" Woah, I'm sorry. I swear I wouldn't have come in when I did if I had known," Isaac said sincerely.
" I'm sure we'll kiss eventually," Taylor said," I just hope that no one walks in on us next time." He grinned.
After Erin tried to spike the drinks, they had managed to enjoy the movies with the girls. When their parents got home, Isaac quietly pulled them aside and told them what happened. They had gone in immedietly to talk to her and that was nearly an hour ago. As far as he knew, they were still in there. When the movies ended, Isaac made plans with Terry to go to the mall and a movie on Saturday. After she left, the three brothers all met up in their room, talking about the nights events. Taylor had just got done telling Isaac why he had gotten so irritated when Isaac walked in on him and Maddy.
" I don't believe that I walked in on you guys when you were about to kiss. Why do I have a feeling that you're not gonna let me forget it so easily?," Isaac asked.
" Ike, will you relax? I admit that I was annoyed at first, but you didn't know, so don't worry," Taylor said," By the way, what's going on between you and Terry?"
Isaac grinned. He told them about how he had walked Terry home the week before and how they ended up kissing. Then he told them how he had planned on asking her out.
" So what did she say? Or did you ever get the chance to ask her?," Zac asked.
" That's the best part. Not only did I manage to get up the guts to ask her, she said that she would love to."
" That's cool. So what are you guys gonna do?," Taylor asked.
" We're gonna be going to the mall for a movie this Saturday. She just has to get her mom's permission."
***************************************************
Terry stepped into the house, expecting her mom to be in bed. She was surprised to see her sitting in her favorite chair, watching tv.
" Mom. You're up," Terry said, confused. Her mom had never waited up for her before.
" Yeah, I couldn't sleep," her mom replied," So how was the party?"
Terry thought a moment. No use in telling her about the Erin problem, she thought.
" It was good. Isaac asked me out on a date."
Her mom frowned. " You said no, didn't you?"
" No, I told him yes."
" Well you can call him up and tell him it's off."
" Why? I don't have anything else to do this weekend."
" I don't want you dating."
" It's no big deal! We've always hung out!"
" But never on a date! Next thing you know, he'll be trying to get you in the backseat of a car!"
" What? It's just a movie!"
" I don't care! You're not going anywhere with him unless it's as friends and there are other people around."
" Friends go on dates all the time! We're just gonna hang out, not sleep together!"
" I am going to repeat myself: You may not go with him on a date. You may go if there is no romance involved and there are plenty of other people around. You are too young to be getting involved with that kind off thing."
" I'm almost sixteen! I'm not a little kid anymore!" Terry glared at her for a moment." Fine! I'll tell him we can only go as friends! Happy now!," She snapped with sarcasm. She ran to her room, slamming the door.
I don't even get what her problem is. Her logic doesn't even make any sense! I can still go out with him, but only if we say it's not a date? We could be boyfriend and girlfriend and it would probably be fine with her as long as we told her we were just friends!
Oh, forget it! I'll just tell him that it's fine if we go out!
***************************************************
...She could almost see that person. Just a little closer. But he ran around a tree and he was gone! She decied to go back, but when she turned to go the way she had come, she didn't see a way back. She turned in circles, but she was lost. Terrified, she began to call for help.
" Isaac!," She whimpered," Isaac? Mama? Help me!"
She heard footsteps behind her. Maybe it was him. But before she could turn around to look, an arm snaked around her throat and jerked her backwards. But not before she saw the person. No, not one person. Two. She was looking into the faces of Isaac and her mother. Wait, they were fighting. Why? She didn't know. Wait a minute. What did Isaac just say?
" Let us go!," he gasped," Please, just leave us alone!"...
***************************************************
Terry sat up straight. She felt sweat running down her face. She realized she was gasping and tried to slow her breathing and still the beating of her heart. She wondered why these dreams kept happening...and why they bothered her so much?
These dreams have got to stop!
***************************************************
Erin looked over at the clock. 2:17 AM. Perfect. She quietly slipped out of bed and crept out of the room. She climbed the stairs, carefull not to let them squeek. Once she reached the top, she listened closely. Satisfied that no one was awake, she groped her way through the dark, trying to find her way to the living room. Her hand trailed along the wall, a doorway, then nothing. She bumped into the couch.
" Ouch!," she hissed, rubbing her sore toe.
She stood up and felt her hand bump into something and heard a dial tone. She picked up the receiver and began to dial a familar number, then realized it was too risky to use the phone right there. She reached down and unplugged the cord. She was pretty sure she had seen a phone jack in her room. She quickly made her way back downstairs and plugged the phone in.
I hope they're up. They probably are, if he's still going through that ' insomnia' stage. He just doesn't want to sleep when he should. Then of course he just has to have us stay up too, so he has someone to play with...
She eagerly dialed the familiar number.
Ring!
Come on.
Ring!
Please!
Ring!
Pick up!
" Hello?"
" Derek?"
He yawned, not quite awake. " Yeah?"
" Hi honey. It's me, Erin."
***************************************************
Isaac rolled off his stomach and onto his back. Then onto his side. He kicked his blankets off. He rolled onto his other side and curled into a ball. Then he stretched out his legs again. He couldn't seem to get comfortable.
Suddenly, Taylor kicked at the top bunk, hitting Isaac's back through the supports holding up the mattress he happened to be lying on.
" Ouch!," Isaac exclaimed quietly.
" Ike, will you stop that and go to sleep already?," Taylor mumbled groggily.
" Sorry, Tay. Just please don't do that again," he groaned. He shifted to his back and flung his arm over the edge. He felt his hand collide with the telephone. He waited tensely, anticipating another kick from Taylor, but he had already gone back to sleep.
Isaac sighed with relief and leaned over to hang up the phone, but stopped when he heard voices leaking out. He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but overcome by curiosity as to who was on the phone this late and why, he held the phone to his ear and listened.
" I looked for you at the party," someone was saying.
" I tried to make it, but this loser family wouldn't let me go and I wasn't able to sneak out," Erin replied angrily.
Erin?!
" It's like they thought I was planning on assinating someone instead of going to a party from the way they were acting. I mean, what is their problem?," she continued vehimently.
" Sweetie, calm down," the male voice said soothingly.
" I'm sorry, Derek. I'm just really frustrated. I really wanted to see you guys. How's Caleb, anyway? Is he still up?"
" Most likely. That kid keeps me up half the night. Hold on a sec."
Isaac heard some shuffling in the background as someone picked up the phone again.
" Hello?"
That's a little kids voice, Isaac thought. He sounds like he's Mackenzies age, maybe a little younger.
He held his breath and listened closely.
***************************************************
" Hello?"
" Hi sweetie. How are you doing?"
" Hi! I'm okay."
" Is Daddy being good?"
Caleb giggled. " Not really."
" What did you and Daddy do today?"
" We had fun. Daddy took me to the zoo and then to see the Rugrats movie"
" Did you like the movies?"
" I did, but I don't think Daddy did. When am I gonna see you?"
" I don't know, honey. I'm trying to find a way. I promise I'll see you soon, okay?"
" Okay. I really miss you, Mama," Caleb sniffed.
" Oh, don't cry," Erin soothed," I know, baby, Mama misses you too."
***************************************************
Isaac's jaw dropped. Mama?
***************************************************
About an hour later, the house was completely silent. Well, almost silent. Down in the basement, longing for the few people that had ever loved her, Erin quietly sobbed her heartache and lonliness.
