Awww man! The love I'm receiving is enough to make me explode. LOL. This is the next chapter and the story is moving along nicely guys...hope you stay with me on this crazy ride.
Solace
Zeke and Taylor sat in the car outside of East High. It had been two weeks exactly since either one had been to school. Zeke thought it was best to let things cool off a bit before returning; besides Taylor really didn't need the stress, especially with the end of the year senior activities right around the corner. The duo sat quietly pondering on things to themselves. Both of them were nervous, but Taylor was more anxious than Zeke. In one day she'd lost everything she held near and dear to her, but she also gained one of the best friends she ever had in her life.
"Zeke I don't know if I have thanked you, but I'm really grateful for you being here…you know not judging me…or leaving me, just thanks for being a great friend" said Taylor quietly.
"Tay you thank me every day and I tell you every time that it's nothing" said Zeke chuckling.
"I know but…it's everything to me right now" said Taylor quietly.
Zeke sighed while looking out at the extensive building, "I know…trust me I know".
Taylor looked out as students started walking into the building, rushing to wherever they were going. She remembered when she was one of the masses heading into the building early to catch up on homework, or to meet Troy or Gabriella for one of there early morning rendezvous. Taylor ran her hands over her stomach, she really couldn't feel the baby inside of her quite yet, but she knew it was in there. Her morning sickness told her so; she noticed small changes in her body and her doctor informed her that she was in her first trimester. But health terminology aside, she felt connected to her baby in a way that she really couldn't explain, she loved her baby even though she didn't know the sex, and it probably looked like a sea horse.
Taylor smiled at her joke, as she looked out of the window. She gasped suddenly as she saw Gabriella walking into the building, it felt like forever since she had seen her, and she honestly wasn't ready for it.
"Taylor what's wrong?" asked Zeke concernedly.
"Nothing…I…I just saw Gabriella and I was a little unprepared" said Taylor.
"Oh…you sure you're gonna be able to handle this" questioned Zeke.
"I'm sure Zeke…I'm good…I couldn't stay in the house any longer anyway" said Taylor.
"That's for sure" said Zeke frowning up his face. "You know Taylor, I talked to my mom and we are thinking that you should move in with us…I mean my dad is helping out and my mom feels as though it would be more beneficial to you and the baby" said Zeke.
"I can't just leave my parents" said Taylor.
"They're treating you like crap…I mean your father doesn't even talk to you and your mother…well she's at least trying" said Zeke angrily.
It was true; her father only stared at her in disgust once he found out about all of her sexual partners. He didn't even acknowledge her presence and when he did he looked at her like she was scum on the bottom of a toilet. Her mom was trying hard to adjust, but she was still kinda giving Taylor the cold shoulder. Even though her parents were treating her with such disregard, she still couldn't leave them, they were the only family she had. She remained silent and Zeke knew that was her way of saying the discussion was over. He rolled his eyes and turned to look out the side of his window, as he saw Troy walking into the building.
That day always played in Zeke's mind, he still couldn't believe he decked Troy like that…but he felt justified, even if Troy was hurt it gave him no right to be that disrespectful to Taylor, besides he was just as guilty as she was. "You ready McKessie" said Zeke.
"Yeah…as ready as I'll ever be" said Taylor opening the car door.
Zeke walked over to her and helped her out of the car, "Where did you learn how to be such a gentleman" laughed Taylor.
"Hey you don't date Sharpay Evans for three years and not pick up a thing or two" smiled Zeke.
"So true…so true" Taylor said as she continued to laugh. They walked side by side as they made their way through the parking lot, "So Zeke, since you're suppose to be my baby's daddy and all…people are gonna assume were dating…what do you think of that Mr. Baylor" smiled Taylor, she was in a jovial mood, even though she knew they were about to be ostracized by the entire school.
"I think that I am proud to be your baby's daddy, and anybody who has a problem with it can kiss my…."
"Ah, ah, ah…now Mr. Baylor we can't have you cursing around the fetus or is it an embryo…or maybe it's a zygote, but whatever it is… no foul language around the baby" laughed Taylor.
"Okay sorry" smirked Zeke, "So what do you want some PDA" asked Zeke smirking.
"Not really…I just needed to get my mind off of what's about to happen, I think PDA is what got me in this mess in the first place" said Taylor.
Zeke nodded his head in agreement, "It will be okay Tay, I'm here…have confidence in that, and we will make it through" he said wrapping his arm around her waist and giving her a reassuring squeeze. He released her as Taylor took a big breath and they walked through the doors of the school building. Zeke and Taylor both held their heads high as they walked through the hallways, they heard their names in low private tones from their counterparts, and Taylor even heard her name synonymous with such words as bitch, slut, and whore, not to mention they felt the eyes of people following them. The only person, who even remotely talked to the both of them, was Kelsi when she gave a small wave and an almost inaudible 'Hello'.
Zeke stopped at his locker and gathered his belongings he left in there two weeks prior, "Alright you ready to go to homeroom" said Zeke.
Taylor quietly shook her head and clutched her bag close to her body; they turned into the direction of homeroom, while walking Zeke reminded Taylor again that everything would be okay. Upon reaching the room they heard light talking but as soon as they made their presence through the door, it was an immediate hush. Zeke immediately locked his eyes on Sharpay, whose eyes watered up at once but no tears fell down her face, something she mastered at young age. She crossed her legs and arms at once and turned towards the window. Zeke could see her leg shaking quickly under her desk.
Taylor glanced around the room and she saw Troy looking at her with utter hatred, the two week break obviously didn't cool him off. She saw Chad looking at her the exact same way; and she realized just then how this whole situation would affect Chad too. They both quietly decided together that it was better to go to their seats than be the object of everyone's vision.
As Taylor walked back to her seat, which was directly behind Chad, she glanced up at Gabriella. They stared at each other for a second longer than usual and Taylor immediately took her seat, refusing to look anywhere else but the back of Chad's head. Gabriella closed her eyes, to try and prevent the tears from escaping them. Zeke took his seat on the other side of Sharpay, who turned her head away from him as soon as he sat down. He was use to sitting next to her and being totally uncomfortable…the story of his whole high school existence.
Ms. Darbus had noticed the changes in her senior homeroom class, she also had heard the rumors about Taylor and her many conquests. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife, it was almost tangible. Not only did it bother her that her homeroom was totally tensed all the time now but it was obvious to her that all of her children were searching and wanting love, but they were hurting one another in their quest to get it. Her eyes scanned her classroom, Troy was hiding his obvious hurt behind anger but what he didn't know, which Ms. Darbus immediately realized, was that he was angry with himself for what he did and what was done to him, and he was taking it out on other people.
She watched as Gabriella kept her eyes closed, she noticed that Gabriella was completely depressed, but what amazed Ms. Darbus was the fact that she could maintain her grades even though she was clearly broken for all the stuff happened. Ms. Darbus sighed heavily, "Alright please listen up to the following announcements senior homeroom" said Ms. Darbus strongly, scaring the students out of their private thoughts.
In all honesty no one was paying the announcements any mind, they were silently praying for the bell to ring and an end to the current torture. "Ms. Darbus will you be attending the senior prom with us" asked Jason nonchalantly, which in turn made several students smile and even a few chuckled.
"Uh Jason…I maybe will and I maybe won't" she said quietly smiling at Jason for breaking the tension a little.
The bell rang much to the relief of Taylor and several of the East High crew. Everyone rushed out of the chairs and almost ran to the door, Zeke was tempted to rush after Sharpay but he thought better of it, and walked over to Taylor who was still seated. "You okay McKessie" said Zeke quietly.
She nodded her head yes and got up to leave but Ms. Darbus stopped them, "You know Mr. Baylor and Ms. McKessie I really hope everything works out for you".
"Thanks Ms. Darbus" they both said simultaneously, with little emotion. The stricken pair walked into the hallway where the disrespectful taunts continued to rain on them. Zeke held his head high as Taylor followed his lead. 'Thank God we have the same first period' she thought to herself.
"Hey during free period let's meet in the library like we did last time. I'll bring lunch so you just show up okay" said Zeke before they reached their class.
"Sounds good to me" said Taylor quietly.
They entered class and the same happened to them that happened in homeroom, "Man I can't wait till this day is over" whispered Zeke to Taylor.
"Yeah you and me both" she whispered back as they walked to their seats.
The rest of the morning continued liked that all day…Taylor being called offensive names and people (even teachers) shaking their heads disappointedly at the two. Taylor was so happy when free period came, she was about to explode. She sat down at the same table that she shared her deepest secrets with Zeke, almost three weeks prior. Waiting patiently she recalled the looks that Troy had been throwing her way all morning, it was enough to make her feel sick or it could have just been morning sickness. Gabriella just looked depressed the entire morning and refused to even look in her direction.
Lost in her thoughts she only looked up when Zeke walked in looking slightly upset, "What's wrong?" asked Taylor immediately as he approached their table.
"I had a run in with Sharpay…she was so mad at me Taylor" said Zeke sitting down rubbing his temples.
"When…where?" she asked concernedly.
"In the hallway…she was about to lay into me but I told her we could talk in private…she's probably gonna show up here" he said looking at Taylor, "dramatics and all".
"Oh" was all Taylor could manage. "You think that's such a good idea, with me being here" asked Taylor looking slightly stressed.
"She said she wanted to talk to both of us…whatever that's supposed to mean. I told her that the only way I would talk to her is if it was civil and that she wouldn't try to stress you out…even though she looked hurt she agreed to my conditions so I can only hope for the best…but if I see it going south than were done" he said quietly. "Anyway, how's my baby" he said reaching into his backpack and handing her some lunch.
"Fine I guess…I've had this queasy feeling inside all day…I can't tell if it's nerves or just the normal part of being pregnant" she said while taking a bite out of her sandwich.
"I think it's a little of both" he said unconsciously rubbing her stomach, "besides I've noticed the way Troy has been looking at you…today was definitely a stressful one, but I swear Taylor if he even comes at you wrong it's on" said Zeke grabbing some chips and cramming them into his mouth.
"Zeke like seriously, if you and Troy fight in school and get suspended than I'm all alone here…promise me you won't do that" she asked quietly.
Zeke sighed heavily, Taylor did have a point. He rubbed her stomach one last time, "Fine I promise…I will try to control myself…only if you promise me you will consider moving in with me and my mom" said Zeke seriously.
Taylor looked away from Zeke and continued to eat, "Tay…seriously all I want you to do is consider it" said Zeke quietly.
"I'll think about it" she said. Neither one of them were aware of the scrutiny Troy was giving with his eyes, he was standing in the hallway looking through the window at them. He couldn't believe that not only Gabriella but Taylor had made a complete fool out of him, in front of everyone it seemed like. He watched as Zeke continued to rub Taylor's stomach, while she ate. It burned him up inside knowing that the baby inside of Taylor's wasn't his…and that she claimed to love him, when she was screwing who knows how many people. Both Gabriella and Taylor played him and he was certain it was gonna be a long time before he forgave either one of them.
"You know Troy, jealousy was never a good look on you" said Gabriella walking up on the left side of him, she followed his eyes and noticed Zeke and Taylor talking in the library, "but I guess in this case jealousy is allowed" she said quietly. She instantly picked up on the closeness that they obviously had developed for one another, and it pained her to see it.
"What do you want?" asked Troy harshly, not bothering to look at her.
"The same thing you want, but it's obvious neither one of us can have it" she said ignoring his rudeness.
"Yeah…and what's that…you not speaking to me" he said angrily.
She chuckled slightly, "Don't flatter yourself Bolton, what I want…what we both want is patience, forgiveness, to feel free, but most importantly love…simply put we both want her" she stated softly.
Troy loosened up his tense stance, "but we can't have her" he quietly said. They both continued to look at Zeke as he said something to make Taylor smile and giggle slightly. Both remembering how she use to do the same thing around them, "You know Troy I never apologized for my part in this whole mess. If I was honest with myself and you a long time ago, a lot of this would have been prevented…this whole situation wouldn't have ended up so messy…I mean I still love you…but…but…"
"but you love her more" he said finishing Gabriella's sentence, "Trust me, I totally understand that feeling".
"Yeah…I guess you could say that" she said quietly finally tearing her eyes away from Taylor, "anyway I just wanted to say I'm sorry and I hope one day you can forgive me. I hope one day I can forgive myself" she said.
"I'm not ready to apologize yet Gabriella or forgive you, Taylor, or me. I'm just not ready…I'm angry and I want to stay angry for quite sometime, honestly I want both of you to hurt as much as I do…especially Taylor for screwing all of us at the same time" he said angrily.
"FYI Troy, she is in as much pain as both you and me" said Gabriella getting slightly upset herself.
"Well I want her to be in more…especially since she got pregnant by one of my supposed best buddy" he said walking away from the window.
"You know what Troy, if you actually believe that is Zeke's baby than I feel really sorry for you" said Gabriella walking after him.
Troy stopped abruptly and turned around to face Gabriella, "Honestly I don't want you to feel anything for me…I want you to leave me the hell alone…right now and forever…just stay away from me Montez!" he yelled at Gabriella and stormed off in the opposite direction. Some kids in the hall started laughing as Gabriella watched Troy storm down the hallway. 'He just doesn't get it…and he probably never will' she thought, as tears started to pool around in her eyes. She decided to go to the auditorium. It had been the place where she could cry freely and get some solace, away from it all and everyone.
Sharpay walked into the library and noticed Zeke and Taylor immediately smiling about something and talking quietly. She marched right over and sat down; completely ignoring Taylor she stared at Zeke for the longest time, and Zeke stared right back at her, "So Sharpay are we gonna do this or what?" he said harshly, breaking the silence. Taylor noticed the hurt immediately in her eyes, probably one of the only times she had seen Sharpay that vulnerable.
Taylor knew he was still upset about the abortion, but she knew he had to control his anger towards Sharpay. Taylor lightly kicked him under the table, and he immediately got the message, "I'm sorry Sharpay…I didn't mean to be rude" he said.
"Some how I don't believe you Zeke but whatever, I just wanted to hear it from you…I wanted you to tell me the truth about everything…did you really get her pregnant" asked Sharpay bluntly, still ignoring Taylor in the process. Tears started to swarm around Sharpay's eyes again as she visibly tried to brace herself for his answer.
"No" said Zeke, "the baby is not mine". Sharpay sighed heavily in relief, "I'm just helping out a friend who really needed it…she needed me" he said finishing off his sentence.
"So you two never slept together" asked Sharpay quietly.
"No!" said Zeke and Taylor simultaneously.
"Well I had to ask…considering your track record and all McKessie" said Sharpay condescendingly.
"Sharpay!" yelled Zeke sitting up and looking at his former love sternly.
"It's alright Zeke…just chill…you're bringing attention to us" said Taylor quietly addressing Zeke as she glanced at the librarian who was giving the entire table the evil eye.
"You have no right Sharpay; to talk about things you don't know anything about" said Zeke calming down slightly, "let us not forget the recent crime against nature you've committed" said Zeke squaring his eyes at Sharpay.
"Zeke" gasped Taylor, "c'mon you're taking things too far…like seriously". Sharpay looked at Zeke with such disgust as a lone tear slide down her cheek. Seeing Sharpay cry in front of somebody else that wasn't him seemed to bring him back from his momentary lapse in judgment. He sighed heavily, "I'm so sorry Sharpay, I didn't mean to go there…I just…I'm sorry" he said flustered.
"Whatever" she said wiping the tear away and looking down into her lap. Zeke looked her over for the first time really…noticing that she was not in her usual 'Sharpay' gear. She had on a pair of sweats, a white v neck tee shirt, and her hair in a pony tail. Light makeup only and a small pair of earrings he bought her on their two year anniversary. He preferred her like this…the overly glammed up Sharpay was a cover…the real Sharpay was sitting right in front of him, he hadn't seen that Sharpay in school since freshman year.
There was a tense and awkward silence between the small group, Sharpay couldn't bring herself to look at Zeke for fear that she would really start bawling and Taylor felt completely uncomfortable but she couldn't bring her self to get up and move.
"Sharpay…you are my one and only. You are the only girl I have ever been with, my first and hopefully my last…" said Zeke quietly.
"If I'm all of that to you Zeke, than why can't you let me off the hook…why do you keep punishing me" she said quietly as she choked back a cry.
"Sharpay look at me please" asked Zeke. Sharpay hesitated but looked at him directly in the eyes. "It feels like I'm punishing you because it still hurts…I'm dealing with it but it still hurts alright, just give me some time. I'm mourning the loss of my baby and our relationship and right now the only way I'm dealing with it is by not being around you and basically helping out a friend who needs it. There is nothing going on between Taylor and I but friendship, and deep down inside I know you know that. I love you Sharpay…I really do but it hurts to be around you right now. " he said quietly.
Tears escaped from Sharpay's eyes as she got up to leave, but Zeke walked over to her and held her tightly. It was the first time that they had ever shown affection for one another in the presence of any and everybody. Sharpay cried quietly into Zeke's embrace. The only reason Taylor knew she was crying was because she saw the tears falling from her face. Zeke kissed the top of her forehead and let her go. Sharpay walked away from him immediately; there wasn't a good bye or anything, she just left out of the library.
"Are you okay?" asked Taylor softly grabbing his hand and squeezing it as Zeke sat down next to her.
"No…but I will be…I promise" he said quietly.
The bell rang out and Zeke helped Taylor out of her chair. With half of the day gone, both Zeke and Taylor worshiped the fact that school day was almost over.
"You going to basketball practice today?" asked Taylor as they walked out into the hallway. People continued to look and whisper but not as bad as it was that morning.
"Nope…we won the championship already…I don't think it's any point…plus Troy and Chad are gonna be there. I don't feel like dealing with either one of them" said Zeke.
"To tell you the truth I haven't even thought about Chad" said Taylor.
"Well don't start…we don't need anymore problems coming our way" said Zeke smirking, "What class you got coming up?" asked Zeke as they turned the corner onto one of the quieter hallways.
"Advance calculus…another torture hour with Gabriella" said Taylor quietly.
"You don't have any classes with Troy?" asked Zeke quietly, out of curiosity.
"Nope…my whole schedule is AP courses…and the only person I have in them that I know is the other nerd in this school" said Taylor.
"Ah…Gabriella…well the day is almost over…and the torture will be done soon" said Zeke.
"Only to start all over again tomorrow" laughed Taylor.
"Yeah McKessie I hear ya" chuckled Zeke. He walked with her until she reached her next period class; he told her he would see her outside after school and hauled tailed it down the hall, before the late bell rang. Taylor walked into class and sat down at her assigned seat, which was right next to Gabriella. This was the closest they had been in weeks. She felt Gabriella almost tense up at once when she sat down, but she paid it no mind and started on her drill.
Mr. Anderson had started the lesson and was in full teacher mode when Taylor saw an envelope slide onto her desk. It was addressed to her in Gabriella's handwriting. Taylor glanced up at Gabriella, who gave her a sincere look, "Please don't read it until after school" she whispered.
"Gaby…I don't think this is a good idea" whispered Taylor returning the letter back to Gabriella's desk.
"Taylor…please, please read it for me" she said softly, almost whimpering.
Taylor sighed, she could never say no to her once she used that tone of voice. "Fine" she said grabbing the letter and placing it in her notebook.
"Thanks" said Gabriella. It took all of her strength to not grab Taylor's hand and hold it, to feel the same type of closeness she use to when around her. Gabriella had poured all of her feelings into that letter, and she hoped that Taylor would take it seriously, "Take the letter seriously Taylor, I mean it's not a long one, but everything that's in there I truly mean" whispered Gabriella again.
"I said I would read it…okay" whispered Taylor getting annoyed. She moved her chair over slightly, signaling the end of their conversation. She ignored Gabriella for the rest of the period and as soon as the bell rung she jetted out of the door. Before long, it was the end of a long day and the bell finally rang. Taylor waited for Zeke at his car, as she pondered how the day had gone, it was definitely emotionally draining…honestly she couldn't wait until the school year was over. She hadn't told Zeke but she planed on leaving Albuquerque for good, once graduation was over…she decided last week that the best move was to start over fresh, just her and the baby. No drama…no feeling guilty about anything…just her and the new love of her life.
She continued to stand by the car, wandering what was taking Zeke so long. Suddenly she heard some commotion by the school building; she heard shouting and knew immediately that something was wrong. Running over to the front of the building she saw Zeke going at it with Troy…again, both young men were throwing punches at one another, while a big crowd surrounded them and was edging both of them on. Taylor fought to get through the crowd, as soon as she saw them, she gasped out loud. Zeke had a cut under his eye, and Troy's left eye was starting to swell quickly. Zeke threw one last punch with all his might which landing on the left side of Troy's face, causing Troy to stumble and fall to the ground.
"Zeke please stop!" yelled Taylor, "I told you not to fight…I told you not to do this!" screamed Taylor.
Zeke looked at Taylor and he sort of came out of a trance. Blood was trickling down his face, as Troy stumbled to get back up off the ground, "C'mon Baylor let's get at it" he said angrily.
"NO! This has to stop Troy!" screamed Taylor at him. Tears started running down her face as she stared at Troy, "Stop taking this out on Zeke, you wanna punch me than do so, but this has to stop!" she screamed at him. Troy stared at her not knowing what to say.
"I would never put my hands on you Taylor…you know me better than that" he said quietly.
"Do I…" she said as the tears continued to run. Somehow the crowd had grown outside of the building, Gabriella had made her way through and walked up to Taylor and put her hand on Taylor's shoulder, "Don't touch me please…just leave me alone okay Gabriella!" screamed Taylor harshly.
Gabriella moved back in shock, this was the second time today she had been rejected by people who claimed to love her. She turned away and walked through the crowd angrily; "To hell with you McKessie!" she screamed back, "you and Troy can have one another both of you are crazy as hell!"
"Who says I want her" yelled Troy looking at Taylor, "you're tainted goods anyway" he said angrily.
"You obviously want her you dip stick, you're out here fighting like a goon" said Sharpay from the crowd.
"I wasn't talking to you Evans!" said Troy pointing his finger at her, while walking over to her like he was about to do something. Zeke ran over to Troy in a second, and tackled him to the ground. "I told you Bolton about disrespecting the ladies" said Zeke punching Troy in his stomach. Sharpay gasped at Zeke's face, it was the first time she gotten a good look at him since the fight started.
"Damn it Zeke…stop!" pleaded Taylor. Zeke got off of Troy and started walking over to his car, Troy laid on the ground doubling over in pain from the latest punch that Zeke through into his stomach. Taylor looked down at Troy and shook her head, "How I ever fell in love with you I will never know" she said nastily as she followed Zeke to his car.
"I ask myself the same McKessie… everyday I ask myself the same…how the hell I got played by a goody two shoes and a skank!" yelled Troy from the ground. The crowd shook there heads at him and started to walk off.
Taylor ignored Troy as she kept following Zeke, Sharpay kept her pace behind Taylor as Zeke got to the car and hoped in. He was fuming; he couldn't sit still so he jumped back out and started pacing.
"What the hell Zeke" said Taylor once reaching him, she went to touch his face but he backed away and kept pacing, "What got you two going" asked Taylor.
Sharpay walked over and kept quiet, "He kept saying smart stuff in class…he kept talking about how he was free now, and if given the chance he would bang Sharpay…I lost it…he keeps running his mouth…and I'm sick of it" he said, surprisingly quiet.
Sharpay walked away from the both of them, went straight to her car and drove off.
"C'mon Zeke let's get you taken care of" said Taylor as she held out her hand for the keys so she could drive. Zeke gave up the keys without complaining, walked to the other side of the car and got in.
If Taylor had any apprehension about leaving before, it was totally gone now. As soon as graduation was over she was gonna move as far away from here as possible, this whole situation was getting out of control, and she wanted nothing to do with anyone from East High, anymore.