Hallo! You be liking my story, ya? Good, good. Kiddin. Thank you for reading my story so far, hope you've liked it. I have to say, Zeke's Cupid Catastrophe has to be my fave so far, maybe because I worked on it longer. Who knows?

This time, I thought I'd give ya a little taste o' Taylor, so, enjoy!

Recap

Kelsi flinging her pen away, she leaned back and closed her eyes in bliss. It only goes to show how much she wanted to finish it, because she never wrote 'The End' at the end of her stories. She rubbed her aching hand and opened her eyes to see a shadow move across he notebook. Whipping her head up, she saw a figure standing over her

"Glad you could join us at last, Miss Nielsen."

"Oh . . . uh" Kelsi gulped and sat up straighter. "Hello Ms Darbus."

Troy Bolton raced down the hallway, ignoring the teachers that shouted their disapproval, and the students that called out after him. He only slowed when he heard a voice he knew.

"Lover boy, you'd better turn your ass around and go back the way you came."

"Wha . . . ?" Troy whirled to his left, and standing by the table next to the doorway, was Taylor. Her hands were on her hips, and she looked disapprovingly at the basketball star.

"She's gone." Taylor said shrugging a little.

"No way!" Troy moaned. He raised a hand to his forehead, as he closed his eyes in frustration.

"Third time this week. She's not happy."

Troy said nothing and swayed slightly on the spot. Taylor was sorry for him, and it showed on her face.

"Look, I gotta run, I'm having lunch with Chad, but if I see Gabriella I'll talk to her. Cheer up!"

"Yeah," Troy sighed miserably, hanging around as if he wasn't sure what to do next.

Kelsi watched the situation, feeling sorry for him, as Taylor did. The way she saw it, Troy always tried so hard for Gabriella and all she ever did was throw it back in his face . . .

"Hey! Troy!" suddenly called Kelsi, "Over here!"

Troy's face lit up when he saw her, and gave his usual cheeky grin. He jogged over and sat down at the old drama table, dumping his rucksack on the floor.

"Why don't you sit at the new drama table with the others?" he asked her.

"And endure a whole load of trash from Sharpay? No thank you!" Kelsi snorted, and Troy chuckled. He shot a brief glance around the cafeteria and then looked at Kelsi, who gave him a little smile.

"Have you talked to her about the secret thing? It hasn't died down yet, people are still gossiping." he said He suddenly remembered that he hadn't yet taken off his jacket, so he did. Kelsi raised an eyebrow. 'So he intends to stay a while, then . . . '

"Nope, I don't want to talk to her about it. She'll claw my head off! It's annoying that gossip lasts forever at East High, I bet in any other school, everyone would have got bored of it by now!"

"Probably because in any other school, the gossip is really boring. East High is where all the action is!"

"True." Kelsi laughed, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear, as she usually had to do. As the silence lingered, Kelsi felt it was the time to ask him.

"Um . . . Troy? I meant to ask . . . is everything okay between you and Gabriella? Not to be a noser – uh, I mean nosy- but . . . um . . ."

Troy thought for a minute before answering. His face had become troubled and lost.

"It's okay, just . . . well, it's a complicated relationship that isn't really going anywhere, so I guess we'll just stay friends. I mean, I don't know if I should . . ."

"How much do you like her?" Kelsi inquired, resting her head on her hand.

"Quite a bit, considering . . ."

"What?"

"Never mi-" Troy stopped and looked at Kelsi properly. Kelsi slowly took her head over her hand and looked cautiously back. Troy cast another look around, and hurried got his stuff together.

"Are you going?" Kelsi said, taken aback by his sudden departure.

"Yes. And you're coming with me. C'mon, let's take a walk."

HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM

Taylor's Something Something

Taylor was a very smart child, and her parents could tell straight away. It was obvious that after two brothers and two sisters, they had received a bundle of genius joy.

The paragraph was scribbled all over with a black ball-point pen, and after that there was another story opening:

Taylor was not a very smart child, and her parents could tell. Compared to her two genius brothers and two genius sisters, it was obvious that she did not have the same amount of amazing brain power that they had.

Taylor wanted so much to be in the Scholastic Decathlon. She knew it would please her parents to no end, they would be so proud of her.

But the only club it seemed she could join was the Cheerleading Squad. The girls in the club were mainly pretty and dumb, but they were pretty dumb anyway for even joining. There was no denying the fact that Taylor was pretty, fortunately.

Unfortunately for her, she was also pretty dumb.

"Earth to Kelsi, are you still with me?"

"Huh?" Kelsi shook her head, and looked at Troy, who was waving a hand in her face. They were walking into an empty classroom; it wasn't used during lunch break.

"Well, I said we'd go in here, because it's quiet, then I asked if you were okay and you didn't answer."

"Sorry, I am, I am okay. I just zoned out. Sorry."

"Chill out Kel-bell, it's cool." Troy dumped his things on a nearby table, and then sat on the edge of it, looking once again at Kelsi with his piecing blue eyes. She didn't like to meet his eyes, because the fact that he was even looking at her for so long made her nervous anyway. She suspected that she had a thing about people staring at her, no matter who it was.

"I didn't want to be over-heard," Troy said softly, Kelsi suddenly felt a lot more on edge than she did a few seconds ago. Maybe it was because she was alone in a classroom with Troy Bolton, or it could be because she wasn't sure what he was going to say.

"You don't like her, do you?"

Kelsi stared, but her body relaxed. Whatever she thought she was expecting, it wasn't that. Who was he talking about? Sharpay?

As though he had read her thoughts, he said "Gabriella. I never noticed it much before, you were always so . . . sly about it. But, I mean . . . what is it about her you don't like? I'm curious."

Kelsi stiffened. "I don't want to talk about her."

"Why?" Troy pressed.

"I just don't want to, okay?" Kelsi shouted, making Troy jump. Kelsi hardly ever shouted.

"She was a decent person before! Following her own dream, helping people follow theirs, even if it meant not sticking to the status quo. Now that she's been accepted as an irreplaceable part of the school, she doesn't care about anybody else! She only wants to make it to the top, pushing her friends away from her as she goes. She's even teamed up with Sharpay! Sharpay, of all people!" Kelsi raged, now pacing around the room. Troy opened his mouth to speak, but Kelsi silenced him.

"No, Troy." She held up a hand. "You wouldn't know, she's your friend, and you try to look for the best in people anyway. Of course you wouldn't." She stopped and faced him, jabbing a finger at her own chest.

"But I know what's going on, and in the end, I'll receive the worst end of it, no surprises there. Did I tell you about the time-" she shook her head and turned away from him, shaking.

It was the most she'd ever said in one time and at such a high volume in her life.

There was silence for a little while, as Troy tried to take in what was going on.

"Well, thank you for answering my question at least," he smiled. Kelsi walked right up to him, and placed a dainty hand on his shoulder. It wasn't something she would have usually done; some girls found any excuse they could to touch Troy, but she felt that what she was about to say might not be received easily.

"Gabriella knows you have basketball practice, and yet she still makes you go to have lunch with her. You know you can't get there in time, jeez, she probably knows it! She hurries of to the auditorium every lunch break and she can't even take some time out to have lunch with her friend. Today, she didn't even wait. She went off with Sharpay, and I'm guessing probably forgot to tell you."

Kelsi collected her things. "If she was my friend, I'd tell her that she needed to decide where her loyalties lie." Kelsi snorted before saying, "For that reason, it's probably best that I'm not her friend!"

Kelsi realised that she might have said too much, and paniced a little. But he needed to be told. He was Kelsi's friend.

Troy was silent and started at the floor, unsure of what to make of it all.

Kelsi decided to go, and leave Troy alone with his thoughts. For some reason, tears started to form in her eyes. She didn't say all of that crap because she cared about Troy. Which she did, in a friendly/brotherly way, but that wasn't the reason. She said it because she had strong feelings about this Gabriella, feelings she never even had with Sharpay. What was the difference?.

She disliked Sharpay Evans.

She hated Gabriella Montez.

HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM

Taylor nervously walked into the middle of the gym and joined the girls that were crowded there. I must be out of my mind, she thought in terror. Suddenly someone spoke to her.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking. You must be a complete ditz to be here, right?" Taylor opened her eyes. A blond girl stood in front of her. Her face was sharply defined and had stern qualities to it, but her eyes twinkled with fun.

"Sharpay." She held out a hand. She had nice hands, but her nails were bitten right down. "Oh. Yeah." Sharpay withdrew her hand and looked apologetically at Taylor. "Can't help it. Habit. Oh well."

Taylor laughed and held out her own hand, which Sharpay shook.

"You do like short sentences! Anyway, I think that could possibly be disguised with a dollop of pink nail polish. It would look nice on you. I'm Taylor by the way."

"Okay girls, playtime's over."

The crowd of girls turned around to see a girl walking towards them. Who was she to give us orders? Was what most of them were thinking.

She gazed at them and sensed their thoughts, and shook her head, so her beautiful, long brown curls shimmered and swung over her shoulder. It was such a simple movement, but it had such a mesmerising effect. Even Taylor felt like she was a person to be admired, for a reason she couldn't explain.

"I'm Gabriella Montez," she gave her auditionees a sweet smile. "East High's new Cheerleading Captain. This is what's going to happen." Gabriella walked over to the stereo, and called, "We'll do a warm-up, and then start the audition . . . if Ally decides to turn up, of course. And where the hell is Jason?" She demanded of Chelsea, who was judging with her.

"Um . . . Gabs, I heard he's not joining the Squad this year," She pursed her lips, and fiddled with her nails under Gabriella's hard gaze. "I think he's gone to join the basketball team. Or maybe he is joining, but he forgot, like usual,"

Gabriella looked as if she was about to explode, then suddenly she sighed, "Let's just start the goddamn audition."

x x x

Later that week, Gabriella approached Taylor, defiant as she walked across the cafeteria.

"McKessie. We need to talk."

Taylor looked at the glowing girl anxiously, and slowly stood up.

"Um, okay . . . Sharpay, I'll . . . see you later, okay?"

Sharpay nodded as Taylor started to get her things.

"Oh, leave your stuff, I'll only be a few minutes," Gabriella yawned, getting impatient.

"Kelsi! Dinner!"

Kelsi ignored the call from her mother. It was always at the wrong time.

They went to the girls' toilets. (A.N. Do Americans say 'girls bathrooms'? Or is it lavatories? Could someone give me a heads up please?) Gabriella checked that every cubicle was empty before producing a key, and locking the door.

"It's always handy to have a lavatory key in your purse," grinned Gabriella, leaning on the now locked door. "Especially if it's the girls. Now, let me be the first to say . . . you made it into the Squad. Well done, McKessie."

"Really?" squealed Taylor, her hands clasped together as she did a little jump in the air. "No way!"

"Yes way," nodded Gabriella. "However, keeping your place in it is a different matter entirely." The smile on the black girl's face slipped a little as Gabriella's tone became more serious.

"There were some flaws in your audition, but I overlooked them. You're pretty anyway, and that always helps, I just need to train you to be . . . better. You have the potential to become an amazing cheerleader, maybe even take my place one day. Isn't that nice?"

Taylor slowly nodded. Gabriella didn't treat her like an equal. It was more like a child, or like someone who was a liability. Taylor didn't like it; it made her uncomfortable.

Gabriella gazed at Taylor. Suddenly, she said, "Being a cheerleader isn't your ambition, is it?"

Taylor was taken aback. How did she know?

"Not really. I wanted to join the Scholastic Decathlon Team, but I'm not exactly the smartest person in the world, and, well, I wanted to be a part of something that works your mental ability . . . not that I don't appreciate you letting me join the Squad, of course."

"And so you should appreciate what I've done for you!" Gabriella hissed suddenly, and Taylor jumped, frightened. The girl who was such a nice, understanding leader transformed into a monster in a split second.

"I didn't have to let you in, but I have. Saying the Squad isn't mentally challenging is a misinterpretation of what we're all about!" Gabriella advanced on her, and Taylor backed away.

"No-I"

"I would have thought you would have more respect for someone like me. You think you're better than us because you want to reach for something better than our silly little Cheerleading Squad?"

"No! Please Gabriella . . ."

Taylor had reached the wall, and there was nowhere to move. Gabriella stopped walking. Composed herself. Re-smoothed her hair.

"Okay, fine. You want to get into the Smart Ass Club? You got it babe."

Taylor looked at the ground, shaking. Gabriella could be very scary, and she didn't know it this was some sort of joke. She could feel her eyes gazing into her back.

"This is not a joke, I swear." that casual remark made Taylor felt vulnerable, partly because Gabriella could tell what she was feeling and thinking. Maybe that why she was uncomfortable when Gabriella gazed at her . . .

"However, you have to repay me by helping me get rid of Chelsea."

"Kelsi! Come down for dinner please!"

Kelsi didn't even hear her this time. She was too stuck in the story.

Taylor looked up, shocked. "What? Why?"

"Because she's trying to get rid of me!" cried Gabriella in rage. "She's a crazy bitch! I'm not having her in my Squad anymore, and I just need a good reason to kick her off!"

"Well, she makes out with Troy Bolton in Coach Bolton's office when he's not there. Or was it the in the Secret Garden? Anyway, what about that?"

"That's stupid for two reasons. One: Everyone knows that. Two: I can't kick her off the team 'cause she make out with the hottest guy in school! Everyone would think I'm jealous, which would ruin my rep. Wow, you really are dum."

"KELSI!"

The sheer loudness of it cut right into her head, and she lost her train of thought. She sighed irritably and rounded it off;

"Sorry." Taylor hung her head.

"Well, you should be." Without another word, Gabriella unlocked the door and left.

Kelsi sat up on her bed, and massaged her aching hand. She had written loads, but she felt it wasn't good enough. A good quantity doesn't ensure a good quality.

What Kelsi really needed was a reader; someone to review her work, and tell her what her good and bad points are.

But some of the things she used in stories were based on real-life things, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to share it with anyone. The Ice Queen's spoilt-ness. Gabriella's two-faced-ness. Zeke's . . . adorable cute-ness! Kelsi giggled.

Sighing, she decided to call it a day. She thought about it, then decided to cut the story in two. She wrote;

Will Taylor get into the Scholastic Decathlon Team?

Will Gabriella manage to overthrow Chelsea?

Will I continue making Sharpay nice?

Find out in Part 2!

The problem was, she still didn't have a title. After a few minutes of intense thinking, she came up with Taylor's Cheerleading Catastrophe, (something that came to her after just thinking about Zeke) and Taylor's Way to Wisdom.

In the end, she gave it a title that captured what the story was really about.

Might take me a while to get the next chapter up, because I'm working on another story, not of Fanfiction. Shouldn't be more than say, two weeks, or even one week.

So lets check it off; I've done Sharpay, Kelsi, Zeke, Taylor. Next will be . . . ah, I won't say! I'll let you guess for a bit longer. Thank you for reading!

Mzdarkstar x x x