"Tha'ts why sometimes I act so forward." Drew said, wiping her eyes for the tenth time with a kleenex.

"It's no big deal." Christina said.

"I just didn't want you to think I was some kind of freak." Drew said.

"I don't think you're a freak at all." Christina said. "I'm really really shy, and it's been a big problem with me. You just have the oppisite problem."

"Thanks for being so understanding." She said.

"You're welcome."

"You're such a good friend." Drew said.

"Oh..." Christina said, not really knowing what to say. She had only known this girl a few days, and now they were friends? But, as Drew had said, she had a big problem with forwardness, and it was controlling her life. She didn't know how to act around people, so she often threw herself at people, most likely guys. Or that's how she had explained it. She wouldn't want to upset Drew more.

"Oh, that's what friends are for." Christina said.

"Thanks." Drew said sniffing. Christina was eating this up, Drew thought. I have a problem with forwardness, she laughed to herself. She must really be stupid. Drew sighed, wiping her eyes again. She didn't even think SHE fake cried that well. Here is this poor stupid girl with this hot boyfriend, and she has no idea what do to with him.....he needed someone experienced, someone forward, someone sexy....like Drew. That would just be something to work on....



"That's a lot to pay for a ring." Taylor said.

"Yeah, but there's only one like it out there, and nothing there is fake." Mike said to him.

Taylor looked at the ring again. He sighed, pulling out his wallet.

"You've got that kind of cash?" Mike asked with a smile.

"No." Taylor said. He grinned. "My dad does for awhile." He said, setting the bills down on the counter.

"Why do I feel that I'm taking your total income for like, a month?" Mike asked, looking at the money.

"Because...you are." Taylor said with a laugh.

Mike sighed.

"Look, I'll do you a favor." He said. "If you come down here and help me out on Fridays, and Saturdays, from now until Christmas, I'll give you a 30 percent discount on the thing, and I'll give you until the end of January to pay for it." Mike said.

"You would do that?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah." Mike said.

"Man, I owe you." Taylor said.

Mike just sighed. "I know." he said. Twenty minutes later, Taylor walked out of the store with a part time job, Christina's Christmas present, and a piercing gun. Mike had given him a piercing gun and instructions to different piercings. Taylor had to fill out a bunch of forms and he could still only pierce noses and ears. Mike would do everything else.

He walked into Christina's apartment, seeing that the same girl that was there last night was there, getting ready to leave.

"Oh hi Taylor." She cooed, touching his arm.

"Uh, hi." He said.

"How are you?" She asked.

"Uh, fine." he said. He threw Chris a confused look, and when she shrugged, he smiled awkwardly.

"Well, i"d better be going, wouldn't want to tie up your evening." Drew said, winking at Christina.

"Uh...."

"Bye!" Drew said. She opened the door, then walked out, slamming it behind her.

The two just stood in silence for a moment. "That girl.....is screwed up." Taylor said, pointing to the door.

"I know, she's got some...disorder." Christina said, walking into the kitchen.

"You bet she does."

"Taylor...."

"What?"

"Be nice."

"All I'm saying is that she throws herself at me everytime she sees me." Taylor said.

"Well she has a disorder, like I was saying."

"You have got to be kidding me." Taylor said, opening the refridgerator.

"Nope." She said, leaning on the counter. "Some thing where she doesn't know how to act in front of people so she just thows herself at people, especially guys."

"That's crap."

"Well that's what she said. She can't control it, and she doesn't know how to act." She said.

"Obviously." Taylor said.

"I know it seems a little strange-"

"Downright queer." Taylor asid.

"But she's nice, and I have to finish this project with her. Believe it or not, she is smart." She said.

"Okay." Taylor said. He opened the peanut butter and stuck his finger in, then licked it.

"Gross Taylor." She said.

"What?"

"What is it with men and not using silverware and cups?" She asked.

"I dunno." he said, shrugging his shoulders.

Christina walked around the corner into the TV area and taylor followed with his peanut butter.

They both flopped down on the couch. "Oh, did i tell you I got a part time job today?"

"You did? Where?" She asked.

"Mike's."

"The jewelry shop?"

"Yup."

"Doing what?"

"Piercings." He said.

"You're kidding me."

"What?" he asked.

"He's trusting YOU with a GUN?" She asked.

Taylor threw her a sour look. "Yes." He said.

"Oh my. When is it?" She asked. "Just on the weekends." He said. "Only during the busy times."

"Tha't cool." She said. "But you dont know how to pierce." SHe said.

taylor rached over behind the couch to his bookbag and pulled out another sack. he pulled out latex gloves, a gun, and a cucumber.

"A cucumber?" She asked.

"Yup." he said, getting up to cut it into slices. "It's like an ear, and I need practice." He said.

"Oh my gosh." She said, as he sat back down.

"Cool huh?" He said. He held up a slice of cucumber, then put the gun up to it and pulled the trigger. He held it up, and there was an earring through it.

"That is bizzare." She asid, looking at it.

"I know." He said, setting it down and reloading. "So, do you want anything done?" He asked.

"No, no, mine still hurts." She said.

"I'm sorry." He said, lifting back her hair to look at it. "It looks cute." He said.

"Thanks." She said, rolling her eyes. "Michelle is going to die when she finds out that I made a hole in myself for a boy."

"But it was the best boy you've ever met, so that makes it okay." Taylor said with a coy smile.

"Uh huh." Christina said.

A few minutes later, Taylor put his gun down. "Your birthday is on Friday, what shall we do?" He asked.

"I don't care." She said.

"Oh, but nineteen is a big deal." Taylor said.

"No it's not." She said.

"My nineteenth birthday wasn't a big deal either." Taylor said.

"So mine shouldn't be either." She said.

"Well what do you want?" He asked.

"A rainbow." She answered, gazing into space.

"Well I don't know if i can do that...." Taylor said, not really sure what she was getting at.

"You don't have to buy me anything." She said.

"Oh, dont' say that. My mother says that every year when we ask her, and it makes shopping for her an absolute hell." Taylor said, slumping back on the couch.

"Taylor....i don't care." She said.

"But I want to get you something you'll like." He said.

"I'll like anything you give me." She said.

"Yeah." Taylor said. He had absolutely no clue as of what to get his girlfriend, and her birthday was in four days.