Christmas came and went without much cheer. Randy got her report card in the mail, and wasn't surprised to see the C's she'd received on her semester exams. She hadn't been in the mood to study. Now in the midst of the holidays and a grounding sentence that was sure to be in order well into the next quarter, Randy spent most of her time in her room. Lia wondered in and out, occasionally stopping to talk to her. Randy was rarely in the mood for conversation though. Her family had given up on her coming down anytime soon. They decided to wait it out. She would eventually come downstairs.
New Years' Eve was the worst. Randy sat by her open window, leaning her head out and looking at the white ground two stories below. Taylor always loved New Years' Eve. He found some sort of special meaning in throwing confetti. He said it was like throwing away the days gone by. Randy had always found his ceremonious confetti-toss humoring, if anything at all. He was like a small child, sometimes.
"Please, Randy," he pleaded, glancing out the window at the falling confetti. "Come look."
"Taylor, it's just confetti."
"One man's confetti is another man's treasure," he said.
"One man's meaningful philosophies are another woman's root source of boredom," she had told him. "Come away from the window. You're gonna catch a cold."
"So," he said.
"So?" she echoed. "Well, I'm not kissing anybody with a contagious cold."
He quickly snapped the window shut and drew the shade. He was by her side on the floor in an instant. "Oh, darling," he said in a cheesy accent, "Your hair is like golden strands of silk, your eyes are like glistening pools of melted sapphire, your lips are like a fruit frothed in dew, waiting to be kissed..."
"You sound like Pepe le Pew," she told him, "the cartoon skunk."
He made a face and laughed. "I hope I smell better."
She inhaled deeply, and doubled over gagging. "Not really," she wheezed.
He grabbed her sides. "Shut up, Miranda."
She was about to call him Jordan when he leapt up and ran to the stereo sitting on his dresser. "Get up, Randy," he commanded, turning up the volume. "Girl, it's been a long, long time comin',
But I, I know that it's been worth the wait," Babyface's voice crooned.
"Oh, Taylor," she sighed. "Do we have to?" It feels like springtime in winter...
"A dance when the clock strikes midnight means you'll have good luck all year," he told her, pulling her to her feet. It feels like Christmas in June...
"It's a kiss, you dork," she told him, chuckling as he wrapped his arms around her. It feels like heaven has opened up, its gates for me and you...
"Would you just shut up and dance?" he asked. "You always like dancing before."
She rested her head against his chest, smiling softly. And every time I close my eyes, I thank the Lord that I've got you... "How did you get to be so good at this?"
"I'm only good at dancing when I'm dancing with you," he told her. And you've got me too,
And every time I think of it, I pinch myself 'cause I don't believe it's true, That someone like you loves me too, yeah...
"Is it because you know that if you step on my toes with those clown feet of yours, I won't be nice like the others and pretend not to notice?" she asked. She took a deep breath, filling her nostrils with his smell.
He laughed. "You'd better believe it." I think that you're truly somethin', Yes, you are, and you're every bit of a dream come true, With you baby, it never rains and it's no wonder, The sun always shines when I'm near you, It's just a blessing that I have found somebody like you...
She felt so at home with him. Every time she touched him she felt tingly and satisfied. He made her troubles seem more distant, and her happiness more elating. To think of all the nights I've cried myself to sleep, You really oughta know how much you mean to me... For the millionth time since she'd met him, she couldn't imagine how life would be without him. It's only right that you be in my life,
Right here with me...
Randy took the small, plastic bag of confetti from the windowsill and tore it open. Slowly, she poured the confetti out of the bag, the colorful pieces glittered and sparkled in the night. They left a shimmering puddle of color on the snow. She felt herself dying with every breath she took. I cry myself asleep tonight, cause I can not hold you tight, I wish I could see you tomorrow, To take all this sorrow...
"How could you leave me, Taylor?" she asked, a tear drop rushing down to the ground. "You promised you'd come back."
P> She leaned her forehead against the window, and looked out into the night. When I touch you,Can you feel it, When I need you, Can you give it...Tiny flakes of snow were falling listlessly to the ground. Grayness seemed to be the all-consuming tonight. Why didn't Taylor live? Wasn't she enough for him to live for?
"I need you," she hissed into the cold night air. When I look in your eyes, Can you see me,
When I fall, Will you catch me... A frosty wind gusted through the window and made her shiver. "You know I need you, Taylor. I can't...I can't...I can't keep going on like this. Make the misery end!"
Misery is what I feel, When you're not around, So I can't hear...
"Why did you go?" she sobbed.
These tears on my face, Are for you, I wish that I could, Hold you, touch you, feel you...
"Why didn't you take me with you?" she cried. I'm waiting can't you see, I wish you could hold me, touch me, feel me...
"I hate you for doing this to me!" she shouted hoarsely, her voice catching on her tears. When I touch you, Can you feel it?
"I hate you for leaving me alone!" she shrieked. When I need you, Can you give it?
"I hate you for breaking your promises!" she yelled. She threw up the window even farther and was climbing out. She swung her feet over the ledge and sat down. Her whole body was shaking violently. She shook her fist at the black expanse of sky. "LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!!!" When I look in your eyes, Can you see me...
Without warning, the ledge gave way. Her butt was sliding away from the roof. Her back scraped against the window ledge as she began to drop. The ground was rushing upward to meet her.
When I fall, Will you catch me, Catch me, Catch me...
She saw the flecks of sparkling glitter against dirty snow right before she hit the ground. Her ankle twisted painfully underneath her. She yelped in pain. Using the wall to support herself, she got to her feet. Carefully, she hobbled to the front door. Her mother leaned out the window.
"MIRANDA!" she shrieked.
"I'm alright!" Randy called back. "Just a little fall..."