% CHAPTER 27 %

I read the text and roll my eyes. He's probably out with his clingy girlfriend.

"What did he say?" Jake asks, who has his arm around Vicki.

"He can't come."

Isaac nods understandingly. "That's okay then. We can have fun without him."

I smile. I've been getting to know him and he's not a bad person. He's definitely more of a perv than Bret though, as painful it is for me to admit. His life is pretty average. He has both parents with him and three brothers all together, one older and two younger; no sisters.

I walk over to Gwen and Connie.

"Now we know there won't be that annoying cousin around," Gwen says, trying to set a good mood.

I laugh, even though I wouldn't mind having Bret come. We're at the arcade, playing around on some machines. Bret is good at this sort of thing.

"Well except Vicki's cousin, but Isaac isn't exactly annoying." We smile at Connie's comment.

After playing a couple games, I realize I'm not into the games. I want to go home.

"Guys I have to go."

The girls nod understandingly. "Isaac! Could you drive Taylor to her house?"

Isaac finishes his punch and gets out of his seat. "Sure." He fishes in his pockets for the keys. "Let's go." He pats my back. We get inside the car and he turns it on. "Did you have fun?" he asks after a little.

I nod. "Yeah. I had loads of fun."

He smiles. "That's great. So what are you going to do at home?"

"I'm going to sleep."

His eyes widen. "It's eight thirty!"

I nod. "I'm really tired," I say with a laugh.

He chuckles. "Wow okay. Have a good rest then."

I smile. By the time we get back to the house, my eyelids are drooping.

"Goodnight." I yawn and am about to get out of the car when Isaac hugs me really fast.

"Night," he replies.

I get out and close the door. While walking to the house, I notice all the lights are out. I arch my eyebrows and unlock the door. Bret better not be doing anything inappropriate.

When I come in, I turn the lights on. Bret is sleeping on the couch. I frown. I expected him to be with Amanda.

I am about to walk past when I notice he's sweating and his mouth is in a frown. He's struggling in his dream. I walk up to him slowly.

"Taylor," he mutters hurriedly.

I almost gasp. He's having a dream about me.

"Bret." I shake him, trying to wake him up. His eyes open super fast. "Are you okay?" I ask. "You were having a bad dream."

He shakes his head roughly. "I'm fine."

"Okay," I say reluctantly. "You sure?"

"Yeah. You didn't hear anything, did you?"

I breathe in slowly. "No," I reply.

I don't want to burden him with anything, just in case he doesn't remember the dream. Plus, I can't tell him he's having nightmares about me. That would sound weird.

I help him up. "Come on. Let's go upstairs."

We walk together up the steps. He stops at the top. "Taylor I need your help."

I gulp. "With what?"

"I want to break up with Amanda in a couple days."

I frown. "Ummm. Why in a couple days? What's wrong with now?"

Shit. He's not going to read into that right? I mean it's not like I like him or anything. I just don't like him with her. She's way to clingy with him. Bret needs a girl who doesn't give and damn and can give him his space but be there for him at the same time. Someone kind of like me...but not me. Definitely not me.

He runs his hand through his hair. "Well actually I want to do it on Thursday. Because well... I can't have her chasing me during the week. I'm planning on skipping school Friday so she has three days to forget about me. Since today is Monday, you know."

I nod slowly before smirking. "You can't handle her clingy attitude huh?"

He gives me a faint smile. "Yeah. I don't even know why I asked her out in the first place."

I grin from ear to ear. I'll be glad when that bitch is gone. I mean... "Okay here's the deal. You have to make it quick and easy."

"Well aren't you in a hurry to get rid of her," Bret teases.

I nod my head vigorously. "She's been a pain in the ass. She actually walked up to me in the hall and-"

"And told you to back off from me. I know I saw it."

I roll my eyes. "Well aren't you a ninja."

He chuckles. "You bet."

I continue walking and let him into my room. Then I gesture towards my bean bag. He takes a seat while I take a seat in the other one and drone on about my plan.

"Continuing, you have to take her to the side of the hallway and make a clean break up. Don't even say a famous line like," I clear my throat and try to make it sound more masculine, "'babe I'm breaking up with you.' Just a nice clean cut."

I'm pretty sure I'm so into this speech that I'm making hand gestures right now. Woman speak with their hands. It's an absolute rule that they have to do that these days.

After a few more minutes of explaining, I clasp my hands together and sigh. "Done!" I look over at Bret. He's snoring into the bean bag. I get up and smack him. "You ass!"

He chuckles before trying to get up, but I'm still there, making him bang his nose on my head. He yelps.

"Ouch," he mutters.

I rub my forehead as well. Is his nose pointy or what? No, its perfect. I scold myself right after for even having such a thought. Bret's nose? Perfect? Pfft! Who thinks noses are perfect? ...Me

"I think I've come up with some new nicknames for you," I say. "How does Ignorant Pig sound?"

Bret rolls his eyes. "Where did that come from?"

I shrug. "Imagination. Mine tends to go to the extreme."

He nods. "It really does. It takes name calling to a whole other level."

I scowl. "I'm not name calling. I'm just nicknaming you nitwit."

"Stop with the arrogant names already!"

"Oh that's not arrogant. I'll show you arrogant."

He raises his hands in front of his face. "No thank you!"

I give a dry laugh and quickly change the subject. "You know we still need to show off the Power Point. The girls have been asking about that actually."

He smiles. "I think that really turned out nice. Did you mention I helped?"

"No," I grumble.

He scoffs. "You wouldn't of gotten half the stuff on there you wanted without my help!"

I nod. "You're right. Thanks...ignorant pig." I try adding the last part lighter, but obviously he still hears me because the next moment I'm being tackled on the ground.

"Take that back!" He says while he has me pinned.

"It's already been said!" I squeak, not letting my pride get squashed by this boy's insufferable ego.

"Take it back now!"

I gulp. I can practically feel his body heat radiate off on mine. Why does it have to feel so damn good?

The next moment we're not worrying about name calling or exes. We're not worried that we're not supposed to react this way with one another. We're not worried about anything, because well, his lips are hot on mine and I can't exactly think when the sparks are flooding through me this way.

I close my eyes and let myself fall into the carpet. Bret's fingers trail a hot line up my torso to my cheek. He cups my face and brings it up a little. I feel the sparks get more vibrant when he swipes his tongue across my bottom lip. I don't grant the entrance. God only knows what kind of bacteria are in my mouth. I haven't brushed them yet.

I wrap my arms around his neck and bring him closer. I can feel his muscles work as he scoots closer, granting my wish. He doesn't want to crush me with his weight. How kind.

I remember at the beach when he dropped his whole body weight on me. It felt like I had lost the blood circulation in my boobs. I'm not shitting anyone.

When he can't take it anymore, he roles so that I'm on top. Why didn't he think of this before? Oh right he's brain dead. I almost chuckle. I'm kissing Bret while making jokes about how stupid he is.

My eyes snap open. I'm kissing Bret. Again.

"Um Bret?" I ask against his lips.

But in actuality, its not against his lips. Once my eyes are open, I realize I made the whole scenario up in my mind. Bret is still tackling me on the ground. No kiss happened at all. I almost gasp. That means I want to kiss him. That means I'm aching for him to kiss me!

"Yeah?"

I poke at his chest. "I can't breathe," I say lamely.

He gets off of me immediately. "Sorry." He smiles meekly. "I'll go brush my teeth." He winks at me before stepping out of my bedroom.

***