"Hey, Claudia... do you want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" Zac asked from the living room door. Claudia looked up from her book, confused.
"Huh?"
"Do you want me to get you anything while I'm in the kitchen? A drink, something to eat?..." Zac asked again. Claudia slowly nodded.
"Ah.. a glass of orange juice would be great... thanks..." She said and watched him walk out and into the kitchen. She and Zac were the only one's home. Taylor was out with Isaac at the store and all four parents were house hunting. School was finished for the day so Claudia was curled up on the sofa, and as it was a chilly day, she had a light blanket draped over her. She had actually gone to school that day, but only for half a day. She was reading a book of one of her favorite authors, Richard Laymon. Up until then, she hadn't seen any of Zac, who had been out in the boys room from the moment he got home from school. Zac returned with the drink for Claudia and a sandwich for himself. After he handed the glass to Claudia, she expected him to retreat back to his room, as she had figured out that he couldn't stand the sight of her. Zac did something that surprised her though. Instead of leaving the room, he sat down on one of the recliner chairs.
"So, what ya readin?" He asked before taking a bite of his sandwich. Claudia held up the book for him to see. "Is it any good?"
"Well, this is the fifth time I've read it..."
"The fifth? Shit... must be good.." Zac commented. Claudia nodded.
"Yeah... I have read some of his books that are better though" She said. Taking a drink, she turned back to her book. The room was silent for a while as Zac finished his sandwich. Claudia was still unsure of exactly what Zac wanted or why he was being nice to her all of a sudden and she wasn't sure if she liked it. Zac stood up and took his plate out to the kitchen and returned to the livingroom with a glass of orange juice for himself.
"Wonder if Mom and Dad have found a house yet..." Zac said out loud. Claudia looked at him.
"Bet you can't wait to get out of here... can't be doing much for your reputation at school living with a freak..." Claudia said. Zac blushed and looked down at the carpet.
"I deserved that... I've been such a shit to you and I'm sorry. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I've just had a sudden change of heart... because I didn't. I over heard you and Isaac talking the other day. I know what happened to you and I know that what the others at school are saying is bullshit."
"So you listened in on a private conversation between me and your brother. Great." Claudia mumbled. Zac nodded.
"I heard you cry out... so I came here to see what happened, but Isaac was already here.. I should have gone back to the kitchen, I know that Claudia and I'm sorry... but I couldn't help myself..."
"Have you told anyone?"
"NO.. I mean, no, I haven't. It's not my place to say anything. I may have listened in ... but I would never repeat anything I heard... anyway... I just wanted to apologise for the way I've been acting towards you... I promise you wont get any more crap off of me from now on..."
"So this was a peace offering?" Claudia asked, holding up the empty glass. Zac grinned.
"Kind of..."
"Thought so. But, I accept your apology Zac. Thankyou.". Zac looked relieved.
"Well...I uh.. guess you want to get back to your book now.. so I'll leave you to it." He said, standing up. Claudia smiled.
"Thanks.... " She said. Zac walked out, leaving Claudia to her book.
"Ike... what about these?" Taylor asked, holding up some pieces of pumpkin. The two boys had been put in charge of the shopping for the two families. Of course, their mother and Angela had given them a strict list to which they were to stick to. Isaac looked over at his brother, while standing over a barrel of lettuce heads.
"Yeah, they're fine. Lets just hurry up ok? We're starting to get some weird looks.." He muttered, picking up a lettuce and tossing it into the shopping cart that was half full already.
"Well, do I get them both or just one?" Taylor asked, looking down at the pumpkin in his hands.
"Think about it Tay... how many people does that pumpkin have to feed?" Isaac reasoned. Taylor throught for a moment then placed both peices of pumpkin into the shopping cart. "Thought so.." Isaac mumbled. He hated food shopping and wanted to get home to Claudia. "What else do we have to get?"
"I don't know! You've got the list.... haven't you?"
"No... I gave it to you when we were getting the eggs... remember? ... Taylor, don't tell me you've lost the shopping list!" Isaac groaned. He watched Taylor rummage though his pockets and look in his wallet. He came up empty.
"I haven't got it Ike... just check yourself... maybe you just think you gave it to me..." He reasoned. Isaac sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets and opened up his wallet. Nothing.
"We have to find it. Mom wont be impressed if we come home with only half the shopping." Taylor pointed out. Isaac sighed again. He really hated food shopping. They decided to split up and go down different isles until they found the list. Isaac started down isle 3 and looked around for the list.
"Hi there stranger!" A friendly voice greeted him Isaac insantly knew who it was. Looking up, he smiled.
"Hey Tiff... how you been?" He asked, hugging her. She returned the hug and stepped back.
"Great! Those few days away were just what I needed. Mom and Dad say Hi to. I think they're planning a trip to here.... especially when I told them that you guys were back in town!" Tiffany said excitedly. She was still beside herself at the fact that her Uncle, Aunte and cousins were going to be living in Tulsa. Tiffany had gone to stay with her parents for a few days.
"Well, next time you talk to them tell them I said hi..." Isaac said, grinning. "Ah... you havent seen a shopping list in Moms hand writting laying around here have you?" He asked, looking down at the floor around him. Tiffany laughed. Producing a small folded up piece of paper she asked
"This it?" She handed it to Isaac and smiled.
"Thanks Tiff! You're a life saver... with the mood Moms been in lately, I don't think it would have been a good idea to go home with only half the list.."
"The mood you're Moms been in?"
"Yeah.. she thought we'd have a house by now... but we've only been here for a few days... shes getting all stressed out becasue she thinks we're imposing on Clauds family. I personally wouldn't mind if we stayed put." Isaac said. Tiffanys face lit up.
"And what do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing.. I've just got a small reason to want to stay there.."
"Ike! Tell me!" Tiffany exclaimed. She already knew what it was though. She could tell by the look on Isaacs face. He looked happy. There was a glow about him that she haddn't seen before.
"Alright! Claud and me.... we're-"
"Together?!" Tiffany finished for him. Isaac smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, we're together.." He confirmed.
"Oh Ike thats great! When did it happen? Tell me everything!" Tiffany cried excitedly. She wraped Isaac in another hug then stood back.
"I know that voice anywhere.... Tiff, is that you?" Taylor asked, walking around the corner and into the isle, his face was consumed by a huge smile. His blue eyes were shining.
"Hey Tay!" Tiffany called out. When he reached her, she hugged him. "How are you?" She asked.
"You know.. same ol same ol... hey, hows..". Isaac mentally left the conversation and started thinking about Claudia. He wanted to get home to her as soon as possible, and they weren't getting any closer to that just standing around chatting.
"Tiffany found the list.... lets get the rest of the stuff and get out of here..." Isaac said, suddenly irritable. He felt as though just the slightest little thing could set him off. The three of them finished the shopping and headed to the checkout. Issac couldn't get out of there fast enough.
"Alison asked me to Jeremys party... as in, like a date.." Taylor told Claudia later on that day. The boys had come home, shocked to see that Zac and Claudia were actually talking. Claudia's eyebrows raised sligthtly.
"Really? ... what did you say?" She asked. Taylor shrugged.
"What else could I say... I told her yes."
"But you like Cammie.." Claudia pointed out. The two of them were in the living room. Isaac had actually left her alone for a few minutes and Taylor seized the opportunity to talk to her.
"Cammie's not talking to me.... Alison is..". Claudia frowned.
"You don't like Alison like that do you?" She asked.
"No! Alison's my friend"
"Well, knowing Alison, she must like you more than a friend. You don't want to lead her on Taylor. She's very shy when it comes to guys.. I'm surprised she actually asked you out. She must like you a lot" Claudia's words made Taylor uncomfortable. He had already guessed that Alison was probably interested in him, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. Now he had to.
"She must. " Taylor agreed. "What do I do? Cammies gonna find out that I'm going on a date with Alison... she's gonna be at Jeremy's party"
"You can't ditch Alison now Tay. You agreed to going with her. If you didn't want to go with Alison, why didn't you just say no?" Claudia questioned.
"It's not that I don't want to go with her. I like Alison and it'd be fun to go to a party with her. I just feel guilty for some reason. I know Cammie's not gonna like it."
"Cammie is the one who decided not to talk to you. What you do is your own business. Not Cammies. She has made it clear to you that shes not interested. Therefore, why would she care who you're going to the party with?" Claudia reasoned. She hated talking ill of her best friend, but she felt what she was saying had some truth to it. She hadn't talked to Cammie about Taylor. But she was able to put two and two together. Alison was the reason Cammie wasn't pursuing Taylor. She didn't tell Taylor this though. Taylor nodded, deep in thought.
"You know.. you're right... why am I worrying about what she's gonna think when she's not interested in me? It's not as though she'll be hurt when I show up with Alison." He said. Smiling, Taylor stood up. "Thanks Claudia.. "
"Anytime.." Claudia grinned. Taylor left the living room and Claudia was alone.
Chaper Fourteen
Back to Chapters
