"Jessica, don't put your Barbie on Isaac's chair. He might sit on it." Mrs. Hanson advised.
"No he won't mom, he can't miss seeing her sitting there." Jessica defended herself.
Mrs. Hanson sighed,"Avery, put Oliver aside while you're eating. You're getting syrup on your shirt."
Avery clutched the rabbit to her,"He's protecting me."
"From what honey?" Mrs. Hanson asked exasperated.
"From monsters," she turned to Taylor," right Taybear?"
Taylor blushed,"Yeah." he mumbled shoving pancakes into his mouth.
"What monsters Avery?" Zac asked.
"The ones under my bed that Taybear and Oliver saved me from." she explained.
Mrs. Hanson chuckled.
Just then Isaac came into the room,"Mmm...these pancakes smell delicious." he sat down,"Aah!" he leapt up and looked at his chair, where lay a decapitated Barbie doll.
"You killed Barbie!" Jessica screamed in horror.
"I uh...uh..." Isaac said picking up the doll and it's head.
"Murderer!" Jessica shrieked.
Isaac glanced around the table at everyone who was laughing. Erica grabbed the doll from Isaac,"I'll fix it."
"You'll be hearing from her lawyer," Jessica said shaking a finger in Isaac's face,"and just think what Ken will do when he finds out!" she sighed exasperated.
Erica handed the doll back to Jessica with it's head reattatched,"Well maybe you didn't kill her, but she's scarred for life!" Jessica exclaimed leaving the room and softly murmuring to Barbie how everything would be okay.
Isaac let out a deep breath a sat down to eat breakfast as the dreaded "Barbie Doll Killer."
"Can you believe it Tay? My parents are home tomorrow and I get to sleep in my own room in my own bed." she sighed and got a dazed look on her face.
Taylor just sighed. Telling her that he was going to miss her birthday was becoming harder with every growing second. And the more he knew it would hurt her the longer he waited to fess up and let her know.
"And then you leave in two weeks..." she trailed off.
He put his hand on hers,"Well at least we have another week that we didn't have before." he pointed out.
"Yeah," she agreed,"and I'll see you around my birthday."
Taylor spaced for a second. Kill me, kill me, kill me... he chanted in his head,"Well Erica you see..." he was about to finally pour it and let it all off of his chest when Isaac bounded in the room.
"Here you are Erica." Ike said smiling,"I just wanted to give you a humungous, gigantic thank you for fixing that stupid doll."
Erica laughed at Isaac's exaggerated expression,"It really isn't that difficult, you just have to pop her head back on."
Isaac nodded,"You'll have to show me one day."
"I can show you now if you want." Erica volunteered.
"Sure, I mean if it's okay with Taylor." Isaac said staring at Taylor.
He forced a smile,"Yeah, sure. We're not really doing anything anyway."
"Okay great," Erica said getting up,"now we have to decapitate a Barbie." she said leaving the room with Ike.
"Seriously Jeff, if I don't tell her soon I'm gonna die!" Taylor exaggerated.
He was tired of being lectured by Ike and Zac when he brought up the subject and he couldn't call Stacie or even Kerri. So Jeff was the most obvious choice for support. He would most likley side with Taylor and tell him what he wanted to hear, that he wasn't scum for waiting this long.
"So tell her! Be a man!" Jeff replied.
"Oh man, life sucks." Taylor moaned flopping back on his parents bed nearly dropping the phone in the process.
Jeff laughed,"Oh yeah, I mean making an album so millions of people can hear your music, and girls throwing themselves at you 24/7 really classifies your life as sucking."
"I mean my normal home life, the stuff that people don't know about unless they believe a cheesy tabloid magazine or something." Taylor said.
"I don't think they've made up stories in tabloids about you guys yet. You'd have to be really famous for that." Jeff observed.
"We are pretty famous." Taylor said raising his eyebrows.
"Oh, well then I guess they just don't have enough time to contribute to losers like you." Jeff laughed.
"Uh, yeah. Thank you for helping me with everything but Erica." Taylor said sarcastically.
"Oh yeah you wanted advice didn't you? Well I don't even know why you're calling me, the one with no girlfriend and brain damage." Jeff laughed.
"Well ,yeah." Tay said.
"Do you really want to know what I think?" Jeff asked seriously.
"Yeah I do." Tay replied.
"Okay, just don't listen to what anyone else says, just tell her when you think you're ready." he advised.
"Okay who are you and what have you done with Jeff?" Taylor laughed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Man, you're giving me advice and it actually sounds good. Either my brain is slowly being fried or you are now having sudden bursts of knowledge." Tay cracked.
"Yeah, well I have my moments." Jeff said.
"I still can't believe you're missing my birthday." Kerri said for the fifth time that hour.
Zac shrugged,"I am."
Kerri rolled her eyes,"Gee that makes me feel better."
"Sorry." Zac's cheeks flushed.
"It's okay, it's not your fault." Kerri said wrapping her arms around Zac's neck.
Zac tensed up. Even though they were going out Zac and Kerri still hadn't kissed since that day in the park, and any physical connection between them hadn't even crossed Zac's mind. When Kerri felt him tense up she removed her arms from him.
"So," she sighed,"how have Stacie and Erica taken to the change of plans?"
"Okay I guess." Zac shrugged. What was he? A mind reader? Besides the fact that Erica had to be okay because she didn't even know.
Kerri glanced at Zac who was seemingly absorbed in Ren and Stimpy. Why doesn't he kiss me? she thought frustrated, I can't make the first move again. Or can I? Kerri smiled at that thought. She moved closer to Zac and let her hand brush against his.
Zac gave her a quizzical look,"Do you have enough room?" he asked scooting over.
Kerri frowned and jumped off the couch and ran into her room, Boys! she thought slamming the door.
Zac made face at her sudden choice of action, what did he do now? Taylor or Ike would go after Erica or Stacie wouldn't they? So I have to chase her down. he thought. He pulled himself up off of the couch and down the hall to her room.
"Kerri?" he asked knocking on the door.
"Go away!" she yelled from the other side of the door.
"Okay." he said and trudged back down the hall to the couch and Ren and Stimpy.
"Tay!" Ike said.
Taylor continued writing in his notebook and mouthing the words to a song on his walkman.
"Tay-lor!" Ike said a little louder.
Taylor kept on his little singing routine, oblivious to the fact that Isaac was having some sort of fit right in front of him.
Isaac jumped up and down, waving his arms and repeating Taylor's name over and over to attract attention to himself.
Taylor finally took notice to his brother and pulled off his walkman and laughed,"You look ridiculous!What the heck are you doing?" he asked.
"Trying to get your attention!" Isaac shot back.
"Well you have it," he said smiling and crossing his arms,"what's up?"
"Well, wait a minute. Where did you get that shirt?" he asked.
Taylor looked at what he was wearing,"Oh, from Erica." his smile faded.
"She bought you something?" Ike asked wide-eyed.
"Yeah." Tay said quietly.
Ike got a cheesy grin on his face,"Wow she must really love you."
Taylor leapt off of the bed,"She doesn't love me! There is no use of the word love in our entire relationship! Love, no! Got it?" he yelled.
"Okay, okay geez." Ike said holding his hands up.
That was all Tay needed at that moment. More crap to add onto his pile of crap that he didn't do for her. He didn't tell her about her birthday, he didn't tell her he loved her, he didn't do a lot of things for her. No matter how hard he tried to be perfect for her life always found a way to screw it up. She always seemed perfect to him, why couldn't he be that for her?
"What do you want Ike?" Tay growled,"I hope you wanted to ask me something and you weren't just trying to ruin my day." he said flopping back down.
"I was going to ask you something but I forgot now." he glanced at his watch,"I have to go meet Stacie at the coffee shop downtown..."
"Why don't you just pick her up?" Tay inquired.
"I can't, her parents don't trust us, remember doofus?" Ike said stupidly.
"Oh yeah..." Tay said thoughtfully.
"Well, I'm gonna be late but if I remember what I wanted I'll let you know." he said walking out of the room.
"Oh man, I finally got out of the house." Ike said slumping back in his hard plastic chair at the Tulsa coffee shop.
Stacie smiled,"Is it that horrible there?" she asked.
Isaac smiled and shook his head,"Oh the stories I could tell."
Stacie laughed at him.
"Oh you think it's funny?" Isaac smiled even bigger,"You try being in that house with a pregnant mother, Zac who is convinced Kerri is trying to corrupt him sexually, Taylor who is torn between his feelings for Erica. Does he love her? Well tune in next week..."
Stacie giggled.
"Avery who carries this stupid pink bunny everywhere and claims it can rid your house of under-the-bed monsters. Mackie who just loves to shove things up his nose if he possibly can and Jessica, who had doved me "Killer of Barbies" or something lame like that." he finished.
Stacie raised her eyebrows,"Hmm...sounds like a challenge."
Isaac's expression softned,"Plus, I have to make stuff up just to see you, just to get out of the house to see my girlfriend."
Stacie sighed,"I know, it's just, give my parents some time. Let them see how great you are."
"But we've given them so much time already," Isaac whined,"sometimes I think if I can't talk to you I'll die."
Stacie reached out her hand to his,"They'll get over it. I swear they just need time."
Isaac nodded,"Ok, but I still don't get it. Why are they being so difficult?"
Stacie shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her cup of coffee.
"I wish I knew." Isaac said exasperated.
"You'll find out." Stacie mumbled to herself.
"Huh?" Ike asked.
"Nothing, I was just thinking aloud." she said taking a sip of coffee and casually peering at Ike over the rim of the cup. It's only a matter of time... she thought.
Erica walked down the hall,"Taylor?" she called rather loudly. She paused and waited for a sound or indication he was near her. Nothing. She stamped her foot Where is he? she thought. She peeked in his room.
Taylor must have fallen asleep reading. A book was sprawled across his chest, his arm was hanging off his bed at a weird angle, and his mouth was parted slightly.
She smiled He looks so cute she thought. She walked over and gingerly sat on his bed. She took the book off of his chest and closed it. She then picked up his arm and put it back on the bed. Then she gently swiped a few strands of hair off of his face.
His nose twitched and he rolled on his side mumbling,"Five more minutes mom, I swear."
Erica bit her lip and tried not to laugh. She turned around to get up, all of a sudden she felt an arm around her waist and she was being pulled back down. She let out a little yelp.
"Disturbing my nap huh?" Taylor asked, his blue eyes shining.
"No." Erica smiled.
"No?" Taylor asked,"I was all comfortable and I feel someone moving me. Was it you?"
"No." Erica lied.
"Huh? Was it you?" he said tickling her.
"No." she screeched trying to wiggle away. She was surprised by how strong his arms were because he held her close.
"Was it you?" he asked laughing.
"No!" she screeched. She tried to tickle him but he grabbed her wrist.
"Huh?" he asked.
"Yes!"
"What? I can't hear you!" he said laughing.
"Taylor!" she screeched pushing his hands away.
"Okay." he rolled over her and stood up. He raised his arms and stretched and yawned.
She poked his sides. He jumped and laughed,"Now we're even." she stood up.
"But you still disturbed my nap." Taylor pouted.
"Well, get over it." she smiled.
Taylor stared at her. Suddenly he remembered he hadn't kissed her in a long time. He was overcome with a sudden urge to grab her and kiss her. He pulled her close and ran his hands through her hair,"Do you know what I was just thinking? I was thinking that I can't remember the last time I kissed you."
"Yeah?" she asked placing her arms around his neck.
"Yup, so do you care to make another memory?" he whispered bringing his face closer to hers.
"Of course." she whispered before his lips touched softly on hers.
A tingle ran down her spine at that soft kiss. He always kissed her with such ease and such care the first time. It was like he wasn't in such a rush to go fast with her. That soft kiss meant everything to her. She would feel his warm breath over her lips right before they touched in what she deemed, The Perfect Kiss.
They both started to open their mouths to kiss again when the door flung open.
"Dinner's ready..." Walker trailed off as he saw the two teenagers break apart.
"We'll um, be right down dad." Taylor stumbled over his words.
Walker nodded and left the room leaving the bedroom door open.
"Who is doing dishes tonight?" Mrs. Hanson asked as she set more mashed potatoes on the table. Her comment was met with a chorus of "Not me." and "Isn't it his turn?" she laughed.
Taylor set out in a mad dash for the potatoes. He nearly knocked over his glass in the process. Then, once achieving the goal of grabbing the mashed potatoes, he started piling mounds on his plate. Then after succeeding in almost emptying the bowl, he started shoveling them into his mouth.
Zac then reached out and grabbed the bowl. Taylor watched him, out of the corner of his eye, put a couple of spoonfuls on his plate.
"Mom how much mashed potatoes did you make?" he asked curiously.
"I think that's the last bowl right there." she told him.
Taylor glanced over at Zac again,"Geez just eat all of them why don't you." Taylor said.
"What?" Zac asked.
Taylor snatched the bowl away from him,"There's not alot left you pig. Leave some for the other people at this table." he scolded as he shoveled some more on his plate.
"Taylor you took more than Zac." Ike pointed out.
"No I didn't." Taylor said defiantly.
"Tay, all that is on your plate is mashed potatoes! No meat, no vegetables, just the potatoes." Isaac laughed.
"So I just happen to like mashed potatoes." Taylor shrugged putting the now empty bowl aside.
Zac rolled his eyes,"You pig you ate the whole bowl!"
"Enough." Mr. Hanson boomed.
The three of them stopped to stare at him,"Sorry." they mumbled.
For the next three minutes the only sound heard was the clanking of forks on plates. Until Taylor yelled out.
"Mom! Tell Zac to cut it out!" he yelled.
Zac looked at his mother innocently,"What did I do?"
"You know what you did, you were taking potatoes off of my plate!" he yelled.
"Taylor enough with the potatoes." Mrs. Hanson said.
"Could you please pass the potatoes, I mean Tay's plate." Isaac laughed.
Erica covered her mouth with her napkin and turned away from Taylor as she laughed.
Taylor looked at her and then at Ike,"Shut-up."
Ring Ring
"Hello?" Taylor answered the phone.
"Hi, is Zac there?" a timid voice asked.
Taylor looked at Zac who was writing in his notebook,"May I ask who's calling?" he asked, his voice sugar coated.
"Kerri." she said.
"Okay, let me see if he is available to speak with you." he said and covered the mouthpiece.
"Hey fag, it's Kerri." he said.
Zac stared at him,"I'm not here."
"So where are you?" Tay asked.
"Anywhere but here. Just make something up." he pleaded.
Taylor shrugged and put the phone to his ear,"He's not here but I'll tell him you called and to call you back ok?" he asked.
"Okay thank you, bye." she said.
"Bye."
Taylor hung the phone up and looked at Zac,"So Zac, how come you don't want to talk to her?
Zac sighed and put down his pen,"I don't want to talk to her because she is girly."
Taylor snorted,"Well she should be, she's a girl."
"No really Sherlock? Like I didn't already know!" Zac threw a disgusted look at Taylor.
"Well when you say she's girly...nevermind." Taylor stopped trying to explain seeing as Zac wasn't paying attention to him anyway.
"Fine." Zac said and resumed writing.
"Fine." Taylor retorted and went back to relacing his Doc Martin boots.
After about two minutes of silence Taylor resumed conversation.
"Exactly how is she girly Zac?" he asked.
"She gave me some picture of the girls with a poem on the back." he replied.
"A poem?" Tay asked, his head shooting up.
"Yeah, why the sudden interest?" he asked.
Before Taylor could answer, Isaac came walking through the door. He plopped down next to Taylor,"Tay check this out." he said showing him a picture of Stacie,"And she wrote something on the back. And she got me a shirt too." he smiled.
Taylor threw his hands up to his face,"Shit!" he moaned and flopped backwards on the bed.
"Stace, why don't you just come over here?" Erica asked.
"I don't know Er, I just spent the whole day with Ike..."
"Yeah with Ike, but not with me." Erica interrupted.
"Yeah but if I go there I'm gonna see him." Stacie pointed out.
"Oh grow up Stace, you're such a kid." Erica sighed.
"I am not." Stacie pouted.
"You have fifteen minutes to get over here or I am never speaking to you again." Erica threatened.
"I could only be so lucky." Stacie laughed.
"I'm serious." Erica said.
"Fine, I'm on my way."
Erica smiled,"Okay, I'll be waiting."
"Yeah I'm sure you will." Stacie muttered.
"Great," Isaac said pacing,"this is just great."
Zac frowned,"I still don't get it."
"Don't you see?" Isaac said throwing his hands in the air,"Now we have to buy them stuff or take them somewhere!"
"No, I get that," Zac said,"what I don't get is why I only got a picture. I think I deserve to get a shirt too." he said.
Isaac rolled his eyes and continued pacing.
"Well," Tay said thoughtfully,"maybe we're jumping to conclusions, maybe they were just being nice."
Isaac snorted,"Boy, what sneaky little devils."
"What are we gonna do?" Zac asked wide-eyed.
"What can we do?" Isaac said flopping onto Tay's bed,"We have to give in. We've been trapped guys."
Zac stamped his foot,"Girls suck!"
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