Chapter 5

A/N: Sorry that this chapter took longer than the rest, uni went back last week and was full on. Then I've spent the entire weekend renovating my boyfriend's bedroom, this is the first free moment that I have had to be able to write this. Enjoy :-)

The following morning left the Wildcats in a state of pure happiness, last night had been an amazing night.

They had all had so much fun, not just during the baseball game but afterwards as well.

Taylor found herself looking forward to spending time with the kids that would be under her charge today.

Chad felt like he might actually be able to deal with Sharpay today if he had to.

It was a good day all round.

At least until Troy appeared.

Taylor was stood beside Chad, she knew that she had to go find the kids but she also knew that leaving Chad with Troy might not be the best move, they weren't on the best of terms.

"Chad, just leave it alone today. Don't let him ruin the mood. Please don't do anything stupid," Taylor said gently.

Chad sighed, "I'll leave him alone," Taylor raised an eyebrow, "I promise," Chad smiled.

Taylor nodded, "I'll find you at lunch."

"I'll be here," Chad responded as he pressed a kiss to Taylor's forehead, his eyes never leaving Troy.

Taylor sighed, kissed Chad's cheek, and left the kitchen.

Maybe today wasn't going to be as fun and happy as she had planned.

Taylor was leading her days recruits to the infamous twister game when her phone started ringing, she knew that it must be someone telling her what happened between Chad and Troy after she left.

"Alright you all know the drill. If you're under 10 you get to play twister first, if you're over 10 you get to have a shot at crochet. 10 year olds who were born January through to and including June are in the under 10's group, if you were born July through to and including December you're in the over 10's group," Taylor announced.

There were no complaints from any of the kids as they set about getting into their respective groups and playing their designated games.

Taylor managed to answer her phone just before it rung out.

"Taylor McKessie," she answered not having time to see who was calling.

"Tay, you should know that things got pretty heated between Chad and Troy," Kelsi began.

Martha's voice was heard next, "if Fulton hadn't turned up when he did, Chad might've actually punched Troy. It wasn't good."

"Gabi came in a few minutes after and she looked just as upset as Chad seemed, something must have happened between her and Troy too," Kelsi added.

Taylor sighed, "so much for 'we're all in this together'. I don't even recognise Troy anymore. He was never like this before Gabi came, he was the nice jock who kept mostly to himself and rarely had a bad word to say about anyone. Gabi bought him out of his shell and now it's like Sharpay is trying to take credit for that by turning him into someone that none of us know. I don't know what we're meant to do. Something has to be done though."

"Well maybe we can use the talent show to our advantage?" Martha suggested.

"If Sharpay has her way Troy will be performing with her," Kelsi informed them, "she's already got me transposing the song that I wrote for Gabi and Troy into her key for her and Troy."

"Well we'll have to come up with another song, something more epic, something that only Gabriella and Troy can relate to, something that is totally them and can't be turned around to match Sharpay," Taylor suggested.

"I've been working on something that might just fit that bill, I'll need to adjust it a little but it'll definitely work for Gabi and Troy and not Sharpay," Kelsi grinned.

"Sounds amazing Kels, I've got to go guys the kids are starting to get angry with each other," Taylor sighed, "I'll see you both around lunch."

"See you then," Martha and Kelsi replied just before Taylor hung up.

Taylor rolled her eyes as she saw two of the 12 year olds arguing over how to play crochet.

"Alright you two break it off," Taylor said as she came to stand between the two, "I'll show you how to play if you both stop arguing. That goes for the rest of you as well. Any arguments or fights and I will not allow you to take part in any further activities and I will be informing your parents of your actions at the end of the day. Understood?"

All of the kids quickly nodded their heads in agreement with Taylor's rules.

By the time that lunch came around Taylor was relieved to be rid of the kids. Mrs Evans had organised for another employee to take them for the afternoon as she requested Taylor and Martha to set up for the talent show.

Taylor was only able to have a quick lunch with Martha, she didn't get to see Chad at all, before they had to get to work.

Chad and Jason spent the majority of the morning waiting on guests, thankfully none of them had the last name 'Evans'. Chad and Troy's argument had surprised everyone, especially the team. The idea alone that they were angry with each other was unbelievable, if they hadn't witnessed it they would have said that it was impossible.

Jason was worried about Chad, he barely acknowledged the guests and when he did it was cold and harsh. Chad might not enjoy the job but he had yet to treat the guests badly over it. Jason hoped that seeing Taylor at lunch would brighten Chad's mood. His wish was broken however when they entered the kitchen and Taylor was nowhere in sight.

"Dude, where's Taylor?" Jason whispered to Zeke while Chad sulked over to the table, Jason had said that he would get their lunch.

"She had to help Martha setup for the talent show," Zeke said softly, "why are we whispering?"

"Because Chad's still in a bad mood, I hoped that seeing Taylor would make him feel better, I guess that can't happen now though," Jason sighed.

"Just text Taylor and see if she can spare a minute or two," Zeke suggested.

Jason nodded and immediately began texting Taylor.

Taylor had just finished laying a tablecloth on every table when her phone beeped letting her know that she had a text. Taylor considered ignoring it until Martha told her to check it, it could be about Chad.

Taylor looked around to make sure that no one was around to dob her in to Fulton before she opened her phone.

"It's Jason, apparently Chad is in a foul mood and he thinks that seeing me will fix it," Taylor sighed.

Martha laughed, "he just doesn't want to have to deal with Chad being annoyed all day."

Taylor grinned, "I'm really tempted to let him suffer."

"You won't though because you're worried about Chad," Martha stated.

Taylor nodded, "I'll be back in ten minutes, I'll bring out some flowers for the centrepieces."

"I'll start putting the centrepieces on the tables while you're gone," Martha decided.

Taylor gave her a small, grateful smile before she rushed back into the country club building, heading straight for the kitchen.

When Taylor entered the kitchen she was immediately greeted by Zeke.

"He's over there. Jason's waiting for you, he keeps looking at the door hoping that you'll come swooping in to save him," Zeke chuckled.

Taylor laughed good-naturedly, "thanks Zeke. Hey do you know where the flowers for the centrepieces are?"

"Yeah, Kelsi said that Mrs Evans was keeping them in the dining room until you needed them," Zeke informed.

Taylor smiled, "thank you."

Taylor walked over to the break room to see her boyfriend and Jason, both looking miserable, picking at their lunch.

Jason saw her first and visibly relaxed, "I'll give you two a moment," he said before taking his lunch to eat at the table in the centre of the kitchen.

Chad looked behind him in confusion before he seemed to relax as well.

Taylor smiled at him before sitting by his side.

"Hey," Taylor said softly.

Chad smiled adoringly at her, "hey yourself. I didn't think I'd get to see you."

"I had to get the flowers from the dining room, I figured I could spare a few minutes to see how you are," Taylor admitted.

"I'm fine," Chad shrugged.

"I heard about what happened with Troy," Taylor said.

Chad groaned, "let me guess Martha and Kelsi told you?"

"They knew that I'd want to know. Chad what happened?" Taylor asked uncertainly.

"I don't know Tay," Chad admitted sheepishly, "it was like I saw him and all my annoyance at the guy just erupted. I was just so angry. I don't recognise him anymore. We've been best friends since we were in preschool, I've never seen him act so selfishly. I get that he's worried about his future but since when did that mean blowing his friends off. We're all worried about our futures but we aren't becoming different people in the process."

Taylor gently squeezed Chad's hand, "I wish that I knew what to say. Before last year I spent most of my time on my own, I was only social when it was called for, like scholastic decathalon meetings. Since second grade I gave up on having a best friend. Sharpay taught me not to trust anyone, they would just stab you in the back in the end. She also made me realise that we all belong in a clique and separating from that would be like committing a serious crime. Gabi came along and changed all of that. I mean who knew that Zeke could bake? He's amazing at it yet he never let anyone see that side of him because it was 'wrong'. My point is that trying new things, becoming someone else can be a good thing. Not necessarily the way that Troy is going about it but I do admire him for wanting to work out his future."

Taylor bit her lip hoping that she hadn't overstepped or upset Chad. It wasn't like Taylor agreed with Troy's actions, she was angry with him for it to, but she couldn't let Chad throw away his friendship with Troy so easily. Thanks to Gabriella Taylor knew how important friendships are. Taylor had seen the friendship between Chad and Troy bloom since preschool. She still remembered the first day that they became friends and she knew that they had been like brothers since that day. Taylor just hoped that Troy would realise his mistakes soon before he lost the best friend that he's ever had.

"You're right, he's got every right to work on his future but to leave us out, his team, his friends, the people that trust him, is what gets me angry Tay," Chad said softly.

"I know. I can't think of anything to explain his actions other than that he doesn't realise that he's being a jerk," Taylor admitted.

"It just sucks," Chad sighed.

Taylor pulled him into a tight hug, Chad held onto Taylor tightly not wanting to let her go.

"Sorry to interrupt but Taylor you have to get back to the talent show setup, Mrs Evans wants to have a look at it at 5 and Martha needs your help," Jason said timidly, he didn't really want to interrupt their moment.

Taylor sighed and pulled out of the hug, "don't give up on him just yet. I'll see you after work?"

Chad nodded, "I'll see you then."

They shared a quick chaste kiss before Taylor reluctantly went to retrieve the flowers from the dining room and went back to help Martha.

At exactly 4:58pm Taylor and Martha had finally finished the layout and setup for the tables and chairs for the talent show.

They didn't have any time to relax however because Mrs Evans was approaching them. The sun had just gone down, the only light on the area came from Sharpay's elaborate stage setup and the glow of the candles on the tables. It gave off an eerily calm vibe. Although the words calm and Sharpay should never be used in the same paragraph let alone the same sentence.

"Ladies you have done a lovely job, however I do have some suggestions," Mrs Evans said to Taylor and Martha as they followed her to each table, "table settings nice. Oh. No. No. No."

Mrs Evans said as she handed each of the flower arrangements, 3 of the 4 on the tables, to Taylor and Martha.

"Now that that is fabulous," Mrs Evans emphasized.

Taylor and Martha exchanged a look that clearly said 'okay, clearly Sharpay can't be your daughter you like simplicity'. They both tried not to scowl as the pink glittery devil herself appeared and called out to Troy who they hadn't noticed approaching them.

"Take those back to the dining room, the tables in there could use some colour," Mrs Evans said to Taylor before she approached Troy.

"Everything else looks marvelous," Mrs Evans complimented Taylor and Martha as she reappeared beside them.

Mrs Evans ordered two other employees to help Taylor and Martha return three of the table settings from each of the twenty tables to the tables in the dining room.

Taylor wanted to run onto the stage and drag punch Sharpay for stealing Gabriella's song. Martha noticed this and carefully managed to tap Taylor's shoulder and signal to the building with her head without dropping the two vases in her arms.

Taylor sighed and followed Martha. There was no point in getting angry at Sharpay, besides after having to deal with her being that way since second grade she supposed that she shouldn't really be that surprised by Sharpay's actions.

It took Taylor, Martha, and two other employees thirty minutes to get all of the unwanted table pieces onto the dining room tables. After that Mrs Evans had dismissed the four girls to go home.

Taylor was relieved when she saw Chad waiting for her in the employee locker rooms.

"I'm just going to get changed and then I promise that we can go," Taylor told him.

She didn't bother wasting anytime either, it had been a long stressful day. All Taylor wanted was to go home and sit in her Dad's massage chair and go to sleep. Chad had similar plans except he had his own massage chair.

When Taylor exited the change rooms her and Chad's phones both buzzed to let them know that they had an email.

The email read:

Hey Wildcats and LS employees,

I have finally decided on the choreography for the talent show and have come up with a basic idea for the music. Please meet me in the dance studio at 10am tomorrow morning for a rehearsal. I know that it is the weekend and Wildcats you don't work weekends but I really want to get this started as soon as possible, we only have one more week.

Regards,

Ryan Evans

Taylor and Chad both smiled, they had just been about to discuss their weekend plans only to have them already planned for them.

A/N: I am back at uni and it is (hopefully) my last semester for my course so there will be points when I won't be able to post as often as I have been lately. Please forgive me if it takes a few weeks here and there. Thanks for the continued support :-)