+chapter.four+

Taylor had dropped Zac and Em off at the club at seven-thirty and was to pick them up at ten. It was nine forty-five already. He picked up his keys and headed out to his car. Since his talk with Zachary, he’d been thinking a lot. Jennifer really took a lot of Zac’s childishness with her when she left. He grew up so much in the past few years. God, he couldn’t believe that Zac had had sex. It almost scared him. Zac really was more mature than anyone would think. Well, now he was. Back then, God, how Taylor hated Zac for what happened. And Kimberly. He almost missed her though. His thoughts fell back to Jenn. He wasn’t sure why they hadn’t remained friends. He really couldn’t be too upset with her. She did as much as he did. Tay heaved a sigh as he got in his car and took off.

Meanwhile…

Mike and Jenn were driving into the campus. She stopped by home, getting her stuff and had Mike pick her up. Afterwards, they had gone to dinner.
They parked and got out of the car. “So, what’re we doin’ tonight?” Jenn asked.
“Anything you want, Baby,” Mike joked. Or so he tried to rub off like that.
Jenn laughed. “Foreal, what’s going?”
“Maybe a movie cuddled up on the bed?”
“Oh, so this is a date,” Jenn smiled.
“You could call it that.”
Jenn smiled as they took the elevator up. Mike wrapped his arms around her waist, and began kissing her neck. Jenn turned and his lips locked with hers. Jenn began frenching him.
Just as Mike’s hands were about to explore her body, the elevator bell rang.
They parted and walked off the elevator.
Mike smiled. “Wow, you know just how to do it.”
“Yea, I’ve had practice,” Jenn spoke, Zac’s face coming to her mind.
“Well, how ‘bout I give you experience, not practice?” Mike spoke as he unlocked his dorm. His hand held Jennifer’s and he let her in before himself. He closed and locked the door behind him.
“Wow, it’s clean,” Jenn smiled.
“Yea, the roommate’s a neat freak.”
“Eh, that’s cool.”
“Well, gimme your coat and make yourself comfy.”
Jenn gave Mike her coat and bag and he put them in the closet.
He came back and saw Jennifer seated on the bed.
“I’ve got a movie I think you’ll like.”
“Which?”
“Down to You,” Mike said as he popped the tape in and sat down on the bed next to her.
“Oh, cool.”
“Yea, if you want, you can lay down back here.”
Jenn smiled and slipped her shoes off and scooted back. Mike did the same, wrapping his arm around her. But that was just the beginning.

A few miles away…

Taylor sat in the car with Zachary. They had just dropped Em off.
“How was it?” Tay asked.
“It sucked. I would have rather of been doing chores.”
“That bad?”
“Yes. She is such an airhead, it’s not even funny.”
“Damn. Well, get ready to veg out and flip between MTV and WCW Nitro.”
“Hell yea! Man, this is gonna be the coolest!”
Tay smiled as he parked in his spot. Let’s go. If you hear…something…our neighbors are kind of loud.”
Zac laughed.
The two walked in and took the elevator to Taylor’s floor. They walked to the dorm and they heard some noises all right, but from the wrong room.
Tay opened the door and being it was dark out, his first reaction was to turn on the lights.
“Yo!” Mike jumped, getting off of Jennifer.
Michael and Jennifer had been engaging in intimacy when Taylor had opened the door.
The four looked at each other.
“Jenn?” Zac questioned.
Tay stood silent.
“Zac? What th—Tay? Mike, he’s your roommate?”
“Yea. You guys know each other?”
“A little too well,” Zac replied. “Maybe I should go.”
“No, don’t bother. I’m leaving.” Jennifer took a cover, keeping it over herself, and going to the bathroom to change. “I can’t go anywhere without him there.”
“Jenn, Babes, don’t leave. Please? I’m sure we could work things out.”
“No, Mike, I’m sure we can’t,” Jenn spoke as she opened the door.
“Why not, Babes?”
“Would you stop calling her by pet names?” Zac exploded.
“Zac, shut up! He can call me whatever he wants!” Jenn yelled back.
“Gee…when I fucked you, you didn’t stay on my side for this long.”
“You fucked her?” Mike asked.
“Who the hell hasn’t?” Zac exclaimed.
“I hate you, Zachary! I hate you! After we made love, you told me something, hoping the fact that we had made love would make it better! He didn’t!” Jenn slipped on her shoes and began walking out. “Mike, Hun, call me later. If not, I’ll talk to you tomorrow at work.”
She gave him a kiss on the lips.
“Bye,” he spoke.
Jenn opened the door and walked out, but she wasn’t going alone.
After she closed the door, she heard it close a second time.
“Jennifer?”
Jenn stopped and closed her eyes out of frustration. “What?” she spoke.
“Can I please talk to you? I’m sick of acting like this with you,” Zac spoke. “Can we at least try to work things out?”
“No,” Jenn started walking again.
“Jenn!” Zac took hold of her shoulder gently. Still, all he could show was gentleness.
“Let me go!” she turned and tried to free herself.
Zachary moved his lips to hers and kissed her. And neither pulled away.

+chapter.five+

+chapter.six+

Taylor pulled up to Kim’s house. He quickly got out of his car and ran to the, unlocked, front door. He pushed it open and went in. He ran up to her room where he could hear yelling and screaming. He opened the door to her room, to find Josh on top of Kim. She wasn’t wearing a shirt and neither was he. She was crying and struggling to get away from him. He turned to look at Taylor when the door opened. Before Josh could get up, Taylor had already punched him.
“Stay the hell away from her!” Taylor yelled, kicking Josh in the side who was now lying on the floor after rolling off the bed. Taylor turned to Kim to see her crying and shaking on the bed. Before he could go over to her, Josh came up from behind him and pushed him down to the floor. As Taylor went to get up Josh punched him.
“Josh, leave him alone! Josh, please don’t hurt him!” Kim yelled, crying.
“Shut up, Bitch...You're next.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Taylor yelled, coming to his feet. He punched Josh again. Josh stumbled backwards. Taylor hit him again. Josh fell to the floor. Taylor kicked him in the side again. Taylor found Josh’s shirt and threw it down at him.
“Get the hell out of here,” Taylor spoke breathlessly. Josh got to his feet and staggered down the steps.
“You'll regret this, Bitch. I'll be back!” He yelled from downstairs and then went out the door slamming it behind him. Taylor walked over to Kim. He sat next to her.
“Are you okay?” Taylor asked noticing her bleeding nose and slightly black eye.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Oh God, Taylor,” she cried. He embraced her in a hug. He held her shaking body close to him. She pulled away from him to meet her eyes with his.
“I am so sorry for this,” she whispered, looking at his bloody nose and bleeding knuckles.
“No, no. Don’t be. I mean, I’m just happy I called when I did.”
“Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t come.”
“Well, I’m just glad I got here before he really hurt you. Come on, let's get you cleaned up.” He handed her the shirt, which was previously strewn on the floor, and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

Meanwhile…

Jenn sat at home the next morning, thinking about what she had said to Zac, mostly thinking about what she did to him. She couldn’t believe that she had hit him. She hardly ever slapped anyone. The short clip kept running through her mind.
“If only I didn’t hit him. I’d be there with him. What am I saying? I don’t wanna go through all that again. If we get involved, he’ll only hurt me again…”
Her mind then trailed to what Mike must think of her. He probably thought she was a slut. Deep down she knew she had become a whore, but she didn’t want to admit it to herself. Everything had changed in her life after her and Zac split. She could never find anyone that she truly loved. She always seemed to compare everyone to Zac. And no one was ever as good to her as he was. She sat there in her room looking out her window. She thought of when she and Zachary were going out and how good it felt to be with him. Then she thought about the kiss between Zac and Kim and how much it had hurt. It ruined a good part of her life. She thought about it some more, then finally getting up and walking over to her desk. She picked up a shoebox, which held the letters Zac had sent her so long ago. She read through them, her heart grieving at each one. Every word written, in his typical boyish handwriting, cut through her heart, craving him more. When her eyes fell upon the last letter, Jennifer knew what her heart was screaming for her to do. Jenn walked over to the phone, picked it up, dialed the familiar number and waited.
“Hello?” Zac answered.
“Zac...It’s Jenn.”
“Hey...”
“Hey...” She didn’t know where to begin.
“Listen, Jenn, I’m sorry I kissed you last night.”
“No, don’t be, Zac. I’m sorry I hit you.”
“Wait a minute. Who am I talking to here?” Jenn laughed and so did Zac. That was exactly what they needed to break the ice. Zac always knew how to lighten the mood of the room.
“No, Zac...Foreal, I mean it I’m sorry.”
“Jenn, you really shouldn’t be the one who’s sorry here. If it weren’t for the stupid mistake I made with Kim, we would still probably be going out or at least still be friends. You shouldn’t be apologizing. I should be.”
“Well, okay, if you want it that way.” They both laughed. They both felt the magic beginning already. And it scared both of them. It horrified them to an extent. But it did feel good to at least be talking to each other, no holds barged.
“Jenn, exactly what made you call?”
“Well, I was doing some thinking and I read your letters and—
“You still have those?” Zac interrupted her.
“Yeah I do. I read them and realized that holding this grudge, with you of all people, isn’t right. I mean, it is in the past and all...”
“Wow, now I really wanna know who I'm talking to here,” Zac laughed.
“Well, I just wanted you to know that I wanna be friends again. Ya know, maybe we can hang out and talk things over like responsible adults.”
“That sounds really good. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I have work. How about later night? If you’re not busy…”
“No. That sounds good. The sooner the better. I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Yeah...that’ll be good.”
“Okay, so I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah...bye”
“Bye.” They both hung up the phone at the same time. Sitting in their rooms, smiles of uncertainty on their faces, their anticipation grew for what was coming up later that night.

Meanwhile…

At Kim’s house, Kim and Taylor had washed up and were now sitting on the living room couch catching up on the past two years. They had gotten comfortable with each other and were acting like nothing had happened between them. They finished their stories about the past two years.
“So...I guess I should be going now. It’s getting late,” Taylor spoke.
“Taylor? Could you maybe stay here tonight? Just in case Josh comes back?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Thanks. I guess you could sleep on the couch.”
“Oh, yippee. The couch.”
“Well, you could sleep on the floor in my room...”
“All right I’ll sleep there.” They both laughed and went upstairs. Kim got Taylor a blanket and a pillow.
“Here,” she said, throwing them at him.
“Ugh...thanks,” he smiled over at her. He was slowly starting to fall in love with her again and he knew it. Kim felt the same way. Taylor stood up from his spot on the floor. He knew he wasn’t going to be sleeping alone that night. He just had to figure out a way to get from the floor to the bed.
“Whoa, how big is your bed?” Taylor asked, a slight smile on his face.
“I somehow knew you were gonna pull this...Yes, you can sleep in it.”
“Good, cause you know that floor just really doesn’t help my back,” he spoke, laughing a little. They both got into the bed. Kim turned the TV off and the light. The room was dark. Kim rolled over on her side, facing away from Taylor. She laid there listening to the silence in the room. She couldn’t believe he was there with her again. She couldn’t believe they were actually talking again. Then, slowly, she felt two arms come around her waist. Kim turned around too face Taylor who was right in back of her. She looked into his eyes, they both leaned in, and gently kissed. They pulled apart, and looked at each other again. Taylor gently pulled Kim towards him he held her in his arms the rest of the night and into the morning.