'BEEP! BEEP!' Taylor turned around to see Ike's car parking behind him in the driveway.
"Hey," Taylor said as Ike stepped out of his dad's van.
"Hey. Who was that girl?" Ike asked immediatley.
"Which girl?" asked Tay, even though he knew Ike was referring to Chloe.
"That girl you were just walking with".
"Oh Chloe? She's just a girl I met," Taylor said casually.
"Oh," said Ike, smiling.
"What?" asked Taylor.
"Just a girl you met huh?" Taylor sighed,
"Ike, I really don't need crap about that stuff right now". Ike, realising that Taylor was serious, apologised,
"Sorry. So where did you meet her?"
"At the concert".The two brothers walked up to the front door together.
"When?"
"When I walked outside, I met her in the middle of the street".
"In the middle of the street? How?"
"Long story".
"So, are you going to see her again?"
"Her name is Chloe, and yes. We're going to the movies tonight".
"You're kidding?"
"No, why would I be?"
"Tay, you have a girlfriend, remember?"
"Ike, we're just friends. We can see a movie if we want".
"Ok, fine. But if you want to patch things up with Sarah, I don't think going to the movies with another girl is gonna help".
"I don't have to patch anything up between me and Sarah. We're fine". They stepped in through front door and into the house.
"Yeah, you guys have a healthy and stable relationship," said Ike,sarcastically.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Taylor asked raising his voice a bit.
"Hey man, calm down. I'm not a total retard you know. I was conscious when you dragged Sarah home from a crack party where she was flirting with at least six other guys".
"I didn't drag her away, she wanted to come with me," Taylor said raising his voice even more.
"Tay, she was drunk," said Ike, remaining calm.
"So, she still chose to leave!"
"Hey, what's going on here?" asked Diana as her and Walker stepped out of the kitchen and to where the boys were standing.
"Tay...".
"Sarah's fine ok? We're fine. We were going through something but now it's over, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just shut up about it!"
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry, alright?"
"Yeah well, next time keep all your fucked up comments to yourself ok? Cos frankly, Ike, I don't give a shit what you think". And with that Taylor stormed up the stairs leaving Ike and the rest of his family, who had been listening in on the argument in total shock. Taylor slammed his bedroom door shut behind. He was so mad. Madder than he'd ever been before.Who the hell does he think he is? How dare he say those things? He's supposed to be my brother. He's supposed to be my best friend. Just then, the door flew open and Ike stormed in.
"What the hell was that about?" Ike demanded sternly.
"Piss off Ike, I don't want to talk to you," said Taylor bitterly and turned away from his brother.
"No, I'm not going to piss off til you tell me what the hell your problem is". Taylor turned and faced Ike.
"Just piss off!"
"No! What's wrong?!"
"You know what the hell is wrong, don't act as if you don't".
"Tay, I don't have a clue what you're on about!" Taylor let out a gasp of disbelief. Ike continued, "All I know is that we talking about some girl you met, then I said something about Sarah..."
"Yeah exactly!" From down stairs, the rest of the Hanson family were listening to Ike and Taylor's argument. It was pretty hard not to. Zac smiled.
"I've gott check this out," he said as he started up the stairs.
"I don't think so. You stay down here please," said Diana.
"Just let them work it out by themselves ok?" added Walker.Zac sighed,
"Oh man".
"Tay, all I said about Sarah was that you guys are having problems".
"We're not having problems ok. So stop telling the whole fucking world that we are".
"What the fuck is wrong with you Tay?! I don't see why you're trying to hide it. It's obvious that you guys are..."
"And what the hell has that got do to with you?!"
"It's got nothing to do with me!"
"Then shut up about it then!"
"Well stop getting all shitty at me about it then!"
"I'm not!!"
"You are!!"
"Well if you hadn't had said anything about it in the first place, I wouldn't have would I?"
"Who knows what the fuck you would've done. You've been such an asshole to everyone lately.."
"I have not!"
"Yes you have Tay. And it's because of Sarah.."
"It's not..."
"You know it Tay, and so does everyone else".
"So what do you expect me to do about it?"
"Stop chucking all your fucking mood swings at us! It's your problem not ours so you're gonna have to deal with it!"
"Then just butt out!"
"I will! But I'm not gonna go tip-toeing around you just cos you're too fucking blind to see that Sarah's in trouble.."
"Sarah's fine!"
"She's not fine Taylor!"
"How would you know?!" Ike softened his tone,
"Taylor, she was smashed the other night and probably stoned, and don't pretend you didn't see those marks on her forearm cos I know you did. Who knows what the hell else she is taking.." There was a long pause of silence between the guys as Taylor thought about what Ike had said. Taylor lay down on his bed and turned to face the wall.
"Leave me alone," he said quietly. Ike, no longer angry but more sympathetic for his brother, walked out of the room.Taylor heard the door click behind him.
