A/N: hiya, everyone! hope you enjoy chapter two ~
Screwing the Rules, Literally
Chapter 2
Taylor couldn't decide whether to glare daggers at Gabriella (after all, she had spent most of yesterday hanging out with the most popular basketball player in school), or smile playfully at her (after all, she had spent most of yesterday hanging out with the most popular basketball player in school).
She settled for a spot in the middle of her two conflicting emotions, although her hatred for the lunk-headed basketball team caused some venom to seep into her voice.
"And just what were you doing yesterday, Gabriella Natalia Montez?"
Gabriella looked down in embarrassment and licked her lips. "Uh...we just got coffee, I guess."
Taylor raised a brow. "You guess?"
"Well, yeah. It was raining, so..."
"And all you did was drink coffee? Nothing else?"
"Well, we spoke."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Duh, Captain Obvious, I know that. What did you talk about, though?"
"I just mentioned you, Kelsey, my parents and whatnot."
"Wow, you spend a whole hour with Mr. Super-Basketball-Jock and he didn't make you talk about how great and wonderful he is?"
Gabriella blushed. "We spoke about studying, surprisingly."
"Funny, Gabi."
"I mean," she mumbled, "he said he liked my writing technique, and that maybe some time I could..."
Taylor waited. "Could what?"
"Well, he said we could study together sometime."
Taylor looked at Gabriella as if she was the dumbest (yet most naively precious) thing in the world and scoffed.
"Oh, hell no. You are not doing that, sweetie."
Gabriella looked crushed. "But, why not?"
"Don't you see, Gabi?" she sighed as she slipped into her seat in front of her best friend, "that idiot is gonna use you for better grades. You think he'd still wanna hang out with you if you got the worst grades in the school?"
"B-but-"
"And don't get me wrong, I love studying - can't get enough of it actually," Taylor flicked her hair behind her shoulder, "but Troy? The head basketball player on a study date? He only sees you as a pass for finals, Gabi. How else is he going to pass with all the basketball-lobbing he does? That boy needs a miracle, not a member of the math club."
"But, Taylor, I-"
"I know he seems nice, Gabi, but this is the basketball team we're talking about! They're the idols of the cheerleaders, the wannabes, and that drama queen, Sharpay."
Gabriella went to open her mouth and grimaced instead.
"Yeah, exactly." Taylor clicked her tongue. "You wouldn't wanna get involved even if he was the love of your life. You would be the number one target in school."
"I..." Gabriella slumped down in her seat. "I guess you're right."
"Trust me, sweetie, I'm always right," Taylor laughed and pointed to her Head of Science badge on her bag. ''I'm not the science club leader for nothing.'' She tapped her head. ''You gotta use this.'' Her hand moved to her chest. ''Not this.''
"I guess...I just..." Gabriella glanced out the window, "...interpreted it differently."
Taylor began to unpack her pens and pencils. "You're better off using those math skills of yours to earn money, not going on dates with the dumb jocks."
"Oh, that's right," Gabriella perked up, "did you accept that job in the end?"
Taylor looked up, mid-unpacking. "Uh-huh. I decided that I might as well do it. I love teaching science and the pay at Starbucks is crap anyway."
Gabriella giggled. "Good, knowing my luck you'd end up serving me and Troy at Starbucks."
Taylor frowned. "You're not seriously contemplating seeing him again, are you?"
She shrugged. "I'm not sure, but he seems sweet."
"Just wait 'til that facade fades away. They're all the same."
The bell rang for class to begin, and Gabriella and Taylor hurriedly got their French books out of their bag.
Taylor turned to Gabriella and giggled.
"Miss Montez, I want to study with you.'' Taylor said, mimicking Troy's deep voice. ''Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?"
Chad was innocently chewing on an apple at lunch when Troy asked him one of the most absurd questions he'd ever heard in his life (well, all seventeen years of it).
"Do you..." Troy began uneasily. "Uh, well, I don't know."
"Do I what?" he replied, scanning the contents of Basketball Weekly.
"Do you...you know..."
He glanced up from page 63 and raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out, dude."
"Do you think it'd be weird for a Wildcat and a mathlete to be friends?"
Chad almost threw his apple back up. "Wha-what did just you just say?"
Troy, sensing that Chad was going to actually hurl up his lunch, quickly laughed and waved his hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant!"
Chad glared at Troy in a dangerously suspicious manner. "Then what did you mean?"
"W-what I meant was," he laughed nervously, "was that, uh, there was a mathlete who, uh, saved me from getting...uh...run over? Yeah, that's right! And now we are friends."
Chad's jaw was wide open and threatening to hit the floor. "What the hell are you on about? Who got ran over where?"
"No, no, wait," Troy spluttered. "Let me start again."
"O-okay?"
"Right, so. Say one of the Wildcats just got talking to one of the mathlete girls, you know, since we're so popular and all," he laughed.
Chad stared at him, dead-panned.
"Anyway," Troy continued, "say we actually got talking and, well, hit it off. Is that...acceptable?"
Chad snapped his fingers. "You're asking for Jason, aren't you? I was right! I always knew he had a thing for that Kelsey girl-"
"Kelsey's not one of the mathletes," Troy dismissed suddenly, "she's the head pianist in the drama club."
Chad raised a brow. "How do you know that?"
Troy widened his eyes upon his mistake. "Oh, no! I just know her from...school?"
Chad frowned. "Whatever, dude. You're being weird."
"Yeah, sorry, man. Forget I ever said anything."
"And in answer to your question: no, we can't be friends." He took a big bite out of his red apple. "That, Troy," he whispered, would be suicide."
He picked up his basketball magazine again.
"Social suicide."
Troy gulped. ''Right. Yeah, of course.''
Chad continued reading.
''Uh...dude?''
Chad raised his gaze and glared. ''What?''
''I, uh..can't make it to practice today.''
He slammed his magazine down, much to the surprise of the people on the surrounding tables, and leaned forward.
''What?'' he hissed. ''You can't miss practice! Have you forgotten that we lost to Westfield last week? The tension between our two schools are at an all-time high and you can't afford to miss practice.''
Troy panicked. ''Dude, I know! But listen, uh...change of plan. My mom wants me to...drive up to Santa Fe to...visit my aunt. She's had a nasty accident and we need to make sure she's okay.''
''Your aunt?'' Chad frowned. ''I thought she lived in New York.''
Troy blinked. ''This is my...other aunt.''
''You said you only have one aunt.''
Troy licked his lips and thought for a moment. ''What I meant to say was my...uncle?''
Chad kept looking at Troy in a suspicious manner and sighed. ''Fine. You can skip just this once. But no more. Okay?''
Troy smiled. ''Of course. No more.''
Taylor examined the contents of her locker, her hands rummaging through various books and folders.
''Right...'' she muttered. ''Should I take the Easy Beginner's Guide to Grade A Chemistry or Wow! Learn Chemistry in Two Weeks! with me?''
It was the end of the school day, and Taylor was due to arrive at Sue Danforth's house in a couple of hours to begin her tutoring sessions. She was a little bit nervous - sure, as leader of the science club, Taylor had had her fair share of teaching others her passion of chemistry, no problem; but this wasn't a high schooler who shared her enthusiasm for scientific molecules so much that they'd meet up with her once a week to discuss alkaline earth metals - no, this was an 11-year-old child who hated chemistry so much that she was failing it.
''Don't be nervous! You realise how clever you are, right?''
''Yeah, Tay! Sue couldn't have chosen a more suitable tutor.''
Gabriella and Kelsi's words from lunch played in her head. She groaned. Grabbing a thick book from the depths of her locker, she dusted it off and sighed.
''Chemistry 101 for Science Enthusiasts,'' she scanned the front cover, ''this will do.''
''Ew. Did you hear what she just said, girls?''
Taylor looked up and saw no other than the giggling Emily Hayton and her posse of skinny cheerleaders behind her.
''Yeah, something about chemistry, gross.''
''What a geek.''
Taylor managed a smile and snapped her locker shut.
''Hi, Emma. Or was it Erin?''
Emily scoffed and flicked her hair behind her shoulder.
''It's E-mi-ly. Emily. We went through this yesterday.''
Taylor raised a brow and put her finger to her chin, pretending to be deep in thought.
''Yesterday? I don't remember talking to you yesterday.''
''In the photo line, stupid,'' Emily bit back.
''Nope, sorry,'' she shrugged. ''I don't talk to bitchy cheerleaders.''
The cheerleaders all gasped and glared daggers at Taylor, who was looking as though she was bored to death.
''You know,'' a brunette came forward and pointed a finger at Taylor, ''you should worship the ground we walk on. We are pretty, hot, and all the guys in school want us, not you.''
The rest of the cheerleaders looked Taylor up and down and laughed.
''Please, no boy would ever go for her.''
''What is that outfit? So lame.''
Emily smiled. ''You hear that, Taylor? We are the ones that get all the boy attention.''
Taylor blinked and few times, almost stupefied by the crap that were coming out of their mouths, before regaining her composure and clearing her throat.
''I like how you say that like it's a good thing.''
Blondie Cheerleader #2 laughed. ''What are you talking about?''
Taylor shrugged. ''It's just that you all think the basketball players are Gods when, in reality, they're just a bunch of sweaty guys running around a court with some big bouncy ball. Hardly cool.''
''Oh my god, how dare-''
''Aaaand they're not even that hot. How long does the career of a high-school basketball player last? Two years? Maybe three? Then what? They sit at home all day, fat and in their thirties, reliving their teen years. Sorry, guys, I'm not jealous one bit.''
''Oh...oh...oh no she didn't!''
''Is this girl okay?''
''Emily, say something!''
Emily screeched. ''Ugh! You are just SO jealous that I am semi-almost-nearly going out with one of the hottest basketball players in the whole school.''
''Honey,'' Taylor looked her dead in the eye, ''I would rather set myself on fire and fuck a cactus than even look at the dumbass basketball player you're seemingly obsessed with. Maybe tell this to someone who actually cares.''
Emily's face went white.
''C-come on, girls, let's go. I don't have time for this weirdo!''
Taylor watched in delight as the four cheerleaders scurried off in fright, their skirts flying as they hurried to exit the hallway.
''Finally,'' she sighed, ''they got the message.'' She turned to her locker and let out a deep sigh.
''That was very impressive, Taylor.''
Taylor whipped round and found herself staring at a number of unfamiliar students walking up and down the hallway.
''Uh?''
''Over here.''
She watched as a (dare she admit it) fairly handsome boy closed his locker (conveniently, right next to hers) and extended his hand.
''You're Taylor, right? I overheard them talking to you.''
She looked him up and down and shook his hand gingerly. Nope, didn't belong to the science or math clubs.
''Yeah, I am. And you are?''
''Jasper Lorenzini,'' he replied, sensing her confusion. ''I just transferred here.''
Taylor raised a brow. That would explain why she hadn't seen him around before. ''Oh, from which school?''
He seemed to hesitate, nervousness flaring in his eyes.
She squinted her eyes suspiciously. "Well?"
''Well..." he began reluctantly, almost as though he was supposed to keep it top secret.
"Are you going to give me an answer?"
"...Westfield High.'' He said eventually, bracing himself for her reaction.
She looked at him weirdly. She was vaguely aware that East High and Westfield had ongoing rivalry sports wise, but Westfield High couldn't even touch East High's science club.
She smiled.
''Oh. I see. Anyway, welcome. I'm sorry that you had to witness something so stupid on your first week here.''
He blinked. "That's your reaction?"
She raised a brow. "Huh?"
What was this guy expecting? She hardly looked like the sporty type, especially after that public dispute with the cheerleaders.
"I mean," he began, "your school isn't really on good terms with Westfield right now."
"How come?" she said, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Well, East High lost to Westfield high at the basketball-"
"Oh, God." she interrupted, feeling another headache coming on, "PLEASE stop. Basketball is the last thing I care about."
He laughed in amusement and surprise. "Oh, I see. You're into chemistry, right?'' he gestured towards the book in her arms.
She looked down and laughed sheepishly. ''Yeah, well, I am the leader of the science club at East High.''
''Wow,'' he smiled, ''impressive.''
''Thanks. I'm not really into the whole sports thing, which is why I went off on those cheerleaders. Sorry that you had to see that."
''No, no,'' he laughed, ''it was quite impressive. I've never seen someone stand up to the cheerleaders like that before. It made me very happy.''
''Oh, right.'' Taylor replied. ''Were the cheerleaders just as bitchy back at your old school, then?''
''Not to me, no. But yes.''
Taylor looked him up and down suspiciously. They probably were nice to him because he was - dare she admit it aloud - rather good looking. Dark brown eyes, a nice tan, and golden blonde hair.
She shook her head and clutched her book closer to her body.
''It was nice talking to you. I have to go now.''
He looked around at the onslaught of students rushing down the hallway to get home and looked back at Taylor. ''Alright, I'll see you around. Taylor.''
She quickly smiled and walked off, her heart beating a little faster than usual. Sure, she had male friends, but they never went past exchanging mathematical calculations or chemical equations in the classroom. Also, Taylor couldn't help but notice how handsome this boy was - much more handsome than most boys in East High, never mind the measly mathletes in her friendship circle.
''Whatever,'' she muttered under her breath, ''the cheerleaders can have him.''
She hurriedly made her way out of school and speed-walked as fast as she could home.
She had a quick bite to eat before reading over her chemistry notes, packing extra pens and pencils into her pencil case before she left the house.
''Do you need a ride, honey?''
Taylor looked at her watch and shook her head. ''No, it's alright, mom. It's only a twenty-minute walk.''
''Okay, honey. You be safe now.''
Taylor nodded and grabbed her coat.
The twenty minute walk passed quickly as she used her phone to look for the address. Apparently, this Sue Danforth lady seemed to be wealthy - Taylor found herself wandering through a rich neighbourhood with white houses and huge iron gates. Each house had at least two luxury sports cars in their drive.
Soon enough, Taylor stood outside the door of a large, expensive looking house, hand poised on the knocker.
Talk about feeling out of place.
''Here goes nothing.''
Knock Knock!
A few seconds passed before she heard the faint call of ''Just a moment!''
Waiting patiently in the darkness of the evening, she glanced round at the front garden.
A blue Mercedes-Benz.
Wow. She thought. This family is made of money.
''Hello, Taylor!''
She quickly reverted her gaze to the front door, which was now occupied by a very happy-looking Sue.
''Hello, Sue.''
''Oh, do come in!''
Taylor quickly shrugged off her coat and followed her into the house.
Woah.
The first thing that caught her attention was the massive glass chandelier that hung in the middle of the ceiling.
''Now, I'll show you to Bethany's room now. Do you need a glass of water or anything?''
Taylor snapped out of admiring the marble staircase and cleared her throat. ''Uh...no, thank you. I'm fine.''
''Alright, then,'' Sue smiled, ''follow me.''
Taylor followed her up the grand staircase and into the large hallway on the second floor.
''That's Bethany's room down there.''
Sue led Taylor past a number of bedroom doors, suddenly stopping at a door on the left.
''This is my son's room,'' she said, pointing to the blue door frame. ''He's around your age. How old are you, sweet?''
''Seventeen,'' Taylor replied, eyeing the door up and down.
''Really? Goodness, so is my son! What school are you at?''
Taylor blinked. ''I'm at East-''
''Mommy! Is that my new tutor?''
Taylor and Sue turned to find Bethany staring intently at them from her bedroom door, which was now wide open.
''Yes, honey, meet Taylor.''
Taylor awkwardly waved. ''Hi, Bethany. I'm Taylor.''
''Awww, she's pretty, mommy!''
Taylor blushed as Sue laughed, patting Taylor on the back.
''See? She likes you already, Taylor.''
Taylor laughed nervously; socialising with 11-year-old girls was not her forte.
''I need to head downstairs and finish some work off now. Taylor, I'll come get you when it's 8:30, alright?''
''Sure. Thanks.''
Sue gave Taylor a reassuring pat on the back and made her way to the staircase. Taylor turned her gaze back onto Bethany and walked in the direction of her bedroom.
''Hey, Bethany,'' she said, opening her bag to grab some textbooks and pens out. ''Ready to learn about chemistry?''
She crinkled her nose and flopped down onto one of the chairs by the desk. ''No, not really, but mommy says I have to.''
Taylor chuckled. ''Well, she's right. Chemistry is actually a lot of fun!''
Bethany leaned forward and stared at Taylor intensely. Taylor cleared her throat and sat herself down into the seat next to Bethany, unzipping her pencil case.
''Everything alright, Bethany?''
Bethany shook her head. ''I'm okay. I'm just thinking about how pretty you are.''
Taylor blushed - it wasn't often she'd get complimented on her looks - her brains outweighed her appearance by miles - looks were the last things on people's minds when they found out she won the 2003 Junior Chemistry Award in the whole USA. Still, whenever someone did compliment her in the beauty department, she still found it hard to react normally - especially when said compliments were coming from an 11-year-old child.
''My brother would like you.''
Taylor blinked at the sudden comment from the young girl and nodded her head slowly.
''Right,'' she said awkwardly, ''that's...nice.''
''You'll see him later. He's out at the moment.''
Taylor fluttered her eyelashes in amusement and laughed. ''Okay,'' she replied, opening her textbook to page 56, ''but chemical compounds first, okay?''
Teaching Bethany was a lot simpler than she'd originally thought. The young girl listened attentively, although sometimes she'd stare out into space (probably thinking about shopping). All in all, Taylor found her rather fun to teach.
''So, are you coming back to teach me?'' Bethany asked as she walked besides Taylor down the hallway.
''Yes, I am. Your mom wants me to come twice a week,'' Taylor replied.
''Oh, well, today is Tuesday. Will you be coming tomorrow?''
Taylor and Bethany descended down the stairs. ''I think your mom wanted me to come on Friday.''
Bethany's eyes lit up. ''Ooh, I can't wait!''
Both girls reached the bottom of the staircase and Sue was nowhere to be seen.
''Wait here, I'm going to tell your mom I'm leaving, okay?''
''Okay!''
Taylor smiled at the young girl and carefully opened the door to the living room, following the sounds of the noise from the kitchen as her guide.
Walking slowly through the living room, she looked round at the many photos that lined the lavender walls.
Bethany's 8th Birthday Party. Sue's Wedding Day. Sue's Childhood photo. Bethany's Grade 4 school photo. Random dude-
Taylor stopped suddenly and carefully looked at the photo that had caught her attention. The photo showed a young man, probably around her age, posing with a tennis racket and standing next to whom she believed to be his dad.
This must be the brother Bethany was talking about.
She walked down a little further and found another one of him, only this time holding a soccer ball on the beach. A holiday photo, perhaps.
Taylor glanced at the boy's features once more. Yes, she was handsome - she'd admit that, but nothing else particularly seemed to catch her attention. All in all, Bethany's family had good genes. That was all.
Following the sound of the running tap once more, Taylor pushed open the door and found Sue washing lettuce in the sink.
''Hi, Sue. I've finished with Bethany for today.''
Sue looked up and stopped mid-wash. ''Oh, I totally lost track of time! Sorry, Taylor.''
Taylor waved her hands. ''No, no, it's alright. Bethany had a good time learning, surprisingly.''
Sue raised her eyebrows. ''You don't say. That girl hates studying like a cat hates water.''
Taylor giggled. ''Well, she did very well today.''
''Excellent. Now, see that envelope on the kitchen counter? That's your money, sweet.''
Taylor nodded and went to retrieve the envelope that was lying next to the fruit bowl. ''Thank you, Sue.''
''Let me just wash my hands and see you out.''
''Oh, no need!'' Taylor said as she stuffed the money into the backpack, ''it's fine. I'll show myself out.''
''You sure? Alright, dear. I shall see you on Friday,'' Sue replied as she grabbed another lettuce from the drainer bowl.
Taylor waved to her and hastily walked out of the kitchen and living room; it was almost 9pm, and the sky was getting dark.
She sighed, zipping her bag open to grab her phone. Fishing around for the device, her eyes widened as she realised she forgot to check whether she had any homework due next week.
''Oh gosh,'' she whispered, pulling out her homework diary and scanning the contents, ''how could I forget about next week's homework?''
Chad was tired and hungry. After a three hour basketball session, all he wanted to do was to get home and eat his mother's homemade meatloaf.
Ping!
He looked down at his phone.
You have 1 new message.
Chad opened his phone up and clicked the notification.
Heyyyyy Chad baby, it's Emily. Don't forget about our date tonight! 9pm, see you there xoxo
His eyes widened.
Holy shit, he had totally forgot.
Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.
He looked at the time on his phone.
8:47pm.
Holy crap, he was going to be in so much trouble (and nagging) for the rest of the year if he didn't make it on time.
He clicked his phone shut and legged it for the last couple of yards, slamming his key into the front door and dropping his basketball on the floor.
''Hey, Chad!''
Bethany was already standing by the door when Chad hurriedly rushed in, quickly removing his East High basketball shirt and throwing on a brown hoodie that happened to be draped on the edge of the stairwell.
''Hey, baby girl,'' he poked her cheek, ''what's up?''
''My new tutor came by today!'' she giggled excitedly.
''Really?'' he casually replied, walking into the coat closet and looking round for clothes to wear. ''She nice?''
''Uh-uh!'' Bethany chirped and followed him into the closet. ''She's super pretty.''
Chad picked up an old pair of jeans and shrugged. It'd have to do.
Turning to leave, he accidentally knocked something over.
''Woah,'' he said as he watched an old volleyball roll out from the lamp. ''I thought I threw that out ages ago.'' He picked it up and dusted it off. ''Well, I could still use this, I guess. What do you think, Bethany?''
He turned and found his little sister glaring at him, arms folded.
He blinked. ''What?''
''I said, she's super pretty!''
''Uh-uh,'' he nonchalantly said, holding the jeans out and examining them.
'Uh...where are you going?''
Chad paused. ''...nowhere. Just meeting Troy.''
Bethany frowned. ''But didn't you have training with him just now?''
''No. He missed it,'' Chad quickly said, walking out of the closet, ''I just have to give him back something I borrowed, that's all. Nothing major-''
The sound of the living room door opening caught his attention.
She bit her lip as she scanned the contents of her homework diary - she couldn't believe she missed an English homework that was due in next Thursday!
I'm going to have to write it tomorrow.
''Taylor!''
Taylor looked up from her homework diary and found herself standing in front of Bethany and...
''This is my brother I was talking about.''
Taylor slowly shifted her eyes towards the tall figure standing behind Bethany. A boy with a bemused smile on his face stared back.
''Hi,'' he said. ''I'm Chad.''
Oh. So this was the boy from the photographs.
She ran her eyes along his brown curls.
He was better looking in person, she'd give him that, and his smile wasn't bad either. She narrowed her eyes at the volleyball wedged underneath his toned arm.
Part of a volleyball team, perhaps?
''Hi.'' She replied. ''Taylor.''
''She's the tutor I was talking about,'' Bethany said proudly, ''isn't she pretty?''
She didn't mind volleyball players. The volleyball club at East High were nice people-
Wait, what?
Taylor widened her eyes and gripped onto her diary a bit harder. She looked at Chad, then back at Bethany, and then at Chad, who just smiled again.
A few seconds of awkward silence passed.
Great. I don't need this guy's opinion anyway, I know I'm pretty so-
''Yeah, you're right Bethany,'' he ruffled her hair, ''she is.''
A pause.
Taylor could've sworn her mouth dropped to the floor.
..oh?
''I told you!"' Bethany cried excitedly.
Taylor quickly wiped the traces of surprise off her face and cleared her throat - she knew she was attractive, so of course he said yes. Nothing serious. Just a nice boy stating the obvious.
She sneaked another glance at his smile.
...so why was her heart all of a sudden beating like crazy?
Come on, Taylor. Don't get nervous. Don't get nervous. Distract yourself. Look at...the wall behind him. Oh, yes. What a nice wall. That is a very nice wall indeed.
She stuffed her diary in her bag and smiled. ''I need to go. See you, guys.''
And with that, Taylor uncharacteristically made a dash for the front door as though someone was chasing her with an iron crowbar. As she shuffled past Chad, she swore he looked at her dead in the eyes, but she made such an effort to keep her eyes locked to the front that she ignored it completely and just prayed to the Gods she could make it out of there in less than 5 seconds.
''...how could I forget about next week's homework?''
''Taylor!''
A girl with long dark hair, dressed simply in a blue polo shirt and pink skirt came out, clutching a planner in her hand and face deep in thought. Well, deep in thought until Bethany suddenly shouted her name. Then it was just shock.
Chad held back a laugh.
''This is my brother I was talking about.''
Chad glanced down at Bethany. He knew she talked about him to everyone whenever he got the opportunity. Turning his gaze back onto the girl, who still looked mildly shocked, he smiled.
''Hi.''
He studied her face. Doe-like eyes, button nose and plump lips. She was pretty cute.
''I'm Chad.''
Her expression wavered, and Chad raised a brow when she stared at him, then at the volleyball under his arm, then at him again before uttering a simple: ''Hi. Taylor.''
Chad studied her face. How old was this girl, same age as him? Sixteen? Maybe even seventeen?
''She's the tutor I was talking about. Isn't she pretty?''
Taylor's eyes widened slightly, but he could tell she tried to play it off as disinterest.
Smiling, he ruffled his sister's hair. He then lifted his eyes to peak at the girl, who looked as though she was trying hard not to leg it out of there.
Chad stared at her, trying to figure out what clique she looked like she belonged to. The drama club? No, she seemed kind of quiet. The preppies? He eyed her simple outfit of jeans and a top, noting she had a nice figure. She was dressed normally. Or God forbid...the science geeks? Her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked around. Nah, she was way too pretty.
Either way, it wouldn't hurt if he told the truth; after all, she didn't go to his school.
''Yeah, you're right, Bethany. She is.''
Bethany smiled. ''I told you!''
Taylor simply looked up, then back at the wall behind him, then away again.
Was there something interesting on the wall behind him? He began to turn around-
''I need to go, see you guys.''
She quickly ran past him, and as he turned away to grab his coat, something caught his attention.
He turned back to look at her.
This scent...
He examined her profile and breathed in ever so slightly.
Roses.
He frowned.
How familiar.
And just like that, she was gone. The only thing that her existence left behind was the faint smell of flowers and his heart beating rapidly.
''Lovely, she's so lovely!'' Bethany sung as she bounded upstairs. ''Lovely, lovely...''
He paused, trying to force himself to calm his heart rate. Chad, vice-captain of the basketball team, actually getting nervous around his little sister's tutor?
Chad spent another few seconds trying to decipher the familiarity of the smell before another vibration of his phone indicated he had a new message.
You have 1 new message!
Chad! I'm here now, waiting for you by the popcorn machine...Emily xxx
Holy crap, he had completely forgotten - again.
Quickly tying his converse up, he texted his mother something about meeting up with Troy and coming home later and made a dash for the door.
Once she was outside and shut the front door behind her, she let out a deep breath.
''Taylor...don't go all weird and nervous just because someone's attractive brother says you're pretty!'' she reprimanded herself. ''He probably has a girlfriend anyway.''
She cleared her throat and began to slowly walk the remaining distance towards her house, her cheeks returning to a normal colour.
Ring ring!
She rummaged round in her bag and answered her phone.
''Hello, Taylor speaking.''
''Tay! It's Gabi.''
''Gabi?' What's up. I'm on the way home from tutoring.''
''Ooh, how did it go?''
Taylor shrugged. ''Alright. The little girl is a fast learner.''
She decided to leave the bit where her insanely good-looking brother called her pretty out.
''That's good to hear.''
''Yeah. Anyways, did you need something?''
''...well...''
Taylor waited. ''Well?''
''You know how you said don't go on a study date with Troy...''
Taylor stopped in her tracks. ''Don't tell me.''
''No, listen!''
''Gabi! What did I tell you!''
''Listen, Taylor! Here's the weird thing - we didn't get any studying done at all!''
Taylor frowned. ''What?''
''Well...we went to that coffee shop near the mall-''
''Jumpstart Bistro?''
''Yes! That one. Anyway, we got our books out but we just ended up talking for the whole three hours.''
Taylor gasped. ''Three hours! No way, Gabi.''
''Yeah. So...I don't know what's happening, but I feel all giddy.''
''Oh, God.'' Taylor slapped her forehead. ''You're starting to like him.''
Silence on the other end of the phone.
''I can't believe it, Gabi.''
''Taylor, please! Just give it a chance. Besides, I don't even know if he likes me back - I could be nothing more than a friend to him.''
''Right, because a basketball lunk-head befriends all the mathletes. Get real, Gabi! We both know you're beautiful, intelligent, and any boy would be lucky to have you. I'm just...disappointed you chose...ugh, Troy Bolton.''
''No, Taylor, nothing's certain yet. All I know is that I think I like him. That's all. He probably doesn't even like me.''
Taylor thought for a while. ''Well, are you seeing him again?''
Gabriella paused. ''Yes. He invited me out to dinner on Friday.''
Taylor let out a deep sigh. ''Whatever, Gabi. You're a grown girl, I can't control you. I can only warn you that those jocks are never nice people. If you get hurt, it's your own fault.''
''So...'' Gabriella began, giggling, ''does that mean I have your approval?''
Taylor sighed again and let out a small laugh. ''Whatever makes you happy, Gabi. Just be careful, okay?''
''I will, don't worry, Taylor!''
Taylor nodded. ''Anyways, got to go now. I still have to get home.''
''Alright, bye!''
Taylor snapped the phone shut and stared out into the darkness.
What the hell had Gabriella gotten herself into?
He could've gone without watching a god-awful chick flick, but there was no way Emily was going to back down.
He checked his phone.
10:45pm.
It was getting late, and he and Emily were snuggled up in a booth at the diner next to the cinema.
''Oh my god, like, the girl in the film was, like, so pretty, I guess,'' Emily said, taking a sip of her (fat-free) water, ''but, like, I am SO much hotter. Why didn't they cast me?''
Chad picked up another french fry. ''Uh-uh.''
''So you agree, too?'' she giggled. ''I am really hot, right?''
He glanced at her and slowly nodded, shuddering at what the outcome would be if he said no. ''Yeah, babe.''
''Oh, right, I have something to, like, tell you.''
''Yeah?'' he took a sip out of his soda.
''Okay, so,'' she flicked her hair behind her shoulders, ''remember that annoying science club girl I was, like, talking about?''
Chad paused. He didn't remember much of what Emily said - it was all bitching and complaining. Plus, he didn't really care what she said half the time - she was just hot to look at. ''Remind me again?''
''You know, the one I was talking about yesterday!'' She rolled her eyes. ''Anyway, that very same girl pissed me off, like, today. Again!''
He nodded and stared into the distance.
''Like, I'm so mad I can't even remember her name right now but, like, she was so annoying!''
''Right.''
''So, I'm, like, with my cheerleader friends and everything, and she pulls out this chemistry book!'' she giggled and latched onto his arm. ''I mean, talk about lame.''
He agreed, that was lame.
''And she said that I was stupid for liking a basketball player! I mean, how rude!''
Chad looked at her. ''She said that?''
''Yeah! I mean, it's probably because she isn't even pretty. Just jealous. I mean, how can anyone not be jealous of me?''
''Wait,'' Chaid said, ''you said she was part of the science club?''
Emily pouted and nodded.
''Figures,'' he snorted. ''They're just jealous, babe.''
''I know,'' she cuddled up closer to him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
''If it makes you feel better,'' he whispered, ''I wouldn't be caught dead within a mile-long radius of those science geeks.''
''I know,'' Emily giggled, ''and that's why you're dating me. Not them.''
A/N: hope you all enjoyed chapter 2, if any one you have plot suggestions, feel free to leave it in the review :-)