-;-ChaPTer eighTen-;-

The next morning, around 9, I reached for my towel after turning off the shower. Wrapping it around me, I opened the curtain and stepped out, looking in my mirror. I saw a shadow, and turned around in my bathroom to see Zac staring at me. "What are you doing here?" I asked him, almost as if it were a bad thing he cared about me. Making sure my towel was tight, I reached for my royal blue silk baby-doll dress. I slipped it over my head, making sure I wasn't facing him incase my towel failed to cover me. After the dress was secure I let the towel fall around my ankles. Zac reached down and picked it up, handing it to me.

"No reason..," he paused, his brow creased with thought like the way it always did when he was writing a song, "Well, something happened with Kerri last night, I was wondering if you could explain it to me."

"Zac, " I laughed, "You mean to tell me Ike and Tay never explained to you the 'Birds and The Bees'? Well, when you love-"

"Not that!" Zac jumped in. Now I was clueless, but I can help, as I usually do.

"Then what?"

"Last night Kerri asked me to go out with her on Wednesday to the Laser Palace,"

"So?"

"Let me finish...I asked her if she had a curfew, if she wanted me to walk her home since it was only a few blocks down, and she totally freaked out, she was crying when she ran out."

"What did you say to her?" I asked, thinking back to what he could mean. Then it hit me, her dad. "Oh, Zac, don't think you did anything wrong coz-"

"I don't think I did anything wrong, actually, I know I didn't. What I'm asking is does Kerri's dad beat her?" his deep brown eyes glazing over. I knew Zac liked Kerri, but he just met her, and he doesn't know what he could be getting into. Her father was known for being in jail for beating boys. Teenage boys, but that was before he packed everything up and moved Kerri down to Tulsa from Canada. He even changed their last names to Wilson, so his wife (ex-wife I guess) couldn't find them. "Amanda?" Zac's voice broke through my train of thought.

"What? Oh, yeah...um...," I stumbled with my words, What was I suppose to say?

"Amanda, please?"

"Look Zac," I said, pushing him down on my bed so I was towering over him. "Listen to me, I'm not telling nor am I promising anything, but I do know the answer to your question. It's not my place to tell you, so I would keep my nose out of things until Kerri decides you should know, okay?" I watched as his face fell.

"I came here for an answer." he said, crossing his arms over his now puffed up chest.

"I came here to apologize, Zac get out." Taylor said, walking into my bedroom. I turned around, feeling strange. My body heat rose to an all-time high, and I felt extremely weak.

"Yeah yeah, give me a sec," Zac stood up, and brought his lips to my ear, whispering, "I know about you and Tay and all, but you forgot to put underwear on and I know Tay will freak, so get some on! I'll call you later. I want an answer." I cracked up laughing as I walked him to the door. Taylor made sure to shut the door as soon as Zac was down the hallway.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry about last night, I didn't mean to freak at you. I was upset.," his voice fell, incase Zac decided to stay and ease drop., "We lost Oszkesi on the contract last night. Dad told me not to tell the other's that why I had kicked Zac out, he wanted to tell them."

"Oh." I said, my mind blanking. "I'm sorry, it's okay, I know you wouldn't freak on me for no reason. Sorry about Oszkesi, I never liked him anyway.," an idea came to mind, just for a laugh, "Hey, are you in a better mood?" I asked him while backing up against my open dresser draw, as I snuck a pair of blue tweety bird panties from my draw; Taylor to busy looking at my c.d rack to notice. I stepped into the bathroom, locking the door.

"Yeah why?" I heard Taylor ask, as he put in my FastBall c.d. I finished "fixing up", and I turned to look at myself in the mirror. My hair was all over the place, and I couldn't stand it. I grabbed a brush and pulled it through my hair, parting it on the side.

"I want you to kick Justin's ass."

"Why?" Taylor asked. I grabbed my Old Navy lip gloss and ran it over my lips. Nice and shiny, and the tinted green color accented my eyes in a way I loved. Now I was ready to face my boyfriend.

"Last night, he came over while everyone was at the party. He was all against Britney and what he said to me wasn't a lie, I know he meant it, but then he tried to, and I repeat, tried to kiss me." I said, stepped out of the bathroom.

-*-*-~~-*-*-

Taylor turned around, facing me. His eyes falling over every part of me, feeling like he was burning through me. His body heat rose slightly, and his once tan cheeks were now flushed red. His blue eyes shiny, almost watery. He stepped toward me, and I toward him. "Wow." I heard him awe. I smiled, tilting my head upward toward him.

"Kerri and Zac are going out you know." I told him.

"So are Ilana and Isaac." My face almost dropped. But I didn't say anything, I just listened to his deep breathing. The deep breathing that always fell into a sweet rhythm. He bent his head down, and his hands rested on my shoulders, his thumbs caressing my bare-to-the-air skin. "But do you know who is going to be more in love then ever, for the rest of their lives?" he whispered. I lifted my head, our lips centimeters apart. The rest of our lives, I repeated to myself as I realized I was falling in love all over again.

"Us." I answered him, waiting for his lips. Before I could ready myself, his mouth found mine, and his hot lips were one with mine in a way they never were before. My body started to shake, and his arms went around my waist, supporting me. His breath hot on my cheek when he finally pulled away. I looked up at him, my eyes tear filled. I wasn't crying though.

"Manz? Are you okay?" he whispered, propping me upright. I looked at him, and I ran my hands along his arms until I grasped his hands in mine. His hands were like spounges, they seemed to spoke up my nervousness. "Your alright ya know, it's me who should feel weak." he whispered, expecting me to answer. With his hands still in mine, I turned my back to him, pressing against him. I turned my head left, and his lips connected with mine. I soaked him with all the passion my body could handle, until I was completely drained. I pulled away, feeling weak. I stepped back and fell onto my bed.

"Wow. I'm so tired...," I stated, my eyes closing.

"More like drained." Taylor stated, with a soft laugh. He plopped down next to me, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"They'll wake us up..won't.." I trailed off, my body totally stopping. I felt so at peace right then, I could die and I would never be bothered by that fact. I kissed his lips with closed eyes, then fell, my head and right arm resting on his chest. He was asleep, and I was too soon, after I listened to his heart beat for hours.

-*-****-*-

Zac shook his head. "Why the hell did we lose that contract? What the hell did we do wrong? The whole friggin' C.D is down the drain...we can't keep the fans waiting..it's been more then a year. Damnnit!" he shrieked.

"Zac. Calm down. Don't swear either."

"Sorry dad." Mr. Hanson looked at his two sons, wondering where his third is.

"Where's Tay?" he asked. Ike looked up, not really soaking in the whole fact that they just lost something they so badly needed., he was too busy dreaming about Ilana.

"He's with Amanda. Wow," Zac awed, looking at his watch, "I didn't know it was so late, it's been 4 hours.." What the hell are they....oh god.. He glanced at Isaac. Ike shrugged.

"Leave 'em be, their over at Amanda's, I think she mentioned that she needed help with her Science work." I just saved your ass you guys! Ike thought to himself, hoping Taylor and I could hear him.

"Oh alright. You can go now. Your both excused." Their father dismissed them. Zac grabbed Ike just as he walked out the front door.

"They aren't doing Science homework are they?" he asked. Isaac looked at him and laughed.

"Actually their probably making out..if you call that homework. Who cares? Hey, wanna go to the mall? I need a new shirt for my date!"

"I don't have any money on me." Zac said, his face falling. Isaac laughed, waving a credit card in his little brother's face.

"My treat, just stay out Taylor's personal business okay?"

"Can we grab something to eat on our way?? It's already 1:00, and I'm starving."

"Your always starving Zac, damn." Ike awed, laughing as he stepped into his car.

~~~~~*-**-*~~~~~

Three hours later, Zac creeped upstairs, outside my bedroom. He pressed his ear to the door, cringing at the coldness that ran throughout him. Ike tapped his shoulder, grabbing him.

"C'mon Zac, let's go. Leave them be, remember what I told you." he whispered. Zac shooed him away, turning the knob, readying to open the door on me and Taylor. "Zac I swear, if Taylor comes out and kicks your ass..don't mind me, I'll be the one laughing in the corner." he turned and walked down the stairs.

- - - - *** - - - -

I heard footsteps, and I instantly froze. I was about to kiss Taylor, since he was sturring but I froze in mid motion. I heard voices, none I could point out. "Taylor..Tay..baby please c'mon..wake up, someone's in the house," I shoved at him, his head moving lifelessly, "Tay, c'mon!" I cried, watching my lover's shut eyes, open to reveal his bright baby blue's.

"What? What's wrong..ugh," he groaned, propping up on his right arm, so he was facing me, "what time is it?" I ignored his question, and clung to him.

"Someone is in the house, I know it." I panicked, "What if it's Lorean, Tay? Or Duncan? What if they've come back for me..," Taylor placed his hand on top of my mouth, and I was cut off.

"Shh," he whispered, "Don't worry about Duncan and Lorean." he told me. Quietly we listened to the talking, it sounded to me as if the two were fighting. Then I heard a thud, and it rammed against my bedroom door. I jumped. "Shh," Tay repeat listening. I watched him as a smile fell over his face, "Those are no robbers, their my brother's..I can't believe there spying on me again..damn I hate that."

"Spying? What do they..," I said, Taylor cutting me off, his lips pressing to mine. He pressed me down against the bed, and I tried to shove him off me. "What are you..," he cut me off again,

"Zac has this crazy idea that he's gonna catch us having sex, Ike told me..." I caught his drift instantly,

"Then let's do it." I laughed softly, moaning loudly as an act before kissing him. I followed Taylor's lead, and we each got to use our own raw emotion, but in a way that made us both want to laugh. I moaned again, this time gripping his shirt in my hands. "Zac's listening, he'll figure out what we're doing and he'll open the door." I whispered to Taylor, pulling his shirt over his head. We kissed again, long and hard for several minutes. Shrieks and moans filling the air.

* * * - - * * *

Zac panicked outside the door, fidgeting as he heard his brothers soft moans. "Oh shit man, Ike, dude their doin it,..aww man this isn'tfunny..ugh..their..I can't even say it..Ike, bro, I'm outta here." Zac said to Isaac, as he booked it out of the house. Isaac looked confused, as he followed his brother out of the house.

"Zac! Zac!" he called, running at his brother's heel. "Shit." he said as Zac reached their house.

"Dad, dad! Ma! Come, quick, guys, please!" Zac shrieked, his body trembling. He was panicked. What if it wasn't Taylor who was with Amanda, what if it were Duncan or Lorean? Oh another rapist.., just the thought drove him nuts. Mrs. Hanson and her husband ran into the rec room, following their son's cries

"What Zac? Are you alright? Where's your brother's? Are they alright?" Mrs. Hanson said. It was nature now to panicked when one of her belovied children ran into the house screaming.

"Mom, dad," Zac panted, "I think Taylor and Amanda are having sex..or it might not be Taylor, it could be Lorean or Duncan raping her again..guys please..go look..please..Guys C'mon!" he screamed, grabbing his mother's hand and dragging her across their backyard.

"Zac! Mom! Dad! Where are you going? Zac Taylor's gonna kill you!" Ike shrieked after this parents and Zac. He practically sprinted across the backyard and into my house.

- *- - *-

Taylor moaned, and I felt his hands grip my t-shirt. "Tay, stop." I breathed.

"It's only an act, I won't look..I promise." he whispered back to me. I smiled, and we rolled over together, so now I was on top of him. I sat up, so I was sitting on his arousal*hehe*. I heard footsteps, at at that moment when I heard them come to a stop, I gripped my t-shirt and pulled it over my head. My blonde hair was just long enough so Taylor could only see the bottom half of my royal green bra. I was just about to realease my shirt from my hands when I heard a deep gasp, followed by three others. "Shit." Taylor said, sitting up, practically throwing me off of him. I opened my eyes, as I pulled the covers of my bed up just enough to cover my chest. "Mom, Dad? What are you doing here?" Taylor asked, breathless. I reached under the blanket and gripped his hand.

"We should be asking you the same thing. Taylor get dress and get out. Your coming home with us right now. And Amanda, you get dressed after Taylor leaves. You two are no longer to see each without someone without until further notice, do you hear?" Mr. Hanson practically shrieked. I felt hot tears well in the corner of my eyes.

"You can't do that!" I cried. Taylor jumped out of bed, his brother's shielding their eyes.

"Cut the crap guys. I have my friggin' pants on."

"TAYLOR!" his mother screamed.

"WHAT?" he screamed back, three times as loud.

"Young man,.." Mr. Hanson began.

"'Young man, you are not to speak to your mother that way. Your grounded go to your room.'" Taylor quoted. He leaned down, brought me to him, and gave me the longest french kiss he had ever given me before he pulled away and spoke. "I have news for you two. This is the 90s, I'm growing up. I'm 16, I'm not your baby anymore! Manz," he turned to me, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"No you won't." Mr. Hanson barked. Taylor kissed me quick before he stepped into the hallway, standing face to face with his parents.

"Watch me." he screamed, his face burning. He turned, shoved Zac and ran out of the house. I had tears coming out of my eyes when I finally spoke.

"How could you? I hate you! I hate you!" I screamed, getting out of bed. Mr. Hanson closed his eyes, in fear I was naked. I glanced at Isaac, and I knew he didn't snitch, then I glanced at Zac. "Get the hell out of my house..NOW!" I screamed into his face. He winced and ran out. Mrs. Hanson stepped in front of me, pointing her finger down at me.

"Don't you ever.." I cut her off,

"I said get out of my house!" I shoved her, and turned back into my bedroom. I locked the door and pressed against it. "GET OUT! PLEASE...," I choked, overbeared with anger,"GET OUT." I screamed. And at that, they did.

:::walk this way:::

ever lonely
- - Hand in Hand - -

Email: TayzHardCandy@aol.com