"What are you doing?" Taylor asked, puzzled by the fact that his girlfriend was sitting on his kitchen counter with a book in her lap, staring at it, mesmerized.
"Book." She muttered, turning the page and saying nothing else.
"Oh yeah, that's right. Zac told me you don't like to be interrupted when you read." He watched her for a few more minutes before sighing. Her lips were extra smooth today, and her hair softer than usual, clipped back with two barrettes to keep it out of her face. "So let me know when you're done and maybe I'll take you out to dinner or something..." He watched as Carter blinked and turned the page again. He was always amazed with her intellegence. It didn't matter what the book was about, if it was had words, she was dead set on reading it. "I think Isaac left some peanut butter on the counter where you're sitting..." He sighed again when she didn't answer. "But I can't be sure." He shrugged and left the kitchen. He found Zac in the living room with Justine.
"So hey. How ya doing?" Taylor sat down in an armchair and looked at Justine and Zac. Zac had his arm around her and they were watching tv. "Nice day... isn't it?" Taylor looked at Zac, and then at the tv, and then back at Zac again. They were watching something he didn't recognize, but the main actress was pretty hot.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as Zac looked over and smiled at Justine. Taylor could tell her really liked her. Justine smiled back. "I'm glad we're alone."
"Uhm Hello." Taylor made a face.
"I'm glad too."
"Hello?!"
Justine smiled. "You know Carter?"
Zac laughed. "Very well actually."
"Well she's cool and all, but she's always around when I'm with you, and I'm glad she isn't right now. Cause we can have some alone time."
Taylor almost stood up. "Ok does nobody notice me today?"
Zac smiled and hugged her. "It is nice when it's just the two of us. Even though, I think this might be the first time it's been just the two of us."
"Yup. I'm completely FREAKIN INVISIBLE!" Taylor shouted and stood up. "You people all suck." He threw his arms in the air and went to his room. When he got there, he grinned and put on a cd, knowing it would get Carter's attention.
He flipped to song #3 from a cd that Carter had left in his cd player the day before and cranked it as high as he could. As the lyrics and melodies flowed through his bedroom and down the stairs, he knew she would be in his room in no time. "I looked into your eyes, they told me plenty I already knew. Never failed to think so soon forgotten all that you do. In more than words I tried to tell you. The more I tried I failed. I would not let myself believe that you might stray. And I would stand by you no matter what they'd stay, I would. I thought I'd be with you until my dying day. I used to think my life was often empty, a lonely space to fill. It hurt more than I ever would have imagined and made my world stand still. And in that stillness there was a freedom, I never felt before."***
Carter walked into his room, smiling.
"So why is it about that song that gets to you?" Taylor asked, putting his arms around her waist and smiled into her eyes.
"It's enchanting." She put her head on his shoulder as another song came through the speakers. "Hey your glass is empy, it's a hell of a long way home, why don't you let me take you, it's no good to go alone. I never would have opened up but you seemed to real to me. After all the bullshit I've heard it's refreshing not to see. I don't have to pretend, she doesn't expect it from me. So don't tell me I haven't been good to you. Don't tell me I have never been there for you. Don't tell me why nothing is good enough. Hey little girl would you like some candy. Your mama said it's ok. The door is open come on outside, no I can't come out to play. It's not the wind that cracked your shoulder and threw you to the ground. Who's there that makes you so afraid and shakin to the core. I don't understand you deserve so much more than this. So don't tell me why he's never been good to you. Don't tell me why he's never been there for you. Don't you know why he's simply not good enough. Oh so just let me try and I will be good to you, just let me try and I will be there for you, I'll show you why you're so much more than good enough."****
"I feel really strange." Carter whispered into his ear.
Taylor blinked hard as he breathed in her scent. He pulled her closer and whispered back the only thing that was in his mind. "I love you..."
Carter lifted her head and looked into his crystal clear, blue eyes. "What did you say?"
Taylor's legs shook. He was embarrassed. He didn't even realize he said it until she gazed at him like she did. "I said... I love you." He took a deep breath and tried to regain his strenth. "I didn't even realize it until I heard it for myself, but I do. I love you. And I don't think I've ever been in love before, not until now." He sighed and hugged her. "And I know you love Zac and he's... your best friend and your soulmate and everything you've ever loved but I just want to tell you how much I love you, how much I've always loved you. I'm sick of being quiet about it..."
Carter let go of him slightly. She lifted her hands and touched the sides of his face, kissing him lightly on the lips. She smiled. "I... I love you too."
"You do?"
Carter nodded. "I do."
Taylor stared at her, not sure of what to do or say next.
"You know, I don't think I've used that word very many times... I don't think I've known how to love anybody in a long time. My mom taught me how to love. She told me that she would love me, and my sister, and my dad... and all of her friends forever. And she told me that I would love everybody that meant the world to me, forever. But I never knew how much I cared about you until I saw you laying in that hospital bed all alone, until I saw you in pain. And I never knew I loved you until you just told me."
Taylor smiled and kissed her, feeling the smoothness of her lips, smelling the softness of her hair. Finally, he felt safe.
To Be Continued... In the next chapter
*** Plenty, Sarah Mclauchlan
****Good Enough, Sarah Mclauchlan