+chapter.twenty.two+
Tay grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.
At the same time downstairs…
Diana walked into the living room where Zachary and Jennifer slept. A smile appeared on her face as she grabbed a throw cover and placed it over them.
Zac’s eyes slit open and he looked up at his mom and smiled.
“Shh…Go back to sleep,” Diana whispered.
Zac’s eyelids fell once again as his arms tightened around Jenn.
Upstairs…
Tay had just gotten in the shower as he heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” he called.
“Me,” he faintly heard Kim’s voice.
“C’mon in,” Tay responded.
Kim opened the door and Taylor heard her lock it behind her. ‘Just incase,’ he supposed.
“Morning,” Tay stuck his head out of the shower.
“Morning,” Kim smiled at him in the mirror as she brushed her hair.
Taylor smiled back at her. “Hey,” he began shyly, “How’s about you…uhm…join me in here…”
Kim blushed lightly as she gave a light nod.
Tay’s smile stayed put as he pulled his head back in the shower. He was getting a total hard on and he was so nervous as to what Kim would say about his Taybear. He took in a deep breath and decided to take it like a man. That’s what he was after all…and boy was that showing right now. The shower curtain opened and Kim got in. Taylor’s eyes roamed her body as his arms wrapped around her waist. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his hot breath hitting her neck. He had noticed a few bruises, but decided on bringing that up later. He didn’t want to ruin the moment.
Kim blushed as the hot water pounded on Taylor’s back. His face a deep crimson, he neared to her. His tongue made its way through her lips, meeting her tongue. Kim’s tongue played with Taylor’s as the passion grew.
Tay placed his hand on Kim’s leg, pulling it up to his side, then doing the same with the other.
Reluctantly, very reluctantly, Kim pulled away from Taylor. “Tay,” she whispered, “Maybe we should get out…just so no one wonders…”
Tay nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Baby.”
Tay smiled as Kim climbed out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself, then giving the second towel to Taylor.
“Thanks,” he spoke.
“Anytime,” Kim replied with a smile.
“I’ve got my clothes in here…So I can change here if you wanna take my room.”
Kim nodded. “Okay. That’s where I’ll be.”
Downstairs…
Zachary slit his eyes open, the bright sun causing him to squint his eyes. He stretched as well as he could without waking Jennifer. He gave a large yawn and kissed the top of her head, holding her closely.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Zac laid there, content just laying there with Jennifer. He leaned his right jawbone against her head and listened to the various noises the house was already bustling with.
Suddenly, Mackie ran, screaming like a mad child, through the living room.
“Mackie! Shh!” Zac hushed.
“Sorry, Zaccy!” he yelled.
“Mac!” Zac exclaimed quietly.
Jenn gave a light laugh as she slit her eyes open.
Zac smiled helplessly. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Jenn replied. “Morning.”
“Mornin’,” Zac smiled. “Sleep okay?”
“Mmhmm…did you?”
“Hell yea. I had my baby in my arms all night long.”
Jenn smiled as Zac kissed the top of her head.
“C’mon, Baby Doll. Let’s see who else is up besides the Macsters.”
Jenn nodded and began to stand up. “Akay.”
Upstairs…
Kim was slowly making her way into her clothes. Her and Tay…they were really getting hot and heavy up there.
Just as she put on her shirt, there was a knock at the door.
“Ya?” Kim replied through the door.
“Can I come in?” Tay’s voice came.
“Sure, Babes,” Kim replied.
Tay opened the door. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Kim responded.
“Kim?”
“Yea?”
Tay took a deep breath. “Where’d those bruises come from?”
Kim was silent at first. “What bruises?”
“Kim, don’t play dumb. You know what I mean.”
Kim looked down.
Taylor neared her and placed his left hand on her waist, his right hand lifting her chin. “Baby, I wanna help you. Who did that to you?”
Kim’s eyes met Taylor’s. “Tay, it was hard enough to tell Jenn…”
“Jenn knows? And I don’t?”
“Tay, she’s my best friend…”
“Kim, I’m your boyfriend.”
“Taylor, God! If I really wanted you to know, I’d tell you! When I’m with you, I want to get away from my problems!”
With that, she left the room in tears and furry.
+chapter.twenty.three+
Jenn and Zac had found their way back to the living room couch. The two were watching Jerry Springer under the warmth of their blanket.
Suddenly, Kim appeared in the room, tears finding their way down her cheeks.
"Kim, what's the matter?" Jenn asked, confused and bewildered.
"Can we please go?" Kim asked as she fought back tears.
"Yea, sure...Are you okay?"
"Do I really look okay?"
Jenn threw on her white and blue Nike's as Taylor breezed into the room.
"Kim, would you wait up?"
Jennifer sat there, looking from one to the other.
"Jenn, let's go."
"Jennifer, you stay right where you are," Taylor spoke.
"Jenn!" Kim exclaimed.
Jennifer stood up and gave a light shrug, mouthing a sorry as she followed Kim out the backdoor.
"What was that about?" Jenn asked.
"He asked about the bruises..."
"How'd he—
"Personal matters."
"Kim! You guys didn't..." Jenn trailed, eyes wide.
"No!" Kim exclaimed. "Never. Not this early in life..."
"Then how..."
"We kinda got in the shower together. Nothing happened though."
Jennifer nodded. "What'd he say?"
"He started asking about them. And I didn't want to say anything. And I told him that, but he kept persisting."
Jenn's eyes fell to the ground. "Kim...Maybe you should tell him..."
"What good would that do, Jenn? Nothing will change."
"Then call the cops or something. He needs serious help."
"I don't know," Kim started truthfully as they walked home.
Meanwhile...
"What was that all about?" Zac asked.
"I'm not so sure myself," Tay replied thoughtfully.
"Wha?" Zac questioned.
"She like, had these bruises all over, Zac. When I asked her about them, she flipped."
Zac looked at Tay. "I dunno, man."
"Mm. Me either."
Taylor plopped down on the couch next to Zac. "Why do girls have to be so top secret about stuff? I mean, I just want to help her."
"Thank God Jenn isn't confusing."
"Yet, Zac. The word needed in there is yet."
Zac gave a light, nervous laugh. "Don't jinx me, Tay. I don't need her going ballistic on me."
Tay shook his head. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Watch Springer. Let her cool down for awhile. That's what I would do."
Taylor nodded. "Hope you're right, Zac."
"Taylor, my dear brother, I'm always right."
Meanwhile...
Jenn had just arrived home. She walked in the door and headed up the stairs. She walked in her room, closed the door, and plopped down on her bed. Just as she got comfortable, ready to fall asleep, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Zac's voice came over the speaker. "What was that whole deal with Kim about?"
"I have no clue."
"Come on, Jenn. I mean, you are her best friend. Spill."
"I can't, okay?" Jennifer's voice was somewhat stern. She knew what she was dealing with. "I promised I wouldn't say anything, and I always keep my promises."
"Fine. I respect that Jenn, but Tay said she had bruises on her. If someone is hurting here, you shouldn't keep that a secret."
Jenn was speechless. In the back of her head, she knew he was right. But it wasn't as easy as he was making it out to be.
"Fine, don't tell me, Jenn," his voice rose. "But if something bad happens to her, it's on your shoulders."
"Don't talk to me in that to—
Jenn then realized he had hung up. "Asshole," she muttered.
Of course Jennifer had gotten herself stuck in the middle of all of this. She was afraid to say something. But everyone wanted her to speak up already.
Jennifer always was one to crack under total peer pressure. And even if Kim was mad at her for this one, it was for a good reason.
"Mom," Jennifer called, walking out of the room in search of her mother. Here was the big one.
+chapter.twenty.four+
Zac sat on his bed, staring at the phone. He couldn't believe he had hung up on her. He picked up and began dialing her number again. He got past the first six numbers, but couldn't come to press the last digit. He sighed. He was going to be in for it.
Taylor walked in the room. "Yo, I heard you yellin' on the phone...What was that about?"
"Nothing," Zac spoke quietly.
"First fight?"
"You could say that."
"Over what?" Taylor asked.
"Friends."
"Friends?" Taylor was silent for a moment. "Zac, you didn't say anything to her about Kim, did you? I'm sure she's having a time as it is with this whole thing."
Zachary looked at Taylor silently.
"You did, didn't you?"
Zac gave a light shrug. "Maybe..."
"Zac!"
"Sorry..."
"Nothing you can do. Just wait and see what happens I suppose."
Meanwhile...
It was about three o' clock when Jennifer and her mother arrived at Kim's front door.
Kim's dad opened the door and allowed the two inside. "Mr. Sanders? Can Kim go out for a walk with me? And then go to my house for awhile?" Jennifer asked.
Kim's father nodded absently and Jenn went up to get Kim.
The two came down giggling and headed out.
After a few minutes of silent walking, Jennifer spoke up. "Zac and I are fighting," she spoke sadly.
"You are?" Kim asked, surprised.
Jenn nodded.
"I thought you guys were going so great..."
"We were," Jenn replied. "He disagreed with how I was handling something and basically told me to shape up."
"Did you?"
Jenn nodded, smiling gently at her friend. "Definitely."
"Speaking of the devil. Look who's playing basketball outside his house."
Jennifer looked ahead of them. "Oh man...I hope he doesn't say anything."
"You know you do."
They continued walking in that direction. Zachary saw them just as they approached the drive Jennifer's eyes fell to the ground.
"Hey," Kim spoke.
"Hey," Zac replied.
Jennifer's eyes remained stuck to the ground.
Kim gave Zac a look. He gave her a nod and Kim went in the house in search of Taylor.
Zac approached Jennifer. "Hey...Don't be like that. Please?"
Jenn snapped. "Me? You're the one that hung up on me!"
"I know, I know. Before I knew what had happened, the phone was off."
"Doesn't go off by itself, you know," Jenn muttered.
Zac sighed. "I was upset. I'm sorry."
"Zac, and I wasn't? I have so much on my shoulders right now." Her voice cracked. "And now this whole thing with me and you..." Jenn wrapped her arms around herself.
"Hey, c'mon. Don't...don't cry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you more. I was wrong. I should have thought about it more."
"It's okay," Jenn wiped her eyes.
"Are we all right now?"
Jenn nodded. "Think so."
"Good. Now, tell me what's going on that you're upset about."
Jenn smiled lightly as they both sat down on the curb. This was just what she needed.
Meanwhile...
Inside, Kim had just sat down on the couch next to Taylor.
"Hey, Babes. What's going on?"
"Nothing," Kim smiled. "What about you?"
"Absolutely nothing," Tay replied.
Kim smiled lightly over at Taylor. Lord, how she loved being with him. He just made everything so great. All the bad things just didn't matter.
Tay slipped his arm around Kim. "You wanna go do anything?"
Kim gave a shrug. "I don't care. Up to you, Babes."
"Well, I was gonna head out to the mall...you want to go?"
Kim nodded. "Sure."
"Aight, let's go." Tay helped Kim up, then got up himself.
Kim smiled at him as they walked out the door, both picking up their jackets.
Taylor opened the door for Kim and they stepped outside.
"Oh boy," Tay spoke as he saw Jenn and Zac on the curb. "What's their status?"
Kim gave a light shrug. "They started talking when I came in to find you."
The two neared the couple sitting on the curb. "Hey, guys," Tay spoke.
Both, Jenn and Zac, jumped. "God, Tay! Just scare the shit out of both of us!"
Tay blushed.
"Where are you guys off to?" Jenn asked.
"We were gonna go to the mall..." Kim trailed off.
"And you would like me to go along," Jennifer finished for her friend.
Kim nodded meekly. "Can you like, beep your mom?"
Jenn nodded. "Can I use your phone? That is if I can go along..."
"Sure," Tay replied.
"Thanks." Jenn stood up, Zac following her into the house.
Jenn took the portable and dialed her mom's beeper number. She hung up and stood for a moment in the hall, looking down at the phone.
After a moment, a set of arms wrapped around her waist and a chin rested on her shoulder.
A smile spread over Jenn's lips as she looked over at Zac and placed her hands over his.
"Hey, Baby," she spoke.
"Hey," he replied, returning the smile. "Baby...I'm sorry I never really talked with you like that before...I mean, I had no idea with half of those things."
Jennifer shook her head. "No, Baby, you had no idea. Really. It wasn't you. I should have talked to you when each thing happened." Jenn smiled lightly and raised her palm to his cheek.
The Kodak moment was ruined when the phone rang. Jenn handed the phone over to Zachary. "Your house," she smiled gently.
Zac returned the smile and picked up the phone. "Hello? Yea, she's right here," he paused. "It's for you."
"Hello? Hey, Mom...I wanted to know if Kim and I could go to the mall with Tay and Zac. Who'd drive? Tay probably. Yes, Mom, he has his license. So can we? Okay," Jenn paused. "She's asking Kim's rents...Yea, I'm here. We can? Cool! Thanks, Mom. I'll see you later. Love you too. Bye!" Jenn hit the off button and turned her head to Zachary. "We can go," she smiled.
"Phat! Let's go get Tay."
Jenn smiled and took Zachary's hand as they walked outside.
"We can go,” Jenn announced.
“Great,” Tay replied, looking at Kim, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Let’s go.”
The four got in the car and headed out.
