"I like this skirt," Druscilla, Adia's best friend said, holding up a long black skirt. Adia was staring at a boy in the back of the store. Adia had been out of it all afternoon. Dru knew that something was bothering her, but she couldn't get her to talk about it. "Adia?" Dru waved her hand in front of Adia's face. Adia snapped to, looking over at Dru.
"Huh?" Adia asked. She had Zac on her mind again, and for some reason, the thought of him was drawing her to the boy across the store. There was something familiar about him. Just the thought of Zac was enough to make her lose sleep for weeks, which seemed odd to her, considering she had never really cared about him in that respect to begin with. It had always been Taylor that she thought of.
"I like this skirt. I think I might buy it," Dru said, pointing to the skirt in her hand. Adia nodded, then looked back over to the boy in the back of the store. "Do you know him or something?" The boy had on a baseball hat, with blond hair sticking out from underneath, and a pair of sunglasses. He wore a pair of very baggy khakis and a black Metallica T-shirt.
"Yeah, I think I do," Adia said, realizing who he was. "Come with me. I want you to meet someone." She took Dru's hand and dragged her across the store to where the boy was standing. Adia tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, taking off his glasses and smiling.
"Adia?" he said. "Hey!" It was Taylor. Dru's mouth dropped open in shock. It was THE Taylor Hanson, and he knew Adia. When Adia had told her about meeting Zac and being friends with him, she hadn't believed her at the time. But she had been telling the truth. Adia reached over, putting her finger under Dru's chin, closing her mouth.
"Hi, Tay! This is my friend Druscilla," Adia said. Taylor shook Dru's hand, which hung limply in his. He looked at Adia, giving her the same amused look that he had given Zac, when he had first met Adia. He knew that look in Dru's eyes. She was still in shock. "How are you?"
"I'm okay. Trying to shop for some stuff for the camping trip. How do you like the disguise?" Taylor asked. "I think you're the only person that's recognized me so far." Adia and Dru both gave him a thumbs up. "Good . . . aren't you supposed to be having your birthday party tonight?"
"Yeah, I am. How did you know?" Adia asked.
"Zac mentioned it. He's not doing so hot, but I guess you know why," Taylor said. Adia looked down at her feet, embarrassed.
"Yeah, well, he said some really mean stuff," Adia said quietly.
"Yeah . . . he told me what he said to you. He feels awful about it, too," Taylor said. "He's miserable. He won't eat, he won't speak. He just keeps playing the same song over and over on the stereo."
" I Love You Always, Forever ," Adia responded quietly.
"Wait a sec . . . you had a fight with Zac?" Dru asked, looking over a Adia with a confused stare. "Why?"
"It's a long story. It was over something really stupid," Adia said, grimacing at the thought of it.
"Yes, it was," Taylor said. "But some of the stuff he said to you was true."
"What parts?" Adia asked, even though she already knew. Everything that Zac had said to her was true. Including the stuff about Taylor. It just hurt too much.
"I think you know," Taylor said, giving her a Look. She shifted uncomfortably, her face flushing a bright red.
"Is he here at all?" Adia asked, meekly.
"Yeah, he needed some stuff for the trip. We're leaving sooner than planned. Tomorrow, actually. As soon as Mom and Dad get back from Enid," Taylor answered. "He's down at the jewelry store." He raised his eyebrow at her, nodding his head subtly in that direction. Adia nodded in response, understanding his hinting. Taylor turned to Dru. "How would you like to help me pick out some new clothes, while Adia goes to run an errand?"
"I'd love to," Dru said, breathlessly. She was in hog heaven. Taylor linked his arm through Dru's, mouthing a quick ‘Good Luck" to Adia, and they walked over to the men's section of the store.
Adia ran out of the store, toward the jewelry store. She looked through the window to see Zac standing inside, with the box for the locket in his hands. He was attempting to return it. He had on a pair of green shorts with a funky blue colored shirt that didn't match the shorts at all. His hair hung in his face, as he wouldn't look up at the man working at the jewelry store. It was obvious that he was depressed and upset. Looking at him, she realized that she cared about him a great deal more than she thought. She didn't want Taylor anymore. She wanted Zac. And she had to do something about it. She took a deep breath and walked into the store.
"I'd like to return this," Zac said. The man behind the counter took the box from him, opening it and taking the locket out. He looked over the necklace and put it back in the box.
"I'm sorry, we can't take it back. It has special engraving on the back," the man replied, handing the box back to Zac. Zac sighed loudly.
"Thanks anyway," he said. He turned around to leave the store and saw Adia. His stomach dropped, as he tried not to look at her. He just stood there, looking up at the ceiling, acting like he didn't see her. He walked over to a ring display, pretending to look at it. She walked over, standing beside him.
"Why are you trying to return my necklace?" Adia asked, desperately blinking back tears that were threatening to pour down her cheeks. He was still pretending to not notice her, but she could tell he was listening. "Zac?"
"You don't want it. And I have no use for it," he explained in a monotone voice. "Why are you here?"
"I ran into Taylor at the Gap. He said you were in here," Adia responded.
"I thought you were supposed to be here with Druscilla," Zac said.
"I am. She's with Taylor right now," Adia replied. "Look, Zac, I want to apologize for earlier. I'm really sorry. I was wrong, and I'd really like to work things out."
"It's okay . . . really . . . let's just forget about what happened. And about each other. It's over, it's done with," Zac said coldly.
"You don't mean that. You know I want to be with you. Why are you doing this?" Adia said. Zac looked over at her. The look in his chocolate brown eyes was cold and emotionless. That wasn't how he was feeling inside, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that. He didn't want her back just because she felt bad about their fight. He wanted her back only if she wanted him too. He wanted her to love him for him, not for Taylor. All he wanted to do right then was take her in his arms and never let her go. But that wasn't possible.
"I mean it. It's over. We both know you don't want to be with me. I'm an asshole, remember?" Zac said, his voice wavering slightly.
"Okay," Adia said, her eyes filling up with tears. They turned that same icy blue, as they always did when she cried. He loved that. "Well, can I atleast have my locket, since you can't return it?"
"Yeah, whatever," Zac said. He slid the box over to her. "Good bye, Adia." He walked away as quickly and calmly as he could, fighting back tears. Adia watched his back as he walked away, until she could no longer see him. She opened the box up, pulling the locket out. Then she walked over to the man behind the counter that Zac had talked to earlier.
"What special engraving is on this?" Adia asked, confused.
"On the back," he said, taking the locket from her hands and turning it over. He allowed her to look closely at the back of it. I love you, Adia. Love, Zac. was engraved in tiny script. She took the necklace from the man's hands, running her fingers over the letters. Now she understood why he had said those mean things to her about Taylor. It wasn't just that they were true. It was that Zac wanted her to love him back, the same way he loved her. He was trying to tell her how he felt. But he was also pushing her away for some reason. She grabbed the box off of the other counter and ran out of the store, hoping that she would be able to catch him. But he was nowhere in sight.
She ran back down the mall to the Gap. Dru was sitting in a chair in front of the dressing rooms, as Taylor was coming out of one of the rooms, dressed in a pair of shorts and an anorak. When she ran up and stood beside Dru, she was out of breath. Taylor looked over at her.
"Did you find him?" Taylor asked. Adia nodded, panting. "Well, where is he?" Dru stood up and walked over to stand beside Taylor.
"He was trying to return my birthday present, the locket, right?" Taylor nodded as Adia stopped for a moment to catch her breath. "Well, the jeweler wouldn't take it back because there was something engraved on it. This." She held the back of the locket up for Taylor and Dru to both see it.
"Wow . . . ," Taylor said. "I had no idea he felt that way about you." Taylor walked back into the dressing room and shut the door. "Keep talking, Adia. I have to change back into my disguise."
"Well, neither did I," Adia responded. "I tried talking to him. But he wouldn't budge. I apologized, and he said that it was okay, but it was over. He wouldn't even give me a chance to explain or anything. But he let me have the locket. That's when I realized what was on the back of it. I tried to find him, but he was nowhere to be seen."
"Great . . . how in the world am I supposed to find him now? I have to have him home in half an hour!" Taylor exclaimed. He came out of the dressing room again and sank down into the chair that Dru had vacated. "I'm really sorry, Adia. I thought if you talked to him, it would help. I guess not." Taylor shrugged his shoulders. A light bulb went on in Adia's mind.
"I get it now!" she exclaimed. Taylor and Dru gave her a strange look. "Don't you see? He came out here, because he knew I would be here! He did it simply so he would have a chance to talk to me! And he pushed me away only because he thinks I still want you, Taylor!" She sank down into the chair beside Taylor, putting her head in his hands. "I failed miserably!"
"No, you didn't," Taylor said. "You told him how you felt, which is what he needed to hear. He's just holding out on you to make entirely sure that you don't still want me. I know my little brother too well. He does this all the time to people. He has trouble trusting people, for some reason. I think it's mostly because we're famous, and everyone wants to be near us and be friends with us. He never knows who really cares about him and who he can trust. So, he tests them, and most of the time, they fail, but he never pushes them away. He doesn't entirely trust them, but he doesn't tell them to get lost either. You didn't fail, but he pushed you away anyway. You passed with flying colors, and he's just scared. He knows he can trust you and that you finally want him back. And because that's never happened before, it scares him."
"Well, what do I do?" Adia asked. "I've already tried talking to him, and that doesn't seem to do any good. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Aside from just leaving him alone for a while, nope," Taylor said, shaking his head and giving her a sympathetic smile. "And that is my suggestion."
"What? To leave him alone for a little while and let him stew about it?" Dru responded. "I don't think that's going to work too well."
"Well, do you have a better idea?" Taylor asked sarcastically.
"Yes . . . I think Adia should date someone else. It's certainly not what Zac would expect her to do, and it's a quick, painless way to get his attention," Dru said.
"You call that painless? Do you have any idea what that would do to Zac?" Taylor exclaimed. "That would absolutely crush him!"
"Well, you couldn't come up with anything better, so hush!" Dru responded, getting up in Taylor's face. She crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him. They both burst out laughing, as Taylor pushed Dru away from him. She fell on her rear end onto the floor, making them both laugh harder. Adia was sitting quietly in her chair, contemplating a course of action. She knew Zac well enough to know that he would run if he saw her coming. So, she had to confront him when he least expected it. She turned to Taylor.
"When did you say that your parents are getting back from Enid?" she asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Why?" Taylor gave her a questioning look.
"No reason. I just had an idea. Forget about it," Adia said, lying through her teeth. "I think I'm going to stick with just leaving him alone for right now." Now that's a total lie, she thought. The wheels in her head were already rapidly spinning. "Dru, my mom's going to be here to pick us up in a little while. We need to be out front waiting for her."
"Okay," Dru said. She stood up along with Taylor and grabbed Adia's hand, pulling her up out of the chair.
"Well, Dru, it was nice to meet you," Taylor said, shaking her hand. He turned to Adia, giving her a hug. "Happy Birthday, girl. Have fun tonight and forget all about Zac. I promise, it will all work itself out sooner or later."
"Preferably sooner," Adia responded, smiling. "Have fun finding Zac."
"I have a pretty good idea of where he might be," Taylor said.
"Video game arcade," Taylor and Adia said at the same time. They started laughing. Adia and Dru waved at Taylor as they exited the store, walking off in opposite directions. Adia already had her plan entirely worked out in her mind.
