The days went by pretty quickly in California but every chance he got Taylor wrote Erica just like he said he would. And when they got mail he swore he never saw anything from her.
One day Ike,Tay and Zac were reading letters and Taylor got so depressed that he flopped on the bed and started throwing a tennis ball up in the air and catching it.
Now Ike and Zac had been noticing strange behavior from their brother and kept quiet but this was too much Taylor was always depressed. Ike and Zac both went and sat by Tay.
"Tay?" Ike said,"what's wrong?"
"What do you mean what's wrong? Nothing's wrong." he said.
"Come on Tay, we know when something's wrong, we are your brothers. Now tell us." Zac was trying to act pushy.
Tay just closed his eyes, took a deep breath and said,"I'm fine okay?"he threw the ball up and Ike caught it.
"No it's not okay. It's Erica isn't it? You've been acting strange since you walked her home after the party."he said.
Tay bolted up and stared at his brothers intently,"No it's not." he said through clenched teeth,"why would it be?"
"Maybe cause you wrote her ten million letters and she never answered one!" Zac declared.
"You're insane."Tay got quiet and then burst out,"Fifteen not ten million!!! And do you know how many I got back?" he was off the bed and pacing, but Ike and Zac remained calm.
"How many?" Ike asked cooly.
"None! Not one!" he flopped in a chair and put his head in his hands,"I'm worried Ike...really worried."
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't know." Tay said in a wavy voice.
"Yes you do."Zac said.
Taylor looked at his brother,"I don't like her, Zac." Tay responded.
Zac and Ike exchanged looks. Taylor leapt up from the chair and kicked the wall. Zac jumped shocked at his older brothers anger. He had never seen Taylor like this before. Ike stood up.
"Taylor, calm down. Look don't hurt yourself. Be calm." he said.
"Wanna know what I feel Zac?"Taylor shrieked.
"What?" Zac responded half frightened of what the answer would be. I mean what if Tay felt like he wanted Zac dead...that wouldn't be good for him at all.
"I feel...I feel...,"realization hit Taylor like a ton of bricks,"Oh God." he started slumping to the floor. Isaac leapt forward and caught him. He leaned Taylor against the wall. Taylor slid down the wall on his back to the floor where he sat with his head down.
"Oh God Zac, you're right. I do." Taylor was now in a state of shock and he had a dazed look on his face.
"No Tay, I'm wrong!Don't listen to me!" Zac didn't want to be blamed for causing his older brother to mentally break down,"Here Tay keep yourself busy...read a letter."Zac tore open a letter and handed it to Taylor. Taylor looked at the name and started to half laugh and half cry.
"What?" Ike asked.
"It's from a girl."Tay said.
Zac was confused,"So?"
"Her name is Erica" Tay started to laugh.
"Is that her?" Ike asked.
Tay grabbed the picture that had come with the letter, he studied it. This girl was either familiar or Tay was losing his mind,"Nope not her." he said. No need for them to think you're crazy and put you in the loony bin. he thought to himself.(Author's Note:Doesn't Loony Bin sound funny??Sorry I had to ask.)
He let a tear or two slide down his cheek and Ike and Zac sat with him and waited for him to get it all out.
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