So here is the next chapter of Petting the Mountain Lion, thanks to everyone who has been patient with me, I know I'm not the fastest updater in the world, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Anyways I hope you all enjoy it. I know there is a ton of dialog but please bear with me. Also, I tried to keep it straight, I understand that it can be confusing, but I really don't like using "He said, and She said." It's just the way I write, anyways hopefully its not too confusing.

Peace!

DP

Petting the Mountain Lion

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Setting my bag down and closing the door loudly, I shouted, "I'm home!"

My mom called back from the kitchen, "Take a shower first, then lunch will be ready."

"But I'm terribly hungry now."

"But you're terribly smelly now, and if you don't clean up you won't get to see the surprise I have for you."

I raised an eyebrow out of curiosity. "Surprise?"

"You'll have to take a shower first..." I could just see the smile playing on my mother's lips.

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. "Fine."

Running down the stairs I turned the corner to my dining room and almost fell as I skidded to a halt. "No way."

"Surprised?" Elliot, my older brother, held out his hands, palms upward.

"Hell yes, I'm surprised."

My mother raised an eyebrow. "Language?"

"Sorry, mom."

"It's okay, dear, just be careful around your sister."

"Yes, mom."

"Lunch isn't quite ready yet, you'll have to wait a few more minutes."

"But I'm starving!"

"It's cool Chad, let's go shoot some hoops."

"Awesome!" I grabbed the ball I always had lying around and headed out the front door. "Come one lets go!"

In the drive way I took the ball out and let it sail, it flew cleanly into the net, Elliot whistled in appreciation. "Been working on that?"

"Yeah, how 'bout you? Getting rusty by wearing ties all day?"

He just laughed it off and threw the ball at me. "Check."

I threw it back with a grin. As he headed out he faked to the right then went left, he wasn't nearly as good as Troy is when he pulls that, I stole it easily and went for another basket.

"Hey, I've been practicing that!"

"So has Troy, and he's a lot better at it then you are."

"Damn, how is that boy anyways?"

"Troy? We'll he's got a new boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?"

"Yeah, his name is Ryan, super nice kid. Sister's a bitch though."

He laughed. "I know how that is. How's Taylor?"

"Taylor's... good."

"Uh-huh, which is why you had to think about it, come on bro, you can tell me."

"It's just... we're almost too perfect together."

"There is no such thing as being too perfect, if you click, you click. Let me tell you, women ruin over half the relationships they're in because they over think things. Don't tell me you're turning into a lady Chad."

"It's just that, we get along great, and she's my first real girlfriend you know?"

"That's not a good enough reason, you can't just stay with someone because you think it's right."

"So how's Sasha?"

"Sasha is amazing, actually, she's the reason I came home this weekend."

"Really, why?"

"I was thinking," he paused carefully, " I was thinking that I wanted to ask her to marry me."

I stared at him, was he old enough to be married? Did it matter? I mean if he thinks that they belong together, he's graduated from college, has a good paying job, I guess now is a good time as any.

"Well, say something?"

"Ell, that's awesome! Did you talk to her parents yet? I mean, there's so much to think about. Seriously, I can't believe it."

"Neither can I, but I think she's the one."

Sharpay and I hit the door to our math class at about the same time. Giving her a small smirk, I gave her the most extravagant bow I could manage. "After you princess."

She turned towards me and all the sudden she wasn't the misunderstood girl I went camping with last weekend, but a vicious and ferocious mountain lion once more. Putting a delicate paw on her hip, it turned on a silver heel.

"Excuse me?"

I tried giving her a smile and bowed again. "After you."

The Mountain Lion just glared at me.

"Princess?" I added in hopes of making her laugh.

"We aren't friends."

Looking at her, I knew she was serious. "I... I know."

"Just because we we're forced to spend the weekend together doesn't mean you know me, or that you can even begin to understand me."

"It was just a joke." I was getting exasperated now, couldn't the she-lion see that I was just trying to make her smile?

"Well it wasn't funny, or original, don't you think I know what you basketball freaks say while you think I'm not listening?"

"I wasn't saying it to be mean."

At this IT roared with laughter, "Chad Danforth trying to be nice to me, The 'Mountain Lion.' That's fresh."

"Well, maybe you wouldn't be called that if you acted more human."

"Maybe you're just a spineless asshole, who thinks its easier to laugh shit away, rather than face your problems like a person.

"Whatever, bitch." I didn't need to stand here and listen to this crap.

"Yeah, run away like the scared fuck you are."

Sitting down in my seat I put my head down on my desk, wondering how this whole thing just happened.

The Mountain Lion incident had me bothered all through Math, so instead of getting lunch I decided it would be better to work my frustration off on the court. While running around and working up a good sweat, I didn't even notice Taylor come in. Sinking a three point shot, I grinned in satisfaction. Taylor caught the ball at the bottom of the net and held it to her stomach, smiling.

"Are you working on going left?" She threw the ball at me with a smile.

"Nah, that's Troy's game. I'm just trying to work out some kinks from the long weekend."

"Always the dedicated one, my Chad."

"You know it."

"I brought you an apple, thought you'd be hungry, after skipping lunch and everything." She tossed me the apple, and I caught it and took a big bite.

"Why thank you."

"How was camping?"

"You know woods, rivers, tents, the whole camping experience."

"Sounds like fun."

I raised an eyebrow, "Really? Fun to you?"

"Well, not to me, but it seems like your cup of tea."

"Ew... tea."

Taylor giggled, and took the ball from my hand. "How about a little one on one?"

"You want to play one on one with me?"

"Well, why not."

"Honey, you're going down." I stole the ball back from her and turned my back, dribbling towards the basket, turning and jumping I shot the ball cleanly in, "Oooh! Look at that, nothing but net!"

"Great shot, I think that deserves a prize."

I leaned in closer to her, "A prize hmm, what kind of prize were you thinking Miss McKessie?"

She closed the short distance, between us and kissed me softly.

I stood by Troy's car waiting for him to finish talking to his dad.You'd think they could just talk at home, but no Coach had to talk to Team Captain at school, I think it was his mother's rule. After 15 minutes he finally unlocked the car door and slid into the driver's seat. I opened my mouth then hesitated, "So Troy, what do you think of Taylor?"

"It's a little late for this question, don't you think?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well you guys have been dating for like 4 months."

"Yeah... But…ever feel like a relationship was too right?"

Troy looked at me hesitantly. "...Yes."

"Really?" I raised my eyebrows at him expectantly.

"There was the whole thing with Gabriella, I mean I thought we werevperfect for each other, but something always felt... off."

"I think I know what you mean."

"Chad, are you trying to tell me your gay?

"What? No! Man, where did that come from."

"You're being all weird."

"I was just curious, that's all."

Troy pulled into my driveway and put the car in park, "Whatever man, get out.

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As always a big shout out to Danielle for Betaing for me.

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Review!