Lacey laid there on her bed holding one of the flowers to her nose as she closed her eyes. She started thinking about Taylor...how he was the sweetest, cutest, funniest guy she'd ever met...how they'd been friends their whole lives but she knew that deep inside she wanted so much more...and how it would tear her apart if she mentioned her feelings and Taylor turned on her...
But she thought this was a sign. Sure, Tay had always been really thoughtful, but he never went as far as sending Lacey flowers without a special occasion. Lacey finally sat up and stared out her window before deciding to go over to the Hanson's. She didn't want to play mind games with Taylor, she wanted to know right then what was going to happen between them...it was driving her crazy inside, just being near him and wondering what he was thinking or doing every second of the day. Lacey started putting her shoes back on and practicing what she was going to say.
"Taylor, look, I know we've been best friends since we were babies and you know almost everything about me and I can tell you anything, but I have these feelings I don't know how to describe and..." she started to drift off..."Nah, that sounds corny..." she said to herself. She decided not to practice anything anymore, just the second he opened the door she'd start saying whatever came to mind. So with confidence she got up and jogged down the stairs, then after heading out the door and making her way across the lawn, it hit her. She stopped in her tracks.
'What am I doing?' she thought, looking around. 'I can't do this, he'll laugh at me...he won't think I'm serious...' Lacey finally decided she wasn't ready and, disappointed in herself, she turned and started trudging back to her house.
Later that night her phone rang, it was one of her best friends, Cat, a pretty brown-haired girl she'd known since 2nd grade.
"So Lace, did ya know the Hansons are home? I saw Taylor today, he is soooo cute, but oh god, he was with some girl..." Cat told Lacey with a curious voice.
"What? Who was it?!" Lacey suddenly felt her face get hot.
"Whoa, don't get upset, I was just joking! Get it? Ha-ha?" Cat started giggling at her own corniness.
Lacey got quiet all of a sudden, but Cat kept talking.
"So who are you going with to the dance on Friday?"
Lacey sat there for a few seconds then just said, "Well I wish Tay."
"Huh? Tay as in Taylor as in Taylor Hanson?"
"Yeah, if he'll go with me..."
"I thought you guys were just friends?"
"Well yeah, we are...but..."
"Uh-ohhhh...someone's got a crush on her best friend!"
"Shhhhh Cat stop!!!" Lacey started laughing and getting embarrassed.
"Oooohhhhh, Lacey, you like Taylor don't you! Oh, that is so cute! You have to ask him! Come on, and we'll go shopping for our dresses tomorrow, ok?" Cat was really hyper...
Lacey fought with herself for a moment, then said, "Ok!!! Yeah, it'll be fun. But I'm still not asking Taylor..."
"Ok, well if you don't want to...but great!" Cat exclaimed. "We can go shopping right after school!"
Lacey hung up with Cat and laid back down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She wondered why she had to be such a baby, why couldn't she just tell Taylor what she felt without getting so uptight and nervous? She heard a knock on her door, and told the knock-ee to come in, it was him.
"Hey, what's up?" Taylor asked when he saw Lacey just laying there.
"Nothing, I'm bored...just thinking..." Lacey said calmly, trying not to look into his eyes, knowing if she did she'd lose it.
Taylor sat down on the edge of her bed and looked at the flowers sitting on her desk. He gave her a little grin, "Who are they from?"
Lacey smiled at him..."Gee, I don't know..." she stared at him and said "Thanks...you know I had the worst day today. The flowers made it so much better."
Taylor smiled back at her and said "You're welcome, I knew you liked them. It just took a long time trying to get the florist person to know what I was talking about. I just kept telling her 'You know- the flowers they have on the tables at Nino's!'" he said with a laugh.
Lacey started laughing too. Tay looked at her and tried to think of what they could do to not be bored.
"Hey, wanna play truth or dare?" he suggested.
Lacey sat up, "Sure!"
"Ok, truth or dare?"
"Uh...dare!" Lacey loved the dares Taylor used to always come up with.
"Ok..." Taylor sat in thought then finally said with a devilish smirk "I dare you to go moon your brother."
"What?! No, I picked truth! You heard me wrong!" Lacey said, starting to laugh harder.
"Ohhhh, I see, you're just a chicken! Fine...I'll let you go this one time...ok, so truth? Um....what do you think is the most romantic thing in the world?"
Lacey stopped laughing suddenly and flinched at his question. She thought for awhile and glanced at Taylor, who'd gotten a serious look on his face and was just watching her and waiting for her answer.
"Well....watching the stars." she said with a dreamy look spreading across her face.
Taylor smiled. "That's cute. Typical of a mushy girl- but cute!"
"Mushy? Oh so now I'm mushy!?" Lacey started laughing again, then they heard her mom call her down to dinner, so they went downstairs, Taylor headed home, and Lacey went to the dining room....
The next day Lacey didn't get home until 7:00, her and Cat had been at the mall all afternoon. She walked upstairs to her room with her bags, humming "Bittersweet Symphony", and when she opened her door she noticed that strangely, her room wasn't as dark as usual. She looked up and when she saw what was on her ceiling she suddenly dropped her bags and stopped humming.
"Oh....my...god...." she said, staring up. All over her ceiling were those little green stars that glow in the dark...they hadn't been there the night before- someone had put them up while she was gone all day. And she had a very good idea who it was again...
Lacey turned her light on and saw a note sitting on her desk, so she walked over and picked it up. She read it and got tears in her eyes...all it said was "You said you love watching the stars...I'm sure they must love watching your beautiful face too. I can't say I blame them."
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Chapter 5
