Isaac was thrilled he and Alexis were dancing so close. He thought he might have a chance with her. 'Wait! Shes Tay's girlfriend! I'm not going to try anything. I promised.'
He felt someone tap his back. He spun around only to see his father. He had expected seeing a guest that wanted to dance with Alexis. "Ike, can I talk to you in the kitchen?"
He knew by his father's tone of voice that it wasn't a question. "Sure, be right there." He turned to Alexis. "Thanks for the dance." Then he followed his father inside.
"Ike, we need to talk. About Alexis."
Isaac knew what was coming. He listened to both of his parents ramble on about how Alexis was Taylor's girlfriend and how he shouldn't try anything. Finally, they let him go back outside.
Isaac talked to some friends for a few minutes, then sat down at a picnic table. He noticed a girl, about Taylor's age, standing alone at the food table. She would, every few seconds, turn and stare at Isaac. When she noticed him looking back, she turned away, blushing. Isaac noticed how pretty she was. She had long midnight black hair and brown eyes. She was about 5'7". He decided to go talk to her.
Chapter Twenty-Three--Taylor--a week before Christmas
*RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG*
Taylor listened as Zac picked up the phone. "Yeah, hold on." He tapped Taylor's shoulder. "Tay, it's Lex." Taylor sat up and took the phone.
"Hey," he said sleepily, "what are you doing up so early in the morning?"
"You promised to go Christmas shopping with me, so I wanted to get a good start." she told him.
He stood up and stretched, then accidently dropped the phone. "Hey, sorry, my brain doesn't work this early in the morning." Alexis laughed.'Mine doesn't either. Should I come over in a half an hour?"
"Okie Dokey. I gotta get ready."
"Okay, bye Tay."
"Bye." Taylor got dressed and went downstairs for beakfast. Zac had gone back to bed and everyone else was still sleeping. He put a Pop Tart in the toaster. He ate quickly and downed a cup of orange juice. Soon Alexis was there and they left, for a fun, exciting, day of shopping amongst hundreds of other shoppers, in a crowded mall.
Chapter Twenty-Four--Alexis's story
"Oh my gosh, my feet are killing me." Alexis exclaimed as she and Taylor hopped off the city bus, ech carrying about eight bags. They had been shopping seven hours non-stop. They had gotten gifts for everyone. They quickly walked home. "Hi guys." Mr. Neilson greeted them. They both groanded in reply and he laughed. "Rough day, huh? Well, I made cookies, so you can take them up to your room." They nodded and Mr. Neilson managed to balence a plate of cookies and two cans of root beer on top of Taylor's packages. They carefully walked upstairs. Soon they were sitting on Alexis's floor, listening to Marilyn Manson, who Taylor disagreed to listening to. "Lex, I'm Christian. Can we please listen to something else?"
"Tay, I'm Christian too, and I like it." Alexis said firmly. Once she made up her mind, you couldn't change it if you held a gun to her head. Taylor sighed and started to wrap the gifts he bought. He had bought everyone's gift that day but Alexis's. He had bought her's a while ago. When they were finished, they headed downstairs.
"Lex, Walker just called. We're invited to spend the night Christmas Eve so we can clebrate Christmas with the Hansons'."
"Cool." said Taylor
"Okay dad, if I HAVE to." Alexis joked. Christmas Eve soon came.
Chapter Twenty-Five--Isaac
"Hey guys, I'm baaaaack."
Isaac looked up to see Alexis standing in their bedroom door, holding a duffel bag and a bunch of Christmas gifts. Taylor hurried over to help her. She looked like she was going to collapse under the weight of the packages any minute.
Isaac was confused. "Why do you have that stuff?"
"Oh, me and my dad are spending the night. That way, we'll spend Christmas morning together."
"Oh."
It was about 5:30 p.m., so they just hung around in the room, talking and listening to music. When 8:00 p.m. arrived, they all headed downstairs. They always opened one gift on Christmas Eve. They opened the gifts and Zac, Isaac, and Taylor sang a few songs They sang Silent Night, Jingle Bells, all the traditional songs, but also a new sog they wrote, called With You In Your Dreams. "This is dedicated to grandma." Taylor said softly. Then the three launched into the song. It sounded beautiful. Their voices blended great together and every note was perfect. They sang it with so much emotion, that soon Mrs. Hanson and Jessie and Avie were crying. When they finished, they all went upstairs to bed.
Alexis layed out her sleeping bag on the floor next to Isaac and taylor's bunk bed, but noticed Taylor also rolling one out. "If you have to sleep on the floor, I have to.' he explained. 'He's so sweet.' she thought. Zac climed into Taylor's bed and Isaac into his.
Then they flicked off the lights and everyone was soon fast asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six--Taylor
Taylor awoke to someone sitting on his chest. He opened his eyes and saw Mac sitting there with his thumb in his mouth. Then he took it out.
"Tay-tay, guess what." he said
"What's up Mac?" Taylor asked, whispering because he didn't want to wake the others. "It's Cwismas." he said with a smile on his face.
"Oh yeah." Tayor stood up quickly. He picked Mac up and set him on Zac, giving him instructions to bounce up and down till he woke up. He tapped Isaac on his shoulder. "Ike, come on bud, it's Christmas." That got em. Now Jessica and Avery had come into the room. They woke Alexis up. Pretty soon it was very loud. Seven kids, well, four kids, three teens, in one room. Everyone got their robes on. They had to wait at the top of the stairs. They weren't allowed down until the adults were already down there.
"Okay, you can come down." There was a mad dash down the satirs. Soon they were taring open gifts.
"Awesome!" "Whoa, cool!" Everyone was happy with their gifts. Soon they were all opened. Well, except for one.
"I'll give you yours when were alone." Taylor whispered to Alexis. She nodded. They all went into the dining room and had pancakes, bacon, and eggs for breakfast. Needless to say, it took a long time to make with Ten people being there.
When breakfast was over, Taylor led Alexis to the treehouse outside. It was about 50degrees so they hurried up the stairs.
***AUTHOR'S NOTE-- I do not know how cold it really is in Oklahoma. I'm just guessing cuz it seems like a hot place. Hey, we rarely get in the fifties for christmas here in Florida***
Taylor pulled a small box out of the pocket of his robe and handed it to Alexis.
She removed the lid of the box, only to find a soft jewelery box. She gave him a curious look and continues to open it. She pulled out a real silver locket. She opened it and found her and Taylor's pictures inside.
"Thank you, Tay. It's beautiful." she gave him a hug.
"Read the back." he told her.
She turned it over. 'Alexis, I'll love you forever. Love, Taylor'
"Oh, Taylor. This is the greatest gift I've ever gotten." He fastened the chain around her neck. Then they headed back inside the house.
