So, with the help of Gabriella, Chad finally has the chance to apologize to Taylor. But there's one problem...he's afraid. Will Chad chicken out or will he be courageous enough and apologize?

Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical. If I did, do you think I would be doing this?

"What else would I be doing here? The park's open to everybody you know," Chad retorted, casually sitting on the swing and trying to avoid the real reason he was here.

"Oh, I'm just about to leave anyway, so I'll be out of your way," Taylor answered quietly, picking up the baby carrier that Corbin was in.

"Taylor?" Chad said.

"Yeah?"

Chad opened his mouth to say 'I'm sorry' but his lips couldn't form the words. Taylor looked at him questionably for a second.

"Are you messing with my head Chad? Cause if you don't want me here, I'll leave," Taylor replied, turning to walk away.

"No, it's not that!" Chad yelled, hoping that she would turn around, which she did.

"Then what is it Chad? First you tell me off that you don't want me in your life, and now you want to talk to me? What is your problem?" Taylor retaliated.

Chad pushed the swing lightly, looking down at his feet. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry," he answered quietly, but it wasn't audible to Taylor.

"What?" Taylor walked over, placing the carrier by the swing, and sat in the swing next to Chad.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry," Chad answered, looking up at her. "I'm sorry that I told you off. I was just really stressed about everything. About how my life had changed so much. I thought that you and the project were to blame. And that was wrong..."

Taylor looked down warmly at him. "There's the kind gentle side again. It's really great to see this side of him."

"Can you forgive me?" he questioned, pure sorrow in his voice. He looked up at her, hopeful.

"Yeah, I forgive you," Taylor answered, smiling. "So, we're friends again?" Taylor held out her hand, to see if he really meant it.

"Yeah, we're friends again," Chad replied, taking her hand in his.

"So about the weekend?" Taylor asked, "How are we gonna divide this weekend up?"

"I dunno. What was your plan before I...you know."

"Well, I was thinking that we could each take him for a day. You know, and whoever had him on Sunday could bring him to school and hand him off to the other person," Taylor explained, pushing her swing a bit harder.

"Oh, I see, so we're switching off every morning, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought we could do. That is, unless you still want me to take him for the next three weeks and stay out of your life," Taylor said, in a slightly hurt tone, as if she was still afraid of him.

"No, no, I want to do my share. I'm probably enough of a pain for you to spend time with, there's no need to add more to that with the kid," Chad replied jokingly.

Taylor chuckled, her lips curling into a smile. "Chad, you're not that much of a pain...okay, maybe a little."

"Hey! That's mean!" Chad retorted, giving her a gentle shove on the shoulder.

"You're the one that said it," Taylor retorted, laughing.

"So, do you want me to take the kid for the rest of the night and tomorrow?"

"Nah. How about I finish off tonight and you come over tomorrow morning?"

"Sure, whatever works for you will work for me."

Taylor chuckled to herself, "You know what Chad? You're not what I expected you to be."

"What did you expect me to be?"

"You know, like most jocks. Self-centered, obsessed with cheerleaders, rude, and animal-like."

"Really?"

"But you're not like that. You're not like the other jocks."

"I'm full of surprises Taylor. There are more levels to me than you think."

"Yeah." Taylor simply answered. "Listen, it's getting late and I really should get home. My dad's gonna wonder where I really am."

The sun had set hours ago and the stars had fully revealed themselves against the velvet black sky. The trees were ominous black silhouettes in the dark and it was beginning to creep Taylor out.

"Yeah, I'd better get home too," Chad hopped off the swing, "Come on, I've gotta make sure my family gets home safely."

Taylor got off the swing, picked up the baby carrier, and run up behind Chad. "Thanks. So, you come to my house tomorrow then?"

"Sure."

They walked the rest of the way to Taylor's house in silence. Within a couple minutes, they had arrived at her front doorstep.

"I guess this is where we go our separate ways," Taylor stated, putting her hand on the door knob, "Thanks for escorting me home."

"No prob. What time do you want me to come over tomorrow?"

"Around 10 good for you?"

"Sure. I'll see you at 10 tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow." Taylor bent down and kissed Chad on the cheek, only to quickly stand back up straight and apologize. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," Taylor stammered.

"It's okay Taylor. I'll see you tomorrow." Chad turned and walked away, glad that it was dark out so no one could see that he was blushing madly. "Good night!" he called back, still walking.

"Good night Chad!" Taylor cried back.

Chad gave her a small wave to tell her that he heard her. Taylor blushed deeply, wondering why she did that, and opened the door, excited for the next day.

-------------------------

The Next Day

Taylor woke up to the sound of the alarm for the 5th time that morning, lazily turning over and shutting it off. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she made her way to the bathroom, only to hear laughter from downstairs. Wondering what it was about, she journeyed down the stairs in her night gown and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Tay," her mother brightly said, standing by the stove, "Sleep in late this morning?"

"Yeah," Taylor yawned. She walked over the table, not noticing who else was at the table. The drowsiness obscuring her vision, she sat down in her seat, only to sit down on someone's lap.

"Good morning Taylor," a familiar voice called. She turned around and realized she had just sat down on Chad's lap!

"Is it that late?!" Taylor asked her mother.

"No, I'd thought that I'd stop by early and explain why you came home so late last night. It wasn't your fault that you were stuck with me for a lab partner, was it?" Chad replied, smiling cheekily.

"I guess it wasn't my fault that I was stuck with you," Taylor answered nervously, looking down at the green frilly night gown she was still wearing. "Can you excuse me for a minute?"

"Sure, it's your house," Chad answered, pulling a plate in front of him. Taylor's mother had invited him to stay for breakfast before he left and there was no way that Chad could say no to food.

Taylor ran upstairs, quickly grabbing a comb and running it through her hair with one hand while the other hand was brushing her teeth. Placing the comb down, she went into her closet and dug through all her clothes, looking for something to wear.

"Taylor," her father called, "Can I see you in my office?"

Taylor ventured into her father's office, knowing that what he wanted to talk to her about was not a good thing.

Yay! Chad didn't chicken out and now they're on friendship terms again. But what's in store for Taylor as she talks to her father? Find out in the next chatper!

Lotta love,
Kat