Sparks Fly

Chapter 1

A/N: I've been working on this story for a while and have finally decided to start posting it. This is my version of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Based on my favourite couple Taylor and Chad. All about what happened with Taylor and Chad throughout the film, not entirely canon particularly the timeline which I have mostly made on a day-to-day rather than week to week basis. Anything that you recognise from the film (dialogue) is not owned by me, it belongs to Disney and everyone involved in the film. Based off the song of the same name by Taylor Swift. I hope you like it :-)

Taylor McKessie was sat in the stands in the East High gym with her friends Gabriella Montez and Kelsi Nielsen watching her boyfriend take on the West High Knights with his fellow basketball teammates.

Chad Danforth was sweating like crazy desperate to get another championship under his belt before heading off to college in a few months time.

West High had clearly been putting a lot more effort into their training schedule in the last year in hopes of avoiding another loss to East High.

Taylor flinched as Chad was knocked to the ground for the third time that night. It was getting harder for Taylor to watch, she could tell that Chad's arms were starting to kill him after landing on them far too many times. The pain in Chad's eyes as he tried yet again to grab the ball and send it to Troy was making it difficult for Taylor to not run down the stands to Chad.

The siren went to signal the end of the half.

Taylor released a breath that she hadn't realised that she was holding as she watched Chad and the rest of the team head to the locker rooms.

"Are you okay Tay?" Kelsi asked concernedly.

"Huh, oh yeah, I'm fine. I'm just worried about Chad. He's in a lot of pain. I don't know if he'll be able to finish the game," Taylor explained worriedly.

"He's strong Tay, Chad will be fine," Gabriella tried to convince her best friend despite her own worry.

"I know, I just can't help but worry," Taylor explained.

Gabriella nodded her understanding.

Chad entered the locker room and felt like collapsing on one of the benches and staying there for the rest of the game. He had spent so long preparing for tonight's game that he hadn't thought about what would happen if they lost. He didn't think about the fact that West High would have been training just as hard if not more so in order to reclaim the championship.

Coach Bolton was right, they were seniors, if they didn't win this game they would be leaving their senior year as losers. Chad was determined in that moment to make sure that they would leave as winners no matter the cost.

Looking over at Troy Chad could tell that they were thinking the same thing 'it's now or never.'

Troy's speech wasn't exactly uplifting but he made good points.

Chad felt a fire burn in his stomach as Troy turned to him to lead the boys in their chant, now was their chance to be back-to-back champions and leave as winning seniors.

"What team?" Chad yelled.

"Wildcats," came the reply.

"WHAT TEAM?" Chad shouted louder.

"WILDCATS!" Came the more motivated reply.

"WHAT TEAM?"

"WILDCATS."

"WILDCATS…."

"GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!"

They were back on the court with new found energy and determination.

Taylor smiled in relief when she saw the conviction in Chad's eyes, he was ready to win.

"Here goes everything," Kelsi said.

Taylor and Gabriella smiled at her, "now or never," they responded.

They watched on in awe as the team finally played with the energy that they started the game with, they were ready to take back the lead and win the game.

The guys were playing that a team on a mission rather than a team already defeated.

Chad felt proud of what they were managing to achieve after a rocky start, that few minute break was all they needed to come back stronger.

Then Troy was knocked off court.

Taylor and Gabriella watched on in concern as Chad went over to Troy to make sure that he was okay.

Taylor heard Chad's Dad yelling that it was a foul and worried that Chad might retaliate, basketball wound him and his family so tight that whenever an umpire didn't dish out the appropriate infringement they got angry to get even.

"You alright?" Chad asked Troy who just looked out into the distance.

Taylor gasped as yet again Chad was knocked off the court. Relief flooded her as he jumped back up ready to make the last few moment count.

Taylor, Kelsi and Gabriella gasped as Troy threw the ball to 'Rocket Man' a few moments later.

Relief flooded their bodies as the kid managed to get the ball through the hoop with little effort.

They had done it, the East High Wildcats had managed to take home another championship, back-to-back champions.

The girls, along with the rest of the watching East High crowd rushed down the bleachers to congratulate the team.

It didn't take long for Taylor to reach Chad who without hesitation lifted her up and spun her around in his excitement.

"We did it Tay," Chad said as Taylor's feet touched the ground once again.

"I'm so proud of you Chad, you deserve this win after everything that you put into preparing," Taylor smiled.

Chad pulled Taylor close and kissed her softly on the lips.

The moment was ruined by Troy and Gabriella though, Troy grabbing Chad's shoulder in a friendly manner.

The couple pulled apart and glared at their friends.

"Hey I'm just paying you back for all the times you interrupted us," Troy said to Chad who laughed it off.

Taylor just shook her head goodnaturedly.

"Why don't you two head to mine, I'm sure my parents can give you a lift, for the party and we'll meet you there," Troy suggested.

Taylor and Gabriella agreed, they knew that the boys liked to enjoy a few minutes on their own after a game to reminisce on what got them there.

After quick kisses with their boyfriends Taylor and Gabriella found Troy's parents with Gabriella's Mum and Chad's parents. Taylor's parents were both lawyers and working a big case meaning that they couldn't be there to celebrate.

"Ready to party?" Troy's Mum asked.

The girls grinned, "always," they responded.

Gabriella's Mum gave them a lift to Troy's house and decided to stay and chat with the other parents, much to Gabriella's annoyance, there was only one thing her Mum would be talking about tonight.

Half an hour into the party Taylor and Gabriella were getting worried, Troy's house was only ten minutes away from the school and they only ever took eight minutes to get ready after a game. They decided to give them ten more minutes before they called and checked on them.

It was eight minutes later when they heard faint yelling coming from the front of the house, they couldn't really hear much because of the music but it didn't sound very good.