~"mustin justin custard"~

The following week was tragic in everyone’s minds. Kayla had moved her stuff into Keryn’s to try and take her mind off things. However, it made it worse, everything in sight reminded her of Dan. Kayla hated being alone, she couldn’t cope without someone in the house with her at the same time. She had found out about the letter two days after the death. It still sits there on the mantel, she has so far refused to open it.

The funeral was the worst. . . his family were devastated, still blaming themselves about the way they treated him, they cried all the way through. Kayla however, she just stood there. Keryn was confused by her behavior, it was not how she normally would act. But she seemed in shock. As if nothing had fully hit her yet. She hadn’t talked to Ike for a week now, Keryn could tell her was crumbling inside. The Hanson family was back now, Ike’s sadness isn’t as noticed with the house full of people, but Taylor and Zac can notice it, and perhaps his mother, maybe even Jessica. But they are all too afraid to ask him how he is feeling.

Keryn sat up on her bed and walked towards the phone. She had been talking to Taylor a lot lately. She dialed the number and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey Diana, it’s Keryn here. . . Can I speak to Taylor?"

"Oh, hi hun. Hang on a moment, I’ll get him. How are you?" Keryn could then hear Mrs Hanson whispering at Mackie to get his older brother.

"Oh, I’m fine. Thanks for asking."

"That’s good. Are you two okay with everything that’s happened?"

"To tell you the truth. It is still a massive shock, but we are dealing with it in the best way that we can."

"If you need anything, you know that you can call."

"Thanks. I really appreciate it."

"That’s fine. Bye Keryn, here’s Taylor"

"Tay?"

"What?"

"What’s the matter?"

"Nothing, why?"

"You don’t seem very happy" Keryn sighed.

"I’m bored, that’s all," Taylor said "What have you been doing?"

"Nothing much. . . Just thought I would give you a ring."

"Thanks."

"Yeah."

There was a good minute of silence. Keryn just sat with her eyes fixed on the poster stuck to the wall and Taylor scribbled on the note pad that was in front of him.

"How’s Kayla?"

"Oh, I think she is dealing with it in her own ways now. She is better."

"Why won’t she speak to Ike. He is like stuck in a hole or something here."

"I don’t know Tay. I have no idea, I am sure she will have to sooner or later. I think the funeral really beat her up."

"Where is she?"

"She went out with Talia, they went to the mall or something."

"Oh well, it’s good that she is taking her mind of things."

"Yeah, it’s good."

"Where are you calling from?"

"My place. Where I usually call you from. Why the heck?"

"Oh, it’s just that you usually call from Justin’s"

"Why say it like that?" Keryn questioned at Taylor’s tone.

"Because you’re obsessed with him."

"Taylor!" Keryn laughed.

"Don’t deny it. You have lead me to believe that you only wanted me when you were here because you were missing him." Keryn was astonished at the things that were coming out of his mouth.

"Are you messing around?"

"Yes Keryn. . . I’m not stupid."

"Hee hee. . . Nor am I. . . How could I be dumb enough to want you?" Keryn said. Well, this wasn’t entirely true, she knew she did want him, but that is out the window now.

"Oh, ouch. That one hurt."

"Tay?"

"What?"

"Why are we talking about wanting each other?"

"Oh God." Taylor pretended to be shocked. "I better go before I get deeper." Keryn heard a click from the other end. She giggled and replaced the receiver. Tay is such a cack.

Keryn heard the door open and close. She heard footsteps and went to find who they belonged to. Sure enough, it was him.

"Hey there Jussy babe, who gave you a key?"

"Shut you’re mouth now Keryn" he laughed.

"And what might you be doing here on this Sunday afternoon?"

"Why, I came to see you of course." He said walking over to her. "I haven’t seen you since yesterday."

"Aww. . . isn’t he sweet" Keryn smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips.

"Where’s Kayla?"

"She’s at the mall."

"Wanna watch a movie or something?"

"Sure, turn the teev on. I’m thirsty." Keryn ran into the kitchen to them something to drink. Justin had been so nice over the past week. . . Kayla was shocked about their new found relationship, at least it shut her up about Taylor.

Keryn walked back to the sofa. "Here you go."

"Thanks." She went over and snuggled up to him.

"What are we watching?"

"Kissing a Fool’. I rented it then."

"Cool, I think it’s sposed to be good."

"You’re a fool you know?" This made Keryn burst into giggles. "That’s why I kiss you."

"Oh shut up you idiot." She laughed shoving a cushion in his face. "You’re the fool." The two relaxed to watch the movie. . . Keryn had no idea what had just happened.



Taylor hung up the phone on Keryn. He always found this rather amusing, it made her laugh anyways. He always like to pick it up again, just to see if she was still there.

Taylor picked up the receiver. He heard a click on the other end. But, strangely, he could hear her laughing.

"She didn’t hang up properly" Taylor whispered to himself. He would now have to wait around until she used the phone next. If it was too long he would have to ring her mobile, this would be costing a fortune.

He figured that the phone was in the lounge room somewhere, cause some guy arrived. All he caught was "gave you a key?"

He heard mumbled voices and then the reception became clearer. He listened for a while, he felt a little uncomfortable, but, considering they are best friends. She wouldn’t mind. He kept listening until the person that was in that room sounded extremely familiar.

"That Justin bastard." Taylor said out loud in the hallway.

"What honey?" Mrs Hanson called from the kitchen.

"Oh nothing Mom, I was just talking to Keryn about... uhhh, Mustin Custard!"

"Oh right honey" came a confused answer.

Taylor listened quietly. He had to hear everything. He was probably there to start planning ways that Keryn could stay away from the Hanson family. This Justin was up to no good.

Taylor listened some more. . . "Why, I came to see you of course" Taylor mimicked. Then there was silence. He hoped that nothing was happening, he hoped the previous sentence had just been innocent flirting. Silence. Silence. The room seemed to light up again. They were going to watch a movie. And Keryn had now left the room. Taylor sat silently for a minute. Waiting for Keryn to come back into the room with the drinks.

He heard the voices clearly again. They were going to watch ‘Kissing a Fool’, that was nothing spectacular. Just two friends watching a movie together. Taylor was about to hang up the phone when he heard.

"You’re a fool you know?" Taylor was fuming. He called her a fool. Bastard. "That is why I kiss you."

"HE KISSES HER?" Taylor shouted.

"What honey?" His mother’s voice was heard from the kitchen.

"Nothing mom, Mustin kissed Justin while he was eating custard." Taylor tried to find suitable words that related to his outburst.

"That’s nice." Mrs Hanson looked walked away from the doorway.

Taylor’s mind went back to what he just heard. He kisses her? He. . . kisses. . . her? She is the one for me. . . not. . .him. Taylor leaned back in the chair. He had just learned to get over this. He was even going to tell Keryn how he felt.

Taylor buried his face in his hand and sighed, the phone still at his ear.

"Kezz, wanna get pizza?" She hates pizza. Taylor thought to himself.

"No. I hate pizza." See, the heartless freak doesn’t know anything about her.

"Okay, I’ll find something." He heard Justin say. Taylor had still not snapped back to reality. Well, not until he heard the phone making noises. "Keryn, there is something wrong with the phone."

"No you imbecile. I’m here. Hang up properly. I am wanting to make a phone call." Taylor snapped at Justin.

"What? Who the hell are you?"

"Shut up and hang up the phone."

"Don’t talk to me like that... Keryn, have you been talking to some bastard on the phone?"

"No. . ." Keryn thought for a moment. "I was only talking to Tay, he ain’t a bastard."

" ‘Fraid so." Justin commented.

"Oh, get stuffed and hang up the phone now" Taylor spat.

"I thought you were ‘sposed to be nice?!"

Taylor was furious, he just hung up the phone and stormed out the front door. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. The last thing he needed right now. Everything was happening again. He sat in his car and turned on the radio, slowly driving away.

Chapter twenty~four HOME Chapter twenty~six
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