I lay on my bed, staring up at the poster of Taylor again. It was hard to believe that I was going to the prom with Taylor Hanson. The purple dress lay on the end of my bed, in a plastic bag. The only reason I even bought it was because Taylor said I looked beautiful in it. It seemed impossible that someone like him could want someone like me. I got up and walked over to the mirror on my closet door. I looked at myself. Brown hair, hazel eyes that looked like pond scum, they were so bloodshot. I wasn’t tall or short, just in between. And I had a pudge around my abdominal area. I felt like I could fly with him by my side, though. Just knowing that he liked me made me feel a little better about myself.

“Rayne!” my mother yelled from downstairs.

“Yes?” I called. “What is it?”

“I’m leaving to go to a meeting, so I need you to watch Toby for me,” she said. “I made some green bean casserole, and its in the fridge. Just heat it in the microwave for about five minutes. I’ll be home around eleven, so don’t worry about waiting up for me. You and Toby just go on to bed,” she said.

“Okay!” I yelled back. My mom was almost never home. Since she and Dad split up, she had to work extra hard to make ends meet. I always had to watch Toby. Which I hated doing, I might add. I was lucky I was able to buy my prom dress. Grams had sent me money for my birthday, and I had been saving it for something special. And I considered going to prom with the guy of my dreams pretty important.

I trudged down the hall to Toby’s room. He was sitting in front of the T.V. playing a video game. I looked around his room. Color T.V., Sega Dreamcast, big king-size bed, all the toys a little boy could ever want. I remembered why I hated my brother. He was spoiled. It was mostly because I was adopted, and he wasn’t. See, my parents were told by the doctor that my mom could never have any children. So, they adopted me. Then, a ten years later, Mom was shocked to find out that she was pregnant with Toby. Her own child, her own creation. It wasn’t so much that I hated Toby, I just resented him. He got special treatment because he was their real son. Their own flesh and blood. And I wasn’t. Toby was their little seven-year-old, blond haired, blue-eyed angel, sent from Heaven. And probably a large part of the reason they broke up. They could never agree on him. Dad thought that he shouldn’t be pampered just because he was their natural son, and I wasn’t. Mom, on the other hand, thought that he did. Not that she would ever say so, but you could just tell. They argued about it a great deal. Those arguments led to other arguments, which led to a divorce. Which is why I am stuck watching my little brother now.

“Hey, Twirp. Time to get in the bathtub,” I said, reaching over and turning off the Dreamcast. He turned around and glared at me.

“Says who? You’re not the boss,” he replied, turning the Dreamcast back on. I reached over and turned it off again.

“Says me, Pipsqueak. Mom left me in charge. So, go get in the tub, okay?” I said.

“Aw, ma-an,” my little brother whined. He got up and trudged out of the room. I heard the shower come on and smiled to myself. For once, my little brother had actually obeyed me. The phone began to ring, and I ran into my room to answer it.

“Hello?” I said, picking it up.

“Rayne?” I heard a male voice say. It was Taylor. I was so excited I started jumping up and down. Until I dropped the phone. I picked it back up. “Hello? Rayne?”

“Sorry, I dropped the phone. Hi, Taylor,” I said.

“Hey . . . what’s up?” he asked.

“Not much. Just baby sitting the demon - child,” I replied. “You?”

“Not much either . . . just chilling at the hotel, while my parents are at the pool with my younger siblings. It’s just me. Isaac had another errand he had to go run. Something about a pair of leather pants,” Taylor said nonchalantly.

“Well, you’re welcome to come over if you want to,” I said. “Mom won’t be home ‘til eleven, and I doubt Toby will squeal on me. Anyway, even if he does, I’ll tell Mom that he broke that vase, not the cat.”

“Are you sure? ‘Cause I don’t want to get you into any trouble,” he said. “Even if I am really bored.”

“It’s okay. And another thing . . . if Toby told Mom that you were here, she probably wouldn’t believe him. You being here in our house would sound a little far - fetched to her. Seriously, come on over. I’d love to see you,” I said. My little brother walked into the room with a towel around him, dripping on my floor. “Hold on a sec, Tay.” I put my hand over the mouthpiece. “Toby, go back in the bathroom and dry off.”

“No . . . Mom usually dries me off. So, since she isn’t here, you have to,” he said, defiantly.

“No, I don’t. Mom may be your maid, but I’m not. So, go back in the bathroom and dry yourself off,” I said. He glared at me. “Go, or when Mom gets home, I’ll tell her who really broke that vase.” He looked at me wide eyed, then ran out, back into the bathroom. “Sorry about that, Taylor.”

“No problemo, I know how it is, having to baby sit little siblings. I guess I’ll come over,” he said. “What’s your address?”

“3450 Albemarle Drive,” I replied.

“Cool. I get a cab and be over there in about 15 minutes,” he said. “See you later.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Bye.”

“Bye.” He hung up the phone. I stood there in shock for about five minutes. Then I hung the phone back on the receiver. Toby trotted into my bedroom again.

“Raynie, what time is it?” Toby asked. I looked over at the digital clock on my desk.

“8:30...and your bedtime,” I said.

“Do I ha-ave to-oo?” Toby whined. He stomped and wriggled around.

“Yes, you do. You know Mom will kill me and you if you aren’t in bed on time,” I said. “So, scoot. Go brush your teeth, then get in bed. I’ll be in there in a few minutes to tuck you in.”

“Will you read me a story?” Toby asked.

“Does Mom normally read you a story?” I asked back.

“Well, no . . . ,” Toby trailed off.

“Well, then the answer is no. You need to get in bed and go to sleep,” I said.

“Al-ri-ight,” Toby whined in agreement. He stomped out of the room. I shrieked after he was out of sight. Taylor was coming to my house! I ran over to my closet and started pulling out clothes. Blue sweater . . . no . . . pink shirt . . . no . . . purple turtleneck sweater . . . yes . . . that was the one. Taylor thought I looked pretty in that purple dress, so why wouldn’t he think I looked good in the turtleneck. I took my shirt off and put the turtleneck on. Crap . . . doesn’t match my pants. I ran over to my dresser and opened a drawer. A clean pair of jeans, thank you God. I pulled my pants off and pulled my jeans on. My little brother walked back into the room.

“Raynie, why did you change clothes?” he said, yawning.

“I didn’t change clothes,” I lied. “I was wearing this earlier. You just weren’t paying attention.” I scooped him up in my arms and carried him into his bedroom. I plopped him into his bed, making him laugh. It was time like this that I thought maybe my little brother wasn’t the devil child after all. He could be sweet when he wanted to be. “Night - night, Toby-bear. You’d better go to sleep. I don’t want to hear you in here on that Dreamcast. I’ll be forced to tattle on you if I do.”

“Aw, Raynie. You wouldn’t tattle on me about that, would you?” he said, sweetly. I was wrong. He is the devil child.

“Just try me, Toby,” I said.

“Good night, Raynie,” he said. I walked out of the room and closed the door. Someone knocked on the front door. That must be Taylor, I thought. I ran downstairs and opened the door. There he stood, the boy of my dreams. And he was mine, all mine.

“Hey there,” Taylor said. He was wearing a fuzzy red sweater with a T-shirt underneath, and jeans. He looked so hot.

“Hi,” I managed to squeak out. “Come in. I just put Toby to bed, so we’re alone for now.” He walked into the house, looking around.

“This place looks huge from the outside. It seems to be that way on the inside, too,” he commented. “So, what do you want to do?”

“Well, um . . . we could watch a movie,” I said. “We have a huge collection. What do you like?”

“Whatever is fine,” he said. He took my hand in his. Shivers went up my spine. I led him into the living room.

“Well, we have a bunch of those cheesy Eighties teen movies,” I said. “Have you ever seen ‘Weird Science’?”

“Yeah! I love that movie!” he exclaimed.

“Me too! Especially that scene when they come back from the bar and run into Chet!” I said.

“Yeah, and Gary’s all drunk and acting like an idiot. It’s hilarious!” Taylor said.

“Well . . . why don’t we watch that, then?” I asked. He nodded. I pulled the tape out and put it into the VCR. Then I sat beside Taylor on the couch. As the movie started, he put his arm around me.

“You know something? I’m really glad you screamed in my face, then passed out. I wouldn’t have gotten to meet you otherwise,” he whispered in my ear. I smiled like the Cheshire Cat, from ear to ear. I was in heaven. Absolute heaven . . . .