At the sound of the front door slamming, you break apart. You walk downstairs and greet your father. “How was work daddy?” you ask him. “Oh, alright I suppose. I brought lunch.” “Cool,” you say. You dad sets the bag of sub sandwiches on the kitchen counter and hands them out. “I got your message about what kind of sandwich Taylor likes so don’t worry,” your dad says, directing the statement at you. “Good.” You all sit around the table and watch TV while eating your sandwiches.
When he was finished, your father got up and said, “I have some work to do, but I think you guys can figure something out to do.” Tay smiled at you and said, “Oh I think we can manage.” He went upstairs and into his office and you and Tay get up and throw away your paper plates. He pulls you onto the couch and kisses you. You squirm away and say, “A little fast there aren’t you?” “Well I’m sorry I can’t help it if I am in love with you,” he says sweetly back. “Oh no, you aren’t going to sweet talk your way through this.” “What?” he asks. “Oh nevermind,” you say. “Good, can I kiss you now?” “NO, I want to just sit here with you and talk.” “OK what do you want to talk about?” “Well I have been thinking about this, I remember two years ago, when you were fourteen, you were the shyest thing in the world.” “I was? And how do you know you haven’t met me until this year.” “Well I saw you on TV a lot and another things, you act like a totally different person during interviews.” “I do?” “Yes, you are too serious you always cut in when Zac tries to say anything.” “OOPS, I don’t even notice it. And how was I shy when I was fourteen?” “Well for one thing I can assure you that you would never let me do this,” you lean over and kiss him. “Not if I didn’t know you?” “Even if you did know me you wouldn’t have, and one thing is for sure that if you were the same way now that you were two years and even a year ago, you would still be a virgin and me as well.” “Well are you glad that I am not the same way?” “Yes I am, but lately is seems that all you want to do is make-out.” “I’m sorry I noticed that too.” “It’s OK but for once, I’d like to go on a date where we aren’t all over each other in a dark movie theater or on a park bench,” you say, your voice full of meaning.
Taylor jumps up, takes your hand and pulls you to your feet. He says, “Will you go out with me tonight?” “OK, where are we going?” “How about a park bench?!” “Tay!” you exclaim, half yelling, half laughing. “Well I was hoping you could show me around these parts of Tulsa.” “OK it’s a date,” you say happily. “Good,” he says, “Now can I kiss you?” “Oh alright,” you say trying to sound exasperated but it wasn’t working. He leans over and stares at you deep with his mesmerizing blue eyes and puts you in a trance. He kisses your neck all the way up to your lips and plants a gentle kiss on them before pulling away.
You fall back onto the couch and sigh, “Why do you do that to me Taylor?” you ask. “Hmm?” he asks from his spot by the movie rack, he was picking one out to watch. “When you look at me like that, it’s like it puts a spell on me and I am helpless against your eyes.” “I know,” he says happily, “That’s why I do it.” You smile back at him and he finally decides on a movie and pops it into the VCR. You watch the beginning credits and finally discover that it was, TULSA TOKYO & THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. “Oh my gosh!” you exclaim, “I haven’t watched this forever!” “Yeah, neither have I,” he says. You watch intently and can’t get over how little they all were. “Zac was so tiny!” you yell out. “Yeah, and my hair was so long,” Taylor comments, touching his ear length hair. “Oh I know!” you agree. “But for some reason, Ike looks the same,” you finish. “Yeah, aside from the fact that he doesn’t have braces anymore,” Taylor says. “Well yeah.” “My god we were small.” “God Taylor you act like it was a millions years ago. It was only 2 years ago!” “I know but we look totally different now!” “Yeah, your hair looks better now and I like Zac’s spiked, it looks cute. Ike does look weird with his head shaved on the sides but it’s better.”
“Shit, it was so amazing!” “Oooh potty-mouth Taylor!” you exclaim, throwing a pillow in his direction. “OH I said a bad thing, I said shit two years ago! Oh my God! I have sinned! Forgive me father!” “Shut up!” you laugh. “I’m about to do something way worse!” He darts over to you and pushes you back onto the couch. He kisses you and you say, “Oh no you don’t remember what I just told you.” “Oh yeah, sorry.” He settles beside you and you finish watching the movie. “That was good, I haven’t watched that in a long time.” “Me either, I forgot half those things. Especially Ike’s documentary on the Redwoods. I gotta show dad this one!” “What do you reckon?” you ask in the same phony accent he had on the video. “I reckon that I love ya’ll.” “I reckon the same,” you try to continue but can’t stop laughing.
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“Hey there’s me and Tarah,” you say pointing to the screen. It was the video of their first tour, The Albertane Tour. You and Tarah had went to that concert and it was weird to see yourselves waving to the cameras a year ago. “Weird! I thought you and her looked familiar!” Taylor exclaims. “WOW! I totally forgot we were in one of your movies.” “That’s cool, I saw my fiancé before I even knew her, it’s like fate ya know.” “Yeah, and please call me your girlfriend, fiancé sounds so old and so final and we’re not even close to being final yet.” “OK you’re right.”
LATER THAT NIGHT
“It feels so nice out here,” you say as you and Taylor walk out into the crisp night air. “Yeah I know, it’s so fresh.” You were walking into the main strip, as you like to call it. It’s a main road that’s got all kinds of stuff to do on either side of it. There’s pizza, movies, miniature golf, a small amusement park that’s only open in the summer, an arcade, anything you can think of, it’s probably there. “Wow! There is sure a lot to do around here,” Taylor comments. “Yeah there is,” you agree. “Woah! A sixties diner!” Taylor exclaims. “Yeah, I’ve heard it’s good but in all my years of living here, I never actually went in there but I have been dying to try it.” “Well, then let’s go!” He pulls your hand and leads you inside. You sit down and are greeted by a waitress on roller-skates. You to your right and there is a small jukebox on your table!” You look through the selections and find the “Grease” soundtrack. You start it playing and softly sing along with the music.
Later, when you are done with your dinners which, were excellent, you are waiting for your check. The waitress brings it and Taylor hands it to her along with a twenty. Then she brings him back his change. He takes out a twenty and sets it on the table as you leave. “Pretty big tipper are you?” you ask him. “Yeah, she was really nice and pretty good on skates for being so old. Plus the food was great!” “Yeah, I guess that was fair.” “So what do you want to do now?” “Oh how about just walking around for a while.” “OK that sounds good to me.” “OK lets do it,” you say as he links his fingers with yours and you start walking. It’s something that you haven’t done in a while. You felt like you were seeing it all for the first time. The lights, the sounds and the smells, the excitement. You were seeing it all as Taylor was. It was great.
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“Night, I love you,” Taylor says at your doorway. “Night, I love you too,” you respond. You walk over to him and kiss him softly. You linger there for a while and then you dad says, “Hey can I give my daughter a hug or what?” “Oh sorry,” Taylor says blushing. “Don’t worry about it I’m just giving you a hard time.” You dad hugs you and says, “Good-night pumpkin.” “Night, daddy.” You give Taylor one last hug and climb into bed. You were leaving the next day.
The next morning, you padded downstairs and into the living room. You passed the bathroom and the shower water was running. Your dad was seated at the kitchen table so you figured that Taylor was in the shower. You grabbed a doughnut out of the pink box on the counter. You put it on a plate and sat down to join your dad.
About a half an hour later, Taylor came down into the kitchen. He grabbed a doughnut and kissed you good-morning then he sat down and ate with you and your dad. You were leaving in about two hours. Your mom was going to pick up you and Taylor. You finished your doughnut and glass of milk. Then, you get into the shower. When you go into your room, you immediately lock the door just in case Taylor decided to try anything. You get dressed and pull your hair into a claw clip. Then you go back downstairs. Your mom was due there any minute now. You throw your duffel bag onto the floor and sit down on the couch beside Taylor.
About five minutes later, you hear a car horn honk. You kiss your dad good-bye and Taylor shakes his hand. He grabs his bag and you head out towards the car.
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Chapter 10
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