That night, Taylor and Sam were sitting in her room doing their homework together, when suddenly, he stood up from his spot on the bed.
“Where you going?” she asked, looking up from her book and tying her hair back in a hair band.
“It’s too quiet, that’s all,” he began turning the dial on her radio, finally settling on the hard rock station.
“You know…you’re really cute when you’re being studious,” he sat back down in front of her, a sly grin playing on his lips.
“Cute, huh,” she grinned back.
“Cute…and sexy,” he pulled the book out from in front of her and kissed her deeply.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
“We really ought to be working…I don’t know about you, but I cannot afford to get another D in Chem. Lab,” she pulled away from his mouth.
He didn’t say anything, replying with another kiss.
“Sam, I’m being serious. I wanna graduate. I don’t feel like going back to the god forsaken institute that is high school for another year if it’s at all avoidable,” she pushed him off of her and stood up.
“You know you can’t resist me forever Taylor Marie,” he teased, following and kissing her shoulder—her one ticklish spot.
She let out a giggle then turned around and kissed him, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Why am I so crazy about you?” Taylor smiled looking into his eyes.
“Same reason I’m crazy about you,” he whispered, pulling her hair out of the ponytail before locking his mouth with hers.
“Taylor, listen, we need to…WOAH…sorry guys,” Hayden came into the room through the French doors that led out to the balcony of Taylor’s room. Hayden’s room also had an entrance to the balcony, and they two had always used it as a means to sneak to one another’s house.
“Hayden, what’s up,” Taylor blushed slightly, wiping her mouth and walking away from Sam.
“I’ll just, um, I’ll come back later…you two look busy, I’ll just…come back later,” Hayden stuttered, slowly backing out of the bedroom.
“No, what’s up…it’s cool,” Sam urged, though he was visibly disappointed at the interruption.
“I was just wondering what happened with Natalie today,” Hayden asked cautiously.
“Why don’t you tell me what she told you, then I’ll tell you what really happened,” Taylor countered.
“Well, let’s see, you slapped her, used some vulgar terminology, which I’ll not repeat if you don’t mind, and then told her that if she didn’t break up with me, you’d basically make her life a living hell.”
“Okay…first off, Natalie was just a bystander. Gina was the one that got in my face. I didn’t even acknowledge Natalie.”
“Taylor, now, don’t take this the wrong way, but I know you, and I know how you can get sometimes…”
“Oh, so you believe her? Thanks, Hayden. That means so much, you have no idea. Good to know you’ll trust someone you’ve known for three months over your best friend of thirteen years,” she glared at him, then stormed out of the room.
Throughout the whole conversation, Sam hadn’t said a word. Hayden looked over at him.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“You don’t wanna hear what I have to say, buddy,” Sam replied lighting a cigarette.
“Tell me,” Hayden sat next to his cousin on the edge of the bed.
“Natalie and all of her friends are first class bitches. They started with Taylor today, like always. I’m the one that retaliated…Tay normally doesn’t pay them any attention, but I’ll admit she did make an ignorant comment at the end of it all…to Gina.”
“I just don’t understand why Taylor’s so angry about my being with Natalie. I mean, she’s never liked any of my girlfriends, but this is by far the worst.”
“It’s because nothing’s been the same since you hooked up with this girl. All of your other girlfriends were cool with Taylor and me and the rest of the others…to our face at least. Natalie doesn’t even give us that kind of courtesy. She doesn’t try to hide the fact that she doesn’t like any of us. And Taylor’s upset, not because Natalie doesn’t like her, but because you’ve kind of blown us all off because we don’t rate high enough on Natalie’s social scale,” Sam explained.
“So why doesn’t she tell me these things and save everyone all the trouble!? That’s the one thing about Taylor that blows my mind—she’s so outspoken with everyone else, and when it comes to the people she needs to be honest with and talk to, she just stays silent.”
“It’s because she knows that you like Natalie and Natalie makes you happy. And ultimately, that’s what she wants. Above all else, she wants you to be happy.”
“If only they weren’t so different…” Hayden sighed.
“It isn’t about being different, Hayden. Look at you and Taylor. You guys are like night and day, always have been, and always will be. But you two have managed to have the best and most functional friendship that I, personally, have ever seen. Natalie’s never liked Taylor because Taylor never made any attempt to fit in. She doesn’t care about clothes and make-up and all that garbage. And Natalie hates that for whatever reason.”
“I hate this. I mean, I care about both of them so much, and they despise one another…how in the hell am I supposed to work this out?”
“It’s your call. Just about it this way—who’s gonna be there, no matter what happens,” Sam crushed his cigarette in the ashtray then left.
A minute or so later, Taylor returned to her bedroom.
“Why are you still here?” she questioned coolly, seeing that Hayden hadn’t vacated.
He stood up and hugged her. “I’m sorry…I love you…forgive me?”
She sighed and hugged him back. “Of course.”
“It’s getting late. I’m gonna go home, get some sleep. See ya in the morning?”
She nodded. “You driving or am I?”
“I will…you know I don’t trust you behind the wheel.” He grinned, then left for his room.
The next morning, once Hayden and Taylor reached school, instead of splitting up, Hayden followed Taylor over to Sam and the others.
“And to what do we owe the pleasure?” Taylor questioned once she noticed that he’d stuck around.
“I know I’ve kind of been…preoccupied, lately, and you guys have been placed second, but I just want you to know that I’m sorry, and all of that changes right now,” Hayden smiled.
“Well, if looks could kill…” Taylor glanced over Hayden’s shoulder to see fire shooting from Natalie’s eyes. She couldn’t help but let a small yet triumphant grin creep onto her face.
“Ignore her. We broke up last night, and she’s just a little bit bitter,” Hayden waved it off, glancing over his shoulder.
Taylor’s smile faded and she looked up at Hayden, confused.
“Broke up? Why? Who?”
“I broke up with her after I left your place last night. You’re my best friend, and she lied to try and get me to stop talking to you. That’s why.”
“Are you sure about this? I man, you’re head over heels for her…”
“Taylor, shut up,” he laughed. “I thought about it before I did it. I’m glad that I did it, okay. I don’t need that kind of aggravation in my life.”
“But what about Prom? You guys bought tickets and everything over a month ago,” Brooklynn piped in.
“We’re still going to Prom together. We agreed to be friends,” Hayden explained.
“Well, I dunno about you, but I don’t glare my friends like that,” Sam smirked.
“She’ll get over it. If not, she doesn’t go, and I find a new date. End of story.”
“Hayden, I feel really bad…like I had something to do with this, and I mean, it sucks, but if you want to be the Evil Cheerleader, then that’s you prerogative…”
Hayden laughed again. “I made this decision on my own. Now quit wiggin out on me. Good Lord…you’re like a frigin schizoid…one day you hate her, then you’re upset when I dump her.”
“I’m afraid that you’ll regret it later,” Taylor told him gently.
“I won’t. Trust me. I’d rather lose a girl that causes trouble and would most likely leave me eventually, than you guys who’ve been there for me for as long as I can remember,” he smiled, draping an arm around her shoulder.