"Tay, you don't think i'm making up that guy do you? That 'twin'?" Jayden asked as the couple walked across the lawn to her house.
Taylor shook his head,"There's no reason why you'd make up something like that, I trust you. And maybe I should get my eyes checked..."
"I was just goofing around 'bout that, silly!" Jayden giggled,"Actually, in health class we read that females have better vision, like from side-to-side. We have a wider view."
Tay gasped in mock surprise,"You mean you actually paid attention in class? Ohmigosh! This totally changes everything! Maybe the world is flat! Maybe 2+2 really equals 5! Yikes!"
"Tay!" Jayden squealed,"I pay attention in school! Well, I usually do..."
Taylor threw his fist in the air,"Aha! I was right, you were wrong! I'm gonna sing the 'I Was Right Song'!"
"Big ego..." Jayden said slowly, instantly shutting Taylor up.
He blushed,"Uh,sorry, I just sorta got on a-"
"Power trip?" Jayden suggested.
Taylor shook his head,"Nah, more like a sugar-rush. Those Gummi Bears are total sugar!!"
"Um, DUH?" Jayden said, giving Tay a strange look, who then crossed his eyes at her,"Ok, that's it! No more Gummi Bears for you, Mister!"
Taylor laughed,"Ok, ok, i'll calm down! Just don't take my Gummis away!"
"I can't believe you're going to be gone for 3 months," Jayden said, her good mood changing in an instant as the pair sat down on the front porch.
Taylor gave her hand a gentle squeeze,"I know exactly how you feel. I can't stand being apart from you for a single second, let alone months."
"If only I could go with you,"she said wistfully, leaning her head on Taylor's shoulder.
He sighed,"You have no idea how happy i'd be if that were possible, but I can't just drag you away from your life here. I mean, what about your internship at the art gallery this summer?"
Jayden was a very talented abstract painter, who had had a few pieces on display at a local gallery. She had been offered an 8 week internship during the summer, which she gratefully accepted, hoping it would broaden her knowledge of art and possibly lead to a scholarship for one of the country's top art schools. That opportunity, however, had been brought up nearly a year previous, before Hanson had scheduled their tour, or Jayden and Tay were even together...
"Sometimes I wish I hadn't accepted that offer. How could I have been so stupid? I mean, sure, it'd be a great experience, but...3 months apart?" Jayden rambled, and then groaned,"Why didn't I know?"
Taylor pulled her closer in an effort to reassure her.
"You didn't know because you're not psychic, sweetie," he said, trying to lighten the mood,"You can't predict everything in life. You just have to roll with whatever comes alon. Some things will be disappointing, but others will be amazing...like you."
Jayden tilted her chin upwards, looking into Taylor's crystal blue eyes,"How do you do that?"
"Do what?" Taylor questioned, giving her a small peck on the lips.
"Take a horrible situation and find a philosophical reason for it?" Jayden asked with a smile,"and then be all sweet and make me feel guilty for complaining?"
Taylor smiled, leaned towards Jayden's ear & whispered,"Don't tell anyone, but..."
"But...?"
"I read about it in my mom's Cosmopolitan magazine;'What Women Want'...Very useful article, I must say,"Taylor spilled, looking away to keep from laughing.
Jayden's mouth dropped open,"Please tell me you're joking! You read Cosmo?!"
Taylor held a serious tone,"Nah, Ike's the one who reads Cosmo. Me? I'm sorta partial to Good Housekeeping..."
"Taylor!" Jayden cried, hitting his arm playfully. The couple burst out laughing, not quitting until several minutes later. A silent, depressing hush filled the air.
"Gawd, what I wouldn't give to stay like this forever,"Taylor said quietly, pulling Jayden into his lap,"3 months... 90 days... 2160 hours... 129,600 minutes... 7,776,000 seconds..."
"You figured all that out?" Jayden asked incredulously.
Taylor nodded solemnly,"And i'm going to count down every single second until we can be together again."
That made Jayden's heart melt,"You don't even have to ask if I'll do the same."
"I wonder what would happen if I just skipped the tour... Ya know, ran away or somethin'" Taylor mused.
"Don't even think of doing something like that,Tay!" Jayden cried.
Taylor quickly said,"I know, I know, i'm just joking. Besides, I couldn't just expect you to drop everything and skip town with me."
"Yeah, I mean, who would feed my golfish?" Jayden giggled.
Taylor kissed her softly,"At least there's one good thing about me leaving..."
"And that would be?"
He smiled,"You won't have to worry about Mindy crawling all over me!"
"Hmmm, does that mean I can't go out with anyone? I was thinkin' about getting the number of Mr.-Look-A-Like from the movies. He was sorta cute." she teased.
Taylor sensed she was joking, but felt slightly alarmed. What if she DOES find someone else? Someone who doesn't have to leave Tulsa for months at a time? I don't know what i'd do if she left me. She means everything to me. More than the moon, more than the stars, more than... even more than my music... He was surprised at his own thoughts. More than music? Music, which had been his life almost all his life. Something had surpassed the joy and happiness it brought. And he was leaving it all behind. All the hugs, kissed, and passionate conversations; the comfort of knowing that someone was always thinking exactly what you were & felt the same... He was leaving Jayden.
"Tay-bear?" Jayden said, breaking his thoughts,"What's wrong? Your face is so pale..."
Taylor shrugged,"Just thinking about, uh, leaving."
Jayden sighed,"I know that's not all you're thinking about. You may be a great singer, but your lying skills need some serious work."
Taylor turned his head, avoiding her questionning look, as if to shield her from his own insecurity.
"What-what if you do find another guy while i'm gone?" he asked timidly, staring at the ground.
"Oh,sweetie, I won't, I promise. I love you," she replied without hesitation, giving Taylor a long, deep kiss as if to bond her promise.
Color crept back into his face,"I love you too.It's just that I think of you,here alone, and then some guy... What if you get lonely?"
"Then i'll call you or write you, or e-mail you, Tay. Every single day," she said softly, glancing up just as patched of pink & orange lit up the horizon. Checking her watch, she realized it was already 5 o'clock. *AN:Ok,so maybe the sun doesn't set at 5 in early summer... Use your imagination :o)*
"Tay?"
"Yeah?" Taylor asked, playing with Jayden's long, brown hair.
"What can I do to reassure you that you're the one for me?" she asked,"I mean, is there anything I can say... anything I can do?"
Silence. Taylor stared off into the distance, his brow scrunched deep in thought. Slowly he shifted until he was directly facing Jayden. Taking a deep breath, he reach for both her hands. She noticed his were clammy and trembling slighty. Then something she, nor he for that matter, could have aniticipated, happened.
Shifting onto one knee, he looked into Jayden's eyes,"Will you marry me?"
~Chapter 7~
~Chapter 5~
~Home~
