Chapter One
A New Beginning

"Taylor Uley! Get your butt up this instant!"

"Go away, Noelle!" I groaned at my roommate.

"Get up, Tay, or you'll be late for your English Lit. class," Noelle scowled.

I tossed the bed clothes off of me and glared at Noelle, "I hate you."

"You'll get over it," she smiled.

Noelle Brennan and I were living together in an apartment in Rhode Island. We were both students at Brown, and were both majoring in English Literature.

Noelle had long curly blonde hair, and small green eyes. She was tall, slender, and extremely pale. We were like polar opposites, physically, but also emotionally as well. I had discovered that Noelle wore her heart on her sleeve, in comparison to my, always keeping my feelings and emotions bottled up.

I quickly tossed on a red cami, with a black cropped cardigan, and a pair of dark skinny jeans, which I tucked into a pair of knee length black heels.

"Cute," replied Noelle, taking in my outfit.

"Thanks," I smiled, taking a Starbucks cup she was offering me and took a sip of my hot chocolate.

We left the apartment and casually walked the five minute distance form our house to campus. Almost immediately, we were greeted by a tall guy, with spiked blonde hair, and brown eyes.

"Hey Thomas," I greeted.

"S'up Tay," he replied, casually slipping an arm around Noelle., who he had been dating for about two months. They had gotten together (thanks to me) about three weeks after school had started. Thomas worked with me at Mickey's, the campus restaurant and bar.

"Are you excited for Pauling's lecture on the proper use of semi-colons," he kidded.

"Ecstatic," I laughed. Our English Lit. professor was constantly reminding us of the proper use of punctuation and proper grammar, and it was an inside joke of all his students, that his lectures on the proper use of semi-colons were fascinating, "you know how I feel about a good semi-colon."

Noelle rolled her eyes at Thomas' and my stupidity, "you guys are so weird," she commented.

"Maybe," I agreed, "but you love us anyway."

"Whateves," she sighed.

"So, Noely," I replied, "how was your visit with your mom?"

"It was okay," she answered, "you know how my mom is, she had me drove off my rocker by the time I reached the campus."

Noelle had just spent the entire weekend visiting her mother in Connecticut, where her mom was visiting her older brother, Keegan, who was attending Yale.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Thomas laughed.

"No, trust me," Noelle replied, "it was that bad."

It was around 12.00 on Friday night, and I was working my shift at Mickey's, when five men came into the building and lined off in front of the bar. I shot my co-worker, Adrianna, a confused glance, and she motioned for me to take the guys' orders.

"Hi," I smiled, approaching them, "can I get you guys anything tonight?"

One of the guys, who had short, brown spiked hair, smiled at me and replied, "hey, can I get a Corona?"

"Absolutely," I responded, "can I get the rest of you anything?"

One of the guys, who had a fedora placed on top of his straight, black hair said, "can we get four shots of tequila, please."

As I prepared the drinks for the boys, I couldn't help but overhear one of them tell Adrianna that they were celebrating.

"What exactly are you celebrating?" she asked, as I placed the shots in front of them.

"Our album reached number one!" the middle guy exclaimed, earning himself a cheer from the other guys.

"So, I would assume you guys are in a band," Adrianna stated.

"That would be correct, sweetheart," a bald guy replied, "you are looking at the five members of Simple Plan."

Adrianna and I exchanged a glance before she replied, "who?"

The guys looked at each other incredulously.

"Are . . . Are you serious?" the middle guy asked, "you've never heard of us."

We shook our heads, "no, sorry."

"But I'm sure you're really good," I added.

"Absolutely," Adrianna agreed.

"I can't believe it," replied the guy with the spiky brown hair, "they don't who we are."

'Wow."

"I am so sorry!" I exclaimed as (while carrying a tray of glasses) I slammed into someone who was getting up from their chair.

"It's fine," they replied, helping me up.

As I brushed myself and turned to see who I had slammed into, I saw that it was one of the guys from the band.

"Hey, you're the guy from the band right?" I clarified.

"Yeah," he smiled, "but, uh, I usually go by Dave."

"Dave," I replied, "I'm Taylor."

"It's a pleasure, Taylor," he answered, flicking his long black hair out of his eyes.

We stood there awkwardly for a moment until Dave replied, "look, um, I know this may seem a bit . . . Forward, but I was wondering if you were seeing anyone."

"Oh, um, no," I responded, taken a-back, "why do you ask."

"I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner with me sometime," he said.

I stood there for a moment, seemingly unable to get my brain started, "yeah, sure," I breathed.

"Great," Dave grinned, "how about you give me your number and I'll call you later?"

Almost as if I were in a dream, I quickly typed my number into Dave's cell, "it was nice seeing you, Taylor," he said, before turning and leaving the building.

"Thank you so much, Dave," I smiled, walking to the door of my apartment, "I had a great time."

"I'm glad, Taylor," Dave replied, smiling, "I haven't had that much fun in a long time."

Dave and I had gone out to dinner to a nice restaurant, not far off of the campus, then I had convinced Dave to check out that fair that was in town. Dave and I had had a lot of fun testing out the rides, and playing the games.

"Can I call you again?" Dave asked.

"Why not?" I whispered as Dave got closer.

Our lips met in a small kiss, and I murmured, "I should get in there, I'm sure Noelle is waiting up for the details."

"I'll call you," he promised.

"Okay."

I turned away as Dave left, and unlocked the apartment door. I twisted the knob, and entered the room.

I tossed my purse on the counter, hung up my coat, and walked into the living room. As I did, I saw someone sitting with their back to me, on my couch.

Walking around the couch, I furrowed my brow in confusion, and that was when I realized who it was.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed, "Jake!"