Chapter 23: It's Every Man For Themself

"Hey Ike," Taylor said returning to their bedroom.

"Hey what?" he asked.

"Did you know Stacie's here?" Taylor asked taking another bite of his sandwhich.

Isaac jumped to his feet,"Here?" he squeaked,"In this house here?"

Taylor rolled his eyes,"No on the planet here."

"Is she here to see me?" Isaac asked smoothing down his shirt.

"Awe, Ikey-poos wants to look presentable." Zac cooed.

"Shut-up!" Isaac snapped.

"Actually," Taylor spoke over their bickering,"she's here to see Erica."he said flopping onto his bed.

Issac then heard two sets of footsteps coming upstairs.

"Quick hide!" he commanded.

"What? Why?" Taylor asked confused.

"Just hurry up." he said grabbing Tay's arm and shoving him towards the closet.

"Oh good," Erica said poking her head into the bedroom,"the room's all clear Stace." she said walking in.

"I wonder where they are." Stacie wondered outloud.

"I really couldn't say. Probably off getting into trouble knowing them." Erica snickered.

Behind the closet door Isaac and Taylor frowned. Zac silently scowled from underneath the bed. They didn't get into trouble that often.

"Well I certainly wouldn't put it past them." Stacie laughed.

"Yeah, well you weren't here that time that they set a squirrel on fire with a lighter and a can of hairspray." Erica told her flopping onto Taylor's bed.

"I bet I missed quite a show." Stacie laughed sitting on the boys' desk chair.

"Well," Erica sighed,"it's not like a couldn't use a break from Taylor."

"Why do you say that?" Stacie asked glancing at the piles of clothes on the floor.

Yeah, why do you say that? Tay thought.

"You mean besides the fact that he has been lying to my face?" Erica asked.

Stacie snapped to attention,"What's he been lying about?" she asked.

Good question Stacie! Taylor thought.

"I mean, he's such a coward," Erica said flicking at a fuzzball on the bed,"he can't even tell me how he is going to miss my birthday."

Taylor resisted the urge to gasp.

Stacie lowered her eyes, unable to look at her cousin,"How'd you find out?" she whispered.

Erica sighed,"I had a hunch you knew about it. Anyway, I found out from Jessica."

Isaac, despite feeling sorry for his brother, smiled. He was glad Stacie could keep a secret.

"She asked me why I wasn't mad at Tay." Erica continued.

Stacie's eyes widened,"And what did you say?"

"I asked her why I should be mad and she spilled the beans." Erica said.

Taylor suddenly wished he could find a way, any way, out of that closet without Erica seeing him. He didn't want to hear anymore.

"I'm kind of disappointed in him. I mean just for the plain simple fact that he didn't tell me because he thought I couldn't handle it or something lame like that." she said.

Taylor felt two inches tall. Heck, he was disappointed in himself.

"Speaking of telling people things," Erica began,"you didn't tell Isaac did you?"

Isaac shifted closer to the closet door to hear this. Exactly what hadn't he been told?

"I couldn't," Stacie sighed,"it will just have to wait until he comes back. We're getting along great right now and I don't want to ruin it."

"We go through too much," Erica shook her head,"I mean, first my whole "getting him to notice me" routine..."

Stacie cut her off,"Did he ever find out about that?"

Erica snickered,"I doubt it. It really sucks though. I had to change myself to get him to notice me."

"But he fell for it." Stacie pointed out.

"Yes he did," Erica said slowly," but he never noticed me before he came back from California to find me changed."

Yes I did! Taylor screamed in his head.

"He never gave a damn before, but I can't complain. I mean, I got him, didn't I?" she said.

"Yeah, you did." Stacie nodded in agreeance.

Taylor wanted to run out of the closet and hold her in his arms. He wanted to tell her that none of that was true, that he had always liked her and always would. He wanted to apologize for lying...but he couldn't.

"Yeah, well what can I do but piss and moan about it now?" Erica said shaking her head.

"You could tell him how you feel." Stacie suggested.

Erica raised an eyebrow,"Oh yeah I can see it now. Taylor, you know how I looked all different when you came back from California? Yeah, well I did it to trick you into liking me becuase I knew you wouldn't if I was the plain old Erica from across the street that could give a damn about half the shit that I do now. Yeah, I think that will go over well." she rolled her eyes.

Taylor suddenly felt weak. He hated hearing this from her, it hurt him. He put his hand on Ike's shoulder for support to stand.

"It was just a suggestion." Stacie said.

"I know," Erica said and paused for a minute,"I'm hungry. Let's go and get some food." she said getting up.

Stacie got up and followed her from the room.

When Zac heard the door click, and saw the feet disappear, he crawled out from under the bed,"Guys," he snickered,"don't be ashamed to come out of the closet! Fags!" he laughed.

"Oh geez, Zac," Isaac said as he and Taylor came out,"I didn't see that one coming!" he rolled his eyes.

"Out of the closet..." Zac trailed off rolling around on the floor.

Isaac climbed up to the top bunk,"I wonder what Stacie didn't tell me." he wondered aloud.

Taylor just stood there dumbstruck. What happened to his relationship? His gaze shifted from his brothers to the door that Erica had just walked out of. How could she think that? he thought bewildered.

Taylor walked towards the kitchen. He was so thirsty. Well it wasn't really that he was thirsty, his throat was just really dry. It had been two hours since he overheard Erica's conversation with Stacie, and even though he thought about it relentlessly, he still couldn't find a way to bring up the subject of his lying. When he walked into the kitchen he found none other than Erica sitting at the table with a book and a cup of tea.

"Hey." he called softly before walking awkwardly across the room to the refrigerator.

Erica looked up from her book and smiled warmly,"Hey you." she replied softly.

Taylor scanned the various beverages the refrigerator held. Once again silence ensued.

"Thirsty?" Erica asked.

Taylor nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of her voice,"Uh, yeah." he replied awkwardly. It was so weird. She seemed like such a different person now. So much more warm and happy, it was hard to believe the kind of things that she had said only two hours before.

Taylor carefully selected his drink, root beer, and started to pour a glass for himself,"So," he said breaking the silence,"what book are you reading?" he asked.

"It's a psychology book. It's a bunch of short stories to make you feel good about yourself." she told him.

Taylor, who had taken a sip from his glass, nearly choked. To make you feel good about yourself? he thought. "Why? Do you need a confidence boost?" he asked. He wanted it to come out like a joke but it came out as more of a question.

Erica paused. She was thankful that she had her back turned to him so that he couldn't see her face. It wasn't really what he said, but the way he said it that made her think that he was trying to imply something,"Maybe." she answered quietly.

"Well, I think you're fine." Taylor said trying to brighten things up.

She didn't answer. She pretended that she didn't even hear his last remark. It somewhat confused her and she wasn't exactly sure what he wanted her to say.

He went over and sat down next to her. She only buried herself further in her book, not even acknowledging his presence at the table.

Taylor absentmindedly tapped his glass on the table.

Erica looked up from her book and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She watched him tap his glass and become enthralled at how bubbles would rise to the surface of his root beer. She opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind. She simply raised her eyebrows and looked back at the pages of her book.

Taylor glanced at her,"How's the book?" he asked becoming frustrated with the eerie silence between them.

She shrugged,"It's alright." she said before trying to resume her place.

Taylor craned his neck and peered at the pages of her book. He started to read it,he was trying to find out just what was so damn interesting that she couldn't put it down and have a five minute conversation with him.

Erica sighed,"Must you do that?" she asked.

"Do what?" he asked returning to his normal sitting position.

"Hover over me. It's distracting." she informed him.

"Well sorry, I didn't realize you were so delicate." he mumbled.

"What's your problem?" she asked.

Taylor opened his mouth to tell her how ticked off he was that she knew about him lying but let him go ahead and keep on lying and looking like a fool. But the phone rang. Every goddamned time. he thought bitterly, getting up to answer it.

"Hello?" he growled.

"Taylor?" the other voice said.

"Yeah?" he mumbled.

"Oh hi hon, this is Erica's mom." she replied.

"Hi Mrs. Patten." he said cheerfully.

"How are you sweetie?" she asked.

"Not too bad? How about you?" he asked politley.

"Oh just fine, is my daughter there?"

"Yes, she's right here." Taylor put the phone by his shoulder,"It's your mom." he informed Erica.

Erica practically ran to the phone and snatched it from Taylor's hand,"Thanks." she said shortly before pressing her ear to the phone,"Hi mom."

"Hi honey, how are you behaving? Not causing too much heartache I hope." she asked.

"You know me." Erica replied smiling.

"Yes I do, so how many people have had heart attacks?" she joked.

"Mo-om!" Erica whined.

Her mom stifled a laugh,"Okay hon. Anyway I just called to tell you to invite Taylor and his family over to our house tomorrow, when we come home."

Erica faced the wall,"Why?" she whispered.

"Because your brother is coming home from school for a couple of days and we want to have a little party."she replied.

"He's coming home?" Erica asked excitedly.

"Yup, so can you do that?" her mother asked.

"Of course I can." she replied.

"Thanks honey, we'll see you tomorrow." she said.

"Yeah."

"Your father and I love you." she said.

"I love you too." she smiled.

"Bye bye sweetie." her mom said.

"Bye." Erica hung up and faced Taylor, a huge grin spilling over her face,"Guess what?"

"What?" he asked looking up from the pages of her book. He had tried to read it, but it was confusing.

"You and your family are invited to my house tomorrow." she said clasping her hands together.

"Really, why?" he asked confused.

"For a party!" she said nearly bursting.

"A welcome back from a funeral party?" he asked growing more confused by the second.

"No, for my brother. He's home for a couple of days." she smiled.

"Your brother?" Tay asked, his eyes growing wide in fear of those words.

Taylor ran upstairs Isaac, I gotta get to Isaac! Once he got to the top step he tripped and fell in a heap in the hallway. Hardly even acknowledging the fact that he fell, he simply got up and burst into the bedroom.

"You won't believe this!" he excalimed.

No one was even in the room. Taylor frowned, he walked out of the room and stood in the hallway,"ISAAC!!!" he bellowed.

"Geez Tay," Ike said walking out of the bathroom,"did you know you're loud enough to wake the dead? Can't I even so much as go to the bathroom without you being up my ass?"

"Oh thank God!" Taylor said dramatically throwing himself at Ike and paying no attention to the comment he just made. He attached his hands firmly onto Isaac's shoulders.

Isaac shrugged him off,"Have you gone mental?" he asked pushing past Tay and into the bedroom.

"Not yet, but I'm almost there!" he cried.

Isaac climbed to the top bunk and collapsed on his pillow,"I'll call the mental hospital first thing in the morning. You'll get the best padded walls money can buy."

"Ike! Be serious!" Taylor said exasperated.

"What Tay? For crying outloud! What the hell do you want?" Isaac yelled.

"Our family is going to Erica's for a party tomorrow..." he started.

"Please tell me there is more to it than that!" Isaac interrupted.

"Oh there's more! The party is for," he paused dramatically,"her brother, Tim."

"What!?!" Isaac bolted up and smashed his head into the ceiling,"Ow!" he grabbed his head, lost his balance and fell out of the bunk.

Taylor stared at his brother who was now lying in a pile at his feet.

"Ohh..." Isaac moaned pulling himself up.

"Did you hear what I said?" Taylor yelled.

"Of course!" Isaac snapped sitting on Tay's bed. It was much safer near the ground.

"Well..?" Tay waited expectantly.

"Well it sucks, obviously." Isaac said looking at his brother as if he were an idiot.

"Well why aren't you worried, brace-face?" Taylor asked.

Isaac shuddered at the name,"Oh God, I thought everyone forgot about that when he left."

"How could I?" Tay asked,"You were brace-face and I was short shit." he reminded.

"Oh God, just hearing her brothers name strikes fear in me." Isaac quivered.

"You? I'm going out with his little sister!" Taylor shrieked.

Issac looked thoughtful for a moment and then smiled,"Hey you're right! Hopefully he'll project all of his anger onto you and I'll be left unharmed. You're screwed!"

"Shut-up! I'm not so short anymore, maybe I could hurt him." Taylor said confidently.

"Her 18 year-old brother from the army?" Isaac laughed.

Taylor's face fell,"Well Ike, don't call the mental hospital tomorrow...call the funeral home."

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