Chapter Thirty-One
It was Tuesday morning, exactly 4 weeks and two days since Hanson left. They promised
that they should be home later tonight, or early tomorrow morning.
I turned on my heels, and faced the school bully. "I don't have any." I hold her
before she could even ask her question. Her name was Shannon, and she always asked me if
I had any cigarettes. Still, everyday, I would tell her I don't smoke, but she's never leave
me alone. I guess it was her excuse to annoy me.
Shannon laughed.
"Oh I already discovered that..but that's not why I'm here." she said. I
placed my hands on my hips, and prayed my backpack wouldn't fall and all my books
wouldn't spill all over the cluttered hallway. "I hear from the Grape Vine that your dating
Taylor Hanson!" she said.
The Grape Vine is a secret gossip group. And as soon as a rumor is put through the
GrapeVes, nothing is going to stop them from letting the news go around the school. No one
knew who was in the Grape Vine, but it was a real honor if you received a secret letter in
your locker saying you have become cool enough to be accepted into the Grape Vine. My
friend Rosealine was always telling me that ever since I started wearing makeup, and lost
alot of weight, I'd soon to accepted into the Grape Vine. But I'm not that shallow. Sure, it
may make me popular, but I wasn't going to diss Rose just to be noticed.
"You'd believe that Shane got hit by a car while walking over a bridge, and
drown if you heard it from them!" I said to her. Shannon snickered at me, and her eyes fell
Shane who was coming down the hallway.
"Hey Shane." she waved. Shane looked up and smiled at me, totally not
acknowledging Shannon. His face red with embarrassment., probably because Shannon
addressed him in public. No one likes Shannon, even if she was pretty and popular. When
Shane walked up to his locker, Shannon faced me again. "Are you saying the GrapeVes are
liars?" she announced loudly. All heads in the hallway turned and everything went silent.
The GrapeVes were never wrong about a rumor. For example, the Grape Vine said Mr.
InTurt, the school guidance counselor, was having an affair with Angela Smokes, a 9th
grade student. To find out- they were right. Mr. InTurt ended up confessing, and it cost
him is job.
"So? What would you care?" My voice cracked at the last syllable, and I
knew my face was turning red. I never liked being the center of attention, thats one
reason why being popular wasn't for me.
"Everyone knows Hanson sucks, and if someone is dating one of them
fags..their pretty damn gay themselves!" Shannon mused, foam forming at the sides of her
mouth. Several students who liked Hanson put their heads down and returned to their
locker.
"Hanson does not suck, they are NOT fags, and I'm not gay!" I paused.
Opps. Busted. I thought to myself. "If anyone sucks its you and those three fake blonde
girls over in the corner giggling. All of you may be secret Grape Vine members, but no one
is more afraid of them than themselves. GrapeVes suck." I stopped again, searching
everyone's awed faces. I am so dead! I thought to myself. Rosealine came walking down the
hallway with her boyfriend Indy. His real name was Indiana, but everyone called him Indy.
When she saw me standing in front of Shannon, with a huge crowd around us, her face
drained its color and she stopped in her tracks. I tilted my head, signaling for her to not
get involved. Shannon stepped forward and shoved my shoulder.
"You just released four of the Grape Vine members, I ought to hit you right
here, right now!" she laughed. I looked at her.
"Well, I only said four of them, would you like to know the other 5?" I
asked the teens around me. Several students said no, but the rest cheered yes.
"Don't you dare." Shannon said, stepping closer and shoving me back. I
stepped back, not allowing her to get the pleasure of watching me fall, and smiled.
"Let's see. There's Stacey Amazon., Sandra Crew, Blusey Straight, you-
Shannon Pacheo,..that's four." I paused after announce the four fake blondes, and stepped
into the crowd. Stepping up to Jessica Rider, I grabbed her backpack and pulled her little
brunette butt into the center of the crowd. "I'd like everyone to meet Jessica Rider,
Queen of the GrapeVes." I paused, and gave her a smiled. "Four more, shall I continue?" I
asked. Rose came closer to the crowd and watched me as I totally dug myself into some
deep cow shit. I kept telling myself to stop this madness, but I knew I didn't really want
too.
"Amanda you'd stop right now if you know whats good." Shannon said. I
laughed in her.
"Um, let's see." I pondered. "The next two are the most unique of the
Grape Vines." I said. I stepped over next to Rose and Indy. "Forgive me." I whispered to
Rose, as I grabbed Indy's arm. "Indiana Orchid and his best friend Robbie Seinfeld." I
stated. This feels so good. I thought to myself. I'm actually enjoying myself. Shannon
shoved Jessica in my direction and we slammed into each other. Both of us stumbled to the
ground. Jessica smacked me suddenly, and I couldn't help but punch her back. "Don't,
because I will rat out the last Grape Vine member." Jessica picked herself off of me, her
hand clutching her cheek.
"Felicity Cote." she said. I gasped. One brave girl. I thought to myself.
"The last member.- Felicity Cote...what a bitch huh?" I sputtered out. My
hands flew to my face and I regretted what I just said. Felicity stepped out from behind
Indy and came up into my face. I didn't say a word.
"We'll get you Amanda Maxwell." she whispered.
"See, what'd I tell ya?" I said aloud to the kids. Everyone laughed. "Oh
yeah, Felicity- one more thing, it's Amanda London." As I turned around, Felicity grabbed
my backpack and spun me around, we flew into each other and she took the chance to bite
my shoulder. That was one thing I wasn't expecting from her. She raised her hand to me,
and waisted no time at punching me. I laughed and smacked her with my free hand. As I
was about to pull away, Mr. Anderson, our Vice Principal and Mr. Knight, our principal came
over and yanked us apart. I flew about 10 feet away from Felicity.
"Amanda Maxwell, in my office NOW!" Mr. Knight shrieked. Silently
pleased, I walked toward the door way. Mr. Knight may be my principal, but I wasn't afraid
of him. Why? Because I'm getting what I wanted. If I got suspended from school, no one
will be home to take care of me. Patricia postponed her trip for another two weeks, and
Duncan will be in school.
A few minutes later, Mr. Knight came into his office. "Now what happened?" he
asked. Just what I wanted. I repeated in my head....(continue on next page)
Taylor shook his head and laughed. I had beeped him when I got home from school.,
and he called back. I had officially been suspended from school at 9:30 this morning.
Taylor and his family were on the highway in a few cities away. They were sure to be home
tonight, much earlier then expected.
"I actually found it fun!" I admitted to him. "It was happening so fast I
didn't have time to think. What a rush!" He shook his head again.
"I just can't picture you doing that. You honestly ragged on the GrapeVes?"
he asked. I laughed.
"Yep. It was so much fun. You should have seen Shannon's face!" I said to
him. Taylor paused and placed his hand over the phone.
"Hey, we'll be home in 10 minutes." he said. I smiled, and looked at my
clock. 10:14 am. More than 4 hours until Duncan gets home.
"Your coming over, right?" I asked him. He smiled.
"Of course." Taylor paused. "I have to let you go, the phone's dying. I'll be
over in alittle while. Keep the back door open." he said to me. I smiled and rolled my eyes,
as we hung up. He knows I always keep the back door open for him. I laughed.
Taylor crept into my house, up my stairs and walked into my bedroom. I was lying
on my bed. And I didn't open my eyes, because I wanted to pretend I was sleeping. I took
a deep breath to keep myself from laughing. Tay poked my waist and I pretended to stir.
He placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me on my back, while climbing onto the
bed next to me.
"I know your not sleeping." he said. I cracked my eyes open and smiled at
him.
"Miss you." I said, leaving out several words to make it sound more...cute.
He smiled, and I propped myself up. I brought my lips to his, and I instantly remembered
the taste of him. Pulling away from him, I grabbed him, and pushed him down so he was
laying next to me, instead of kneeling on my bed. "It's been over 20 minutes..where'd you
go? Europe?" I asked. Taylor pushed his hair out of his flushed face, and clumsily forced
himself up onto my pillow.
"Actually California!" he joked. "We got home awhile ago, but Mom made me
change Zoe's diaper, and unpack before I could come over." he groaned. "She was so
shocked when I told her about your fight." I couldn't help but smile. Quickly, I looked into
his eyes, and forgot all about what he just said.
"They know its true." I whispered, resting my head close to his. He looked
at me.
"What do you mean?" he asked. I leaned closer to him and our lips were
centimeters apart.
"Shannon told everyone about us." His eyebrows raised and then fell.
"They were probably too busy laughing with you to actually listen to her."
he told me. I smiled and touched my lips to his. Neither of us moved our lips, we just laid,
our lips touching for a moment.
"Let's hope so." I finally said, pulling away. I got off the bed, and walked
over to my dresser. "Did I tell you I found my dad's old photo album?" I asked. Tay smiled
and walked over to me.
"No. Where?"
"It a secret space in my closet. I guess dad never remembered it when we
moved to the other house." I paused and looked at Taylor. His eyes were shiny blue, and he
looked like he was engrossed in the conversation. "It has a picture of when Ike had to be
the priest..remember that day?"
"Oh yeah. That was too funny." Taylor replied, a soft, shallow sigh following
his response. I looked up at him, my eyes gazing up and down his face, finally my eyes met
his.
"Tay?" I asked. He slowly looked up and he his eyes fell onto mine. He
opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came from him. "Taylor?" I asked again. Tay
shoved his hands into his pockets and moved his gaze from mine. Whats the deal here? I
asked myself. Oh no..California..California leads to girls..Taylor please no. I urned to cry out
to him. Finally, after a few deadly moments of silence, he brought his glazed over eyes to
mine. "Tay? What is it?" I begged. Staring straight into his eyes, I noticed it wasn't a
secret he was hiding, it was and urge. Slowly, I stepped closer to him. Carefully, yet so
softly, I brought my lips to his. I felt his body untense and he placed his arms on my back,
pulling me closer to him. I'm so stupid. Taylor would never leave me! I scolded myself silently,
as I pressed my body against him. Taylor ran his fingertips up and down my back, and then
I realized he was fighting his own passion. Sighing, I moved my lips up to his ear. My tongue
just grazing his cartilage peircing..which he got alittle while ago. On my birthday actually.
Taylor moved his lips away from my body and he kissed my neck once again. My body
tingled like crazy, then I felt my hands run down against his chest. "We can't. Tay stop." I
gasped out, to caught up in my own pleasure. Taylor reluctantly pulled his lips up my neck,
over my chin and up to my lips. We kissed each other passionately for a few minutes, and I
forgot my own disadvantages.
"Amanda." Tay whispered. My body burned from the sensation of his voice.
My name never sounded so sweet. Dragging him along with me, I pushed him up against my
wall. I let my hands roam his body, but when my fingertips lightly touched his brown belt,
my whole body tensed up. Tay stopped himself from touching my shoulders, and he pulled
away from me. "Are you okay?" he asked. I smiled.
"We can't." I paused, and kissed him. Quickly I pulled away, his lips pushing
toward my mouth. "We can't even start." I found myself saying. So much I regretted our
age. My body and heart fought with my head. My head was saying to me: Get tested. STD's
can kill you. Amanda you dumbie, your so young. Don't get started because you know you can't
control yourself. My body was laughing as my eyes met Taylor's. My heart and body pulled
themselves into one and fought back with my mind. She's in love. They said. Leave her be. If
she loves Taylor and he loves her back, age shouldn't matter! Amanda, you go girl! Let your self
get down. Get Jiggy wid' it girlfriend. I laughed under my breath. Jiggy wid' it? I asked them.
Are you nuts? No one uses that term anymore! "I'm really confused right now!" I admitted to
Taylor. His blue eyes searched my face, and he touched my cheek. I pressed my hands to
his chest and smiled.
"Your fighting with them too?" he asked. I laughed and kissed his forehead.
"Mmm." was all I managed to say, as I kissed down his face and brought my
lips to his. Before I knew it, we were pressed against each other, our lips roaming. I had
pulled pink cardigan off of my body, leaving just a black tank-top. And quickly following
that, I managed to remove Taylor's favorite orange short sleeve over shirt from his body.
Flinging it to the floor. I pulled my lips from his neck where just a few seconds ago I had
brought up my courage to touch my tongue to his skin. Taylor touched my chin and forced
me to too look into his eyes. "Oh my god!" I screamed, as my eyes landed on his watch.
"Duncan will be home any minute!"
I quickly broke away from Taylor, and threw his shirt at him.
"I'll call you later.." Tay whispered, as I pulled my cardigan over my head.
"Alright alright, make sure you don't let Duncan see you when you cross my
yard..okay?" I asked, pulling him downstairs. Tay laughed and kissed me just before he
went out the back door. I sighed and ran to my mirror in the living room. "Eee. My hair!" I
gagged, quickly pulling it out of the messy cute little French braid it had been in. Running
my fingers through it quickly, I tried to brush it out.
"Hey babe!" Duncan whispered in my ear before wrapping his arms around
my waist. "What was Taylor doing here?" he asked. I pushed him away from me and looked
at him.
"I had to give him back his term paper, I needed to copy it for some
homework Mrs. Oregon gave me." I lied. Pretty good. I thought to myself. "Now if you don't
mind," I pushed Duncan further away from me. "I have to take a nap..Shannon really
stressed me out."
As I went to turn away, Duncan wrapped his arm around me, holding me close to
him. Preventing me from any movement, he kissed me. "Stop it Duncan." I said. After
fighting back three more French kisses, I managed to get out of his grasp. "I told you
once, and I'll keep telling you:- Your my brother, and I don't want to have sex with you!" I
told him straight out before dodging him and running upstairs to my room, quickly locking
the door behind me.
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