I don't own anything.

A/N: Well here's another update for all you lovely readers. First off I want to thank my reviewers from last week; Yellow-queen18, Sciencefreak2007, blueprincess972, jinidu93, cornique chaylor girl, CuteANDSexxxy17, look at the stars, Aipom4, RubyRedMorena, AyaneC, Ani Thompson, Spiggi, baby2ludaris, Angel, and toddntan. I hope you all like this chapter; this is probably the last slow chapter before we get into the drama or the build up to the drama. So please read and review and tell me what you think?

Baby S

Chapter Three

"So is there really a girl from East High working at the youth center now?" Miguel asked the next morning as soon as Troy entered the vehicle, "Malcolm said she was a pretty good looking girl and that you two seemed to hit it off." Troy rolled his eyes and leaned back against the seat before shaking his head in disagreement.

"Hit it off? Well seeing as how Malcolm can't even get Whitney to go out with him or grace him with a smile I wouldn't even listen to him about how I hit it off with a girl." Miguel whistled and shook his head.

"Wow, this seems like a touchy subject for you."

"No…just an annoying subject…I mean leave it to you and Malcolm to mistake me being civil towards an East Higher as affection…besides she's Chad Danforth's girl anyway. I don't want what he's had."

"True…I wouldn't either so what's on the agenda for today…the guys are thinking about heading to the mall and messing with some Wildcats and then going out to eat."

"School and work…that's what's on my agenda and you know it."

"Can't fault me for trying." Miguel said with a sigh, "Besides you won't believe what I heard last night. Seems like Danforth's been slumming."

"Slumming? With who?" Miguel just shrugged again and continued driving. Troy immediately wondered if Chad was cheating on Taylor. Even though he didn't like her he wouldn't wish that type of hurt on anybody. "With who Miguel?"

"Seems he has a cousin, and he's been hanging out with him. I guess he's trying to see how the other side lives since he lives on the other side of town in that big ass mansion." Miguel sucked his teeth in annoyance. "Man, he ain't foolin' nobody."

"I say let him be…we'll show him what's up during our games…so I don't…I repeat I don't want you guys harassing them okay." Miguel looked over at him and sighed.

"Why? If we don't, they will."

"Look, I just think we should set the example." Miguel looked over at him and laughed out loud shaking his head and smiling at his friend.

"Man this ain't no after school special…do I need to remind you what could happen if those East High punks catch us slippin'. You my boy and all but get real Troy. They ain't gonna stop messing with us even if we stop. This is an on going issue, one that only can settled on the basketball court."

"Fine… do what you want?"

"Gladly…now guess who called me last night asking about you and stuff." Troy barely spared him a glance before replying.

"I'm not interested."

"Oh come on man…do you know how many guys at school would kill to have Lauren Ashby asking about them…shoot I know I would."

"I'm not interested…look Lauren isn't the type of lady I want."

"Who is…you haven't dated in a while man, it's time you got back on the horse, and let them girls ride ya pony." He said laughing as Troy sent him a look.

"I'll see about that…in the meantime worry about yourself alright." He said, Miguel just shook his head and continued driving while giving Troy a mock salute and murmuring.

"Aye Aye Captain."

"So how was it…oh wait why am I even asking of course it was awful, I mean being around kids and stuff. I'm sorry you had to go through that baby." Chad replied as he kissed Taylor's cheek not noticing the small look of annoyance that flashed acrossed her face at his words.

"It was surprisingly fun." She replied back with a sigh. "The kids there are really nice and they are well mannered."

"Maybe we ought to send Chad there…from what you just said those kids could teach him a thing or two." Sharpay said flashing Chad a small smile as he rolled his eyes and looked away from her.

"Sharpay, did I ever tell you to mind your our own business."

"Well, of course I would do that if you weren't dating one of my best friends." She said back smartly. "So Taylor how are your coworkers?" Taylor sent her a look that screamed for her to stop trying to start trouble and then answered the question.

"They're alright."

"Are you sure?" Sharpay asked with a bright smile, Taylor narrowed her eyes at her and then nodded her head.

"Positive," she reached out and took Chad's hand in her own and kissed his cheek. "So what have you been up to?"

"Nothing much," he mumbled with a shake of his head. "School just started there isn't much to do yet. I mean there was that meeting yesterday." He replied with a shrug, as he looked at her. "You know…my life is so much more exciting when you're with me." He said kissed her lightly on the mouth. Zeke cleared his throat as he came to sit down at the table.

"Hey baby." He replied with a smile as he kissed Sharpay's cheek, just as Ryan and his girlfriend Gabriella came over as well.

"Hey, Zekey." Sharpay exclaimed as she kissed him again, he blushed at the nickname but didn't say anything against it. Chad just nodded his head at his friends and then spoke.

"We have got to get those West Highers back for last week…I'm not going to let them ruin my senior year with their antics, coming to our school like they own the place."

"You're right we should get even." Zeke said firmly but quieted down when he received a pointed stare from Sharpay before she said.

"I think that's stupid…I mean this whole East High versus West High mess. It's old and it's annoying."

"Amen to that." Taylor said with a shake of her head.

"You wouldn't understand," Chad replied from his seat. "This rivalry is huge…I mean it's been here before we even came to this school."

"Doesn't mean it still isn't stupid." Sharpay said. "Right, Taylor."

"Right."

"Like I said, you wouldn't understand." Chad replied coldly as he looked at them both and shook his head. "Besides, I know for a fact that their so called captain Troy Bolton isn't going to think this is stupid I mean you both saw him here last week. I mean he even had the audacity to look Taylor up and down."

"Audacity…wow, Chad have you been reading again." Sharpay said as she giggled, along with Gabriella. Taylor coughed and hid her smile behind her hand. If there was one thing that never got old it was Sharpay constant ribbing that Chad took daily.

"Whatever Sharpay…but I'm serious…Troy Bolton had the audacity to look my girlfriend up and down like he was undressing her with his eyes in front of my. That was disrespectful and I'm not going to let them get away with him."

"Well, I'm not hurt so stop acting like he raped me or something." She said shaking her head. During the brief time last week that she had talked to Troy she had come to realized that he would never hurt a female, she just knew that wasn't in him and he would never hurt her." Chad looked over at her and shook his head.

"He's a West Higher…I wouldn't put it pass him."

"God, that it so stereotypical of you, Chad. That's like me saying you're in a gang because you're black."

"Now let's not get dramatic…that's Sharpay's area of expertise." Sharpay just shook her head and sighed.

"Yeah, and being prejudice must be your area of expertise."

"Whatever works to get my point across."

"Sure…but I still have to respectfully disagree…I mean just because someone goes to a certain school doesn't make them a criminal or a sexual deviant. Just like going here doesn't mean you're smart right Chad." He narrowed his eyes at her words and shook his head. "So you don't know what Troy Bolton would have done, okay." She finished with a sigh. Looking across the table she saw him look away from her quietly while Taylor stood up. Sharpay stood up as well and looked at her friend. "Taylor could you please accompany me to the restroom…I wouldn't want a stray West Higher to capture me and have his way with me." Taylor just smiled and nodded her head getting up and following Sharpay out of the cafeteria. Once both girls were gone they laughed and headed to the restroom, once inside Taylor watched as Sharpay checked all the stalls and then once she was satisfied she turned around and looked at Taylor. Watching her closely Taylor backed up as Sharpay sent her a bright smile.

"What?"

"Are you working with Troy Bolton?"

"What! Why would you ask a question like that?" Sharpay shrugged and walked over to her and shaking her head, patting Taylor on the shoulder she continued.

"Cause every time he was mention at lunch you get real quiet and looked down at your hands and since I've known you since when?"

"Kindergarten." Taylor replied slowly.

"That's right since I've known you since kindergarten I know when you hiding something and you were trying to hide the fact that you knew him and worked with him." Sharpay said quite satisfied with herself.

"I do alright and what Chad was saying…well he was off base with his assumption. I know I only met Troy once… well met him officially once but I know for a fact he would never hurt a female. He's just too good to do something like that." Sharpay watched her for a moment before nodding her head.

"Do you like him?"

"What type of question is that…hello I'm currently going out with Chad Danforth, Troy's number one enemy. Of course I don't like him." She snapped, Sharpay just shrugged and shook her head and leaned back against a sink.

"Stranger things have happened."

"Like what?"

"Like you going out with Chad." Taylor cut her eyes over at Sharpay and shook her head. "Look I know you don't like the fact that I am going out with him…but Sharpay he's my boyfriend so could you please lighten up."

"Fine…I guess I can, but I don't have to like it. So are you or are you not working with Troy Bolton."

"I am."

"See I knew it…so is he nice."

"Sometimes…but he's kind of like Chad. You know with the whole rivalry thing. I don't know how many times he called me an East Higher while there." Sharpay nodded her head and sighed.

"Well, I'm sorry to say but that's expected…I mean he probably has friends who talk just like Chad. Plus he's probably had run ins with Chad and the crew since we've been in highschool. I'm sure that would give anyone a right to be slightly prejudiced."

"Well he's not like Chad…he just points out things that he thought East High students didn't do, you know."

"Well I still think he's better than Chad."

"Sharpay." Taylor warned, Sharpay raised her arms and sighed.

"I know I know…so are you going back today." Taylor nodded and picked at some imaginary lint on her shirt.

"I accepted the job so yeah, Mrs. Jackson should be here at three on the dot to pick me up and take me to the youth center." Sharpay nodded and then headed for the door.

"Come on let's go and finish our lunch."

"I hope some of mine is still there, Chad was eyeballing my sub sandwich like it was going out of style." She said as they exited the bathroom and headed back to the cafeteria.

Taylor flipped through her papers as she watched her students silently going over their homework later on that afternoon. She watched as one of the boys named Anthony stood up and came over to her. "I'm finished, Ms. Taylor." He stated proudly holding out his work for her to look over. Taylor took it from his hands and looked it over quickly. Anthony stood beside her quietly with his hands clasped in front of him as she went over his work. After a few moments, Taylor sat down her paper and looked at him with a smile on her face.

"Very good Anthony…you didn't miss a problem." He smiled at her and then looked out towards the door. She knew what was on his mind without him having to say anything.

"You can go, Anthony…just pack up your things okay." He nodded and did just that and then moments later he was out of the door. With a smile on her face she looked back out over the other students and saw some of the boys staring at the door longingly. "If you guys finish up your work and do it right then you can go too." She said as she watched them reluctantly tear their glazes from the door and start back to work. Just as they started working again, the door opened and Troy waltz in and went right to her desk.

"How's everything going?" he asked as he sat down on the edge of her desk, she looked over at him and slowly nodded her head.

"It's going fine." He nodded his head for a moment and then replied.

"That's good, Mrs. Jackson told me to come in here and check on you and make sure everything was going fine on your first official day and all."

"Well as you can see I can handle myself just fine." She said with a shake of her head. "Is there anything else." She asked, Troy looked at her and hopped off the side of the desk.

"Could you please step outside with me for a minute?" she eyed him for a moment and then turned to her students.

"Continue working and continue being quiet, Mr. Troy and I are going to talk outside okay."

"Okay Ms. Taylor." The class said in unison, Troy gave her a look that she couldn't really place as he opened the door for her. Once she had stepped through the door he closed it and leaned against the wall.

"What is it that you need?"

"Mrs. Jackson wanted me to tell you that she can no longer pick you up…I however am going to start." Taylor gasped and brought a hand to her heart and shook her head.

"You're lying."

"Yeah, that's what I do…I lie. Look I know you East Highers aren't use to people telling the truth and other simple things like that but here on the West side we tell the truth alright." She narrowed her eyes at the insult and sighed.

"Whatever, Troy…I was just surprised. So when can you pick me up."

"Do you want me too…because if there's a problem you can always quit."

"You'd like that wouldn't you." She snapped back as she looked at him angrily. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"The world isn't about you…and just for your information I don't care if you quit." He stated with a smirk. Taylor crossed her arms over her chest and looked down the hallway avoiding his eyes and that infuriating smirk.

"So when will you be picking me up."

"Three o'clock…my schools going to let me out early."

"Why?"

"Well, study hall is my last class and they know I'm a good student and they really are supportive of what I do here so they have agreed to let me leave early."

"Wow, I'm really surprised at that…I mean I'm like the smartest person in my entire school and they won't let me out early."

"That's because you're dating someone like Chad…you probably confused them." He said with a laugh. "I mean you had me confused, I mean why would a girl like you lower herself to Chad Danforth's level just to date him."

"Let's not talk about my boyfriend."

"Sorry…I couldn't resist, you'll have to forgive my habits especially my old habits which are hard to break."

"Well it doesn't seem like you're trying very hard to me."

"Look, I'm going to let you get back to work…I only came to tell you the news not have an argument with you." He said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "See you later." He mumbled as he walked away from her, Taylor watched him as he headed down the hall and then reentered the classroom and went to her seat.

"I try to be nice, Jay but it usually ends with us fighting…I don't know what to do." Troy said as he tossed Jandro a bright orange cone out of the equipment closet. Jandro shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't talk about her boyfriend…for some strange reason I think that would lead to fewer fights." Troy looked at him for a moment and shook his head. As Jandro smiled and nodded his head. "What? It's true if you just stopped talking about her boyfriend like he was a dog then maybe she wouldn't fight you so much."

"Look, I just don't like Chad and when have you ever known me to bit my tongue on a subject I didn't like."

"Never."

"Exactly." Troy said as he pulled out a bag of dodge balls and closed the equipment room up. He and Jandro walked out to the middle of the gym floor to set things up. Jandro looked over at him and then said.

"Well, maybe you need to bite your tongue on all things East High and Chad Danforth while you're around her. She isn't like us…she doesn't go to West High. She goes to East High and is currently dating Chad Danforth. There's not much she can do about that, but I bet she doesn't want to hear you dissing her school or her man in front of her."

"Okay fine…I'll try, keyword try, to stop talking about East High and Danforth in front of her." Troy said with a shake of his head. Jandro nodded and smiled over at him while Troy tossed him a dodge ball.

"Good, now hopefully you two will stop having these little spats."

"Did you know Mrs. Jackson asked me to start picking her up from school?" Troy asked him as Jandro continued setting up the game. "I mean she acts like the rivalry thing doesn't matter."

"She's a grown woman trying to run a business of course she doesn't care." Jandro replied back with a shake of his head. "Otherwise she would have never hired Taylor in the first place."

"I know it's just that I don't want to go up to that school and what if one of the guys from that school spots me. Man do you know the type of trouble that would start." Troy said slowly as he sat down a dodge ball. Jandro looked over at him and sighed crossing the court he came over to Troy's side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure nothing is going to happen…well unless you get out of the car." Jandro said with a chuckle.

"I'm glad my problems amuse you."

"They always do." Jandro stated truthfully with a laugh, Troy took a playfully swing at him and Jandro back up laughing.

"Man, if you weren't so quick I'd knock you out for laughing at me." Troy said as he took a menacing step towards Jandro who was still laughing. Soon both guys were playfully wrestling on the floor.

"Are you the counselors or the students?" Both of them jumped apart and looked over towards the door at Taylor who was opening the door for the students to come in. Troy looked over at Jandro and rolled his eyes.

"There goes the devil."

"I thought you didn't want to fight with her."

"Well, she does something to me that makes me want to fight." He said through gritted teeth as he flashed Taylor a sugary smile. She eyed him and Jandro for a moment before looking over towards the kids who were currently putting their book bags away. At the call of one of the younger children, Taylor went over to the bleachers as well. Troy stumbled as Jandro gave him a push, turning around to glare at his friend. Jandro motioned towards the bleachers.

"Go apologize man."

"Right." Troy replied as he headed over, he saw Taylor watching him wearily as she helped a kindergarten tie their shoes. Standing off to the side he waited till she was done and then approached her. Taylor looked at him for a moment before saying.

"What do you want?"

"I want to say that I'm sorry for the things I said in the hallway it was uncalled for and I shouldn't be like that with you." He said sincerely, Taylor looked slightly taken back by his honest apology.

"Are you serious?"

"If I wasn't I wouldn't have say anything." He replied with a small smile. "So?" he said rocking back and forth on the heel of his shoes.

"I accept your apology and if I said anything offending well I'm sorry for that." He nodded his head and smiled at her.

"Good now since that's out of the way how about you stay and play some dodge ball with us." He said with a bright twinkle in his eyes. Taylor looked at him and tilted her head to the side and surveyed the court.

"Are you playing?"

"Well, I guess if you do I have too." He said as he smiled at her. Taylor slowly nodded her head and looked over at her students who were watching her and Troy. He followed her glaze as well and smiled. "What do you guys think? Boys against Girls." He asked as the children cheered. Taylor just blushed and smiled as the girls ran over to her side. Looking over at Troy she raised an eyebrow and called out to him.

"You sure you want to lose." Troy gave a high five to one of the little boys at his side and shrugged.

"Show me what you got, Tay." He replied, she smiled at him even though she was still shocked at the name he had given her. With a shake of her head she and the girls headed over to the far side of the gym while he and the boys did the same. Troy looked over at Jandro who was just shaking his head.

"Man, you certainly have a way with women. Dodge Ball? I would have never guessed that was the way to a woman's heart." Troy chuckled and nodded his head.

"Well, of course you wouldn't think that…I'm the ladies' man around here."

"Right, says the guy who has never had a steady girlfriend since we entered highschool." Troy just smiled and jogged over to the baseline with the rest of the boys. Jandro looked over both teams and then blew his whistle starting the game.

Troy looked over at Taylor as he started his usual route to take some of the children home. "Who knew you were so good at dodge ball?" he murmured as he rubbed the side of his face. Taylor lowered her head into her hands and giggled.

"Troy, I am so sorry about hitting you in the head like that." She said around her giggles, he looked over at her and just shook his head. Slowly he turned into a neighborhood, and the pulled over and watched as one of the children got out and raced inside.

"All I gotta know is how did you get so good."

"Well, when you're a nerd in middle school you gotta learn how to play dodge ball to the best of your abilities because everyone is gunnin' for you." She said as she leaned back with a sigh. Troy looked her up and down and shook his head.

"You're not a nerd…you're just smart. I don't understand how anyone could think you were a nerd."

"Why thank you, Mr. Bolton." She said with a brief smile. He gave her one back and continued driving.

"My pleasure Ms. McKessie." He said. "So at East High do they still consider you a nerd?" he asked, Taylor looked over at him and shook her head for a moment before sighing.

"Well, most people probably still think so, but they won't say it because I go out with…well you know." She said reframing from saying Chad's name. After all it didn't take a genius to figure out that the mere mention of Chad's name sent Troy off the deep end and she really didn't feel like fighting with him right now.

"Well, at West High you wouldn't be considered a nerd…like I said before you'd just be considered a very smart person."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." She stated, as she looked out the window, Troy pulled into a driveway and like before helped a smaller kindergarten out of the van and headed up to the front door. Taylor watched as he spoke with the parents for a few minutes and then headed back to the van. Getting in he started the van, and then headed off towards her home. Taylor looked over at him and then spoke. "Troy?"

"Yeah."

"I really had fun today…I haven't have that much fun in a long time." He looked over at her shock and disbelief written all over his face. She laughed and shook her head. "I'm serious."

"I know that's why it's so shocking." He said with a sigh. She smiled and just sighed. "Well I'm glad you had fun today." He murmured with a smile as he pulled up into her driveway. Looking into the backseat Troy saw that Trevor was wide awake and silently watching them. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon okay."

"Okay." She murmured as she looked at him for a brief moment before flashing him a smile. "Come on Tre…let's go." Troy gave her a nod and waited till they were out of the van, he didn't drive off till they were inside the house.

The next day at school Taylor was still thinking about how nice Troy could be when he wanted to be when Chad came over and gave her a kiss. "Hey baby how you doing?" she looked over at him and smiled.

"I'm fine, what's up?" Chad turned one of the chairs around a straddled it. With a slow shake of his head he looked at her and placed his head in the nook of his arm and sighed.

"I've been wondering when you were going to spend some time with me…for the past week you've done nothing but go to school and to that job…well what about me." He asked with a crooked smile. She sighed and looked away from him for a moment before answering.

"Chad, we can spend Saturday together if that's what you want. I'm not doing anything that afternoon." Chad thought about it for a moment and then shook his head. "What?"

"I don't know…see the guys and I were going to head to the park and play an exhibition game against those punks from West High." She looked over at him and sighed.

"Well, I can go and cheer you on…in fact I think that was what Sharpay was talking about earlier this week…she wants me to go with her." Shaking his head, Chad sat up and looked at her for a brief moment before saying.

"I don't know about that…I don't want you there getting looked at by other guys. It makes me extremely jealous and you know how I get when I'm jealous."

"Yeah, you don't think?"

"Naw, the thought of some random guy flirting with you makes me crazy baby. I'd lose all self control." He replied with a shake of his head. Taylor just nodded her head and looked away for a moment.

"You don't have to lose all your self-control."

"Yeah, I don't…but when it comes to you I would." He said flashing her a smile while patting down his extreme afro.

"I think I'll come to the game this Saturday…besides I want to be there to cheer you on of course. I mean are you saying that you don't want your girlfriend there to cheer you on in front of your arch-nemesis." Chad wrinkled his forehead at her words and chuckled.

"Baby you certainly are something else."

"You like it." She stated with confidence. Chad smiled and leaned over kissing her on the cheek.

"You're right I do…I mean you're like a special little package, I mean you can be a nerd and you're still beautiful. Well actually you're gorgeous. I just love that about you" He whispered as he kissed her forehead as he stood up. Taylor was silent as his words registered in her mind. He had just called her a nerd, well not fully but still he used the word nerd to describe her. As she thought that over her mind drifted to last night and what Troy had said as he drove her home. "You're not a nerd…you're just smart. I don't understand how anyone could think you were a nerd." That's what he had told her and she could tell he was being sincere and that was why it meant so much to her. To hear him say that, cause the truth was at East High that was all anyone really thought about her, and now she knew that was exactly what her boyfriend was thinking even if he claimed to care about her. "Taylor, I gotta alright." He said as he started towards the door.

"Okay I'll see you this Saturday at your game…Sharpay and I are going to cheer our heads off." Taylor said forcing herself to speak, as Chad flashed a smile and headed out of the room. Leaving Taylor to her thoughts, as she silently wondered what made Chad and Troy so different and why she even cared.

A/N: So what do you think? Please review and tell me what you think.

Baby S