Section Six

     Saturday came quickly and at noon Tabitha was getting ready to go to the movie theater. She didn't have to dress up so she had put on a pair of tapered jeans and a pale yellow tank top. After putting her hair up into a loose ponytail, Tabitha clipped a silver and topaz barrette over the ponytail. She pulled her bangs into place and smiled at herself in the mirror. "I hope he thinks I look good today," she said aloud. She was virtually bruise/hurt free today and she felt great.
     About an hour later, she heard her mom call, "Tabitha! Trevor’s here!"
     Happily, Tabitha grabbed up her wallet and shoved it in her back pocket then she ran downstairs.

~*~
     Taylor looked at the clock; it was one o’clock already. He knew the showing time for End of Days that Tabitha and Trevor were going to started in twenty minutes. He looked around and his eyes landed on Zac who was watching the TV with him. He jumped up excitedly, "Hey, Zac, come on. We’ve got a movie to catch," he said.
     "Huh?" Zac looked up at Taylor uncomprehendingly.
     "We’re going to see a movie, get your shoes on."
     "But I don’t want to go see a movie," Zac replied still not getting the point.
     Rolling his eyes, Taylor grabbed Zac by the arm and pulled him up. "Well, we’re going to see a movie, whether you like it or not. Now, get your shoes."
     Shaking his head, Zac grumbled but did as Taylor asked. "All right, I’m ready. What is up with you today though?"
     Taylor shrugged, "Nothing. I just thought we’d go see a movie."
     Zac gave him a cryptic look, "You’ve been moping the whole week and all of a sudden you’re all peppy?"
     "It’s nothing, Zac. Let’s just go see a movie, now come on." He grabbed Zac’s arm and dragged him out to the van. Pausing at the door he turned back and said "Hey, mom! I’m taking the van! We’ll be back in about an hour and half!"
     "All right, Taylor!" Diana called from the kitchen.
     Taylor shut the front door and then went and took his place in the driver’s seat.
     As Taylor pulled out of the driveway, Zac said, "All right, ‘fess up, Tay. Why do you suddenly want to see a movie in the middle of the day?"
     Taylor replied, "Well, I just had to see this movie again. You know how it is."
     "Yeah right," Zac said sarcastically. "You just had to see the movie again ... and what movie is it that you have to see again that is so important that you had to drag me out of the house like this?"
     "That End of Days, that has that actor from Predator in it."
     "But I thought you said that was a stupid movie?"
     "I only said that cuz I didn’t get to see it all the way through from that woman with the big hair that just had to sit in front of me."
     "What woman with the big hair? We were sitting in the front row!"
     "Well..." Taylor dwindled, "I just want to see the movie again!" he said hastily.
     Zac gave him a sideways glance because right then he realized what the day was. "Hey, isn’t today Saturday?"
     "Yeah, and?"
     "Isn’t today the day that Trevor and Tabitha were supposed to go to the movies?" Zac dragged out the word movies making it sound like moovies.
     "That was today?" Taylor asked innocently.
     "Yes, that was today. And I think that the only reason you want to go is so you can spy on them," Zac responded.
     "Well, if you must know," Taylor began, "I just want to make sure that her date with Trevor goes the way I want it to go."
     "The way you want it to go?"
     "Well, after all your implications this week of how Trevor wants it to go ... I just want to make sure she goes to the movies with Trevor, not an octopus."
     "Seriously, Tay, do you think that Trev would actually try something with Tabitha?"
     "Do I play the keyboards?"
     "Uh, yeah..."
     "Then I think he’d try something."
     Rolling his eyes, Zac said, "I don’t think Trevor will do anything ... but at least I’ll get to see the movie again. I actually liked it."
     Just then, Taylor pulled into the parking lot of the movie theater. As they were getting out of the van, Zac noticed Tabitha and Trevor walking into theater. "Hey, Tay, look, there’s Tabitha and Trevor now!" Zac said pointing, then he started to yell out, "Hey, Tre-"
     Taylor jerked Zac by the arm, "Shut up! We don’t want them to know we’re here! So, zip it!"
     Zac wrenched his arm from Taylor’s grasp. "All right, jeez..."
     Satisfied, Taylor led Zac into the theater. They stayed out of sight until they saw Tabitha and Trevor head back into the screen room then they got in line to get their tickets.
     Taylor and Zac got in there just in time to see Trevor and Tabitha sitting down in the second to the front row. They darted in about five rows behind them and sat low.
     The theater darkened and Taylor strained to see Tabitha and Trevor. Thankfully, once the picture started it was bright enough for him to see them.

**

     The first ten minutes (not counting the previews) of the movie went by okay. Trevor didn’t see much of it; his eyes remained on her. At one of the scary parts, Tabitha jumped just a bit and Trevor slipped his arm around her shoulders. She looked over and smiled at him.
     All of a sudden he felt something hit him in the back of the head. He moved his arm from around Tabitha and looked back, but he didn’t see anyone. Rubbing the back of his head, he pulled a piece of popcorn from it.
     "What’s wrong?" Tabitha asked him.
     "Somebody hit me with this piece of popcorn," Trevor replied. Then he threw the kernel into the floor. "No matter though." And he put his arm around her again.

**

     Zac stifled a laugh by putting his hand over his mouth. Taylor smiled with satisfaction. "What’d you do that for, Tay?" Zac asked still trying not to laugh.
     "He put his arm around her..." Taylor responded. "Like he’s doing now." Taylor reached into the bucket and pulled out a bigger piece of popcorn.
     "Hey, wait, let me throw it," Zac implored. He grabbed for the popcorn.
     "You can throw it next time," Taylor promised, then he chucked the popcorn at the back of Trevor’s head.

**

     Trevor jumped and again pulled his arm from around Tabitha so he could look back. Again he saw no one directly behind them.
     "What’s wrong now?" Tabitha asked earnestly. She too turned to look.
     "Somebody is hitting me with popcorn," Trevor replied. He pulled a much bigger piece out of his hair this time. "Ew," he said when he saw there was melted butter on it. "Great, now that’s in my hair."
     As they turned back around, Tabitha said, "Why do you think someone is hitting you?"
     "I have no idea ... but if they hit me again and I find them, they’re going to have some explaining to do." He sighed but then smiled at her. "Let’s forget it now, though. We came here to enjoy a movie, not to worry bout people hitting us with popcorn." Then he laid his arm back around her shoulders.

**

     "Hey, he’s doing it again," Zac whispered to Taylor.
     Taylor looked down and sure enough Trevor had put his arm back around her. Reaching into the bucket, he pulled out a couple pieces. Just as he was about to heave them in Trevor’s direction, he saw Trevor take her chin in his hand and his lips moved closer to hers. "I don’t think so," Taylor said aloud, and he picked up the whole bucket and hurled it at him.
     "Let’s go!" he said to Zac, and he jumped up and pulled Zac towards the door.

**

     Tabitha screamed as the bucket of popcorn landed in her and Trevor’s lap. Trevor jumped up and look back just in time to see two familiar figures run out of the theater. With a narrowing of his eyes, he turned back to help Tabitha get the popcorn off of her.
     "Ugh, I have to go to the bathroom," Tabitha said when she realized some of it had gone down her shirt.
     "I’ll come wait for you, I think we should get going home now anyway." Trevor stood and helped her up.
     The two of them walked out of the screen room and to the bathroom, Trevor waited for her outside.
     Tabitha stood before the mirror pulling popcorn out of her hair and from inside her shirt. "I wonder who did that?" she inquired aloud.
     Then shaking her head, she ran her fingers through her hair and walked out to Trevor.
     After she walked out, Trevor took her hand and they walked home.

~*~

     At her doorstep, the two stood and looked at each other. "Well, thanks for taking me out, even if we did have to leave early," Tabitha said smiling.
     Trevor grinned back, "Yeah. We ought to do this again sometime though. And this time, we make sure nobody can sit behind us in the theater."
     Tabitha laughed, "I know what you mean. But I had a good time anyway."
     "Me too." Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
     She blushed, "See you later, Trevor," she said before walking inside.

~*~

     Trevor would’ve gone straight home, but he had something to do first, so he veered off and walked to his cousin’s house.
     Jessica answered the door when he knocked, "Are Zac and Taylor here?" he asked.
     "Yeah," Jessica replied, "They’re out in the garage with Isaac right now."
     "All right, thanks, Jessie," Trevor said. He walked through the house to the garage on the side. Sure enough they were in there practicing.
     "Oh, hey, Trev," Taylor said innocently.
     "Yeah, hi," Trevor replied. "You wouldn’t have happened to have gone to see a movie today, would you?"
     "A movie?" Taylor said nonchalantly, "We’ve been here practicing the whole time, right, Isaac?"
     Isaac rolled his eyes.
     "But, Tay, we di-" Zac stopped, "Um, I mean, do you want something to drink? I’m going to get something to drink..." He got up and headed for the door.
     "Hold up, Zac. I saw you there too, so get your butt back here." Trevor’s commanding tone stopped Zac in his tracks.
     Zac turned around, "You didn’t see me anywhere, I was here playing the drums the whole time. Now, I’ve gotta get me a drink, I’ll be back." He walked to the door mumbling, "Yeah, tomorrow."
     Trevor watched Zac as he rushed out of the garage, then he turned back to Taylor. "Now, I know my eyes weren’t deceiving me, I saw you and Zac running out of the theater right after someone dumped a whole bucket of popcorn on me and Tabitha."
     "Why would I do something like that?" Taylor asked defensively, "We’ve been here practicing all day cuz we gotta get ready for the tour this summer."
     "Are you sure it won’t you and Zac?" Trevor asked, "Cuz I could’ve sworn it was you two."
     "Nah, it won’t me and Zac, we’ve been here the whole time, you can just ask Isaac."
     The two of them turned to look at Isaac who was standing there watching them.
     Trevor asked, "Man, am I being played for a fool or what? You’re my cousin, man, you can tell me the truth."
     Isaac replied, "Yeah, you’re a fool to think they would’ve done something like that. It was probably just a couple of kids that wanted to cause trouble for someone and you and Tabitha just happened to be the ones they tormented. I’m sure it’ll never happen again." He shot Taylor a look.
     Under Isaac’s gaze, Taylor felt he had just been scalped or something worse.
     Trevor said warily, "All right, if you back ‘em up and all, then I believe ya. Well, I gotta get home; Mom wants me to help her with some stuff ‘round the house. See ya later."
     Waiting until Trevor was out of earshot, Isaac laid down his guitar and turned to Taylor. "Man, I thought it was bad between you and Zac fighting over her, but now you’ve got Zac on your side and you’re both attacking our cousin! When is this ever going to end?"
     As Taylor started to reply, Zac walked back in the garage. "I saw Trev leave so I figured it was safe to come back now," he said.
     Isaac turned his gaze to Zac, "Are you sure it’s safe now? After all, you still have to explain to me. I just stood up for y’all and I was put in the spot when I shouldn’t have been."
     "Well, I didn't do it!" Zac exclaimed, "Taylor’s the one who said you knew!"
     Shaking his head, Isaac replied, "That’s beside the point. I’m your older brother and no matter what, I’ll stand behind you two and try to help in any way I can, but if y’all keep this up, consider me on vacation."
     Taylor was still silent; he was taking in everything Isaac had to say. Feeling bad for what he did, he said, "I’m sorry, man, I didn't mean to do that to you."
     "When is it all gonna end though?" Isaac demanded.
     With an intense look in his eyes, Taylor said, "I guess when I get Tabitha back."
     Sighing, Isaac responded, "You never had her in the first place, Tay."
     "Well, my foot was halfway in the door before Zac went and introduced her to Trevor." Taylor folded his arms and plopped onto the keyboard stool.
     "Well, I didn’t know they would like one another!" Zac said defensively. "Sheesh, at least you didn’t have to be tortured like I was at the carnival. At least you didn't have it all up in your face, them laughing and giggling and all."
     "Well," Isaac began, "I suggest you two watch what you do. Cuz if you don’t, you could possibly make Tabitha not like or want to be around either of you because of you meddling in her personal life. It’s her decision who she wants to be with and it’s not for you two to decide. Just think about it. Which would you rather have? Tabitha around as a friend, or no Tabitha around at all?" Before Taylor or Zac could make any statement, Isaac gave them one last look and walked out of the garage.
     All they could do once he had left was look at one another, each knowing he was right.

~*~

(ONE MONTH LATER)
(MAY 28, 00)

     "Yeah, sorry I’m not getting to spend so much time with you. Dad’s really been keeping us on the ball, we’ve had packing and practicing galore to do," Taylor was explaining to Tabitha.
     "Oh, that’s all right," she replied shifting the phone between her ear and shoulder while she tried to write in her journal. "When are y’all going?"
     "Um, in about three weeks. I’m not sure of the exact day though."
     "Oh, well, I’m going to miss you while you’re gone, you and Isaac and Zac. But I’ll have Trevor to keep me happy." She closed up her journal and took the phone into her hand.
     "Yeah, I’m glad he makes you happy. I love hearing you happy," Taylor replied.
     With a soft giggle, Tabitha said, "Yeah, he makes me really happy. I never knew what it was like to have such a loving person around me. He’s so sweet."
     Taylor sighed quietly, "I guess so, but I’m going to miss you too."
     "Well, we can keep in touch. As long as you have your cell phone with you, you know." She breathed in deeply, sadly.
     "Yeah, well, hey, Dad is calling us ... we got another practice session, I’ll talk to you later, ok?" Taylor didn’t feel like being in rush but he knew he had to be.
     "Okay, Taylor," she replied. "Talk to you later." She waited until she heard him hang up on the other end before she hung up her own phone.
     Just as she was about to put the phone down, it rang in her hand. She hit the "on" button then said, "Hello?"
     "Hey, Tabs," Trevor said cheerily.
     "Hey, Trev. Whatcha doin’?" she asked happy to hear his voice.
     "Not too much, I was just thinking about you."
     Blushing, Tabitha sat down on her bed and said, "Aw, I was thinking about you, too."
     "Cool, we must have some kind telepathic connection or something," Trevor replied. Of course, he didn’t mean quite that, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
     She laughed, "Maybe so."
     The conversation dwindled but neither seemed to care. For a good ten minutes they did nothing but listen to one another breathing. Finally Tabitha’s mom called up that she wanted Tabitha to come down and do the dishes. Sadly, Tabitha got off the phone with Trevor and went to do her chore.

*One day at a time...*