Simone walked to her room, towel wrapper around her body and carried her clothes in her wet arms. Her hair dripped down her back as she fumbled with the card key to her room. She took a deep breath as she opened the door, hoping that her “little roomates” would already be asleep. Just as she shut the door, Avery rolled over in her bed, her eyes sleepy.

“Simone, what time is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Close to 1:30. You should really go back to sleep, we are leaving tomorrow.” Simone said, walking into the bathroom to change into her night clothes, which was just a big t-shirt and a pair of boxers that she had borrowed off of Taylor while staying at his house. The first night she was there, she took notice that she had forgotten to pack any pajama’s and was grateful that he offered his clothes for her. As she slipped the shirt over her body, she inhaled deeply. It even smelled like Taylor. After she washed her face, she heard a tiny knock on the door. Then Avery peeped her head into the bathroom.

“If it’s so late, then why are you still awake?”

“Well, it’s okay for teenagers to stay awake longer than little girls.” Simone said. Avery nodded, as if understanding.

“Where were you?”

“Well, your brother and I went swimming.” Simone said, smiling at the thought of Taylor and how close they came to...to...‘Oh wow,’ she thought, ‘oh my goodness, me and Taylor almost had sex’.

“Did you go all alone? With no lifeguard?” Avery asked.

“Time for bed.” Simone said , sighing. She picked Avery up and swept her over to her bed. She giggled happily and crawled under the covers. Before Simone pulled away from the bed to go to her own, Avery reached up her hands and tugged Simone down for a good night hug. “’Night Avie.”

“G’night Simone.”

“Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Simone said, getting up and got into her own bed. She slipped under the covers and closed her eyes. Her thoughts kept flashing back to her and Taylor in the pool. She couldn’t believe that had just happened and now she was in her own bed, alone. She wasn’t prepared for that little pool indident. No protection could have been harsh. Although she was on the pill, she didn’t want to take any chances what-so-ever. She smiled one last time before she drifted off to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

“Isaac, why did you and Zac just ‘happen’ to come swimming last night?” Taylor asked the next morning at the breakfast. They were in the hotel’s restaurant, just the two of htem.

“Because we wanted to go swimming.” Isaac said simply.

“Uh huh, yeah right. I told you that I was going to take Simone there so we could be alone. We were alone until you and Zac came barging in and ruined everything.”

“’Ruin everything’? How did we ruin anything? If anything, we helped you out! Tay, do you know--”

“Yeah, I do know. I’m not stupid. I knew what I was doing and what was going to happen.”

“Yeah, well, what about what did happen, Tay?” Isaac asked. “I’m not stupid either. I know what happened just as she oulled away. You let go, didn’t you?”

Taylor’s face turned crimson and he looked away. He didn’t want to admit to Isaac that he was right. But his face couldn’t hide the truth. He was never a good liar and everyone could tell when he wasn’t telling the truth. Isaac just sat back in his chair, satisfied that he was right, and he knew the truth.

“There you are!” Simone said, sliding next to Taylor in the booth where he was sitting. She kissed his lips and settled close to him. “I couldn’t find you upstairs, so here you are.”

“Yep, here I am.” Taylor said, kissing her lips again. “Do you wan anything for breakfast?”

“Yeah, a banana.” she said. She saw the looks of surpirse on both Taylor and Isaac’s face. “Really, just a banana.” She reached under the table and found Taylor’s hand, then intertwined her fingers in his. He looked over and smiled. “Do you think that I coukd go shopping before we leave today? I told me mom that I would buy her something from New York, even if it was only a copy of USA Today.”

“Sure, that would be alright.” Isaac said.

“Great! Thanks so much. I’ll be back really soon.” she said, getting up, taking her banana with her.

“Want me to come with you?” Taylor asked, holding onto the bottom hem of her jean shorts.

“Um, no, that’s okay. I think I can handle getting a newspaper.” Simone said. She leaned over and kissed him before she walked away. He put his hand behind the base of her neck and quickly slid his tongue in between her lips. Simone was surprised with his aggressiveness, but responded to his kiss. She was in shock because Taylor never kissed her like that in front of Isaac. Even though it was short and sweet, it was still in front of Ike. She pulled away and their hands let go of they other’s as she walked away. Taylor looked at her lovingly and watched her closely as she went.

“I’m going to be disgusted.” Isaac said, Taylor only smiled.

Simone walked out of the hotel and while she was going through the parking lot, she saw the tour buses that was they would be traveling on later that day. She walked across the street and then down the sidewalk where she had seen a CVS. She walked inside and quickly found what she was looking for. She picked up the small box and took it to the check out counter.

The elderly woman at the register saw the three pack and then looked up at Simone. She held a look of gisgust on her face that seemed to be sayinf “You immoral whore.” as she rung up the condoms.

“Oh, a copy of USA Today too, please.” The woman snatched a copy of the paper and shoved it into the plastic baf. Simone agve the lady the money and she literally threw the change back at her, and then the bag. Simone picked it up and headed out the door. She walked back to the hotel. Once inside, she ran immediately into Taylor.

“So, what did you buy for your mom?” he asked, grasping her free hand into his.

“Oh, um, nothing too much. Just a copy of the newspaper.” she said quickly.

“Oh cool.” he said. “Well, word is that we’re leaving by noon, so be packed, ok?”

“Okay. Should I keep my bathing suit handy?” Simone asked, catching that certain look in his eyes. He blushed.

“Uh, nah, just pack it...” Taylor said, trying to keep himself under control.

“There’s something that I have to tell you.” Simone said. Taylor looked down sharply, not knowing what to expect.

“What?” he asked. Simone looked around.

“Not here, though. In my room.” They walked up to her room. She threw her bag on top of her suitcase. Taylor couldn’t help but have butterflies in his stomach as he sat down on the bed next to Simone. What did she have to tell him?

“I just thought that you would want to know. Well, maybe not want to know, but I am telling you.” Simone said, then took a deep breath. “I’m on the pill.”

Taylor breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good, right?” he asked.

“Yeah, I guess. I just thought I would tell you after...you know...last night and what almost happened and everything...” she said, sorta uncomfortable.

“I love you.” Taylor said, kissing her deeply. She kissed him back and they slowly leaned back on her bed. They continued kissing.

“Taylor...we have to leave in about two hours. I have to pack.” Simone said. Taylor sighed a disappointed sigh.

“Ok, see you later. I’ll save you a seat.” he said, smiling, then leaving. She stood up and began packing. She picked up the bag from CVS. She carefully opened the blue box and slipped one of the small packages into her back pocket. Then she packed the rest of her things and was ready to go.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*

“Ok, this is your bunk bed. There’s a tv and vcr, phone, bed, clothes compartment. Yuo can put all your stuff in there. We’ll be using the bus for the rest of the tour, so I hope that you’ll be comfortable.” Diana said, explaining everything to Simone. She thanked her, and hten pulled open the curtain to her bunk. She gasped when she saw Taylor there, lying on her bed. He smiled.

“Hi.” he said.

“Hi.” she said. He got out and then she got in, pulling her suitcase in with her.

“You can unpack, I’ll be up in my bunk, watching yv probably.” he said, climbing in the cabin above Simone’s. She began to unpack everything, then shoved the suitcase under her bed. The bus started up and pulled away from the hotel. She walked out into the main section and looked around. There was all three of them, leaning out the window, with water guns, spraying some fans as they drove past. As they pulled their heads inside, she noticed that no one else was on the bus with them.

“Where is everyone else?”

“Oh, mom and them go on the other bus and dad and us are in this one.” Zac said.

“Oh.” Simone said. Soon theyre were on the highway and they were all occupied doing their own thing. Zac and Isaac were in the back section playing a video game, and Taylor was in his bunk with Simone, watching tv.

“Do you think they would notice if I kissed you?” Taylor asked her.

“Oh, of course. You know that Ike has a 6th sense and interupts every time.” Simone joked. He laughed, then kissed her. Their kiss was great and just as it was about to reach its full intensity, the curtain to Taylor’s bunk was pulled open by Isaac. Simone started laughing, as did Taylor. Isaac stood there confused.

“Anyway, you guys wanna play?” he asled, referreing to the video game.

“We were already playing.” Taylor said. “But sure, we’ll play some more.” he kissed her again. Isaac only groaned in disgust and pulled the curtain shut and walked away.

“Are we ever gonna be totally alone?” Simone asked. Taylor shook his head.

“Don’t count on it.” he said. She groaned in disappointment and slumped down in the bed.

“But--”

“Yeah, I know. I was hoping we could be alone oo, but it’s very unlikely to happen.”

“well, as long as we are together, I don’t really care.” Simone smiled, snuggling close to Taylor, her head laying across his lap, looking up into his eyes. He leaned dpwn and their lips touched. His curtain was pulled open again and then they were greeted with a spray of water from a water gun. Simone shrieked with surprise and she quickly sat up.

“Goddam it Zac!” Taylor shouted, getting up out of his bed and he started to chase him.