chapterthirtyfour

Two hours later, when I finally decided to drag myself off the couch and head for my room, my conversation with Taylor still rang in my ears. I knew I had done the right thing but damn if it wasn�t hard. I nearly tripped on something on my way upstairs. When I reached down to grab it, I saw it was my Pearberry lotion. I dropped it immediately and ran up to my room, a whole new wave of sadness coming over me.

*********************

Taylor barely got himself home in one piece. He was angry, and he was driving like it. When he finally reached his house, he stormed right past his parents in the living room and up to the second floor. He pounded on Zac�s door then on Isaac�s. They both opened at about the same time.

�Get in my room RIGHT now,� Taylor yelled.

�Tay, man, I�m right in the middle of�� Isaac started.

�NOW!� Taylor cried.

Zac and Isaac shot each other a worried look, then followed Taylor into his impeccably clean room. Zac sat in the red beanbag and Isaac took a spot on the bed. Taylor shut his door and locked it, took his jacket off calmly, then turned to them.

�One of you is in so much trouble�� he said.

�Taylor, can we make this fast? I have somewhere to be,� Isaac said, rolling his eyes.

�Do you have a date?� Zac asked with interest.

�Yeah, this girl I met at Guitar Center,� Isaac said to Zac.

�Awesome! Is she a musician?� Zac wanted to know.

�No, she was buying something for her brother�s birthday��

�SHUT UP!� Taylor yelled. �Both of you just shut the hell up.�

Zac and Isaac turned to their brother. �One of you told Natalie what happened in Chicago. Now you�re going to tell me which one of you it was. Right now.� Taylor said.

�What happened in Chicago?� Isaac asked cluelessly. �Did something happen in Chicago?�

�I did my first body shot!� Zac declared.

�Yeah, we know, buddy,� Isaac said approvingly. �I was proud. But I don�t think Natalie cares that much about your first body shot.�
�No, she doesn�t,� Taylor said. �She cares that I made a minor mistake.�

�What did you do?� Isaac asked. Zac could have kicked his brother. Isaac may as well have waved a banner that said �there�s no way I told Nat me cause I was too busy with my own sexual exploits so it must have been Zac!�

�At Bianca�s party, I kissed someone,� Taylor said simply.

�You did not just kiss her. You ended up in a bedroom with her and the only reason you didn�t jump her is because Mara and I walked in on you guys,� Zac said.

�Holy shit!� Isaac said.

�So you told her?� Taylor asked, his accusing gaze focused on Zac.

�Yes,� Zac said evenly.

�When?�

�Right after you tried to get into Mara�s pants,� he said, his eyes filling with anger.

�Zac, I wasn�t gonna do anything,� Taylor argued.

�Yeah, because you have this excellent track record and I know I can trust you, right?� Zac spat.

�I can�t fucking believe you told her!� Taylor yelled.

�I can�t believe you did it!� Zac yelled right back.

�AND you told her about Morgan. Jesus Zac!� Taylor cried.

�I never said a word about Boston. You must have been being honest with her. Oh my god, I think I may faint from the shock!�

�Zac shut your mouth,� Taylor said.

�NO! I�m glad Natalie knows how big a shithead you are.� Zac stood up. �Now if you�ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be,� he said as he headed for the door.

Zac undid the latch and swung the door open. �You did this to yourself, Taylor,� he said, then slammed the door and walked down the hall. Taylor turned to Isaac.

�Ike�it wasn�t supposed to be like this��

�Be like what, Taylor?�

�I never meant to hurt her.� Taylor�s eyes filled with tears. �I love her so much, Ike��

�You can try and get her back,� Isaac reasoned.

�No�I hurt her too much. She wasn�t that pissed about Chicago, but when I told her about Morgan, she just�I don�t even know how to describe it. I blew it.�

Tears started to slip down Taylor�s cheeks and he pretended to glance at the clock. �Sorry for keeping you�I know you have a date,� Taylor said, turning his back so his brother couldn�t see him cry. �Have fun tonight.�

Isaac patted his brother�s shoulder reassuringly. �It�ll be ok, Tay. I promise.� Isaac stood up and left and when Taylor heard the door close, he fell on the bed and wept.