CHAPTER TWO

It was the phone. Again.

Shannon didn’t even flinch. Rachael jogged over and lightly snatched it up.

"Hello? Oh Tom, hi!! Thanks!! Oh, nah I haven’t got my presents yet…"

It was the twins’ birthday, and they were 16 years old. The phone had been running off the hook all day. Rachael had a lot of ‘friends’…or more specifically, hopeless numbers of guys lusting after her.

Shannon looked up from the TV to stare at her sister for a moment, chatting comically on the phone. Sometimes she wished she had that life. She wished she could have those looks, and those friends, and that impossibly infectious, colourful personality. She dropped her gaze despondently. No that wasn’t true. She could never be Rachael, nor do the things she’d done…and she didn’t want to. Rachael’s unrelenting exploitation of people and their emotions had led Shannon to believe that her sister had no conscience. She didn’t want to be like that.

No, more than anything, Shannon wanted people to love her for who she was. But they didn’t, and it was their resulting ignorance that had hurt her the most through her quiet, shy childhood…and still now.

After a few minutes, her sister rejoined her, but the phone was soon to ring again.

"Oh, another one!" Rachael exclaimed, as if she were amazed, and jogged back over.

Shannon made a face at her back.

"Oh, what a surprise." She mocked sarcastically.

Rachael ignored her.

"Oh, hi Tay!! Thankyou!! What, now? Well yeah, I guess you could come over if you want. Yeah. Do you have my address? Ok see you then."

Shannon craned her neck over the back of the couch in interest. Despite the fact that Taylor and her sister had been going out for three weeks, she had never met him. She was beginning to think that Rachael had planned it that way.

"Is Taylor coming round?" She asked.

"Uh huh!" She answered.

"Hmm!!" Shannon mused.

Rachael grinned.

"Prepare yourself to meet my millionaire, teen idol, rock star boyfriend!!" She exclaimed, and smoothly exited towards her bedroom with a flash of her glitzy smile.

Shannon rolled her eyes, but still allowed a hint of excitement to crawl through her body. She couldn’t deny that this was going to be a pretty cool acquaintance, regardless of how snobbish his personality was sure to be.

_ _ _

"Do you really think she’ll like it?" Taylor moaned, shaking his head doubtfully.

"Taylor, who cares? Just go and drive over there!!" Isaac exclaimed and then grinned. "That is, if you can handle the car Tay. It’s a pretty difficult route, you may encounter *gasp* …traffic lights! Or *shudder* …a stop sign!"

"Oh man, Tay, he’s right." Zac said sympathetically, placing a supportive hand on his brother’s shoulder. "Way too high risk for you."

"Get off." Taylor smirked, and thumped Zac who ran laughing from the room.

"I’m not that bad!" He exclaimed.

"Yes you are!" Isaac laughed.

Taylor just shook his head, and fingered the wrapping of the present thoughtfully.

"Taylor, trust me as a girl’s point of view. She’ll love it."

The girl sprawled across the couch with the TV remote flicked lazily through the channels until Isaac grabbed it playfully off her. Lara was Isaac’s girlfriend, who had gradually become the core of his existence and his inspiration. Their six-month anniversary was coming up fast.

"Yeah, but what if she doesn’t? What if she hates it and I don’t know what to say." Taylor complained, collapsing in a chair.

Lara glanced at him, a ringlet of hair falling in front of her eyes, which she pushed behind her ear. There was something almost mystical about Lara. Her hair consisted of deep dark brown curls, and her eyes were a deep dark shade of green framed by long black lashes. Across her petit nose were cute, well placed freckles, and her mouth produced a cheeky smile that made you want to laugh. The entire Hanson family had fallen in love with her, and many a time Taylor had sulked in jealousy of Isaac even though Lara was over a year older than him.

"Seriously Tay, don’t stress." She stated one last time.

He sighed loudly, grabbed the present, and left the house before he had time to change his mind.

Lara had a good relationship with Taylor, and more than once he had come to her with his problems. She thought he was extremely sweet, but found that her tolerance levels were often tested when she spent time with Taylor, and enjoyed the carefree way of Isaac much more.

_ _ _

"He’s here!!" Caroline’s voice rang out through the house eagerly.

Rachael’s mother had fallen in love with Taylor and his charm in an instant, and was now anxiously waving at him through the window.

Rachael flushed as she saw her mother’s behaviour.

"Mum, please!" She groaned, rolling her eyes.

"What!?" She exclaimed, and waved at him again.

"Mum…just…oh never mind!"

"Hey." Taylor breathed as his girlfriend opened the door.

He was still blown away by her beauty every time he saw her. How could anyone be so gorgeous? He realised he was staring…

"Oh, um, happy birthday."

He handed her the present, and she took it with a smile. After the greetings had been completed, Rachael smiled warmly at him, and began opening the present.

Shannon descended the stairs, and gazed around the corner at Rachael and Taylor, silently observing them. She had never seen them together before. Shannon wondered if Taylor had brought a little present for her too, or if he even knew that Rachael had a twin. Rachael had done that to her before…just ‘forgotten’ to mention that her twin existed.

"Oh Taylor cool!!" She exclaimed suddenly, and threw her arms around him. Shannon strained to see his gift, but failed. What she did see was the sparkle in Taylor’s eyes, and the way his expression seemed so transfixed and spellbound and gloriously delighted. Rachael bounded upstairs to deposit her present and Taylor closed his eyes with a dreamy smile playing at his lips. Shannon sighed wistfully. She wished she could make someone feel like that…

Suddenly Taylor felt he was being watched, and he glanced straight into the blue green eyes staring at him from around the corner. He blinked.

"Hey, you must be Shannon." He said, and wondered over to her, offering his hand. She shook it, nodding her head a little.

"I’m Taylor."

He was gorgeous. She hadn’t really noticed until now. His blond hair was soft and sleek, with eye-catching pieces falling attractively across his face. His cheeks glowed with health and gave him his virtuous look. His captivating sky blue eyes were rimmed with dark lashes, and glimmered in the dappled sunlight from the window.

"Nice to meet you." She said softly.

Taylor sensed her reserved character almost immediately, and realised with a little surprise that she was very different to Rachael. This girl didn’t radiate charisma and confidence as her sister did. Nor was she as beautiful. But still, Taylor saw something behind that average brown hair and inhibited greenish blue eyes, and he found himself gazing in curious fascination at her.

"I…uh…Happy birthday." Taylor suddenly mentioned awkwardly, breaking his stare. He realised with a sickening twinge that he hadn’t brought her anything, and fidgeted nervously. He felt horribly ashamed. Shannon found herself fascinated by Taylor. She had expected him to be loud and arrogant and self-centred, but…somehow he wasn’t.

"I um…uh…" Taylor began, guilt flooding his voice, "…I…I’m sorry. I forgot to get you a present."

Shannon shrugged, and offered a small smile. It wasn’t as if anyone else had remembered either…but at least he had apologised.

"That’s ok."

Rachael’s footsteps could be heard returning.

"So uh…I guess I’ll see you around." Taylor said uncomfortably.

Shannon nodded.

"Uh huh."

"See ya." He said offering a small smile.

"See ya."

Shannon watched him go, thoughtfully. He seemed nice, he really did. But she shook her head. No. Maybe it was just that she wanted him to be…

_ _ _

The next day, Shannon looked up sharply from the window as a familiar voice floated up the stairwell and through her open door. Taylor. He was here again. Picking herself up, she wondered halfway down the staircase to find them chatting idly below her. Rachael raised her eyebrows, letting her twin know that she wasn’t welcome. With an ungrateful glare, Shannon turned to leave.

As she turned, Taylor saw her…

"Shannon, wait!" He yelled, jogging nimbly up the stairs to meet her half way.

She turned, and looked down at him inquisitively, ignoring her sister’s agitated stare.

"Happy birthday." He said earnestly, and held a small wrapped box up to her.

Shannon froze. A gift? For her? She looked down into his bright sincere blue eyes, and took the present from him slowly.

"Open it." He encouraged, smiling a little from below her.

Shannon blinked, and opened the box carefully. Inside was a tiny silver pendant on a delicate silver chain. It was beautiful.

"I…I…um…uh…thankyou." She said softly, the appreciation clear in her wide, mystified eyes.

"Oh, it was just a little something…" Taylor shrugged graciously, feeling relief spread through him and the guilt wash away.

And then he smiled.

Really smiled.

Shannon found herself captivated.

Mesmerised.

Spellbound.

His eyes shone with a naturally exquisite twinkle that pierced her straight to the heart.

Woah.

"Taylor?" Rachael’s voice called impatiently, breaking her trance.

"Hey, see ya, ok?" Taylor said, and smiled again.

"See ya." She breathed, finding her own meek smile, "And thankyou."

Taylor pushed his hair behind his ears modestly.

"Oh, it’s a pleasure. Bye!"

"Bye." She answered, breathless.

Taylor was feeling pretty good about himself now, and the charm of his parting smile dazzled Shannon once more.

When he was out of sight, a disbelieving smile broke onto her face, and she leant against the wall.

"Wow!" She whispered to herself.

She almost felt faint, for goodness sake!

She opened her hand, letting the pure silver figure reflect glittering flashes of light into her otherwise dull eyes. It was then that Shannon knew that Taylor was going to be different.

_ _ _

Taylor went home that night feeling uneasy and confused. He couldn’t stop thinking about Rachael. She had brushed him off harshly today when he began a conversation on his music, and it had hurt. She didn’t even seem to care…but…maybe it was better that way. He shook his head. Rachael was carefree, easygoing, and maybe just a little shallower. She didn’t care too much about stuff, and therefore didn’t get hurt. She was always happy. Taylor bit his lip. He didn’t like getting hurt.

Subconsciously, he had already begun to change…

Go to chapter 3

Go back to stories page
Go back to main page

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page