm dating her so I can get on the basketball team, okay?"

Chad and Zeke smiled. Alex had cracked.

Emily stood shocked in the doorway to the gym. She didn't know whether to be mad or sad.

"Em," Alex said seeing her in the doorway.

"How dare you," Emily walked into the gym, "How dare you take advantage of me like that? I thought you liked me. But, I was wrong. So you know what? Try out for the team next year. I'm going to tell my father all about you."

"Emily, wait!" he grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch me, slime ball," she stalked into the hallway.

"Listen to me!" Alex ran after her.

"I think I'm done listening," she kept walking.

Alex lost his temper and slammed her against the lockers. "No, I don't think you are."

"GET OFF OF ME!" Emily shrieked.

Emily's friends gathered into a group in the center of the gym.

"Do you think it was a bit harsh?" Sadie asked.

"Don't you think it was a bit harsh what he did to her?" Chad replied.

"He's right. Alex shouldn't have used her like that," Zeke added.

"He seemed angry," Natalie commented.

"Shh," Troy held his finger for them to be quiet. They heard shrieking in the background.

"Emily," Chad said and the guys ran out to the hallway.

Alex held up his hand to strike Emily again.

"I don't think you wanna do that, Lockwood," Troy's voice beckoned from behind him.

Alex turned around to see Troy standing with his arms crossed and Chad and Zeke behind him.

Alex's eyes widened and he ran the other way down the hallway. Jason appeared in front of him and grabbed him.

"Not so fast, Lockwood," Jason said.

"Get off of me," Alex spat.

"Word of advice: Don't mess with a Bolton," Troy angrily said through clenched teeth. Troy punched him in the face.

As soon as Troy showed up, Emily collapsed to the ground. Images of Michael and their encounter flashed through her mind. She held her head and began to sob.

"What do you have up your sleeve, Bolton?" Michael cocked his eyebrow.

"This," Troy ran at him. Michael easily jumped out of the way.

"Ha. Nice try, Bolto-" Michael was cut off by Emily kicking him in – let's just say it was a 'bad spot'.

Michael dropped to the floor. The gun flew out of his hands. The gun went off, but didn't seem to hit anyone. Troy grabbed the gun and Emily ran into Jason's arms.

"We've got you now, Michael," Troy said menacingly while pointing the gun at Emily's attacker.

"That's what you think!" Michael pulled out a second gun and pointed it straight at Emily.

"Oh my God." Emily whispered.

"Emster, you okay?" Chad dropped to her side.

Everything blurred as tears spilled from her eyes. She gently shook her head.

She felt the familiar warmth of Chad's arms around her. She wrapped her arms around him and cried into his chest.

Chad picked her up and carried her into the gym. He gently placed her on the bleachers and she curled into a ball.

"You think they'll get back together?" Sadie whispered to Natalie outside the gym.

"Not right now. It'll take Emily at least a few hours to get over Alex's betrayal, then Chad has to get up the courage to tell Emily that he didn't cheat on her, then a few days for Emily to let that sink in and not to mention the time for Taylor and Chad to break up," Natalie didn't take her eyes off of Emily and Chad.

"You okay?" Chad wiped away her tears.

"Yeah," she sniffed, "I'm fine. Just brought back some bad memories, ya know?"

Chad let her lean against his chest. She inhaled his scent. She missed it.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"Not believing you. You tried to tell me about Alex, a lot of people did, but I wouldn't listen," she buried her head further into his chest.

"It's not your fault. You were listening to your heart and I know what that feels like," Chad looked down.

"I don't know, Nat, they look pretty close to me," Sadie whispered.

"Shh, we're going to get caught if you don't keep your mouth shut," Natalie snapped.

"You just told me to be quiet? Oh, the irony," she said dramatically.

"Zip it!"

Emily looked into Chad's eyes. It made her feel weak.
She looked into his eyes. It made him feel weak.

It was the closest they'd been in a long while. Too long in Chad's opinion. He loved having the warmth of her touch once more. He just wished she hadn't been crying. And he really wished it wasn't because of a scum bag like Alex.

Of course, on the up-side. They were over.

Now if only Taylor would end it.

Emily's face moved closer to Chad's. They both closed their eyes, preparing for the upcoming embrace. Their lips were inches apart.

"OK ALEX IS GONE!" Troy yelled into the gym.

Emily's face dropped and Chad sighed.

"Oops, did I interrupt something?" Troy said.

"No. Nothing important," Emily stood up and walked over to him.

"You okay?" Troy hugged her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she covered her cheek with her hair.

"Thank God," he tucked her hair behind her ear, "Em, what's that?"

She moved her hair back over the huge bruise on her cheek, "Nothing. It's nothing."

"Did he do that?" Troy scowled.

"Yes," she said quietly and Troy sprung to attack Alex again. "Troy please don't. I can't handle another fight."

"Fine," Troy said, "but if he ever comes near you again…"

"You can kill him," Emily smiled a bit.

Alex transferred to West High two days later.

"Chad, we need to talk," Taylor looked at him at lunch.

"Okay…shoot."

"You still like Emily. Don't you?"

Chad stared at the food in front of him.

"See? Every time I ask you that question you don't answer," Taylor held out her hand across the table, "Just tell me."

Chad didn't take her hand. Ever since the day in the gym with Emily, he found himself constantly thinking about her. He just didn't have the courage to break it off with Taylor.

"I'm really confused right now, Tay," he shook his head.

She sighed in disbelief and leaned back in her chair. "You know what, Chad? Be with her."

"What?!"

"It's over. I'm tired of trying to share your heart with her. So she can have it," Taylor stood up and walked to the cafeteria door. "Tell Bolton she won!" she called out before exiting.

"What did I win?" Emily slid into the seat next to him.

"Um, Taylor just broke up with me," Chad stared at the cafeteria door in disbelief. It was simply too good to be true.

"Oh, Chad. I'm so sorry," Emily put her hand on his shoulder. Her voice was filled with sympathy. "Looks like neither of us are having any luck in the relationship department," Emily laughed slightly.

Chad laughed with her. "Guess not," he smiled.

His smile made her feel weak.

'He's single now,' her thoughts filled her head.

'He doesn't like me!'

'Psh, whatever!'

"Shut up!" she whispered.

"Um, Em. I wasn't saying anything," Chad looked at her confused.

"Oh, sorry," she laughed nervously. 'Way to go, Em!'

Chad and Emily became way better friends once Taylor stopped interfering.

He came over every other night and hung out with her. Troy was usually at Gabriella's, so Emily enjoyed the company.

That night, Emily and Chad had gone to dinner at the pizza parlor and she had drug him back to her house to watch a movie.

"Emster, not The Little Mermaid again," Chad groaned.

"Please?" Emily pleaded.

"Just don't sing in my ear like you did last time. My ears are still ringing!" Chad picked at his ears jokingly.

"Ha. Ha. Ha," she said popping the DVD into the player.

"I'm just kidding. You actually sing great,"

"Yeah, I know," she smirked.

"I'm serious! You should try out for the musical!" he said.

"I'm not trying out. That's Troy's thing," she said plucking the remote from the cushion.

Chad opened his mouth to object, but Emily stopped him.

"Shush! The movie's starting!"

Chad rolled his eyes and watched the movie for the thousandth time.

DO NOT BOLD/ITALICIZE/UNDERLINE THIS JORDAN! PUT A DANGED LINE!(Nah, I don't feel like it. -Jordan)

Emily fell asleep in Chad's arms during the movie. Chad fell asleep shortly afterwards.

Troy came home to the quiet house and woke Chad gently.

"Dude, I love you like a brother, but you GOT to get out of my house," Troy laughed quietly.

"Sorry," he rubbed his eyes, "Emily and I were watching The Little Mermaid and she fell asleep."

"Well, it's late. Would you please take Emily up to her room, so I can go to sleep?"

"Fine," Chad rolled his eyes. He gently picked up Emily and carried her up to her room.

He laid her down on her bed and covered her up. He kissed her on the forehead and looked up. Troy was standing in the doorway.

"You love her don't you?" he said quietly.

"Yeah," Chad said, "I do."

(Again, REMEMBER THE AUTHORS' NOTES! Anyways, wasn't that a cute little fluffly ending?!?! I thought it was. -Jordan)