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A/N: Thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this update, and please remember to review.
Chapter Four
Gabriella Danforth, and Sharpay Baylor entered the small East High conference room, because they were heads of their departments they were required to be there during the interview process. Gabriella smiled as she saw Troy seated on the far end of the table waltzing over she sat down beside her friend and smiled while patting him on the back. "Chad told me what happened." Troy took a sip of his coffee and smiled.
"Did he now…so he told you that we might have star on our hands in the basketball program." He said evading the question for as long as he could. Sharpay and Gabriella shared a look before the blonde haired woman reached out and smacked him on the back of his head.
"Stop acting stupid it isn't attractive…we know Taylor's back in town." She said hands on her hips silently reminding Troy the reasons as to why she had once been referred to as the ice queen.
"I'm not being stupid…I guess I just don't want to talk about." Sharpay rolled her eyes and moved to Troy's other side shooing one of the other teachers out of the seat. With a dramatic sigh she sat down beside her friend and shook her head at him.
"She just got a divorce, and you could help her pick up the pieces." She said with a smile as Troy looked over at her wearily. Gabriella hid her giggle and just shook her head at both of her friends.
"Sharpay, why do you have to make everything sound so dramatic…and no I can't help her pick up the pieces I mean what would her son think if I did." He said looking between the two.
"We don't know." Sharpay exclaimed drawing some stares from some of the teachers near by. Sharpay returned their stares with flare and huff. "Excuse me." She said ending with a roll of her eyes. Gabriella sighed and spoke.
"What Sharpay is trying to say is that this is your second chance…a second chance at happiness with Taylor. And as you're friends we're begging you to please take advanced of this." He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck and shook his head.
"I don't know guys…that seems good and all but she's fresh from a divorce and a pretty nasty one from what I heard. Maybe she needs time."
"She's had all the time she needs…I mean come on this you and Taylor….Taylor and Troy." Sharpay said loudly once again drawing stares from some of the nearby teachers. She looked around again and rolled her eyes before mumbling. "Some people are just plain rude…we're trying to have a conversation and people are…all…in…it." She said snapped the last part at the teachers who were still looking at her. Gabriella smiled at her antics and then looked at Troy who was tapping his pen on the table.
"She's right you know…this is you and Taylor we're talking about here. I mean come on you guys have always been in love with one another, and this is your second chance."
"Sure…look guys can we talk about this later I'd really like it if we could just drop this conversation and focus on doing our jobs." Gabriella nodded and motioned for Sharpay to stop talking while they waited for the principal to come the conference room with interviewee.
"Alright…Lucas you stay out here and I'll be back before you know it." She mumbled as she pulled on her skirt and straightens her already straight blouse. Lucas looked her over and smiled reaching out he grabbed her hands and smiled.
"You're going to be fine mom and you're going to get this job." He said firmly, Taylor smiled and bent to kiss his cheek, before looking over at Principal Locke who was standing nearby watching the two of them. Lucas winked at his mother and moved over to one of the seats and settled down. Taylor smiled and turned around to look at Principal Locke.
"I'm ready."
"Good," Principal Locke said as he started down the hallway, Taylor looked at East High and noticed how much the school had stayed the same since her had graduated years ago. She looked over at Principal Locke and wondered if she should ask him about Troy being at the meeting, when he had stated that their was going to be some teachers there. Her mind immediately went to Troy, what if he was at her interview. Before she even got to form toe question, Principal Locke stopped at a door that had conference room written on the front and turned to Taylor.
"Now there are going to be several of our department heads inside here ready to ask you questions and evaluate you as a teacher are you prepared for this." He asked sternly, Taylor merely nodded as he opened the door and he walked inside followed by her. Principal Locke cleared his throat and waited till the room was absolutely quiet and then he motioned to Taylor to come and stand beside him. When she did she heard several gasps and had to keep hers in check when she saw Gabriella, Sharpay and Troy sitting at the table.
"This is our candidate Ms. McKessie…she has a Masters in Chemistry and will be in the running for our opening in the science department." He stated calmly looking at everyone briefly. "Now I believe that it's only appropriate that you share something about yourself." He said, Taylor immediately felt sick she could feel Troy looking at her and she physically had to hold herself in check so she wouldn't run out of there.
"Um, like Mr. Locke said I am Taylor McKessie…I…I used to go here awhile back and several of the teachers here today were several of my classmates…um Ms. Montez, Ms. Evans and Mr. Bolton." She said smiling weakly as she looked in their direction. "I recently moved from Settle back to New Mexico with my son." Mr. Locke nodded and looked at Taylor and then over at Gabriella, Sharpay and Troy.
"I'm glad you know some people here, Ms. McKessie now let's get this interview started." He said calmly motioning for her to have a seat.
Once the interview was over, Gabriella and Sharpay could hardly keep the glee out of their voices as they rushed over to their friend and pulled her into a hug. Troy just stayed back and watched them for a moment. "Oh my goodness, Taylor I can't believe you're back we haven't seen you in forever." Sharpay gushed as she looked her friend over while holding her at arms length. Taylor smiled and looked between the two women. "Oh and by the way it's not Montez and Evans anymore."
"Really…oh my goodness you guys got married." Taylor exclaimed pushing back the wave of guilt she felt at having allowed her ex-husband to control so much of her life, because of him she had missed both of her friends weddings.
"Yeah…it's Mrs. Danforth," Sharpay said pointing at Gabriella who was beaming and then pointing at herself she added. "And I'm Mrs. Baylor."
"That's great you guys."
"So when do we get to meet your son." Taylor smiled at the mention of Lucas and shrugged her shoulders.
"He's waiting for me at the front office I can go get him right-." Sharpay cut her off and looked over her shoulder at Troy who was standing silently to the side watching the entire interaction. Taylor followed her glaze and locked eyes with him.
"We can meet him this weekend over at Gabby's…I'm sure you and Troy can work something out so he can come and pick you and Lucas up that way the whole gang can get back together."
"Um guys." Taylor began, Gabriella jumped when she was nudged by Sharpay, sending the blonde headed woman and glare she rolled her eyes and looked at her watch.
"Oh will you just look at the time, Shar and I really have to get going…now you make sure you work everything out with Troy and he will pick you up cause that's just the type of gentleman he is." She said with a smile as Sharpay basically dragged her out of the room. Taylor and Troy looked at one another in awkward silence before Troy spoke.
"I guess we've been setup." He murmured finishing with a nervous chuckle.
"You don't have to take me if you don't want to, Troy…I'm sure I can just call Gabby's mom and let her give me the directions."
"No…that's not what I mean, I'd love to take you," he froze as he looked at Taylor and shook his head. "What I mean is that there isn't a problem with me taking you." She smiled at him for a moment and nodded her head.
"Thanks I think." Troy started to pick up his things while watching her, Taylor looked at him for a moment before sighing. "What?"
"I know I told you this earlier like yesterday…but you're still beautiful." She blushed and nodded her head.
"Thank you…and I know I told you this earlier too…but you're still fine." They both shared a semi- awkward laugh as he circled the table and came to stand beside her. Reaching out he picked up the locket that she wore around her neck, looking up he caught her eye and let the locket drop from his fingertips.
"You still carry that…I had no idea." Taylor reaching up and touching the locket nodded and sighed.
"It's one of my favorite pieces of jewelry."
"It does look beautiful on you…does nothing but enhance your beauty that's one of the reasons I bought it for you." He whispered softly, Taylor nodded and smiled. She had forgotten over the years how charming Troy could be. Blushing she reached out and touched his hand.
"Thank you."
"The pleasure was and still is all mine." He breathed out; Taylor mentally fanned herself as she took a cautious step back. Troy had no idea how hot he was making her and she'd be damn if she jumped his bones in the conference room with her son in the same building. Troy noticed her nervousness and smiled. "Calm down, Tay…um what time would be good for me to pick you up on Saturday." He asked taking out his cell phone.
"Um, what time does the party start?"
"Well let's see, Gabby and Chad usually starts around three thirty or four so how about I pick you up at three forty-five."
"That sounds good."
"Okay so I'll see you then." He murmured as he once again picked up his things and went over to the door and opened it for her. Taylor smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek making him blush. Troy followed her out and waited for a moment so she could walk ahead of him. He took advance of the opportunity to look Taylor over, and couldn't help but feel a stirring in his loins; however that immediately died down and stopped when he caught the death glare that Lucas Scott was sending his way. Speeding up his pace he came to stand beside, Taylor and Lucas smiling he looked at Lucas and waved.
"Hey Lucas."
"Coach Bolton." The younger man bit out still shooting daggers at Troy as he stood up beside his mother. Taylor looked between her son and Troy and then back again.
"Well, Taylor…I'll see you Saturday." He said walking off; Lucas' glaze followed him as he left. Taylor looked at her son and flicked his ear making him jump and grab the reddening lobe.
"Ouch! Ma what was that for?"
"Why were you glaring at Mr. Bolton." She inquired, Lucas looked at her and then back towards the door that Troy had went through. "Lucas you better answer me."
"He was staring at you."
"So." She stated obviously not getting it; Lucas groaned realizing that he would have to elaborate even more for his mother.
"He was staring at your behind, mother and I wasn't going to let him eye you like that. At least not in front of me." Lucas said protectively, Taylor frowned knowing that's what her son wanted to see but inside she was secretly happy and for the first time in a long time besides being the proud mother of her son she had another reason to be happy and that reason was Troy Bolton.