LOGINTAYLOR“What are you doing here? ” “I know you do not like any of us showing up at your school, but Mom was going to show up; coming here was the only way to stop her,” she explained. I sighed and shifted in the seat. ‘What the hell is this about? ” “You heard from Julia already, didn’t you? ” “I did and…”“She is pregnant, so they have to rush the wedding.” “What does that have to do with me? ” “They have to get married…” “And? “I shrugged as I settled into the chair. “Mom says you should give them what they want.” “The permission to marry? “I asked,” and she nodded. “Does that mean you have agreed already? ” “I had no choice but to agree.” “You had a choice, but you decided to agree? ” I asked, and she shrugged. “Taylor, this isn’t that big of a deal; their getting married doesn’t affect us in any way.” “It does,” I said with a nod. “Talia doesn’t want her child born out of wedlock.” “Why? She has no issues breaking another family to form theirs.” “Are you still mad
RIVERWhen Taylor got there, I was laughing so much the walls of my stomach hurt. Who knew that the big and bad boy Taylor was such a huge softie? I mean, I had seen traces, but of all the stories Talia had managed to tell, that was just what I needed to solidify my opinion. “Everything she said about me is a lie.” He walked over and pulled her up. “What are you doing?” “Here?” she asked, tilting her head with a pout. He narrowed his eyes at her, and she took a deep breath. “We have all been trying to reach you but…” She paused when Taylor’s eyes darted to me. I wasn't social, but I knew what that meant; whatever it was they had to discuss was a family matter and shouldn't cross the ears of an outsider like me. I got up and let out a residual chuckle, clapping dramatically so my exit didn't seem weird. “You have to tell me more of those stories,” I add for a dramatic effect. “I have been dying to tell someone, and finally, heaven has answered my cry,” she murmured, wriggling out
RIVERA strange figure standing at the front door scared the hell out of me. I stopped and held the hem of my blouse. Who could this be? Another of Taylor’s girlfriends who believed he was going to end up with her? How many more of them were out there? How many more are going to show up here to harass me? I sighed and walked until I was at the door. I cleared my throat, and she turned to me. Judging by her face, she looked younger, probably in high school. “Hello?” She waved as she blinked rapidly. “How can I help you?” She beat me to saying it. “I was going to say that to you.” “Are you my brother’s girlfriend?” she asked, leaning in and then out. How was she so brave with someone she had never met before? “Your brother? Who is your brother?” I asked, and she frowned, scrunching her nose up as her eyes darted around me. “I live here.” “You do?” “Yes.” “My brother lives here,” she said as if it were some kind of verdict. “You are Taylor’s sister?” Her eyes widened as she nod
TAYLORShe is too good for a boy like meSince I said those words, they have troubled me. I was being honest, but when they left my mouth, they sounded like me trying to absolve myself of all responsibility. I couldn't lie that when I saw River, something was different every time.I had been in love before, and this was not that; it was something more intense that I kept wanting to feel because of how good it felt. “Taylor?” she asked. Her back was to me, unmoved and in the same position she had been in since she asked me that question. “You know…” I mumbled, my mind failing to provide the answer. If I couldn't convince myself, how could I convince her? “Is that some subtle way of calling me undateable because of my two failed dates?” ‘Great going, Taylor; you managed to convince her she is a freak.’ My mind screamed at me. This is not how that was supposed to go. I had no idea how that was supposed to go. “NO!” My voice was loud, and it startled me as well. “What I mean is that
RIVERI never thought I could have fun with anything other than what I already considered fun, but having all these people in our living room on a Sunday afternoon was better than I had thought. “You guys are in theatre, right?” Lana asked. “Pretty much,” Hendrix said, taking an aggressive bite from the garlic bread in his hand. “So do you like doing productions?” Lana had been the one carrying the entire conversation, and I was grateful for that at least. “Like plays and dramas?” Three of them nodded on cue as if they had been waiting for that question all night. “Well, if you ever need us to sit in on your play, then we would be glad to.” She made the offer without asking me first. I was not even sure what I thought of stage plays; I had never been to one before, and neither had I thought I would ever go to one, but maybe it might be fun? ‘River, since when did you get interested in things?’ “We would?” I asked, the words slipping out of my mouth unknowingly. “Wait, sweethea
RIVER“I will get that.” I jump off the couch before Taylor can. We had both had breakfast and were now waiting for our friends to arrive. Every conversation we had both tried to start had only hit a dead end a few seconds later, so we sat side by side staring at the romcom playing lowly in the background. I pulled the door open, and instead of Elise and Lana, Noah and Hendrix were standing there. “Hi.” Hendrix was the first to talk and push his way in. Noah took a step forward with an apologetic expression on his face. I sighed and gave way for him to come in. “You finally invited us over.” Hendrix plopped onto the couch next to Taylor with a smile. “It’s about time.” “Hey, man.” Taylor and Hendrix did a weird handshake thing, and Noah was next. “Thank you for inviting us.” Noah sounded a bit more sensible, at least to me. “Oh yes, thank you,” Hendrix said quickly.With three good-looking men lounging on my couch, I already felt outnumbered, but I tried to ease it off by offe







