The next morning, Kris was brushing her wet hair, deciding whether or not to blow dry it. Taylor was in the bathroom taking a shower. Zac and Misty were still sleeping; she�d wake them up when Taylor got out of the shower. Kris glanced to the bathroom. Those locks sucked. If she wanted to, she could easily make her way in there.
An idea struck her and she a devilish grin crossed her face. She saw a butter knife laying on the counter. She walked over and picked it up. She went over to the bathroom and unlocked the door with the knife. She very quietly opened the door just enough so she could get in, and lightly shut it behind her. Taylor was in the shower, covered by a curtain, minding his own business. She was grinning so widely that she had to force herself to loosen up and look serious.
She silently made her way over to the shower curtain. She reached out one hand, the knife brandished in the other. She pulled open the curtain and in a very Psycho-esque manner, faked stabbing him.
�AHHHH!!!!!!!!�
Kris dropped to the ground in hysterical laughter. Taylor took a few breaths, trying to calm himself down. �Oh my God!!� Taylor yelled, then lowered his voice. �You scared the living shit out of me.�
�You should have seen your face!� she said, in between her hysterical laughs. �Oh my God that was classic.�
�Will you let me finish my shower now?� He shook his head. �I can�t believe you.�
�Okay, okay, I�ll leave. I just had to do that.� She walked out of the bathroom and closed the door. Zac was sitting up in the bed.
�Who was screaming?�
�That would be your brother,� she said, grinning again. �I scared him.�
�Oh God, what�d you do?� Zac asked.
�I was doing the Psycho thing, I went in there with a knife and acted like I was going to stab him.� She showed him the butter knife and put it back on the table. �It was so incredibly funny.� She began to giggle again, but only ended up coughing.
�That doesn�t sound good.�
�I wonder where that came from. I don�t know, I might be getting sick. Yay.� She walked over to the mirror and started brushing her hair again. �Should I blow-dry my hair?�
�I don�t know.�
�Wake up Misty and ask her.�
�No, cause then she�ll be bitchy at me.� Kris eyed him through the mirror.
�I�m taking she�s stayed over before.�
�Yeah, it wasn�t pretty.� He stretched, causing the sheet over him to go down to his waist. He wasn�t wearing a shirt, and she realized he was more buff than Taylor. (She�d confirmed that after catching Taylor in the shower.)
�Are you wearing clothes?� Kris asked, a hint of a smile on her face.
�Yes, I�m wearing clothes.�
�It doesn�t look like it.� He got out of the bed.
�See, clothes. Boxers and shorts.�
�Is she wearing clothes?�
�Yes.�
�Am I going to have to get another room for you two?�
�Maybe. I might be kicking you out.� He gave her a pointed look. �You just want to be alone with Taylor.�
�I just don�t want to have to worry about hearing the two of you.�
�Shut up.�
�What?� Kris asked. �I didn�t say anything bad��
�Yeah, whatever.�
�What, are you touchy about the subject or something?� Zac shook his head. �Then why are you acting like that.�
�Listen, me and Misty haven�t done anything yet. The fact is, I don�t want to.� He glanced down at her. �I just�nevermind.�
�What? Tell me. I�m interested now.�
�I just keep reminding myself of the last time I actually did it�with Gwen. And she really hurt me, I don�t want that to happen with Misty.�
�I doubt Misty would be the kind of person to do that.�
�I didn�t think Gwen was. I didn�t think you were until I found out that you did.� Kris bit her lip. Misty could very well cheat on Zac. He was prone to get hurt this way, because of the fact that he was hardly ever around.
�Zac, if you don�t want to, then don�t. When me and Taylor did it, there was no meaning to it. We were both high and don�t remember much. So, just don�t. She�ll understand.� Taylor came out of the bathroom.
�Okay, Kris, I�m out. You can go in there and scare somebody else now.� He turned to Zac. �Watch out.�
�You know, maybe I should do something while Misty�s in there.� Zac pointed to Kris and Taylor. �I�m putting a chair next to the door, okay, don�t do anything to me. I�m watching you.�
�Sure, Zac.� Zac walked into the bathroom.
�It�s all hot and steamy in here.� His eyebrows perked up. �I feel like a romance novel!� Kris laughed. Taylor gave him a strange look.
�Good for you,� Taylor said. �Hurry up, Misty still has to get in there and we have to leave in a half an hour.�
�Already?�
�Yes, already. We woke up late.�
�Oh, okay.� He shut the door. A few moments later, they heard the shower running.
�I�m so going to get you back for that,� Taylor said. �I don�t know how, but I�m gonna do it.� Kris smiled. �What, are you happy about that or something?�
�No, I�m just thinking about the look on your face when I did that.�
�Well I wasn�t expecting you to come in there!�
�That�s the whole point!� He picked her up and threw her on the bed. She started laughing as he stood up on the bed and started jumping around her. �You�re gonna kill me!�
�No I�m not, I do this with my sisters all the time.�
�They�re a lot smaller than me, Taylor.�
�Jessie�s not that much smaller than you.�
�No she isn�t.�
�She�s growing. I think she�s only a few inches shorter than you right now.� He jumped over her to the other side of the bed, then back.
�You�re still gonna kill me.� He stopped and fell back onto the bed next to her.
�But I was having fun!�
�I�m surprised you didn�t kill yourself. You were coming pretty damn close to the ceiling.� He smiled. �Don�t use that smile on me, mister.�
�Why?�
�Cause it makes me melt.� She turned to him. �So, what�re we going to be doing today?�
�You�ll have to wait and see.�
�Well, what do I have to do?�
�I told you; you�ll have to wait and see.� She got off the bed. �Are you going to get dressed any time soon?� Taylor asked, looking at her. She was only dressed in a robe.
�Are you?� she asked. He was just wearing a robe too. �When Zac gets out of the bathroom.�
�Why? He�ll take forever. Misty�s asleep, the shower�s still running. Get dressed, I don�t care.�
�You wouldn�t.� He smiled. �If have to get dressed out here, so do you.�
�Fine.� They got dressed, rather quickly at that. Kris reached out to get her shirt when Taylor noticed something on her back. �Kris, your back is bleeding.�
�Really?� She looked at her back through the mirror. �Ew. I�ll get the stuff from the bathroom.�
�Zac just might have a trap set up in there.�
�Oh well.� Kris walked over to the bathroom and tried the handle. It was locked, of course, so she got the butter knife from off the counter. She unlocked the door.
�Is that how you got in?�
�Yeah.� She opened the door and went inside. �Zac, it�s me, I just need to get something.�
�It can�t wait?� Zac asked, looking over at her. �Where is your shirt?�
�It�s in the other room.�
�What were you doing in there?�
�Shut up. I was changing. Taylor noticed I was bleeding again so I came in here to get that peroxide stuff.�
�Let me see.� She turned her back to him. �That looks pretty bad. I don�t know if peroxide stuff will help.�
�I might as well try and get it cleaned up.� She looked around and eventually found what she needed.
�What were you doing changing out there?� Zac finally asked. Kris shook her head.
�Cause you were in here.�
�You could of changed in here; I wouldn�t have minded.�
�Shut up, Zac.�
�Hey, you�re beautiful. I�ve got to give you that.�
�Thanks.� She smiled at him and went back outside, shutting the door behind her. �Okay, I�m making you do it.�
�Great,� Taylor said. She laid down on the bed. As he started cleaning the excess blood, she noticed him hesitate while cleaning around her bra. It made her smile. �I think it�s gonna have to come off.�
�My bra?�
�Yeah.�
�Okay.�
�I�m not going to try to figure it out, so you do it.�
�It�s not that hard, Taylor.� She reached to her back, unhooked her bra and threw it along side the bed. He resumed his work. �Ow!!�
�Sorry.�
�Oh my God, what are you doing?� Misty asked. Kris turned her head and looked over.
�I think I got a new cut on my back. I don�t know what from, but Taylor�s cleaning it.�
�Where are your clothes?�
�On the floor.�
�Why?�
�Cause he can�t help me with my clothes on!�
�What if Walker comes in here?� Taylor stopped. �Yeah, think about that. Kris doesn�t have a shirt on and you�re sitting on top of her. It�s gonna be hell and I�m gonna laugh.�
�You�re a bitch in the morning.�
�Yeah, I�ve been told that.� She sat up. �Is Zac in the shower?�
�He should be done soon.�
�Good.�
�Taylor, hurry up!� Kris whined
�I don�t want to hurt you!� Taylor said to her, loudly.
�I don�t care, Taylor. Just put stuff on there, wipe it, and we�re good to go.�
�Fine. Just don�t complain if it hurts.� Kris bit her lip as he hurried. Misty looked on, a little bit intrigued. The blood was gross, but it was still pretty interesting. �Okay Kris, that�s a really deep cut. I don�t know how you got it.�
�Neither do I.� She started thinking. �Maybe at Johnny�s, something could have happened there.�
�It looks pretty fresh, though.�
�Last night was too rough,� Kris joked. �I told you to go easy!!�
�Shut up.�
�I�m kidding.� The door opened and Zac walked out.
�Okay, every time I see you you�re wearing less and less clothing. If we don�t do something about it soon, you�re gonna be running around here naked,� he said. Kris turned her head to him.
�Like you have a problem with that.�
�He should,� Misty said, getting up and walking over to Zac. �Do you?�
�Oh yeah!! Put some clothes on, girl! What are we running, a brothel?�
�I�m surprised you know what a brothel is, Zac,� Kris said.
�I�m just young, not stupid.�
�Zac actually has a very advanced vocabulary,� Taylor said.
�Well I don�t.� Kris looked at Zac, who smiled. �Are you done yet?�
�No!� Taylor yelled.
�Hurry up!� A knock came at the door. Everyone looked at Kris. �Where�s my shirt? Find my shirt!� she whispered.
�You guys up?� Walker�s voice said. Everyone scurried around, looking for her shirt. Taylor found her robe and threw it at her. She quickly put it on and Zac opened the door.
�Hi dad.�
�You ready? We have to be on the road in twenty minutes.�
�Misty just has to take a shower and then we�ll be ready.� Walker looked in.
�It doesn�t look like it. We�re gonna be late, I can see it now. Misty, I know you have a habit of long showers. We don�t have all day here.�
�I�ll be quick!�
�Guys, put a shirt on. No one wants to see you without them,� Walker said, looking at Zac and Taylor. Kris snickered. �Kris, do you even have any clothes on?�
�Yes! I have a robe on!�
�Well hurry up guys and get dressed. I expect to see you downstairs in fifteen minutes so we can leave on time.� Walker left the room, shutting the door behind him. Kris groaned and took off her robe. She went back onto the bed, careful that no one in the room was flashed.
�Finish up here. Apparently I have to get dressed very quickly.�
�You have fifteen minutes to put a shirt on.�
�Whatever. Hurry.� Taylor groaned and got back on the bed. Misty ran into the bathroom for a quick shower, while Zac got dressed. �Zac, why do you always wear those baggy shirts?� Kris asked.
�Cause.�
�I think you really should be wearing stuff like wifebeaters, cause you happen to have a really nice body.� Taylor �accidentally� poured some peroxide on her back. �Ow!!!�
�Oops, sorry,� Taylor said, sarcastically.
�You know I have every right to hurt you for that. You get jealous way too easily.�
�No I don�t.�
�That�s why you poured that stuff on me right when I was saying your brother was hot.�
�Now you went up a notch.�
�Well he is!� Kris said, not even realizing how much she was embarrassing Zac. �Do I get jealous when you mention that Misty is really pretty? No! And you happen to do that often! It�s cause I know you�re not about to make a pass at her.�
�I know all about that crush you had on him.�
�Taylor! That was a long time ago.�
�Yeah, but who knows, you could still just be using me to get to him.�
�I cannot believe how jealous you are. Oh my God. You�re being jealous and you�re downright possessive and you know how much I hate that!� She turned around.
�Um, Kris�� Taylor pointed to her chest. She looked down and immediately stuck a pillow over herself. �Okay�whatever. You�re done. Put a shirt on.� She gave him a look. He grabbed his shirt, put it on, and walked onto the balcony. Kris shook her head, trying to find a way to let out her anger without breaking anything. She just put her bra and shirt back on, without saying anything.
After a few minutes, she looked to Zac. He looked back at her. �What?� she asked.
�You looked at me first. So �What?� to you.�
�I can�t believe him.�
�That�s just Taylor. He�s a jealous person. Misty�s the same way, just not as extreme.�
�I still can�t believe him.� She sighed. �But I might as well stop this before we leave.�
�You do that. I�m gonna scare Misty.�
�Okay.� She walked out onto the balcony. �Hi.� He didn�t say anything, only looked away. You could see Lake Michigan, parts of it. Mostly it was just buildings upon buildings. It wasn�t exactly the best place to stay, but it was there. They didn�t really stay there to go on the balcony and look at the view. This was actually the first time any of them had been on the balcony, ever. Taylor was only there cause he had nowhere else to go.
�Well?�
�Go away.�
�No.�
�Fine, then I will.� Kris hit her head against the wall as he got up and tried to open the sliding glass door. �Okay, it�s locked.� Kris grinned. �Where�s Zac?�
�He�s in the bathroom trying to scare Misty.�
�AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!�
�It worked.� Kris and Taylor both started laughing. Zac opened the door to the bathroom, laughing, and had a bar of soap chucked at him. He tried to get out of the way, but it hit him in the head. He rubbed his head and threw the soap back in the bathroom. Zac noticed Taylor by the door.
�Open the door,� Taylor said. Zac walked over, pretending that he couldn�t hear. The doors weren�t soundproof, so they all knew he was faking it.
�What? I can�t hear you,� Zac mouthed.
�Funny. Open the door.� Zac shook his head and walked away. Taylor pounded on the door. �Open the door!!� Zac walked back over.
�Is your fight over?�
�No,� Kris said.
�You�re not coming back in here until it is.� Taylor groaned and sat down. He looked out to the traffic below.
�That traffic�s pretty bad, maybe we should leave early.�
�How early?�
�Now?�
�No, Zac�s not about to let us back inside. As long as we�re technically still in our fight.� Taylor looked over. �At least I�m trying to do something about it.�
�Why? You didn�t do anything.�
�Besides flash you and Zac.�
�Well, yeah,� Taylor said, smiling.
�Don�t smile at that!!� She smacked him. �It�s bad enough you stare at my chest all the time, now you actually know what they look like.�
�They? You�re talking like your chest is actual people.�
�They are! Jill and Jane.�
�Oh my God, you so did not name your breasts.�
�You tell me you never named your penis.�
�Excuse me? No!� She laughed.
�Sure. Uh huh. I know you did, you just don�t want me to know.� She sat down across from him. �Are we going to talk about this fight and make everything better or pretend that it never happened? We do tend to do that a lot.�
�Fine, we�ll talk about it.� Neither said a word. They laughed. �You go first.�
�You know I don�t like jealousy or possessiveness. It�s just stuff I can�t handle. I can deal with a little jealously here and there, but if I talk to Zac you shun me away from him.�
�It�s just the way I am. I can�t help it.�
�Taylor, you�re going to have to. It�s something I can�t stand to be around.�
�Okay, okay, I�ll work on it.� He sighed. �It�s just you do it often, and I always get these ridiculous ideas that you�re just going to leave me and go to him.�
�Why would I do that? I love you; I don�t love him.�
�Well, you�re closer to him than you are to me.�
�He�s more open.�
�Really?�
�Yeah. You close off your feelings. You do open up sometimes, but most of the time you�re closed off. I can�t read your mind; I don�t know what this look stands for and I don�t know what that stance stands for. I�d like to know what�s going on in that head of yours. Zac lets me know exactly what he�s feeling, all the time. It can get annoying, but if I look at him, he knows that I�m wondering about him. He knows that I want to know what�s going on with him. Whenever I stare into him, he always seems to tell me what�s on his mind.� Taylor listened tenaciously. He�d always been jealous of the bond Kris had with Zac, but that was the one jealousy he never seemed to admit to her. �What�s on your mind?�
�Everything.�
�Explain.�
�For one there�s the video shoot, all the scenes and aspects of what I have to do. There�s this melody in the back of my head that won�t go away but I can�t seem to grasp what it is to write it on paper. I�m worried about myself; it ties in with the melody in my head. I haven�t been able to grasp things clearly as of late, and it scares me. I don�t know, maybe it�s just because I have so many things to worry about right now that I can�t focus. Maybe I�m just losing it. I don�t know. I�m worried about the flight home; whenever I see a plane crash reported on the news it always freaks me out. I have this thought that the plane is going to crash and we�re all going to die and I won�t be able to do so many things that I want to do. But that�s stupid. I know it�s not going to happen. Then, most importantly, there�s you. You being here makes me so incredibly happy that I can�t even begin to explain. I�m so glad that you�re here with me, even if we�re constantly fighting. And I�m worried about you. The whole Brian thing has been dominating my thoughts lately. Everything else is there, but this overpowers it tenfold. I�m worried about you and your safety. I love you and I can�t imagine what I�d be like if I would ever lose you, forever. Then I go into you and Zac; I think about his crush on you, and your crush on him, and the chance that maybe you guys might one day hook up, and I�ll lose you to my little brother. That scares me.� Taylor looked over at Kris. �I was rambling, wasn�t I?�
�Yes, but rambling is good. On occasion. Don�t do it all the time. I got you to open up and that�s all I wanted to hear since I got here. I wanted to know what you�re thinking.�
�Well, there�s more, but that�s enough for right now. I have to save some for later.� She smiled and took his hand.
�You�re not going to lose me. I just want you to know that.�
�That helps. But, there�s one thing that would really make me think that you were telling me the truth.�
�What?�
�I think I need a kiss. Just to make sure.� She rolled her eyes.
�You�re silly.� She kissed him. �You know what?�
�What?�
�I love you.�
�I love you too.� He got up and walked over to the door. �Let�s see if Zac will let us in now.� He pounded on the door, trying to get Zac�s attention. Zac looked up. �We�re better now!�
�Are you sure?� Zac asked, walking over. He looked at Kris. �Are you better?�
�Yes.�
�Okay then.� He unlocked the door and opened it. �You better not be lying to me.�
�No, we�re actually better.�
�Good, cause we�re gonna leave soon.�
�How long were we out there?�
�I don�t know, but Taylor was talking for a pretty long time,� Zac said. �I didn�t hear it, but I definitely saw it.� They walked in. Misty was sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on her shoes.
�We must have been out there longer than I thought,� Taylor said. �Misty�s out of the shower!!� Misty turned around.
�You just want me to throw this shoe at you, don�t you? You�re just asking for it.�
�Yeah, bring it on.�
�I wouldn�t say that, Taylor,� Zac said. �She�ll do it.� Taylor smirked.
�No she won�t.� All of a sudden, he had to duck in order to avoid a flying shoe coming towards him. �Okay, maybe she will.�
�Told you.�
�Can I have my shoe back now?�
�No, you can�t. You threw it at me, so it�s mine now,� Taylor said, picking it up. �Even though I have absolutely no use for it, I�m keeping it.� Kris grabbed the shoe out of his hand and tossed it back to Misty. �Hey!! That was mine!�
�What were you going to do with one shoe? And that was a very feminine shoe at that. Are you trying to imply something?� Kris asked, eyeing him. �If you�re gay, you better tell me.�
�Shut up.�
�So that means you are?�
�No, I�m not gay.� Kris laughed. �You�re horrible.�
�I know.�
Walker came in. �Are you guys ready yet? We have to leave. Now.� They looked at each other, grabbed their shoes, and ran out of the room.