I don't own anything

I don't own anything.

A/N: Alright here's the thing about these new updates. I'm at school and the internet is very bad right now in fact it's down right now and I don't know how long it's going to stay like that. The fact that I can post these updates is a miracle within itself. I don't have much time so I would like to thank my reviewers from last week and I'm sorry I couldn't put your names up here like I usually do. Please forgive me for that. Um, I hope you all enjoy these updates and please remember to Review, and hopefully I will be able to post next week. So enjoy and Review.

Baby S

Chapter Five

"I would have treated you better." Troy was pissed as he pulled the van into the youth center lot. He had had bared his heart to Taylor, she had shutdown and refused to talk to him unless it was absolutely necessary and that was something he couldn't understand. What he had just said to her proved he actually cared about her. Regardless of where they lived, what school they went too…regardless of all their social differences he cared. Troy watched as Taylor unbuckled her seat and headed inside the youth center just as he turned the van off. He silently watched as she headed inside as if something or someone was chasing her. Shaking his head he turned and smiled at the children in his van and winked. "I guess she had to go to the ladies' room." He chuckled as some of the children giggled and covered their mouths with their hands, as Troy instantly felt the tension that had been in the van for so long disappear. As he led his group of children into the cafeteria, Jandro and Kerry ran over to him. "What is it?" he asked thinking it was something trivial.

"Man, I thought you said you weren't going to fight with Taylor anymore." Troy looked at them both for a moment before nodding his head.

"Yeah, I did."

"Then why was she so upset when she came in here earlier." Troy frowned and moved by them both headed towards Taylor's classroom. At his brisk pace he reached the classroom in no time and opened the door. He saw Taylor at her desk, and when he entered she looked up at him. Reaching behind him, he locked the door and walked deeper into the classroom.

"I'm not going to apologize for what I said to you in the van…I meant it…I meant every word and it would be lie if I said I was sorry for saying them."

"Troy…look I just want you to leave me alone alright." She said with a sigh, as she looked away from him. Troy moved around the desk till he was back in her line of sight. "Troy?"

"What's wrong Taylor you can't take someone telling you that your precious boyfriend is nothing more than a damn punk that likes roughin' up his lady." She shook her head and looked up at him.

"You're wrong?"

"Am I…cause if I remember correctly I was there…and watched as he grabbed you, but you know what. I don't know what pisses me off more that he did it or that you let him." He said hotly.

"This is none of your business, Troy."

"None of my business…he did that shit in front of me…and just because neither of you care about how a man is suppose to treat a woman doesn't mean that I'm going to overlook it even if the woman in question denies that she's being abused."

"I wasn't…he just got a little excited…that's all and him seeing YOU there with me didn't help. See this is mainly your fault if you had left when I told you too…none of this would have happened."

"Oh right blame it all on me…cause I'm the one that's wrong. I was wrong to come and see about you when I saw that he had upset…I was wrong to stand up for you even when you didn't stand up for yourself and now I'm wrong for caring. Shit was right you East Highers are about as dumb as you can be."

"Let's not bring that into this."

"I have too…cause I have to find some excuse as to why you're taking whatever that bushy haired punk dishes out." He replied hotly. "I mean you deserve the cream of the crop…not that sticky shit down at the bottom of the barrel."

"Why can't you just let it drop?"

"Because someone needs to talk some sense into you, but you end up with a black eye and a busted lip from some random 'fall' or random 'door'. Cause if you continue that's exactly what's going to happen." Troy exclaimed, as he slammed his hand on then desk. "Damnit Taylor can't you see just what type of man he is and-."

"You know what, Troy you're right…this is East High stuff, so why don't you take your West High self out of here alright." Troy looked taken back by her statement but nodded his head slowly and sighed. He headed towards the door and looked back at her.

"Fine I'll leave you alone about this but don't come crying to me when the shit hits the fan and since you're going out with a piece a shit I expect that to happen quite soon." He replied as he exited to the room slamming the door behind him and leaving Taylor to herself.

Troy walked out into the shook his head and immediately started pacing up and down the hallway mumbling words to himself the entire time. He just didn't get her, he knew she was smart. He knew she was a capable woman. So he just didn't understand how she could have let someone like Chad Danforth use her so. Even when he had met the guy back in middle school he knew he was a creep. After all the entire world had been handed to him on a silver platter, and yet the bastard still lacked manners that even a bum on the street possess. "You alright, Troy." He stopped pacing and looked over at Jandro who was cautiously walking towards him. Jandro came to a stop and looked at Taylor's classroom and then over at Troy. "What happened man?" he asked, Troy then went off and told him everything that had transpired that Saturday at the game. When he finished, Jandro eyes had darkened with fury. In his fit of rage, he had forgotten all about Jandro's father and how he had been abusive those Jandro and his mother until he was finally sent to jail.

"We should go right now and find this punk and kiss his ass, man. I am so serious." He exclaimed with a shake of his head.

"I know I feel like doing that too…but what good is that going to do if all she's going to do is run back to him and nurse the sick bastard back to health." He exclaimed with a shake of his head. "I still can't believe that she's defending him the way she is…its ridiculous and scary all at the same time."

"My mother was exactly the same…my father would pop her in the mouth and later on she would act as if nothing had ever happened." Jandro said with disgust. He and Troy looked at one another, "She always used to do it and it made me sick to my stomach…if only I had been older…I would have fought him about the way he treated my mother."

"I feel like doing the same…Chad deserves an ass whippin' for what he did to Taylor. I mean I can still see it, and then she's defending him and getting mad at me for caring." Jandro nodded his head while reaching out and patting Troy on the back

"Well you can't force her to accept what's right in her face…sometimes they need to really see it for themselves before they truly accept what type of person their with." He said with a shake of his head. "Come on let's go get ready for the day man…you can't stay here and be like this. You need to relax." He replied as he led Troy away, glancing over his shoulder one last time Troy looked at the door that led to Taylor's classroom before turning down the hall and heading towards the gym.

When it was finally time to head home, Taylor waited till the last possible second before she wandered outside and headed toward the van that Troy usually drove. Troy was loading the children up and looked over his shoulder at her. "Thought you'd might not be riding with me?"

"You know the way there…and right now I really don't feel like telling someone else how to get there." She replied as she opened her door and got inside. Troy paused in his loading and watched her, before returning getting the kids on the van. Once everyone was on, he hurried around to the driver side and got in. As they pulled off he looked over at Taylor and spoke.

"Taylor look I want to say one thing and then I'm done with this entire conversation…cause I don't see the point in telling you something over and over again if you aren't going to listen."

"Just say what you have to say."

"I'm sorry that Chad did that to you…and I want you to know that you deserve better than what Chad's giving you." She looked at him for a moment and could tell just how sincere he was. Once Troy finished he looked away from her and continued driving, while Taylor turned her body towards the passenger window and looked out. Troy looked at her and sighed, but continued driving while trying to tell himself that she was no longer his concern. Nearly an hour later, he pulled up into her driveway and saw a black mustang in the driveway, thinking nothing of it he got out and helped Trevor out of the car, just as Taylor hurried over to him. Looking at her, he sat Trevor on the ground. "What is it?"

"It's Chad."

"Wait that's him." Troy said as he moved to go around the van; however Taylor moved to place herself in front of him quickly.

"Troy no, please don't let him see you."

"I'm not going to hide from anybody, Taylor…you must not know we that well if you think I'm going to hide from Chad like some punk."

"Please just do it for me, Troy. If he sees you he'll get angry and…"

"He'll hurt you again." Troy stated bluntly, Taylor frowned at his words and looked away from him. "So no I'm not going to leave you alone with him."

"Troy please I can handle this…I don't need your help." She cried, Troy paused and looked down at her before nodding his head and sighing.

"Fine…if that's how you feel than." He handed her Trevor's book bag, and then climbed back into the van. "I'm going to get in my van and drive over there." He said pointing to one streets that were in front of her house.

"Troy you really do not have-." He cut her off and shook his head.

"That's the best I can do, because if that fool touches you again…I'm not going to beat his ass." Troy said as he closed the door, Taylor and Trevor stepped back as he pulled off. With a sigh she headed towards her house, as she neared Chad's car, he hopped out and looked at her.

"Taylor thank goodness you finally made it home…you wouldn't believe how long I've been sitting out here." He said as he looked at her and then over at Trevor who was eyeing him suspiciously. "Hey little man."

"Trevor go inside." She said as she patted him on the back and then watched as he took off. Once they were alone, Chad leaned back against his car while Taylor continued to eye him.

"What was that all about?"
"It's past his bedtime, now why are you here." Chad looked at her and sighed.

"I just feel that whatever happened between us this Saturday isn't resolved and Taylor baby I love you and I want this…I want us to work." She crossed her arms over her chest and glanced back towards street, she could see the van very clearly and wondered what Troy would do if the conversation became more aggressive.

"We can work…if you would stop putting your hands on me."

"Baby I'm sorry."

"But you've done it before…and you've always said sorry afterwards…Chad I just don't know if I believe you."

"Look, I can explain alright…we I saw you with Troy I lost my cool. I mean that guy is my enemy. He's been trying to get at me for years and I was just furious that you were standing there talking to him like he was a friend. That just didn't sit well with me and I reacted instead of thinking things through like I should have done and for that I'm sorry."

"You have got to do better, Chad. I mean it seems like you believe that I will always be there, will guess what? I won't be if you continue treating me like you do." She said, Chad eyed her for a moment and then smiled while nodding his head.

"Fine…I'll treat you better after all as your boyfriend it's my duty to treat you better than anyone on the street." He said with a smirk, "And I'm sorry for being such a jerk, you have got to believe me."

"I…," she paused and looked out towards the van and then back at him. "I do." He smiled and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closed. She did the same and laid her head on his shoulder. As they stood there hugging, Taylor tried her best not to jump in his arms as the van across the street started and pulled away. After the van disappeared down the street she closed her eyes and focused on Chad.

Lillian Bolton looked up from her book as her only child stormed into the house, appearing to be absolutely furious with the world. Sharing a look with her husband she slowly got up and went to see what had happened. Knocking twice on her son's bedroom door, she heard a muffle yell of 'come in' pushing the door open she walked in and over to her son's bed and sat down. "Mine telling me what's wrong?"

"Nothing really…I'm…it's just nerves." He replied with a shake of his head as he looked at her for a moment. Lillian shook her head and reached out touched his face and forcing her son to look her in the eye.

"Tell me the truth Troy."

"Fine…there's this girl," he began as he stood up and began pacing. "And she's dating this guy that is real bad. I mean I think he hits her and stuff, and he grabbed her arm real rough last week. However that's not the messed up part." He said as he looked over at his mother. "The messed up part is…she continues to make excuses for him all the time. She has no idea how she sounds. To me she sounds like those women that have been abused nearly their entire life, and she's too smart of a girl to let that happen to her."

"I see…well Troy it sounds like you like her."

"I don't…I just care about her like a friend should. There's nothing wrong with that." Lillian looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.

"Oh my goodness don't tell me she's from East High." Troy looked over at his mother and bowed his head. "Is that why, you stood up here lying to me about you not liking her. I swear I will never understand you boys and rivalries."

"Mom, you don't understand she's an East Higher and I'm a West Higher…we just can't go around dating one another or even mentioning that we have feelings for the other. There's to much bad blood there."

"Obviously not enough if you have the hots for her." Troy blushed at his mother's comment and shook his head.

"Well she's different she's not like all of them." He replied in his defense. Lillian just smiled at him and shook her head as she stood up.

"Right well, I'm going to go back out to the living room…and by the way I think you should tell her about your feelings as well as try to talk some sense into her about her boyfriend…that's just my opinion." She replied with a smile as she let herself out. Troy waited till the door was closed before lying back on his bed with a sigh, for some reason the image of Taylor and Chad hugging wouldn't leave him alone. It bothered him greatly, and he didn't know if it bothered him because he knew Chad would hurt her again or because he liked her.

"Ouch!" Taylor exclaimed the next day at school when Sharpay walked up to her and smacked her across the back of her head. Rubbing the now tender spot she shot her friend a look and while saying. "What was that for?"

"For being so stupid…see, I was trying to knock some sense back into your head. For someone who is going to be the valedictorian of our class you certainly are acting stupid." Sharpay exclaimed not caring if anyone around them heard the conversation.

"What da hell are you talking about?"

"I heard that you and Chad are back on track…damn Taylor where in the hell is that massive brain of yours." She exclaimed reaching out to hit Taylor again, but this time she quickly evaded the hit and shook her head.

"Would you stop it."

"I'm trying to help here…if I knock your head around a few more times maybe your brain will get back into place and you will start using it again." She said as she moved to hit her, reaching out Taylor grabbed her hand but struggled as the taller girl started to use her other hand.

"Sharpay!" At the sound of her name Sharpay stopped and stepped back, Taylor sighed and brushed her clothing off and looked up at her. "Thanks for stopping…now me and Chad is none of your business. We're going to work on our relationship and try to make it better. He's really going to try Shar."

"Do you even listen to yourself sometimes when you take about your relationship with Chad…I mean really do you?"

"Um…no."

"Well, if you did…you know what you would sound like? You'd sound like those women who were abused and they talk about it on lifetime. So what's next you're going to get stabbed in the face and blame it on an innocent door."

"Gosh you are so dramatic…I'm not going to get stabbed."
"Well, you tell me how you feel when Chad breaks your heart…I'm sure it will feel like something sharp pierced your heart." Sharpay said with a shake of her head. "I swear sometimes I don't know what you see in him."

"Probably the same time you see in Zeke…love."

"Yeah, but Zeke actually knows how to display it without me winding up hurt or in tears." Sharpay snapped back. "Besides after he did what he did on Saturday I can't believe you're talking to him…if that was me…" she trailed off shaking her head. Taylor just rolled her eyes and picked up her book bag.

"Look you're see everything between me and Chad is going to get better. He said so last night. Shar, just be happy for me okay."

"I would if you were into making good decisions." Taylor frowned at her words, and just sighed.

"You just aren't going to be happy till I break up with him are you?" Taylor asked as she looked up at Sharpay who stared back at her.

"No…cause you can do much better."

"Shar!"

"I know I know you don't want to hear it, but Tay I really care about you okay…so I'll see you later alright." She said softly as she looked at her before heading off towards her class leaving Taylor alone in the hallway. As she was headed towards her class, she gasped as two strong arms encircled her waist.

"Where you going baby?"

"To class…you know where you should be." She said as she turned around in his arms and looked up at him. He smiled down at her and winked.

"You look absolutely beautiful today, baby."

"Oh thank you Chad and you know what you don't look to bad yourself." She said as he bent down and kissed her cheek. He smiled at her response and pulled her closer.

"Thank you baby…now how about you and I go out this Friday?"

"Oh that sounds good what do you have in mind?

"How about this," he said as he stepped back and looked down at her, "Dinner and a movie of your choice." She smiled up at him and nodded her head.

"I like the sound of that."

"Good so how about I pick you up at your house after you get home from work and we'll have our date." He said with a wink, when Taylor nodded he kissed her gently on the lips. "Good now let's get to class before we're late… and I know how you hate being late."

"You're right…I'll see you later." Taylor said and practically walked away, her mind already on what she and Chad were going to do on their date, for the first time in while she was excited for the school week to end.

When Friday came, Taylor could barely keep the smile off her face as she worked that afternoon at the youth center. Troy had noticed her cheerful face and had grumpily walked away to go and take care of some work in the gym. As Taylor watched her classroom full of children clear out, her phone rang. Reaching down she picked it up and looked it over. The call was from Chad. Answering quickly she closed the door behind her last student and spoke. "Hey baby."

"Hey, Tay…look baby I've got some bad news." He said softly, Taylor instantly frowned at his words.

"What is it?" she said coldly already knowing the answer.

"Don't be like that, Taylor…I mean it. Something came up that was important and-."

"More important than taking your girlfriend out like you promise…geez Chad how many times are you going to do this to me." She said as she placed a hand over her forehead and breathed out in frustration.

"I don't know…but baby you have to understand that I didn't mean for this to happen."

"The heck you didn't…you knew about this date long before today, and surprise surprise something just happens to pop up. You are unbelievable, Chad I can't believe that you would do this. You knew how excited I was…and-."

"There's nothing I can do, Tay. So just get over it cause I'm not going to change my plans just cause you shed a few tears alright. Something popped up and I'm going to take care of it."

"You shouldn't have done this Chad."

"What, so I'm in the dog house again." He said furiously.

"I guess so, Chad I mean you really shouldn't keep doing this to me…I can't wait on you to-." She jerked her head back as she heard the dial tone. Looking at the phone she closed it up and placed back on her desk and closed her eyes furious with herself for believing that Chad would change and angry with herself for allowing herself to let him back in.

Troy was currently loading the van with the kids when Jandro wandered over towards him. Looking up he paused and gave him, his full attention. "Is there a problem?"

"Yeah, did you do something to Taylor again?" Troy helped another child into the van while shaking his head.

"No…man I haven't been around her all day." Troy said as he looked at him. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's in her room crying…I peeked in but didn't really have the heart to ask her what was wrong. Especially when I thought you had done something cause then she might be on a whole West High is dumb kick and I really didn't want to deal with that drama."

"Wait, you said she's crying."

"Yeah man…and I thought you said or did something to her so what's wrong with her." Troy shook his head and stepped away from the van.

"Taylor, I want you to load the rest of the children on the van while I go talk to Taylor alright, besides I can't have her holding us up. You know I have to take her home." Jandro just nodded as Troy walked away knowing that by now Troy wouldn't even have heard him.

Making his way into the youth center, Troy headed towards Taylor's room and looked inside. He saw her by her desk crying and he instantly frowned. It didn't take a genius to know who had hurt her. Opening the door, he watched as she looked up and then quickly looked back down. "Jandro told me you were crying…you alright?" he asked stepping into the room fully and closing the door.

"It's nothing…just leave me alone."

"Well, there are two things wrong with that statement. One, you're crying and I know you wouldn't cry over nothing, and two I can't leave you alone…besides I'm supposed to drive you home. So let's stop the drama, and you just tell me what's wrong?"

"I…I…just don't know what do. Everyone is telling he's no good and I just don't listen." She cried as she looked over Troy, who just stood by the door watching her silently. "I mean what exactly am I supposed to do."

"This is about Chad isn't it?" he asked softly as he looked at her for a moment.

"Yeah, it is." Taking a few steps forward he looked at her and then spoke.

"What happened?"

"He promised to take me to a dinner and a movie but he just called to cancel…and this isn't the first time he's done something like this. This isn't the first time he's broken his promise to me."

"I'm sorry that had to happen to you." He said softly as he finally walked all the way over to her. Taylor looked up at him, while Troy reached down and brushed her tears away with the pad of his thumb. "Taylor, I'm really sorry that happened to you." He whispered as he took his hand away from her. "Come on let me get you home…oh and where's your brother." He asked as he helped Taylor out of her seat.

"Oh my mother thought it would be nice to go and see her mother, so she left me by myself. I really am enjoying having the house to myself though…and since I didn't have to watch my brother I was happy to have a date with Chad. I mean lately I've been spending Friday nights all alone while I watch my brother…babysitting younger siblings can really kill your social life." She said giving him a watery grin. He smiled back and nodded his head for a moment before speaking.

"Well it shouldn't be like that…does Danforth even come over."

"No…he only likes it when I'm alone." Troy decided not to talk anymore about Chad once he noticed how she sniffled at his comment about him.

"Come on let's go." He replied, placing his arm around her slender waist he led her out of the room and out of the van where Jandro had loaded up the rest of the kids up in the van. Troy ignored the look that Jandro sent his way, while he helped Taylor into the van. Once he closed the door, he turned and looked at Jandro who was still silently watching him.

"What happened?"

"It was Danforth…he hurt her." Was the only answer that Troy gave him before he got into the van and pulled away.

Troy glanced over at Taylor as they pulled up into her driveway. The ride over after they dropped off their last kid was quiet and awkward. Troy found himself wanting to say something to ease her pain. Instead he found himself looking over at her silently and feeling a deep pain in his chest as he watched her cry over what Chad Danforth had done to her. He watched as she looked up as the van came to a stop. Before Taylor could get out of the car, Troy had decided on what to do. "Thanks for the ride home." Taylor whispered as she moved to get out of the van, Troy reached out and placed a hand on her arm.

"Wait." She looked over at him and slowly shook her head.

"Wait for what?" she asked obviously not in the mood for anyone to play around with her. Troy tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and looked over at her for a moment before answering.

"I was thinking that maybe…um…if it made you feel better…I was thinking that maybe I could take you out for dinner and movie."

"Why would do something like that? I thought that you didn't like East High students, besides I wouldn't want your friends seeing us…and then you dissing me just because they're there."

"I would never do that…besides I don't think any of my friends would really care about me being out with you."

"Whatever you say, Troy just know that I'm not going to buy that lie alright."

"Look, you're my friend and I'm so sorry that Troy did what he did…come on let me take you out I promise you'll have a good time." He said flashing her a smile; she looked him over for a moment before slowly nodding her head.

"Alright let's go but no funny business." She said as Troy shifted the van into gear and backed out of her driveway. With a smile he nodded his head and chuckled as he headed off down the road.

"Okay no funny business but I'm telling you right now you're going to enjoy yourself tonight so wipe those brown eyes and put a smile on that face. Cause I'm about to show you how us West Highers have fun."

A/N: I'll update when I can…but I'm not sure when that will be especially with this internet problem. So please be patient with me.

Baby S