Chapter Eight
Lacey walked around the living room nervously. "Taylor said he and Amanda would be here
by 12:30, right?" she questioned to everyone in the room. Isaac smiled., and reached for a
chip.
"Yes Lacey! He called and said they would be done by 12:30!" he told her.
Zac stood up, and silently excused himself to go to the bathroom.
"I'll be in the kitchen, if you need me!" Lacey said to Ike and Kristi. Kristi
nodded and went back to arranging the presents by height. All the people who were
suppose to come, canceled so they could go to Sophia's party. She was popular, and she
always found her way into people's minds. Most of the quests dropped by to give their
gifts. Generous,-huh?
"Can you believe everyone canceled?" Isaac asked, as he sat down next to
Kristi. She looked up at him, and could smell his cologne. For some reason she found herself
becoming more and more attracted to him.
"Oh,- I can believe it!" Kristi laughed. "Sophia is the rudest, most conniving,
and ignorant person anyone could ever know!" Isaac looked at her and smiled. He reached
around her and his hand rested on a present she had just reached for.
"She's nothing like you." Ike whispered into her ear. Kristi suddenly felt
cold. Like all the blood had drained itself from her body. What do I do? she asked herself.
Isaac moved his hand and caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. Kristi took and
deep breath and told herself to pull away. Isaac impulsively took her hand and placed her
arms around his neck. Kristi's body went limp, and all she could do was smile. Ike rested
his hands on her waist and pushed his lips to hers. Kristi reacted quickly by kissing him
back. But when she realized she was kissing Isaac and not Zac, she pulled away. Isaac
pulled her closer to him, and kissed her again.
Zac finally finished in the bathroom and walked into the living room. He opened his
mouth to speak, and froze. His gaze zoomed in on Isaac and Kristi.
"Oh my God!" Zac said loudly. Kristi finally managed to get away from
Isaac, when she realized Zac was in the room. Ike opened his eyes to find his brother
gawking at him like he had 6 heads. "I can NOT believe you! My own brother!" Zac
whispered frantically. Kristi's body temperature rose and her face became hot. She tried
to speak but couldn't. Isaac got up to try to defend himself, but Kristi yanked him back
down. Instead they both fell onto the couch. Zac stood, watching. Kristi quickly jumped off
the couch and stood infront of Isaac.
"I can not believe you did that!" she whispered. Ike opened his mouth to
speak. "Don't even bother!" Kristi interrupted him. Before she turned away she smacked
Isaac. He flinched lifelessly and sat wide-eyed, looking into space. Zac smiled at Kristi's
reaction. Kristi walked over to Zac quickly.
"I'm..uh..um..I'm sorry for..uh..him, he is..uh..just a, um, a bit..uh..I-" Zac
stuttered. Kristi raised her hand, stopping him. She stood closely beside him, and their lips
touched softly. Kristi sighed at the warmth that she felt from his lips. After Zac realized
who he was kissing, and started to enjoy it the doorbell rang. Neither of them moved. The
doorbell rang again. Lacey raced into the room and turned the lights off. Isaac slowly
moved down behind the coffee table. Zac pushed Kristi next to the fake tree that rested
in the doorway, that lead to the stairs., he kissed her again and enjoyed the butterflies
that rumbled in his stomach.
I squeezed Taylor's hand as he opened the door. I wondered why everything in the
house was quiet. Taylor looked at me, and kissed my cheek as we stepped into pure
darkness.
SURPRISE!!!!!
I jumped, my heart skipped atleast 4 beats. Taylor squeezed my hand and turned
the lights on. I looked around the room. Streamers, food, presents, music, Zac and Kristi?
My eyes adjusted to the light, and I realized what I was watching. "Eh hem!" I pretended
to clear my throat. Kristi seemed to recognize my voice, and pulled reluctantly away from
Zac. Their hands entwined and their faces and lips were stained red. I smiled and looked
at Lacey. She hadn't noticed the two. Lacey reached over, pulled me away from Taylor and
over toward the couch. Taylor smiled at me when I looked back at him. Isaac looked alittle
distant when I sat next to him. "What happened?" I whispered to him. He looked at me,
then his eyes fell on Zac and Kristi.
"Kristi slapped me!" he said, his lips bearly moving. I could feel my mouth
hit the floor.
"Why?" I replied. My hands resting on my lap. Taylor pulled the coffee
table back a few inches and sat Indian style infront of me. Isaac shrugged softly, and
excused himself. I'm guessing he went to the bathroom. Lacey smiled at me, and Zac and
Kristi sat together by the presents. "You guys didn't have to go through all this trouble! I
wasn't even expecting a present, never mind a party!" I joked. Taylor got off the floor and
sat closely next to me. Our thighs, knees, and legs touched at all points. A wave of
dizziness fell over me, and then quickly passed. My god, all I need was to pass out like I
did yesterday at the hospital. Lacey smiled and crunched on a dipped carrot stick.
"Honey, it was no problem!" she said. Suddenly, before I could say anything,
the image of my parents popped into my head. My normal parents. Scott and Molly. It was
the image of my 2nd birthday, the kids, presents, cake, music, family and the cute little
brown pony I insisted on having. I remembered how that was the last time I saw my mom.
She had run away, leaving me to live my life alone. Forever. No! I told myself. I have to stop
this! As I turned to look at Taylor, I recalled the last time I heard from my mother. She
had her 'boyfriend' call to tell me she would soon be gone, from her diagnose of cancer. I
remember crying and screaming. I was 3 years old, and my mom was dying on the day after
my birthday. Dad had asked me why I was crying, and I lied and told him my school lizard,
Arty, died. I bet he didn't even know my mom died, even before he died. He might not have
even cared.
"Amanda? Are you OKay?" Taylor's voice cracked through my thoughts. I
looked at him and blinked. I felt a cool stream of liquid run down my now hot cheeks.
"Um, excuse me,...I'm sorry!" I apologized and ran out of the room. I
reached the stairs and ran up to my new bedroom, all the way up in the attic. I tripped
several times on my quick attempt to reach my room. Finally, when I opened my eyes, I was
lying on my bed. Why did I do that? It's my birthday and I'm crying! I told myself secretly.
Before I could answer my own questions someone knocked on the door. "Please, go away!" I
said, reaching my arm out and turning on my radio. The door to my room opened softly and
someone entered.
"Manda, what happened? Why did you leave like that?" Kristi asked. I
blinked several times, forcing myself to release any of the left over tears.
"Remember my second birthday?" I asked her. She smiled at me oddly.
"Why are you remem-" I cut in.
"She died! Did you know she died the day after I turned 3? Did you?" I
started the sentence out in a whisper, and ended the sentence in a cruel, loud and harsh
voice. Kristi reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
"Molly? She died? When? How long have you known? Did your dad know?
Why didn't you tell me?" Kristi poured out. Her words went into my head stubbornly, and I
couldn't soak it all in. If she didn't slow down, my head might explode.
"STOP!" I told her. Just out of the corner of my eye, I saw Taylor, Zac,
Isaac, and Lacey standing in the doorway. Kristi tilted her head, telling them to come in.
Taylor walked over quickly, his hands stuffed him his front pockets. He sat down next to
me, and slowly took my hand. Why is he the only one here? I asked myself. I laughed on the
inside for a moment and I waited for everyone to sit down on my bed. Kristi looked
intensively in my eyes. I wanted to turn away, but I didn't.
"How?" she started slowly. I rested my head on Taylor's shoulder and
looked at her.
"Cancer!" I whispered calmly.
"When?"
"The day after my 3rd birthday!" I replied. Kristi looked at Lacey,
cluelessly.
"Who told you?"
"Her boyfriend!" my voice cracked briefly.
"Did your dad know?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I didn't tell him! I lied to him!" I admitted softly. I felt like I was being
hounded for answers I couldn't bear to give.
"Lied?" she asked. Lacey placed her hand on my knee. I looked at her and
then at everyone.
"Yes. I told him our school lizard died. He wouldn't had cared anyway!" I
said rudely. Taylor squeezed my hand and wrapped his arm around me. Zac exchanged
glances with Isaac, as if he didn't understand.
"He loved your mother!" Lacey interjected.
"No he didn't! He didn't love me, and he didn't love her!" I cried. Tears had
formed now, and they started to release themselves onto Taylor's soft orange shirt. Lacey
swallowed hard., I could tell, because I heard her.
"Your father was a good man. He should have known." Lacey told me, her
nails starting to dig into my skin. It didn't hurt, it actually helped alittle.
"No he wasn't...he..-" I started and then burst into a long rage of tears.
"Please," I choked. "leave. I want to be alone." Lacey, Kristi, and the guys started to leave.
I held tightly onto Taylor and pulled him back onto the bed. Isaac smiled at me softly, and
closed the door behind us.
"I...sorry..-" Taylor began, and then stopped, realizing he didn't know what
to say.
"I hate this..I hate having to remember this..I hate him, and her, and
Moreen!" I said. Taylor held me tightly in his arms, and kissed my hair several times.
"Please..don't." he whispered. I looked at him and tried to smile.
"One minute I'm happy..the next...." I trailed off, and somehow found
myself in a long kiss. I pulled from Taylor, and realized I was the one who kissed him.
"Thanks..." I whispered, resting my head on his chest.
"I didn't.. do anything..though." he almost laughed. I wanted to laugh too.
He was always the one to hold me, and tell me it was OKay. And somehow, just being with
him made me feel new, refreshed, and innocent. I seemed as if my past had no impact on
me, and it wasn't my fault. Just then I realized it wasn't! It wasn't my fault, so stop your
crying and move on! I encouraged myself.
"Even if you didn't. You were here, and that's all I need." I whispered to
Taylor, and kissed him quickly. He smiled and gave me a hug.
"If your OKay, are you ready to open your presents now? Because the
quicker you open your presents, the quicker we can have cake!" he laughed. Taylor patted
his stomach quickly. "And I am starving!" he added. I smiled at we stood up.
"OKay." I said, and we walked down stairs to join the party.
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
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