Here I go again. I hope you like this one, a very interesting situation indeed. I don't own High School Musical…even though I really wish I did.

Permanent Seperation

Taylor jumped again when she heard the sudden crash of what sound like dishes downstairs. Her parents were at it again and she had been instructed to go to her room and stay there, but she didn't know how long she would be able to take this arguing. It sound like a world war downstairs and she knew that the house and its belongings were going to be the casualties, and she didn't want to be one herself.

Walking to her jacket she scooped up her cell phone and dialed a familiar number, she tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for him to pick up.

"Taylor it better be serious for you to be calling me this time of night".

"It is Chad…they're at it again and I can't take it anymore" she said tearing up slightly. She walked to the door, opened it, and held her cell phone in the air so Chad could here all the commotion going on downstairs.

"I have to get out of here" she pleaded as she put the phone back to her ear and closed the door.

"No problem. Look I'll be downstairs in ten, hang tight and I'll pick you up and take you back to my place…bring the usual" he said. She could here him jumping out of the bed and fumbling around for some clothes. "Alright…I'll see you when you get here" she said hanging up her phone.

Taylor went to her closet and grabbed her over night bag. Walking over to her dresser she grabbed some toiletries, some pajamas, two days worth of changing clothes, her iPod, and her book she had been reading for the summer. Looking around her room she wandered if she was leaving anything of importance, she decided to take the journal book Gabriella had bought her for her last birthday. She hadn't written in it yet, but being as this was the worse she had ever heard her parents, the journal might come in handy anyway.

She grabbed her purse, and her jacket with her phone and the little bit of money she had and headed downstairs.

"I can't believe you Kevin! You have the nerve to come in here and act like you haven't been with her! I know you have, you two timing son of a bitch!" screamed Taylor's mom.

Taylor eased her way down the steps hoping that her parents would be too engrossed in their argument to even notice her leaving. The sad thing was that she knew they would be, she had left in the middle of night with Chad for the past year in a half during their arguments, and when she came home a couple of days later they never would ask where she had been.

"You know what Sharon…I'm tired of you and I'm tired of the bull I have to deal with every night!" she heard her father scream as she quietly closed the door and walked down to the sidewalk to wait for Chad. Pacing back in forth she wandered how her parent's relationship had gotten so bad, they use to be the couple that people wanted to be like, but for the past couple of years it has been hell in the McKessie household. She knew her father had had an affair, and by rights her mother should be pissed but she didn't expect for it to go this far.

She saw Chad turning the corner in his car and slowed down in front of her, "Get in girl" he said reaching over and opening the door.

Chad could hear the feud going on inside the house. He shook his head as Taylor shut the door and buckled herself in, "That is getting ridiculous" he said to Taylor while pointing at her house.

"Yeah tell me about it. Can we just get out of here?" she asked quietly.

"No problem Tee Cup" said Chad driving off in the direction of his home. Tee Cup was the nick name he gave Taylor when they had dated briefly last year. She let him still call her that even though they had broken up some time ago…matter of fact they are closer now as friends, than they ever were when they were trying to date.

Taylor remained quiet the rest of the way to Chad's home. He knew she just needed time to get herself together, but her parent's constant bickering was starting to take a toll on her emotionally, and now physically. He could see her getting depressed and slightly weaker as time went on.

Once home Chad grabbed Taylor's bag and escorted her into his home. "I already told my mom, and she has the guest room already set up for ya" said Chad turning on the light in the living room. "You left some stuff here last time anyway…so my mom kept it in the room".

"Thanks" said Taylor quietly.

Chad just looked at his former sweet heart, she was unbelievably sad. He had never seen her like this and they had known each other since first grade…to tell you the truth it broke his heart a little.

"Taylor I know things don't look real good right now, but you gotta no that no matter what I'm here and so is my family. You know my mom considers you her daughter since she never had any right" he said trying to make her smile.

Taylor smiled in spite of herself; it was just like Chad to try to make her feel better with his lame jokes. "Yeah I know…it can't be easy for her to be in a house full of big haired boys" she said making a joke of her own.

"No truer words have ever been spoken" said Chad, walking over to Taylor and engulfing her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around her best friend and almost as if he was waiting for her to…she broke down crying. Chad tightened his grip around her and swayed her from side to side. "Tee Cup I promise it will get better in time" he whispered into her ears.

Even though she knew it to be true, it still hurt to have her parent's at each other's throats the way they were. The former couple continued to hold on to each other until Taylor completely calmed down.

"Maybe you should take a nice long shower…when you're done I'll have some snacks in your room waiting, then we can talk if you are up to it" said Chad taking her bag to the guest room that was on the first floor. Chad dropped her bag on the guest bed and stood in front of the door.

"Um how about we skip the talk and watch a movie…preferably a comedy" said Taylor.

"Alrighty then, sounds good to me. I'll see you in a few" said Chad walking out to give Taylor some privacy.

Taylor sat down on her bed, even though she had done this multiple times before she could never get use to it. She was eternally grateful for Chad and his family's help but she still wish she was home, with her parents. Taylor decided that her pity party was over and she hoped in the shower and put on her pajamas. When she walked back into her room, Chad had the snacks laid out in the movie already in waiting to be played.

She giggled and ran straight to the bed and sat Indian style while Chad pushed the play button the remote to start the movie. The pair ate with intensity while laughing out loud at the silliness of the movie. The two were so caught up into the film, that Chad's cell phone ringing startled them back into reality. Chad sighed heavily as he answered his phone, "Yeah" he said aggressively.

"Chad…its Troy man…you home" said Troy sounding upset.

"Yeah I'm home, but what's wrong man you sound like you've been crying" said Chad standing up and pressing the pause button on the remote.

"Look I'll tell you when I get there…I'm right around the corner" said Troy hanging up the phone not giving Chad a chance to respond.

"Chad what's wrong?" asked Taylor looking concerned.

"Something's wrong with Troy…he wouldn't tell me what it is but he's on his way here. I'm gonna go meet him outside" said Chad putting on his shoes.

"Maybe I should go too" said Taylor standing up.

"I don't think that's a good idea Taylor…he's really upset… and I don't think he would want to see anybody else but me" said Chad softly.

"I get it…he was crying" said Taylor. "Is it okay if I finish the movie?" she asked.

"Yeah…knock your self out" said Chad. He walked out of the bedroom and speed walked his way to the porch. 'Something really must be going on if he was crying' thought Chad to himself as he waited for Troy's arrival.

Back in the room Taylor tried her best to keep her attention on the movie, but she couldn't help but think about Troy. She had heard his voice over the phone when he called Chad and she was slightly worried.

Once upon a time she, Chad, and Troy had been known as the three musketeers. You very rarely saw them without one another, but that all changed when they went to high school. Troy and Chad were into basketball and Taylor was into science…her and Chad had gotten close again once they started dating but she and Troy were still very distant. They were always cordial to one another but that's as far as it went, there wasn't an deeper level like it use to be. Troy was Chad's best friend now, not Taylor's.

Chad heard Troy's truck stop in front of his house. He waited for his best friend at the top of the front porch steps. "What's going on man?" said Chad once Troy had made his way to the porch.

Troy didn't answer him; he brushed past Chad and started pacing back and forth. Chad watched as Troy was trying to calm him self down, but the more he paced the more upset he became. Before long tears started falling out of his eyes and onto his shirt, as he continued to pace across the front porch.

"Troy…what happened?" asked Chad quietly.

Troy stopped and looked at his best friend since first grade, "She left" he said through clenched teeth as he turned around and started pacing again.

Chad raised his eye brow, "Who left?" asked Chad. Troy continued to ignore him and kept up with his pacing as tears continued to flow down his cheeks. Chad sighed heavily and grabbed his best friend arm and turned him around, "Who left?" he asked again quietly.

"My mom…she packed up her stuff and left" he said while he tried to control the breakdown that was threatening to happen. "She just packed her shit and left!" he yelled.

Chad hung his mouth open, "No way…I don't believe it" was the only response he could come up with.

"Well believe it, she came downstairs looked my father in the eyes, and said 'she had enough with pretending to be in love with him' and walked out of the door! You should have seen the look on my fathers face, it was like he died right then and there" said Troy clearly upset. "She didn't even say anything to me…she just walked out Chad….my own mother!" screamed Troy.

A dog howled in the distance, and Chad knew instantly that he had to get Troy inside of the house before his neighbors started to complain and call the authorities. "Troy c'mon, let's go inside" said Chad guiding his best friend in the house. They were met by his mother who wanted to know what was going on but upon seeing Troy's face knew something was extremely wrong.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Danforth for making all that noise" said Troy quietly trying to wipe tears from his eyes.

"What is going on tonight…" said Mrs. Danforth "first Taylor…now you Troy" she said as she went into the kitchen to warm up some tea. Troy looked at Chad with confusion, "Taylor's here" he asked a little aggressively.

"Yeah…she was having some family troubles too" said Chad a little apprehensively.

"I think I should come back later" said Troy heading for the door.

"What….why Troy. I know we aren't as close as we use to be, but honestly we could really use one another right now" said Chad blocking Troy's way.

"I don't think that's such a good idea Chad…I'll come back later" said Troy trying to get around Chad.

Taylor was watching from the hallway, while Mrs. Danforth was watching from the kitchen as the two boys started to struggle with one another. "Troy…I'm here for you right now, why won't you let me help you!" yelled Chad.

"Because I don't want to be in the same house with her!" yelled Troy trying to push Chad out of the way.

"Who Taylor….what does she have to do with this?" asked Chad thoroughly confused.

"Yeah Troy…what have I done to you?" asked Taylor walking into the living room, "You really can't stand me that much…we use to be friends" said Taylor looking angry.

Troy turned around and stared at Taylor with disgust, "I really don't need this right now…I need to get back home to my dad" said Troy not taking his eyes off Taylor.

"Damn it Troy…what's going on with you. Look I know your mother has done something awful but you can't blame Taylor…that's not fair" said Chad.

"Chad's right Troy, that's not fair" piped in Mrs. Danforth from the kitchen doorway.

"NO! You know what's not fair…having your mother walk out on you and your father and claim to only be pretending to love you!" yelled Troy while tears slipped down his eyes again, "It's not fair to have your mother walk out and run straight to another man….especially if that man IS YOUR FATHER TAYLOR!" yelled Troy with such force that it made both Mrs. Danforth and Taylor jump back.

Troy ran past the shocked Chad, straight to his car and skidded off into the night. Chad ran out to the porch and watched as his friend drove dangerously fast down the street and turned the corner as his tires made a loud noise. He walked back in the house and looked at Taylor who hadn't moved from her spot, tears suddenly appeared on her face, "Chad I think I need to go home" she said quietly.

"I'll drive" said Mrs. Danforth rushing to get her jacket and keys.

Chad helped usher Taylor to his mom's car and he sat in the back with her as his mom drove slowly to Taylor's house. He pulled Taylor close to him, while she continued to cry silently in his chest. 'Man what a night…not only do I have to worry about Troy but I have to worry about Taylor too…I can't choose between the two of them, I guess I just have to be there equally for the both of them' he thought to him self.

Once they arrived back at Taylor's, she shoot out of the car and rushed into her house. Chad went to follow but Mrs. Danforth held him back, "I think you should let her handle this alone…for right now Chad" she said. Chad sighed, and closed the door. He pulled his cell phone out to call Troy as his mom pulled off, while he continued to look as Taylor ran into the house. Of course Troy didn't pick up so he left a message, "Troy it's me Chad. I just wanted to know that you got in safely…at least give me the courtesy of not worrying about you all night" said Chad and he hung up.

Taylor ran in the house screaming for her father, "Dad……daddy" she yelled running around the house. Noticing her surroundings the house was a mess from the argument her parents had earlier. She ran up the steps to her parent's bedroom, "Dad…..where are you" she yelled as her voice trembled slightly. She opened the door and saw her mom sitting on the bed looking disheveled. "Mom….please tell me it's not true….tell me dad is here" she said dropping to her knees in front of her mother.

"He's not here Taylor….he left and he's never coming back" said her mother as she burst into tears. Taylor gasped as tears started to flow strongly again…how her father could do this to her mom….to her….how could he run off with a married woman….Troy's mom at that. Taylor grabbed her mom's hands and the two women cried together….because it was the only way either one of them could express their pain.