Erica woke up and tried to move. She felt something tugging at her arm. She opened her eyes and saw a needle shoved in her vein. What's going on here? she thought. She took a look around the room she was in. It wasn't working to well, her eyes were all fuzzy and the colors were blurring together. She couldn't see. She started panicking. Where is everyone? Where am I? She heard voices outside of the door. Who was out there?
"Mom?" she called softly.
No one answered her. Now she was really worried. She had no idea where she was or who she was with and she could barley see anything. She felt her emotions taking over and before she could stop herself she called out like a little five year old,"Mommy?"
She saw four blurred figures run into her room.
"She's up." she heard her mother say.
She felt a hand slip into hers. She turned to look at the blurred figure. Who's that? she thought.
Then she heard a deep booming voice,"How are you feeling?"
She started freaking out again,"Who's in here? Where am I? Why am I here?" she asked.
Her mother's soothing voice rang through her ears,"You're in the hospital honey."
"The hospital? What? How long have I been here?"she demanded.
"Only overnight sweetie. You're okay. Everything is going to be okay." she heard her mother's voice crack.
"I'm not going to be okay! I can't see!" she shrieked.
"That's only from the drugs. They'll wear off and you'll be able to see." the deep booming voice said once again.
She felt he hand that was holding hers give a little squeeze.
"Drugs? Why did I need drugs?" she asked confused. She couldn't remember anything. Why was she in the hospital anyway? What happened.
"They had to give you stitches sweetheart, on the back of your head." her mother said in a wavering voice as if talking about the incident would make her crack all over again.
Erica sat quietly for a few minutes trying to comprehend all of this. She closed her already blurry eyes, having them open seemed of no use to her. Okay, I'm in the hospital. Why? What happened to me? I had to get stitches in the back of my head. Why? When did I hit my head. Did I hit it? I don't remember banging my head this bad. Did someone else do it? Wait...yesterday...outside...on the sidewalk! Oh my God! Justin did this to me!
Erica's eyes startled open,"Where's Taylor?"
She felt the hand in hers squeeze once again,"I'm right here Erica."
Erica turned her fuzzy eyes towards him,"It was...him...wasn't it?" she asked her voice cracking,"Justin did this to me didn't he?" she felt the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Yes." Taylor said quietly.
"Who...I mean how did he get..." she stuttered.
"Your father came home. He pulled him off." Taylor said looking over at one ofthe figures.
"Daddy?" she asked observing the blurred figures.
One blurred figure stepped forward,"Oh sweetie."
Erica let the tears spill over,"Daddy?"
He stepped forward and hugged her,"I'm so sorry I wasn't there sooner sweetie. I'm so sorry I didn't get home faster."
"It's okay daddy...it's okay..."
"How come we didn't go anywhere today Stace?" Isaac asked her.
They were sitting on her front porch with Isaac letting Stacie lean on him while he rubbed her shoulders."Huh? Oh I don't know. I just kind of want to be here when my Aunt Diane calls." she replied.
"Oh that's right. Erica's awake isn't she? Well I guess I know where Taylor will be." Isaac said laughing.
"Yeah...how's his knee doing anyway." she asked.
"Oh God! If he isn't milking that for every penny it's worth. He has those damned crutches and he only whines that he can't move and we should all be nice to him because we would want him to be nice to us if we tore ligaments in our knees. I swear, but he'll move to go to her house. Oh yes, I am sure of that."
"Isn't it ironic? When Erica comes home nothing will be different for her. She'll be able to do things on her own." Stacie laughed.
"What? She's the one who got it worse than Tay and she'll be doing things on her own? Are you kidding me?" Isaac cried in disbelief.
"Oh come on Ike. You know how Erica is. She has to do everything for herself. You know she's like that. She wouldn't let anyone wait on her if she felt she could do it for herself." Stacie reminded.
Isaac stopped rubbing her shoulders to think about this for awhile,"Hmmm.you make an interesting point."
"Of corse I do..keep rubbing, keep rubbing." Stacie joked.
Isaac laughed and started rubbing her shoulders again.
"Hey mom, let's stop at the library before we go home." Erica told her mother in the car on the way home.
"The library? Why?" her mother asked taking her eyes off of the road and glancing at her daughter.
Erica looked up from the radio dial which she had been flipping through,"Gee..I don't know. Maybe because I want to get a book." she said sarcastically.
"Knock it off Erica." her mother warned in response to her sarcasm,"What book?"
"The Joy Of Sex." Erica cracked yet again.
"What?!" her mother screamed.
"I'm just kidding," Erica said barely able to get the words out because she was laughing,"I want to get The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer."
"But you read that already." her mother reminded.
"So?" Erica challenged.
Her mother shook her head as she turned into the parking lot of the library,"Nevermind."
Erica shook her head and laughed,"You're face was priceless. You had to see the look you gave me before." she said changing the subject.
"Yes I know Erica I am just so funny, hurry up and get your book. You know your father and I have to go out tonight and I have to get ready." her mother said rushing her.
"Sorry to inconvenience you." Erica mumbled under her breath as she exited the car and walked into the library.
Once inside the big brick building Erica walked right over to the bookshelf that always held her favorite book. As she reached up to get it her hand bumped into someone elses.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know this book was taken." the owner of the hand said.
"Oh, do you like Mark Twain?" she asked.
"Sure I do. He's one of my favorites." the boy said smiling at her.
Erica couldn't help but become lost in his green eyes, and warm smile.
"My name is Mike." he said sticking out his hand.
"I'm Erica." she replied shaking his hand.
"That's a very pretty name." he said still shaking her hand.
She blushed,"Thanks I've always liked it." she replied. I've always liked it???? she screamed in her head.
Mike kept on shaking her hand. Erica had to stifle a laugh as she wondered if she would ever get her hand back.
"Ummm...do you think I could have my hand back now?" she asked him.
"Oh," he said realizing that he was still holding her hand. He let her hand go and smiled shyly,"Sorry, you just had such soft hands I couldn't bare to let them leave mine." he complimented.
"Why I do believe that you used a line on me." she pointed out as she reached up and grabbed the book that she came for.
"Was is that obvious?" he said flirting with her.
Taylor's face flashed through Erica's mind. I can't believe I am flirting with this guy when I have a boyfriend. Taylor would never do this to me, well with a girl I mean because if he was flirting with a guy there would just be alot more problems for him to deal with than just flirting.
"Sorry I never came for dinner Kerri." Zac apologized.
"That's okay, I mean what can you do when some psycho attackes your brother and your brothers girlfriend." she said.
"Yeah," Zac agreed,"I feel bad for her."
"Hey, so what ever happened to pyscho boy?" Kerri interjected
"We got a restraining order aginst him. He's not allowed near her house or ours." Zac informed her.
"That's it?" Kerri asked,"why didn't you file charges against him?"
"It's a long story." Zac replied.
"Well, I have time."
"Well, Erica hates him now that this happened but she said that he is too good of a friend or, was too good of a friend for her to turn her back on him and she knows he has a temper so she partly blames herself." Zac explained.
"Well why didn't Taylor do anything?" Kerri inquired.
"Are you kidding? He begged my parents to only get a restraining order because it wasn't right for him to do that to her ex-friend who she cares about."
"Yo, Erica seems so messed up. What is up with that? I would have ripped the guys nuts off!" Kerri exclaimed.
Zac winced at the thought of that,"Erica isn't really violent but I think Taylor is beating himself up over not helping her." Zac informed her.
Click
"Did you hear that?" Kerri asked.
"Hear what?" Zac asked.
"Oh, nevermind." she said. There was a pause,"What were you saying?"
"Oh yeah...Taylor. He feels bad about what happened. I feel bad for him. If I was him, when my leg was better, I would go after Justin for what he did." Zac told her.
"So would I. I mean, look what he did to him and his girlfriend. I hope Taylor gets him good." Kerri replied.
Click
"There it was again." Kerri said.
"There what was?" Zac asked.
"That click." she told him.
"Umm...Kerri? When was the last time you had your ears checked?" Zac joked.
Erica answered the door the second time the doorbell rang.
"Hi." she said to Taylor giving him a quick kiss.
"Hi." he said as he limped into her house.
"So, you are already rid of the crutches huh?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I still limp a little," he said,"I hate limping. It makes me feel dumb and I don't even want to know what I look like doing it."
"It makes you look sexy." Erica teased.
Taylor blushed,"Liar."
"Me? Lie?" Erica put on a shocked expression,"Never!"
Erica's parents walked into the living room where they were talking,"Okay honey, we'll be home around eleven-thirty, so Taylor can stay until then since I don't really want to leave you alone okay?" her mom questioned.
"Okay mom." Erica smiled and kissed both of her parents goodbye. When they were out, and the door was locked, Erica turned her attention to Taylor.
"They don't want to leave me home alone but that doesn't mean they won't." she told him.
"Well I'm here." Taylor said smiling.
"Yeah...you are." she said slightly depressed.
Taylor frowned and looked at the ground.
Erica looked at him,"Oh, Taylor I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I'm glad you're here." she said wrapping her arms around him.
"Okay." Taylor said hugging her back,"I know they leave you alone alot, and I know you don't like it. I'm sorry about that, but at least I'm here."
Erica pulled away,"Okay, so do you have your book?" she asked him, changing the subject.
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his paperback,"You know it's a good thing you invited me because with all of the distractions at my house I didn't think I would ever get to read it." he smiled.
"Okay, well were do you want to read?" she asked.
Taylor shrugged,"Where ever."
"Well how about my room, it has the most comfortable atmosphere." she suggested.
"Okay." he followed her upstairs and into her room. She grabbed her book off of her dresser and plopped herself on her stomach on her bed. Taylor hobbled over and sat on her windowsill. When she opened her book a slip of paper fell out of it. It was Mike's number. He had given it to her. She glanced over to see if Taylor had saw it but he was already buried in his book. She felt a pang of guilt as she shoved the slip of paper in her pocket.
"This food is really good Mrs. Gordon." Zac said as he shoveled more spaghetti into his mouth.
"Why thank you, Zac. But, slow down before you choke." she said.
Zac realized how fast he was eating and sat up to slow down. Kerri giggled when she saw spaghetti sauce on his cheek. He looked at her. She brought her hand up to her cheek and wiped it as a signal. Zac got it and picked up his napkin.
"So, Zac, you're in a band huh?" Mr. Gordon asked.
"Yes sir, with my two brothers. We just cut a record." he responded poltiley.
Kerri's brother picked up his head,"Do they look like you?" he asked.
Zac nodded.
"What a bunch of queers." he said shaking his head.
"Mo-om!" Kerri whined.
"Bryan!" Mrs. Gordon scolded.
"What?" he asked through a mouthful of spaghetti.
Tap Tap
Zac looked at the little blonde toddler sitting next to him, who was banging her plate with a spoon.
"Mmm--Mmmbop." she sang.
Zac laughed at her rendition of Mmmbop.
"That's right," Kerri said,"he sings that Lynne."
"Mmmbop!" she said again giggling.
"ba dubba dop ba du bop." Zac sang to humor her and then stopped.
She clapped her hands,"More!"
"I can't sing anymore. My voice isn't quite that high." Zac laughed.
Lynne stuck out her botton lip and pouted,"Please?"
Zac couldn't bare to see the child pout,"It started at a bus stop, in the middle of nowhere..."
Taylor felt a pair of eyes staring at him. He looked up and saw Erica looking at him. He smiled.
"What?" he asked.
"Nothing." she said and looked back at her book.
Taylor shook his head and resumed his reading.
It wasn't soon before Erica's concentration broke and she found herself staring at Taylor again. She was asking herself questions. How could I think of Mike like a boyfriend? Look at Taylor. He is always there and always caring. And he is so cute, much cuter than Mike, but that doesn't mean a whole lot. I just...don't think I could ever let him go...
Taylor felt he was being stared at and he looked up and studied her face for a minute, then he sighed and put his book down,"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Hmm? Oh nothing." she said and turned her attention back to her book.
He got up and hobbled over to her bed. He sat next to her and put his hand on her back,"You know you can tell me anything right?" he asked caressing her back.
"Yeah." she said closing her book and rolling onto her back.
She closed her eyes and he placed his hand on her knee,"So do you want to tell me anything?" he asked.
"No." she said opening her eyes.
"Come on Erica, I'm not stupid. I know when something's wrong." he said.
She closed her eyes again. She felt his hand touch her face and her mind flashed back to the day when Justin banged her head on the sidewalk. She started to shake. Taylor looked at her.
"Erica?" he asked.
He brought his other hand up to her face. She started to shake more violently. She couldn't move, she felt paralyzed. Tears started streaming down her face.
"Erica!" Taylor was starting to get worried.
A whimper escaped her lips and she rolled off of the bed and onto the floor. She opened her eyes, and not remembering it was Taylor in the room and not Justin, she crawled to the corner and curled herself in a ball. She covered her head with her amrs. She felt someone tugging her arm away. She screamed and opened her eyes. She saw a very frightened Taylor in front of her. He knelt down still holding her arm. She wrapped her free arm around him and sobbed into his neck.
"Oh my God Taylor. Look what he's done to me." she choked out.
"Who?" he asked.
"Justin. I thought I was back when he hit me...I thought you were..."
"Okay...it's okay. I won't hurt you. Trust me." Taylor held her and waited for her to calm down. His mind was racing. I would go after Justin, Zac said. Yeah I hope Taylor gets him good, Kerri had said. Why shouldn't I? Look what he did! I can't even touch my own girlfriend because of him. The asshole deserves it.
"Isaac are you up?" Taylor said flipping the light on after he came into the room at quarter to twelve. Zac whined and pulled the blanket over his head. Taylor went over and shook Ike.
"Are you up?" he persisted.
"Taylor...what the...go away!" Ike muttered and scooted away from Taylor.
"Isaac!" Taylor whined.
"Shut-up!" Zac yelled.
Isaac sat up and looked at Taylor through fuzzy eyes,"What?"
"Oh good you're up," Taylor joked,"you have got to do me the biggest favor."
"I don't have to do anything." Isaac said laying down and pulling his blanket over his head.
"Yes you do. You have to help me kick Justin's ass." Taylor blurted out, then he started getting ready for bed.
That got Ike's attention. He bolted up,"Huh?"
"Moo her e." Taylor said muffled by his shirt.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I said you heard me." Taylor flopped onto his bed.
Isaac leaned over the edge of the top bunk and peered down at Taylor who was laying in his bottom bunk.
"Are you serious?" Isaac questioned.
Taylor nodded,"Yes."
"Well why all of a sudden do you...?" he started.
"Just trust me." Taylor ended it.
"Houston we have a problem," Zac muttered as he stood up,"my two older brothers are idiots and one doesn't know how to turn a light off." he walked over and flicked off the light.
"There he is...there he is!" Taylor said pointing to Justin.
"I know Taylor I know what he looks like." Isaac said.
Taylor barley heard his brother speak,"And there's that kid...what's his name? Jamal?"
"I think it's Jared." Isaac corrected.
"Well, whatever we're not here for him."
Taylor and Isaac stood hidden behind a bush at the park. They had been watching Justin and Jared's game in hopes that Jared would soon leave. Jared threw the basketball to Justin, walked over and gave him a high five, then he hopped onto his bike and peddled away. Justin was left by himself to shoot hoops.
"Now or never." Taylor muttered.
Isaac and Taylor stepped out of their hiding place and started making their way to the basketball court.
"Hey Justin!" Taylor called out across the basketball court. Justin turned his head to look at him and a smile spread across his face.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked, smiling profusely.
Taylor and Isaac stopped in front of him. Taylor poked him with his finger,"Cut the chit chat asshole. We figure you've got some explaining to do."
"Oh really?" Justin said swiping Taylor's hand away.
"Yeah...like oh, I don't know...how could you smash one of your best friends heads into the sidewalk?" Isaac spoke.
"The bitch had it coming." Justin snapped.
"Oh really? Oh yes, now I remember...it was written on on her calendar to get her head pounded." Taylor mocked him.
"Look asshole," Justin said,"it's all your fault. You had to have her. You couldn't just be famous and popular and have girls dreaming about you and pining for you to be theirs, but you had to take her. Of all people."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Taylor screamed.
"Don't you even know why I hate you?" Justin asked him.
Taylor looked at Isaac who shrugged.
"Je-sus! Don't she tell you anything? While you were gone making your little Mmmcrap music I asked her out. But she said no because she really liked you. So you come home all full of yourself and ask her out. And you got her...of course. Too bad too. I bet she's a good fuck huh?" Justin asked.
"Fuck you!" Taylor yelled.
"Oh no no no...fuck her you mean." Justin cracked.
Taylor shoved Justin.
"Oh," Justin said,"I see where this is going.
"I am so depressed." Stacie said flopping onto Erica's couch.
"Why?" Erica asked.
"I don't know. Just a bad day I guess." Stacie sighed.
"Oh, I've had lots of them." Erica replied.
"So, how are you feeling?" Stacie asked snapping herself out of her self pity state.
"Okay I guess." Erica shrugged.
Stacie just shook her head. Her cousin took things way to lightly. Gets her head smashed into a sidewalk, oh well big deal, tomorrow's another day. Stacie could never do that though. She had to dwell on things and wallow in misery before even considering acting normal. But not Erica, she was strong, and sooner or later, she was going to need alot of the strength. Hopefully it would be enough.
"How about you and Taylor? What's going on with you guys?" Stacie asked.
"Not alot. Same old, same old," Erica paused,"how about you and Isaac? How are things with you guys?"
"Well definatley not as hot and heavy as you and Taylor." Stacie teased.
"Well we can change that." Erica said reaching over and grabbing the phone to dial their house.
"Hello?" a little girl said.
"Hi Avery. Are Taylor and Isaac there?" Erica asked.
"Ummm...no. They went out a little while ago saying something about revenge." Avery answered.
"Revenge? Avery are you sure?"
"Ummm...yes."
"Okay thanks Avery."
"Welcome, buh bye."
"Bye." Erica said hanging up and turning to Stacie,"They're out." she told her.
Stacie shrugged,"So? People go out all the time."
"Well, Avery said they were talking about revenge."
"Revenge...but who would they need to get reven..." Stacie fell silent as realization dawned on her.
Justin went to hit Taylor but Taylor quickly ducked to the side. Justin stumbled and got Isaac's fist in his stomach. When Justin turned around he got a faceful of Taylor's fist. He shoved Taylor and Taylor shoved him back into Isaac who tripped him. While on the ground Justin grabbed Taylor's ankle and pulled him to the ground. Taylor scraped his shoulder on the ground.
A growl of rage rang through the air as Taylor rolled on top of Justin and punched him in his face causing his nose to bleed. Taylor was almost shocked at the blood that came gushing from his nose. He never knew he could hit that hard. But then again he had never been pissed off like this before. Justin grabbed his nose and shoved Taylor off of him. Isaac kicked Justin in the stomach. Taylor scrambled to his feet and kicked Justin in the face. Justin spit blood on Taylor's shoe, and then passed out.
"Damn it." Taylor said and wiped his boot off on Justin's shirt.
"Revenge little brother?" Isaac asked surveying Justin's body.
"Revenge." Taylor said guiving Isaac a high five. They then leaned down and picked up Justin's body.
Ding Dong
Taylor looked at Isaac and smiled,"I can't believe we did that." Taylor said.
"Well we did. And he deserved it." Isaac answered.
Taylor shook his head and waited for Erica to answer her door.
Erica pulled the door open and saw Taylor and Isaac grinning from ear to ear.
"Where the hell were you?" she demanded.
"Say thank you." Taylor told her.
"Why?" she asked confused.
"Just say it." he said, the grin not coming off of his face.
"Thank you." she said.
Taylor gently kissed her lips,"Your welcome."
Stacie appeared in the doorway behind her cousin.
"Oh hey Stace." Taylor said patting her shoulder as he and Isaac made their way past the two bewildered girls and into the living room.
"Hi." Isaac stopped and gently kissed Stacie before following Tay into the living room.
Taylor and Isaac flopped on the couch.
"So, now why am I thanking you?" Erica asked.
"Boy I'm thirsty," Ike said,"are you thirsty Tay?"
"Very." Taylor said.
"We're gonna get some water." Isaac said getting up and proceeding into the kitchen with Taylor close behind.
"You guys!" Erica whined.
"Come on what'd you two do?" Stacie asked.
Taylor and Isaac helped themselves to two glasses and some water and sat at the kitchen table.
Erica and Stacie watched them intently. Thay sat there as if they didn't even notice them.
"Taylor...come on tell us." Erica said.
Taylor reached into his back pocket and pulled out some polaroid pictures, tossed them onto the table, and smiled. It was a buch of pictures of Justin. He was only in his boxers and he was tied to a bench with the words Screw Me Please in black marker on his chest. He had blood dripping down his chin from his nose. Erica gasped and passed the pictures to Stacie who copied her reaction. The other pictures were from far away when people had come up to him. When Erica was finished with the stack she stared at Taylor.
"You two did this?" she asked.
Taylor held up his hands,"Guilty as charged." he said.
Stacie looked at Isaac,"Any you actually thought this was funny?" she demanded.
"Well...yeah." Isaac said laughing.
Stacie stared at Isaac to show that she didn't find this situation funny. Erica didn't know what to think. Taylor reached out and grabbed Erica's hand.
"I did it for you Erica." he said.
"For me?" she asked.
He saw her almost melting before his eyes and nodded his head.
"Erica, you're not gonna forgive him are you?" Stacie asked.
"Well..." Erica stammered.
Taylor stood up and wrapped his arms around Erica,"I'm sorry if you're mad." he said.
"I'm not mad."
"Erica!" Stacie exclaimed.
"What? Oh well umm...I meant..." Erica stuttered.
Taylor planted a kiss on Erica's lips before she could finish.
When they broke away she looked into his eyes,"No I'm not mad."
Stacie let out a sigh and Taylor smiled. Erica leaned her head on Taylor's shoulder,"Ow!" he said.
"What?" Erica asked.
"My shoulder, I cut it." Taylor said.
"Let me see." Erica spun him around and pulled down the collar of his shirt,"Oh that's bad, here let's clean it." she said grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the bathroom.
"Okay, macho man, take off your shirt." Erica said after she closed the bathroom door.
"Ooh, does that have any sexual reference." Taylor mocked.
"No it doesn't." she said flatly checking the bathroom cabinet for cottonballs and peroxide.
"You're no fun," he said pulling off his shirt,"hey maybe you should take yours off too." he said tugging at the bottom of her shirt.
"Hey, maybe I should just let you bleed to death," she said swiping at his hand,"Now sit down." she said pointing to the closed toilet seat.
He shrugged and sat with hid back facing her.
"Oh my God Taylor, you really banged your shoulder up." she said putting peroxide on a cotton ball and swiping at his wound.
"Ow! That stings!" he yelled jumping up.
She pulled him back,"Oh you big baby be quiet." she said.
She swiped at it again. Taylor inhaled deeply and held his breath.
"Oh stop it." she said.
"It hurts."
"Here," she gave him her free hand,"squeeze my hand when it hurts."
"Okay." he took hold of her hand.
Stacie and Isaac sat in silence at the kitchen table for a couple of minutes.
"I really don't find this amusing." Stacie said tossing the pictures to Ike.
"It wasn't supposed to be, it was supposed to teach him a lesson." Isaac clarified.
"And what lesson is that?" Stacie asked.
"Don't fuck with me." he said.
In spite of her better judgement, Stacie laughed.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I don't know. Just the way you said it, it was kind of funny." she said.
"Oh" Isaac blushed.
"I'm not mad." Stacie blurted out.
"Huh?"
"I said I'm not mad."
"Good." he said and kissed her gently on the lips.
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