He had a hard time believing that things had changed so much in four years. Everything had... Well. That's life. He'd said it himself once, and he'd heard people repeat it over and over through the years. His last name was almost like a household name now, rather than the last name of the kids next door who played music in their garage. In that garage, he thought glumly looking at the house.
He and Skye had raced up and down this street a dozen times and played dodge ball in the front yard, using that rock right there as the line that neither could cross. They'd worked on reading assignments underneath that tree beside the house when they were little and still had trouble figuring out what all the words meant. He wondered if there was a kiddy pool in the back as there had been every summer when they had lived there. He wondered if they had left the rope swing up. He wondered if they had painted the walls in his old bedroom...
"Can I help you?" A woman had stepped out of the front door. He remembered when his mom used to do that when teenies would come stand on the lawn and stare at the house expectantly. He thought about how some would scatter at the sight of her, how some would scream and giggle, and how the ones he respected most would come up and say hello. They would ask if the boys would come sign autographs or ask how the family was doing. "If you're looking for those Hanson boys. They don't live here anymore. They moved."
Taylor plastered his best fake smile on his face. "I know that, ma'am. I am one of those Hanson boys."
The woman's face changed slightly; she was surprised. "Oh. I'm sorry." She smiled and took a few more steps out the door. "Taking a trip down memory lane, are you?"
Taylor nodded and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Yes, ma'am." He looked up at the sky, which was rapidly becoming darker. "I think I'm going to head home, now, though. I didn't figure anybody'd notice me. I know how annoying it is to have people loiter outside your house." He flashed her a rakish grin.
She nodded. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hanson."
"Nice to meet you, too," he said.
Taylor turned and began to walk back up the street. He'd left his car parked a couple of blocks down at the EZ mart. He'd wanted to walk through the old neighborhood like he did when he was a kid.
He ducked his head, hoping that no one would recognize him and come outside. He didn't feel like talking. He just wanted to go somewhere where there was airconditioning. The sound of a car approaching and then slowing came to his ears. He looked over his shoulder. The car rolled a few yards ahead of them, and the driver parked it at the curb. The car turned off - the door opened.
"Taylor, what're you doing way over here?"
"Just came to look at the old house," he said, shuffelling up the sidewalk to where she stood. She began to walk with him.
"When did you guys get home? Jocelyn told me you would be home this week."
"We got in this afternoon," he said.
"Oh," she looked at her shoes. Taylor glanced at her sandles. "I know you're uncomfortable. I am, too."
"Are you?" he asked, looking at her. She was now looking at him.
"I thought I wanted to kill you," she said. "My friends all put it into my head that you deserved to be put in a burlap bag with weights and thrown into the river."
He quirked a smile. "I think I'll avoid your friends."
"I think now it just hurts though," she said. She was looking ahead now. It seemed like all of their important conversations came while they were walking around outside. It usually happened that way even when they were little.
"I know," he said huskily.
"Does it hurt you now?" she asked.
"Every day," he admitted.
"Why'd you do it? What made her so special?" she asked.
"I don't know the answer to that anymore," he said. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Famous last words," she said.
"Don't get mad at me, please," he said, his voice shaky and shrill. "I hate this."
"You got yourself into it," she told him.
"I thought you said you weren't feeling angry anymore," he said.
"I thought you'd have a good reason," she snapped. "Like, I dunno, she's the sexiest thing I've ever seen on two legs; she's got the best sense of humor; she's smarter than you; she's more athletic than you; she's my soulmate and you're not. Something that would make it better."
"Skye, I told you before, you're the most incredible person I've ever known," he said. "And you are."
She flashed him a look that said she didn't believe him.
"I told you the night we broke up," he said. "And I don't know what got into me. The truth is, there's no excuse for cheating on a girl like you. I could say I was lonely, or that she was different from any girl I had ever met - and BOTH APPLIED. But I didn't have a good reason to choose her over you, and that's the honest to God truth. It was just a big fat error in judgement."
They were less than a block from the EZ mart. She was so quiet, he thought maybe she had stopped breathing. However, he looked at her, and she seemed as cool and pristine as she had ever been.
"I'm sorry that I ended up hurting you in the end," he said.
"I'm sorry you did, too," she said. She didn't sound so angry anymore. The hurt had painted the edges of her voice again. She was moody. He remembered that.
As he got to his car, he realized she was still walking with him, and that it was now completely dark. "Um, do you want a ride back to your car? It's getting dark."
"It's only a couple of blocks," she said. "Thanks anyway."
"Skye," he said. "C'mon. Like you said. 2 blocks, and it'll be over. You won't ever have to see my face again. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."
She gave him a look.
"Two blocks in an airconditioned car, as opposed to a walk back in the hot sticky night," he said. "Your hair is getting frizzy, and the car is faster." She began to walk towards the sidewalk again. "I'LL LET YOU PICK THE RADIO STATION!" he called.
She stopped. Turned.
"Any station?" she asked.
He shrugged and smile sheepishly. "I figure you should get anything you want."
She grinned. "Oh, really? Then drive me to my car. After that, you're following me home. I think I know where I can find some burlap bags..."
