"Matt? No, I don't remember anyone named Matt." I said trying to recall a face to match Taylor's description.
"Oh, okay. You don't have to lie to me, you know. It's all in the past, right?" He asked hopefully.
"Taylor, it was never in the present because I don't remember anything involving a Matt."
"Are you sure about that?" He asked still doubting me.
"No, I am not sure." I said sarcastically.
"Seriously, if you remember anything about him, let me know."
"Let you know? Why? If anything did happen between him and I last summer, why is it any of your business?"
"It's my business because he's my best friend and you are. . ." I knew what he wanted to say, but I knew he couldn't say it.
"What am I?" I asked.
"My good friend."
"Look, I will definitely let you know if I remember Matt, okay? Right now, I want to get some sleep. I think you should do the same." I advised. Not only did I have school the next morning, but having to justify not knowing someone was really tiring.
"I will." He sighed. I smiled to myself and prepared to hang up the phone.
"Wait! I do kind of remember a Matt." I said in a small, nervous voice.
"Now you remember a Matt?" He asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. Oh, it was completely and totally innocent. It was just a little fling." I replied recalling the past summer vacation.
"How many other Matt's have their been?" Taylor inquired. He seemed angry, but even more scared.
"None."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh, my God! Taylor, I have been so straight with you. I honestly forgot about Matt. Seriously, I have to go. Please, don't dwell on the whole Matt thing, okay? It's all in the past, remember?" I reminded him.
"Okay. Goodnight, Page." Taylor said in his low, raspy voice.
"Sweet dreams, Taylor." I said sweetly and that ended the conversation. The next day at school, I was met at my locker by Cheyanne who was crying uncontrollably.
"Cheyanne, what's up?" I asked while comforting her.
"Alan was in an accident."
I froze. What was she talking about?
"What?"
"Didn't you hear? No one told you?" She questioned like I was supposed to be aware of everything that went on in Alan's life now.
"No." People were giving me dirty looks as usual and whispering, but I didn't suspect anything different.
"Last night, on his way to your house, he got in an accident. He ran into a pole. I'm surprised you didn't hear about it. There were ambulances and fire trucks." She said noticing my face drop.
"He was coming to my house?" I was still stuck on that.
"That's what he told his brother. Page, I'm so sorry." She said sadly.
"Why is this happening to me? Is he okay?"
"As far as I know of, he will be okay. He can't have any visitors, yet."
"Okay. I'm going to see him when he can. I think it's something I need to do, even if we aren't speaking." I acknowledged.
"That's really brave of you, Page. At least we know that he can't kick your ass!" Cheyanne teased.
"Very funny, Chey. You mean like he kicked Taylor's?" I asked.
"Yeah. . .speaking of Taylor, how are you guys?"
"We're good, I guess." I said without going into details. Then I looked down at my watch. "Shit! We're going to be late for chemistry! Let's go!"
Throughout the whole day I kept thinking about Alan and why he was going to my house. I felt so responsible for his accident that it was ridiculous. If I hadn't cheated on him, he wouldn't have been driving when he wasn't supposed to. He was purposely doing this to me, I thought. He wanted to see me suffer.
The night, I called Taylor on his cell phone. There was no answer, so I sent him an e-mail.
Dear Taylor,
Hey! What's up? Well, I have some good or bad news, depending on your opinion of Alan. Last night, he got in a car accident. Rumor has it he was on his way to my house, but I don't know for sure. Can you believe it? This is all my fault. I think he's in big trouble because he got his license revoked, remember? If I hadn't have cheated on him with you, this wouldn't have happened. I hope everything turns out okay. I'm so scared. Please call me as soon as you get this message.
Love,
Page
I sent the e-mail and hoped he would get it soon.
"I'm glad you're okay." I replied as I sat down in a chair next to Alan's hospital bed.
"I am also." He said tiredly. He looked a lot better than he did a few days ago, at least that's what his family said. He didn't look the same to me. Aside from all the bandages that covered up his forehead and his hands, he looked like a beat up version of himself. "I guess this is what I get, huh?"
"No. Alan, what happened to you was totally horrible. I'm so glad you're alive."
"I beat up Taylor pretty bad, didn't I? This is my payback. Karma is a bitch." He laughed weakly.
"Well. . .yeah. Alan, were you on your way to my house?"
"The night of the accident? Yeah, I was. I was going to return a few CD's and stuff. I actually was planning on going off on you. I've been such a jerk to you, Page. Why are being so nice to me?"
I smiled and was oddly kind of relieved that he wasn't coming over my house to get back together.
"I'm being nice to you because karma is a bitch, like you said." I winked. He laughed and then it got really quiet.
"So, I guess this is good-bye?" He asked me cautiously.
"We can still be friends." I said softly. He seemed sad, but we both knew that we were already over.
"Exactly. I think you'd better leave, okay? I think all my buddies are coming in later on today. Thanks for visiting me."
"No problem. Bye Alan." I said saying good-bye to him and nearly three years of a relationship.
"Wait, one more thing! I'll see you at the concert in a few weeks." He said mischievously.
"What?" I asked confused. Then it dawned on me. We still had the Hanson concert to attend. Front row, backstage. I knew everything was going too good to be true.
The following weekend,while everyone was getting ready for prom, I was getting ready for my first official date with Taylor. Now that I didn't have the weight of Alan on my shoulders, I could freely go about my relationship with Taylor. I was ecstatic and I couldn't wait until I saw him again. I hated to admit it, but I was falling in love with him. We talked all the time and I realized how special he was. Nothing could go wrong in my eyes.
"Wow, who's the lucky guy?" My Dad said admiring me as I walked down the stairs.
"You don't know him." I said truthfully.
"Page, you know the rules. We have to meet the guy before you go out with him." My Mom warned.
"Rules? Okay, Mom, if you haven't noticed, I haven't been out with anyone except Alan. We never established any rules." I said rolling my eyes.
"They did with me." Christina, my fourteen year old sister replied walking by me.
"Mom, you can't exactly meet him." I said really annoyed.
"Why is that?" My dad interrupted.
'Maybe because he is a rock star' I thought silently. I laughed at the thought and my parents eyed me. "It's Taylor Hanson." I said waiting for the eruption of laughter.
"Nice one." Christina said underneath her breath.
"Taylor Hanson? That's not funny, Page." My Mom said shaking her head. She threw her hands up in the air and walked away.
"Who is it really?" My Dad asked exhausted. Having five kids had to be a pain in the ass, especially when your oldest claimed to be going on a date with Taylor Hanson.
"I told you, Dad. I am going out with Taylor Hanson tonight."
"Fine. We still have to meet him." My father said sternly.
How could I convince him to come and meet my parents? I know he wouldn't want to. On the other hand, if he was so in love with me, he would. Especially if it was the only way I could date him.
Obsessed.
Read Chapter 11. . .
