Kylie backed out of her driveway and put the car in drive. Just as her foot was about to step on the gas pedal someone ran up and started pounding on her window. She whipped her head to the side, her heart racing. When she saw Zac standing there she gave him an irritated look through the window before rolling it down.

“What?” She snapped

“Where you goin’?” He asked casually, slipping his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

“The store.”

“What store?”

“A store.”

“A little more specific…”

Kylie sighed. “I’m going to the music store to buy guitar tab books and maybe my own guitar.”

“Is Ike teaching you?”

“Yes. Now please step back so I can go.”

“Can I come with?”

She shot him a disgusted look. “No you can’t come with me. What are you, crazy?”

“Some might think.”

“Zac the answer is no. I’m sorry.”

“Please? I can help you pick out a good guitar. And hey, did I tell you how cute you look today?”

“Taylor IS inside your house right now, probably watching us and seething with anger.” She pointed out

“Yes, that he is. But isn’t it a LITTLE obvious now that I really don’t care what he thinks, says or does?”

“It’s becoming apparent, yes.”

“So?”

Kylie sighed as she felt herself giving in. “Fine. Get in the car.”

 * *

Kylie pulled her sunfire in a parking spot and cut the engine. “You want a sucker?” She asked Zac

“Huh?”

She fished around in the console and produced two dum-dum suckers. “A sucker. Want one?”

“Oh, uh… no. Thanks anyway.” He opened his door and got out.

Kylie tore the wrapper off one of them and popped it in her mouth before grabbing her purse and exiting the car as well. She locked the doors and slammed her door shut. “Alright, let’s go.” She announced.

Zac followed her into the store. As soon as they entered, Kylie stopped short. “Oh god.”

Zac stopped as well. “What?”

She patted the pockets of her blue jeans and frantically searched her purse. “Oh god no. No, no, no.” She repeated

“No WHAT?” Zac asked, growing irritated.

She turned to him and grabbed his shoulders. “My keys. Please tell me you took my keys when we got out of the car.” She begged

“Uh… sorry Ky, I didn’t touch your keys.”

“NO!” She shouted, letting go of him. “If you don’t have them then that means they’re… in my car.” She bolted from the store like a bat out of hell. Zac was quick to run after her.

“FUCK!” She yelled, banging on the window.

Zac approached her car and looked in. Sitting right there on the drivers seat were her keys. “Great one, Ky.”

“Yeah, thanks.” She said sarcastically. “God, what am I gonna do now?”

“Let’s just call your parents and they can bring us the spare key.”

“My parents aren’t home.”

“What? Where are they?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, at some… business… thing… or something.”

He reached in his pocket and fished out his cell phone. “I’ll call Ike.”

“NO!” Kylie grabbed the phone out of his hands. “You can’t call him.”

“I don’t think we have any other choice.”

“Zac no, please. I just know Tay will find out we’re here together somehow if you call Ike.”

“No he won’t.” Zac took his phone from Kylie’s hands and dialed his house number.

“Hello?”

“Ike, hey, it’s me.”

“Zac? What’s up man?”

“Listen, Kylie and I need your help. We went to the music store, and she kinda… locked her keys in her car.”

Isaac started laughing. “Ah-hahaha. Man that’s great.”

“Ike seriously. We need you to go over to Ky’s, get the spare key and bring it to us.”

“Okay, okay. Where is it?”

Zac turned away from the phone. “Where is it?” He asked Kylie

“On the hook in the foyer.”

“The hook in the foyer.” Zac repeated to Ike.

“Okay. You’re just at Schmidt Music, right?”

“Yeah. Oh, and Ike? Don’t bring Tay with you.”

“Why not?”

“Just… don’t.”

“Alright. See you in a few, bye.”

“Bye.” Zac shut his phone and put it back in his pocket.

“We’re screwed.” Kylie said, biting her nails out of nervousness. She began pacing back and forth along the side of her car.

“We’re not screwed.”

“Yes we are! I just have this feeling like… like something bad is gonna happen. No good can come from this messed up situation.”

Zac sighed and leaned back against the car. “Would you stop pacing? You’re driving me nuts.”

“I have to pace to keep myself somewhat calm.”

“So do something else like… biting your nails or twirling your hair around your finger.”

“Biting your nails is a bad habit.” She pointed at him, “And twirling my hair won’t do any good.”

“STOP.” He commanded, reaching out and grabbing her shoulders, stopping her from pacing any more. “Now listen to me, everything is going to be FINE.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes I do.”

“How?”

“Because I just… do.”

“Oh yeah, THERE’S a good reason.”

“Do you know how to play the quiet game?” Zac asked her, the irritation quite clear in his voice

“Yes…” She answered slowly, giving him an odd look.

“Good. Let’s play.”

 * *

Twenty minutes later, Isaac pulled his 4-Runner into the parking spot next to Kylie’s car.

Kylie turned around from leaning over her car and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Taylor open the passenger side door and get out, slamming it shut.

Zac grabbed Isaac’s arm as he walked passed him. “IKE!” He hissed, “I thought I told you NOT to bring Tay?!”

“You did.”

“Then what the hell is he doing here?!”

“He asked where I was going and I told him Ky locked her keys in her car so he OF COURSE wanted to come.”

“You didn’t say anything about me being here though, did you?”

“No.”

Zac glanced over at Taylor as he approached Kylie.

“Tay… hi.” Kylie said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “Did you bring my keys?”

“What are you doing here with him?” He demanded

“Sweetie, I didn’t intend on him coming with me. He kinda suckered me into taking him with me as I was leaving and I didn’t see any harm in it and I was hoping you wouldn’t either…”

Without a word, Taylor walked away from her and over to where Zac stood. “Explain.” He said, folding his arms across his chest. “And it better be good.”

“What the fuck man?” Zac asked, “Why do you have such a problem with me and Ky hanging out?”

“Why do you THINK Zac? You hit on her and I still think you guys almost kissed that one time in the kitchen… or maybe you did but neither one of you is saying anything.”

“Look Tay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hitting on her, and I’m sorry if it’s ruined your relationship with her in any way. I’M SORRY. I don’t know what else I can say. Things are fine between us now, so you shouldn’t worry if you see us talking or going to the store together. You need to trust her, man.”

Everyone was quiet for the next minute or so. Taylor stared at the ground out of shame. He knew Zac was right, he just had a slight problem with admitting that.

“Okay seriously, WHAT is going on here?” Isaac asked, looking back and forth between Zac, Kylie and Taylor.

Taylor shook the hair out of his eyes and looked up. “It’s nothing.” He said, “Zac, man, I’m sorry too. I should have never asked you to stay away from Kylie. I was just… I don’t know… upset.”

Kylie felt more guilty than ever standing there, listening to Taylor apologize to Zac. She knew she should’ve told Taylor about the kiss her and Zac shared, but now it was almost too late. If she told him tomorrow he’d most likely blow up at her and that would start a huge fight and they probably wouldn’t speak for a couple days. If she told him now though, he’d be mad, but not AS mad if she waited any longer. Although, it probably would’ve been best if she told him right after it happened, but in her mind that just wasn’t a possibility.

“It’s okay.” Zac said, “I understand.”

“So… everything is okay again between everyone?” Isaac asked

“Yeah.” Taylor answered. He stepped over to where Kylie stood and handed her the keys. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” She took them from his hands and turned around to unlock her car door.

“I’m uh… gonna ride back with Ike.” Zac said, pointing to Isaac’s 4-Runner. “I’ll see you guys later.”

“Bye guys.” Taylor waved

“Thanks Ike for bringing my keys out to me. And Zac… thanks for putting up with me.”

He smiled. “It wasn’t easy but someone had to do it.”

Kylie laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Get going.”

Ike and Zac got in the SUV and drove off, Zac’s arm stuck out of the sunroof waving goodbye.

Kylie and Taylor got in her car. She started the engine up and just as she was about the put it into reverse, the stopped and turned to look at Taylor.

He sensed this and turned his head to the left, giving her a questioning look. “What?”

She sighed. “I just… I love you.”

He leaned over and gently placed his lips upon hers. She sighed as she began to respond, opening her lips slightly to allow his tongue entrance. He pulled away, but kept his face close to hers.

“We better get home.” He said, raising his eyebrows knowingly.

She smiled. “What an excellent idea.”