-Taylor POV-

Uncle Jack and I were riding in his cab, again. Just like every other night. Him being a cab driver while me riding shot gun like every other day, well it's night right now but that doesn't matter.

You see, when I was a child, about 4 or 5 years old, me and my parents went to a restaurant. My parents and I were having a good time and I had to go to the bathroom so I got up. Right when I was about to walk to the bathroom a big scary guy came in.

He started reaching into his jacket and somebody yelled "DUCK!!" once he pulled out guns. Two guns to be exact, one in each hand. I dropped to my hands and knees, and hid under the table, everything got quiet and chaotic. I was really scared.

The big scary guy yelled, "Jack! I know your in here! Come out! I'm not gonna hurt you!"

But all that Jack guy did was stand up and say, "Then put the guns away and leave."

The jack guy was sitting alone, at the table behind us. Leaving my table between Jack and the gunman.

The gunman laughed a deep, unamused laugh. "You think you're so smart?"

"No, not really. But I'm not stupid."

"Meaning?"

"I'm not coming with you."

Just then, two other guys came out from behind the gunman. Also with guns in each hand.

"Common' Jackie, don't waste your god given driving talent on cab driving." One of the 'newer' gunmen requested. Jack didn't say anything, he just sat down on is chair.

The big scary guy that came in first put his guns away and said, "Boys."

The other two gunmen turned so they were facing Jack. One put his guns away, but the other didn't. He pointed them at Jack, and then he shot the guns. Making everybody scream in terror causing all chaos to break lose.

Everything seemed to speed up, not slow down like they did in the movies, my mind racing. I squeezed my eyes shut. This had to be some kind of nightmare. I heard both of my parents drop to the floor.

I opened my eyes, hoping this wasn't real. Hoping that I just stayed up to late and had too much chocolate before I went to bed, and saw a scary part of one of mommy's or daddy's shows while kissing them goodnight.

Both parents lying on the floor, blood oozing out of Daddy's chest and Mommy's head, creating dark puddles of red on the floor around them. I couldn't cry. I couldn't scream. I couldn't look. I couldn't breathe. I had to turn around.

The big guy that the gunmen were referring to as Jack was staring at my parents. Guilt and sorrow filling his eyes and facial expressions. He looked at me for a second, then back to my parents.

I heard the first gunman shouting at the other two. "WHAT THE HELL MARTY!!!!!!! YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SHOOT!!! ONLY TAKE HIM FORCABLY!!"

Then I heard another voice. Extremely deep and husky say, "AND YOU KILLED TWO INNOCENTS!!!!"

The first guy started talking again, this time calmer than the last. "Go back to the car and make sure Jack doesn't get away. You too Frank."

"But Mr. Wolf—", said that deep voiced man, the one who didn't kill my parents.

"Shut up and do what I say!"

"Yes Sir." He said unwillingly.

Jack crawled up tome unnoticed by the trio through the chaos and said, "This is all my fault, an I'm sorry." He paused to take a deep breath, "But please come with me. I need to make it up to you and your parents."

I didn't want to say my last goodbye to my parents like that, but what could I do? It's not like I had anyone else to take care of me. One grandparent who never remembers my name, no aunts or uncles because to only aunt I had was killed in a car wreck at the age of 16 and the only uncle I had was a drinker who died driving drunk and slammed into a tree. So no one left, only me all alone. Jack seemed nice and caring. Just like daddy. I'll miss you mommy and daddy. I love you, sweet dreams. A tear rolled down my cheek as I nodded and crawled in front of Jack to the back of the restaurant through the maze and people. We ended up going out the emergency exit in the back.

Once outside, Jack picked me up bridal style and ran to his cab. Luckily he parked in the back and it was dark out so no one saw us. He placed me in the backseat and drove off making sure I had on my seat belt. But before he left I turned around so I was facing where my parents spent their last breathes and whispered, "I love you." My last one to my parents for the rest of my life.

Believe it or not, Mr. Wolf nor the other two guys he was with found us. After a while of silence and the open road Jack started talking.

"So, what's your name?" He questioned me.

"Taylor." I replied. I just wanted to go to sleep to wake up and be in my own bed. Realizing that wasn't going to happen, I just sat there and wished that I made the right choice, leaving with this stranger.

"Okay, well Taylor, my name is Jack Bruno and we're going to be great friends alright? I just need you to trust me; everything is going to be alright."

I just nodded. I hope your right.

"Your going to have to live with me so, I guess through the next couple years we'll be getting to know each other. Are you alright with that?"

"Yeah, I guess." I replied a little yawn escaping my mouth.

"Okay, how old are you?"

"Five. I think…?" I started counting off my fingers. Jack looked back at me and smiled at my scrunched up face.

"Yeah! I'm five!!" I said after a few minutes of hard thinking, usually mommy would whisper in my ear how old I was if I didn't remember. I frowned, I'll miss you. I thought, thinking about my loving and gentle mother whom I already missed dearly.

"Okay! Well I'm 21." He paused and made a funny face. "I think."

"Hey!!" I giggled. Maybe he won't be so bad after all. He's funny.

Jack ended up playing music from the radio. But softly, like back round music.

"Jack?" I asked.

"Yes Taylor?"

"Are you going to be like my new daddy?" Daddy, I'm already missing you.

Jack didn't respond for a minute. "Only if you want me to Taylor."

This caused me not to respond back quickly either, I had to think. He was funny and smart like daddy. But he wasn't daddy. And I didn't want to replace my real daddy. I just wanted someone like him around.

"Yes. I want you to be my daddy. But I don't want you to replace my real daddy."

Jack looked at my through the rear view mirror. "So that means, I'm like your father, but you want to call me Uncle Jack instead?"

"Yeah! That works!" I exclaimed.

"Alright kiddo."

I looked at Jack, my parents called me that. "Jack?" I said through another yawn.

"Yes?"

"Can you call me names like mommy and daddy used to?"

"Names like what?" He asked, almost sounding afraid of my answer.

"Like, you know, kiddo, little guy, sweetie, princess. All those kind of things."

Jack looked back at me, relieved. "Alright squirt."

I smiled, and then yawned again.

"Maybe you should just fall asleep and I'll wake you up when we get to my house okay?"

"The one I'm moving into?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." I was cut off by yet another yawn.

I fell into a deep slumber back woke up when I felt the car turning. Jack pulled into a motel complex called, 'Ferguson's'.

Ever since then Jack's been like a father. But nobody can replace my real parents in my heart so when people ask why he's my dad but I call him uncle Jack, I tell them he's not my biological father, he's my guardian. Ever since the fall before I turned six Jack has been my legal guardian by law, so now I share his last name.

Currently I am 15 years old and he allows me to call him Jack. Jack has a built body, he's taller and has darker skin but not too dark. His hair is a dark brown and it's a little longer than a buzz cut. I on the other hand am only 5ft.3in. I have tanned skin but I'm only a few shades lighter than Jack. My hair is down to a few inches below my shoulders if I wear it down and straightened, and it's a mix of brown and a lighter brown with a few natural blonde streaks that sometimes show if I've been in the sun a lot.

So here we are, driving around Las Vegas in his cab, picking up strangers and driving them to where they needed to be. This week is the UFO convention and it shows with all these freaks in alien customs roaming the streets.

"Hey, look at those freaks Jack!" Jack turned his head to look at the two people in star wars suits trying to wave over a taxi, and failing miserably. Jack chuckled a little.

"Sure are." He stopped the taxi right by them so they could open the door and get in. Having a hard time might should add. One of the guys' helmet thing kept hitting the ceiling, pissing off Jack. I just found it amusing. Stupid suits. How old were these men anyway?

"Imperial fraud, drive us to," He paused for I'm guessing dramatic affect and looked at his friend. "Planet Hollywood." That sent the two passengers into a frenzy of histerics.

They are so stupid. I thought. They started playing with their toy guns and Jack ripped them away from their hands and pointed to the sign in the front of the cab that said, 'No weapons allowed'. I smiled and stared out the window the window watching the people we were passing by.

We dropped those clowns off and ended up driving around for a few minutes which gave Jack the opportunity to ask me questions he already knew the answer to but asks anyway. We seem to do this a lot.

"So how's life?"

"Good. You?" We always seem to make jokes out of this.

"Good. What about school."

'It's summer break."

"True. Got any new boyfriends?"

"Yes."

"Taylor Rose Bruno!"

"KIDDING! I was just kidding!"

"You better be! You know your supposed to tell me whether your dating or not and you also know I need to approve!"

"As I was saying, I was just kidding!"

"Alright." Jack took a deep breath to calm down. He always got worked up when I had a boyfriend he didn't know about. I've only had one it's not like I'm rebounding from one boy to another, but he has to take it to the extremes anyway. Oh well. That's just Jack for you.

"Okay. Jack there's a woman over there." I pointed to someone.

"I don't need help with my love life Taylor."

"Um, no. I meant that she needs a ride." I let out a laugh after I finished talking.

"Oh. I knew that."

"Of course you did, you always do." I laughed which caused Jack to grin. Jack pulled over to let her in.

She sat down and closed the door behind her. "Planet Hollywood please." She said while fastening her seatbelt. We drove in silence, Jack looked a little aggravated. I couldn't blame him, the freaks were aggravating and it was going on 10:15 at night. He usually wants me asleep by 11 but he knows I usually stay up until around 12. He doesn't really mind, but I have to be home by 10 or he has a hissy fit.

I looked at the passenger through my side mirror; she was amazed by all the things outside of her window. She looked like a child in a candy shop.

"It's got everything here." She said. "This is truly like being on another planet. With all this to see every night," She looked at me and smiled, "you must never get bored."

I smiled in response. I never did get bored, but Jack did. I found the whole concept amusing while Jack found it stupid.

We arrived at her destination and Jack popped open he trunk so the caddy could get her stuff.

"Welcome to the nut case convention." Jack laughed to himself.

"I understand your reaction. They certainly aren't helping our cause." The woman said.

Jack and I turned in our seats to face her.

"Our cause?" I questioned.

"Educating the public of the possibility of life on other planets." She stated simply. Jack looked at me.

"As a matter o fact, I'm giving a lecture on astrophysical anomaly detection," she handed me a pamphlet. "at the nut job convention."

I looked down at the paper in my hands. "Feel free to stop by; close minded spectics are always welcome." She handed Jack the money she owed.

"Keep the change." Jack nodded and she started to get out.

"Nice meeting you!" I said as she was getting out.

"You too..?"

"Taylor." I smiled.

"Nice to meet you Taylor she smiled back then shut the door.

"Thanks." Jack said loud enough so the woman could hear him through my open window as she walked away. She waved and walked off into some convention.

I handed Jack the pamphlet, he sighed and looked at it. "Dr. Alex Friedman. Classic." He mumbled the last part to himself almost.

Jack decided that Alex was the last passenger for the day and we drove back to the taxi place to drop it off. When we got home, I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and wash up. Jack changed and attempted to go to sleep, even though the newly wed couple that lived above us was fighting. And boy, were they loud!

When I came out of the bathroom in my pajamas, I found Jack abusing his punching bag. I decided to just ignore it and go to sleep.

"Night Jack." I said as I crawled into my own bed.

"Night Taylor sweetie."

I lied in my bed, already half asleep from today's long day. I faintly heard the guy that lives above us yell to Jack, "Hey! Knock it off will ya! I need some sleep!"

Then Jack mumbled a, "Yeah, me too." Then I heard him hit the punching bag a couple more times then lie in his own bed. Then I fell asleep after that.

When I woke up the next morning I found Jack in the kitchen and I noticed he already made breakfast. Ha was watching the news and he looked as unamused as you can get.

"Officials are calling it the worst chlorine spill in state history. A five mile security perimeter has already been established. Highway patrol officers have already ready been redirecting traffic since the early morning hours. And we're already being told that this section of route 95 is being closed, indefinitely. This is Natalie Dan reporting--" I grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. Jack looked at me then laughed.

"Morning sleepy head.' Jack smiled.

"Morning." I sat down next to Jack and we talked for a little bit.

"The Apple Jacks are in the cabinet. I know they're your favorite."

"Oh please, you think they're my favorite because your name is in it."

"Yep, pretty much, and the fact that's why you said they were your favorite when you were 7 ½."

"That was 7 ½ years ago!"

"I know. Just reliving old times." Jack smiled. I had to laugh; he was such a kid sometimes.

"Go get dressed and we'll leave."

"Okay." I finished my cereal and put my spoon and bowl in the dishwasher. I then headed to the bedroom to change.

After I changed into faded gray skinny jeans and a black tank top with the straps of my blue bra showing and my black converse, I brushed my hair and left it down so all I had to do was curl my side bangs a little bit. My side bangs went from the top of my fort head to my right ear but I never really tucked it behind my ear, just off to the side so it wasn't in my eyes.

I put on my favorite ring that Jack gave me last Christmas, it was imprinted and said, 'Live happily, Love passionately, Laugh always.' He also got me a necklace too but I didn't have time to put it on. I grabbed a couple of elastics just incase I had to put my hair up in a pony tail later.

When we got to the taxi place I sat down in the passenger seat, as always. Jack was about to get in the driver's side but noticed a big black SUV was in the way so we couldn't get out.

"Hey you guys gotta move this thing, I gotta go?" Jack said. Just then both the passenger and the drivers' doors opened and out came two men.

"Jack." One of the guys said.

"Here we go again." I said to myself. "They just wont give up."

"Don't return phone calls anymore?" The guy finished. Jack went to turn around but the driver of the SUV was behind him.

"Mr. Wolf thinks your being rude." Said the driver.

"Well tell Mr. Wolf that when I said it was the last time, I meant it." Jack went to walk around the driver of the SUV but they stepped in front of him.

"Mr. Wolf decides when it's the last time, not you Jack." The passenger of the SUV responded.

"He likes you Jackie." Said the other guy. "He hates to see you waste your god given driving talent on. Giving bad tours, cab rides up and down the strip. Buddy, what kind of life is that? He finished.

"One I'm late for." Jack said, then attempting to walk back to the cab again until one of the guys grabbed his shoulder. Bad move Buster.

Jack swung around and punched him in the face then turned to hit the other in the gut. Jack finished by pinning their heads against the hood of the taxi.

"Got a death wish?" One of the guys said. It sounded more like a statement than a question to me; I couldn't tell both their heads were turned so they were facing away from me.

"I drive a cab in Vegas." Was all Jack said before releasing their heads, and opening up the driver's seat door.

"Your dead Jack." The two guys said before reaching into their jackets for their guns. But before that could happen, a police car came by and stopped them.

"Hey!" The guys pulled their hands back out gunless. Is that even a word? Doubt it.

"What are you doing? Are you insane?! Move this thing before I give you a ticket!"

The officer exclaimed.

"See you soon Jackie." The driver said trying to sound, intimidating I think?

Both guys climbed back into their vehicle and then turned right exiting the parking lot.

Jack got back in the car and took a deep breath, looked at me, then took off. Of course we turn left exiting the parking lot instead of right.

"You handled that smoothly." I said.

"No big deal."

"Alright." Jack turned his head then started paying attention to where he was going. I looked around. I looked out the front window shield up at the big blue sky. But when my eyes pasted the rear view mirror, they back tracked. What the..?