% CHAPTER 25 %

"Oh my this looks gorgeous on you Taylor! You really need to show off your legs more," Connie comments on the outfit I'm wearing.

I give a dry laugh. I haven't exactly been into it today. All I can think about is that stupid kiss that idiot Bret had to give me last night. I was so lucky he was still asleep when I left.

"Earth to Taylor. Earth to Taylor," Vicki chants as she waves her hand in front of my face. "Come on you've got to live for the moment girl!"

I smile weakly. I wish I could, but right now all I'm living is the past. It's not like I can exactly tell them about the kiss. They all think Bret's my cousin thanks to his outrageous improv.

I told him to forget about it though so that's what had to happen. I had to forget about the kiss and move on. We had kissed many times already in the movie. Why was this one so different? I already knew the answer. It was because he cheated on someone for me. He cheated on his girlfriend by kissing me. If it would have been on the set, that would have been okay, but he didn't. He kissed me in reality.

I haven't even met the girl yet and was already stabbing her in the back. Damn. I thought I was better than this.

"Taylor, if you zone out one more fucking time, I'm going to fill a bucket of cold water up and throw it on you."

That seems to get my attention, for now. I don't want water on my clothes and neither does the sales attendant who showed me the fabulous dress I'm now wearing.

Another thing that still nags me though is the way Mr. Hemley could just touch me that way. That was why we were going shopping in the first place, to take my mind off things.

"Okay I'll be right back. I need to get a pitcher and some water."

"I'm fine. I'm fine!" I say. "I wasn't exactly zoning out."

Vicki puts a hand on her hip. "Don't lie now. We were asking you questions and you just stood there all stiff like this!"

She tries to model me. Her eyes are wide and her mouth is open.

"We should've stuffed an orange in her mouth," Connie mutters.

"Well in all the movies its an apple, I thought," Gwen mumbles.

I nod. "It's an apple. Connie's just gone crazy."

"So it's decided then. All three of us are going to pitch in some money and buy this dress for Taylor," Vicki says.

"How much does it cost?" I ask.

"That's one of the questions we asked you when you were stiff like a zombie. Now come on hurry and change out of the dress. We've been shopping since morning and my feet are killing me."

I look at the dress, trying to find the price tag. When I finally do find it, my eyes become bigger than saucers.

"235 dollars?!"

Vicki shrugs. "We knew it would be expensive." She looks at the price with me and then rolls her eyes. "Tay sweetie that's the original price. We found this on the clearance rack, remember? It's only 155 dollars plus the 40 percent off coupon I have with me makes it...let's just find that one out at the cash register."

"It's 62 dollars!" Gwen cries out.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "You sure?"

She nods. "Yup. I'm a math genius."

Vicki nods as well. "She really is. Oh my gosh that's it! I know how to get you and Aaron together!"

Gwen blushes. "Don't say it so loud. You have a boyfriend now so..."

My eyes widen. "Vicki you have a boyfriend?!"

Connie rolls her eyes. "Yeah she was only talking about him twelve hundred times today."

"Who is it?"

Vicki's cheeks flush. "Jake."

I smile. "I knew it! You two make such a cute couple." I turn to Gwen. "And you and Aaron are perfect! It's like you two balance each other out with your personalities."

Connie raises her hand shyly. "What about me?"

"Well you don't exactly like Isaac. I can tell..."

"Guys I have something to tell you," Connie confesses suddenly.

"What?"

"I have a crush."

We all get extremely close to where she can't breathe until she tells us who.

"Who is it? It better not be Isaac!"

Her cheeks slowly become a rosy color. "It's not! Don't laugh okay!"

We all nod. "We won't. Swear to God." Vicki crosses her heart.

"It's...its Julius Paltrow!"

We blink, probably because no one has a clue who that is. Except Gwen.

"Oh! There's no need to be ashamed Connie! Julius is an amazing student." Gwen turns to us. "He's in my advanced math class. He actually does not look bad. His personality is the type that hides behind glasses. He does have glasses, but they're cute on him."

Connie gulps. "I am so embarrassed! I have a crush on a nerd!"

I roll my eyes. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'm a nerd. Do you see me shuffling around without guys who don't like me?"

"Um yeah," she mumbles.

I smack the back of her head. "That is so not true! Isaac totally has a crush on me, you can see it in the way-"

"My cousin likes you? Wow," is all Victoria can utter.

"And I thought you guys were my best friends..." I pout and make my way over to the register. I let the employee scan the dress that's still on me.

"64 dollars and 37 cents."

The girls get out some change and hand it to me. Fourty three dollars all paid for. I get out $21 and two quarters.

"Keep the change," I say and let her ring in the money. After all, it's only 13 cents. I'm so generous.

She hands me a bag for my other clothes that I came into the mall with and the receipt.

"Have a nice day. Here's your receipt."

After fishing out my jacket, I put it on along with the chic little bangles I had on this morning.

"I think we should head home now," Vicki says. "Gwen, we will be discussing my master plan about getting you together with Aaron, are we clear?"

Gwen turns beet red again. "If you say so."

Vicki drops me off at the house and I immediately go to the kitchen to get some popcorn ready.

I press some buttons on the microwave and hear the familiar beeping noises. Looks like the electricity is back on. I open the microwave door. The popcorn from last night is in there. I look at the bag. It's only halfway popped. I shrug and close the door again, deciding it'll do.

After messing around with the time, I turn the microwave on and listen to the kernels popping. I'd rather have that than hear the constant pestering in my mind, reminding me of the kiss that happened less than 24 hours ago.

Once the popcorn is done, I open the package and go sit down. I stuff my face with one handful of popcorn before grabbing the remote and turning on the tv.

Oh great the news is on. How dashing.

"The star was seen walking out of subway with a salad in her hands. 'Nutrition matters,' she said to the reporters before strutting off."

I almost burst out laughing. It's Jenna! She's on tv. I slowly grasp reality. That's going to be me some day soon. Except for the fact that I won't be raving about how nutrition matters. The paparazzi will find me at Wendy's and I'll say, "Ice cream matters." They'll probably come out with a trendy shirt that says, "Ice cream matters," after I'm interviewed. Maybe I'll advertise for a burger joint where I'll have to repeat the line over and over. There are companies like that.

A smile makes its way to my face as I think that. The little celebrity watch is over so I try finding other things that interest me. I'm not succeeding all too well.

Just then the front door is forced open. It's sounds like someone kicked it down. I rush to the hallway only to see Bret standing there with a gaze so intensifying, it feels like I'm about to burn to ashes. I force myself to look into his eyes.

"Bret?"

His shoulders are shaking uncontrollably. What was he off doing? Did he have a little too much to drink?

"That ass!" is all his lips utter.

"What ass?" I ask uncertainly. Should I really be getting into his business? After all, we still hadn't solved any matters on that kiss.

"He cheated...he cheated on my mom. And all this time I thought she was a bitch! All this time she could have taken custody of me..."

I'm not sure if he's saying this to himself or to me, but I've pretty much figured out it was his father.

"I thought your dad was your role model."

"Key word: was. I don't give a damn about the dick now."

I go up to him. "What happened?" I ask and go behind him, bringing my hands to his shoulders so I can guide him to the couch.

Bret explains what he did today, which was stopping by his dad's house and finding out he had a half sister. My eyes almost widen when I hear about how he found out about her.

"Yeah your dad can't just do that. He's got to have respect for the woman. What do you say we go on a little internet hunt? We'll find your mom."

"Already found her," Bret grumbles. He takes out his cellular device and touches it in a couple places before showing me the screen.

My jaw drops to my knees as I read the page. "She's in New York?! Why that's the other side of the damn country!"

Bret nods. "Yup."

"What interests her there?"

"Her boyfriend. Her acting career."

"Your mom's an actor?"

"In musicals." He shudders in disgust. "I wouldn't last a day on those theatrical stages."

I shrug. "You never know Bret." I look at the clock on the wall. It's nearly ten. "Well I say we go to bed. We have school tomorrow, ya know?"

Bret nods and gets up. He turns back to me before leaving. "Oh and brush your teeth," he mocks me and then adds a wink.

"Haha very funny," I say with sarcasm.

We make our way upstairs, put on our pajamas, brush our teeth, and go to bed.