Panting loudly, I turned off the machine and fell to the floor. Maybe I was over doing it again, but then again it was only Friday night, seven pm. I laid my back into the carpet, to get my blood to stop pumping as fast, for my heart to be level with the rest of my limbs. Right now, at this exact moment my friends were out, double dating with Chad and Amber. I declined at the thought of even going out in public with the couple, actually with any of my friends. Recently I had been a bitter crab, stuck in her shell. I didn't hang out with anyone too much anymore, only because of one dreaded dance, Homecoming. Yes, HOMECOMING. For one, I didn't do dances at all. I could never get a date, and the one guy I wanted to go with, never saw that I wanted him to go with me. For two, I could never get all worked up about "finding the right dress" and at the time, I found dresses to be "yucky" and still had that thought of them even to this moment thinking about them, but it ran deeper than just the color or how ruffly it was, it was because I could never see myself in a dress without worrying about how much my thunder thighs would jiggle, and offend everyone to a point to were it would be painful to be around me.

Throwing my arm to the low side coffee table, I was rewarded with a cool touch of my chilled water bottle. My hand molded around the body of it and I painfully sat up, and guzzled the water down, chilling my throat. Moaning, at how cold the water ran, I could hear thumping upstairs. Capping the water bottle, I set it on the table and slowly stood up. Beginning to stretch again, I still wanted to get into a two hour workout, burning up the calories, and then cooling down and repeating the cycle again. Bending backwards, my hands gently touching the carpet, palms pressing the carpet and being again, awarded with a popping noise, I groaned and suddenly I could feel eyes on me. Looking up, I saw sixteen pairs of legs standing at the base of the stairs. My eyes traveled up the legs and I could see the shocked faces of my friends, slowly coming out of the back bend I turned around and finished stretching, ignoring their being.

"Taylor..?? I thought you said that you had homework to finish up?" Gabi broke the silence first.

"Gabi, I'm Taylor McKessie."

I pushed one foot onto the belt and placed the other and began to push off, slowly of course. Starting off into a walk for a few minutes, while silently yelling at myself to not look left.

"So, this is what you've been up to huh?"

I didn't say anything, and I picked up the pace a bit. I was so glad that instead of wearing shorts, I was wearing my baggy Grey sweats.

"Taylor? Is there something you want to tell us?"

Yes, that I'm feeling quite insecure about myself right now and the only way to silence it is to workout to so hard that my heart is pounding and ringing loudly in my ears.

"No." I panted out.

Chad walked up and locked eyes with me, and without breaking eye contact, Chad slowed the machine down to a stop. He laid a hand on my sweaty, red hot one and pried it off of the metal bar. Doing the same with the other, he held both of my hands for a moment and led me over to the couch and gently helped me have a seat. Then before I could even try to get up, Chad plopped down next to me, as well as Zeke and everyone else, squishing me to Chad's side. Squirming to get away, and up, Chad wrapped his arms around me, locking me to his side.

"Don't even try. You aren't even going to get away." Chad sang.

Giggle moaning, (A/N: Hopefully you all know what that is, have you ever giggled and something happened, wheather someone made a comment or said something smart and you went to scoff but instead you moaned? That's what that pretty is. I guess google it if not.) everyone pushed against Zeke, and my head landed in Chad's lap. The giggling continued, but mine stopped instantly and with unknown will power I broke free of Chad's embrace and stood up. Giggling ceasing to stop, I stood not looking at anyone and breathed.

Think Taylor..what could happen next?

I felt something bubbling within me, it felt like my stomach was being strangled and that a rock took over as my stomach and I felt burning, crawling up my neck. Slowly, as if teasing me.

"Taylor?! Are you okay?!"

I couldn't answer because I threw up.

"Thanks mom, I'm fine though."

"Evidently you aren't because you just "forgot" to eat three days ago."

"Mom! I told you that I had a lot going on that day!"

For the last three days, my mom kept me home, in my bed, trapped in my room, watching my every move. It turned out that, Friday night I hadn't eaten a thing. All I had in my system was the little bit of water that I had, and I over worked myself. I didn't not eat on purpose, I really had a lot on my plate that day. Before school even started Gabi had told me about the last minute outing with the group. At first it was just a hang out at the local pizza place, everyone eating pizza and friends just hanging out. Gabi almost had me suckered in if it wasn't for Ryan walking over talking about the double date. After that I had glared at Gabi for the first half of the morning, then my anger faded and before lunch I had gotten word that a big project was rumored to be due by Monday morning from Darbus, so I seeked out the rest of my afternoon in the library working on the project. Then as the bell rang for the day to be over, I had just barely finished the project and was cleaning up when Gabi walked in the library. She apologized and I just ignored her and left. I wasn't mad at Gabi, but more at myself. Stupid Homecoming getting to me again!

"Taylor!"

"What?" I snapped grumpily.

"Your friends are here."

Before I could even decline, everyone pretty much stepped through the door. My mom closed the door with a snap. I moved my chicken noodle soup bowl to the floor and didn't look at anyone.

"Thanks again you guys for uh, Friday night." I stammered out

Everyone nodded, and they began to murmur, and bodies moved out of the room. Looking up, I caught Gabi closing the door behind her and Chad was the only one in the room with me. He seemed uncomfortable standing and changing legs to stand on, so without many words, I patted the edge of my bed. Chad quickly and happily agreed and sent me bouncing upwards to my ceiling. The apology didn't start until I was roughly bounced back against my pillow.

"Sorry Taylor!"

"No harm no foul, not like I'm dying."

Then the silence fell and the whole tension thingy came to be. Although it wasn't weird, but it was the long awkward silence thing after someone admits something and the other doesn't know what to say.

"Chad, you have to know. I was not and have not been starving myself at all."

"Taylor I didn't even begin to think that."

"It's just that I had a lot going on that day that I..You weren't?" My eyes filled with hope.

"No, Gabi told me everything."

Shit. There goes the "I've been told everything" line. Remain calm Taylor, don't admit anything until he says the truth or lie, or whatever.

"Oh she did?"

"Yup, she said that you were and still upset about something. Is she right?"

Completely.

"Kinda."

"Well if you want her to come in and talk to you about it then I can go and get her." Chad rose faster and was about three steps away from the door.

"Well, only if you want to go and get her. It doesn't really matter who I talk to, although I owe you all a big apology."

"Maybe I should go and get everyone then?"

"Yeah, maybe you should."

Chad dashed out faster than a jack rabbit, or speedy Gonzales. I sighed into my hands, and heard foot steps again. Everyone was crowded into my room again and faces were pulled into anxious, tight lines.

Do I tell them everything? Well I probably should they are my best friends, or were. Or maybe I should leave the dress part out, and the Chad part out and tell Sharpay, Gabi, and Kelsi at another time.

"I uh, owe you all a apology. I'm sorry for the way that I've been acting..it's just that." I sighed and decided to say the word fast, if anyone caught it then they could question me further on it. "Homecoming." I blurted out as fast as I could

"What about homecoming Taylor?" Ryan questioned

"Well you see.."

"It's it because this is our last Homecoming at East High?" Troy inquired

"Yes! That's exactly it." Making my voice reach a higher acute note.

Two things happened in that moment, all the guys, awed and rushed over hugging me. And the girls gave me a side glance, mouthing to them 'later' I hugged the guys.

"Taylor if that's all that's wrong, don't worry we'll make sure to catch every moment together for the rest of the year. Do everything, and I mean everything!" Ryan said, getting pumped.

"Yeah! Better yet let's start now! Come on guys, we need to go to Wal Mart and pick up some digital cameras!" Troy shouted.

And like boys, everyone of them ran out of the door. Although Chad popped his head back in and said that he'd see me tomorrow, hopefully, and ran out the door with the rest of the boys. Where as to the girls stayed and Kelsi closed the door.

Uh ho. It's time for the third degree.

Gulping, the girls slowly walked further into my room. Each grabbing a spot on my bed.

"Okay, Taylor it's later, explain."

"But it actually hasn't been.."

"EXPLAIN!"

"Okay, Okay.." I pumped

Starting from the beginning of the year to when we all had learned about Amber to two weeks ago when I over heard in Biology class about homecoming. And rambling on about how dresses were evil and Chad and Amber and just getting worked up pretty much was had been bubbling inside of me for three weeks.

"So now you see my bitterness." I wiped my eyes. When did I start crying?

"In a nutshell." Kelsi pipped

"Oh Taylor, if it bothered you that much, why didn't you just say something? You know were all in this together right?"

"I know, it's just that you all really started to take a liking to Amber, and what was I to do? Be the only hater at the table?"

"No, we would have been haters with you." Gabi pitched

"But you guys like her."

"Who said that we liked her? We were just being nice, we are more about Chaylor than anything else."

"Chaylor?"

"Chad and Taylor."

Giggling I brought my friends into me and hugged them tightly. I knew I did have the greatest friends, well in the case of speaking girlfriends ever.

"And if you really wanted to go to homecoming with Chad, why don't you just ask him?" Sharpay asked

"Shar, that's like asking Zeke to go with me to homecoming and you two are dating."

"That's different. I would understand, he's like your..what again?"

"Third cousin on my mom's side."

"Yeah that, so I would understand that it's a family thing. Besides, I mean he'll come back to me in the end." Sharpay concluded

Sighing I slapped my forehead and looked to Gabi and Kelsi. "You both see where I'm going at with this right?"

"Actually Tay, Shar does have a point."

Raising an eyebrow, I catch Gabi's eye and fold my arms to my chest and give her the gesture to explain herself.

"Well, Amber knows that you and Chad have been friends for a while. So in turn you COULD ask him to homecoming."

"Gabi, he's DATING her. Not FRIENDS with her."

And for a few moments, Gabi and I went back and forth between 'yes you could' and 'no I can't.' Finally Kelsi came up with a idea.

"How about this, the guys will probably come back, since they are our ride home and we can ask Chad then."

"Okay, that seems fair, right Taylor?"

I still had my hands folded across my chest and I was huffing at thinking this through. "Fine, but someone other than me has to ask him."

Before anyone could open their mouth, the door busted open and flashes went off. Squeals were topped and things were thrown. I was giggling behind my pillow, I had foreseen the guys doing something like this so I was prepared, Gabi, Sharpay, and Kelsi were unfortunately not. After the guys had gotten their beat down, (More so Troy and Zeke) everyone settled down into a light chuckle.

"Hey Chad..I wanna ask you something." Sharpay sung

Uh ho, she's going to do it now. Somehow make an escape!

"Uh, I'm going to go to the bathroom. No one move a thing, or else it's your head." I called out before running into the bathroom.

I was pressed up against the door, listening diligently. I mean, I could have sat there, pretending like I had no idea what was going on, but I knew something, a facial expression or something would give me away so I was more safe hiding behind a door. I stood by the door for a good five minutes and when nothing said to Chad about homecoming, I sighed and knew Sharpay's plan, she was going to ask him right in my face. Sighing, I flushed the toilet and washed my hands and walked out with my head hung.

"So uh Chad, about what I wanted to ask you."

"Yeah?"

I glared at Sharpay from the side of Chad's face where he was turned looking at Sharpay, and mouthed one word.

"I hate you."

Sharpay made a heart sign with her hands while still faced towards Chad.

"Anyway, you know how homecoming is coming up right?"

"I think I saw a sign or something like that in the hallway, what about it?"

"Well you know, I was wondering.."

"Babe? Your asking Chad to the dance? I thought we were going?" Zeke whined.

Ignoring Zeke, Sharpay went in for the kill. "It's just that, Taylor doesn't want to go with anyone, and your the only one that she really trusts and has known for a while."

Okay, I like how she's wording it, maybe I don't hate her quite that much. Maybe I love her again.

"Really? Is this true Taylor?" Chad had turned to me with his amazing smile that made my heart stop beating for a few beats. Only a few of course.

"Uh huh."

"Anyway, since she won't go with anyone, and since we all want her to go and have fun, since this is our last year as Wildcats, you'd go with her right?"

"Yeah, if she wanted to." Chad said effortlessly

Dear God, Chad said yes. Well not in the words of yes, but something along of it.

"Well Taylor, do you wanna go with Chad? Since you WON'T go with anyone else." Sharpay eyed me with a smirk on her lips.

"Uhh." I looked up at Chad and his eyes briefly met mine and his eyes warmed up a bit, and he winked at me. Dear God, CHAD WINKED AT ME. "Yeah, I'd like that. If he'd like that of course."

"Yeah I'd like that a lot." Chad repeated, moments after I did.

"God, you two are so corny." Sharpay joked.

Everyone erupted into giggles and began making side conversations with each other. Where as to Chad and I continued to look at each other, with blushes creeping up on one another faces. For that moment, I couldn't wait till the week of homecoming, because it was already set in stone that I was going with my lifetime crush, and he was going with me. And for just that moment no one remembered that Chad even had a Girlfriend, that was until his phone rang.

Okay so that's probably the longest I've written for Love me, Fat or Skinny. So I think I've exceed that punishment for not updating for a while. I might update again before the new year, if not then expect one shortly into the new year. One review pretty please? It'll make me happy, and if you have a happy writer then the chapters might come out longer..maybe.

I do not own the High School Musical characters, except the ones that I make up

and..

This is not me I am telling it from Taylor's POV but from 1st person view, I repeat this is not me I am telling it from 1st person view!!

Have a happy ending of your year,

HeArTxbRoKeN