Chap. 10
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"Taylor, you can't still be crying over this. I'm sorry, but it's been two days. And if you want us to understand you, you are gonna have to speak in complete sentences. Not this talking through your tears thing that you are doing right now." Sharpay said her annoyance evident in her tone. Taylor, who had been lying face down on her bed, looked up to glare at her friend.
"I said that Chad hates me and it's all your fault!" Sharpay, Taylor, Gabriella and Sebastian were all in the girls' room. Taylor and Sebastian had "officially" become a couple the day before and since then, Taylor had locked herself in her dorm. "If it weren't for your idiotic plan, none of this would be happening Sharpay!" Sharpay scoffed and stood.
"My idiotic plan? Well, I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, my so called idiotic plan was the only thing keeping Martha from asking a billion and one questions about who you liked." Taylor rolled her eyes.
"Please. Martha's as fickle as they come. She moves on as soon as there is new gossip. If you had just kept your mouth shut, she would have eventually moved on to someone else." Sharpay crossed her arms and shook her head.
"It doesn't matter how short of an attention span Martha has. She has a gossip blog that everyone on campus reads, even the teachers and Dean Warrens. She updates What a Little Birdie Told Me once a week, more depending on what she would have found a better story before then, and yours would've ended up on the back of her radar. And that's exactly what would have happened if you and Mr. Cant-Keep-my-hands-off-my-pretend-girlfriend had not decided to create the lip-lock of the century." Taylor shot up from the bed.
"Wait when does Martha update?" Sharpay shrugged and pulled out a nail file.
"I don't know. Friday?"
"And what day is it?"
"I don't know. Friday?" Sharpay replied. Taylor ran to the computer and pushed the power button.
"Please don't have updated. Please don't have updated." She silently prayed as her computer booted up. She clicked on her web browser and went to her favorites. When the icon of a smiling Martha popped up, she clicked it. Sharpay, Gabriella and Sebastian gathered behind her as they all waited for the page to load. When it did. Taylor groaned at the headline. Taylor Mckessie's New Boo! Underneath it, said that the video had been posted about twenty minutes before.
"The update is probably not that bad." Gabriella said as she tried to comfort her friend. Sebastian shrugged.
"Only one way to find out." He dragged the mouse over to the play button on the video link and pushed it. It started to play, and Martha came into view of the camera, and she sat grinning at them.
"Hello Eagles, and welcome to another fabulous update of What a Little Birdie Told Me!" Martha's usually cheery voice greeted them through the screen. "Now this is an incredibly short update due to the fact that it only has one story. Usually, I'd just clump it with the other updates, but this is just too juicy to not be on its own! Now everyone on campus is very much aware of who Taylor Mckessie is. Student Council present, captain of the debate team, Student Advisor to the Dean, and at least 16 other activities that I could name but am too lazy to do at the moment. She's the perfect example of B&B: Beasty and Brains. Now unless you were under a rock yesterday, you know that Taylor was crushing hard on a certain boy with the initials S.A. Well, it seems that S.A. was crushing as well!"
"S.A. or Sebastian Applegate, star of the track team, was earlier seen walking towards the library today, with what could only be described as a determined look on his face. He walked out a few minutes later holding not only Taylor's backpack, but her hand as well. He accompanied her back to her dorm where he proceeded to plant one on her for the entire world to see! If that's not official that both are taken then I don't know what is! You should definitely expect to see these two getting cozy at AA's Welcome Back dance on Saturday and my prediction is that they will last well into Winter Break. They have a sort of odd and natural ease between the two of them that is key in making high school romance last. Now, for all you sceptics out there, who think I'm just making this up, click the link in the sidebar for pictures and interviews with witnesses who witnessed the first sentimental kiss of the year, including one from Moi!"
"What do you all think? Will they last till Christmas Va-Kay? Will they break up by the Welcome Back dance? Will they last till Prom? Or will they go all the way and end up walking down the aisle? Leave your comments below and tell me what you think. Well, that's all I've got for now, but tune in tomorrow for more gossip and rumors of Albuquerque Academy. My name is Martha Cox, and that's what a little birdie told me. See ya!"
As the video ended and Martha's smirking face froze on the screen, the four occupying the room froze in shock. Sebastian moved the mouse over to sidebar and clicked the link, causing another page to open. True to her word, over fifteen pictures of Taylor and Sebastian kissing, all from different angles, popped up along with numerous clips of interviews.
"That's it. My life is over." Taylor groaned. "Chad's gonna go to the site, think I was cheating on him, and he's never going to talk to me again." Gabriella frowned.
"You don't know that for sure." Taylor stood up and glared at the brunette.
"What are you talking about? Do you not see the evidence in front of you? Hell, if I didn't know any better I'd think I was cheating on him!"
"But you do know better." Sebastian interjected. "And as soon as you explain it to Chad, he will know better as well." Taylor shook her head.
"I can't. He won't want to see me or talk to me ever again." Sharpay snorted.
"Well he's gonna have to get over that cause you're in his class. And you're his # one student." Taylor shook her head.
"He'd never believe me. He'd think I was just trying to cover it up." The four sat in silence for a while before Sebastian's face lit up with a grin.
"I've got an idea." Taylor furrowed her eyebrows.
"What is it?" she asked, causing Sebastian to shake his head.
"I don't think so. The less you are involved, the better. Just leave it all to me. I am however, going to need to borrow Sharpay's cell phone." Sharpay gasped and backed up against the wall.
"Why?" She asked. Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"Just give it to me." Sharpay frowned and slowly reached into her pocket, and pulled out the pink bedazzled phone.
"Will I get it back?" Sebastian arched an eyebrow.
"Why would I want a pink rhinestone phone? I'm gay, not a girl. Besides, I have my own cell phone remember? I just have to use yours in order for my plan to work, okay? I'll have one of the younger girls deliver it to you later tonight. Now hand it over." Sharpay looked back and forth between Sebastian and her phone and slowly handed it to the boy in front of her. When it was no longer in her hand, she let out a small squeal and sank to the floor.
"I think a part of me just died." Taylor and Gabriella giggled. Sebastian smirked before picking up his bag from its place next to the door.
"I'll see you guys later. Just…stay away from Chad until you are supposed to be in his class. That's the only way the plan will work, okay?" All three girls nodded in agreement. "Cool. Catch ya later." Gabriella frowned and crossed her arms.
"What do you think he's gonna do?" She asked. Taylor shrugged.
"With Sharpay's phone? It's impossible to tell. But if it doesn't work, we're all screwed."
'Daniel Perez. A. Martha Cox. C-. Gabriella Montez. A+. Taylor Mckessie…B.' Chad sighed and dropped the red pen he was using to grade papers. He'd been thinking and rethinking all that had transpired over the last few days, focusing especially on the event from the day before. He reread the paper in his hand and picked up his pen again. "She deserved better than that even if she is a lying little slut…Taylor Mckessie…A." He thought as he changed the grade on the paper. He picked up the next one in the stack and groaned at the name. 'Sebastian Applegate. You've got to be kidding me.' Chad grinned and picked up his pen. "F." He thought as he wrote the letter at the top of the page. As he was basking in his feelings of glee, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." He yelled not taking his eyes of the paper.
"Um…Chad?" Chad looked up at the sound of his name and mentally groaned.
"Speak of the devil…" It was taking all of his self-control not to glare at the boy standing in front of him. He had to remember that he had no idea what he had done wrong. Forcing a smile, Chad stood to his feet and walked around to the front of his desk before sitting on it.
"What can I help you?" Sebastian shrugged.
"I was wondering if you could help me find a book in the library." Chad arched an eyebrow. Sure the library was huge; it was roughly the size of the gym times two floors. But why ask him.
"Shouldn't you been asking a librarian about that?" Sebastian looked around awkwardly.
"I can't." He said quietly. Chad crossed his arms.
"Why?"
"The book I need is in the "Teacher's Only" section." The teacher's only section was a blocked off section of the library all the way in the back of the second floor. It held books that had been deemed inappropriate for the students but they were accessible for the teachers or a student with a note from a teacher.
"Well, why are you asking me for permission and not one of your other teachers?"
"Well, with you being so much closer to our age and you being the coolest out of all of our teachers, I figured you'd be less likely to judge me and be more understanding." Chad smirked and nodded.
"Ahh. Now I understand. It's a sex book." Sebastian's eyes widened and his cheeks turned pink before he nodded.
"Yeah. It is." Chad laughed and clapped him on the back.
"Alright. I met you in the library at around 9 to sign off on the book." Sebastian smiled.
"Thanks Chad. You're the best."
"I know." With that, Sebastian turned around and walked out of the room.
'Stage one, complete. Now for stage two…'
'Why the hell are there so many names in this girl's phone? She cannot honestly know this many people…' Sebastian thought as he scrolled through Sharpay's phone book. He checked his watch. '8:30. Perfect.' He found the name he was looking for and grinned before clicking it and beginning to type a message.
Hey! It's Shar! Whatcha doing?
Hey sis! Nothing. Studying. What about you?
Same here. Hey would you mind meeting me? I really need to talk to you.
Sure. Just name a time and place.
8:45. Restricted Section of the library. Tonite.
Restricted Section? Why?
Cause I need some place quiet so we can talk and where I know we won't be overhead. Can you make it or not?
I'll be there with bells on.
I'd rather not draw attention to us, so leave the bells in your dorm, kay?
LOL Kay. See you in 15!
See ya then!
Sebastian snapped the phone close and grinned.
'Stage two, complete. Last and not least, stage three…'
"Come on, come on, come on…" Sebastian muttered under his breath. "It's 8:44. Where is he?" Just then he heard footsteps coming towards him and he gasped. Sebastian quickly ran his hands through his hair, straightened his clothes and checked his breath before casually leaning up against one of the tables. The footsteps got closer and soon enough a head of blonde hair poked around one of the bookshelves.
"Shar?" Ryan called. "Sharpay? Are you here?" Sebastian closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"No she's not and she won't be joining us either." He said as he stepped forward from the shadows. Ryan turned around, jumping back and gasping from shock. He squinted his eyes as he tried to figure out who he was looking at.
"Seb?" Sebastian nodded and sent a weak grin towards Ryan. Ryan crossed his arms before glaring at the taller boy in front of him. "What are you doing here? Sharpay texted me-"
"And said she had to talk to you?" Sebastian asked. He reached in his pocket and pulled out Sharpay's phone. "I know. It was me. And I do have to talk to you." Sebastian took a step forward, and Ryan took two back, glaring the entire time.
"Why do you have Sharpay's phone?" Ryan asked with enough chill in his voice to make ice.
"Because I knew you wouldn't come if you knew it would be me here instead of her." Ryan rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Oh. So now not only do you not tell me when you want to break up, but you're also a liar? This is just perfect! You know what? I'm leaving." Ryan said turning to leave. Sebastian stepped forward and grabbed his upper arm.
"Will you listen? Don't you think I have a perfectly good reason for what happened yesterday?" Ryan pulled his arm out of Sebastian's grasp and shrugged as he backed up till he was leaning against one of the other tables in the room.
"I don't know. Do you?"
"Of course. I was doing Taylor a favor." Ryan arched an eyebrow.
"A favor? You really expect me to believe that?"
"Yes I do because it's the truth." Ryan threw his hands up in the air.
"How am I supposed to believe you? I mean two days ago you were telling me how you love me and how much I mean to you and then yesterday afternoon I see you kissing Taylor McKessie? How do I know you're not lying to me?" Sebastian was silent for a moment as he thought this over.
"You don't. You're just gonna have to trust me." Ryan sighed and looked around.
"What favor required you to kiss her?"
"You can't tell anyone." Ryan glared at him.
"Duh."
"She's dating a teacher. And no one can know." Ryan was silent as he mulled this over.
"It's Chad." Sebastian widened his eyes.
"What?"
"The teacher Taylor's dating. It's Chad."
"How'd you know?" Ryan smiled.
"Because all the remotely attractive teachers here are either married, in a relationship with another teacher, or just like being single. Chad's the only teacher who no one knows anything about. There was no other option." The two were silent for awhile. "So." Ryan said in a small voice.
"So." Sebastian repeated. Ryan ran his hands up and down his arms.
"So. You're not really dating Taylor?" Ryan asked in a small voice. Sebastian grinned and moved closer till he was less than an arm's length away.
"No. I'm her cover-up." Ryan nodded.
"And…you don't plan on breaking up with me anytime soon?" Sebastian shook his head.
"No. I don't. So do you forgive me?"
"I want to." Ryan said in a small voice. "But if you weren't cheating on me why didn't you just tell me what was going on? Why'd I have to find out with the rest of the school from Martha?"
"I had no time to tell you!" Sebastian rushed to explain. "Sharpay told me her plan and from there I came straight here to the library to explain it to Taylor. I was walking her back to her dorm when we kissed. It was a spur of the moment thing, it wasn't premeditated, and I swear I would have told you or explained it to you sooner, if you had been answering my calls and texts." Ryan looked down guiltily at this.
"Sorry. I was just so mad-"
"Don't explain. I completely understand. And I don't blame you." Ryan gave him a small smile.
"So, you don't want to break up with me?"
"Not unless you wanna break up with me." Ryan's smile got wider and Sebastian took a step forward and opened his arms.
"Forgive me? Please?" Ryan sighed before grinning and stepped forward before quickly stepping back.
"Just to clarify, you don't actually like her? This whole relationship with her is just so no one finds out about Chad, right?" Sebastian nodded.
"No feelings for her whatsoever." Ryan nodded.
"What about other girls?" Sebastian laughed.
"Are you that insecure about our relationship?" Ryan rocked back and forth on his heels.
"Maybe." He muttered.
"Ryan, I don't know what it's gonna take to convince you, but I like you. Only you. I'm not bisexual and you are the only guy I am interested in dating. And you're just gonna have to learn to trust that. Can you do that?" Ryan slowly nodded.
"I think I can do that." Sebastian grinned and reopened his arms.
"So about that hug…" Ryan laughed before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Sebastian's neck, who in return wrapped his around the blonde's waist before picking him up and spinning him around.
"Seb!" Ryan gasped. "Put me down!" Sebastian laughed but did as he said and placed Ryan back on his feet.
"So I take it you forgive me?" Sebastian whispered into the crook of Ryan's neck. Ryan nodded.
"You're forgiven. But if you even think about doing something like this again, I'll kill you. I swear." Sebastian grinned.
"I won't. I promise. How about you and I seal this with a kiss?"
"I still can't believe I'm doing this." Chad muttered to himself as he walked up and down the deserted library. "How'd he even get in without a key?" Chad shook his head and continued towards the back of the second floor.
Boom.
Chad froze and looked around. There was absolutely no one in sight. He began to walk again, taking extra caution to step lightly and quickly. As he got nearer to the
"Teacher's Only" section, he heard muffled voices. When he reached, he stood still and waited. Nothing happened. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding and stepped forward-
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Chad again froze as he heard what he knew were books hitting the floor.
"What the hell?" He whispered. What he heard next made him gasp.
"You're so gorgeous…absolute perfection." Chad's eyebrows rose.
"Sebastian? If he has Taylor with him I swear to god-" Chad ran till he reached the end and opened his mouth with every intention of letting out some of the nastiest obscenities he had ever heard but what he saw stopped him in his tracks.
Sebastian had Ryan backed up against one of the bookshelves and would gently push him, causing some books to fall. Sebastian's face couldn't be seen due to how far buried in Ryan's neck it was, but by the way Ryan's back arched and how his head was thrown back in ecstasy, the blonde teen wasn't complaining about the new appendage attached to his neck. Sebastian's shirt was lying on the ground and Ryan's was completely open, revealing an alabaster torso, and unbuckled pants. Their hair, which had been perfect all day, looked as if the two had just woken up from sleeping all day. Sebastian pulled away from Ryan's neck with a pop only to smash their lips together as he pulled Ryan closer. Ryan rocked against the taller teen, forcing him to let out a moan, which was about all that Chad could take.
"Fuck!" He yelled causing the two boys to pull apart. Ryan's eyes widened at the sight of his teacher and he quickly tried to make himself appear presentable. Sebastian only grinned and crossed his arms over his bare chest. When his clothes were back in order, Ryan turned back around.
"This is not what it-"He started before Chad interrupted.
"Ryan?"
"Yes, Mr. Chad?"
"Go back to your dorm, go to sleep, and I will see you in class tomorrow morning." Chad said in a level voice.
"So you're not gonna write me up?" Ryan asked in a hopeful voice. Chad couldn't help but smile.
"As long as you leave now, I won't." Ryan nodded.
"Yes sir. Goodnight Chad." Ryan paused as he turned and looked at Sebastian.
"Good night Sebastian."
"See ya in the morning, Ry." Ryan grinned before nodding at Chad and quickly exited. Chad and Sebastian stood in silence till they heard the front door open and close as Ryan left the building. When he was gone, Sebastian let out a sigh and sat down on one of the tables. Sebastian grinned as he looked down at his watch.
"You're five minutes late." He paused. "Mr. Chad." He continued in an imitation of Ryan. Chad glared.
"What the hell did I just see?" He asked. Sebastian smiled.
"Well, you walked in on two young, very horny male teenagers expressing physical love. And to be quite honest, it would have gotten a lot more physical had you not shown up." Chad squinted his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Something tells me that you didn't actually need a book." Sebastian leaned back on his arms and shrugged.
"What would give you that idea?" Chad chuckled.
"Lucky guess. Are you one of those guys who think just because they're dating two people of the opposite sex it's not cheating?" Sebastian shook his head.
"No. Because I'm only dating one person."
"Is Ryan a friends-with-benefits thing?" Sebastian smiled.
"No. Because Ryan is my boyfriend."
"So Taylor's the other woman."
"She would be if I were dating her." Chad stared at the boy in front of him as if he were crazy.
"Do you suffer from short term memory loss or something? Do you not remember what happened on Wednesday?"
"I remember it. I started it."
"Then how can you say-" Sebastian sighed and jumped off the table.
"Look, teach. I'm gonna break it down for ya, alright? I know you're dating Taylor." Chad's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Yes, I know. I know, you know, Taylor knows, Gabriella knows, Sharpay knows, and Ryan knows. Plus everyone you've told. Anyway, Martha being a snoop heard that Taylor was crushing on someone and she wouldn't let it go. So Sharpay told her that she liked me, hoping that it would make Martha leave it alone. That's when she got the idea that if she dated me no one would suspect that she was really dating you. And so on Wednesday, I walked Taylor home from the library and explained everything to her. The kiss in front of her dorm was just for show. No emotional attachment. Anyway Martha posted it on her blog, and Ryan saw it and hadn't been returning my calls. So I came up with a plan to both get Ryan back and you to trust Taylor. And so far it's worked. And now you're all caught up." Chad sat in shock as he tried to process everything he heard.
"So…" He started. "You're bi?"
"Gay, actually. I don't like girls. I think it's the boobs…they just don't interest me. Never have."
"How long have you been out of the closet?" Sebastian avoided meeting Chad's eyes.
"Well, I haven't actually officially come out yet. Tay and them all know, and you and Ryan of course, but besides that, no one knows. No one on the team, the coaches, or my parents."
"How long have you known?" he questioned.
"I always had doubts about girls and last year I slept with Sharpay as a test. It confirmed that I was indeed gay." Chad nodded.
"How long have you been dating Ryan?" Sebastian grinned.
"Two months, one week, sixteen hours, forty-eight minutes, and twelve seconds. It was weird. I mean, we both grew up in this boarding school. Been attending since we were seven. But this summer while we were both on the same cruise, it was like I was meeting him for the first time. He was more than just a mop of blonde hair in all of my classes. He was…Ryan. Well, we hung out every day, talked for hours, even convinced our parents to let us switch rooms so we could share a cabin. And one day, halfway through the trip, I kissed him and he kissed me back. Been dating ever since."
"His parents know?" Sebastian chuckled.
"Yeah. His mom walked in on us sharing a bed one day."
"How'd she react?"
"Quite well. She and Ryan's dad had a bet going on when he would finally come out of the closet. She won. She guessed he'd admit it in high school while his dad said college." Chad nodded as he comprehended all of this new information.
"So why am I here?"
"So I could tell you that Taylor loves you. And that you should show up to the dance tomorrow." Sebastian stated matter-of-factly. "Especially considering the fact that her dress is fabulous!" He finished in a stereotypical gay man fashion. Chad chuckled and put his hands on his hips.
"So let me go through this one time just to make sure I understand everything. You're gay and dating Ryan, but also dating Taylor though that's fake because she's dating me and you're doing all this to keep your secret and to keep Martha from finding out Taylor's, right?"
"Yup. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get some sleep. I have a dance to go to tomorrow." Sebastian brushed by Chad who smirked.
"Hey Sebastian!" He yelled. Sebastian turned at the sound of his name.
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you missing something?" Chad asked holding up Sebastian's abandoned white shirt. Sebastian looked down at his bare chest and laughed.
"Yeah, I might need that." Chad balled it up and threw it at his student. Sebastian caught it with ease. The younger boy arched an eyebrow.
"Just to make sure: we're cool, right?"
"Yeah, Sebastian. We're cool."
So what do you think? Did you like? Did you hate? Tell me I wanna know! Review and I hope everyone is enjoying the summer holidays!