capitulo doce:

Graven hung up the phone and began to dance around the room. Sure her life sucked, but she figured that the worst was over. For the first time in the two past weeks, she was smiling. And she meant it. Things could only get better from here on in.

Liz watched in disgust as a beautiful girl, about her age, skated up to Taylor's car. "Hey, y'all, I'm Cindy and I'll be your waitress for tonight," she spoke in a cuter than cute southern accent. "Can I get you two somethin to drink?"

"Yeah," Taylor spoke up, "Two diet Dr. Peppers, please?"

"Okay, I'll be right back with that."

Liz shifted uncomfortably. Now there was no movie which of course meant that they would have to converse. Not only that, but since they had decided on a car hop to eat at, there was no one else to listen to... She examined the bottom of her shirt with her hands... And now, here it was... the akward... silence.

"She was pretty, huh?" Liz couldn't believe she had just said something so stupid.

"Ike, don't be silly...just because she's in a good mood doesn't mean that..." Zac thought to himself. Graven was in a good mood. "Oh god, she has flipped..."

"I'm worried about her, Zac... What she's going through is not easy."

"I know." Zac looked around the dark room lit by only moonlight and a stale television commercial. "But there's one thing I don't understand."

"What's that?"

"Why is it that Liz is doing okay, but Graven is," he gulped hard and lost a large amount of volume in his voice, "suicidal?"

The two both marveled at the word for a moment. "I don't know, Zac. I don't think anyone does... then again, Liz isn't really doing 'okay'."

"Well, yeah, but she's doing a whole hell of a lot better than Grave."

"She's okay," Taylor said, not really looking at the departing waitress.

"Okay? Sure Taylor, just look at her!" Liz exclaimed.

Taylor looked. The waitress turned and saw him watching. She blew him a kiss. "Yeah okay, she's pretty."

"Do you think Graven's pretty?" She half hoped he'd say no, but knew it was impossible.

"Yes." It was inevitable. She was going to ask me that sooner or later. He didn't like the way the whole conversation was going.

Liz's heart dropped. He didn't like me after all. "Did you guys ever go out?"

"No." Taylor felt it absolutely necessary to answer all questions with one word answers.

Liz could tell he was uncomfortable. Still, she couldn't help but ask him one more question. "You like her better than me don't you?" The words fell out of her mouth... she didn't ask him in an accusing way, but in more of a 'I know the answer, but I just want you to say it so I can sulk' way.

Taylor didn't answer. Instead he looked at her for a minute and stepped out of the car. "You can't ask me that." He walked off.

Liz's heart sunk. He'd looked so sad at the moment when he'd left and she wondered why. The waitress came back with the Dr. Peppers and left again. Liz stared out the window and finally spotted Taylor sitting on a concrete block. She grabbed his drink and went to where he was.

Taylor waited until Liz had settled down beside him before speaking. "In a way I do like her better than you..."

Liz wanted to cry, although she worked out a smile. "I thought so."

"Graven is my best friend. We've shared so many experiences together and have been with eachother for so long that I guess that makes her my favorite person in the world. And then," Taylor took in a breath. "Then there's you. I like you a lot, Liz. In a way I can't see Graven. In a way I see you..." Taylor leaned in to kiss her. "Will you go out with me?"

Liz thought she'd melt. As she kissed him back, she pulled away briefly to say, "I'd love to."

When Taylor and Liz came home later on that night they were met with a very worried Isaac and Zac. "Graven's really weird."

Taylor laughed. "I could've told you that. How's she doing?"

"Not too well I think," Isaac snickered. "She sends her love."

"Okay, well I'm gonna go call her," Taylor turned to Liz. "Shall I pass on the phone when I'm though?"

"Yes please," Liz said.

Taylor dialed the number of the hospital and waited impatiently as he was put through to Graven's private room. It wasn't very late and he knew Graven would be up.

"'Lo?"

"Grave, it's me."

"Taylor, guess what?"

"I've no idea. What?"

"I can come home tomorrow! At first they said that I should come back the day after tomorrow, but since I seemed to be doing much better, they decided to let me go early."

"Oh Grave that's great!" The night had been full of good news as far as Taylor was concerned.

"You can come get me right?"

"Of course. I'll be there at dawn's early light."

"Thank you Tay. Oh, and I need to talk to you about something also.

"Okay."

"You said I could talk to you about anything right?"

"Anything at all Grave. That's what I'm here for."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"You want to talk to Liz?"

"Not tonight. The nurse just came in with more medicine. Say goodnight to her for me."

"Goodnight Grave."

"'Night Tay."

Taylor knocked lightly on Liz's door. "Come in."

"Hey, you," he said with a little bit of a grin.

"Hey," she smiled back... she couldn't help but think about how good he looked at that particular moment.

He walked over and sat next to her on the bed. "Gettin ready to go to sleep?"

"Yeah, in a few minutes, after I brush my teeth."

"Kay... so, do you want to come with me tomorrow morning to pick up Graven? I could use some company for the drive down." Taylor hoped that she would say yes. It would give them time to be together without any interruptions.

"As much as I'd love to go with you, I think that you and Grave need some time to yourselves."

He thought about this for a moment and realized that she was right. "Okay, I just thought I'd check."

Liz glanced at the clock next to her bed which read 1:38. "Geez, what time are you leaving tomorrow?"

Taylor grunted. "6 AM."

"Oh, Tay, you better get some sleep!" she said standing up.

He followed her and got up off the bed. "Yeah, I know." He pulled her in for a hug. "G'night, sweetie."

Liz smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheeck. "Sweet dreams, Taylor."

With that, he smiled at her and left the room. Liz sat down once again. God, I can't wait to see Graven...

Taylor walked to his room, but before he could enter, he was stopped by Isaac. "What's up with you two?" He asked glancing at Liz's shut door.

"Oh," Taylor looked down at the blue plush carpet that covered the hall. "We're going out..."

"No shit!"

Taylor smiled widely, "Yeah. I can't wait to tell Graven, I'm sure she'll be excited."

"Well congratulations, Tay."

Graven walked out of her personal bathroom that she had in her hospital room. She was extremely happy about going home the next day, and she couldn't wait to see everyone again.

She walked up to a mirror and glanced at herself. Her physical appearance had improved about 100 percent. Thank God for that... she thought to herself.

As she layed down in bed, she thought about the day that lay before her. Tomorrow is the day. I'm going to tell him. She shut off her lamp and closed her eyes.

*capitulo trece
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