Guys thank you SO much for the reviews! That's the most reviews I've got for one chapter so I'm really glad you liked it. WELCOME to all my new readers! This chapter will hopefully make all of you smile! Read & Review oh and it's really long but that's only because I wanna get to the new stages of the relationship quickly and I'm going away in two weeks and would really like to finish it by then.
Troy and I had left prom together shortly after. I'd texted Sharpay and Gabriella saying I'd see them back at Sharpay's and that my Dad had come to give me a ride back. That was a lie and I'm pretty sure they figured it out as soon as they realised Troy wasn't there either. Troy and I had gone for a ride, we just kept driving and driving and driving, like if we drove we'd manage to get ourselves out of the mess we were in. We joked about eloping and going to live in Mexico together but of course I wasn't going to be a high school dropout that was for sure so that idea pretty much disappeared as soon as it had appeared. We kept driving, round and round the town, talking, laughing and catching up. It was nearly two in the morning and Gabriella and Sharpay had been phoning me for the past hour, I guess they were back at Sharpay's now and realised I wasn't there. We drove for a while longer before we went back to Sharpay's at about 3 in the morning; her parents were out of town and Chad and Zeke were staying over.
I knocked on the door and waited, Troy was with me there was no point trying to pretend we hadn't been together.
"TAYLOR ANNE MCKESSIE WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" Sharpay screamed as she opened the door to let me in, Troy tried to follow only to be stopped by Sharpay and her crazy self, that girl was a mess.
"And whose house do you think you're going into Bolton?" She asked pushing him back out "Coz I know it aint mine!"
"Shar what are you doing! Just let him in coz if he doesn't come in then I'm leaving too' i stated crossing my arms
"Oh don't start with the dramatics Taylor!" She said throwing up her arms before stepping aside to let Troy in. I gave him a small smile and followed Shar into the living room where everyone was.
"I Knew it!" Gabby said getting up from her seat and giving me a hug before slapping my arm
"Ouch G, what the heck!"
"Where have you been that you couldn't answer your phone!"
"Sorry" I mumbled sitting next down as Troy hovered around unsure what to do with himself, I pulled him down next to him because I couldn't risk Gabriella attacking him again
"Well sorry isn't good enough! We called you like a million times" she said glaring at Troy "all you had to do was pick up and tell us you were with it!" She said pointing at Troy
"Okay Gabby I'm sorry, I'm here now" I sighed choosing to ignore the fact she'd called Troy 'it', that sounded like something Sharpay would say. I swear they'd been hanging out together too much recently
"well are you guys back together?" Sharpay asked putting her hands on her hips
"We were never together... remember" I replied rolling my eyes
"Oh you know what I mean!"
"No... we aren't" I said glancing at Troy
"Well at least I know you haven't lost your mind yet" She sighed and sat down, finally it was silent and I could breathe, I felt Troy's hand cover mine, he hadn't said anything yet. He soothingly rubbed he thumb over my palm to calm me down now that the twenty-one questions were over.
"I thought you weren't together?" Gabby question pointing at our hands
"We aren't" Troy finally spoke
"I wasn't talking to you!" She replied through clenched teeth
"Gabby will you quit! Can we just go to sleep, it's nearly four in the morning" I said getting up
"Fine, but Troy is not sleeping in your room seeing as you guys quote aren't together unqoute, he can sleep on the couch" Sharpay said getting up as we all got up and followed her.
"Taylor you're in Ryan's room, he's staying at a hotel with Kelsi" she said as she threw me some pyjamas,
"Gabby you and Chad can sleep in the first guest room, third door to you're right" She said as Gabby nodded and said goodnight before going down the hall
"Zekey you're with me" She smiled "OH AND NO HAVING SEX!" she shouted down the hall causing everyone to laugh, she knew full well Gabby was waiting until marriage or at least trying to, not that Chad helped the matter. The most ironic thing about that statement was the fact everyone knew her and Zeke were the ones who were having sex out of the six of us, I guess that's why it was so funny.
I went downstairs to see how Troy was and hand him his blanket and pillow before going to bed myself. I found him sitting topless on the couch and I had to fight hard to keep the smile off my face. It was hard seeing as he had an amazing body.
"Hey you" I smiled sitting down next to him and handing him his stuff
"Hey yourself"
"Sorry about G and Shar" I replied sympathetically
"It's okay, I like that you have protective friends" He laughed
"yeah more like crazy friends!" I replied as we laughed together
"So anyway good night" I smiled as I got up to leave
"good night Tay" He said pausing as though he wanted to say something else but then deciding against it. I nodded and left the room.
I sighed as I thought about him, I was no closer to knowing what was going on with him 'breaking up' with me but I was too tired to find out tonight. I slept the easiest I'd slept in ages that night which was odd considering I had a lot to think about.
We all woke up late the next morning; it was a good thing the Evans were away for the whole weekend. It was about midday when I finally got out of bed, I went downstairs to find everyone already up with Gabriella making pancakes in the kitchen.
"Nice of to finally join us Mckessie" Gabby smiled, I smiled back before scanning the room, I didn't see Troy
"He's having a shower" Gabby said reading my mind
"I wasn't wondering" I smirked
"Yeah and I'm black" she replied as we all laughed
"Whatever I'm going to shower too" I replied as I left the room
I quickly showered and dressed in a pair of sweats and a white tank top; I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and went downstairs. I found everyone already eating and laughing, thank God they weren't still trying to kill Troy anymore. He was sat next to Sharpay laughing about something she said. I grabbed the seat in between Zeke and Gabby and opposite Troy.
"Here I saved you a pancake" Gabby said handing me a plate "Chad was about to eat it if I hadn't stopped him"
"Thanks G" I smiled as I started eating. We continued talking and laughing about Zeke's pitiful attempts at dancing last night and Chad's hair tie breaking during him and Gabby's slow dance and then blowing up into an even bigger afro than it already was. Apparently Troy and this cheerleader had won prom king and queen but seeing as he wasn't there they gave it to Chad and Gabby was fuming when the cheerleader started grinding on Chad during the slow dance.
"So where did you two get to then?" Shar asked smirking
"We just drove around" I shrugged
"for four hours?" Zeke said
"Yep" Troy replied smiling "I don't think I have any gas left"
"What so you guys are telling me you drove around Albuquerque for four hours?" Chad asked
"Yep" I said
"DOING WHAT!" he asked
"Ohmygosh Taylor your still a virgin right?" Gabby asked making me choke on my juice
"Of course I am! What do you think this is?!" I replied as she let out a nervous laugh
"Too bad man" Chad said to Troy laughing
"Oh shut it Chad! It's not like you're getting any either" Gabby said smacking his head as we all laughed
"Dude, you got called out" Zeke laughed as Chad rubbed his temple
We had moved into the living room to watch a film when the door bell rang.
"Ugh! Who could that be?" Shar asked as she went to answer the door and returned to the living room with my Dad behind her
"Err Tay your dad is here" She said stepping aside
"Dad what are you doing here?" I asked
"We have dinner with your Grandparents in an hour remember, I told you yesterday morning" he replied as he smiled at the group before his eyes landed on Troy
"Oh yeah, I'm sorry I completely forgot, let me go get my stuff" I said heading upstairs not before glancing at Troy and noticing the look that my father had given him. I came back downstairs five minutes later to find the living room still silent.
"Okay Dad let me just say bye to my friends, will you take my bag to the car?" I asked pouting and handing it to him as he went outside
"Well erm I guess, I'll see you later guys" I said as I went round hugging everyone, before pausing at Troy
"Erm bye" I said holding out my hand for him to shaking much to his amusement. Well I didn't know whether I was meant to hug him or not did I
"Bye Tay, call me tonight if you can" He asked as he shook my hand before pulling me into a hug
"Okay" I whispered in his ear as I wrapped my arms around him "I'll try"
I quickly left and got into the car with my Dad. The ride home was silent and unnerving. I could tell he wasn't too happy about seeing Troy there; I really wanted to know what on earth was going on between those two. It was obvious to everyone that something weird was going on and I was going to find out what.
"Honey, why was Troy there?" My Dad finally asked me
"Dad, Zeke and Chad are his best friends and they're dating my best friends" I replied "anyway we didn't even talk at all, even that's what you're worried about" I said rolling my eyes
"Baby, I'm just trying to protect you, that boy isn't what you want" He smiled patting my shoulder
"And how would you know what I want Dad!" I replied angry
"I just do baby, you're too young to know, they'll be other boys out there that are better than Troy" He said in the most patronising tone, I sighed as we pulled into our drive way. I'd promised Troy not to fight with my Dad about this so I had to bite my tongue
"Your right daddy" I replied doing my best to plaster a smile on my face. Thank God my grandparents were here. I'm sure I would have killed my Dad otherwise. Dinner with my Grandparents was going pretty well until my Grandma asked me about having a boyfriend and I couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Well I'm in love with this boy but Daddy says he's not good enough for me and I'm too young to know anything, even though may I add I'm eighteen in a month" I huffed on the verge of tears
"Taylor!" My father said trying to stop me from continuing but I didn't bite my tongue this time
"Oh and did I tell you he threatened him to make him leave me alone and when he didn't I don't know what Daddy did, but he did something, and Grandma Gina he'd waited six months out of eight months to ask me out when I told him about the promise I made to Mom, six out of eight months!" I stated "He'd even started coming to church with me Grandma, church! And grandma he didn't even kiss me! He never even tried because he knew my promise was important to me" I finished broken, my heart was broken and I wasn't going to hide it anymore, what was the use in pretending now
"So Daddy broke my heart" I said calmly as I excused myself from the table, tears falling down my cheeks
"Taylor Mckessie you will sit down right now!" I heard my father shout from the dining table
"Or what Daddy?!" I shouted back "You Gonna threaten my future too!" I spat back trying desperately to calm myself
"Do you see what this boy has turned my daughter in to? She never used to talk to me like that before!" My father said trying to get my Grandparents onside
"Taylor baby girl, why don't me and you go for a drive and you can tell me all about it and we can leave your Grandma and father to talk about this" Suggested Grandpa Joe, I slowly nodded grateful to be getting out of that house and got my coat to leave
We got into the car and I'd been telling my Grand dad about Troy for the last hour, from how we met to everything we went through to stay together to how it all went wrong when my father finally met him.
"So you see Grandpa Joe, we haven't even done anything wrong! And daddy is being a complete moron!" I huffed
"You will not talk about your father like that young lady... even when it's true" He smiled as I giggled and nodded
"So why don't you take me to meet this Troy if he's so great and form what you told me he sounds great" He smiled as I got excited, I got to see Troy again!
"Okay, let me call him and see what he's doing" I replied as I found his number on my phone and waited for him to pick up.
"Hey Tay" i heard his voice sigh into the phone
"Hey Troy" I smiled "Are you busy?"
"Not right now, why whats up?" He asked
"Nothing; but I have someone who would really like to meet you, can you come out?" I asked biting my lip
"Yeah sure, where are you right now?"
"On your street, we're gonna come pick you up okay be ready"
"Okay but this better not be another one of you're crazy relatives who wants to kill me" He laughed as I shook my head
"Don't worry you'll like them, see you in five" I said as I hung up smiling. We drove up till we got to his house and I got out of the car, we hadn't parked up because there was no point. I was just about to ring the door bell when Troy opened the door and pulled me away from it and run toward the car.
"My parents are in" He said as though that was supposed to make sense to me, so what if his parents were in, they liked me.
"So?" I asked when we got inside the car
"Long story, I'll explain later" He said as I nodded from my seat in the front. I introduced him to my Grandfather who drove us to the ice cream parlour near the park
"So Troy, I hear my granddaughter and you having causing quite a fuss over your new relationship" Grandpa Jo said from across the table. I was sitting next to Troy who seemed to be very nervous, we'd all ordered milkshakes. I took hold of Troy's right hand under the table to reassure him that my Grand dad wasn't going to kill him. He smiled at the gesture before answering my Grand dad.
"Yes sir, you could say that" Troy cheekily smiled as I continued to hold his hand under the table "But it wasn't intention nor was it the reaction we'd hoped for when we told Mr. Mckessie our plans for when Taylor turned eighteen"
"I know son and from what Taylor told me I'm pretty surprised myself" He replied
"So do you love my granddaughter?" He continued
"yes sir I do; I've never been in love before Taylor" He said as he smiled at me "but what I feel for her now can only be described as love because it's more than a physical attraction, like I said we don't plan on dating until Taylor's eighteen and for these past seven months I have just been falling in love with her more and more each day. She's such a beautiful person, funny, intelligent, witty and best of all she's keeps me on my toes. She doesn't let me get away with anything sir. I could just sit and talk to Taylor for the rest of my life; I've never had that type of relationship with any girl before if I'm honest. Taylor just makes me want to be a better person because I know she deserves the best and if I let myself slip then I know someone better will come alone take her from me and I can't begin to imagine my life without her. The last two weeks have been awful without her I don't want to live the rest of my life like that." He finished looking at me as I smiled from ear to ear
"And I feel the same Grandpa Joe, please don't let Daddy split us up" I pleaded as my eyes begun to water again "Please Grandpa"
"I'll talk to your father baby, I'm not promising anything but I'll talk to him" he said "I can see you two have something beautiful, it reminds me of me and your Grandma when we were your age. No one thought I was good enough for her then, but our love proved them wrong, I tell you something if you love someone enough you can never truly stop fighting for them" He said smiling at me and Troy
"Now how about we get you home before your father starts to worry" He said as I nodded and got up with Troy, completely forgetting we were still holding hands, it was as though it was what came naturally to us. I think my Grand dad noticed but chose not to say anything about it, it wasn't until we got to the car that I realised and let go shyly. We dropped Troy off and drove home in silence; mostly because I was praying to God my Grandma had managed to talk some sense into my deranged father.
"We're back!" My grand dad shouted as he opened the door
"In the living room" I heard my Grandma call back
"Taylor sweety are you okay?" My Grandma asked as I sat down next to her
"yeah, what's he saying?" I asked referring to my father
"Well I think I should leave him to tell you himself" She replied as she got up "But before I do, I've got some good news for you! Your Grandfather and I are going to stay with you until graduation!" She smiled as she left the room
"Thank God, I don't think I can handle another month being in this house alone with him" I mumbled
"So, father dearest what do we have to discuss?" I asked as I sat opposite him folding my arms
"Taylor I'm sorry for how I've been for the past few weeks, I'm just scared to lose you baby. You're all I have left now that your mother's gone and seeing the way that boy looked at you reminded me of how I looked at your mother. You are his world and your mine too, I guess I just didn't want to accept the fact you were growing up. I was just trying to protect you baby I promise, I didn't want to hurt you even though I did" He sighed rubbing a hand over his face
I sighed as I looked at him, I really wanted to remain angry at him but he was my father at the end of the day "I want to say its okay but it isn't daddy! I still love you, you're my father but I really don't like you very much right now" I replied honestly
"I know but Taylor you're just so young, why do you want to rush into this? You've got the rest of your life to fall in love baby"
"But I didn't ask to feel this way Daddy, it just happened okay"
"I know, you usually don't ask to fall in love baby, well I guess what I'm trying to say is that if he makes you happy then I guess I can accept that" he said smiling and I jumped up and hugged him
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Daddy!" I screamed
"Okay baby, but please promise me you'll wait till you're eighteen to start dating, at least I've still got a month to change your mind" he laughed as I hit his shoulder
"And dad, you will never lose me, ever I promise!" I replied kissing his cheek.
"Daddy, what did you threaten Troy with... just out of interest?" I smirked wanting to finally know what the fuss was all about
"Oh I think I'll let you discuss that with him... after him and his parents come over for lunch tomorrow after church" He smiled "I guess you'll want to call Troy and put him out of his misery, then ask him to ask his parents if they can make it. Grandma promised she'd cook too" He winked as he walked out of the room leaving me jump and down on the sofa like a three year old, before gathering myself together and then walking out of the living room like the mature woman that I was, to meet my Dad's smirking face.
I raced up the stairs to phone Troy and continue jumping up and down on my bed.
"Hey Troy!" I screamed into my phone as I heard him laugh
"Someone's happy" he said
"I've got my reasons, now come over so I can share them with you" I giggled
"Tay, you know I can't do that, you saw the way your Dad looked at me this afternoon"
"Troy trust me come over okay, see you in 10 minutes!" I said into the phone as I hung up and continued jumping up and down on my bed celebrating my victory. I was interrupted by my phone ringing from Gabby five minutes later
"Hey G" I said breathlessly into the phone
"Hey Tay, what you doing, you sound out of breathe?"
"Jumping up and down on my bed, you know the usual" I laughed
"OH! So what's the celebration? How's Grandma Gina?, tell her I miss her! I'm coming over for dinner tomorrow if she's still there!" She said into the phone all at once
"Troy's the celebration but I'll explain that tomorrow at church or something, I'll pass on the message and sorry G you can't, My Dad's invited Troy and his parents over for lunch tomorrow!" I said
"What! Really? That's great Tay. Okay so I'll come over for dinner tomorrow. I mean they won't be at your house forever, come on Tay I miss my second Grandma!" She complained
"Okay, okay! Come over then, man you're pushy! And what did I tell you about trying to steal my Grandma!"
"Hey my Grandma lives in Spain! I need someone to fill the gap!, Besides your just jealous because she loves me more! Wait, can I come over now?" She asked as I rolled my eyes
"First of all my Grandma doesn't love you more and no you can't because Troy is!" I laughed as she groaned
"Tay! He's stealing your time with me and my time with my Grandma! He's coming over tomorrow why does he need to come over now! Ugh! I think I preferred it when your Dad didn't like him!" She groaned
"Gabby!"
"JOKING! But really what made your Dad change his mind?" She asked as I heard my door bell ring
"I'll tell you tomorrow, Troy's here!" I laughed as she mumbled something "Love you G, see you tomorrow!"
"Yeah yeah just go on ahead and ditch me for your almost man!" She said as we both laughed and hung up. She was a mess; she must have forgotten the a million and one times she hung up on me to talk to Chad. I run downstairs to make sure my Dad hadn't suddenly changed his mind about Troy. I found him in the kitchen talking to my Grandparents. I run and hugged him taking him by surprise.
"Err Tay, I don't think you should do that in front of your Grandparents" He said pushing me off and looking scared
"Why?" I asked looking at my Grandparents who were about to start laughing
"You guys were messing with him weren't you?" I asked
"Come on we had to have a little fun before you gave him the good news" My Grandma said shrugging her shoulders and walking out of the room "Oh by the way your father said Troy isn't allowed upstairs"
"WHAT!"
"Come on baby girl one step at a time, just be happy he's allowed in the house" My Grandfather replied walking after his wife, I shrugged and smiled at Troy
"So you met my Grandparents huh?" I said as we walked into the living room and sat down
"Yeah, they said we weren't allowed any body contact not even a hug and I was only allowed to stand with in three metres of you or else your Grandfather would kill me" He said shuddering at the thought as I laughed
"Those two are crazy! So listen guess what happened?!" I asked as he looked at me confused
"My Dad changed his mind! We can be friends but we're only allowed to date after I'm eighteen which is cool!" I said hugging him and then realising he wasn't hugging me back
"Troy, no one's gonna kill you if you hug me!" I laughed at him as he threw his arms around me
"But I don't understand... what happened?" He asked as we let go of each other
"I guess my Grandma talked some sense into his crazy head, but all I know is he said we can be together!" I smiled
"You do not understand how happy I am to hear that and what about the threats?" He asked
"Well why don't you start by telling me what they were?" I asked
"Oh you don't want to know" He said shaking his head at the memory
"No I really want to know!" I said
"Okay okay... firstly he talked to my Dad and convinced him that we were bad for each other, that's why my Dad and I were arguing so much in school and then he came over with a one way plane ticket for the next day with your name on it saying If I didn't leave you alone then he'd send you to London to stay with your mum's side of the family and I would never see you again if I didn't break it off with you" he said sighing
"Oh damn my Dad is crazy" I laughed
"Taylor it's not funny, I thought I was never going to see you again! Do you know how scared I was! So I agreed because at least if you were in the same country as me I could get you back once we were in college and you were away from your Dad" He said
"So why didn't you just tell me instead breaking up with me for real?" I asked
"He said I couldn't or else he'd definitely do it as well as make sure all my scholarships were put under reconsideration by my colleges. My Dad went crazy and said if I didn't agree then he's send me away to stay with my aunt up in Spain, and I really couldn't risk that because then I really wouldn't ever see you again" He sighed
"Oh Troy! I'm sorry you had to go through all that!" I said rubbing his arm
"Damn! So what was your plan for after graduation?" I asked
"Well you were going to Stanford with Gabby and I was waiting for Berkeley to reply so that I could follow you there and we'd just start over in California without our crazy parents trying to screw us over" He shrugged
"You were going to follow me to California?" I asked as I stroked his cheek
"I promised I'd do whatever it takes Taylor, and at the time that's what it was going to take to be with you. Besides it's a good college" He replied putting his hand over mine before kissing the palm of my hand. It was funny because technically that was sort of our first kiss, even though it wasn't really a kiss.
"I love you Troy, I really do" I said cupping his face so his eyes were locked to mine "with all my heart, my soul, everything that I am. I love you, I love you, and I love you!" I repeated smiling and leaning my forehead on his.
"And I'm pretty sure I love you more Mckessie, I can't even beginning to explain and in exactly one month and one day you will be mine, forever. I told you I'd turn a while into forever." He smiled as he flicked my face "I love you and only you"
"Okay well you can go love my daughter from your house Troy, it's getting late son, I just talked to your Dad, but I look forward to seeing you and your parents for dinner tomorrow" My dad said from the living room door way causing us to quickly move away from each other.
"Yes sir" Troy replied getting up and pulling me up with him
"Oh and Troy, I'm sorry" My dad said as Troy nodded and smiled. I smiled at the interaction realising it was days like this that I loved my life. My heart went from being broken to whole in the space of a couple hours, the two most important men in my life standing under one roof without trying to kill each other and I was in love, truly, madly, and very deeply in love.
I led Troy to the door and said goodbye, the hug was a little tense I could tell he was still wary of my Dad watching us but I didn't care I had my heart back. I had Troy and no one was going to take that away from me, no one. Now all I had to do was make it to eighteen.