Epilogue

"Taylor," I looked up and smiled.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming over here today. I - we need to talk about what's been going on between us." I corrected myself, lifting a fork of spaghetti to my mouth and taking a small bite.

"Please let me speak first." I continued quickly. "You have no idea how hard it is for me to admit this to you.. I feel like some kind of junior high school kid again on the inside, but I don't know how else to describe how I feel.."

"Ever since I first laid eyes on you, six years ago, I've.. had the biggest crush on you. Total and complete infatuation at it's worst." I laughed lightly, even though my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"And when I saw you again a few months ago.. It completely blew me over." I paused, taking another bite and chewing it thoughtfully.

"I realized that me dating Zac was just so I could get closer to you. But at the same time, I was so scared you'd be angry with me for one of the biggest mistakes of my life, my stubbornness and pride getting in the way of one of my most treasured friendships.." I continued my confession. "I found myself unable to even talk to you normally."

"Is there any way you could ever forgive me? I mean," I rushed. "I completely understand if you don't; I've come up with at least a hundred reasons of why I wouldn't if I was in your place, but.."

".. I love you, Taylor. I really do." I finished, tears glistening in my eyes as I looked down at the napkin in my lap.

"Now.. if you were only here so I could tell you all this."

Dabbing my eyes with a corner of my napkin, I heaved a large sigh and realized that I couldn't possibly eat another bite, at least not sitting here by myself. Pursing my lips, I leaned over the table and blew out each of the small candles, watching the wisps of smoke swirl upward before standing up and taking my now half-empty plate of food to the kitchen sink.

Heaving another large sigh, walking back to the living room, I cleared the place I'd reserved for Taylor, putting his empty dishes back into the cabinet I'd found them in. After folding up the tablecloth, I carefully placed it, the candles, centerpiece, and napkins next to the stack of china dishes before closing the doors. Glancing back at the table, I figured I'd get it later.

"At least after I change," I mumbled out loud, glancing down at my attire. After heading upstairs, I replaced my dress and flats with a black tank top, gray pair of sweats, and white pair of cotton socks. Not wanting to mope around in my room, at least for this evening, I decided to head back downstairs.

"Hear we go again," Struggling, I leaned the table on its side and started rolling it slowly across the living room floor. A tedious process I can assure you, but I was grateful the table was round so I could roll it, rather than drag it across the floor and get my face pummeled for leaving marks on the wood floor. Out of breath, I left the table propped up against the wall to set back up at another time. I didn't have the energy, nor the patience, at the moment.

Wandering aimlessly for a few minutes, I found myself back in the kitchen. As I sat myself down at the table, my arms propped on the surface, wallowing in self-pity, my ears perked up at the sound of the doorbell.

Ding dong.

Could it be- ? I slowly stood up.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," I stared up at Taylor as he apologized. At first, I wasn't sure if he was actually there or not.

"Is it raining out?" Was all I asked, noticing his damp appearance.

"Yeah, where've you been all day?" He spoke lightly, coming inside by brushing past me.

"Inside.." I watched curiously as he removed his coat and then his shoes, letting them fall to the floor.

"Where can I put this?" He asked, holding his coat over his arm. I stared blankly at it before lifting my eyes to his face.

".. Oh! Let me take it," I shook my head, jerking his arm when I grabbed his arm roughly.

"Thanks." He said, watching me hang it over the railing of the stairs.

"No problem.. Come on in." I wandered slowly into the living room, where I plopped down on the couch.

"Are you hungry?" I asked as he took a seat next to me.

"Actually, I ate before I came over here. I wanted to be here earlier, but I forgot to get gas ahead of time and I ran out halfway over here. That's what took me so long. I grabbed a bite to eat on the walk to the gas station."

"Oh.. I'm sorry."

No wonder he took so long. My heart thumping at a faster pace, I looked him shyly in the eyes before frowning in mock frustration.

"On second thought, tough." I stood up and headed for the kitchen. "I made something to eat and you're going to eat it."

"I'm really not that hun-" He started, standing up.

"Tough!" I found the Tupperware of leftover spaghetti and popped it in the microwave as he came into the kitchen.

"Spaghetti? Maggie, do I have to eat all that?" He joked, eyeing the mound of food as it spun around in the microwave.

"Absolutely." I grinned at him.

"Not that it's your fault, but I went to a lot of trouble for this damn stuff, so you're going to eat it.. and like it whether you like it or not." I remembered Zac's words to me that fateful day of paintball. Thirty seconds later, I grabbed a hand towel and fork. Handing them over to Taylor, I pointed to the kitchen table.

"Sit. And eat." I commanded firmly. "Then digest."

"Yes sir." He laughed lightly, sitting down. I slid into the seat across from him. When he started eating, I became incredibly grateful that I'd already eaten by myself. Spaghetti must be the messiest food in the world, I noticed as Taylor started slurping up a few noodles. The sly look on his face made me believe he was doing it all on purpose as well.

"Does your mother know you have such terrible habits?" I rolled my eyes at his disgusting display.

"If you're going to make me eat it, I'm going to make you sit and watch me."

"It's a privilege I'm sure I'll never, ever, forget." I said dryly.

"Good," he replied cheerfully, twirling his fork around until it was wound with spaghetti. "So, how are you holding up?"

"Fine, actually." I joined in the small talk.

"Mia came over this morning." With the mentioning of his ex's name, he looked at me, a little sauce on the edge of his lip.

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm," I reached over and grabbed a napkin.

"Hold still a sec." My cheeks burning a little, I reached over and lightly touched the napkin to the sauce. My heartbeat quickened as my fingertips brushed against his lips.

"Sorry." Feeling shy, I pulled my hand back and looked down at the table. "You.. you, had a little bit of sauce there."

"Thanks," he shifted his weight uncomfortably. Feeling my cheeks burning brighter, I couldn't bring myself to look up into his eyes. When I finally summed up the courage, I found his twinkling mischievously at me.

"What?" I demanded.

"You blush easily, don't you?" He asked with a grin.

"Unfortunately, yeah." Of course his comment only made it worse.

"That I never would've expected from you." He teased. "I think it's cute, though."

"It is not," I grinned. "But you'd be surprised at how much you don't know about me."

"You'd be surprised at how much I do know about you." The words slipped out of Taylor's mouth before he realized it, because it was now his turn to blush.

"Ha! I'm not the only one who blushes." It was only fair for me to tease him back.

"Fair enough." He held up his hands in defense. "Since no other traumatic event occurred in your life, at least for the moment, why did you ask me over here today? Other than forcing dry spaghetti down my throat."

"Well, if you would've been on time, it wouldn't be so dry right now." I playfully slapped his arm.

"No, seriously, do you mind if I have something to drink?" He coughed slightly.

"Oh, yes," Laughing, I clapped my hand over my mouth and stood up. Grabbing a glass from the cabinet full of them, I almost dropped it when I turned around and found him right behind me.

"What do you want?" I asked him with a grin on my face.

"An answer to the question you avoided earlier." He smiled knowingly. "Why did you call me over here?"

"I meant to drink." I held the glass out to him, laughing. "How about some Mmm-Milk?"

"Oh, geez." He rolled his eyes at my terrible joke. "That was terrible, you know."

"Yup." Scooting sideways, I reached to open the refrigerator for him. "I'm just full of stuff like that."

"You're full of something, all right." I heard him mutter behind me.

"What?" I whirled around on my heels, pretending to be furious.

"Nothing," he smiled innocently. After setting his glass on the counter, he placed one of his hands on each of my bare shoulders and turned me so I could look in his eyes. Mesmorized, I barely heard the refridgerator door close behind me.

"Maggie, tell me what's wrong," He spoke softly, staring down at me with those blue pools of wonder. I swallowed lightly, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.

Now or never..

"Say that again." I smiled shyly, closing my eyes.

"Tell me what's wrong?" It sounded more like a question. Opening my eyes, I rolled them and corrected myself:

"No.. Say my name again."

"Maggie?" The second the word escaped his lips, I leaned forward and placed mine softly against his. He stood unmoving for a few seconds, then pulled me closer and kissed me deeply as I slid my hands over his shoulders. Caught up in the moment, I closed my eyes and felt my knees disappear. If it weren't for Taylor's arms around me strongly, I would've dissolved into a puddle on the kitchen floor. (And I'd just cleaned)

My heart racing and my lips burning with passion as they lightly danced against his, I surrendered myself completely to Taylor. Although I didn't blame his initial sense of shock; I'd surprised myself with the impulsive action; I never expected him to break away suddenly, as he did.

"Hmm. There's only one thing I have to say about that." He stared me down, a serious look on his face. Staring back into his eyes, I instantly regretted my rash behavior, feeling my sense of fear rising within me, not to mention sheer embarrassment as I realized:

He didn't feel anything.. I inwardly kicked myself. Shit, nothing can be worse than-

My thoughts were interrupted when he leaned forward and whispered tenderly, the sound washing over my ear more beautifully than any music I'd ever heard in my entire life:

"Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie..."

The End