*Special thanks to Sheila for the ideas that got me started writing this chapter*

Zac stared at his older brother, eyes wide with horror. "Taylor." He said, his voice shaking slightly, "You're back."

"Yes I'm back." Taylor answered, "But how about you tell me what’s going on? Why are her clothes all wet? And what were you doing with your face so close to hers? Hmm? Answer me Zac."

"We were just playing, Tay. I sprayed the pop all over her, yes, but I didn't do it to be mean."

"What were you doing with your body pressed up against hers?"

"I... I don't know. I guess I just wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."

"Damn right you're sorry. Come on Ky, let's go upstairs so you can change, and so Zac can finish cleaning up this mess."

Kylie gave Zac an apologetic look before following Taylor out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"You don't need to be so mean to him." she said, entering his room

"Look what he did to you!" Taylor gestured with his hands at her soaked clothes.

"Yeah I know what he did, I was there, but we were just playing around. There's really no reason why you have to get so upset."

"He looked like he was going to kiss you when I walked in. So yeah, I do kind of have something to be upset about."

Kylie let out an aggravated sigh as she grabbed a pair of sweat pants and an old t-shirt from one of his dresser drawers. "He wasn't going to kiss me. You're just paranoid."

"I know Zac."

"So do I, and I know that he was simply looking at me. Now will you please just drop it?"

Taylor placed his hand behind her neck and pulled her lips up to meet his. He slid his tongue between her lips and caressed the back of her neck with his fingers. She broke the kiss moments later, her eyes connecting with his.

"I'm sorry for acting jealous." He said

"You're forgiven. Just know that you can't kiss me like that every time we have a fight and you're trying to apologize. It won't work all the time." She smiled at him, then gave a little wink.

"Okay."

She left his room and walked down the hall towards the bathroom to change. She quickly stripped out of her soaking wet clothes and pulled on Taylor's baggy sweat pants and t-shirt. She grabbed a hair tie and brush off the counter intent on pulling her hair back. After doing so, she exited the bathroom and went back to Taylor's room only to find it empty, so she went downstairs to the kitchen thinking he had maybe gone to talk to Zac. She didn't see him in the kitchen either, just Zac wiping up the floor.

"Do you know where Taylor is?" she asked

"No."

"Oh, because he was just up in his room before I went to change, and now I don't know where he is."

"Is the kitchen the only place you've looked?"

"Well, yeah."

"You know there are plenty of other places he could be. And since I'm here in the kitchen I guess that means he probably wouldn't be in here."

"Zac he's not mad at you."

"Let's not get into it."

"What's there to 'get into?'"

Zac stood up, throwing the rag down on the counter. He turned around, slowly walking over to her. "We almost kissed, Ky." He kept his voice low, just incase Taylor should reappear.

"No we didn't."

"Yes we did and you know it. If Taylor hadn't walked in when he did we would've kissed."

"No Zac, I would never let myself do something like that. I know better."

He stood in front of her now, his voice down to a whisper. "What if I wanted to?"

"What?!" she shrieked "You can't be serious!"

"I am."

Kylie turned on her heal and ran out of there in search for Taylor. She checked all over the house, but he was no where to be found. She heard the garage door opening and went out to the garage, only to find Isaac and Taylor out there.

"Taylor! God I've been looking everywhere for you!" She ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his torso.

"Babe, I've been right here. I figured you'd go down to ask Zac where I went after you were done changing so I told him to send you out here."

"What?"

"I told him to tell you - "

"No I heard what you said. I just... " She stopped short, trying to decide whether or not to tell Taylor what happened between her and Zac.

"You just what?" He asked

"Um, nothing. Nevermind."

"Okay. Everything all right though?"

"Yeah, fine." she nodded

"Zac giving you a hard time or something?"

"No Taylor! I said everything was fine!" She yelled

"Whoa, calm down. I was just asking." He rubbed his hand up and down her back as an attempt to calm her down.

"I just... I'm sorry."

"Its okay, sweets."

"So Ky, what kind of car do you think I should get?" Isaac asked, figuring it was a good time to change the subject.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess it's up to you I mean, you're the one who'll be driving it."

"True. Nice clothes by the way." He said, looking her up and down.

She glanced down at herself. "Well, Taylor's clothes are a little big, but that's okay. I like them." She leaned over and whispered in Taylor's ear, "They smell like you."

He smiled down at her. "So did you put your wet ones in the washer?"

"No, I left them... " She thought for a minute, trying to remember where she last had them. "Oh God." She suddenly remembered.

"What? Where are they?" Taylor asked

"The... they’re in the kitchen."

"Oh, well maybe Zac was nice enough to put them in the washer for you."

"I don't think so."

"Well he should after what he did to you."

"No it's okay. I'm gonna go put them in the washer now, I'll be back in a few minutes."

She went back in the house, praying to God that Zac was done cleaning up in the kitchen. She entered the kitchen finding her wet clothes in the middle of the floor where she had most likely dropped them, but Zac was nowhere in sight. She breathed a sigh of relief before bending over to pick up her clothes.

The basement was dark and she was again thankful that Zac hadn't gone down there. She went into the laundry room and put her clothes in the washer, then grabbed the soap and poured some in. She turned the dials to the right settings and hit the start button. She turned off the light and left the laundry room, rounding the corner heading toward the stairs.

"Hey."

"Jesus!" Kylie screamed, her hand flying up to cover her heart, which was now beating rapidly. "You scared the shit out of me." She took a couple deep breaths and leaned up against the wall. "What do you want?"

"I don't know, I saw you come down here and I thought you might need some help."

"You think I can't put clothes in the washer by myself?"

"Well I wasn't sure, but I guess you can by the looks of things."

"I did just fine, thank you." She walked around him and continued on toward the stairs.

"Taylor left." He said

Kylie stopped and turned to face him. "He what?"

"He went with Ike somewhere. I saw them drive off when you were coming down here."

"I had just come from the garage and he didn't say anything to me about going anywhere."

Zac held his hands up in defense. "Hey I'm just telling you what I saw."

"Okay you know what? I think it's time you stop with this bullshit."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about, Zac. All these lies you've been spouting today."

"I only speak the truth."

"Right. Then how come when I found Taylor out in the garage he said you were supposed to send me out there when I came looking for him, which you didn't do. Instead you said you didn't know where he was."

"Oh that."

"Yes that. Now I'm gonna go upstairs and prove that you're once again lying about him leaving with Ike."

"Go right ahead." Zac gestured in the direction of the stairs. "I'm telling you though, he really did leave."

"Just like you really didn't know where he was earlier." Kylie rolled her eyes then went upstairs and took the hall toward the garage entrance. She opened the door finding it empty. "Dammit." She cursed

"So did you find him?" Zac asked walking up behind her, an all-knowing smile gracing his lips.

She turned on her heal and stalked off in the direction of the front door. "Tell Tay to come over when he gets back... if you think you can remember something that complicated." She opened the front door stepped out, slamming it shut behind her.

* * *

Kylie jumped at the sound of the doorbell, hitting the pause button on the remote control. She went to answer the front door; smiling when she thought of who was surely on the other side.

"What the hell do you want?" She inquired upon seeing Zac standing before her, a big smile plastered across his face.

"Just thought I'd drop by." He put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her aside, allowing him entrance into her house.

"I don't believe I invited you in." she said, still standing with the door open.

"I know, Ky. I invited myself. How rude of me."

"Where's Taylor?"

"Watching a movie with Casey."

"Not funny."

"I'm serious. She came over and Ike was stupid enough to let her in, then she walks around our house and finds Taylor watching a movie and decides to join him. I told him when he got home he was supposed to come over here but he said he was gonna wait until later." Zac shrugged and continued on into the house.

Kylie sighed and closed the door, following him. "So you're saying if I called over there right now and asked to talk to him he'd tell me he was watching a movie with her."

"Of course he wouldn't tell you. What guy would?"

"He wouldn't lie to me, Zac."

"Then call."

"What?"

"Call him."

Her eyes darted back and forth between him and the cordless phone sitting beside her. "I - I'll do it later."

"You're scared, aren't you?" He asked

"Scared of what?"

"Finding out the truth."

"I trust Taylor. So even if he is watching a movie with Casey I know that nothing bad will happen."

Zac rolled his eyes. "Oh please."

Kylie sat down on the couch, picking up the VCR remote and hitting the play button. Zac scooted over next to her, throwing his arm across the back of the couch behind her.

"Don't even think about it." She warned

"I'm not thinking anything." He innocently replied, a smug smile creeping it's way onto his face.

Kylie jumped up. "Dammit Zac!" She shouted

"What?!"

"GET OUT!"

"Why?"

"Because I said so, and because you're scaring the shit out of me. I don't know why you're all of a sudden acting like this but I don't like it."

"Is something wrong in here?" Kylie jumped up off the couch the second she heard her Dad’s voice. His eyes questioned Kylie, then he looked over and saw Zac sitting on the couch. "Zac! My gosh, I haven't seen you in ages! You seem to have grown quite a bit."

"I know. It's amazing, isn't it?"

Mike nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is. Well look I'm sorry to interrupt here, I just thought I heard yelling but it must've been from the TV or something, huh?"

"Yeah, Dad, it was. Sorry I'll turn it down." Kylie apologized

Mike smiled at the two before leaving the room.

Kylie waited until he was gone before turning around to face Zac. "Okay now I want you to leave."

"Just let me stay and watch the rest of the movie with you. Please."

"Zac, right now I'm not feeling too comfortable around you, and if you ask why then I should have permission to slap you."

The phone interrupted them just then. Kylie reached over to pick up the cordless.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

"Well hello you." She couldn't help the smile that came with the sound of his voice.

"I just wanted to call and apologize for not coming over yet. I was watching a movie when Casey, of all people, decided to drop by. Then Ike let's her in for whatever reason and she wanders the house until she finds me watching the movie."

"I see."

"And since I'm too nice to just be like, 'leave bitch', I let her join me. Babe I'm so sorry."

"No you don't need to apologize; I know how she is."

Zac sat, staring at Kylie with a confused look on his face.

"She's still here but I'm kicking her out in about ten minutes."

"Sounds good. Um, Zac's over here now, but hopefully he'll leave by the time you get here." She glanced over at him out of the corner of her eye. "I'm trying my best to get him out of here."

"What was he doing there in the first place?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"What the fuck is up with him?"

"I don't know."

"It's like he all of a sudden started developing feelings for you or something."

Kylie groaned. "No please don't say that. I mean, I've already thought of that myself and I just don't understand why he would do something so... strange."

"Liking you is strange?"

"Come on, you know what I mean."

"Yeah well, I'll talk to him about it later and maybe he'll tell me what's up."

"God I hope so."

"Alright I better go but I'll be over in about ten minutes. Your parents home?"

"Yeah."

"Damn."

"They won't bother us if we're in my room though."

"Ohh... " he quietly moaned, "Perfect. I'll see you in ten."

"Bye."

"Love you." He said before hanging up.

Kylie hit the off button then threw the phone down next to Zac. "Go." She told him

"Maybe when Taylor gets here." He said. "Until then, come sit and watch this movie with me, babe."

"Okay that's it." She grabbed his hand and started pulling him up.

Zac started laughing. "Who weighs more here?"

"You do, but that doesn't mean I can't at least try." She grunted and pulled harder. "Get up dammit."

"Sit down dammit."

"This isn't funny!"

"You're right." He said seriously. He grabbed a hold of her other wrist and pulled her toward him, crushing his lips against hers.