.::Chapter Seven::.

I nervously swallowed my apprehensivness as I neared the window. The prickers of the bush dug into my hands, making them ache and turn red. I could see light now, dancing around the room as the three brothers lounged together in the bedroom they shared, looking as if they hadn't a care in the world and nothing weighing them down. Well, that was the desciption of the other two but Taylor laid listlessly in the bottom bunk of bed. His face was grave and showed no emotion. The boards supporting the top bunk seemed particularly interesting to him that night, for his eyes never shifted to focus on anything else. I saw his older brother approach him and try to start a conversation but only recieved a response that turned him away. The lights suddenly went out and all was unmoving. My grip began to loosen as I leaned against the outside windowsill for support. Before I could even tap on it, the window slid open. The fogged glass from my breath had given my presense away. Taylor seemed startled that I was at his wndow. His eyes asked a question without him even saying anything. "I want to know what your trust means," I told him. He didn't answer but looked over his shoulder and into the dark room where his brothers slept. "Ok," he said and began to climb out the window after me. I lowered myself to the ground and waited for him to join me.

We ran to a place he said only he knew of. Back in the dense woods, I saw a platform constructed in an oak tree. "Watch your step," he said and hoisted me up onto the wooden planks with him. I stopped to survey the vast stretch of land before us. "Pretty amazing,huh?" he referred to sea of shadowed trees and and the ocean off in the distance. I nodded, tilting my face into the air to smell the strong scent of the salt water. Althought the thick mass of leaves blocked us from above, shafts of moonlight shone down on us. The crickets were singing their familiar song in the night as we stood there in silence. He then turned to me. "You want to know what my trust means?" he asked. I nodded again. "It means this," he said and drew closer to me. I felt his arms slink around my waist and his provocative lips press smoothly against mine. I slid my arms behind his neck to keep him from straying away from me. Once he let go and pulled himself from me, I felt empty and alone. He stood back and waited for my reply. "I trust you," I told him. Taylor smiled and return to the same position that had made me lust over him just seconds before.

"Tay! How come ya gotta do that? I thought you said that this was gonna be just you an me an Ike's fort! Why'd you have to bring her here?" a small voice cried. Taylor and I parted to look behind us. "Zac! Why are you here?" Taylor angrily yelled at his brother. Zac stood on the ladder that led to the platform, his hair pulled back, and face twisted into a mad glare. "We saw you sneak out," he said. "Is Ike here too or did you just bring the whole family?" Taylor sarcastically questioned him. "No, I'm alone Romeo," he teased Taylor. "Very funny, now leave," Taylor told him. "No way!" Zac protested. "I'm here to watch the show so proceed." He smiled at us amused. "Yeah right you little pervert, get out of here," Taylor began to get upset. "Unless you let me stay, I'll tell mom where you were last night. And we all know it you weren't sleeping at Kinsey's and just forgot to call," Zac smirked. What a conieving little sneak- he was good. "Ok Zac, what's it gonna take? The usual twenty?" Taylor asked and stuck his hand into his back pocket for his wallet. "Twenty? You're going cheap on me, Tay. I think forty is fair price for this little situation," he held out his eager hand. Taylor sighed and placed two crisp twenty dollar bills in his greedy brother's palm. "Thankyou kindly. I'll see you at home," Zac wore the smile of a used car salesman after having made a sale. He then turned and continued making his way back down the ladder. He was out of sight but Taylor's face still held a look of worry. "What's wrong? You paid him off, you're fine," I told him and then pulled him in for another kiss. But he backed away from me. "No, no. He'll make to much noise and he'll get caught. Then I'll get found out. I've got to go," he said as his lips brushed my cheek. I watched him disappear into the night.

[Chapter Eight]