�Hey, do you want to go out with me Friday night?� Aaron Carter asked his friend Tasha Boyle.
�Sure.� She replied
�Cool.� He said
�Yeah.� She agreed
Aaron and Tasha had dated briefly in the past then suddenly Tasha broke up with him. She never gave any sort of explanation because she really didn�t have much of a reason. She just wanted her best friend Teagan to quit teasing her. Teagan was also friends with Aaron and that�s how Tasha and Aaron met. They hit it off right away. Tasha didn�t see any problem with the fact that Aaron was sixteen and she was nineteen. To some people, it was wrong for them to be in a relationship because of their age difference. Tasha never felt that way but after a few months, other people�s opinions started to take a toll on her.
Thoughts of what if were always in the back of her mind, but they didn�t resurface fully until Aaron confessed to her that he had a crush on Teagan. Maybe it was his determination that made her realize that she missed him. Whatever it was, she wanted him back. She knew things would never work between him and Teagan because Teagan was so against dating Aaron. So Tasha made a joke that if things didn�t work out between him and Teagan to call her. She never expected him to actually do it. But he did and they now had a date.
�Aaron, you know I was kidding though right?� she asked
�Whatever. It�s just dinner and a movie.� He said
�Okay.� She replied
�So, what did you do today?� he asked
�School, work, shopping. Nothing out of the norm.� she said
�You shop a lot.� He said
�I can�t help it. I�m a clothes horse. I love getting new clothes.� She said
�It amazes me that you still have not only money, but closet space.� He said
�I have a walk in closet for a reason.� She replied
�Of course.� He said
�Plus I live alone.� She said
�True.� He said
�So it works out.� She replied
�Only because you don�t have to pay rent.� He said
�Like you know anything about paying rent.� She said
�Neither do you.� He said
�Blah, blah, blah.� She said
�Oh, you really do that.� He said
�Really do what?� she asked
�The blah thing. Teagan mentioned something about you doing it, but I didn�t realize that�s where I got it from.� He said
�Yup. That�s where you got it from.� She said
�Cool. What are you doing right now?� he asked
�The dishes.� She replied
�You? Doing dishes?� he asked
�Well, they�re not going to do themselves.� She said
�I thought you had a maid or something to do them.� He said
�Don�t I wish.� She replied
�I bet you do. You�re the most prissy girl I know.� He said
�Thank you. Do you say that because I like pink or because I like wearing skirts?� she asked
�I say that because you hate getting dirty or doing anything that could potentially cause you to break a nail.� He said
�Hey, it�s a lot of money to get a manicure more often than every two weeks.� She said
�You really get a manicure every two weeks?� he asked
�Yeah. I get the color changed on the week in between manicures.� She said
�You never cease to amaze me Tash.� He said
�I have that affect on a lot of people.� She said
�I bet you do.� He replied
�What are you doing tomorrow?� she asked
�Hanging out with my brother during the day but nothing at night, why?� he asked
�I was thinking maybe you�d want to come over and watch a movie. We can order pizza or something.� She suggested
�Sounds great.� He said smiling.
�Cool.� She replied, smiling as well.
�Can you believe Teagan thinks I�m in love with you?� he asked
�No. I honestly don�t know where she gets this stuff from.� She said
�She said we look cute together though.� He said
�We do.� She agreed
�Yeah, I guess we do.� He said
�You guess?� she asked
�Yeah, we do.� He said
�We�re talking like we�re back together.� She said
�I wouldn�t be against it.� He said
�Me either.� She replied
�I mean, since you broke up with me out of nowhere before.� He said
�I know, I know. I�m sorry.� She apologized
�Don�t apologize. Tell me why.� He said
�You�re gonna hate me when I tell you.� She said
�I will not.� He replied
�I broke up with you because I was tired of Teagan giving me shit about us.� She said
�Okay. I�m not mad.� He said
�You�re not?� she asked
�No. I know it must have been hard for you.� He said
�Yeah, it was. But I wouldn�t change any of it for anything.� She said
�Thanks Tash.� He said
�Anytime. But I gotta go. I�ll call you when I get home from work okay?� she said
�Okay. Talk to you tomorrow.� He said
They hang up and went about their business. Tasha finished doing her homework before calling it a night and going to bed. Aaron watched television and hung out with his sister Angel before heading to bed.
The next day, Tasha woke up and went off to school. She got to class and found Teagan waiting for her.
�Hey Tea.� Tasha said
�Hey Tash. Oh my God, do I have news for you.� Teagan said
�What?� Tasha asked, though she had a feeling she knew what it was.
�Aaron tried to take me out on a date last night.� Teagan said
�I know. He called me.� Tasha said
�He did?� Teagan asked
�Yeah.� Tasha replied
�What did he say?� Teagan asked
�That he took you out but it didn�t work. Which I told him it wouldn�t.� Tasha said
�Wait, you knew he was going to ask me out?� Teagan asked
�Kind of. I knew he wanted to, but I didn�t know if he would actually go through with it.� Tasha said
�And you encouraged it?� Teagan asked
�I figured it couldn�t hurt to try.� Tasha said
�No way. I can�t believe you! You totally set him up for heartbreak!� Teagan exclaimed
�Stop yelling. He�s not heartbroken. It was just a little crush.� Tasha said
�And how would you know?� Teagan asked
�Because he asked me out for Friday night.� Tasha said
�Are you two getting back together?� Teagan asked
�Maybe. I�m not sure yet.� Tasha said
�I knew he was in love with you.� Teagan said
�Teagan, he�s not in love with me. We�re just going on one date.� Tasha said
�Oh please Tash, you guys are practically back together.� Teagan said
�Whatever.� Tasha replied
The class started and Teagan left Tasha alone. Tasha couldn�t understand where Teagan got the whole love idea from. Aaron didn�t seem like he was in love with her. He liked her, she liked him. It wasn�t really anything complicated. They had a good time together. When they were together, he didn�t act like any sixteen year old boys that she had ever known. That�s why she was so attracted to him. He wasn�t like any guy she had known. He had an amount of maturity and knowledge beyond his years. Tasha liked who she was when she was with him. No one had ever made her feel the way he made her feel. She liked that.
Aaron sat out on his boat with his brother Nick. They were having a brother day since neither one of them were busy recording or touring. Aaron liked having those times with Nick. He felt it made them closer. Plus then he could ask Nick�s advice on the Tasha situation. Not that it was really a situation but he needed to know what to do.
�So, how did things go with Teagan?� Nick asked
�They didn�t.� Aaron replied
�I�m sorry bro.� Nick said
�It�s okay. It actually made me and Tasha closer.� Aaron said
�You asked her advice I�m assuming?� Nick asked
�Yeah. I mean, who would know Teagan better than her best friend?� Aaron asked
�True. How is Tasha?� Nick asked
�Good. Still Tasha. I�m going over to her place tonight.� Aaron said
�That�s cool. You guys gonna start hanging out again?� Nick wondered
�Yeah. Who knows? We may even get back together.� Aaron said
�Would you want to? I mean, she did burn you kinda bad.� Nick said
�Nah, it�s cool. We talked about it. She just couldn�t deal with Teagan giving her shit all the time.� Aaron said
�How do you know she won�t do it to you again?� Nick asked
�I don�t. But it�s a chance I�m willing to take.� Aaron said
�You love her.� Nick said
�Where do you people get this stuff? Teagan said the same thing!� Aaron said
�Obviously we see something you don�t.� Nick said
�Yeah, whatever.� Aaron said
�Aar, if you didn�t love her you wouldn�t be willing to take the chance of getting hurt again.� Nick said
�Oh come on Nick. It�s not that serious.� Aaron said
�But it could be.� Nick said
�You�re crazy.� Aaron said
Tasha finished her classes for the day and headed off to work. She was happy because she knew after work she would be seeing Aaron. Something about that made her smile. She had really missed just hanging out with him. They weren�t just boyfriend and girlfriend, they had become friends. Tasha walked into her store and her co-worker/friend Elyse was just arriving.
�Hey Elyse.� Tasha said
�Hey Tash. What�s up?� Elyse asked
�Not much. What�s up with you?� Tasha asked
�Same shit different day. You look happy.� Elyse said
�Really? I�m hanging out with Aaron after work.� Tasha said
�Aaron? As in Aaron Carter? As in your ex-boyfriend?� Elyse asked
�Yeah, yeah and yeah.� Tasha said
�What brought that about?� Elyse asked
�We were talking yesterday and I invited him over.� Tasha said
�Oh. Are you getting back together?� Elyse asked
�Maybe. Not right now.� Tasha said
�That would be cool. You guys made a cute couple, even if he was only sixteen.� Elyse said
�Well now he�s seventeen.� Tasha said
�Not bad at all. Go for it.� Elyse said
�Thanks Elyse. I wish everyone were as understanding as you.� Tasha said
�Honey, people are always going to try and bring you down. You do what feels good for you.� Elyse said
�Yeah.� Tasha agreed
�Don�t worry. If Teagan gives you shit, tell her to butt out of your life.� Elyse said
�How did you know it was Teagan?� Tasha asked
�It�s always Teagan.� Elyse said
�Oh.� Tasha replied laughing slightly.
�It�s okay. I know how close you are.� She said
�It�s okay. I think she�s mad at me about this in some way.� Tasha said
�She�ll get over it.� Elyse said
�Yeah, I know. Thanks again Elyse.� Tasha said
�Anytime.� Elyse said
They worked and finally Tasha�s shift was over. She got her stuff together and walked out to her car. Once she got in, she took out her cell phone and called Aaron.
�Hey Tash.� He said
�Hey you. I�m leaving work now. Do you want me to come get you and then we can go back to my place?� she asked
�Sounds good. I�m here with Nick.� He said
�Cool. I�ll be there in like ten minutes.� She said
�Okay. I�ll be here.� He replied
They hung up and Tasha drove off to Aaron�s. She got there and he let her in the gate. She drove up to the house and got out of her car. She knocked on the door and Nick answered.
�Hi Tasha. Come on in.� he said
�Thanks. How are you Nick?� she asked
�I�m good. How are you?� he asked
�Good. Busy with school and work and stuff.� She said
�What year are you in now?� he asked
�My junior year.� She replied
�Wow, I remember when you were in like junior high.� He said
�Have we known each other that long?� she asked
�Yeah.� He said
�Wait that means Aaron was like eight. Oh wow.� She said
�Oh wow what?� Aaron asked as he walked over.
�We�ve known each other since you were like eight.� She said
�Ew, really?� he asked
�Uh huh.� She replied
�Wow. Ready to go?� he asked
�Yeah. See ya later Nick.� She said
�Bye Tash. See ya later Aar.� Nick said
Aaron waved and him and Tasha walked out to her car. She opened the doors and Aaron slid into the car. She started the car and drove to her house. They got to her apartment and went upstairs. She opened the door and Aaron followed her in.
�Wow, this is clean.� He said
�Yeah, mother�s coming over tomorrow. Oh joyous day.� She said rolling her eyes.
�You two still don�t get along?� he asked
�Oh God no. She says my father spoils me too much.� She replied
�Why? Because he pays for your apartment?� he asked
�It�s his anyway so I don�t know what her problem is. She just hates me because I took dad�s side when they got divorced.� She said
�Doesn�t that sound familiar.� He said
�Oh, I keep forgetting you know what I�m talking about. Have you talked to the Abominable Snow Mom?� she asked
�Not recently.� He said
�Good.� She replied
�You know you�re the only person who encourages me not to talk to my mother.� He said
�That�s because I was right there when all that shit went down between you. I was the one who was there for you the most.� She said
�Yeah. I don�t know what I would have done without you.� He said
�Suffered a long and miserable time alone?� she suggested
�Well yeah.� He said
�Are you hungry?� she asked
�Yeah. What are we having?� he asked
�Do you want pizza or Chinese? I�m not cooking.� She said
�Pizza�s fine.� He said
Tasha picked up the phone and ordered a pizza. Then she turned back to Aaron.
�So, go pick out a movie.� She said
�Okay.� He said
He walked over to where Tasha had all her DVDs. He looked through them a few times before deciding on one. He walked back over to the couch and handed her the DVD.
�Napoleon Dynamite? Excellent choice!� she exclaimed
�I�ve never seen it.� He said
�I didn�t drag you to see it with me this summer?� she asked
�No.� he replied
�Oh my God, how horrible of me.� She said
�It�s no big deal. We�ll watch it tonight.� He said
�Yeah I know. You know I have to be dramatic about things.� She said
�That�s your inner starlet coming out.� He said
�Oh yes. Water! Fill my trailer with water!� she joked
�You�re not Dory the fish.� He said
�Yes I am cause I can speak whale.� She said
�You worry me.� He said
�I worry myself.� She replied
They went to see �Finding Nemo� on their first date. Tasha loved it so much that when it came out on DVD, Aaron bought it for her. She was always quoting the movie or something to that capacity. She loved it because whenever she watched it, she was reminded of her first date with Aaron. That day was really special to her.
The pizza came and Tasha put on the movie. She loved �Napoleon Dynamite� so she was laughing hysterically at almost everything in the movie. Aaron laughed a lot too but most of the time he was laughing because Tasha was laughing. He loved to see her happy and smiling and he noticed that with him she was like that all the time. After the movie was over, and the pizza was gone, Aaron and Tasha sat cuddled on the couch. Tasha laid herself in Aaron�s arms and turned on the television. Neither one of them spoke; they just laid together and watched whatever stupid show was on. Both of them were happy to be together. Soon Aaron could feel Tasha�s body become heavy. He looked down and saw her eyes fluttering open and closed. He shook her gently and she sat up.
�I think you better drive me home before you fall asleep.� He said
�Do you want to just sleep over?� she asked
�I would, but I have to be up early.� He said
�Fine pooper. Let�s go.� She said
She got up and put her sneakers on. She grabbed her car keys and they left. She drove to his house and when she got there she parked the car.
�I had a lot of fun tonight.� Tasha said
�Yeah, so did I. Thanks for inviting me over.� Aaron said
�No problem really. Call me tomorrow.� She said
�Okay. I love you.� He said kissing her cheek.
�I love you too.� She said
Aaron got out of the car and Tasha waited until he got into the house before she pulled off. As she drove back to her house, it hit her. She had told Aaron she loved him. But he had said it first. She all but had a panic attack while she was driving home. She knew she needed to talk to someone but she couldn�t call Teagan because Teagan would only say �I told you so.� She pulled up to her apartment and parked her car. She got into the elevator and ran into her house. She picked up the phone and decided to call the only person she knew she could talk to, her older sister Melanie. She dialed frantically and waited for Melanie to pick up.
�Hey Tash, what�s up?� Melanie asked when she finally picked up.
�Mel, I have a problem.� Tasha said
�What�s wrong?� Melanie asked
�Aaron told me he loved me.� Tasha said
�Aaron who?� Melanie asked
�Aaron Carter.� Tasha said
�Your ex-boyfriend?� Melanie asked
�Yes!� Tasha exclaimed
�When did this happen?� Melanie asked
�Like twenty minutes ago when I dropped him off at his house.� Tasha said
�You two hung out?� Melanie asked
�Yeah. I invited him over.� Tasha said
�I didn�t know you guys were hanging out again.� Melanie said
�Yeah, yeah. Can you stick to the subject here?� Tasha asked, becoming exasperated.
�Relax Tasha. Now, how did he say it?� Melanie asked
�He just said it and kissed me on the cheek before he got out of the car.� Tasha said
�And what did you say?� Melanie asked
�I said it back.� Tasha said
�You did?� Melanie asked
�Yes. I don�t know. I didn�t even realize it until after I pulled away.� Tasha said
�Uh huh. So you said it without thinking?� Melanie asked
�Yeah, I guess I did.� Tasha said
�You love him.� Melanie said simply.
�Melanie! How can you say that?� Tasha asked
�Because if you didn�t, when he said it, your automatic response wouldn�t have been to say it back. Trust me.� Melanie said
�But I mean, you know people say stuff and you just automatically respond.� Tasha said
�With something like that, you only say it like that without thinking if you mean it.� Melanie said
�I can�t love Aaron.� Tasha said
�Why not?� Melanie asked
�We�re not even back together.� Tasha said
�So? Obviously that wasn�t a problem when you said I love you.� Melanie said
�I told ya Mel, I didn�t think about it, I just automatically responded.� Tasha said
�Okay, I�ll ask you this. How do you feel when you�re with Aaron?� Melanie asked
�Happy.� Tasha said without thinking.
�Besides happy. That�s a superficial feeling.� Melanie said
�I don�t know how to describe it. I just am. I feel myself smiling a lot when we�re together.� Tasha said
�Uh huh. Would you let him see you without your makeup on?� Melanie asked
�Yes. I hardly ever wear makeup Mel.� Tasha said
�Oh that�s right. Would you let him see you with a face full of gross PMS acne?� Melanie asked
�Sure. I mean, have you seen his skin? It wouldn�t be that bad.� Tasha said
�Uh huh. You�d let him see you when you were puking your brains out into a toilet?� Melanie asked
�Yeah.� Tasha replied
�Okay. And how do you feel when you�re with him?� Melanie asked again.
�I don�t know. It�s indescribable.� Tasha said
�Oh Tasha, you�re so in love with him.� Melanie said
�Yeah right Mel.� Tasha scoffed
�Think about it, you�re always smiley and happy, you can�t describe why�do you get a funny feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see or think about him?� Melanie asked
�Yeah.� Tasha replied
�Yup. It�s love.� Melanie said
�Mel, I can�t be in love with Aaron Carter.� Tasha said
�Why not?� Melanie asked
�Because�I can�t.� Tasha said
�Does this have anything to do with the fact that he�s only seventeen?� Melanie asked
�No�yes�no�a little.� Tasha replied
�Tash, honey, you can�t let what other people say affect your feelings. If you care about him, be with him. Fuck what other people, especially Teagan have to say.� Melanie said
�I know. What should I do?� Tasha asked
�Call Aaron right now and talk to him. Chances are he�s feeling the same way.� Melanie said
�Thanks Melly.� Tasha said
�No problem. I�ll talk to you tomorrow.� Melanie said
�Okay. Night.� Tasha said
�Night.� Melanie said
They hung up and Tasha sighed. Melanie was right, she did love Aaron. She didn�t want to admit it to herself but she had no choice. She really loved him. Regardless of age and any other factor, she loved him. She picked up the phone and dialed Aaron. He picked up on the first ring.
�I was hoping you�d call.� He said
�Yeah, I think we need to talk.� She said
�Me too.� He agreed
�You can go first.� She said
�No, you go first.� He said
�We�ll go at the same time.� She said
�Okay. On the count of three. One�two�three�� he counted
�I love you.� They both said
�Wait, did you just say what I think you just said?� he asked
�If you think I said I love you then yes I did.� She replied
�You love me?� he asked
�You love me.�� She said
�I know. When I said it in the car, it was kind of an accident but it made me think and I realized that I really do love you.� He said
�Yeah, I just automatically responded. I didn�t even register what you said until I was halfway home. Then I called my sister and asked her about it.� She said
�And she gave you all the logical reasons why you love me?� he asked
�Yeah.� She said
�My brother did the same thing.� He replied
�Go fig. So does this mean we�re back together?� she asked
�We�re back together.� He said
�Wow. It feels nice.� She said
�Yeah, it does.� He agreed
�Well we better get some sleep. I�ll talk to you tomorrow.� She said
�Yup. Night.� He said
�Night.� She said
They hung up and Tasha sighed again. There they were, together again.