. . .Twenty. . .

"How can I just ignore the fact that you might be pregnant? That's insanely stupid of you to suggest!" Taylor yelled at Page. She was staring out the window of their hotel in New Orleans, watching people walk by.

"Tay, it's my birthday. Please don't ruin it by making me talk about something I don't want to talk about," Page said with an odd amount of calmness.

"I know it's your birthday, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about this."

"I want to go out and enjoy New Orleans. I don't want to sit in this hotel room and talk about this." She turned and walked past him, still talking. "We'll talk about it tomorrow, okay?"

"Fine, just run away from this. You run away from everything, Page. This won't just disappear."

"I know that it won't just disappear. That's why we can talk about it tomorrow because it will still be there. . . or here," she said, glancing down at her stomach.

That morning she had woken up and felt the room spinning. She had run to the bathroom and realized it was morning sickness. Taylor had innocently asked her if she had food poisoning.

"No, I don't have food poisoning, you idiot," she snapped.

"I'm not an idiot," Taylor declared. "Is being bitchy part of the pregnancy thing? Because my mom was never like this."

"Well, I'm not your mom!"

"Thank God because I wouldn't want to be doing the things I do to you to my mom."

"That's what got us here in the first place," she said, upset.

She definitely didn't have food poisoning because she barely ate dinner. Her and Taylor were both scared and it only made the situation worse because they didn't know if she was really expecting or not.

But now, as she stood two feet away from Taylor, watching him watch her, she began to cry.

"Don't cry, Page. Please, just don't cry. If you cry, I'll cry and I know you don't want to see me cry," he said, hugging her. "We can get through this. Don't worry."

"I'm sorry for crying. I shouldn't spoil my own birthday by crying." She pulled out of his arms. "I'm going to get ready."

"Okay, I'm going to go see what Zac and Kathy are up to."

"All right. I'll be ready in a half an hour," Page uttered.

"Okay, bye." Taylor smiled as he watched her go into the bathroom. Then he headed down the hall to Zac's room. He knocked on the door and Kathy answered.

"Why aren't you in your own hotel room?" Taylor asked rudely.

"Zac invited me over here, is there a problem?"

"Not yet. Can I come in?" he asked, looking past her.

"If you don't mind watching Zac and I fuck. . ." She smirked.

"Come in, Taylor!" Zac yelled from inside.

Kathy moved out of Taylor's way and he went straight to his little brother.

"Tonight, keep a low profile," Tay instructed. "Wear your hat and don't do anything to draw attention to yourself, got it? I really don't want to leave you by yourself, but Page and I want to spend some time together alone."

"Are you sure she wants that? I mean, last night she didn't even talk to you at dinner," Kathy instigated.

"Yes, I'm sure she wants it. Sorry if that upsets you," Taylor snapped. "As I was saying, just keep it on the down low, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. What time should we meet up?"

"Around one o'clock. Just be back by then. I trust you guys. Don't disappoint me."

"All right." Zac nodded his head. Kathy rolled her eyes.

"Is there a problem, Katherine?" Taylor asked patronizingly.

"Yeah, I have a problem with you telling me what to do."

"Excuse me? You're traveling with us and we really didn't have to let you come along. I think you should show a little respect."

"Whatever, this is total bullshit. I'm going to wait for you outside, Zac," Kathy said, storming out of the room.

"What a bitch!" Taylor exclaimed after she slammed the door.

"She's not a bitch. Tay, you have been rude to her from the start. She has a right to hate you."

"No, she doesn't. Zac, the only reason I'm letting her come with us is because of what you told me about her. I feel sorry for her, but I don't like her."

"I know you don't, but I actually like her. I like having someone to hang out with while you and Page have sex and flirt with each other."

"Well, you don't have to worry about Page and I having sex for a while," Taylor remarked sadly.

"What?"

"We're not getting along. She might be. . .pregnant."

"OH, MY GOD! Are you serious? What are you guys going to do?"

"We don't know. But don't tell anyone. Not even Kathy, okay?"

"I won't, but oh, my God! Taylor, that sucks."

"No shit, Sherlock."

"Mom and Dad are going to kill you. They are going to kill you twice, actually. First, they'll kill you for running away, and then they'll kill you for getting Page pregnant."

"Thanks, that really makes me feel good."

"I'm sorry. Well, good luck," Zac said, patting his brother on the back.

"It doesn't matter. As long as I have her, I don't care what happens. She's all I ever need."

"In a fucked-up way, that's sweet." Zac laughed.

"I know this may sound a little weird, but I kind of want her to be pregnant. That would ensure us being together forever, you know? A kind of seal on what we have."

"Wait a minute, you WANT mom and dad to kick your ass?"

"No, I just wouldn't mind Page being pregnant, that's all. It's not the end of the world."

"Taylor, you're on crack. I know you don't want that, so stop being stupid."

"Maybe I do want that. I don't know what I really want right now. All I know is that whatever happens, I want Page." Taylor was starting to sound desperate.

Zac raised his eyebrows. He was a little shocked at Taylor's reaction to the whole situation. He seemed like he honestly wanted Page to be pregnant. Zac didn't have a smartass remark to make now. He didn't know what to do. All he could do was sit there and listen to his brother talk about being a father like it was no big deal.

* * * *

"Dinner was awesome, Taylor. Thanks so much." Page smiled and gave Taylor a kiss.

"No, thank you," Taylor corrected her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing her neck.

"Hehe, Tay, wait until we get back to the hotel room," she whispered. People who were walking by had started to stare at them for being all over each other.

"Let the people stare, okay? Who cares!" Taylor shouted loudly. A few people turned their heads as he said that.
"Shhhh! I think you had a little too much to drink!" Page laughed. "I can't believe they sold you that beer."

"Neither can I! ROCK ON!" Taylor bellowed, laughing.

"Oh, my God, Taylor, shut up!" Page cracked up. She had to abstain from the alcohol because of the possible consequences it could have on her if she was pregnant. She didn't mind though because she wasn't a drinker anyway.

"Where to now?" he asked, picking Page up.

"Ah, Tay, put me down!" Page laughed.  

Taylor ignored her and walked with her in his arms, joyfully singing while Page protested.

"I feel like I'm going to puke!" Page lied, hoping Taylor would put her down. It worked and he set her back on the ground.

"Psych!" she cried. She started to run and he chased her through the street. Just by watching them, it would be hard to imagine that they were having any of the problems they were having.

Page stopped abruptly when she saw police officers holding pictures and asking people questions.

"Wait! Taylor, don't move," Page whispered loudly. They stopped and watched as the officers asked pedistrians questions. "Do you think they're looking for us?"

"I don't know. I'm calling Zac and telling him to meet us back at the hotel." Taylor was begining to panic. He found a phone, called Zac, and then he turned to Page.

"We'll have to walk separately back to the hotel, okay? Try to be inconspicious. You go first, okay?"

"Okay. Let's go," Page said, walking hastily back to the direction of the hotel. Taylor trailed a few yards behind her. He kept looking back to make sure the police weren't following him.

Once they got back to the hotel, they ran to their hotel room and quickly gathered their belongings. Zac and Kathy came to the door, all packed and ready to go.

"Page is driving," Taylor said, throwing the keys to Page. "I'll go check out, okay? You guys get into the car." No one, not even Kathy, argued with his decision.

"How did they find out we were here?" Zac asked as they waited for Taylor to come to the car.

"I don't know," Page replied. "The license plates? Someone might have spotted us? It could be anything. All I know it, I just want to go back home. I'm tired of running away."

"Me too." Zac admitted.

"At least you guys have somewhere to go," Kathy said sadly. Zac and Page were silent.

"I wish I could help you, Kathy. I really do," Zac said sincerely.

"No one can help me. If worse comes to worse, I'll go back to Florida with my grandmother."

"What's wrong with your dad?" Page asked.

Kathy took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. "He raped me," she said softly, feeling the trembles in her voice.

"Oh, my God. . ." Page gasped.

"It's okay, Kathy. Don't cry. . ." Zac soothed her. "He's a bastard."

Page suddenly realized something: Taylor had allowed Kathy to some along on this journey in order to protect her. Page found that incredibly sweet. So hhy did Kathy hate Taylor so much, then? He was helping her.

"There is help you could get, you know," Zac continued.

"I don't want help. I just don't want to go back!" she cried.

Just then, Taylor appeared. He looked at Page and Zac's sad faces and Kathy's tears and asked what happened.

"Nothing." Kathy said.

"Okay. Well, let's boogie," Taylor slurred, the buzz from the beer still evident in his voice. 

A thought crossed Page's mind as she watched Taylor buckle his seatbelt. She didn't want to just drive away. She wanted to drive back to New York. She was home sick and in need of her family.

"Tay, I'm driving home," she announced.