~"the demanding phone"~

The day wore on and still he sat. His brothers were worried about him but he continued to sit despite their attempts to persuade him to come out. He sat, now alone on the hallway floor. The earlier buzz of a family of 9 had now died down and he was now surrounded by emptiness. The phone lay stone cold. He re-adjusted himself and continued to stare at the menacing black, cordless phone. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the piece of paper with Margo's number on it. He stared at it. Screwing it up he tossed it across the hall. He picked up the phone, it felt slimy in his sweaty palm and began to slowly dial the digits for LA. After 5 numbers he slammed the phone down. He sat for longer. He then crawled over to the paper ball that he had thrown and smoothed it out and replaced it in his back pocket. He resumed his staring. He had three choices, ring Margo, ring Keryn or not ring anyone at all. The last seemed dauntingly lonely that it was immediately rejected. If he rang Keryn he wasn't sure everything would be what he wanted. She was involved with Justin. She was half way across the country but she was Keryn, and he knew he wanted to be with her. If he rang Margo he would have someone devoted, but did he really want her? He hardly knew her. He stared on.



Kayla rolled over in her bed. She was experiencing one of those days when you did everything in bed. You would wake up, get food, get back in bed and go from there. She had just woken up again and was gazing round her room. Her eyes stopped on the fishbowl. 'Jesus', one of her beloved fish wasn't moving. She threw back the covers of her bed and went over to her desk. She peered into the bowl, no movement. 'Judus', the other fish was swimming around quite happily but Jesus lay still. She poked him with the other end of a pencil. No movement. Now she was worried.

"Keryn!!!!"

She heard a low groan and mumble from the other room and then a sleepy Keryn appeared in the doorway.

"What?"

"Jesus isn't moving."

"Oh great," Keryn moved across to the desk, "I told you not to get fish, they always die."

"I know I know"

They both stared at the golden blob. The very still golden blob.

"Well Kayla, you better flush him down the loo or something."

Kayla looked at Keryn doubtfully.

"He's your fish, go on."

And with that Kayla carried the bowl into the bathroom. She wasn't looking forward to what she had to do. In the background the phone rang and she heard Keryn get it.

"Hello?"

"Hi"

"Oh hey Ike, Kayla can't come to the phone right now cos she's dealing with Jesus."

"Jesus? What the hell?"

"Jesus her fish."

"Oh, what happened?"

"He died during the night."

"Hey isn't that spooky, today is Good Friday."

"Oh My God!! It is too! Freaky."

Keryn covered the mouth piece while she shouted to Kayla that her fish named Jesus had died on Good Friday. Kayla's response was rushing out of the bathroom.

"Did you throw him out?" Keryn asked.

"No, you have me thinking he's all holy now…and I…"

"Kayla, chill out it's a fish." Keryn looked at her spaced out friend, "here talk to Ike."

Kayla took the phone as Keryn trudged into the bathroom.

"Hi Ike."

"Hey Kayla sorry about Jesus."

"Yeah, but this fish is freaking me out."

Ike laughed.

"Kayl it's a fish."

"I know I know….it's just weird.."

"That's true."

They both heard Keryn shouting from the bathroom.

"I knew the day you brought those fish home that I would have to deal with them."

Kayla and Ike giggled.

"Hey Kezza," Kayla shouted back, "You sound like my Mum."

Keryn sighed and came out of the bathroom wiping her hands.

"Thanks, I owe you."

"Nah you don't owe me anything, just no more fish."

"Deal"

Ike sniggered over the phone.

"What was that Isaac?"

"Just the thought of you not having fish, you wanted to buy fish when you were over here!"

"True..just don't tell Keryn that."

"Don't tell Keryn what?"

Kayla smiled cheekily, "Nothing"

"Give me the phone. Let me speak to that boy."

"Ike, she wants to speak to you…I'll call you back later okay? Love ya."

Kayla handed the phone to Keryn and went to have a shower.

"What can't you tell me?" began Keryn.

"Nothing." Ike said innocently.

"Oh yeah sure."

"Oh Keryn tell Kayla to ring me on my mobile."

"You on it now?"

"Yeah…that cool?"

"Yep, well I am going to go now. Plan my day, talk soon hey?"

"Yep, talk soon. Bye."

"Bye."

They hung up.




Kayla came waltzing out of the shower to find a note from Keryn. She had gone down the street to re-stock the fridge. After replacing her fishbowl on her desk with only Judus swimming around she decided to call Ike back. She punched in their Tulsa home number. It didn't even ring, Tay answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Tay, are you sitting on the phone? It didn't even ring."

Silence

"Taylor?"

"Yeah."

"Hey are you okay?"

"Yes….No…I don't know."

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah," Taylor took a deep breath, he had to ask, "What's going on with Keryn and Justin?"

Kayla's turn to recoil. She rocked back on her heels before delivering the, what she knew would be a blow.

"Taylor, they…they have known each other.."

"Cut the crap, just tell me what I want to know."

"They're seeing each other?"

"Full on?"

"Pretty much, he's a nice guy Tay."

" I don't need to hear about him, just tell Keryn I'm happy for her okay."

The phone lay dead in Kayla's hand. He'd hung up.




Kayla stood shocked at Taylor's outburst, sure he had mood swings but so did most people. But this was different, he'd hung up on her. She knew it wasn't personal but she still felt hurt. She dialed Ike's mobile number. She was sure that if Ike had been home Tay would have passed the phone on, even if he was in a jealous rage.




Tay sat fuming at the phone. He was so angry, angry at everyone. Angry and Keryn for changing her mind so quickly. He resumed his sitting and staring. It hurt, didn't Keryn realize how much it hurt. There definitely was something between them during her stay. They could denied it but in truth there was something there. Taylor slid his hand once again into his back pocket and fished out Margo's number. Slowly he punched the numbers in.




She woke up in the morning, whether it was from Kayla's screaming or not, she still woke up with these thoughts. She went to sleep at night. The same thoughts. It was confusing, and worst of all, full of guilt.

Keryn opened the door and headed into the cold day, another strange thing that had been happening again. It wasn't that cold this time of the year. Keryn felt like Emilia in her 'Big Big World' clip for some reason, she had thoughts like that sometimes.

Keryn made sure she left a note for Kayla, but when Keryn was half way down the street it became obvious that due to the public holiday and all, none of the shops would be open. It wasn't the reason she had taken this trip anyway. She patted the pocket of her coat, her mobile phone there. She just hoped that Kayla didn't catch on any time soon.

Keryn started to shiver. She had washed her hair as soon as she got up, so the heaviness and damp had soaked her back. She staggered into the heat of the mall and sat down in an empty seat. She felt alone, no one was around. She needed privacy for the moment. Or perhaps she didn't, the thoughts started to come back. As if she were coming into some sort of realisation. She felt total urge to talk to Taylor every day. Why was that? It was never like that before. She knew that when she woke up in the morning, at least some mornings, she should be thinking of Justin... not Taylor.

Keryn suddenly shuddered as she thought of the phone call the other day. Justin had been cruel to Taylor. Taylor was cruel to Justin; who should she feel bad for? Taylor? She did.

Keryn closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands. She felt so bad. All though there was something deep she felt for Justin, she didn't know whether or not that depth was deeper for Taylor. She needed to speak to Taylor. She needed to tell him how she felt. Right in the back of her mind something told her that Taylor was the answer to her dreams. What happened to them weeks back in Tulsa confirmed it. The thoughts hadn't been processed until she started seeing Justin. It would have been easier on everyone to stay single.

Keryn listened. Someone walked past with their discman, the silent surroundings made her aware that they were playing 'Have you Ever' by Brandy. That hurt, they were her feelings. It was the time. Keryn unbuttoned her pocket and reached in for her cell phone. She wiped her hand across the screen in habit and started dialing the digits of Taylor's cell phone.

"Hello."

"H-h-hello" Keryn quivered. She felt as if she were about to cry.

"Who's this?" Those words hurt. Keryn tried to make herself stong, it seemed impossible as she felt a single tear fall down her cheek. "Keryn?"

He knew who she was. "Taylor."

"Oh hey, how are you? Umm, did Kayla give you my message?"

"I'm not good I don't think Tay, I feel sick. What message?"

"Why are you sick Keryn? What's the matter?" He seemed worried.

"I did something stupid." Keryn felt another tear slide.

"Oh my God! You're not pregnant are you?"

"Tay, shut up. How could I be pregnant?" He didn't understand, how could he? She had never given positive signals before.

Keryn started to cry, it was now made quite obvious over the phone.

"My stomach is knotting up Keryn. Don't cry. What's the matter?"

"I can't help it. I'm a freak" she sighed.

"You aren't a freak. Go get Kayla, I wanna speak to her." Keryn fell back on the chair Why must he do this? Sounding like a parent.

Keryn crying was still strong. "She's not here, I'm all alone at the mall."

"Oh Keryn, please tell me, I'm you're friend. I can help you."

"No, you can't."

"Keryn c'mon" Taylor pleaded. "When you're like this, I get like that and when I get like that, it's impossible."

"Where are you?" Keryn ignored his request.

"I'm in the car with Ike."

"What's he doing?" Keryn was trying to get off the subject. This seemed to be a mistake. "He is driving and talking to Kayla on the phone." Keryn wiped the tears from her face as if Kayla would appear at any second.

"Where are you going?"

"We are going to pick up Margo"

"Why. . .?" Keryn asked warily, hoping Zac had a change of heart on this girl.

"Oh. . . I rang her and we are going out today."

That was a blow. The wiped away tears had suddenly replaced themselves and Keryn was making soft crying noises. This phone call was not going well. She was too late. Far too late. Margo was the one, not her. This was useless. For the rest of her life she thought that she would be alone, or with someone that she simply didn't want. That's for sure. Keryn's crying was now endless. This was terrible. There had been silence for about ten seconds.

"That's nice" Keryn choked. She closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands again.

"Oh no. Keryn, what's the matter? Why are you crying? Tell me now. Please. Please? Have I done the wrong thing. Is it me? It's me isn't it, otherwise you wouldn't ring me."

"I would ring you" Keryn said for no specific reason.

"Yeah?"

"Taylor," Keryn started "I am at the mall, on a public holiday, calling you on my cell phone and crying. I am telling you that I have made a big mistake. And your observation from that is simply because I am pregnant. Taylor, I'm not pregnant and you don't understand."

There was silence.

"See Taylor, you don't get my drift. Until you understand there's nothing that I can do about that. I'm not telling you." Keryn started crying again.

"Oh Keryn, don't cry." Taylor said sweetly. Taylor-sweetly, which made Keryn cry even more. She could imagine that frustrated look on his face while he thought of what the heck to do if a girl cries at him. She smiled through her tears. That was Taylor. "Keryn?"

"What Taylor?"

"You can tell me anything."

"I think I already told you Taylor. I have to hang up now. I'm on my cell"

"I'll call soon."

"Bye Taylor."

"Bye Keryn." Keryn waiting for the phone to click off. That was a bad idea or a good idea, she could'nt decide. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked towards the door. He didn't love her back. Well, maybe he loved her, but he wasn't in love with her. Keryn shuffled home as quickly as she could, she needed to get back to bed.




Keryn walked through the streets until she found her own. Now she felt like the girl from the 'Lullaby' clip. Life was just so terrible. She had hoped that Kayla had just miraculously decided to fly across country for the break. Keryn wanted to be alone and she knew that Kayla had turned cheery over the past few days. Keryn sighed as she thought of her eyes, they had probably now turned from bright red to a glow shade of pink. Who knew. . . besides the people that were walking past her on the way home. Keryn reached into her pocket, emergency sunglasses. She put them on as she turned the doorknob. Perhaps Kayla had found her way back to bed.

No such luck.

Keryn sighed. And looked at Kayla, who was standing, waiting behind the front door.

"What's the matter?" Was her instant question.

"Nothing, leave me alone. I am going to sleep."

"Oh no you don't. Where did you go?"

"I went for a walk." Kayla reached over and put her hand into Keryn's pocket, retriveing the phone. "With this?" Keryn pressed her fingers into her forehead. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

Keryn started to cry again, so she took her sunglasses off.

"No. . . it's just"

"Oh Keryn, what's the matter? I was on the phone to Ike, we were silent. Taylor was going crazy, so we kind of heard what you two were talking about. He kept saying you were crying. What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I'm just. . . just. . . depressed."

"No Keryn, you're not. I know what's wrong."

"No Kayla, you don't." Keryn was now crying, like on the phone.

"Taylor doesn't know though. He was going ape when you hung up. He was really worried."

"Kayla, you don't know!"

"Keryn, it's obvious. It has been obvious for God knows how long!"

"No. . . You don't know what you are talking about." Keryn pushed past Kayla and headed for her room.

"Yes, I do. You're in love with him. I knew it from the minute I met you, talking about him all the time. Keryn, don't bottle it up. You know you love him."

Keryn turned and looked at Kayla. A many year secret released. Just like that. Keryn crumbled onto the floor again, uncontrollably crying. This time it will last for days. "Don't tell him Kayl. Don't."




Taylor walked up the pavement to her house. He was holding her hand, or, she was holding his hand. It was dark in Tulsa by now. They had seen a movie at the local cinema that was opened for the night.

"I had a great time." Margo beamed at Taylor.

Taylor grinned. "So did I Margo, you're great company."

"You are." She smiled, taking the hair that had fallen onto her face and brushing it behind her ears. "We should do it again soon" Taylor stated.

"You know I would love too, call me tomorrow!"

"I will then Margo. I had a lot of fun."

"Well, I best be getting in"

"Yeah, I think you have about three minutes."

"Oh, you're timing me?" She laughed.

"Well, no." Taylor felt himself blushing. Sure, this girl was plain annoying and on herself a bit, but Taylor liked her. She was, well. . . different?

Margo leaned up and planted a kiss on Taylor's cheek. "Thanks for the night Tay."

Taylor leaned over and brushed his lips against Margo's, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"It was a great night." He told her before starting the walk back to the car. "Your three minutes is up!" He grinned.

Chapter twenty~seven HOME Chapter twenty~nine
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