Thank you again SO much for all your encouraging reviews. This chapter is very long, 8 pages so please let me know what you think, also I've got the next chapter read and seeing as I won't be able to this weekend I'll probably put it up later on tonight! Lucky for you guys! Keep reading and reviewing I really would like to finish this story within the next few weeks. 

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"Troy! That was my house where are we going?" I asked sounding a little bit more panicked than I'd hoped to. But seriously I was in a car with some crazy boy who lacks time keeping skills, of course I was going to panic.

"Calm down Tay" He laughed "wait, are you scared?" He asked a small smile creeping up on his face,

"No, I am not scared Troy, I'm not scared" I lied, I was scared out of my mind but he didn't need to know that

"Come on Tay, Just trust me" he said winking at me,

Was he for real? I stayed silent because I really had no idea what to say, I mean I don't trust him. I had no reason to trust him, but then again I had no reason not to trust him either. The battle in my brain continued for a few moments when I heard him sigh and stop the car abruptly in the middle of the street. He didn't even bother to pull over. What was he thinking?

"Troy what are you doing?" I questioned

"Do you want me turn around and take you home?"

Yes.

I hesitated "No..." I slowly replied

"Good, now get out" He said

I looked at him like he'd grown five heads "wh...at?" I stuttered

"Get out of the car Taylor!" He replied his voice getting louder; I nodded my head slowly and got out of the car looking back at him uncertainly before closing the door behind me. I looked around to find myself in the middle of nowhere surrounded by lots of trees on either side of the road. I got this sickening feeling in my bottom of my stomach as I watched him speed off leaving me stunned. What was he doing?

"Troy!" I shouted attempting to run after him "TROY!" I shouted again to no avail. I saw his car turn the corner and I threw my hands in the air. That jerk had my bag in his car which had my cell phone in it. I was actually deserted; I turned sharply on my heel and marched down the road. Calm down Taylor calm down I told myself but right now it was no use. I had no cell, no money, I was stuck in the middle of nowhere about a million miles from home and stupid Troy Bolton made this happen.

"That stupid, stupid Jerk! Ugh How could you be so stupid, you should have just said you didn't trust him and then he would have took you home and you would be doing your algebra homework instead of being lost! Why did you try and play his stupid games, you have lied twice today for no reason! Damn you Troy Bolton!" I said to myself scorning every part of me for being taken in by him on the space of six hours.

"But algebra's not as fun" I heard someone say breathlessly from behind me.

"You... You... You... JERK!" I said turning around and pushing him away from me, I actually hadn't been this angry at anyone since I could remember.

"Hey said you trusted me!" He said holding up his arms in a defensive manner

"Yes and I LIED!" I stomping my right foot like a five year old. I crossed my arms across my chest and glared at him.

"Well now we know why you shouldn't lie, see Tay you learn something new every day" He said stifling a laugh at my actions and stepping closer towards me. I stared at him wondering what he was going to do next. We stared at each other for a while before he burst out laughing.

"you should see yourself right now, you look just like a five year old" He paused "A very cute five year old might I add" He smiled walking towards me, I rolled my eyes at him

"C'mon lets go we don't have much time and I'm sure you probably have a curfew" He said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me down an opening in the trees which led towards a path in the woods that had just swallowed us.

"Ahhh! Troy, where are we going? What are you doing? Where the hell are we going!" I asked as we raced down the path hand in hand before stopping suddenly as we were met by what looked like a secret garden.

I know right, it sounds corny but it's true, it was a small round area of green with the smallest cleanest little stream running through it and leading back into the woods. The water sparkled against the five o'clock sun. All the anger that had been running through my veins suddenly disappeared and calm took over my body. My eyes searched our surroundings making sure they took in every detail around them. The little purple, red and yellow flowers surrounding us, I felt as though we'd interrupted a very sacred place, the tranquillity of the place was unbelievable, I mean how did he find this place right in the middle of the road. This place didn't belong here; it belonged somewhere beautiful, not by the side of the road in Albuquerque.

As these thoughts run through my head I'd completely forgotten we were still holding hands, I then begun battling with the thought of de-tangling my hand from his. Would it make it awkward? Was it rude? I mean this was the first time I'd held a boys' hand for this long so what to do next I wasn't sure and I could feel my palms getting sweaty. No I definitely had to let go; besides I was still angry at him for leaving me in the middle of the road earlier. Just because he brought me somewhere amazingly beautiful didn't mean I'd forgotten the fact he was a complete jerk. I let his hand go and decided I was still mad at him.

"So what now?" I asked crossing my arms across my chest and sitting down on a near by rock.

"Well, that's not the reaction I was hoping for but okay..." He said looking slightly disappointed.

"Well, what did you expect Troy? Huh? What you bring me to this secret garden and then what I'm supposed to bow at your feet?" I questioned not meaning to sound as annoyed as I did.

"Do you really think that's why I bought you here?" He snorted annoyingly before continuing.

"I just thought, it would be cool you know? So we could chill and get a little bit of peace before having to go back to life" he paused again "But that was my mistake Taylor, so come on let's just go back okay" He said calmly, there was no disappointment or anger in his voice just calm. He looked at me again before walking past me back up the path we'd come running down.

I sighed getting up and following him slowly taking one last glance at the place I didn't want to leave but my pride wouldn't let me object. We walked back to the where he'd parked the car about mile away up the road. We silently got in remaining this way through the ten minute drive back to my house. I got my bag pausing as I opened the car door trying to decide whether to say something or not. I decided against it mumbling thank you as I scrambled out of the car and run through my front door to meet a very unimpressed father.

"Sorry I'm late Dad I should have phoned, I was working on a project with Troy" I said before he could say anything.

"Troy Bolton?" he asked intrigued

"Yeah, don't ask" I said rolling my eyes as I turned to go up to my room, before pausing mid way up the stairs "I'm not hungry so I'll just do my work and go to bed"

"Okay, babygirl I'll bring you up something anyway in case you change your mind" he said heading into the kitchen. My dad was a good man but since my mom had passed away our relationship was different. It was no secret I was a mummy's girl but in the last three years me and my Dad had developed a pretty tight relationship but after she died it like we couldn't connect anymore. It hurt me and I know it hurt him too but there was nothing I could do about it now.

I was half way through my algebra homework when I stopped. I couldn't stop thinking about what Troy had said, all he wanted to do was relax before going back to life as he'd put it and I'd acted like a stuck up brat. I wasn't proud of myself at all but I couldn't seem to humble myself enough to apologise and I didn't know why, I usually found it quite easy to say sorry I mean it wasn't that hard. It was a five letter word, yet I wasn't going to say it, not to him anyway. I decided to phone gabby and see how her so called date went with Chad.

I dialled her number waiting for her to pick up. It was only 9.30 so I knew she'd be awake.

"Hey Tay" she said into the phone, I could hear the smile in her voice already, at least one of us had had a good day.

"Hey Gabby, how'd it go?" I asked

"How'd what go?" she was trying to be difficult

"cut it out G, you know what I mean" I laughed

"okay okay..." she sighed "He's perfect" wow she was sprung, I thought rolling my eyes and feeling slightly, but only slightly jealous.

"Hmm hmm, so go on give me the details" I encouraged, I wanted to know what was so perfect about Chad Danforth, except of course his face.

"Well we came back to my house and talked for a while in my back yard. He's so funny Tay he had me laughing till tears came out of my eyes. My mom likes him too and you know how she can be she even asked him to stay for diner but he couldn't, he had to get home. Turns out he likes more than just basketball, he likes reading but don't tell him I told you that. He's real smart regardless of how goofy he acts in homeroom and really interesting..." she continued in this manner for another ten minutes while I sat on the other side listening patiently and making all the right noises when I should. I was happy that she was happy and turns out Chad asked her on a date this Saturday.

"So what happened with Troy? Did he turn up?" she asked "because you know if he didn't I will give him a piece of my mind tomorrow" she said making me laugh

"Gabby please, all you'll do is mumble something under your breathe when you walk past him and maybe step on his foot then say sorry anyway" I teased knowing I was right, Gabriella Montez was too sweet and too timid to give anyone a piece of her mind.

"I would not!" she protested before pausing "Okay fine, maybe I would... but seriously what happened?"

"It's a long story; I'll have to tell you about it tomorrow okay?"

"No! Taylor Anne Mckessie-Montez! You are going to tell me now... wait hold on someone's on the other line let me see who it is" she said using my full name which included her last name, we'd come up with that when we were ten because we said if we were sisters we should have the same last name. Hers was Montez-Mckessie.

"Okay" I said waiting for her to get back to me. I was waiting for about five minutes before she returned

"Girl, I'm so sorry that was Chad"

"What? You just saw him a couple of hours ago what did he want?" I asked annoyed

"He wanted to see if I needed a ride to school tomorrow"

"Oh right, you guys are moving fast, nicknames and rides to school all in one day, he must be something"

She giggled shamelessly on the other side "Stop it Tay, yeah he is something else and he's still on the other line, do you mind if we finish this talk tomorrow?"

"Of course, go ahead and get your man G!" I said laughing at her because I knew she was completely blushing right now.

"Okay bye Tay, love you and I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Love you too G, night" I said as I hung up. Aww my girl was growing up, getting her soon to be first boyfriend. I thought, I looked at my algebra and sighed before flopping back onto my bed.

I decided to go to bed because thoughts of Troy were slowly trickling into my head, they were even interrupting my bed time prayers, my special time with God and I hated myself for letting them. Sleep was my only escape, so I curled up into my bed apologising to God for today. It seemed like I'd spent the whole day apologising to him and guilt poured through my veins making sure that sleep didn't come easy. It wasn't until midnight that I finally won the battle that was going on in my brain between thoughts of Troy and going to sleep.

6.30 came all too quickly the next morning and before I knew it I was walking down the east High halls heading to homeroom. I walked in with five minutes to spare and walked to up to Gabriella who had waved me over from Chad's side. I smiled and accepted her invitation.

"Hey G" I said as I hugged her "Hey Chad" I said greeting the boy behind her, who smiled and nodded at me.

"What's up girl? Where's Troy?"

"He isn't here yet obviously" I replied annoyed that she'd brought him up so early in the morning. She slowly nodded looking at me a little bit suspiciously before smiling.

"Okay... so how is your project going?" she asked hoping this would lead to a more welcome topic of conversation.

"It's not" I said laughing "How about you two?" I asked

"Yeah, its okay we already took a few pictures" she said smiling at Chad who returned the smile

"Yeah who knew Brie was so photogenic and not so camera shy" he chimed in teasing her which in turn caused her to blush. I smiled at the two who seemed to have really hit it off; we continued to discuss the project until Mr. Smith entered the room just before the bell went, quickly followed by Troy.

I moved to my seat next to Troy who was not in the friendliest of moods, if this was about last night, he needed to get over it I thought and quit sulking. And he called me a five year old. When Mr. Smith finished talking he told us to use the rest of home room to work on our projects seeing as we had forty five minutes left. I used this as my cue to start up a conversation hoping we could actually start some work on this thing.

"So how are you?" I asked as happily as I could smiling, but was greeted by a cold stare instead.

"Fine as can be" he replied returning to his sulk

"Yeah I'm fine too thanks for asking" I replied rolling my eyes, I told you I had no time for his foolishness, If he wanted to act like a little child then let him.

"What ever Tay, I'm not in the mood to deal with your sarcasm today" he said looking hurt

"Troy if this is about yesterday then seriously you need to get over it, I have" I said shrugging my shoulders.

"TAYLOR THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU! You seem to think the sun rises and sets up your backside, if for one moment you got you're stuck up little head out from your sunny little world, maybe just maybe you would see the bigger picture!" He shouted causing the whole class to look at us silently. I was so shocked at his outburst I had nothing to say back, my cheeks were burning as embarrassment flew over my whole body. He gathered his things together and pushed past me before storming out of the classroom. I met a worried Gabriella's eyes as I fought back tears, she mouthed to me signalling me to go after him once she'd cleared it was a good idea with Chad.

I slowly nodded and got up asking Mr. Smith to be excused from class, he allowed me and I run down the hall straight to the gym. It's the only place I could think of him being. He didn't seem like a hideout in the toilet kind of guy, nor did he seem like a read in the library guy. The only other place left was the gym. Thank God I was right; I heard the ball bouncing against the floor as I approached the door. I sighed before entering to find him frustratedly taking and missing the shot. He turned around as he heard my footsteps approach him.

"what do you want?" he asked annoyed

"To see if you're okay"

"Why? So you can ease your little conscience by making sure it wasn't you who pissed me off" He laughed bitterly, I stayed silent once again hurt by what he'd said. This was a bad idea.

"I'm sorry Troy; clearly this was a bad idea." I said turning quickly to leave

"No, wait" He sighed "I'm sorry for snapping at you"

I turned around and cautiously approached him; we both went and sat down on the benches at the side of the court.

"I'm sorry you think I'm stuck up Troy" I said breaking the silence "I know I was a complete brat yesterday... but you did get on my last nerve though" I said laughing

"You're right, you were a brat and I don't really think you're stuck up... well maybe a little" He chuckled earning a slap on the arm from me.

"I am so not stuck up!"

"And I'm not all the bad things you think I am, it might take a while to list all the insults you've dished out at me in the space of twenty four hours" He said laughing "Okay maybe I'm a little arrogant, but come on I have every right to be" he said laughing again, I rolled my eyes at him a little relieved that he was back to being arrogant Troy instead of angry Troy.

"Egotistical much?"

"Not without reason" He said winking at me once again I rolled at my eyes at his antics.

"So you wanna tell me why you were angry earlier... you don't have to" I said

He paused before getting and taking another shot which went straight in. "My mum died seven years ago today, we visited her grave this morning. Sorry for taking it out on you, and that's why I was late yesterday my Dad was talking to me about it" He said looking at me

"That place I took you to last night was her favourite place, it gave her peace. When I looked at you in homeroom that morning you looked like you needed some peace in your heart so I thought I'd help" He said shrugging his shoulders and taking another shot.

The pain that shot through my heart at that moment was indescribable; I'd managed to rubbish something that meant a lot to him without even trying. He was just trying to be nice, that's all. I felt all of one centimetre high at that point.

"I'm so sorry Troy, man I feel like such a Jerk" I said getting up and walking to him. "I'm so sorry, today must be really hard for you"

"I've gotten used to it, it gets easier as time goes by" He said as though he was trying to tell me about my mom. I nodded.

"I'm sorry, I was so caught up in trying to dislike you I completely forgot it was that time of year for you... I can be so self-centred" I said shaking my head

"Hey don't beat yourself up about it, you're self-centred and I'm arrogant what the big deal?" He asked shrugging it off again. Why was he so calm and relaxed, if I was him I would've been fuming by now. I would have had a break down, glass would be broken. I found myself admiring this gentler side of him. I shook my head at him smiling as he returned the smile, we both heard the bell go and looked at each other.

"What class do you have now?" He asked as he got his bag

"I've got a study period, but I need to finish off some homework from last night" I replied grabbing my bag

"Okay I've got a study now too and then we've both got lunch after, how about we visit my little piece of peace up in the woods and chill for a bit, you can even finish off your algebra" He suggested smiling at me, I paused to consider his idea

"C'mon I promise to have you back in time for your precious algebra" he pouted

"Since you promised and all" I said laughing

"Good let's get going, here take this" he said handing me his basketball and grabbing my book bag out of my hand. I shook my head and smiled as I followed him out of the gym and down the hallway.

His little piece of peace, he'd said and yet he'd chose to share it with me. The privilege was overwhelming.