For the next few weeks, neither Taylor nor Chad's friends saw hair or hide of them. You call their cells, they didn't pick up. You call their houses, they weren't there. You ask everyone, everyone would shrug. They always seemed to be off somewhere in private and were rarely in the public eye. Tonight was no exception. It was the last night of summer. The last night of freedom. The last night before having to go back to school. In other words, the last night Taylor and Chad had together. They were currently on the roof of his house staring up at the stars. Neither dared to admit it out loud, but they both knew what the other was thinking. They only had a few minutes left together before Taylor had to leave.

"You go to school here in Albuquerque?" Chad asked for what had to be the hundredth time. Taylor nodded. 'Good.' Chad thought. 'I'll be able to see her at the university anytime I want.' They sat in silence for a moment as they looked back at the stars.

"Quite the summer, huh?" Taylor asked.

"Quite the summer." Chad agreed. "I've got something for you." He pulled out a small velvet box from in his pocket and handed it to her, silently praying she'd like it. Her expression when she opened it told him she did. "Do you like it?" He asked already knowing her answer.

"Like it? I love it! Thank you so much Chad!" She picked up the locket. It was gold and heart-shaped. She opened it, and inside was a picture they had taken on their first official date to the beach. Chad had taken the picture right before they left. Taylor was grinning at the camera as Chad kissed her cheek.

"Read the back." He whispered in her ear. She turned it over and the inscription almost brought tears to her eyes.

"Taylor," She read out loud. "I rememeber every summer I've had since I was 4. But since meeting you, I can't remember a single one, because you weren't a part of them. You've changed my life. I don't know how I lived without you before, and I sure as hell don't know how to do that know. My heart is yours, Chad." She turned to face him, tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much." Chad grinned.

"It was the least I could do. Happy birthday."

"Help me put it on?" She asked. He took it from her hands and she turned so her back was to him. When the locket was in place, she turned back to face him. "How does it look?" He grinned and moved closer to her until his lips were a wishper away.

"Perfect." Then he kissed her. She placed her hands on his shoulders, before slowly working them up into his unruly hair. Chad's hands went to her waist and pulled her closer. He licked her bottom lip and she opened to him instantly. Subconsciously, Chad laid Taylor down on the roof and climbed on top of her. The kiss continued to become more heated. When Chad realized that they were close to rolling off the roof, he reluctantly broke the kiss. "Tay, we have to stop." His breath came out in pants as did Taylor's. Taylor pouted.

"Why?"

"Because I'd rather not fall off the roof. I'd actually like to live to see tomorrow." Just then Taylor's cell phone rang. She answered it without taking her eyes off of Chad.

"Yes? Okay. See ya." She hung up. "That was Sharpay." She said she'd be here in 5 minutes. Chad nodded saddened by the fact their last evening together was over. They walked to the trapdoor and climbed down into the attic. Then they walked in silence to the front door. By the time they got there, Sharpay's pink car was in the driveway. Taylor turned to Chad.

"Good-" Chad started, but Taylor covered his mouth with her hand, before he could go any further.

"Don't. This isn't goodbye. This is just…see ya later." He nodded.

"See ya."

"See ya. Chad hugged her tightly to him, never wanting to let go. Taylor didn't want to either. They probably would've stayed locked in their tight embrace if it weren't for Sharpay honking. They reluctantly pulled away and shared one last chaste kiss.

"See ya." They whispered at the same time. Taylor slowly began to walk toward the car, twirling her locket the whole while. When she entered Sharpay's car, she sighed.

"You okay?" Sharpay asked. Taylor nodded.

"I'll be fine." Sharpay sighed.

"Tay, those aren't the same thing and you know it."

"I don't want to talk about it. Just drive. Please?"

TPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTP

"Are you sure about this? Seriously you just got drafted-"

"And my contract doesn't start till next fall. How many times are we gonna go through this discussion? What am I supposed to do till then?" Chad asked Troy as they carried boxes into a building. They were on the Albuquerque Academy Campus, which was supposed to be one of the top co-ed boarding schools academically, and athletically. Chad had just accepted a teaching job there.

"I don't know. But you could have chosen to do anything, and you chose teaching? What are you gonna be teaching anyway?"

"Chemistry."

"Wasn't that your worst subject in high school?"

"What's your point? I got better in College."

"We went to the same college. You didn't do that much better." He ducked as a pillow came his way. "This is retarded."

"What is?"

"We just moved all your stuff into your house. Now we're moving half of it into a school. This is bullshit." Chad laughed.

"Well, it's all here, so you have nothing else to worry about, you big whiner. I can finally understand why your parents were so happy when we left for California." This time the pillow was aimed at Chad.

"How's Taylor?" Troy asked as Chad began to put things away. Chad shrugged.

"I don't know. I called her this morning, but her phone went straight to voicemail. What do you think it means?" Troy shrugged.

"It could mean anything. She left her phone somewhere, it's off, it's dead, or she's found someone better and she doesn't want to crush you so now she's avoiding you. Anything's possible." Chad rolled his eyes and looked down at his watch.

"Shit." He started flipping open suitcases, and flinging clothes out of them.

"What?" Troy asked, narrowly missing getting hit by a T-shirt.

"I'm supposed to meet with the dean in 20 minutes. My first class starts at 10 and it's 9." He scrambled around in his bags till he found what he was looking for. A while pressed long-sleeved shirt, black slacks and dress shoes. The shirt had two intersecting As. After he was dressed, he ran his fingers through his hair and turned to face Troy. "How do I look?" Troy gave him the once over.

"Like shit." Chad narrowed his eyes.

"Are you going to be using that word all day?"

"Most likely."

"Look, would you do me a favor and take this key, get it copied, and leave the copy under the mat in front of the door."

"You don't have a mat." Chad reached in his pocket, pulled out his wallet. And gave Troy 20 bucks.

"Go buy one." Chad picked up a backpack from in the corner, placed it on his back and headed out the door.

TPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTPTP

"So Mr. Danforth, do you think you are up for the challenge?" Dean Warrens asked Chad. They were back in Chad's new classroom after the tour of the school. The students would be coming in for their first class in a few minutes. Chad nodded.

"I'm pretty sure, I've got it down." Dean Warrens nodded. Just then the bell rang.

"Here they come." With in seconds, students, began to pour in. The guys wore uniforms similar to that of Chad's. Pressed white shirt with the double As, black slacks, and dress shoes. The girl's uniforms were the white shirt, black skirt with the double As in the top right corner, and the choice black shoes. Stockings were also optional. As the students piled in, they all would stop to stare at the new teacher, especially the girls. One even went so far as to go up to him and shake his hand.

"Nice to have you, Mr. Danforth. I have a feeling that this is going to be my favorite class." She said before turning to go sit down, taking extra precaution to sway her hips.

"Sasha Meyers. Quite the vixen. I'm warning you. Watch out." Dean Warrens whispered in Chad's ear. Chad nodded, understanding. Just then the bell rang, and Dean Warrens clapped his hands. "Good Morning!"

"Good Morning, Dean Warrens."

"You guys can be more excited then that. So, let's try again. Good Morning!" The students gave him the same response in the same monotone voice.

"Good morning, Dean Warrens." Warrens rolled his eyes.

"I give up. Anyway class, I'd like to introduce your new Chemistry teacher, Mr. Chad Danforth." All of the girls sighed, while the guys glared.

"Good morning, Mr. Danforth." All the girls said eagerly. Dean Warrens raised an eyebrow.

"Now how come I can't get that reaction out of you all?" A boy with blonde hair raised his hand.

"Was that question rhetorical?" He asked. Everyone shook their heads.

"Yes, Ryan. It was." Just then someone came running through the door.

"I'm so sorry I'm late. I'm part of the welcoming committee and the students I was leading were being difficult." The late girl said. Chad turned to face her to tell her it was fine and stopped breathing.

"That's quite alright, Ms. McKessie. With your schedule, it's amazing you make it anywhere on time." Dean Warrens said. "Mr. Danforth, I'd like to introduce you to your best student, Taylor McKessie." Dean Warrens said as Taylor turned to face him. Both of their jaws hit the floor.

"Taylor?!"

Chad?!"