"So, how's your hip?" Taylor asked me once the ice had been on it for a while. I shrugged.
"It's numb.... I spose that's better than it hurting hey?". Taylor smiled and nodded. We were back out by the pool and an hour had gone by. I now knew that Taylor wanted to ask me out, (thanks to Kimberly) and I was waiting (impatiently) for him to do so.
"Jaida?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?" Taylor asked, suddenly looking very nervous. I smiled.
"Sure."
"Ok.... do you have a boyfriend?"
"Nope"
"Do you want one?" Taylor asked, gaining a little more confidence. I smiled again.
"It depends on who's asking... I mean, are you asking for someone else, or are you asking for you?" I replied. Taylor was quiet.
"What would you say if I said I was asking for me?"
"I don't know.. ask me and find out."
"Jaida...." Taylor said in a tone that plainly said 'don't do this to me!'
"What? Ask me and find out" I repeated. Taylor sighed.
"Ok... do you want me as a boyfriend? As yours I mean" He asked.
"I think I do..."
"You think you do?"
"Ok, yes, I do... " I said as I turned and smiled at Taylor. He had a huge grin on his face and I had to laugh.
"So, we're going out now? like, we're a couple?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yeah... we are." I said. Taylor grinned even wider at me and I grinned at him back. Both of us were extremely happy. I then got up from my seat and headed towards the kitchen. Taylor got up and followed me. I walked over to the sink and wrung out the now wet cloth. Taylor walked up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist.
"Is that ok?" He asked. I nodded as I turned around so I was facing him. Taylor didn't move his arms. I then wrapped my arms around his waist and smiled at him.
"Yup.. that's ok" I said.
"Good..... is this... uh... is this ok?" He asked before lowering his head to brush his lips lightly against mine. My knees turned to mush and I was greatfull for Taylor's arms around me. Taylor pulled away and I saw that his cheeks were a faint pink colour.
"That's ok to....... now it's my turn to ask if this is ok" I said, not believing how bold I was being with him. I raised my head and then kissed him again, only this time, it wasn't just a light kiss. Soon Taylor and I were engaged in a full on french kiss and I wondered if he liked it as much as I did. We pulled away at the same time and Taylor smiled at me and nodded.
"I think it's safe to say that that's ok to" He said. I laughed and nodded. Taylor and I then made our way back outside. Taylor walked beside me and gave me a shy smile as he gently took my hand. I glanced over at Emily and saw that she was staring at Taylor and I. She had a look of pure horror on her face, then sadness, and then anger. She got up from her seat and went storming over to Kimberly. I looked at Taylor and he was watching Emily as well. "Should I go over there?" He asked. I chewed my lip.
"I honestly don't know. Maybe you should" I said as I watched Emily and Kimberly argue with each other, both faces angry. My backyard was pretty big so we could only just hear Emily and Kimberly. Taylor then let go of my hand and started to walk over to them. I walked over to where Zane, Isaac and Zac were sitting.
"God he's got guts" Zac was saying.
"What do you mean?" I asked as I sat down beside him. He turned to face me.
"Well, firstly, Congratulations... and secondly, be prepared to be Em's enemy... she hate's you at the moment, and probably alway's will" He said.
"Hey, I don't know what went on between those two and I don't really want to know. Emily isn't Tay's girlfriend anymore. She has no claim on him" I said defensively.
"Jaida, Zac's not having a go at you. He's basically warning you about Emily...." Isaac said.
"Emily doesn't scare me. She doesn't know me."
"She'll find a way to make you unhappy.... she alway's does..." Zane said to me. "Hey, let's not hope you have a secret past or anything" He added jokingly. Zac and Isaac laughed but I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. She'll find out about Lucas and then your relationship with Taylor will be over before it's started! I thought to myself. Well, I wasn't going to let that happen. I saw Emily gather up her things and then storm away. Once she was gone, Taylor and Kimberly walked over to us, along with Anita and Kathryn. We all sat in a group.
"She needs to get over you Taylor" Anita said. Taylor nodded.
"I know that. I got over her quickly, why can't she do the same?"
"Taylor... she loved you!" Kimberly exclaimed. Taylor's face reddened and he shrugged.
"I know.. and I loved her to... but I just don't feel that way anymore.. there is someone else in my life now and Emily needs to accept that." Taylor explained.
"Why don't you tell her that Taylor.. sit her down and explain how you're feeling to her." Anita said. Taylor nodded. I hadn't heard much of the conversation.. what Zane had said to me stuck in my head and I couldn't let it go. Suddenly my head started to pound and I got up. Without a word I ran into my house. I didn't look back and went straight up to my room. I looked at myself in the mirror.
"They'll find out... I know it.. " I whispered.
"They'll find out what?.. who are you talking to?" Taylor said from the doorway. I jumped and turned around.
"Tay! .. I .. ah.. nothing... I wasn't talking to anyone." I stuttered. I didn't know he had followed me.
"Why'd you run in here? is it because we were talking about Emily... Jaida, if that makes you uncomfortable then we wont, I-"
"No, it's ok.. my head just started pounding is all, I came up here to get some asprin." I smiled. Taylor seemed to believe my excuse. I walked to my bedside table and rummaged around in one of the draws. Taylor came up behind me and rested his head on my shoulder, looking down into the draw I had open. I moved a sheet of paper and saw a framed photograph of Lucas and me. His blue eye's gazed up at me. His eye's were exactly like Taylors. I gasped and then quickly slammed the draw shut. My heart was pounding and I was praying that Taylor didn't see the picture.
"What's wrong? Why'd you close the draw so fast?" Taylor asked. "And who was in the picture with you?". I wracked my brain for something to tell him.
"Um, oh.. an ex-boyfriend. We uh.. we parted on bad terms...... the picture brings back bad memories... sorry" I said. Taylor was quiet.
"Ok" He finally said. I decided to change the subject.
"Well, looks like I can't find any asprin... I'll just have to put up with the headache"
"You sure? I'm sure Kim would have some at her house" Taylor said, sounding concerned. I shook my head and then started out of my room.
"Nah, I'll be fine. Really." I said as Taylor and I walked down the stairs and then outside again.
