Jessica smacked herself in the head as soon as she stepped foot outside the kitchen. Why did she have to be the world’s dumbest at flirting? “Oh, well,” she thought, walking through the dark den, “Taylor could figure out that JTH_77 was...” Suddenly, an ear-piercing shattering caused Jessica to stop in her tracks. The crash had come from the kitchen. “Taylor...” she thought, and retraced her way back. As soon as she got to the door of the kitchen, light came shooting into her eyes as the ceiling lights clicked on. Adjusting her eyes, she spotted Taylor sitting at the table with an astonished look on his face. She looked down at the floor beneath him, and noticed shreds of glass, obviously from Taylor’s milk glass. She then looked back into his eyes, and noticed him getting back to rights. “Oops, my bad,” he muttered. Jessica’s suprised face started forming into a smile, but then seized as she wondered how the lights were suddenly turned on. Taylor couldn’t have done it...he was sitting there the whole time, and the only light switch would be...
Glancing at the back entrance to the kitchen, Jessica wasn’t suprised to see a person standing in the shadows. Squinting her eyes to make the person out, she sighed a deep breath as she recognized Angela standing there with a haughty look on her face. Since it was late, and Jessica was exhausted, she just gave the look back. “What do you want, Angela?” she asked. At this, Angela walked out of the shadows into the light. She was twirling a piece of her hair around her index finger, staring at Taylor. “Oh, nothing, she replied, “just taking a midnight stroll I guess.” Jessica rolled her eyes, and got back to Taylor. Glancing again in his direction, she realized that he had been staring at her the whole time. Even now, he was looking at her like he was off in another world. “Taylor...what’s wrong?” she asked, confused. Taylor just shook his head, and stuttered, “N-n-nothing.” Then Angela spoke from the other side of the room. “Well, of course something is baby, why did you drop the glass?” she started walking towards Taylor, being cautious of the shreds, “did Jessica say something that got to you? Because you know how Jessica is...” Angela glanced at Jessica with a look of disgust, “maybe it was that whole convo about her and her Internet loverboy.” Jessica’s hands clenched at her sides, and she glared directly at Angela. “Were you listening the whole time?” she asked, trying to get a hold of herself. Angela laughed and rolled her eyes. “Duh,” she replied, putting a hand on Taylor’s back. Jessica glanced at Taylor again, and saw a look of contempt on this face as the hand landed. He shook it off immediately. “So why were you doing that?” he asked Angela, standing up now. Angela was taken offguard, but wasn’t easily taken down. “Well, honey, I heard you opening your door, and I heard footsteps on the stairs, and I thought maybe something was wrong...” she said, her mouth turning into a pout, “I was just trying to be helpful.” Taylor looked back at Jessica with an amused look on his face, but then turned back around. “Well, I’m fine, and nothing is wrong,” he said, silently telling her to mind her own business. Angela just looked at him for a minute, but then her manicured hand slowly slid up his upper arm. “Are you sure? I mean, you didn’t get cut by the glass, did you? Cause I can...” “No,” Taylor interrupted, “I’m just fine, so why don’t you just go get some sleep, huh?” Angela’s face immediately turned into rage. “Some thanks I get for looking out for you!! Have fun with your little Barbie doll here!,” she yelled in his face. Turning on her heel, Jessica thought she was leaving, but was thought wrong. Angela chose to use the other exit of the kitchen where Jessica was standing, and before leaving she stopped before her and whispered loudly, “Why he likes trash like you is beyond comprehension!”
Jessica had to take some deep breaths to control her anger, and even closed her eyes for a minute. Once she opened them, she came face to face with Taylor who had crossed the room in under a second. Quite startled by this, she grabbed the counter to steady herself, and looked at him straight on. He was looking at her with such a look in his eyes that she had no idea what to say except for, “are you sure your alright?”
“Never been better,” he replied, and pulling himself from her eyes, he took a step to the left and opened a kitchen closet, and pulled out a broom. He started over to the broken glass to clean it up, but instead he looked back at her. “I’m sorry I scared you with the noise,” he said softly, “why don’t you go up to bed. You look tired.” Jessica pushed the hair out of her face and swallowed. “Well, actually, I’m wide awake now,” she replied, “here let me help you. I think there’s another broom in that other closet, I’ll just...” Jessica walked towards the other door, but Taylor grabbed her wrist gently, and stopped her from moving. Jessica was suprised for a minute, but recovered when she saw his face. “Don’t, it’s okay,” he said to her, “it’s my mess, you don’t have to do it. Besides, you think JTH_77 is on now?” he asked her almost slyly, “that is his screenname, right?” Jessica swallowed again and nodded. She was concentrating a little too much on the hand on her wrist that to his actual words. “Yeah, it is,” she finally spat out. Taylor released his grip, and turned back to the broom. “Well, if your in love with this guy, don’t you think you should go?” he asked her, but not even looking. A stab of guilt hit Jessica right in the heart. How could she be so stupid? Sure, Taylor was sweet and great looking, but she didn’t think she was in love with him. Now her computer Taylor...that was a different story.
“Um...your right actually,” she muttered to him, not able to look him in the eye. She stepped over the glass she could actually see, and headed for the door. “Goodnight,” she ended, sensing his eyes watching her as she left the room. “Goodnight,” was also the murmured response.
**************************************************************************
Running up the stairs to her room, all she could think about was getting on her computer. For some reason, she was sure that Taylor would be online...but as soon as she booted up, her heart sunk as she saw his name gray in her friends list. She sunk way down in her white whicker chair at her desk, and closed her eyes. She felt like she hadn’t talked to him in an eternity, but in sense, it actually had only been a day or two. Every time someone talked about computers, or she heard just a “computer” noise on the television, she would jump at attention. She would actually daydream about talking to him! “I guess that’s what love does to ya...” she murmured, suppressing a deep yawn. She guessed she was more sleepy than she thought. “Okay, Jess, go over to the bed,” she told herself, her brain ever wearing thin. But going over to the bed was easier said than done. Obviously, her body just didn’t want to do it. Jessica slumped a little more as she finally decided to give up. Besides, wicker was actually pretty comfortable when you’re spacey...
Jessica jumped about 3 miles out of that comfortable chair when she heard the mild telephone ringing in her ear. Opening her eyes wide to try to wake her up, she grabbed hopelessly at the phone on the dresser next to the desk. Finally reaching it, she clenched the receiver, and ever sleepy, said “hello.” Promptly hearing the dial tone, she instantly grew confused. “Hello?” she said again. Taking the phone away from her ear, she looked around her and her eyes focused on the open laptop in front of her. A bold, flashing “JTH_77” was staring straight back at her. Instantly, her heart started thumping in her chest. A small smile was building as she set the phone down in it’s holder. “I guess he can’t sleep either,” she said quietly, waiting for him to send a message.
JTH_77: And what would you be doing up at 5:00 in the morning?
Angel_22: Waiting for you of course
JTH_77: oh, come on...no you weren’t
Angel_22: yes I was! actually, I kinda fell asleep
JTH_77: how cute is that
Angel_22: well, it is 5:00 in the morning
Angel_22: hey, wait a minute!!! it’s only 4:00 in Tulsa...
JTH_77: really? hmmm...my watch must be wrong
Angel_22: okay, something’s up
JTH_77: I have NO idea what you mean
Angel_22: lol stop it! Taylor, am I in Tulsa right now?
JTH_77: well, seeing as if you are an hour ahead, you must be...let’s see in like Indiana or something??
Angel_22: close, but no. Ohio actually. But how did you know? I didn’t tell you I was gone for the summer
JTH_77: yes you did
Angel_22: I did not!
JTH_77: did!
Angel_22: *sigh* no I didn’t! I purposely didn’t tell you!!!
JTH_77: *grin* and why would you do that???
Jessica grinded her teeth at Taylor’s last message. She hated when he teased her online. At least he should have the decency to tease her face to face instead of on the comp where she couldn’t beat the crap out of him. And how the heck did he know that she was gone?
Angel_22: Okay, I’m getting this close to signing off this thing
JTH_77: how close?
Angel_22: VERY close, dear!
JTH_77: hmmm...do you think if we met, we could be close?
Angel_22: and what do you mean by that??
JTH_77: oh, nothing
JTH_77: you know, the sunset is really pretty this morning...you should see it
Even though Jessica was involved in the conversation, she had still noticed the light beams shining under her blinds at the window. But in the same sense, this even made her more confused. After living in Tulsa all her life, she knew for a fact that the sun didn’t get up before 6. Especially in the summer months.
Angel_22: Man, it’s only 4:00 there...how the heck are you seeing the sunrise?
JTH_77: where is there?
Angel_22: you are really starting to get me aggravated...Tulsa!!!! you know, the place where you live!!!
JTH_77: oh! Tulsa! well, who said I was there?
Jessica’s eyes narrowed instantly. All this time...and he didn’t even tell her that he was gone too? Something was up. Something BIG. She started thinking that if he was there, she would get some major knee excersizes in...you know, where you lift your knee up, and SLAM it into something?
Angel_22: where are you????????????
JTH_77: Ohio...can you see the sunset from where you are?
Angel_22: Ohio??? why didn’t you tell me that when I told you I was here too???
JTH_77: Cause just the thought of you squirming in those Winnie the Pooh pajamas, hating the way I’m teasing you, is just too much
Jessica’s mouth dropped about a good 10 inches at his last comment. How the heck did he know she had on Pooh pajamas...she just bought them the other day! Suddenly, a huge blast of realization hit her, and she gripped the desktop. “He’s in Ohio...his name is Taylor...he knows I have Pooh pajamas...he’s teasing me like he knows something I don’t...” she murmured out loud.
JTH_77: Jess? You there?
Angel_22: yeah, I’m here. Listen...is your last name really Haskell?
JTH_77: course not...remember I had something to tell you? well, that’s it...my last name isn’t Haskell
Angel_22: so...the JTH stands for...
JTH_77: Jordan...Taylor...
Angel_22: what, Taylor?
JTH_77: I think you know.
A huge sob came up from the back of Jessica’s throat while at the same time, a tear cascaded down her cheek. “This can’t be happening, this can’t be true,” she kept repeating, over and over in her head. “It’s him,” she murmured, her hands starting to shake at the keyboard. How was it that in all the millions of people all over the world, she had met the same person twice without even knowing. Not to mention the fact that she loved them...him at least. Trying to stiffle her now endless sobs, she forced herself to keep typing.
Angel_22: Hanson
JTH_77: yes
Angel_22: as in Mmmbop
JTH_77: yes
Angel_22: as in the guy across the hallway?
JTH_77: no
Jessica’s heart seemed to stop beating altogether. “No?” she asked herself. What did he mean by “no?”
Angel_22: what???????
JTH_77: I’m not across the hall...
JTH_77: I’m outside on the deck
Jessica sighed a deep breath. Even when he seemed to be serious, he was still teasing her. Not that she minded...right now, she loved everything he did.
Angel_22: on the deck?
JTH_77: yeah...how long do you think it’ll take for you to get down here?
Angel_22: 2 seconds if I hurry
JTH_77: okay, good, but wait a minute
Angel_22: k
JTH_77: I just want to say now that I’m sorry for lying...I had a reason, so please don’t be mad, and...
Angel_22: Taylor, stop it
JTH_77: no, wait a minute...I have no idea what’s going to come up with us or whatever, but I just want you to know that my feelings haven’t changed...at all
Angel_22: okay...but first of all, I lied to you too
Angel_22: I told you my last name was Stark, not Sarka, so why would I be mad?
Angel_22: and second of all...
Angel_22: if I don’t get down there in two seconds, I’ll explode
JTH_77: hehe well, I just wanted to get that straight
Angel_22: yeah, I know
JTH_77: so...did you say 2 seconds?
****I am in no way associated with Hanson or Mercury Records. What you are reading is purely fiction. F-I-C-T-I-O-N.****
