Keep Holding On

By CorbinBleuFanatic1

Normal POV

Chad Danforth held Taylor McKessie in his arms, trying to stop the bleeding coming out of her two wrists.

Why would you do this, Tay? Troy Bolton asked, looking down at Taylor. What is so terrible in your life that you thought the only way out was by . . . killing yourself?

Gabriella Montez had tears in her eyes and held on tightly to Troy.

Taylor opened her eyes slowly and saw Troy and Gabriella first.

"Troy?" Taylor said weakly. "Gabby?" Then she saw Chad. "Chad!"

Taylor tried getting up but she fell back into Chad's arms.

"What happened?" Taylor whispered.

"We were hoping you could tell us," Ryan Evans told her, and Taylor looked at him weird.

"You weren't in 8th period," Zeke Baylor said, "so Chad got freaked out and tried to call you."

"But you didn't answer," Sharpay went on. "So Gabby told him we'd come over your house after school to see if you were okay."

"We knocked on your door but you didn't answer, so Chad rang the doorbell," Troy said. "But you still didn't answer."

"Then we heard a cry and came into the house," Gabriella finished. "And we saw you staring into the mirror, crying and holding a razor to your wrist. Chad whispered your name but it was too late. You had already done it. So we called the doctor."

"What happened to you, Taylor?" Chad asked. "I mean, between 7th and 8th period, something had to have happened."

Taylor shook her head but she knew it was too late. Chad had to know the truth. At least, he had to know some of the truth. Taylor wasn't ready to tell him the whole truth yet.

"So," Chad said again, "what happened?"

"Before 7th period ended, I got a call on my cell," Taylor said, getting tears in her eyes. "So I went into the bathroom to answer it. Mike was on the other line." Taylor hesitated for a split second and looked at all of her friends, her eyes finally resting on Chad. It was too late. She had already started, she might as well finish. "He started yelling at me for some reason or another. I knew that when I saw him before 8th period started I would in trouble." That wasn't the whole truth, but Chad didn't need to know that. Michael Benson actually did call Taylor at the end of 7th period, and Taylor did answer. But Mike asked her calmly if she told anyone about her "diet". Taylor had said no but Mike didn't believe her at all. So he told her that when she saw him, she'd be in for a world of pain. But Chad didn't need to know that part either.

Kelsi Nielsen held onto Jason Cross and looked at Taylor, remembering the mark on Taylor's cheek earlier that morning.

"Did . . . " Kelsi hesitated again, and everyone turned to look at her. Kelsi took a deep breath and blurted out, "Did Mike Benson give you that mark on your cheek?"

Chad inhaled and looked at Taylor. When she turned her head away, Chad put his finger under her chin and made her look at him. He stared into her eyes as he asked, "Did he? Did Mike do that to your cheek?" When Taylor didn't answer, Chad begged her, "Please, Taylor. If he's hurting you, please tell me. We can help you."

Taylor shook her head and got up shakily. "No," she said forcefully. "There's nothing to tell you. Mike isn't hurting me." That was a lie, with no truth in it. Mike was abusive, both mentally and physically. But Taylor figured that if things got really out of hand, that'd be the time to tell Chad.

Chad looked at Taylor helplessly and knew by the look in her eyes that something had happened, other than what she was telling everyone.

How can I help you, Taylor, Chad thought, if you don't even want my help?

"I think you guys should leave," Taylor said, holding the towels Chad had used to soak up the blood. "I think you should leave now. And when those people get here, send them away. Tell them it was a misunderstanding, that I'm okay now."

Troy took a step closer to Taylor. "Are you okay, Taylor?"

"Yes, Troy," Taylor said, a little annoyed with his constant questions, but very appreciative of his concern. "I'm sure."

Chad shook his head too. "We can't leave you, Taylor. Your parents are out of town. You can't stay here by yourself."

Gabby spoke up, "Why don't you come over my house, Tay? My mom won't mind."

Taylor shook her head for a second time. She needed to think about things and how to explain the fresh bruises that were appearing on her stomach when Mike ditched school to find out why she hadn't met him at his locker. "I'll be fine here, Gabby. I promise." But Taylor knew that was a lie. How could she promise such a thing? She knew she couldn't keep it, not when Mike Benson had a key too.

Chad looked at all of his friends, then back at Taylor. She was so vulnerable and Chad felt so helpless. God, how had he let her slip through his fingers? Chad knew that he was falling for her when she and Michael Benson had started going out. No other girl makes Chad smile the way Taylor does. Chad just wished he could do something to help Taylor. But she didn't even want his help. He should just leave well enough alone, right? But when Taylor hurts, Chad hurts. It hurts Chad so much to see his best friend in such a condition. Especially when he couldn't do anything to help her.

You're not alone
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in...

"Please, Chad." There was something in her eyes that told Chad she could handle this on here own, that she didn't want Chad and the others there. "Please."

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through...

Everyone filed out of the room, telling Taylor they hoped she felt better tomorrow. Only Chad stayed.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Taylor felt like saying, "No, Chad, I'm not okay" and telling him the whole story but when she opened her mouth she found herself saying, "Yes, Chad, I'll be okay."

"Do you want me to stay here tonight? I can sleep in your parents room."

Taylor smiled at him, glad that he was her friend. But she shook her head nonetheless. She didn't want Chad to be here when Mike came.

Taylor wanted to confide in Chad so much. She knew she was falling for him the first time Mike ever hit her. She pictured Chad and she didn't feel any pain. Ever time she's with Chad, it's paradise.

But would Chad feel the same way? She wanted to tell him how she felt before something tragic happens.

What if I don't make it the next time Mike hits me? What if he hits me so hard and my last words to Chad are, I'm okay? Taylor wondered. What if I never get around to telling him how I feel?

"Hey, Chad . . . " Taylor said but when she looked up, Chad was gone. "I love you," she mumbled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Chad was in the hallway when Taylor said, "I love you."

Should I go back and tell her I love her too? Chad thought. Or should I wait until school tomorrow and tell her then?

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it's too late, this could all disappear
Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side I will fight and defend
I'll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah...

Chad walked to the door and decided to tell her tomorrow how he felt. He didn't want to seem like an eavesdropper and he thought that she was in too much pain right now.

When Chad got outside, paramedics and an ambulance were just arriving.

One of the paramedics jumped out of the ambulance and ran towards Chad.

"Are you the young man who called about the girl who cut her wrists?" she asked.

"Yeah," Chad said with a look to the house. He quickly added, "But she's okay now."

"Still," the paramedic went on, "we should take a look at her."

"No," Chad answered a little too quickly. "She's okay, really. She's not really in the mood to talk to paramedics. She hates when people make a big fuss over her."

She just rolled her eyes and headed back to the ambulance.

Chad let out a sigh and thought, I really hope you are okay, Taylor.

Keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through...

0o0o0o0o0o0o

About an hour after Chad left, Mike Benson came into Taylor's house, not bothering to knock.

Taylor was in her room, holding her wrists and crying.

"Taylor," Mike said, entering her room, causing Taylor to tense up. "Why the hell would you do this to yourself?"

"Anything would be better than putting up with the hell you've been putting me through since we met." Taylor mumbled, "Even if it means not seeing Chad any more."

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...

"Did you tell Chad what I'm doing to you?" Mike wondered. "Did you?"

"No," Taylor said with ice in her voice. "No. Chad doesn't know anything, and he never will. Just don't hurt him!"

"I won't...as long as you do what I tell you to," Mike said with a nasty smirk on his face.

"Just leave me the hell alone!" Taylor yelled.

Mike punched Taylor. "You're in for a world of pain, little girl. You really are."

"Please stop!"

Where was Chad when I need him? I wish I had taken up Chad on his offer when he asked to stay. Maybe then I'd be safe, if only for one night.

Mike got up and left, but not before saying, "You and your boyfriend are dead if you tell him anything, ya hear me?"

When he had left, Taylor got up and looked into the mirror. Her left cheek was all swollen.

Oh great, how was I going to explain this to people in school? Taylor thought. Should I stay home tomorrow? No, that would only raise suspicions in my friends. They'll know something's up if I don't show. Oh, what am I gonna do? She looked into the mirror and imagined her and Chad sitting in her bedroom, Chad stroking her hair and saying soothing words as Taylor spilled her sob story to Chad. Then when Mike came through the door, Chad would be able to protect her. Okay, Taylor decided. Tomorrow I'll tell Chad what's really going on . . . and hope that Mike doesn't find out.

There's nothing you could sayNothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Taylor sighed. She had to do something but she didn't want to risk Chad's life for the sake of her own.

Oh, what am I gonna do?

Did you like it? Plz R&R!

CorbinBleuFanatic1