Zac walked up to Nick's door and rang the bell. Moments later the white painted wooden door opened and Nick appeared with a smile on his face.
"Let's go chick hunting!", he said to Zac excitably.
Nick called out to his mother that he was leaving and they both walked down to the park where they would meet up with the rest of the boys and from there go down to the mall where Daniel and his new girl-friends would be waiting for them.
"Woo! Nick's got his hair gelled back!", Andrew teased as he saw Zac and Nick approach.
"Gotta look hot for the girls!", Nick said running his hand through his sticky hair.
"So Zac, d'you think you'll see anyone you'll like down there? You're always so hard at choosing", Peter spoke up.
"Don't know... I'm not that fussy am I?", Zac answered back.
"Of course you are! Geez, there must be like a thousand of girls who are just dying to be your girlfriend, and here you are still 'looking'".
"I'm not 'looking'! I just haven't found someone I like yet", Zac shot back.
"See, you're fussy!", Nick stated.
"Fussy-fussy-fussy! Zac you're so fussy!", Andrew teased him.
Zac just pulled a face and ignored them. Maybe he was fussy, but so what? Most girls he met were just too nervous around him and couldn't seem to come to terms with the fact that he was human too and not some teen idol. He just couldn't stand girls that just sat staring at him all day and not saying a word, or who were afraid to even touch him, it's not like he would brake or something.
They walked down to the road to catch a cab because they were already running a bit late to wait for buses, and since the mall wasn't anywhere near, walking there was not a prospect.
"Tay?"
Taylor who was sitting on the sidewalk near the chemist lost in his thoughts turned and faced Tania. "Hey... ", he said still lost in his thoughts.
"Sorry if I was a bit long, you been waiting long?", Tania asked taking a seat beside him.
"No it's okay, I came here a bit earlier", he replied looking down at the pavement.
"Everything alright?", Tania asked recognizing Taylor's concerned look, "is there something bothering you? You don't look very happy".
"Um... I don't know how to say this...", he stopped and looked at her for a second. She had light brown hair and hazelnut eyes, she wasn't bad looking at all, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he couldn't take the pressure of being committed to a girl who liked to get her own way all the time. What bothered him was that she was really a nice girl, and he hated to see her get hurt, but there was nothing he could do anymore, he had to tell her how he felt, or it wouldn't be fair on either of them.
"Tania...", he begun, "I think you are a very nice girl, and I like your company, but I think we should have some time apart...".
Tania just looked at him like as if he had just slapped her across the face. "Well, if that's the way you feel... I guess there is nothing I can do", she said, tears rising in her eyes.
"I'd like us to still be friends though... you know, maybe go out sometimes and all that", Taylor said feeling really guilty, and knowing that it wouldn't work out for them to be friends.
"I... I guess that would be nice... um.... I think I better go now... uhh... I'll call you some time... okay?", she said getting up and wiping her eyes embarrassed.
"Look Tania, I'm sorry, I really am", Taylor got up and tried to hug her, but she just pushed him away.
"No no, it's okay, I'm alright... I'll call you okay?", she said and before Taylor could answer she turned and left half walking and half running.
Taylor sighed. It hadn't gone too bad he thought. He knew she would be heartbroken, but at least she didn't make a fit. He kicked a packet of gum that was lying next to his feet and walked off towards his house with his head down and his hands in his pockets.
"ZAAAC!! Have YOU been wearing my black adidas top?", Taylor yelled out to his younger brother in frustration.
"Save your breath, he's not here", Isaac said looking for his book again. "Tay, did you see my warrior book? I'm sure I put it somewhere here", Isaac was hanging from his bed looking around since he couldn't be bothered to get up and have a look.
"I haven't seen your stupid book!", Taylor snapped back at his brother causing him to stop and look up at his obviously cranky sibling.
"WHAT?", Taylor said annoyed by Isaac's stare. "It's not my fault you are becoming a bookworm, an annoying one too", he added.
"Well well well... I can see my young brother is going through a puberty phase", Isaac shot back.
Taylor just made a dirty face and continued pulling out Zac's clothes, still trying to find his black adidas top.
"He won't like that, and mum won't like that either", Isaac rolled on his bed and placing his head on his crossed in front of him elbows, stared at his brother making a mess of the place.
"Not that I care one bit! He shouldn't have taken it without asking me!"
"Boy, aren't we jumpy today? How can you be sure that he has it? Maybe you left it lying around someplace".
"I'm sure, okay, I just know.", Taylor looked a bit more and then giving up, he slammed the cupboard door behind him and sat down on his bed.
"Should I assume that things with Tania didn't go too well? Or haven't you spoken to her yet?", Isaac asked.
"No, I told her, it wasn't too bad...", Taylor begun to calm down.
"And? How did she take it? It coudn't have been that good judging by your behaviour".
"I said it wasn't too bad... She was very upset of course, but she didn't make a big deal of it. I don't think she wants to see me again though...", Taylor sighed.
"Well, at least you've got it over now. Don't worry, she'll be alright. She'll just find someone else to take to her tea parties", Isaac giggled.
"It's not funny Ike! She's a nice girl really, and she was a good friend too, so keep your stupid comments to yourself", Taylor said getting up, "I'm going to call the guys, I feel like rollerblading in the mall again", Taylor got that evil look in his eye again.
"Tay, remember what happened last time you did that? You got kicked out remember, and you were specifically warned not to do that again!", Isaac warned his brother.
"I know, but it was so much fun! What do you care anyway? Why don't you just read your book, you party animal!", Taylor made fun of his brother as he walked out of the room heading towards the phone downstairs.
"Say what ever you want! But at least I'm not getting myself into trouble like you!", Isaac yelled out to his brother who was already half way down the stairs. The little brat! Isaac thought, and then started to look for his book again.