Author's Note: Here's chapter three! Enjoy!

Chapter Three: Practice Makes Perfect

"Five, six, seven, eight!"

Chad wiped some sweat off his forehead as he glanced at Haylie, who was being a miltary general at the moment...or, just more like his dad in some cases.

He then glanced at Ryan, who was trying not to laugh.

"Ryan!" he stated, and Ryan burst out laughing, as Haylie the Miltary General was teaching Taylor some dance steps for her and Haylie's routine.

For the dance competion, there were couples, and then there was a section where you could dance with anyone you want, whether it was the partner you danced with in couples, or a totally different person.

"Tell Haylie to stop being a sergent general!" Chad replied.

Ryan bit his lip, which formed into a smile.

"I can't..she gets mad everytime I try to tell her."

Chad's brown eyes went wide.

Haylie was crazy about Ryan! Surely she would have obeyed his command!

"B-but...dude, Haylie is crazy about you!" Chad stated.

Ryan grinned.

"I'm just joking, Chad. She's just uptight about the competion. She'll stop when--"

"No talking!" Haylie said, shoving her way between the two boys, both gazing down at her.

Whenever Haylie walked by Chad, Chad was always afraid that he'd hurt her, because she was so small.

Thank goodness he hadn't yet, or Ryan would hurt him severely.

Ryan gave Chad one more "I'm sorry" smile before Chad turned to Taylor, who grinned.

"So, thinking about dropping yet?" she asked, smiling.

"No, even if Haylie is acting all sergent general, I'm sticking to it." Chad told her.

"Good. Because the dance competion is less than two weeks away, and I can't afford to lose you."

"Who said I was quitting? I'm not." Chad replied.

"Who's quitting?" Haylie asked.

"Chad is." Taylor said teasely.

Haylie looked at him, her brown eyes growing wide.

For a minute, Chad thought she had taken Taylor's taunt as a joke, but then her expression.

"No, you can't--"

"Easy, Haylie. I'm not quitting." Chad replied, giving the small, blonde girl a smile.

"Wow, for a second there, I thought you were!" Haylie explained.

"Of course not. I would not bail on you guys--"

"Danforth!"

Haylie, Taylor, Chad, and Ryan all looked to see Coach Bolton, and following him was the basketball team.

Chad pulled away from Taylor, and eyed his coach.

"Hey, Coach. What's up?" he asked.

Jack Bolton didn't have a smile like Chad did on his face.

"No, what's up with you? We've been waiting for fifteen minutes for you, and we found out your--"

Chad looked to Troy, Jason, and Zeke, and explained, "Guys!"

Troy held up both of his hands in defeat.

"Sorry, dude. He's my dad...I can't lie to him."

Coach Bolton pointed to the door.

"Danforth. In the gym. Now!"

Chad slid off the stage, following his team out the door.

He glanced back at Ryan, Taylor, and Haylie, and gave them a smile.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll figure out a way to--"

Haylie shook her head as she gathered up the boom-box.

"Chad, no. If Coach Bolton thinks you should support your team, then you should. I'll have Ryan dance with Taylor, and--"

Chad frowned.

"Haylie, what did I just say? I'm not bailing out on you guys just because Coach said so. I'll find a way to practice with you guys, I swear."

"Okay, if you say so, Chad.." Haylie replied, going backstage, with Ryan following her.

Only Taylor was left on the stage.

"I don't get it...does Haylie really think I'll bail?" Chad asked.

Taylor sighed as she collected her backpack, and walked down the stairs to join him.

"Maybe. But, she doesn't know you I do, though." she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out.