I don't own anything.

A/N: Alright you guys didn't disappoint with the reviews last week. You made this story one of my biggest story debuts with 13 reviews and I just want to take this time to thank each and everyone of you. blueprincess972, gingerhorsesnaps, xo-ChaylorGGQueen-xo Sciencefreak2007, kuropie, googoogrl007, MeridianDreams, toddntan ,CHAYLORISAWESOME312 ,Animal-Luvr-89, baby2ludaris, bluecasey95, and Tracie2004. Thank you all for the reviews, and I am so glad you like the story, and I hope you enjoy this update. Please remember to review and tell me what you think.

Baby S

Chapter Two

Taylor had finished getting dressed and went downstairs, she saw her parents in the kitchen both were drinking cups of tea and looking at her. She pulled down a mug from the cabinet and then poured herself some tea. "Where's Lucas?" she asked looking around for her son. Her father Daniel sighed and rubbed his beard before pointing out towards the backyard.

"He's outside on the basketball goal." Taylor nodded and took a sip of her tea. "I guess he's getting ready for that try-out for East Middle." Gasping Taylor placed her hand over her mouth and looked at her father and mother.

"Oh my goodness I totally forgot." She murmured as she looked at them both, Daniel sighed and stood placing a hand on her shoulder.

"We understand, sweetie. Lucas knows that you are having a hard time and he really does understand." Taylor shook her head and glanced out the window where her son was currently shooting and getting his rebound.

"He shouldn't have to understand."

"He told us you were talking to Jason, he thought you might need some time, and we agree. So what did he say?" Taylor grabbed the necklace around her neck, finger the locket that she hadn't dared opened in years as she looked at her parents.

"He told me that in order for me and Lucas to get a house like he promise in the settlement, he said I had to get a job."

"That bastard better consider himself lucky that I'm an old man or I would seriously consider kicking his sorry ass." Daniel McKessie snapped.

"Danny!" Janice McKessie admonish, he looked at his wife for a moment before speaking.

"That no good loser leaves my daughter and grand-son and then expects all types of things from them after he's kicked them out of his life. The bastard." He yelled slamming his fist into the table. Both women jumped at his words and his outburst of fury. Taylor sighed and shook her head.

"I need to get a job."

"No, what you need to do is make sure that Lucas is really handling this right. I mean maybe he needs to talk to someone about what he's feeling." Daniel McKessie said softly hoping he wasn't being to forward.

"I'm feeling fine alright; pawpaw and I don't need to talk to anyone." All three adults jerked around and saw Lucas standing in the doorway. Lucas stood there fully clothed in his practice clothes, his skin was a deep rich chocolate and his hair was cut low with a very small hint of waves in it. "Mom, you ready to go…I really don't want to be too late to the try-out." Taylor sat her mug down and looked at him before nodding.

"Yes I'm ready, Lucas." He smiled and kissed his grandmother's cheek before nodding at his grandfather as Taylor went to go get her coat.

"Wish me luck you guys." He said as he followed his mother towards the front door. Daniel and Janice McKessie sat there at their kitchen table silently for a few moments before Janice sighed and tapped her finger on the table.

"Maybe I should call Tiffany Wilcox…maybe she'll know of any job offers in the area." Janice said getting up and heading towards the living room. Daniel just watched her go before leaning back in his chair and sighing.

Taylor walked to her car; she could hear the familiar sound of a bouncing basketball and knew that Lucas was right behind her. Getting in she waited till her son was in and pulled out of her parents' driveway headed towards East Middle. "So sweetie are you ready for the try-outs." Lucas was currently looking out of the window silently. Taylor looked over at him and saw that he was frowning reaching out she brushed her hand against his, he jumped and turned to looked at her.

"What you say ma." he said as she came to a stop at a red light.

"I asked you if you were ready for try-outs." Lucas shrugged and returned his glaze to the world outside of the window.

"Whatever happens…happens." He mumbled, Taylor sighed and continued driving. "So what did my father say." He asked her looking at his mother briefly before returning his attention to looking out of the window.

"Nothing much."

"Well it has something to do with getting a job." He said shortly. "He's such an asshole." He whispered harshly, Taylor looked over at him and shook her head.

"I know what he did wasn't good, but I can't allow you to disrespect your father like this honey. He's still your father and just for that you need to respect him."

"Sure mom, I'm going to respect some guy that kicked me and my mother out of his life so he could live with his whore." He bite out, his words carrying the emotions he held for his father and his actions in them. "I guess you're going to have to forgive me for not respecting the piece of trash that is my father."

"Lucas!"

"What I can't speak the truth." Taylor sighed as he turned and gave his full attention to the scenery outside of the window. Sometimes she wished he would really just open up and tell her how he truly felt about his father doing what he did instead of hiding behind his anger. She knew that he was upset but she wanted to know if what happened was also affecting his temper…well she was certain that his father's actions were affecting his temper. However she wanted to know how Jason's actions were affecting other things in his life. He had been slowly cutting himself off from her and everyone else. The only thing that remains constant was his undying love for basketball and that reminded her of one person, and one person only. Troy Bolton.

"He's late." Troy said as he looked at Chad who had his whistle in his lips while watching both groups of middle and high school boys run laps around the court. Glancing over at Troy he smiled and nudged his friend.

"What you nervous." Troy shook his head as he looked over at Chad who had a stupid grin plastered on his face. "Look man I'm sure that Taylor is still as beautiful as she was before she left for Harvard."

"That's right she is a Harvard grad."

"Please like you could forget…you went to the graduation remember." Chad said patting Troy on the back. "Even though some might consider it stalking…Gabby thinks it was romantic." He said with a roll of his eyes as he thought about his wife's romantic notions.

"It might have been romantic, if I had said something to her." Troy said before pointing at one of the boys running. "Jake, you better stop cheating by cutting those corners before I make you run suicides during the breaks." The boy jumped and nodded his head. Both men turned as the gyms door opened and in walked a rather tall boy African American boy followed by a smaller African American woman. The boy hurried over to them and extended his hand towards them both.

"Sorry, I'm late… I'm Lucas Scott." Chad nodded and shook his hand, and Troy followed suit shaking the boy's hand as well. However he could hardly keep his eyes off Taylor who had seated herself on bleachers. Chad took one last look at Troy and wrapped an arm around Lucas and walked him away from the other man. Troy looked at them as they left and then at Taylor, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves he walked over towards her.

Taylor was currently watching her son talking to one of the coaches, but when she saw the coach's hair she paused. 'No, it couldn't be.' She thought as she stared at the unforgettable afro that covered the other man's head. Then she saw the other coach walking over towards her. Frowning she placed her hands in her lap and tried her best not to get up and run out of the gym. She cautiously watched as Troy Bolton made his way towards her. "Hey, Taylor it's been a long time." He stated softly as he moved to sit down beside her. "I'm sorry…I heard about your divorce."

"It was for the better." She said as she watched her son pick up a random basketball and start dribbling, Troy followed her glaze and smiled at the sight.

"I can already tell he's good."

"Thank you, Troy." She said unable to hide the pride in her voice, she glanced at him for a moment and decided to test the waters. "So are you married or-."

"I'm not married...um I haven't been able to find a woman who could get me…like you could." He said softly looking at her trying to gage her emotions at his words; she frowned at his words and shook her head.

"Don't Troy."

"What you asked I'm just answering." He said as he returned his attention to the court below watching as some of the players had crowded around Lucas to watch him work. Glancing over at the silent Taylor he asked his next question.

"How old is he?"

"He's twelve but he's a lot more mature than most boys his ages…probably more mature than some of the players on the varsity team." She said no longer hiding her mother's pride. He nodded his head and smiled at her words.

"Well, I guess we might have a spot for him on the middle school team." He stated leaning back on the bleachers. Finally deciding to just let everything out that was currently in his head. "Taylor, I've missed you over the last few years." She brushed her hair out of her face and nodded in agreement.

"I've missed you too." She whispered back, however she refused to look at him, he noticed this and sighed.

"You're still as beautiful as ever."

"And you're still fine." She said with a laugh, he reached out and touched her hand. "Troy, please…let's just-." She cut herself off and simply removed her hand from his. He watched her for a moment before speaking.

"I would really like to talk to you, Tay. You know so we can get everything out in the open, I just want to talk to you."

"Well I can't really talk right now and I know you can't either not when you're running a practice. Look, Troy I know we have some things we need to say to one another but I really don't think we should right now. I'm just getting over my divorce and I am simply not in the mood for anymore drama."

"Fair enough, I'll keep that in mind." He whispered as he stood and began walking back down the bleachers towards the court. "But we will have that talk." He called out over his shoulder, before jogging over to the group of boys and getting them in order for the drills. Taylor sighed and fingered her locker for a moment before reaching behind her neck and unclasping it. Once it was off her neck she opened the locket and looked inside. Inside was a picture of both her and Troy, one was at senior prom and the other her favorite was at a beach. The picture was her favorite because it had been taken when both of them had fallen asleep outside on one of the many beach chairs. Troy's shirt was off and he was laid back eyes closed holding her tightly as she slept by his side her face on his chest and her slender arm draped across his middle. That was one of the last times that they were truly happy, before everything went wrong. She was brought out of her memory by the blowing of a whistle, jumping slightly she looked down at the court and smiled when she saw her son make an impressive three pointer before her glaze as if drawn to him fell on Troy Bolton. While she looked at him she silently thought about what exactly her being in New Mexico was going to do for their broken relationship.