Taylor sat on the couch at his house in a grumpy mood. He kept denting his soda can within his hand and letting it pop back into place. He watched as people mingled happily in his living room. These people who were supposed to be his friends but seemed more like strangers to him. And where the hell was Jeff? Wasn't he the most concerned about seeing Taylor? Geez, whatever he had to say hadn't been able to wait until the party, so why wasn't he yapping Tay's ear off by now? Taylor sighed, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back.
"Hey Tay." Zac mumbled before plopping heavily next to his brother.
Taylor grunted in response hoping that a hole would open in the couch and swallow him up so that he wouldn't have to pretend to be happy.
"How come when we left, the party seemed so much more fun? It's not the same coming back, is it? You really can never go back, can you?" Zac pondered aloud.
Taylor stared at his brother for a moment. He was staring so hard that his eyes blurred over and all he could see was a mass of blonde hair, "What the hell are you talking about, Zac?"
Zac sighed, "Well, I mean, didn't we used to seem alot happier? We used to joke around and stuff. Now we just grumble through our 'oh so depressing' lives. We seem like we're living in some part of a crappy sequel that had to play out the horrible ending of the original story."
Taylor nodded,"Yeah, it's like our lives are all messed up and we're on this gay ass hunt to fix them. And we just keep turning down stupid roads, right?"
"Yeah," Zac sighed leaning back, happy that his brother knew where he was coming from, "so what do you think can fix your life?" he questioned.
"Erica," Taylor replied without hesitation, "I know it's depressing to keep saying it to everyone, and you all must be tired of hearing it. But, she could fix it, she makes everything just seem so right."
Zac bit his lip and nodded, Even if she's the one that broke it? he thought.
Taylor elbowed Zac, "What could fix yours?"
Zac looked taken aback for a moment. He was surprised that Taylor was actually interested in something that he had to say, "Um, I don't know, honestly. I think if I was just more patient and understanding with things. Maybe be a better brother than I've been lately."
Taylor shook his head and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, "Trust me, Zac. If anyone needs to be a better brother, it's me. You have been an awesome brother. No one could ever help me through any of this crap that I've been through like you have. You're the only person that I'd want to go through it with, seriously." he looked back at Zac.
Zac smiled,"Really, Tay?" he asked.
Taylor took a sip of his soda and smiled,"Yeah really."
Erica shut off her blow dryer and tossed her hair around. It's not good enough. I look horrible! I look like a piece of shit! I can't do this! I can't see him!
Jeff hovered in the doorway to her bedroom, "Are you done yet? Did your shower sober you up?"
She sighed, "Yes it did, and no I am not ready yet." She stood up and examined herself in the full-length mirror. Flare jeans, black sketchers, a gray sweater with the sleeves pulled down to her knuckles, her pager, a silver ring on each hand, a watch and a gold name plate. Her make up was done flawlessly with what little make-up she now wore.
"You look great. Taylor is gonna drop de..." Jeff paused, "Taylor is gonna drool all over you." he assured her.
She shook her head and suppressed that part of her that wanted to crumple to the floor and cry, "I'm not the same as I used to be."
"You're stronger." he told her.
"I'm weaker!" she whirled around to stare at him.
He walked into her room and placed his hands on her shoulders, "Trust me, you're stronger. You'd have to be to come through the shitty hand that life just dealt you. I mean, you just keep taking everything onto yourself, you are strong."
She started to laugh at him, "Y-you think it's a choice? Ha! Oh, that is so funny! Maybe if my shrink would take me off the drugs for a minute I could remember something to be upset about!"
"It's in your memory! You just can't find it." he said exasperated.
She crossed her arms and walked away from him and towards her closet,"Just let me get a jacket and we'll leave. I'm tired of analyzing every little thing that happens. I just wanna do this and get it over with." she mumbled.
Jeff kept his mouth shut as she dug through her closet for a jacket. He was really hoping that when Taylor and Erica saw each other that everything they had been feeling and holding inside would break. It would just be let out like a broken dam of emotions.
"Okay, let's go." Erica said pulling her hair out from underneath the collar of the jacket.
Jeff grinned at the sight of the jacket she had on. Taylor's jacket, "Well there's a nice blast from the past."
Taylor woke up as Isaac shook him relentlessly, "Taylor! Tay man! Wake up buddy! Get up!"
Taylor opened his eyes, "Wha...is the party over already?"
Isaac shook his head frantically and looked around the room, "No! No, it's not." he said still shaking him.
"Stop shaking me you penis!" he yelled wiping a bit of drool from the corner of his mouth.
Isaac pulled Taylor into a sitting position, "Fix your hair, it's sticking up! How's your breath? Want a mint? Here take a mint!" he said shoving a mint in Taylor's mouth.
Taylor ran his hand through his hair quickly and with little worry,"Why? What's going on? Why are you being stupid?"
Isaac took a deep breath, "Okay. I only caught a glimpse, just a glimpse mind you! So I could be wrong! I mean, I might be wrong! I didn't stick around to find out, so the possibility of me being wrong is about 98%! But, I mean it was her hair and the jacket...your jacket. It was walking next to Jeff, but on a person. Her. I mean," he took another deep breath, "it has to be her right? But it couldn't be."
Taylor searched Isaac's eyes, his brain working slowly, "My jacket? What jacket?"
Before Isaac had a chance to answer, Taylor caught a glimpse of the jacket in the mirror over Isaac's shoulder. The one that he had given to Erica. He whirled around on the couch, "Erica?" he choked out, his heart rate increasing in no time.
Isaac turned around, "You saw her too right? I'm not crazy? I'm not crazy!"
"Get the fuck out of my way!" Taylor yelled knocking Isaac out of the way as he leapt off the couch and raced into the hallway where he had seen the jacket. Erica? She's alive? How? No way! This is not possible! He looked to his left, no. To his right, the jacket. Hair, soft and golden blonde, like the finest cornsilk. And Jeff was right next to her.
Erica paused in her hunt for Taylor and turned around suddenley, because something inside of her told her to. And when she turned, she saw him. He was almost all in black, tall and blonde with those bright blue eyes. The hallway seemed to standstill as she lost herself in his soulful eyes again, as she once had. He was staring right back at her. She could feel him looking into her soul, trying to bring back her old self. The person she once had been. She blinked at the tears forming in her eyes, coming up through everything that they had been hidden under.
For Taylor it was as if no one else even existed at that moment. Just her and him. All sound and time paused and she never looked more beautiful to him than right then, in his jacket, with tears slowly falling down her cheeks. He began to walk towards her, practically gliding. It was like he had dreamed it could be so many times before this. And in to time, he was right in front of her. He brought his hand up to her face and paused before touching it. She let out a little smile and he wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of his hand. There seemed to be nothing to say.
She couldn't hold anything in anymore. She threw her arms around him tightly, clutching him and letting out a giant sob,"Oh Taylor, oh God I missed you so much! I needed you so much!"
Tears began to run down Taylor's face as he held her so tightly he was sure that he would squeeze the two of them into one person. He ran his hand over her hair,"Shh, I'm here. We're together now. And I'm not letting you go ever again, I promise."
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