EPISODE FOURTEEN – You have no right… ("Separate Lives", Phil Collins)

Isaac felt miserable, he’d only just begun to realise how much he’d cared for Lauren, and now he’d lost her, and he felt in his heart there was nothing he could ever do to get her back, he doubt he’d ever feel the same way about anyone again.

Meanwhile, despite the fact Taylor couldn’t stand Lauren at the best of times, he did abhor Isaac for hurting her, no girl deserved to be used like that, not even Lauren Hendee, the great big pain in the ass that she was. Taylor and Isaac didn’t talk much for the following days, and Lauren never came back.

It was a week gone by, a quiet Sunday afternoon, when Zac was settled in the living room, his foot propped up on the coffee table. His ankle still hurt a little, he couldn’t believe a simple little twisted ankle would be put in a cast for two months, then again, the doctor had said it was pretty bad, and had explained maybe Zac shouldn’t go stunting on his bike. Zac had scoffed in the doctors face, and muttered ‘like that’s gonna happen’, much to his fathers disapproval.

Zac had just gotten comfortable, the pain began to lift, and he was actually enjoying the rerun of Star Trek Voyager on Cable, his day had seemed to be getting better, until of course, he heard the doorbell, and knowing he was nearest to the front door, he whined, "arghhh!" he made a face and hauled himself up, grabbing his crutch and limping all the way to the front door, and opening it, he looked outside, it was lightly raining, and a familiar green eyed blonde was standing at the door, wet hair hanging in her face, her face tired and not happy.

"Lauren," he said in amazement, he hadn’t expected to see her again for the rest of his life, after the carry on with Isaac and Taylor, Zac was surprised she had come back. "I thought—"

"That I wouldn’t come back," she finished the sentence, clutching a purple folder to her chest insecurely, "my mom made me," she mumbled unhappily.

He looked at her, "are you mad at me?" he questioned, wondering if she had any reason to be mad with him – maybe just because he was Isaac’s brother.

"No," she answered, "Just Isaac…"

"And what about Taylor?" Zac questioned.

"What about Taylor?"
"He’s in a much better mood now you know," Zac then decided.

Lauren scoffed, like she found that hard to believe, "Where is he? I need help with a French exam for tomorrow," she stated.

"He’s in the recreation room," Zac answered, "go on in…" he offered.

"Thanks," Lauren walked in, Zac took her jacket from her and hung it up, and she herself headed through to the recreation room where Taylor was curled up on the couch with his nose in a book, loud music pouring through the room, Lauren couldn’t understand how anyone could actually listen to Alanis Morissette, let alone have the volume of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ up to full blast.

Taylor didn’t notice her presence, he was too captivated by his book, which was a Stephen King called ‘Dolores Claiborne’. Lauren stood there, wondering if he’d notice her, then, decidedly, she reached over and switched the CD player off.

Taylor jumped, he hadn’t been expecting the sudden silence, he looked at her. "Oh…hi," he said, he put his book down, "I thought you weren’t coming back."
"My mom made me," Lauren made a face.

"Sucks to be you," Taylor smirked, he got up and turned the CD player back on, Lauren turned it off again instantly to get his full attention.

"I have a French Exam tomorrow, Taylor, I need your help to pass it."

Taylor ignored her words and turned the CD player back on, "I was listening to that."
"We need to study," she turned it back off.

Taylor frowned, and turned it back on, "I study better with music."

"I don’t," she switched it back off."

"Stop it, its my goddamn house!" he switched it back on.

Lauren switched the CD player back off, "You’re so immature, you know that?" she demanded abruptly.

"I think you’re mistaking me with you," he muttered, switching it back on.

"Shut up, you’re the immature one," She turned it back on

Taylor switched it back on, "no, you are."

"No, you are!" the CD player was once again switched off

"You are! Leave my goddamn CD player alone!" he commanded.

She switched it off, "I need your help and you can only think about yourself!"
"Do you think I WANTED to tutor you?!" he demanded, "My moms making me do this too, you know."
"So we both have bitches for moms, life sucks, stop turning the damn CD player back on and listen to me!"

Taylor looked at her, his blue eyes cold and sharp.

"What’s all the yelling in here?" demanded a voice, they both turned as Diana Hanson walked in, looking at them both.

"Nothing mom," Taylor stated calmly and quickly, at the same moment Lauren responded with "Nothing, Mrs. Hanson."

"I thought I heard arguing."

"We were…debating about something," Taylor stated, he certainly didn’t want his mother to know how he had treated Lauren lately, she’d ground him for life and cut off all his privileges.

Diana looked at Lauren, and smiled, "I haven’t seen you all week, where have you been?"
"Busy with school and piano lessons and all," Lauren explained, faking a smile.

"Stay for dinner," Diana encouraged.

Taylor’s eyes widened and he glanced at his mother with pleading eyes, she gave him a curious look, but turned to Lauren.

"Well?"

"I’d love to but I—" Lauren tried to excuse herself from torture of dinner with the Hansons’.

"Then its settled," Diana ignored the but, "I’m sure your mom won’t mind, I’ll go call her…"

"Thanks," Lauren managed through her teeth, dreading this. Dinner would be painful, with an ex-sort-of-boyfriend and an asshole called Taylor to boot. God, life just was not fair. Did she really have to tolerate eating with the boy who stuck gum in her hair? How degrading. Frankly Lauren could not see what all those Hanson fans saw in Taylor, despite the looks, what else was there? This nastiness?

It was seemingly settled already, there was nothing more to be done about it.