LucyITZ, this is for you!

Christina smiled as the late October wind swirled the vibrant leaves at her feet. She linked her arm with Taylor's as they walked across the campus, which was alive with the colors of fall. Taylor looked at her and smiled.

"You're happy today." He said.

"I know! Don't you just love the fall?" Christina asked.

"Well, yeah, but apparently not as much as you do." He said with a laugh.

"Oh, look at the colors. Isn't it beautiful? I wish fall lasted longer."

"Why is that?"

"I could spend hours just looking at all the pretty colors." She said. "It goes too fast."

The two were walking to her apartment a few weeks later after their History class. A lot had changed since then. Taylor had since moved in with David all the way, and spend most of his time with Christina in her appartment. They walked up the stairs to their building, Christina still smiling.

They got in, and she threw her bookbag on the couch and then flopped down.

"So what do you want to do for dinner?" She asked.

"Um, not much cuz i spend most of my money on that Italian place we ate at on Wednesday." He said with a chuckle as he set down his bookbag next to the door.

"Well, i have like, ten bucks, so something cheap...." She trailed off. She went into the kitchen to find her and Michelle's listings of take out places.

"Hmmm....How about Chinese?" She asked him.

"Ah, if it's cheap." he said, pulling two dollars out of his pocket.

She giggled at him, looking for loose change in his pockets.

"What?" he asked her.

"You never have money." She said.

"I do too." He said, pretending to be hurt.

"yeah okay." She said.

"Come here." he said quietly, a sly grin on his face.

"What?" She asked.

He gave her a hug and she giggled. He kissed the top of her head, and she leaned up on her tiptoes to give him a light kiss.

He laughed, and she burst out giggling.

"Why do you have to be so tall?" She asked, smiling.

"I'm not that tall." He said.

"Yes you are! You're like....six ten!" She said.

"No....i'm six one."

"Wow. I did not know that."

"Yeah? You should see my brother Ike. He's six three. He's huge."

"Whoa...That's like, a distant dream."

"So, how tall are you, like, four feet?" He asked, poking her in the ribs.

"No!....stop that. I'm five foot two." She said indignantly.

"Oh, such a giant."

"Quit mocking me." She said with a grin.

"Oh, okay." He said, leaning down to kiss her.

They stood in the kitchen for a few moments just kissing until the heard somone in the doorway.

"This is just....touching....really." Michelle said, throwing her keys on the counter with a laugh.

The two broke apart, pretending to do something.

"You guys, it's okay. Enough of your little games. I know you're boyfriend-girlfriend. It's not a crime to kiss." She said with a knowing smile.

Christina smiled at Taylor as Michelle walked out of the kitchen. An hour later, they were settled in the tv room on the couch with thier cartons of chinese food.

"Why did they invent chopsticks?" Taylor whined.

"Just to make your life more miserable." Christina said without looking up from her carton.

"Wha-"

"I'm kidding you goon." She said with a laugh.

"I can't get this..." he said, trying to pick up a piece of fried chicken.

"Here." She said. picking up the piece and shoving it in his mouth.

"Oh nice." He said, wiping the sweet and sour sauce off his chin..

She laughed at him, then set her empty carton down. .

A few hours later, around eleven, he was still sitting on the couch with Christina, and they were talking about their home lives..

"I miss my cat." Christina said..

"Why don't you bring him?" Taylor asked..

"He died last summer." Christina said..

"Oh, i'm sorry.".

"yeah, i've had him since i was four, and he died a few weeks before school." .

"Oh." he said..

"Yeah, the first month of school wasn't too great.".

"Well you met me." He said, patting her shoulder..

"Yeah, but i still wish i had a cat" She said..

"Oh.".

"Maybe i'll go get one on my birthday." She said..

"When is that?" He asked..

"November 13." .

"Oh, then it's coming." he said..

"Yup.".

They heard the door swing open and Christina gasped and covered her mouth. In the doorway was David holding Michelle, who was sobbing uncontrolably. .

"What happened?" Christina said, jumping up and over the back of the couch..

"Get me the phone." Taylor jumped up and ran into the kitchen to get the phone, while Christina helped David put Michelle on the couch..

"David, David, tell me what happened!" Christina shrieked..

"Calm down Chris, it's okay." Taylor said, pulling back gently..

"What happened?" She said quieter..

David looked up at Christina with a very serious face. Christina could feel herself start to shake. .

"Michelle was raped." .

.

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