"Gosh, I’m so tired," Taylor muttered the next – or actually that – morning, he rubbed at his sleepy eyes as he left the tent. Zac was sitting helping Cody and Hacker make the sandwiches, Isaac was filling the separate water bottles of the entire group with what was left in the big water bottle, and Nigel, Blake and Bobby had gone to get more water from the river.

"I slept like a baby," Zac smiled, his eyes were glittering from good sleep, and his cheeks were a peachy complexion, he looked refreshed, which was ten times more than even Taylor felt.

"I didn’t sleep at all," Taylor mumbled, he took a seat on the log next to Zac, and leaned down, holding his head in his hands, wishing he wasn’t so tired.

"Well if you hadn’t been taking a moonlight stroll with Bobby at four am, you’d probably be wide awake and in a better mood," Isaac mentioned.

"Moonlight stroll? Last night?" Zac asked, looking up from what he was doing. "Taylor, you dawg, I thought you said that you and Bobby weren’t seeing each other?"

"We aren’t," Taylor frowned.

"Just as well, too. Did Bobby mention she’s sort of seeing a guy?"

"Nope…" Taylor said nonchalantly.

"Well, you don’t want to end up being the other guy, do you? Aren’t you bothered?" Cody asked.

"Why should I be? I don’t even like her that way," Taylor shrugged.

"I thought Ike said you went for a moonlit stroll last night…" Cody tilted her head to the side.

"We didn’t, we were talking, she had a nightmare, it was because of that stupid story you told," Taylor answered. "I heard her screaming in her sleep and I woke her up, and we left the camp area so we didn’t disturb anyone talking about it," He said.

"Okay, whatever," Cody said in a tone of disbelief. Taylor rolled his eyes. Why did girls always have to twist the truth and make it into this whole rumour-thing?

"If Tay says he’s not going out with her, he isn’t," Zac shrugged. "He doesn’t lie, if he was lying, his face would be redder than anything," he added.

"Thanks, Zac," Taylor stated. "Listen, Ike, Cody, you can make assumptions, but you’re the only ones who’ll end up getting wrong over it," Taylor began shovelling a sandwich, water and some other necessities for the hike ahead into his rucksack. "Get your facts right," he mumbled.

"Don’t be such a grouch, Tay," Isaac mumbled.

Don’t be such a jerk, Taylor thought.

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

"Gosh, its hot, even for May," Bobby hiked up slope of ground sheltered beneath a canopy of trees.

Taylor watched her every movement, the flex of her thigh as she climbed up slopes, and continued along the walk, she took graceful strides, but she was a powerful girl, he could see that.

"I know," Taylor wiped his sweating brow, wishing he’d brought a headband or something. "I bet its hotter on the other side of the woods, I think I heard Hacker mention that that was the least sheltered part of the woods, the sun will be shining directly on the others," he climbed over a large rock and up onto a higher section of ground, he helped her up onto the rock. "Did Cody tell you she thought me and you were like, y’know, hanging on the sly?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Cody thinks too much, and she always talks without thinking, so it’s a great combination. But we’re best friends as well as cousins, so its just somethin’ I have to live with," Bobby shrugged with a sweet smile, her dark eyes finding his. "I mean, from what I heard, your brothers were making the same assumptions?" she asked.

"Ike is, but then he’s like that, but I think he’s just teasing," Taylor stopped for a moment. "I need a rest," he uttered, he sat on a rock, and took out his water bottle and took a drink. "This heat is making me feel so dehydrated."
"Me too," Bobby sat beside him, her hands on her bare knees. "We have to save water for the trip back though," she reminded.

"Isn’t there gonna be anymore rivers along the way? Clean water to drink?"

"Nope. We’re all uphill from here, the nearest water is down there…" she motioned down to all the trees below."

Taylor scratched at the bridge of his nose. "How much further to the cave?" he asked.

"It’ll take another hour or so," Bobby answered, she readjusted her Seahawks cap, her hair pulled through the hole in the back. "Uh, Taylor?" she asked softly.

"Yeah…"

"Did Cody tell you I already sort of have a guy back home in Tulsa?"

"Yeah, she did," Taylor answered.

"Oh. You’re not mad are you?"

"No, why should I be?" Taylor asked, he offered her a drink of water, she refused. "I really don’t have time for girlfriends – don’t get me wrong, you’re a nice girl, and I like you, but just as a friend, besides, has it occurred to you we’ve known each other for all of….twenty hours or something?" he smiled.

"I know, I know, its Cody, she gets everything messed up, she was actually trying to get me to ask you out…hell, I just met you yesterday…"

"I can’t help but feel I was asked along as a set up or something," Taylor put his water away back in his backpack.

"Nah, actually Cody would have done something like that, but originally it was just gonna be Hacker and Nigel and Blake – and probably you. But, like, Cody mentioned it would be good to get away and there would be adults so they could fool around without getting in trouble and no one would have to know," Bobby explained, she tightened the laces of her hiking boots. "You ready, Taylor?"

"Yeah," Taylor stood up, taking in a deep breath. "I’m ready…"

They began walking again, and talking.

"So…I know its rude to ask, because you really don’t seem to think about it too much, but…the fame?" she asked.

"What about the fame?" Taylor asked, turning slightly to her, continuing with his walking.

"Is it more than you dreamed of? Is it fun?" she asked.

"It can be fun, but it also gets nasty. Sure, getting to go around the world see things, do things, meet exciting people meet stars, go on television, all of that stuff is cool. But that’s just the easy stuff, the fun stuff. Anyway, I’ gonna bore you with the details of it, sometimes it sucks, sometimes it rocks. That’s all I can really say without breaking the band rules," Taylor shoved his hands into the pockets of his shorts.

"Okay, Tay…this is it," she said. "From now on it’s a power climb," she motioned to some cragged rocks leading up and up, Taylor stared, feeling that the climb would never end.

"Oh, my god…" Taylor whispered. "Bobby, that looks dangerous," he let out in an utter.

"It is," Bobby said. "That’s why we have to rope together in case one of us falls…"

"So that who falls pulls the other down?" Taylor asked worriedly.

"Don’t be such a sourpuss," Bobby slapped his shoulder affectionately. "Its easy, I’ve done it before. Once you get to the top it gets a little more difficult, but right now, its easy, it’ll take no time to get to the top…" she put her backpack on the ground, knelt down and began pulling ropes out. "Don’t worry," she added in her softest voice and she gave him her most confident smile. "You don’t think I’d let anything happen to you, do I?"

"No, I trust you," Taylor smiled worriedly. "Its myself I don’t trust."

Taylor was exhausted, this climbing was a tricky business, he couldn’t do it himself, Bobby had to tell him where to put his feet, where to hold, what to do, what not to do. Taylor felt a little embarrassed, not to mention whiney.

"How much further?" he asked, wishing he could free his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, but unfortunately both hands were in use at that moment, and he didn’t DARE take his hands away from the rock for a millisecond.

Bobby edged her way up the side of the crag on barely anything to hold onto, Taylor could see she was a talented climber, now that they were up there, he couldn’t help but wonder how they were getting down. "Not much further," Bobby promised, she took his hand and placed it on a rock. "This one," she state.

Taylor hauled himself up, his arms were aching, his hands felt sore and rough from the rock, and the back of his neck, only half covered by his golden hair, was beginning to take on heat from the sun, he wondered if he’d get sunburn, he could already feel that he probably would on the backs of his legs. "So you do this often?"

Bobby grabbed onto a rock and swung her way around to an easier section of the crag to climb. "Yeah, I’m in an absailing class in school, we do this every week and stuff…" she explained.

Taylor was about to ask her something else, but his foot slipped and he grabbed on tightly to the rocks, his eyes wide, he let out a howl of pain as the sharp rocks dug into his flesh.

"TAY!" Bobby yelped, she swung back over and grabbed him by the waist. She was strong, she held him with a power Taylor could have never imagined in a girl. "Put your foot next to mines," she instructed.

Taylor gingerly put his foot where hers was, it didn’t look very safe, but it had to be safer than swinging from a rock and her arms. Soon, he could support his own weight again.

"Okay, look, Taylor," Bobby motioned up with her eyes. "Just that much futher…"

Taylor looked up, then frowned, and swung his head to the side and looked down, they were up so high, it seemed like five hundred feet to him, he shuddered. If I had fallen, I could have died, he realised. And I would have pulled Bobby down with me!

"What do I keep telling you? Don’t look down!" Bobby hissed. "You want to scare yourself?"

Taylor began hoisting himself up. "No, lets just do this…how are we getting down anyway?"

"Down the back of this cliff is a path that leads down, its steep, but you can walk it."

"Why didn’t we just come up that way?"

"It takes longer to reach, you’d have to walk along the whole crag," she explained. "Its better doing it on the way down because you’re more tired too, it takes less time going down than it does going up," she added.

"I’m tired now," Taylor breathed.

Bobby and Taylor continued with the ascent up the brownstone cliff, and then reached the top, Bobby helped haul him over.

The moment Taylor reached the top, he collapsed onto the flat surface on a patch of dry grass, letting out a groan of complete exhaustion.

Bobby knelt next to him, untying the rope from his waist. "Haven’t you ever climbed before?"

"Yeah, but not like this," Taylor sat up weakly, he pulled off his backpack, and he pulled out his bottle of water.

"Man, Taylor, your neck is as red as your face," Bobby moved his hair away from his neck. "You’re gonna get sunburnt."

"That’s your fault," Taylor decided jokingly.

Bobby took out her water bottle, and pressed the plastic against his skin, "hold still," she commanded.

"What are you—ah…" Taylor let out a sigh of relief as the cool bottle hit his skin, he closed his eyes, it felt refreshing almost.

Bobby took his hand and placed his hand against the bottle, keeping it there, it was then she noticed his hands were slightly cut. "Oh, Taylor…" she bit her bottom lip, her dark eyes widening.

"Its okay…it hardly—OW!" he yelped as she took his wrist firmly and lightly brushed her fingertips against the cuts on the palm of his hand.

"It does hurt…" Bobby sighed. "Listen…I didn’t think to bring a medical kit – at least nothing that will handle this…but…you stay here, okay?" she asked, she stood up, brushing dirt off of her bare knees.

"Okay," Taylor agreed, he sat with his back against a rock, looking around, he could see the entrance to the cave, it was dark, he was glad he’d brought his lantern.

Bobby arrived a moment later with some leaves. "Here," she said. "These should cool your hand," she took his hand and she wrapped some large leaves Taylor noticed had been growing out of the ground. Sure enough, the leaves cooled his raw hands, he closed his eyes for a moment, as the stinging began to pass.

"Um…do you think you want to go back?" Bobby asked. "Because if you want to go back and do something about your sunburn and your hands—"

"I’m fine. I didn’t climb this rock all the way for nothing, I want to see that cave," he stated smiling weakly.

"You look so tired," she decided.

"I am…" Taylor sighed. "But I can have a chance to get some strength back if we have lunch now," he smiled.

Bobby smiled at his spirit. "Sure."

Taylor looked down over the woodland area, all he could see below was a canopy of trees, covering the actual woodland. It seemed it was an endless sea of trees and greenery in contrast against the cerulean blue sky and the yellow sun pouring down onto the scene, the beams of light seemed to almost sparkle. It was breathtaking and extremely relaxing to just look down into it. Taylor drew in his breath and let out a happy sigh, forgetting everything he’d been worrying about – the band, his troubles…this camping trip which had almost begun to be a disaster, but right now, had turned into a wonderful experience.

"Its beautiful, isn’t it?" Bobby was sitting, holding a sandwich, but so far, in the last ten minutes, she’d only taken two bites, she seemed to be more interested in the scenery than anything else.

"Its breathtaking," Taylor admitted, he stood up, and stood so near to the cliff he could feel updrafts of cooling wind touch his skin. "It’s like some sort of drug in a way, being up here, its like…the ultimate high," he laughed, he put his arms up as if he were flying and he held his head to the sky, letting the sun touch his face.

Bobby put her sandwich down on her plastic food container and she joined him, looking up to the sky, her arms folded, "I love it here, I guess nature is in my blood oR something," she gave a shrug, smiling distantly.

Taylor sat right at the edge, his feet dangling over the end, he put his hands in his lap. "I wish Ike were here, he would have loved this…"

"Hmmm?" Bobby asked, sat beside him, one leg curled under her, she tucked a loose wisp of hair behind her ear. "Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve been complaining at your brothers ever since you got here…"

"That’s just because I guess I’m a bit of a sourpuss, like you said," Taylor smiled distantly. "Its just…when you know people so well, especially family…you sometimes get a little sick of their company, but then…the moment you get away from them...you feel like you need them there…"

"I know, like I said, me and Cody are best friends. I know being cousins isn’t nearly as special a relationship as it is with brothers, but its kept us together, and besides…I don’t have any friends really apart from Hacker, Nigel and Blake," she sighed. "And only then because Hacker and Cody are going out…so I guess I don’t have any real friends," she gave a distant sigh.

Taylor turned to her, and looked at her profile. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "What am I? Chopped liver?" he asked with a slight laugh.

Bobby turned to him, finding his eyes, her dark mysterious eyes showed some confusion. "We just met yesterday…"

Taylor tilted his head to the side. "Bobby, we might not know each other well, but that could change," he gave a sweet smile, looking at her, cocking his head to the side.

"Are you serious?"

"Why not be friends? I told you I wanted to be your friend earlier."
"Taylor, do you realise when we get back to Tulsa you’ll probably never see me again?"

"Of course I will Bobby, don’t be stupid…" Taylor gripped her hand with his – despite the fact it hurt his palm to do so. "I promise you I will see you again."

"Thanks, Taylor," she smiled.

"You better finish lunch and then we can get going on the exploration of that cave," he smiled.

"Um…I’m not hungry," she walked over to where she’d left her lunch. "You want it?"

"No, I’m stuffed, Cody really filled those sandwiches thick, it was so filling," he said.

"Okay, well, if lunch is finished, we can get started," she smiled, and she put her lunch in its container and put the container in her backpack and she pulled her flashlight out. "We’re really gonna need this," she said.

Taylor pulled his lantern out of his backpack and he checked it was working. "I brought this…"

"Good thinking, that’s more light than this thing," she belted her flashlight which seemed to be sporting dud batteries. They began a slow trek over to the entrance of the cavern. "Well, Taylor, this is it…" Bobby motioned inside. "This is where Iylanda was murdered for accusation of being a witch. Not to mention witches were killed here…makes it kind of spooky, don’t ya think?"

"Yeah…" Taylor agreed gingerly stepping forward. "Question, is it possible for there to be bears in there?" he asked.

"No, bears wouldn’t stand the climb up this high, there's no food supplies up here, it’s a hell of a climb, I doubt bears would be up here," she smiled. "C’mon," she stepped through the entrance of the cave, just as her flashlight worked, she flickered the light over the place. "Empty…come on, see for yourself," she encouraged.

Taylor stepped in and looked around. Sure enough it was empty, the cave was just a series of rounded walls and stones on the ground, it looked incredibly plain.

Bobby noticed his almost disappointed expression. "Oh, don’t worry, Tay, it gets better," she promised, "c’mon," she took his hand and lead him further down the large hallow-cave. "It isn’t really that spooky, but its interesting to think that I’m walking where witches walked so many years ago…" she admitted. She let go of his hand near a large rock and she moved near the rock. "Tay, please tell me you’re thin enough to slip through here," she said.

Taylor edged forwards and leaned towards her, he held onto her to keep himself steady and he looked over her shoulder. There was a narrow passage entering into a dark cavern where there was nothing possibly visible. "Um, no problem," he nodded. "You go first, okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded, and she handed him her flashlight. "Here, take this," she ordered, then she began slipping into the passage. "I’m in…gimme the flashlight, please," she reached her arm through.

Taylor handed her the flashlight, and then handed her his lantern, "Here," he said. "Take this a moment while I get through," he said.

Bobby took the lantern from him, and inside the passageway lit up, Taylor slipped through, his foot catching at an awkward place in the passage.

"Bobby, my foot is stuck," Taylor whispered.

"Hold on," Bobby knelt down, holding the lantern next to his foot. "Its caught under this rock, and in between this bigger rock, she patted the rock. "Hold still and I’m gonna loosen your foot, okay?" she asked.

"Okay," Taylor nodded. "Hurry up, please, my ankle hurts, its caught in a really weird position," he winced.

"Okay, pull your foot now," Bobby instructed as she moved the rock slightly.

The large rock, which was all that had originally been blocking most of the passageway began to shake a little.

"Omigod!" Bobby let out a yelp of shock. "Taylor…I just took this rock away and it was all that was holding this up!"

Taylor held his arm against the rock feeling its enormous weight begin to push back on him. "Oh god…Bobby, get out of the way! NOW!" he yelled, and he let go of the rock to shove her out of the way.

The large rock came crashing down, along with a good portion of the roof.

Taylor raised his head and opened his eyes, he felt a pain shoot up his leg instantly, and he let out a holler of pain, "Oh god," he groaned. "Bobby?"

There was no answer from Bobby. As the dust from the fallen rocks began to clear, Taylor saw a shocking scene before him, Bobby was lying on the ground, her head had hit a rock, and a bloody gash was against her temple, she was unconscious.

"Bobby!" Taylor yelled in panic, he’d shoved her to save her and he’d probably hurt her more than this rock could have. He tried to move, but he couldn’t, his leg was trapped by this huge rock, and some rubble, which had fallen from the ceiling. He groaned, his leg was in agony, he tried dragging his leg out from under the rock, but was unable to. "Bobby!" he called. "Bobby! Can you hear me?!"

Bobby was indeed unconscious, and wouldn’t be able to answer for quite some time. Taylor looked around helplessly, his lantern, lying on its side, lit up the caverns brightly, making everything seem warm, but at the same time, everything seemed fuzzy. Taylor looked over his shoulder as much as he could, the passageway was blocked, he closed his eyes tightly, blinking back tears of hopelessness. Didn’t this always happen in the movies? Taylor had never believed these things actually happened. Now he did.

He laid his head on his arm and began sobbing in pain, they were miles away from any kind of help, no communication.

No, wait…

Taylor realised he did have some sort of communication, he had his cellphone in his backpack. Still, his backpack was on his back, and he couldn’t move right at all, and there was a pain in the small of his back, probably from a fallen rock having hit him.

Taylor tried to move and get his backpack, but with such conditions, his leg trapped, his back in pain, he couldn’t move correctly, he gave up, and closed his eyes, intent on resting.

It was almost half an hour later when Taylor heard Bobby let out a groan, and he opened his eyes. Bobby was coming to, her eyes blinking, she looked groggy and confused.

"Bobby!" Taylor called in relief that she seemed to be physically okay, apart from the cut on her head.

"Oh…don’t shout…" she pleaded, holding her head, "Taylor," she added as if she’d just remembered. "Oh, my head…Wha—oh…" she’d been prepared to ask what was about to happen, but she received her answer with the condition of Taylor and the passage. "Tay? Are you okay?" she immediately asked, she crawled over weakly, she raised his head to hers, to look at him.

"My back hurts, and my leg is caught under the rock," he groaned, he struggled with great difficulty and didn’t succeed. "Bobby…there's a cellphone in my backpack, if you would be so kind as to…"

"Okay…here, let me undo these straps," Bobby gently lifted his arm and rested his elbow on her lap, while she undone the strap, then did the other, and she removed the bag, she began delving in. "Okay, got it…" she smiled enthusiastically. "Um…who do I call? Mountain Rescue?"

"Call Ike…we have to let him know we’re in trouble so they know where we are first," Taylor suggested, he hated the thought of Isaac being paranoid about Taylor not showing up.

"Okay," Bobby turned on the phone and she waited as Taylor read out the number, then she anticipated. "Just static," she groaned.

"Move around a little," Taylor suggested, he let out another groan, the rock seemed to be getting heavier and heavier on his leg by every passing moment.

"Tay, its not working," Bobby began pacing. "Face it, we’re trapped…" she uttered.

"Bobby, do you think you can…help me get out from under this rock?" he asked in a whisper of pain.

Bobby moved over, putting the phone down. "Anything you want, Tay…" she took a hold of the rock and began lifting as much as she could, "any good?" she asked, she lifted more.

Taylor had to use every ounce of strength left in him to tug himself free, when he got out from under the rock, he fell weakly back to the ground.

"Oh, god, Tay…" Bobby gasped, she scrambled over and placed a hand on his bare leg, there was a deep gash on his calf, and the back of his leg was beginning to bruise already, swelling and looking an ugly reddish brown. "The cut is going to get infected with all this dirt here," she bit her lip, she took her water bottle out of her bag and she opened it. "This is REALLY gonna sting," she decided. "Better find a bullet to bite on," she added with a little humour, she pulled off her Tee, ripped it in half, and she soaked some of it in water.

"I can take it," Taylor tried to be brave, he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, she had one of those little bra-cropped-tops covering her luckily, still, he turned away, closing her eyes.

"Oh, don’t be stupid, Taylor," she rolled her eyes. "I ain’t got that much to see anyway, and this pretty much covers everything, you can look," she let out a laugh. "But its sweet that you didn’t want to," she pressed the wet tee to Taylor’s calf, instantly, setting off a very sharp stinging sensation through his whole leg, he yelled at the shock of how painful it was.

"Ssh," Bobby used her free hand to stroke his sweat-soaked hair away from his cheek, she ran her hand over his hair in a very soothing way, it made him forget the pain.

"Oh, god, it hurts," Taylor hissed, hot tears of agony burning at his eyes.

"I know, I know, I’m trying to be as gentle as I can," she said in a soft voice.

Taylor let out shuddering breaths. "I know, I know," he repeated her first part of that sentence.

"Here," she reached her hand to his and held it. "If it hurts, just squeeze my hand for comfort…" she smiled.

"Okay," Taylor nodded breathlessly, biting his lip so hard he thought it would bleed. The cold wet rag of what was left of Bobby’s tee felt like it was soaked in hydrochloric acid and pressed firmly against his raw wound.

She began gently dabbing at the cut with the cold water tee, blood reddening the once white cotton. "Think you’ll be able to walk?" she asked.

"I dunno…" Taylor whispered.

"Okay, just turn over slowly, I need to bandage it up so it doesn’t get dirty," she said, she helped him turn over, then she began mending up the cut very efficiently.

"Y’know," Taylor breathed in pain, "you’d make a wonderful doctor."

She laughed. "Thanks," she finished with his leg. "Okay, now, I’m gonna lift you so you can sit up on the rock…"

Taylor grabbed onto her shoulders, and used all of his strength to help her get him to a nearby rock. Soon enough, he was sitting up, rubbing at the back of his hurt leg gingerly, frowning in agony.

Bobby looked at the rubble-blocked passageway. "Hmm…I think I could manage this…"

"Bobby…you’ll tire yourself out more, you look exhausted…" Taylor whined at her. "Let yourself rest…"

"Okay, listen…I’ll rest for a while, but only for an hour or so, because if I don’t get this open eventually, we could die of suffocation, there's no real air in here, its so dusty…plus, we only have so much water, and the heat in here will kill us."

"Okay, okay," Taylor nodded, understanding.

She sat next to him on the rock.

"I’m so tired," Taylor let out a yawn, exhaustion seeping in all over.

"You look it," Bobby admitted. "Here, you can lay your head on my lap while you sleep…"

"What about you?"

"I’ll be fine," Bobby assured.

Taylor was too tired and too hurt to argue, he laid his head on her lap, and soon feel asleep to the feel of her hand running through his hair, and her soft humming to herself.

Taylor opened his eyes to find that he was lying prone on the rock, he’d drifted off into sleep sometime ago. Where was Bobby?

He sat up, finding that this hurt both his back and his leg, but he survived the urge to scream out. He looked towards the entrance to find Bobby hard at work pulling rocks away from there, making her way out, dodging as some other ones fell. She looked tired, but determined. Taylor stood, though it was more painful than he could handle, and he limped over, wincing all the way. "Bobby…you’re wearing yourself out."

"Would you rather die in here?" Bobby stopped and turned to him. Her dark eyes were almost angry.

"No," Taylor then answered. "But I don’t want you dying of exhaustion," he laughed. "Here…let me do this…you—"

"Taylor, I’m doing this, like it or not, I’m not one of those girls who likes to sit tight and let the man do all the work," she pulled a large rock from the pile and threw it across the cave with brutal strength.

"I see that…you’re a very powerful person," Taylor admitted, looking a little worried.

Bobby smiled weakly. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap…I just hate feeling trapped. God, I feel so stupid," she shook her head and she took her cap off, her shoulder length silken brown hair fell over her shoulders.

"You’re not stupid, just scared I guess," Taylor began pulling at rocks. "Its probably getting dark, I didn’t bring a watch, but my mind is telling me its around sunset or something…" he said, changing the subject.

"I feel that too," she nodded. "C’mon, the sooner we do this, the sooner-YES!" she shoved Taylor back, and scooted out of the way as the rubble at the bottom collapsed and the passage was free. "We’re out!"

Taylor laughed in relief and helped her climb over the rubble to make her way through the passage, Taylor followed, still limping. Straight ahead, the entrance-exit of the cave was filled with a brilliant orange and yellow light. "It is sunset," he commented with a smile. He looked at her, her chest only covered with her little bra-cropped-top, it looked a little indecent. "Here," he said, taking off his T-shirt, rather going bare-chested than her. He put the T-shirt on her, she seemed so exhausted she could barely move.

"Thanks," Bobby pulled his arm around her shoulders, "c’mon, we’re offski."

They reached the outside, the sun was setting behind the trees, the sky was filled with pink fluffy clouds, Taylor stopped to look at it.

"Y’know, even though I just nearly died in a cave almost being crushed by falling rocks…" Taylor began. "I’d still come up here…" he smiled in pain.

Bobby leaned against him, sighing. "I think it will be a while before I come up here again," she confessed. "But, hey…I will come back," she added. "It’s a beautiful thing," she added

It’s a beautiful thing, Taylor thought. What was beautiful? "What do you mean it’s a beautiful thing?"

"I don’t know…its just something my grandpa used to say when he came here, I guess the beautiful thing is nature or something, I don’t know…" she shrugged. "Are you ready for the walk – sorry, I mean the limp – down?" she giggled.

"Yeah, ready and willing," he joked.

Just then, they heard a high-pitched howl from inside the cave, it sounded like the cry of a tormented soul. They turned and looked at each other.

"What was that?" Taylor asked in a squeak, he looked back into the dark cave.

Bobby gripped onto his arms in a desperate way. "I dunno…but, like…I don’t want to find out…"

And with that, they hurried off!

"Where the hell have you two been?!" Isaac demanded, it was one in the morning, the campsite was lit by the fire, and everyone was sitting, with worried looks on their faces. Taylor and Bobby had just arrived back, drawing more attention than ever with their dirty and hurt appearance.

"Bobby!" Cody cried, she jumped up and into Bobby’s arms. "You had me sooooo worried…" she said in a very emotional voice. "We thought something might have gone wrong…oh, thank god you’re okay!"

Bobby smiled in relief her cousin cared so much.

Taylor limped over to Zac and Isaac, Isaac grabbed onto Taylor to keep him steady. "What happened?"

"No sooner were we in the cave when the bloody roof collapsed," Taylor mumbled, we were trapped, Bobby was unconscious, my leg got caught…" he sighed. "Then the walk home took so long and my leg hurts so much…" he motioned to his leg.

"Are you okay?" Zac asked worriedly, holding onto Taylor’s arm.

Taylor smiled and rubbed Zac’s hair in brotherly affection. "I’m fine, I’m fine, just a little hurt. I swear, I’d know that was going to happen, I wouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning," he sat down.

"Well, any hauntings going on up there…" Blake asked interestedly. "Any screams? Meet any witches? See any ghosts?"

"Well…" Bobby began, but Taylor interrupted.

"Nope, not a thing, just like I thought, a lot of bull…" Taylor lied, he looked at Bobby and gave her a slight smile.

Bobby nodded. "Yeah, nothing, weird, I really expected something to happen, too," she added.

"Oh, well," everyone shrugged.

"Taylor…want me to fix your leg up?" Isaac asked with that brotherly concern.

"Nah, you guys should go to bed," Taylor said. "I can do it," he said. "I’ll be going to bed as soon as I’m done…"

Bobby had already left off to get the medical kit. "I’ll do it!" she called.

Taylor smiled. She’s not like any girl I’ve met, he thought about Bobby.

"Okay," Isaac agreed. "We’re really tired…remember and put the fire out before you go to sleep…"

Everyone went to bed apart from Taylor, then Bobby climbed out of her tent with her medical kit underarm. She got Taylor to sit on one of the makeshift log-benches and she stretched his leg out.

Taylor found himself mesmerised by watching the fire, listening to the crackling of the wood, watching the billowing smoke soaring up to the dark starry sky.

"Why didn’t you tell everyone about the screams from the cave?" Bobby asked in a careful tone.

"I wanted it to be between us…Besides, its likely that no one will believe us," Taylor added, he looked at her, the light of the fire glittering in her eyes, he smiled at her, but she didn’t notice.

"So…this is it," Bobby said with an almost soft disappointment in her voice.

"Huh?" Taylor asked in confusion.

"Well, just…y’know, tomorrow morning you start the trek to meet Hacker’s dad at the edge of the woods. And since me and Cody aren’t supposed to be with you we have to leave a lot later than you so we aren’t seen together…so technically, this is the last time we get together," she shrugged.

Taylor looked at her, watching as she cleansed the cut on his calf with a antiseptic wipe. It stung even more, but he’d grown to ignore it now. "I really had a good time," he said. "I like…it was a nice escape from the boring life I lead when I’m not on tour and stuff. I just feel tired, but y’know, relaxed, like I had a vacation from a vacation," he laughed.

"It was the best. And I found out that there are actually nice guys in the world. Guys who aren’t just after one thing," she smiled. "I’ll miss you."

But remember, I made a promise, I will see you back in Tulsa, it might not be often because of my career, but I swear I’ll see you again…"

"Thanks, Tay," Bobby wrapped a bandage around his leg and pinned it. "Okay, Tay, you better go to bed now," she said. "You’re up early tomorrow morning…we’ll speak then, okay?" she asked.

Taylor nodded, and got up, still limping. "Goodnight, Bobby."

"Night, Tay."

Everyone was busy that next morning, putting away tents, packing away other items and things, but Taylor found himself getting in the way. Bobby was finishing rolling up her tent and bagging it.

"So did you enjoy yourself?" Hacker asked, strapping on his backpack.

"Yes, definitely," Taylor answered. "I think we all did…"

Cody was helping Hacker with his backpack. "I’m glad you and Bobby got to be friends, she really needs other friends beside me – not that I don’t like hanging out with her, but apart from her guy back in Tulsa, she really does have no one…"

"I’m glad to make a friend," Taylor admitted. "Don’t get to make many genuine friends on the road, y’know?"

"Its nearly time to go," Hacker sighed, looking at Cody.

Then Cody and Hacker were kissing, and Taylor realised this was their goodbye, and he had to make his with Bobby right now.

Taylor made his way over to Bobby, still messing with her tent, he watched her, he thought about offering her help but realised she was a very independent person, and wouldn’t allow it. He smiled looking at her, she looked so familiar to him now, it was so wonderful to have a friend, a girl who was a friend, but wasn’t a girlfriend.

"Hey," Taylor knelt down beside her, still wincing in pain.

"You better go to the hospital when you get back to check that out," Bobby said instantly, gave him a stern look, one would expect from an concerned older sister.

"Yes, Dr. Ford," Taylor grinned, and he cuffed her chin playfully. "Whatever you say, Dr. Ford," he said.

She looked at him. "So when you get back, what's on your agenda?" she asked, she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"A few more days of rest, then I’ll be going to Australia for a concert, then…a few appearances on TV," Taylor sighed, he ran his fingers through his greasy hair – after being soaked in sweat, and with the heat and not being washed for two days, it certainly looked ugly – which was why he was glad there were no mirrors around! "It might be a while…" he referred to them seeing each other. "But the moment I get back I’ll call you or something and we can hang out…" he promised. "So what about you?"

"School, sprinting practise, after school work at a recreation centre," she explained. "Pretty basic compared to your schedule…"

"Sounds like yours is gonna be more fun than mines is though," Taylor added. "At least you’ll be taking it easy."

"Taylor, you REALLY need to wash your hair," Bobby noticed, she reached out and curled a lock of his blonde hair around her finger, she made a face. "If your adoring fans saw you now they’d take heart-attacks!" she laughed.

Taylor smirked. "I guess I look rough, huh?" he asked.

"Yeah, nothing a shower, shampoo and conditioner and maybe a detangler comb won’t handle, though," she decided, she gave a whimsical smile.

Taylor paused for a moment, this was small talk, he could tell. Neither of them really wanted to say goodbye. "This is awkward," he said softly.

"I know," Bobby shrugged. "Geez, two days and I feel like I’ve known you forever," her dark eyes left his.

"I know, its weird, I guess we were meant to be friends."

"Tay, are you ready?" Isaac asked, walking over a little weighed down by the tent and backpack., "we gotta go now."

"Yeah, just a minute, Ike," Taylor nodded.

"Nice meeting you, Bobby," Isaac shook Bobby’s hand. "I hope I see you again," he added, though there was no telling if he really meant it or not.

"Bye, Isaac," Bobby smiled.

Taylor watched Isaac go off, then he turned to Bobby. "Well, like Ike said, I gotta go," he sighed.

Bobby looked at him with some disappointment. "I know," she nodded.

Taylor thought for a moment. Why were goodbyes so hard? He thought for a moment, then reached to his wrist and took off a finely crafted bracelet made of coloured threads, patterned black with red and orange diamond shapes. He’d made it himself out of boredom on a plane, and had used his mothers embroidery threads to make it.. "I…uh…want you to have this," he said. "It’s a friendship bracelet," he smiled.

"Oh, Tay…I…"

"No, I insist…we are friends, and I want you to have my friendship bracelet," he stated powerfully, he tied it around her wrist, then he hugged her impulsively. "See ya, kid," he said, then he got up.

"See you around, Taylor…thanks for being a friend," Bobby smiled.

Taylor held her hands for a moment, then he let them go, his smile fading. "Bye, Bobby," he said, hearing the guys calling him from the edge of the clearing, then he turned and he had to go, he took one last look at her, and felt this giant ache in his heart, but then he smiled, thinking about the fun he’d had and the fun he would have with her when they met again. Until then, only the thought would have to be enough.

"Why so blue?" Isaac asked, Taylor and he had fallen back, Taylor was walking so slowly.

"I don’t know," Taylor shrugged. "I just…I really wanted to stay with Bobby…"

"She’s got a boyfriend, Tay, Cody told you that."

"I don’t want to go out with Bobby, I just want to hang out with her, y’know? She’s…she’s different…"

Isaac slung his arm around Taylor’s shoulders. "Its not the end of the world, and you are eventually gonna see her again…anyway, if she’s Cody’s cousin, and Cody goes out with Hacker, and Hacker hangs out with you, then eventually you’re gonna all get together."

"I know its not the end, but it’s the end of one of the best weekends I ever had. I have bruises, cuts…and a really sore back…but I’d go through it a hundred times for this type of fun…"

Isaac laughed. "Taylor, did you get a knock on the head when the roof caved in on that cave?" he asked.

Taylor laughed, rolling his eyes. "Ah, ya just don’t get it, do you?"

"Of course I get it," Isaac shook his head smiling. "You’re in love."

"I am not!"

"Are too!" Isaac retorted

"Am not!" Taylor whined

"Are too!"

"I’m not arguing…" Taylor folded his arms.

"Because you know you can’t win, because you’re in love."

"What, Tay’s in love?" Zac bounded over.

"Zac, beat it."

"Hold on, Tay. Ike, who is Tay in love with?" Zac demanded.

"Bobby…" Isaac answered.

"Ooooh, Bobby! Taylor and Bobby sittin’ in a tree…" Zac crooned

"K-I-S-S-I-N—" Isaac joined in.

"Guys?" Taylor asked harshly.

"Uh-huh, Taylor?" Isaac asked innocently.

Taylor rolled his eyes, shook his head, stated "Grow up." And then he went off to join the rest of the group, in an almost distant happy mood as he whistled a travellers tune, bounce in his step.

End.

***Authors Note – the title "It’s a Beautiful Thing" comes from the line in Chapter Nine. I was inspired for the title by the song "It’s a Beautiful Thing" by Ocean Colour Scene. Since I stole their title, I’ll put the lyrics of the song here, its only fair.

It’s a Beautiful Thing

Sonny went and flipped away and said he had to go

How could you ever say he never stayed alone?

And how could I belong with anyone you know

Come on now every lines a line I’ll never know

Oh……it’s a beautiful thing

Oh……it’s a terrible thing

Sometimes I can get along alone enough

Backing everyone away and never have enough

And how could I be playing every line for you?

Look at the things today that I can never choose

Oh……its a beautiful thing

Oh……it’s a terrible thing

Sometimes I could never ever fade again

Sometimes I could never ever fade again

Sometimes I could never ever fade again

And how could I be playing every line for you?

Look at the things today that I can never choose

Oh……it’s a beautiful thing

Oh……it’s a terrible thing