"So tell me about all the new girls in your life these days." Kylie said to Zac as the two of them walked out to her car in the student parking lot one day after school.

"Well, the only one I want to talk about is Hallie."

Kylie unlocked the doors of her sunfire. "Really? And what is it about Hallie that you seem to like so much?"

Zac climbed in the passenger seat next to her. "Well besides the fact that she's hot, she's really nice to everyone. You know, like caring and stuff."

"So she's got a good heart."

"Exactly." Zac nodded

Kylie started the engine and backed out of the parking space. "Anything else?"

"Mmm... I don't know." he shrugged, "Lots of stuff."

Kylie slammed on her brakes suddenly as a guy ran right in front of her car. She poked her head out the open window next to her. "Fuck you!" she yelled. She pulled her head back in the car and looked at Zac. "Sorry, probably just some freshmen." She saw the look on Zac's face and quickly apologized. "Oh no! I didn't mean ALL freshmen are bad... I... sorry."

Zac laughed. "It's okay."

"So anyway, before we were so rudely interrupted, I was going to ask you to specify the whole 'lots of stuff' thing."

"Aw come on, Ky. You're starting to sound like Isaac here. Asking me to specify what I mean."

"Alright, fine. We can just forget about it if that's what you really want."

"Thanks."

They rode the rest of the way home just listening to the radio. Kylie pulled her car into her driveway and cut the engine. She and Zac both got out, Zac begining his walk nextdoor.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked once he saw that she wasn't following him.

"Yeah, I gotta do a couple things. Tell Tay I'll be over in a few."

"Okay." he said, walking off.

Kylie walked inside and ran up to her room, flinging her backpack in the far corner. She ran a brush through her hair and re-applied some lip gloss before heading downstairs. She went into the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fridge, then decided to go nextdoor.

"He's up in his room." Zac said when he answered the front door.

"Thanks." Kylie called over her shoulder as she headed up the stairs. Once she got to Taylor's room, she knocked softly. She could hear him mumble something from the other side and she slowly opened the door, sliding through the doorway. "Hey." she said quietly, closing the door behind her. She walked over to his bed where he lay, and knelt down beside him. "How are ya?"

"How do I look?"

"Um... like shit?"

"Good, 'cause that's how I feel."

She brought her hand to the side of his face. "I'm sorry, sweetie. You'll make it through this though."

"I hope so. I'm so sick of being... well, sick."

Kylie couldn't help but laugh a little. She stood up and climbed on the bed next to him. She curled up to his warm body as he wrapped an arm around her. "So how was school?"

"It sucked without you there."

"I know, what can I say?" he smiled down at her.

She punched him lightly in the arm. "Shut up."

Soon after that, Kylie drifted off to sleep, leaving Taylor to lie there and listen to her even breathing pattern. He looked down at her peaceful, sleeping form and his heart ached. He couldn't stop this feeling he had for her. It was too strong now, there was nothing he could do about it.

* * *

Kylie slowly walked down the stairs a couple hours later, having just woken up from her nap. She found Zac sitting, watching tv in the living room.

"Did you guys fall asleep?" he asked when he saw her

"Yeah." she said around a yawn. "I think I'm gonna go now though. I've got a huge test tomorrow that I need to study for."

"Okay, is Tay still sleeping?"

"Yeah. He seems to be doing a little better now."

"That's good."

"Just tell him I said bye, will ya?"

"Sure."

Kylie started to leave but Zac stopped her. "Are you still gonna give me a ride to school tomorrow?"

She sighed. "I guess I can."

"You don't want to?"

"No, I'm just kidding with ya Zac. Why don't you come on over around seven, okay?"

"I'll be there."

"You better." she said, opening the front door. "Bye."

"See ya."

* * *

All the text seemed to blur together. "No, I have to study this." Kylie told herself. Type two comes from... she looked up and out the window. "Type two comes from... umm... dammit!" Her eyes scanned the text again for the section she had just been reading. Type two comes from... "Oh fuck it." she said, slamming the book shut. "Its no use." She leaned over and picked up the phone, dialing the number to nextdoor.

"Hello?"

"Hey Ike, is Taylor awake yet?"

"Uh... I think so, hang on just a sec. TAYLOR!!!"

A moment later, Kylie could hear another extension being picked up. "Lo?"

"Hey sweets, it's me."

"Hi... Ike hang up."

"Oh, sorry." Isaac said, quickly hanging up the phone.

"So anyways, how are ya?" Kylie asked

"Better, I actually ate dinner tonight."

"Wow, that's an improvement."

"I know. So what's up?"

"Mmm... not much. I tried studying for my test in Health tomorrow, but my mind was elsewhere."

"Really? Like where?"

"Oddly enough, it was on you."

Taylor smiled to himself. "Aw, were you worried about me?"

"Kinda, but mostly I was just thinking about everything that's been going on with us lately."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. And you know, Ky, I've been meaning to talk to you about that."

"Oh?"

"Well, I mean, you know I love you. And I know that you love me too."

Kylie waited with anticipation on the other end of the line. "Yeah... "

"And just earlier today, when I was watching you sleep, I realized just how strong my feelings for you are. And there isn't anything I can do to stop them... not that I'd want to or anything... but anyway, I just wanted to... " Taylor took a deep breath "just wanted to... tell you that." Dammit!

He just wanted to tell me that? "Oh, well... thank you... I guess."

Taylor dropped his head to his hands. What the hell is wrong with me?

* * *

"Come in!" Kylie called from in her kitchen the next morning. She knew it was Zac, and she would've gone to answer the door herself, but she was busy cleaning up her breakfast dishes.

"You almost ready?" she heard Zac's deep voice from behind her.

"Yeah, almost." She closed the dishwasher and turned around, grabbing her backpack from the one of the chairs at the table. "Let's roll."

Kylie turned and locked the front door just as she closed it behind herself, then walked over to her car that was parked in the driveway.

"Taylor?" she asked when she saw him leaning up against it. "What are you doing here?"

"Hitching a ride to school."

"But I thought you were still sick?"

"Nah, all better."

She gave him a quizical look, not sure whether or not she should believe him. "I don't want you puking in my car." she told him

"I said I'm not sick anymore!"

"Oh I know." she said, throwing her backpack on the floor behind her seat. "But, do you think you could drive tomorrow? I've been driving Zac's ass to school for the past three days while you've been sick."

"Hey!" Zac piped up from the backseat.

Kylie threw him an apologetic smile before getting in the car and starting the engine.

Taylor got in as well and glanced over at her. "I don't have any gas."

"So get some." she said simply

"I don't have any money."

"What?! Yes you do!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do, Tay." Zac said, "Remember that check Aunt Cathy sent you for whatever reason?"

"Oh yeah... but I don't know where I put it."

Kylie sighed. "Taylor you're helpless."

* * *

"I was thinking about going out on Saturday... what do you say?" Taylor asked Kylie as she opened her locker, throwing a couple books in.

"I don't know." she shrugged "What, is this like another date or something?"

"Kinda. I guess it just depends on how you look at it."

She grabbed her math book and shoved it into her backpack, zipping it shut. She slammed the door to her locker and stood with her back up against it. "Well, where did you have in mind?"

"Don't know yet. I just thought of it now, so I thought I'd ask."

"Oh."

"So... does that mean you wanna go out?"

"Sure, why not."

The two minute bell sounded. "I gotta go, my next class is way the hell on the third floor. Meet you here after." he started to walk away, but quickly turned around and walked back over to her. "Almost forgot." he said. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "See ya."

Kylie watched him walk down the hall, loving the way he looked in his faded blue jeans and black t-shirt. Lusty thoughts seemed to invade her mind all of a sudden. She couldn't help but wonder if Saturday was it. The day she had been waiting for for her whole life.

A long, steady bell could be heard and Kylie looked around noticing she was the only one standing in the hall.

"Shit!" she cursed, running off to her class.