chaptertwentythree

�Yeah, it was a pretty random interview,� Taylor said.

�Sounds like it,� I said. �But I�m gonna run�Elle just decided she hates her suit for the party tomorrow night and we need to get her a new one.�

�Elle can never stick with a decision, can she?� Taylor asked, laughing.

�Nope. Love ya,� I said.

�Love you too Nat.�

I hung up the phone and turned to Elle. �Are you ready to get a suit you like?�

�Yes! Jesus�this thing does not make my hips look two sizes smaller�what was I thinking?�

�Elle, I never know what you�re thinking. Now lets go before the mall closes!�

�OK, but you have to promise to make me buy a CUTE suit� no more ugly ones!�

�I promise. We�ll buy the cutest suit out there.�

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

Although I didn�t know it, at the exact time Elle found �the� bathing suit, Zac was swimming in a hotel pool with a girl wearing the same one.

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

�Zac let go of me or I swear you will DIE!� Mara shrieked.

�Yeah, cause I�m afraid of you,� Zac said, both of her wrists trapped in one of his big hands.

�Hanson, I will kick your ass,� she said before collapsing in a fit of giggles.

�I�m sooooo scared,� Zac said.

�You should be!� she said, trying to look scary.

�So what do you plan to do to get away?� Zac asked her.

�Hmmm�I�m not sure yet,� she said, still trying to wiggle away from him.

�It better be good, cause I�m not about�� he stopped when she stood up on her toes and kissed him. Zac immediately dropped her arms and wrapped one of his arms around her waist. She pulled away a few seconds later and he just looked at her.

�What?� Mara finally asked.

�Nothing�but damn! If I knew that was how to get you to kiss me, I would have done it days ago,� Zac told her.

Mara playfully punched him in the stomach. �Shut up.�

�Make me!� he teased.

�Hahaa! Don�t YOU wish!� she cried as she swam away from him. When she reached the edge of the pool, Mara pulled her face out of the water and was met with two feet at the edge of the pool.

�Hi Taylor,� Zac said. Mara looked up and directly into the blue eyes of Taylor Hanson.

�Hey Zac,� he said with false cheer. �Hi�girl in the water. You look kind of familiar.�

�Yeah�I think I saw you at Bianca�s party�I�m Mara,� she said.

�Well it�s great to meet you,� Taylor said. He tossed his towel on a chair and headed for the hot tub.

Zac opened his mouth and was about to say something when his cell phone rang. He pulled himself out of the side of the pool and picked it up.

�Yeah�this is Zac�Steve!� he cried. �Hey wait a sec, OK?�

Zac turned to Mara and looked apologetic. �Go!� she told him before he even spoke.

�I�ll only be on the phone for a few, I promise! Thank you thank you!� he called as he ran out the pool door.

�That was cool of you�very cool�� Taylor said from the hot tub.

�Thanks,� Mara said as she climbed out of the pool.

�You coming to join me?� Taylor asked with a smile.

�If you�re ok with it.�

�Sure. Plenty of room for two.�

Mara stepped gingerly into the hot water and settled into a spot directly across from Taylor.

�How old are you Mara?� Taylor asked.

�I�m 18,� she answered.

�Very cool�going to college?�

�In the fall. I�m going to University of Oklahoma,� she told him.

�What�s your major?�

�Art,� Mara said as she arched her back against one of the jets. �This water is great. I totally need a hot tub at home.�

�No kidding. You know what�s even better than a hot tub?� Taylor asked her.

�What?� she asked.

�A massage in a hot tub.�

She giggled. �I bet��

Taylor had managed to move across the tub and was now sitting right next to her. �You look tense,� he told Mara.

�I am�When school�s over, I�ll be so much more relaxed,� she said as his hands turned her to the side a bit and rubbed her shoulders gently.

�Wow,� Mara said softly. �You�re pretty good at this.�

�Really? Hey, if the music thing doesn�t work out, it�s good to know I have a backup,� Taylor said, his fingertips massaging down her spine.

She arched her back against his hands and something suddenly occurred to her. She giggled.

�What�s so funny?� Taylor asked her.

�I was just wondering how many other women had gotten this famous massage before me,� Mara told him.

�Not many�I only give it to ones I like,� Taylor told her.

�Oh really?� she said, her eyes lighting up. She was a bit embarrassed about the blush coming over her, so she thanked God that her back was to Taylor.

�Really. See, you�re different -- I can tell. You�re cute and you have a personality. How often does that happen?� he asked as he gave her shoulders a little squeeze.

�Apparently not very,� she said. She turned around and faced him.

�Thanks for the massage,� she said softly.

�You�re welcome,� he said as he moved in a little closer to her.

A few moments of silence passed between them and finally Mara spoke.

�What are you thinking?� she asked.

�That I want to kiss you,� Taylor replied.

�Oh really?� she questioned.

�Really,� he said. She moved in closer and his lips were millimeters from hers when they heard a voice.

�Fuck. Taylor, why this one?�

It was Zac.