I stared absentmindedly into the Christmas tree in Taylor’s aunt’s house, wondering how I had managed to let my mother convince me into coming. “You’ll be able to reconcile with Taylor, now that he’s home,” she had wheedled.
“Mom, I don’t want to reconcile with Taylor,” I had lied in response. And I had almost come to believe it- until he had walked into the party. Who was I kidding? I wanted Taylor back- and to see him with Abby and Ellie just killed me.
It’s not that I dislike “Abs”, as Taylor calls her, as a person. I don’t even know her very well.... oh, that’s a lie. I don’t like the girl at all. When you’re trying to build a relationship with someone and you have to come third, behind his female best friend and this sudden, out of nowhere music career, it’s extremely annoying. No matter how cute it is when one piece of his golden hair flips the opposite direction of the rest of it, or how his pacific blue eyes light up when he’s happy...
Reagan, stop it!!! I heard the voice of my best friend Jenn, who strongly dislikes “The Midwest Surfer Boy” and had been even more strongly opposed than I to my coming to this thing. She wants me to go out with her boyfriend’s best friend, which I personally think is clicheéd- I mean, we aren’t living on Saved by the Bell here.
As I thought, I tapped my long, polished fingernails on my knee impatiently, and suddenly realized what I had to do. Filled with new resolve, I turned on the heel of the chunky Steve Maddens I had dragged Jenn all over town to find, and strolled towards the kitchen. It was time to get Taylor back where he belonged.
Taylor
“It’s so hard to resist, and it’s all coming back to me...” ~Celine Dion
“No, but ‘Drea and Jonathan broke up because she told him she needed more emotional space, but really she just wanted to go out with Steven Drachnaugher- you know, LeeAnn’s brother?”
I nodded. Abby and Ellie were filling me in on everything that had happened in Tulsa since I had been gone- a crash course in neighborhood hearsay.
Ellie went to the sink and filled a glass with water. “Abby, tell him about the whole Dana/Ryan episo-” she stopped short and stared at something behind me.
I turned around, and my eyes widened. “Reagan...hi.” I scowled to myself at the sound of my voice. It was 99.9 percent done changing, but when I got surprised or upset, it tended to go beyond my control. And, at this moment, I was very surprised.
“Hi,” she said softly, and nodded at Abs and Ellie. Her eyes bore into mine. “Can we talk?”
I didn’t look at either of my friends at that point, knowing I would either burst into hysterical laughter or cry. I nodded at Reagan wordlessly, took her hand, and led her to the downstairs rec room. Unlike the rest of the house, it was empty and quiet, and we sat down on the worn, brown leather couch.
“What’s up?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “How have you been?”
“Busy. But I’m having fun.”
Reagan nodded. “That’s good. Taylor...”
“Yeah?”
“I miss you.”
I exhaled. “Well, I miss you, too. Don’t think I don’t.”
Reagan looked at me. “Well, if you miss me, and I miss you, wouldn’t it make sense for us to be together again?”
“In theory. But Reagan, don’t you remember what it was like? There’s, like, a major conflict of interest there, and it’s probably mostly my fault. I mean...the music is not going to go away. It’s a huge part of my life, you know that. And so is Abby. And I know that’s a pain in the ass for you, but she’s my best friend.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I wasn’t lying to Bop magazine, you know. I’m never around. If we were to get back together...you’d be miserable. I haven’t seen the schedule for the new year yet, but I’m sure it’s gonna be crazy, and I’d never be here, and eventually you’d start to hate me. And I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I could never hate you.”
I smiled. “You say that now...listen. Why don’t we wait awhile, see what happens. In a few months...who knows?”
Reagan kissed my forehead. “Okay. See you around, Taylor. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” But Reagan was already gone.
