Here's the next chapter, I decide to update again today because I have the busiest weekend coming up so I most probably won't update till next week. I also really want to finish this story before I go away in a couple of months. Hope you guys enjoy and please review. Thank you again SOOO much for all the reviews I've been getting.

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It was Saturday morning and I'd just gotten into Troy's car to go somewhere I didn't know. I was thinking about Gabby and her date with Chad later this afternoon. We'd just discussed her outfit at her house and Troy had come to pick me up from there. I smiled at the thought of my best friend out on her first date, she was so cute all nervous and stuff, what for I didn't know because her and Chad had this amazing chemistry. They were so comfortable in each other's company it was unreal how they completed each other. They were almost like a couple seeing as they were together all week, in between classes, at lunch, before school, after school. If Troy wasn't there I was the third wheel unless the team or Zeke was there then I had someone else to talk to or walk with. The only time I'd seen her without Chad this was at the meetings on Monday and Wednesday and I'm sure if his coach let him skip practice and we let non-decathlon members in he would be there. They were inseparable and honestly I couldn't hate because it was way too cute. Plus I didn't have time to I was still getting accustomed to hanging with the basketball team for one and two befriending Sharpay Evans who was unofficially dating my cousin Zeke in my eyes. All they had to do was admit they liked each other and it was on.

I looked over at my stupid partner; since our visit to his little piece of peace as he calls it we'd been civil with each other and much to my protest he'd given me a ride home everyday after school so we can 'get to know each other' for the project of course. He'd been on time every time the after that. It turns out Troy wasn't too bad of a guy when he wasn't being arrogant or assuming things which may or may not have been true but of course I wasn't planning on letting him know that, ever. We spent the twenty minute rides to my house after school doing one of three things; arguing because he was getting on my nerves, talking because surprisingly he had good conversational skills or sitting in silence because it had become tranquil to us. I enjoyed the silence the most, I told him it was because I didn't have to hear his annoying voice, and really it was because it meant we could just be, just be comfortable and silent in each others gravity. Another thing he would never need to know.

Today we planned on officially starting work on the project, i.e. taking pictures and discussing childhood. He said we were going to one of his favourite places, (he seemed to have a lot of those just lying around) and that I'd like it because he had good taste in everything. I remember rolling at eyes at this, something I find I have grown quite accustomed to since I met him. He once said I rolled my eyes at him more than I talked to him, I was beginning to think it was true. There he goes again interrupting my thoughts, which more often than not had recently become about him. Another thing I won't ever tell him about.

"What you thinking about Tay" He asked using his new nick name for me, which wasn't very original seeing as everyone called me that. But whatever.

"Nothing, just you know… things" I replied nonchalantly

"Thinking about me again are we?" He smiled as he continued to focus on the road ahead of him.

"Get over yourself Bolton" I replied smirking, a habit I'd stolen from him in the last week I'd been hanging out with him. This boy was giving me nothing but bad habits.

"Well you didn't deny it either" He replied smugly, so true I thought whilst trying to think of a way of changing the subject.

"Where are we going anyway?" I asked

"I already said it's a surprise, don't you trust me?" He asked knowing the answer to that question.

"Nope… last time you said that you left me stranded remember!" I replied laughing at the hurt expression that went across his face.

"Yeah, for all of five minutes! Man chicks are such a drama queens" He laughed to himself

I rolled my eyes at him yet again "Whatever looser" I replied returning my gaze from him to the road ahead, well we were going to place of peace that's for sure I thought.

"There you go again with the insults, why do insist on hurting my feelings?"

"Cause its fun and you know me I'm all about fun! Fun! Fun!" I said causing us both to chuckle.

Half an hour later we pulled over at the edge of a cliff with the most beautiful view, the Albuquerque September sky was a clear blue that seemed to stretch into eternity and back and the mid morning sun was beating down on my face as I climbed out of the car. I let out a small yawn stretching my arms out as I took the view in while curious looking Troy watched me from his side of the car.

"It's beautiful." I breathed finally, as a suddenly satisfied Troy nodded agreeing with me.

"I know" He paused "and there you were not trusting me" He said chuckling.

"I have no reason to trust you remember" I said as we both walked round the car to meet in the middle and lean our back against the hood of car. I looked at him trying to figure out what he was going to say next. He chose silence, something he often did. I'd learnt he was a man, no a boy of little words, he spoke and finished and that was it. He never gave away too much, he was very guarded.

He met my eyes and smiled knowing I was right before he shrugged it off like he did most things. We stood there for a few more minutes taking in the view before he spoke, much to my annoyance, I could have stood there all day getting lost in my thoughts, I almost did but of course he wouldn't let me as per usual.

"I come here to clear my head from time to time." He explained answering the question I'd been thinking all along.

"Really Bolton, thoughts actually go through that big head of yours" I teased smirking at him

"Oh you'd be surprised Mckessie" He replied winking at me, making us both laugh

"Well stranger things have happened Bolton" I giggled earning a glare from him. We then settled back into that silence we both loved. But Troy being Troy had to ruin it of course.

"So, childhood" He said looking down at me again "Tell me everything." He simply stated like it was that simple. I rubbed my sweaty hands on my jeans, once again cursing myself for still having that give away habit.

"Everything?" I questioned raising an eyebrow

"That's what I said" he said in an annoying matter-of-factly way

"I wouldn't know where to start and stop, I mean when do you stop being a child?" I laughed trying to sound smart and hoping to change the direction of this conversation. No such luck.

"The minute you become a teenager" He said confidently refocusing his eyes on the view ahead. Stupid smartass.

"Whatever Troy" I replied as annoyance seeped through my voice, not at him but at me for still being too upset to talk about the memories of my mum.

"What it's true! So go on tell me everything, your first day at school, your favourite birthday present, your favourite holiday, your favourite memories with your dad and your mo..." He stopped himself as he saw me wince at the word he was going to say. He had realised, he inhaled deeply rubbing the back of his neck with his right hand. He was uncomfortable.

"No it's fine" I started "My favourite holiday was going to L.A. with my family, I was 8 years old" I decided to use the word family to avoid saying Mom. I actually did only go with my mom to visit my auntie in L.A, just me and my mom whilst my Dad was in New York on a business trip. He joined us there a week later.

"Tay you don't have to" I looked at him before continuing, I could tell through his eyes he was wondering if he'd overstepped the boundaries, during this week I'd discovered if you looked hard enough you could read Troy Bolton through his eyes. I had looked, trust me I had looked. But his eyes were right; he had over stepped the mark because I knew I wasn't ready to talk about my mother in this way, but someone was going to over step the boundaries sooner or later so why not him?

"The drive there was the best part, me and my mo…" I stopped again almost choking on my words "We sung the whole way there, it was then I first discovered my love for singing, in the passenger side of the car on the highway with her" I said as sadness covered my eyes.

"And My first day at school was horrible for both of us" Us being me and my mom. "I didn't want to go in and she wasn't ready to let me go so she made my favourite breakfast, pancakes and packed me an extra chocolate bar in my lunch, she was the first mother to come pick me up from school that day. I remember promising her I wouldn't cry but as soon as she left I fell into my teacher's arms crying." I took a deep breathe in, I hadn't visited this part of my brain in the last four months, not since she died and it was killing me inside. Still I held myself together and to buy me some more time I asked him to answer.

"My favourite holiday was a camping trip with my dad when I was seven. It was real manly and we did all this man stuff" he said laughing and causing me to laugh as well which helped the growing lump in my throat.

"Man stuff eh? You started doing man stuff at the age of 7 and at 17 you're still a boy, something doesn't add up here Bolton" I teased as he shook his head.

"You and your mouth" he said chuckling "yeah we did some real manly stuff, we went fishing and kayaking and mountain climbing and everything." He smiled as a small sparkle grew in his eyes, giving away just how precious he thought that memory was "It's one of the last memories of my dad that doesn't include basketball" he said giving off a slightly bitter laugh. I nodded my head as I listened.

"If I'm honest I don't remember my first day of school all too well, but I do remember you crying like a baby though in Mrs Winters' arms and me and Chad laughing because girls always cried." He finished, I'd completely forgot we'd always been in the same school together since forever. I rolled my eyes at the last part of his comment.

"Tay, if it's too painful, you don't have to talk about all your memories" He continued studying my face once again trying to see if he'd crossed the line. This time even I wasn't sure if he had. I held his gaze for a while before turning away and rubbing my palms on my jeans again. After a few moments of silence I spoke.

"This is my favourite birthday present" I whispered pulling out a locket from under my white t-shirt. It was white gold with a picture of me and her inside.

"It's real beautiful Tay" he said nodding as he stroked it gently.

"It's the last present she gave me, it was for my 17th birthday last year, and she made me promise never to loose it. It was my little part of her she had told me, and that's when I knew she was going to di… the cance… she was in hospital the next day, she was gone two months later" I replied as I fought back tears, biting my lip as hard as I could almost drawing blood. It was no use; the memory was too vivid, too real and too soon. I turned away as my shoulders began to shake and I clutched my stomach feeling as though I was going to throw up.

That's when his arms scooped me up stopping me from falling over, I took a deep breathe and wiped away my tears before smiling up at him. I wasn't going to fall apart, my Dad needed me to be strong for him and I needed to be strong for me. This was far from the place or the time to fall apart; I'd drive by the church later and do my grieving there, just me and God.

"I'm okay" I whispered, apologising to God in my head once again for lying, but I'm pretty sure he understood considering the circumstances. Troy didn't respond but instead pulled me closer into his embrace. "I'm okay" I repeated this time almost convincing myself. I looked up giving him a wide smile as our eyes met.

"Thank you." Our eyes locked not leaving each others for a while; I needed him to believe I was alright because I didn't want him to push the issue. I was so close to breaking point, I'm sure if he asked one more question I'd break down. I didn't want to look this vulnerable in front of him again. We stood there together for a few more minutes before I gently pushed myself way from him and stood next to him.

"It's okay to hurt Taylor" He said looking ahead, the silence was not appreciated by me at this moment. So for once I broke it.

"So what were we saying?" I asked a little too chirpily than I'd hoped my voice to sound, I saw the concern flash through his eyes for a second before he let me continue knowing this was my way of dealing with life.

"Yeah so we covered holidays and school and I did presents, but you didn't so go on tell me about your favourite birthday present. Wait let me guess… a basketball!" I said forcing a laugh, I knew I was rambling but I didn't care I was trying to erase the last few moments from my mind. It was just a small moment of weakness that won't happen ever again. Three more weeks with Troy and you can go back to your usual routine. That's all you had to get through after these three weeks you didn't have to spend any extra time with Troy and you wouldn't have to face those eyes anymore. Now smile.

He shook his head, whether it was at my sudden switch of emotions or whether it was at my terrible joke I didn't know. Then he smiled and played along with my game.

"Erm lets see, my favourite birthday present…" I listened to him talk, not really taking in anything he said which was terrible on my behalf but I was still trying to get my emotions under control and I think he knew I wasn't listening.

That was it, we'd reached an understanding where for now he was going to let me deal with my life how I liked and he would play along for as long as he could, which for him was only the next three weeks I hoped. The connection between us was beginning to scare me and I was pretty sure I was the only one of us that could actually feel it. I know there's an unwritten rule somewhere that states two people of the opposite sex shouldn't feel so complete with each other in the space of a week. I would find it and embed into my heart and make sure my heart obeyed it. Troy Bolton was simply a study partner, not even a friend, a study partner and that's all he would ever be because my heart can't take the emotions that come with being next to him. Yet there we were standing comfortably in each other's gravity. He was talking and I was doing my best to listen.