Me be really sorry. Sorry for the bad grammer, I just felt like I had to be an idiot for a second. I know that I've been really slow with my updating and it's summer. I apologize now.

But, I've figured out how to keep you guys updated without updating. On my freewebs, I'll be posting a sneak peek into the next chapter. I'll try to do that about a day or so after my last update. I will also post a sneak peek into the next video.

Okay, on with the story...

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CHAPTER SIX

With Corbin in his hands and his bag slung over one shoulder, Chad wondered into the library, his head filled with questions. He knew why he was at the library - to do some research and retrieve Taylor's Lit. book - but he couldn't focus. Except only on the question of why Taylor had hugged him. And why he pushed her away.

"Mr. Danforth," called Mrs. Fallstaff, "I don't want any of your shenanigans. Get to work and keep quiet." She always had been on look-out for him ever since he arrived at East High. So what if he liked to play a few jokes every now and then? It didn't mean that he couldn't keep quiet.

"Of course, Mrs. Fallstaff," Chad answered, placing the binky in Corbin's mouth.

Chad made his way to the back of the library and headed toward the windows. The sun was faint in the sky behind the gray clouds. He took a seat by the windows, just a few tables down where Taylor had been minutes earlier. Dumping his bag on the table, Chad got up and went over to the history section and searched the titles for something useful.

Pulling out an encyclopedia on American inventors, he sat back down and pulled out a pencil and paper, intending to write notes. But instead, he sat back and closed his eyes, letting his mind wonder onto whatever topic he could pull out of the air.

He looked at Corbin, the only thing that was really tying him to Taylor. It's was strange to him how whenever he thought of his kid, he thought of the girl that he'd always made fun of. But now that he thought about it, the only reason he teased her was because she was part of the Scholastic Decathlon, Honor's Society, Pro Languages, and the Math Club.

"You know Corbin," Chad said quietly in fear of Mrs. Fallstaff walking by, "A lot of strange things are happening to me right now. First it's Taylor, then it's you, and now it's this. Me sitting in a library, thinking about her.

"It's strange...I'd never think that I'd ever see her in any other light than as the nerdy math geek. That's changed now...or at least I think it's changed." Chad leaned back so now the chair was balancing on its two hind legs. "She's not like other girls, she's different. Sure, she may be a math nerd, but she's the only girl in this school whose actually ever hugged me. She's the only person who I actually offered to do something for. Speaking of that...I'd better find her book now before I forget about it."

Chad stood up, brushing out the imaginary wrinkles in his pants. He spotted the book a couple tables down from him. He absent-mindedly picked it up the book, not noticing the writing on the cover. Sitting back down, he placed the book down.

Troy walked into the library, intending to get caught up with some homework that he missed. He saw Chad out of the corner of his eye and walked over to sit with his best friend. "Hey Chad. I never thought that I'd find you in here."

"I never thought that I'd ever be in here either," Chad replied. They did their secret handshake, which involved a high five, patting each other on the shoulder, bumping each other on the elbow, and ending with a fist pound. "What are you doing in here?"

"Catching up on homework," Troy answered. "What about you?"

"Doing some research for my Social Studies project," Chad looked down at his notes or rather, the paper that lacked notes, "but I'm not having any luck. I just can't remember with inventor invented what."

"Why don't you get some help from your partner?"

"Taylor? Why?"

"Never mind," Troy looked over the table, "Is this yours?" he asked, picking up Taylor's Lit. book.

"Nah, that's Taylor's. I offered to pick it up for her."

"You offered to do a favor for Taylor...Taylor McKessie?" Troy looked at him in wonder. "The person who you didn't even want to be in the same room with...that Taylor McKessie?"

"Lay off it Troy. It's not like I like her or anything - because I don't. She was just freakin' out about losing her book in the library and I was goin' to be here anyway, so why not just pick it up for her?"

"I guess it doesn't matter anyway. It seems that Taylor has eyes for someone else."

"What do you mean?"

"It says so right here...on the cover. Complex person...blah, blah, blah...a big jerk, but can be more human...blah, blah, blah...attractive...wish I could see more of that in him," Troy answered, reading Taylor's handwriting on the cover.

"Let me see," Chad commanded, snatching the book out of Troy's hand. He read the cover and Troy was right. From this, it seemed that Taylor liked someone else. He felt a tiny string pull at his heart. Putting the book down, Chad stood up, taking Corbin with him.

"Chad, where are ya goin'?" Troy questioned, seeing the look on his face change from joyfulness to slight apprehensiveness.

"I'm just goin' for a...walk. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Listen, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Chad answered unconvincingly. He gathered the rest of his stuff and Taylor's Lit. book and walked away. Troy watched as his friend slowly made his way out of the library, wondering what was on his mind.

"Maybe Gabi's right. Maybe Chad's developing a soft side for Taylor. I guess hope she does for him," Troy whispered to himself. He turned his attention back to his homework.

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Chad walked out of the library and walked out to the courtyard. It was a nice sunny day and the breeze was gentle. He took a seat on the bench. Looking around, he saw Taylor in her Calc. class. Apparently she saw him too because she gave him a small wave before she returned to her work.

Chad looked at her before returning his mind to why he left the library. He didn't like Taylor, but reading those notes pulled at his heart for some strange reason.

But why did he care if she liked someone else? Taylor is a nerd, a geek and he should have nothing to do with her. He's an athlete and she's a bookie. She can date whomever she wants and he shouldn't have to worry about it.

But why is it that he does? Why does he care that Taylor has feelings for someone else? Why does something pull at his heart every time he thinks about it? Why is he dwelling on this?

Chad looked at the doll he had in his hands.

"That's it! It's all because of you!" Chad exclaimed, talking to the baby, "You came into my life and messed up everything. You were the thing that changed everything. You were the thing that got me paired up with her. You are the reason for all of this." He looked down at the doll. "That's it. I'm through with taking care of you. Maybe my life would go back to normal if you left it."

Fully convinced that he solved his problem, Chad packed up his things and walked back into the library, only to find that Troy had left. He looked up at the clock. The bell was about to ring. Walking back out and heading toward Health, there was something in the back of his head telling him that he hadn't fully solved the problem, but he pushed those thoughts away.

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The bell rang and Taylor zipped out of the class and rushed over to Health, praying that she had not written his name on that list or that he didn't read it. She didn't even know why she wrote those things. She was pretty sure that she wasn't into Chad...no, she was positive that she wasn't into Chad. Besides, they're from two totally separate social classes. He's a jock and she's an academic. They are meant to stay clear of each other and never mingle.

She named each person as they walked in.

Jason...

Gabi and Troy...

Raven...

Adam...

Kelsi...

There were only a few seconds left before the bell was going to ring and she knew that Chad was still in school. She had just waved to him a couple of minutes ago. That was another thing. Why did she do that? They agreed that they would just get along for the project and nothing more. After this, they were going back to the old days where they barely made any contact except for when Chad walked by and made fun of her.

"Why would I want things to return to that?"

"Want things to return to what?"

Taylor looked up, it was Chad. "Nothing...nothing. Did you get my Lit. book?"

"Yeah, here you go," Chad answered, forcing a smile to hide that fact that he was a little bit disappointed.

"Thanks a lot Chad. You're a life-saver." Taylor immediately grabbed an eraser and started attacking the cover, trying to get rid of the evidence. She looked up at Chad and smiled nervously. "You don't really need to know. You didn't read it, did you?"

"I'd like to say I didn't, but I did," Chad answered in a monotone voice.

"Just great. Sine I started erasing it, I can't tell if I wrote his name on it or not. I could ask him, but if his name wasn't on it, it might raise suspicions." Taylor looked down at the cover, trying to decipher whether she wrote his name on it or not.

"Can I ask you something?" Chad inquired.

"Yeah, sure," she replied slowly, "What?"

"Who were you writing about?"

"Writing? What do you mean?"

"On the cover. There was some writing about someone. Who's it about?"

"I guess I didn't write his name on there, but now how do I answer his question?" Taylor thought quickly, trying to pull an answer from thin air. "Someone, just someone."

"Do I know this someone?" Chad asked. "Why do I care? I shouldn't be caring about this!"

"Yeah, I'd say you know this someone very well," Taylor answered, trying to not to give too much or too little.

"Do you like him?" Chad had no control of himself. He was just asking these questions for some reason beyond his control.

"Ohh...about that..." Taylor started, "I..."

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How is Taylor going to get herself out of this one? Why do they keep denying feelings for each other? Find out in the next chapter!

With much love,
Kat