<Chapter 11

"...but what? Spit it out!" demanded Taylor, who was suffering from the suspense. "Well... I don't know if I can tell you..." she mumbled with her face downcast. "C'mon V, you know you can trust me!" he pleaded. Vega semi-laughed, thinking how funny it was to have Tay so eager to listen. "What's so funny?" he asked with a confused look spreading on his face. "Nothing," Vega replied, composing herself. She had to think fast. She couldn't tell Taylor the truth. "Umm..." she said quickly, biting her lip, trying to think of a quick lie. Nothing came to her, so she had to just spit it out. "Well, I don't know. It always seems like Mom wants me to be perfect. She has this 'do-this-do-that' attitude and I seriously think she doesn't love me sometimes. I don't know why I spazzed about it... I just am getting more and more nervous now that she's coming home... she doesn't know about the pregnancy, Tay, and if she did, it would really let her down. She's always away on business and she hasn't seen me since I lost so much weight. She was always calling me fat and ugly when I gained all that weight after Dad died. She hasn't been home for more than a week since. I just feel like everything is my fault, and the whole world around me is falling, and everyone is dying, and I just don't know what to do," Vega whispered the last words, trying not to break down. Tay put his strong arms around her and kissed her cheek lightly. She laid her head on his shoulder and the two stayed locked in the embrace for what seemed like eternity. When they finally pulled away, neither one wanted to say anything... the silencewas so enduring. Tay held Vega's hand and lead her downstairs. "Sit," he commanded when they reached the dining room. She sat. He made her a chocolate-strawberry milkshake and handed it to her. She gave him a comfused look and raised her eyebrow. "What's this?" she asked. "It's a chocolate-strawberry milkshake. I always make them when I'm feeling bad. Chocolate is the perfect anti-depressant!" he said smiling. Vega smiled back and took a sip. "MMM!! This is really very good! I'm impressed!" she said, taking a big gulp. "Bop. Thank you, if I do say so myself," he answered, giving her a very flirty look. She smiled again and took another huge sip. Maybe this could work... she thought, and smiled bigger.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Isaac pulled up to 12-Oaks mall and parked his car in front of Old Navy. Hey, at least I know for sure they'll be chicks in here! he thought to himself. He took a quick check in his rear view mirror at his hair and combed it. When he decided it looked good enough, he stepped out and shut the door behind him. His shiny blue VW Bug looked incredibly out of place among the GM Voyagers and Ford Tauruses.. and the sea-foam-green convertible!! Ike walked over to it and admired the gorgeous car. Leather seats, CD/Tape/am-fm, air conditioned... the top was down. He noticed a small little Martin guitar key-chain type thing hanging from the rear view mirror. He shrugged and went back to lock the doors on his Bug. Walking in, he quickly noticed the kid's section in the very back. Maybe they'll have something cute for Avie he thought, heading towards the little girls' department. "Oh wow!" a voice came from behind him. He turned around and noticed a blond chick admiring some purses. He rolled his eyes. Yeah like someone would really say 'oh wow' about me when there's Taylor in our band, he thought. He noticed a thin girl with brown hair let down and a rat-tail hanging just below it, admiring some warm-up pants. Her shirt had a small hanson symbol on the back with some writing below it. He moved closer to try and make out the writing. It said "No one likes Ike". He got up, ego crushed, and turned around, heading towards the door to get out of the store.

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

"Jacqui!! Did you see who that was?!?" a chick in a blue and white falcon's coat asked the brown-haired girl with the hanson shirt on. "No... where? Who?" the girl named Jacqui asked. "C'mon!" the other girl said, grabbing Jacqui's sleeve. "Becca! What are you doing?" Jacqui questioned as she was pulled towards the center isle. "Look!" Becca said harshly, pointing at the tall, thin, long-haired guy walking out of the store. "It's Ike! Oh my gosh! Tay must be near by!" Jacqui said excitedly. Becca rolled her eyes. "C'mon chica! Let's follow him!". The 2 girls rushed out of the store and jumped into Becca's sea-foam-green convertible that was parked a few cars down from the all-too-familiar VW Bug. Ike was just leaving the parking lot when he noticed the convertible he had been admiring was 3 cars behind him. He couldn't tell who was driving because of the cars in between. Oh well, he thought. With my luck, it's a guy. He laughed and turned on the radio. "... fight the break of dawn, come tommorow, tommorow I'll be gone... " came into his ears. "Hey! I love this song!" he said to himself, turning up the radio. The car behind him beeped, making Ike relaize the light was green. He rolled his eyes and pulled into moving traffic, heading for Vega's house. "Well, I'm an hour early Tay, I hope you're ready!" he said to himself.