% CHAPTER 16 %

A knock on the front door causes me to jump in my skin. I button up my shirt as quick as I can and rush to open the door. When I do, I can't help the groan that escapes my mouth.

"Taylor, I'm busy!"

Taylor is standing outside with three girls, one of which I recognize as that friend of hers. I already forgot her name. Victoria? Anyway, the other two I don't recognize. I'm not letting any of them come inside either.

"Well I brought some friends over so get unbusy," Taylor says like her usual self. "Where are the guys?"

"They couldn't come today."

"Why? Because you're with one of those girls?" She asks, referring to the Blondes I'm always hanging out with.

"Maybe," I hint, hoping it'll make them go away.

"Just open the fucking door. I'm freezing," Victoria says.

I roll my eyes. Like I would listen to that girl. Something about her makes me uneasy. Maybe because I know guys like me don't mix with girls like her. So having her around is not a good idea.

"Bret! This is my house too! If you can do whatever you want, then so can I! Just let me into my god damn house!"

I sigh. I never get anywhere with this girl. "Okay, but you've been warned." I open the door a bit wider.

Blondie is laying under the blanket in the couch. It's not like she's naked or anything. Her shirt isn't even off...yet.

"Hi Taylor," she says with a weak wave.

"Disgusting." Taylor gags before leading her friends up the stairs to the room.

Good. The sooner those four are gone, the better.

Once they've headed up the stairs, Blondie takes the blanket off. "I guess I'll be leaving now," she says, her face red from embarrassment.

I embrace her and leave a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for coming over. Maybe we could do it again some time."

She giggles for a few seconds before shaking her head no. "No, Taylor's right. This is her house too. I can't just come in and out like this."

"Well maybe next time you can come up to my room," I say slyly.

She bites down on her lip, but I can't shake the feeling that it's a failed attempt. Taylor is the only one who can do that successfully. I don't think my perspective is ever going to change on that.

With a slow nod of her head, she gets out of my embrace and leaves.

My mind immediately takes me to Taylor and the way she reacted a few moments ago. Did it really bother her that bad? Maybe she was just showing off for her friends. For some reason, I really cared what she thought. Ever since that incident, I keep having these feelings towards her. Before, it was easier for me to stop liking her, but now, living in the same house with her, I can't seem to get her off of my mind.

I slip on a shirt and decide to knock on Taylor's door. As I'm walking upstairs, I hear hushed tones whispering excitedly to one another. I think Jake and Aaron's names were mentioned. Man, I wonder what they're talking about. Does one of those girls have a crush on them? Does Taylor have a crush on them? I shake my head of the thoughts. I'm being ridiculous.

Before I can second guess myself, I tap lightly on the door. A few seconds later, a fuming Taylor appears from behind the door.

"What do you want asshole?"

"Just wanted to let you know Rachel is probably picking us up soon so be ready," I whisper.

Finally. A decent Taylor makes an appearance as a sense of understanding flashes through her eyes. She quickly nods. "Thanks for the heads up."

For a moment, we both just stand there. If the girls weren't there, I would make a move. I don't know what kind of move, since Taylor is so damn hard to read, but I'd still try. I refuse to believe that the incident yesterday was nothing. Since the girls are here though, I just sigh and turn away.

I go back downstairs and pick out a horror movie from the selection of films Derek gave us. After starting the movie, I hear footsteps padding down the stairs.

"Whoa, is that Gone?" Victoria shrieks.

I look up at her and the other two girls. "Why yes it is. Care to join?"

She looks back at Taylor, who is keeping quiet. Usually I would have enjoyed the silentness from her, but I can tell it's all a facade. For some reason she isn't comfortable. Is it because yesterday when we were watching T.V., we almost kissed? Or today when I made out with another girl on the same couch? Damn, I make myself sound like a dick.

"Yeah okay."

"I'll go make popcorn!" The girl I think named Gwen chirps.

While she's doing that, Victoria and the other girl stare at the couch in disgust.

I roll my eyes. "I'm a virgin," I confess. Girls these days. I just sacrificed my manhood, all so that they wouldn't be afraid to sit next to me on the couch.

Slowly, they cuddle up with each other on the sofa. Taylor is separating me from them, probably because she's scared they'll be attracted to me. She wants them on her "Anti Bret" team.

Five minutes into the movie, Gwen comes back with the popcorn. We all watch the movie together in a comfortable silence.

$_$_$_$

"I can't believe he wants us this late," Taylor moans while we're in the car with Rachel.

I can see where she's coming from. It's ten o'clock at night. How are we supposed to do a scene?

"You two are doing a night scene," Rachel says. "I think it's Emily and Hayden's first date at the end. There's a lot of different camera shots in this one though so watch out." A large sigh escapes her lips. "I'm way too involved in this. I'm a freaking agent! Not a babysitter! Seriously, I don't get paid enough for this," Rachel grumbles.

We make it to the set at 10:30.

"Derek! What the hell is the meaning of this? Why did you call us in so late?" Taylor prattles. There she goes, already running her mouth and asking questions.

"Well this scene calls for night time! You know I like sticking to the most natural thing possible! Here's the script." He hands us both a copy.

(Hayden and Emily are returning from a date. Hand in hand, Hayden and Emily walk up to the house. They turn to face each other.)

Emily: Thank you for a wonderful night.

Hayden: No, thank YOU for a wonderful night.

Emily: (turns her head shyly away from Hayden while he kisses her hand) Oh there's no need to thank me.

Hayden: Oh but there is. I thank you for being that one girl I can look up to. I thank you for being there for me. I thank you for being the first thing on my mind when I wake up. I thank you for so many things that you have no idea about.

Emily: (giggles and turns her head back to face him) You're very welcome then.

(Their faces inch closer and closer before ending the night with a sweet and short kiss.)

Hayden: Good night my sweet Angel.

Emily: Good night. (Opens door and walks inside)

(Hayden smiles at himself for having such a wonderful day.)

"Why are these things always so sappy?!" Taylor exclaims.

"It's a love story Taylor. That's what love stories are: sappy and filled with passion," Derek explains.She grumbles and looks over the lines. "Get dressed kids."

We go to the trailer and search for our Night Scene clothes. Taylor goes first, as always. Once she's finished, I go inside and change.

When I come out, my breath is almost knocked out of me. Taylor's blond hair is crimped loosely and pinned to the left side, revealing dangly earrings. None of her make up is on yet, but honestly she doesn't need it. Her baby blue dress stops just below her knee. I didn't know girls had dresses like that back then. It doesn't matter. She looks gorgeous.

While Taylor's make up artist works on painting her lips a bright red, my hair stylist is working on gelling down my hair. She parts it a bit to the side and then gels it. Then my make up artist puts on some foundation and a little dash of blush.

While I'm looking in the mirror at myself, I watch her as she shows Luca. Somehow he managed to sneak on set. I want to be the guy Taylor is showing off her dress to. I immediately shake the thought from my head. That's a dumb thing for me to be thinking. I don't even like her. Oh wait. My feelings say otherwise.

I quickly stand up to get the blood rushing back through my body normally. I can't be having these thoughts, especially because this scene has a kiss in it. Taylor suddenly comes up to me and nudges me on the shoulder. Together, we walk out of the trailer and to the set. I can hear the crickets chirping in the background, creating a peaceful and relaxing aura for the scene.

"Okay people! This is not just going to be one shot! Because I realized one camera shot is extremely boring! We're bringing it up a knotch. There's going to be multitudes of camera shots, all put into one scene."

We all nod. This is going to take forever.

By the time we have it down, it's already midnight. What's even worse is we haven't even started filming yet. Usually we would have practiced the kiss at least once before filming, but I'm way too nervous for some reason. I hide my nerves with a cocky attitude though and pretend that I only don't want to kiss her because I know what I'm doing. To be honest, I never know what I'm doing when it comes to kissing Taylor.

"Come on," Taylor urges. "Let's just practice it once!"

I shrug it off. "Taylor, we've got this. We've kissed a million times before. We'll do fine."

Turns out we don't. We mess up so many times that it's not even funny. Not just on the kiss, but on everything. Derek barely gave us any time to prepare. We'd only just memorized the lines. Now adding all of the passion and sweetness was a whole different thing.

"You two better get your shit together!" Derek yells in frustration. Then he realizes what he said and quickly corrects himself. "Stuff. Don't cuss kids. Although I guess I'm way too late with you Taylor."

I take in a deep breath and close my eyes for a few seconds. This has to be the last one. Taylor is tired. I can tell. Her eyes are beginning to droop and her features are getting softer. She's much nicer when she's tired.

"Come on, we've got this," she assures me. "Just like you said, we've kissed a million times before."

The camera starts rolling again and we continue powering through the scene. When the kiss comes, I cup her cheek and look into her eyes for a short moment. Kiss her how you would kiss her in real life if this was a second date.

My lips come down on hers gently and she quickly closed her eyes. The kiss is short but sweet, just like the script says. In my mind though, the kiss lasts forever, mostly because when it's over, I keep replaying it in my head. When Taylor walks inside and leaves me outside of the house, I don't even have to fake the smile that Hayden is supposed to do absentmindedly. It just comes naturally.

"Cut! Finally! You two finally manage to get along for two seconds!" Derek shouts with glee. "You two can go home now. Go on, you've got school tomorrow."

Rachel takes us to the house afterwards. It's past one in the morning. I look at Taylor's sleeping figure in the car.

"Just carry her," Rachel whispers over to me when we arrive outside the house.

I glance at Rachel. "Um no. Do you know what she would do to me if she found out?"

"She's asleep so she won't know. And what people don't know won't hurt them, right?"

I contemplate on the situation before finally agreeing. Opening the door, I wrap my arms around Taylor's body before hauling her out of the car. She immediately snuggles closer to me, craving my warmth. I feel the pulses going overboard, but ignore them. They're always causing trouble anyways.

We make it inside the house. Rachel says goodnight before saying her goodbye and then leaving. I hear the car engine off in the distance as I carry Taylor up the stairs.

A quiet Taylor is a good Taylor. I look down at her. She looks so peaceful. Her bright red lipstick is still on. After putting her in bed, she moans, reaching out for the missing warmth.

"Oh come on Taylor. I know you don't actually miss me," I breathe quietly to her.

Her arms still reach out for me blindly. I sigh and grab a tissue. That lipstick has got to come off first. I walk back over to her and gently rub the tissue against her lips. She starts laughing a little and swatting. I guess it tickles. I take off a little more before just giving up. That lipstick is on pretty good. Taylor licks her lips right after I'm done. I ignore how perfect that looked.

I start walking out the door, but then remember she has to go under the covers. I go back inside and get her blankets ready before tucking her in. Just as I'm backing away, her hand could up and catches my arm. She slams me down on her bed.

I chuckle. I'm starting to like this side of Taylor. "Sorry hun, but I know you'd hate me if your conscious state finds me sleeping beside you. I'll see you in the morning. Get a good rest," I say softly.

Taylor's hand droops over the bed. I walk out and go into my room.

So Victoria isn't that bad. She's not a female player, like I assumed, but I'm still going to be cautious of her. After the movie though, I can actually see a future where I'm okay with her.

I wipe off my make up, put on my pajamas, and then plop into my bed before falling into a much needed slumber.