% CHAPTER 35 %

I glare at Whit and Bret across the table at Wendy's. They seem to be getting along well. Too well. Am I jealous? No. Because Whit is soon going to realize what a dick he is. I watch as they laugh and look at a sheet of paper, cracking jokes about what's on it and stuff. I'm sort of curious to know what's written on the paper, but not curious enough to check.

A couple minutes into the meeting though, my self consciousness starts bringing me down. What if Whipped Cream and Bret really are getting along? Whitney had always been better with getting guys than me. What if Bret likes her? No, no he has a girlfriend...Internal-me protests, that he's cheated on, I add. I don't understand him at all. I'm supposed to be holding a grudge, but while watching them together it sort of ruins the whole thing. I've told Whit the entire story yet she's hanging out with him now. Why is she not at my side staring him down as if she were Medusa and wanted to turn him into stone? Because I'm doing that right now and I'm very lonely. I need back-up people!

"Taylor?" Isaac says, bringing me back to reality. "Have you decided what to order?"

I shake my head. "Still looking!" I place the menu in front of myself and try to concentrate. It's actually funny how this is a fast food restaurant yet there is a paper menu and they have waiters come to your table. Concentrate Taylor! Ok the Baconator, Dave's Hot N' Juicy single, Dave's Hot N' Juicy double...what are those two laughing about?!

I peek over my menu to get a better look at them. They seem to be having an intimate conversation... why do I care? I'm not supposed to care, but I am caring. Maybe I am jealous. But that's impossible what could I possibly be jealous of? Whitney's model body. Whitney's way with guys. Whitney's moves. Whitney's smooth hair that actually stays in place and doesn't frizz. Great, now I'm getting beside myself. I never cared too much about all that. I mean I did a little, but not like this! What is wrong with me? Maybe I need to go to an insane asylum so I have permission to bang my head on the wall over and over.

"What will it be?" A waiter that popped out of nowhere says to me. Everyone is looking, including Bret and Whitney. I'm glad that they're human so they can't read my mind. That would be a recipe for disaster. Bret would start coming up with more embarrassing comebacks while I scream my head off at him and Whitney would laugh at the both of us as she would be bringing out the popcorn. "Miss? Are you gonna order?"

I blink a few times as her words register in my brain. She's asking me to order. I still haven't decided. God dammit Taylor! You can never do anything right! That insane asylum sounds perfect right about now.

"I'll take the...um..." What to choose; what to choose. Who knew ordering at a fast food restaurant would be so difficult?"

Bret chuckles. "She obviously hasn't been looking at the menu. Just come back later. She'll have it figured out by then."

"Actually, I do know what I want!" I lie. I just want to prove him wrong, even though he's sort of right...whatever. That doesn't matter as long as I figure out what to get. "I'll have...the Baconator."

"Meal?"

"Yes."

"For here or to go?" I look at her oddly and she sighs. "They're mandatory questions."

"Definitely here," I say.

"Now hold up Taylor. You don't even like bacon," Whit says out loud to the whole table. Oh my gosh she's right. I don't like bacon! My face turns beet red. I've just been embarrassed in front of our whole crew and this waitress...Sally! "This is Wendy's Taylor. You get the same meal every time you come here. Get her the Hot N Juicy Single, please."

"Meal?"

"Yes."

"Here or to go?"

Whit gives the waitress a pointed look before saying, "Here," in a not-so polite tone.

She writes down the orders and leaves the table. As soon as she does, everyone snickers a bit. I cross my arms and pout like a little child.

"I wanted to try something different!" I say as a cover up.

"Please, we all know you were just jealous of Whit and I here having a good time," Bret replies with a wink.

I back away from the table a little more to seclude myself. "Whatever," I mumble under my breath.

"So how's your day been?" Jake starts off a new conversation. Hallelujah! Thank you... Jake! He says it to all of us, but I'm pretty sure its hinted for Vicki, which is fine by me.

"Great!" His girlfriend chirps. She loops her arms around his neck lovingly.

"Spicy," Isaac states. Oddly enough, he's staring at Whit.

"Interesting," my best friend says, who has now turned her attention to Isaac.

"It's getting better," Bret replies with a grin. Whit and him share knowing looks.

"Awesome! I'm getting to know the shy Gwen a little more." Aaron puts his arm around her, which causes her to give everyone an extremely cheesy smile while her cheeks become a rosy color.

"It's been really fun," she admits timidly and begins chewing on her lip.

"It's been pretty good," Connie states before blowing her bangs out of her face.

I smile. I've been so worried about myself I've totally forgotten everyone else. Gwen is still crushing big time on Aaron, Connie still likes that guy in her class, and it seems like there's a bond between Isaac and Whitney. All this time I've been dragging my friends around telling them about my problems so they don't get a chance to talk about their lives. I have to ask about Gwen and Connie's boy luck. In fact I should invite them over some time soon. Or I could go to one of their houses.

"My day was great," I respond.

"Sounds good," Bret says. I narrow my eyes at him and don't reply. I just survey my nails. "You know its rude not to answer back?" He asks with a state of superiority. Asshole.

"Oh really?" I ask. "Because I thought talking back was rude."

"Not when someone directs their attention to you."

"Break it up you two!" Whit says before grinning. "Oh my gosh this reminds me!! Mr. Omen's class was a blast! Amanda and I had this epic back talk thing going on. It was the bomb. If she wouldn't have that stick up her ass, she would have been pooping in her thongs!"

Everyone snickers except for Bret. Of course, leave it to him to defend her. Or so I thought. He says nothing to help her, just a simple, "We're about to eat Whit!"

Isaac is cracking up so hard; he actually high fives her. "Way to go! The only thing I hate more than olives is girls who can't take a hint."

"She really couldn't! But anyways, the battle was all over a chair."

I scoff. "Wow I can't believe that bitch. She thinks she owns the school's chairs. Please!"

"I know right!"

"You need to break up with that girl Bret," Connie says. "Before I thought you were one of those stupid player boys but now I know you're not, and to be honest you are way out of that little girl's league."

Bret rolls his eyes. "It doesn't matter. She's got me hooked!"

I snort. "Oh please don't give us that excuse."

"I'm not lying Taylor!"

"As if! Every word that rolls off your tongue is a lie!" I snap.

"So now you're interested in my tongue?"

I huff in frustration. "I never said that! It's a figure of speech."

"That's your excuse then?"

"It's not an excuse! You know what? I'm having this meal to go. I don't want to be in the same room as you. I don't want to breathe the same air as you! Waiter!" The girl comes rushing over. "I'm having my meal to go."

"Aw come on Taylor, it was just a little slip up," Aaron pleads.

"Yeah stay with us! We promise to make Bret shut his face!" Isaac adds.

I sigh. These people are really good people. Really good friends. I guess I'm overreacting a bit. I don't think taking it to the "to go" level was the right thing to do. As much as my ego was begging me to just walk out of there with pride, I couldn't do it anymore. "I guess I can manage."

I sit back down at the table and the waitress returns back to the kitchen with a huff. Bitch please. Just one time in your day... I'm just so pissed at Bret! Can I even remember why? I'm pretty sure its because of Amanda. Yeah that's it. Something happened with him and her and its bothering me. Really bad. But why is it bothering me?

After a long moment of thought, I begin to study Bret's face for a few seconds, trying to come to a conclusion. Why does it bother me that he's with her? Cause she's a bitch! No that's not quite it. It's something else. Have I taken a liking to Bret more than I care to admit? I mean back when he was nice to me, butterflies churned in my stomach every time he called me Tay. His smile would make me smile. Every action he implied got a reaction out of me. But I digress. That can't be it. It just can't.

As soon as the food hits the table, we all dig in. Wendy's is just heavenly. Whit and I used to go every chance we got back in Oregon. We talk and laugh and share stories while diving into the french fries and burgers. Gwen and Aaron seem to be having a blast. He brings out a louder side of her. And by the way Vicki and Jake are looking at one another, if there was no one watching, they'd be sucking each other's faces off. Gross. Well...maybe not I mean...

"So next Saturday, I was thinking we could all go to the beach," Isaac states.

My eyes widen and so do Bret's. That's where we almost kissed. Suddenly a window is opened and a gust of memories flies back into my mind of the time Bret and I spent at the beach. It was so...fun. Yet so long ago, it feels and I can't bare to think about it too deep or else I'll come to conclusions, ones that I do not like all too much. I gulp and both of us keep quiet while everyone else nods their heads. No! Don't nod your heads guys! It's a bad idea!

"Sounds great," Gwen chirps. "We could have a mini-mini road trip!"

We all laugh at how adorable she sounds. Okay that was just cute. Aaron smiles at her radiantly. Those two would make such a cute couple! I mentally smirk to myself. It's going to happen. I'm going to make that happen. They are just too cute for each other!

"Um I don't know. I was actually thinking about cleaning the house that day, you know..."

"No we don't know Bret. That is totally boring! Put that off for some other time. We all should hang out! Especially you and Taylor," Vicki says, giving me a knowing glance.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I retort, narrowing my eyes.

"No its a great idea!" Connie says. Everyone agrees. "You guys are cousins. You can't be mad at each other forever."

Oh yes we can, considering we're not related, I think to myself. But they don't know that. To them we are family and family sticks by family no matter what. At least that's how it works in my family, once you exclude my real father. He's not my family though, even if we are blood related.

"So how about it?" Whit asks us both.

We both grumble before he replies,"I guess we can go."

My eyes shoot daggers his way. "Since when has it been your responsibility to make decisions for me?! I have a brain and a mouth. I can use them both."

"Baylor Bear calm down. You were going to say yes anyway," Whit exclaims frustratedly.

I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. "Fine." Bret nods respectively my way.

"Well I've got to go. My mom wants me home," Connie says with her phone in hand.

"Yeah me too. See you guys at school," Isaac calls out.

"See you!"

Slowly we all start paying and leaving. Bret, Whit and I all leave together, just like how we came. Jake and Vicki stay.

"You two are gonna stay longer?" I ask.

Jake nods. "Yeah we just want to hang out some more."

"Don't get too crazy!" Bret winks. Then we're off.

$_$_$_$

It's been about 4 hours already and Whit hasn't come out of Bret's room! What's going on?! A stack of possibilities is running through my head of what could be happening right now and some of them aren't pretty. What if he's raping her? No I'm pretty sure Whit would have knocked him out and cried for help. Maybe they're just doing homework? We didn't get any homework in class today. A dreadful image comes to my mind of Bret and Whipped Cream kissing on his bed. What if...? I shake my head. I need to get out more. Whit and Bret wouldn't do that.

Suddenly my phone starts ringing. I pick up. "Hello?"

"Taylor? It's Isaac."

"Hey Isaac what's up?"

"I just called to tell you...I don't like you."

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "I don't get it."

"Well I heard that you thought I liked you so I'm just letting you know I don't."

"Okay," I say slowly. "I still don't know why you're calling me about this. It just seemed like it sort of. I guess I was wrong to make accusations, but still its a stupid reason to call."

"Um ok and oh yeah before I forget, that time we hugged in the car, I was trying to feel you up. Ok bye!!"

My cheeks are puffed up and my eyes are blazing from fury. He was feeling me up?! What in the hell...?! What the fuck is wrong with that guy?! I dial back his number, but he won't answer. Oh now you don't pick up the phone. Asswipe.

"That dirty scum," I mutter and throw my phone on the floor. It sits there for a while until I sigh and walk over to pick it up. "I didn't like him all too much anyway," I tell myself as I set the phone on my nightstand to charge.

"Taylor! Come quick!" Whit yells from the other room, from Bret's room.

I scuttle to his room as fast as I can. "I'm coming! He didn't touch you did he?! I will fucking knock his socks off if he hurt my- hello there," I say once the door is ajar. Now I am very confused. "You two are.. reading a sheet of paper?"

"It's from Amanda," Whit chirps.

I roll my eyes. "Awesome," I say, my voice oozing sarcasm.

"Sure is." Bret is grinning from ear to ear.

"I didn't give you permission to speak with me, so don't."

"You're right. I can't speak with you, but Whit can."

I narrow my eyes at the two of them. "What's going on?"

Whit grabs a stack of paper with multiple drawings and holds it up as if she were reading to a group of kindergartners. The title reads, "Taylor and Bret

"Well a long time ago a cute chubby little boy named Bret met a cute chubby little girl named Taylor." Whit takes the title off and throws it on the floor revealing two kids, a boy and girl, playing in a sandbox. "Even though he didn't realize it, he fell in love with her." She throws the second page and it hits the wall before sliding to the ground. The next page shows the boy and girl inside a heart. "Then along came a wicked chubby little girl named Amanda. She liked Bret and one day, Bret asked her to be his girlfriend." The next page is one where the boy is holding a different girl's hand, but is looking back at the other girl. "Bret then figured out that he didn't like Amanda. He was in love with Taylor. So he started hanging out with her more and soon decided it was time to break up with Amanda." It goes back to the boy and girl playing in the sandbox while the girlfriend watches with jealousy. "Well evil little Amanda had a plan. Bret and Taylor were in a play together, but no one knew. No one except Amanda. She snapped a picture of Taylor and Bret holding hands," Whit emphasizes the holding hands, "and used it as blackmail to get Bret to stay with her. Amanda warned Bret that if he told Taylor, she would tell the world about the play." The next page reveals the girlfriend on a tiny play phone while the boy and girl hold hands. "But little did Amanda know that Bret could tell someone else. So Taylor's chubby little best friend comes to rescue the day and they found a way to tell Taylor!" The drawing this time is another girl, obviously Whit, in a super woman costume. "So Bret and Taylor got together in the end, loving each other forever and ever."

I stand there for a little, letting everything dissolve into my head. My heart begins to melt. It all makes sense now. Amanda blackmailed him into staying with her and keeping quiet. That was what he was trying to tell me, what all the clues and hints were for. Oh my gosh I'm such a bitch! Also a clueless moron. I mean if I wouldn't have let my jealousy and rage get the best of me, I would have seen what Bret was trying to imply and figured it out on my own. Those little kids though and the story... that was so heart melting! Oh my gosh I just want to cry!

Even so, this may not be true. Whatever. You know it is, you're just too stubborn. So it's definitely true. But is the other thing true? I look at Bret. "Is this true?" I ask.

He nods his head. "She has a picture of us kissing on set. I couldn't tell you before I'm so sorry. I tried to drop hints, but you were too stubborn to notice so-"

I shake my head. I already know the answer to that. "No not that. Is it true you like me?"

It's silent for a little. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh! What's it going to be?! What if he says no? Or something? Do I even like him? I think that was answered a looong time ago. I study his face while he takes a deep breath and looks me right in the eyes. "Yes its true. I didn't know how to tell you that either."

A tear falls from my eye. Another comes. Then another. Before I know it I'm full out sobbing on my knees. Bret rushes over and picks me up. Wiping away the tears, he lifts up my chin before tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. I look into his eyes before whispering, "I think I like you too."

My arms come around his neck right before his lips touch mine.