"Yea Tay?" Mackenzie asked, running into the kitchen.
"I have bad news." Tay whispered. I hate doing this. He thought to himself. He tapped his knee, and Mackenzie sat on his lap.
"What Taydee?" Mackie asked.
"Umm..Amanda isn't going to be here for your party!" Tay replied softly. Mackenzie's face fell, and tears welled in his eyes.
"Mandi? Wha- why not?" he asked. Taylor sighed and handed Mackenzie the phone.
"You ask her..she'll tell you." he said bitterly, before sticking a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. Mackenzie sniffled, ran over to the phone number list on the refrigerator, and dialed my number.
*~*~* The phone rang 4 times before I brought myself to pick it up. "Hello?" I asked softly. I was hoping my voice didn't crack..since I had been crying for a while now.
"Mandi why aren't you coming?" Mackenzie's tearful voice questioned. I felt quilt rise in my throat.
"Mackenzie-sweetie. I'm going to New York tomorrow." I told him. I hated to do this, but I already have my plane ticket, and I'm all packed. There is no turning back..not now. New York is probably the best thing thats happened to me since..well, since Taylor and I...were over.
"Why?" Mackenzie questioned. I stiffened a laugh.
"Because Sweetie..I have to go. Its for my career." I told him sadly. Why was it all I can do is feel sadness when I'm suppose to be happy. I'm moving to New York..for god sakes New York. I've always wanted to live in the Big Apple. Even if it is just for the summer..it still sends my mind into a whirl .
Mackenzie sniffled, and I knew right then that he was crying..or he was about to start. "Oh Mack don't cry...please? Your going to make me cry. Mackie sniffled long and hard before answering.
"Mands, you know I'm a big boy. I don't cry...," he trailed off and looked at Taylor. "But your hurting Taylor more than me." Tay's ears perked up.
"Mackenie..what are you doing?" I heard Taylor say. Mackenzie laughed softly as he dodged Taylor and ran to bathroom. Locking the door behind him. One smart son-of-a-bi-..gun. One smart son-of-a-gun. Taylor thought to himself. I was speechless, and Mackenzie waisted no time explaining.
"Have you ever seen him wolf down 3 cartoons of MY ICE CREAM?" he yelled, directing his voice so Taylor could hear him.
"Well.." I laughed.
"No Mandie..Tay is so depressed. Like now he's eating a large soup bowl full of Coffee Chip ice cream. Thats your favorite kind of ice cream..he can't stand that kind. Mands..please..help him. Don't leave." Mackenzie begged. Taylor kicked the door, and then went back into the kitchen. Deciding he wasnt going to waste his breath trying to stop Mackie, because he knew he wouldn't succeed.
"I'm sorry." I whispered to Mackenzie. "I can't turn back sweetie. You know that. Taylor and I have had our bad times," I paused to think of what to say next to explain everything to him.
Mackenzie unlocked the door, tiptoed into the kitchen, signaled to Tay to hush, and pressed speaker phone. "Mackie, you know I love you more than anything, the rest of your family,..and Taylor too. But Aunt Molly knows how much this job means to me. I can't turn back..even though I would do anything to save Taylor. And you, sweetheart. I love him too much..but right now he doesn't love me back...so I have to do this. I'm sorry Mackenzie." I stopped, waiting for Mackenzie to say something. I heard a gasp, and then a giggle. "Mackie..am I on speaker phone?" I asked. Mackenzie choked on a hysterical fit and Taylor cursed., just befor picking up the phone. "Oh my god." I said to myself. Tay stepped outside onto his patio, shutting the glass door behind him. Even though he knew Mackenzie was too busy laughing to here their conversation.
"Why did you say I don't love you anymore??" Taylor asked. His voice cracked; and I couldn't help wondering why.
"Because. I......you don't." I blurted out. I held back a gasp of shock; but Taylor didn't.
"You don't." he volleyed back.
"What?" I almost screamed. "I never said...," my voice fell, "I didn't love you anymore."
"But you don't." Tay said. I felt hot tears sting the corners of my eyes, and I held them back.
"I do love you Taylor. I never stopped.-" my phone beeped. "Shit. Hold on." I clicked to the other line. "Hello?" I asked, my voice cracking, because my first of many tears broke from my eyes.
"Amanda. Quick change of plains. I'm in Silverton..I'm coming now to get you..okay?" Aunt Molly asked. I sighed, relieved that she saved me, but yet sad because we couldn't finish what Mackenzie started.
"Alright. I'll be outside in half an hour." I told her.
"No," she said, "I'm two streets away now, I'll be there in 5 minutes!" I smiled softly as if she were standing in front of me.
"Okay." I said, switching over to Taylor.
"Amanda.. I lov-" I cut him off.
"I'm leaving now. I'll hopefully talk to you in September. Isaac has my new number." I hung up.
Oh. My. God.
I thought, I couldn't believe what I just did. Taylor was about to tell me..he loved- HONK HONK! The car. Aunt Molly. Great. I grabbed my three bags and dashed out the door.
*~*~* Taylor cursed three times aloud. "I can't believe this! I tell her I love her, and she leaves? She heads to New York?" he practically screamed. Turning toward the door, he whips it open and runs out. I threw my luggage into the backseat, and opened the passenger door.
"Hi Aunt-"
"Is that Taylor?" Aunt Molly questioned, pointing a perfectly manicured purple finger toward Taylor's house. I smiled.
"Yeah...," I trailed off. "I'll be right back." I shut the door and ran to Tay's house. "Taylor..hi." I breathed. He smiled and I couldn't help notice I still melted everytime he glanced in my direction. Stepping close to him, I touched his cheek with my right hand. "I'm leaving. Isaac has my number..get it from him. Call me late tonight. I'll be awake..I promise." I was half hoping Aunt Molly would hurry me by beeping the horn..but I didn't even get that. I glanced at her, to see her waving me on. She was mouthing "Go Amanda!" I laughed.
"When will you be back?" Taylor asked, placing his hands on my waist. I stregthed upward, and covered his mouth with mine. His lips were hot and moist. Just the way I liked it. My hands found their way to his neck, and he returned my kiss passionately. I sighed to myself and traced his teeth with my tongue slowly. He pulled away, and I thought I went to far. "I still love you Amanda." he whispered, kissing me quickly. Aunt Molly, then decided to take me, and she beeped the horn three times.
"Love you." I whispered, kissing him, then leaving. My cheeks were flushed pink when I entered the car.
"You really like him huh Mands?" she questioned. I smiled at her, glancing over her from the corner of my eye.
"A lot more then you think!" I replied. Molly laughed and as we headed toward the airport, I heard her whisper,
"Just wait til we get back...you'll love him more then you'd ever imagine!"
Where Do you go Now?
Ever Lonely (pre)
Hand In Hand (seq)