I was sitting idly at my desk in AP U.S. History, staring at my Batman watch, counting down the last few minutes I had in school before it was over for winter break. Just three more minutes and I can get the hell out of here and get home to see Taylor, I thought.

Taylor was my best friend since birth. My brother by love; my twin. We grew up next door to each other in Grand Rapids, Michigan ever since we came out of the womb. Our parents were all best friends, our father's having been college roommates and best friends in high school. This was until Taylor became the Taylor. Taylor Lautner. But before all of the acting, muscles, and complete hotness, he was my Taylor. My very best friend, always there by my side and who never let anyone hurt me, physically or emotionally.

He was coming back in town from shooting Eclipse in Vancouver to be home with our families for the holidays. I'm super excited because I haven't seen him in several months ever since he left to film the movie in the first place. I was happy at the thought that I was able to have my best friend back all to myself - even if only for a few weeks.

"A watched pot never boils," my girl best friend Scarlet warned me from across the aisle, ripping me from my thoughts.

I looked up, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Hayl, you've been staring at your watch for the past three minutes. It's not going to go any faster with your eyes glued to the screen."

I frowned and stuck my tongue out at her like a child.

Scarlet and I have been friends since fifth grade, the year Taylor and his family moved to L.A. I pretty much kept to myself because he was the only one I talked to anyway, and when he left, I just became the quiet girl in glass that no one really cared much about. Scarlet saved me from my growing loneliness with her charismatic personality and amazing friendship qualities, and she's been here for me ever since. She's been like the sister I've always wanted, what my kid sister Melanie lacks.

I finally got bored with my watch and checked the clock on the wall. "I have two questions."

"Okay," Scar said, not looking away from the projection screen at the front of the room she seemed to take interest in when I began day dreaming again.

"Why are we sitting here with nothing to do, why is the clock going so slow, and why haven't the afternoon announcements come on yet? It's practically 2:15!" I whispered angrily.

"That was three questions, we're watching a movie, I already explained why the clock is going so slow, and it's only 2:10," she explained nonchalantly, still focused on the screen.

I looked up at the projection screen and realized that some documentary about America Post American Revolution was playing. I sighed and decided to accept that I had 5 more minutes until school was out and that really the only thing to do was watch what was on the screen.

I watched the movie for the remaining five minutes until the afternoon announcements came over the intercom.

"...And have a safe winter break," one of my senior classmates finished announcing.

"Don't forget that your literary analysis over 18th century works are due first thing after the break," my father and teacher Mr. Powell announced to the class.

Most of the kids around me groaned, and I would have too, but I was more focused on Taylor and how I was going to see him in just a few hours.

"I don't want to hear it," he said as he flipped on the lights and turned off the movie.

The bell finally rang and we were home free.

"Have a good break you guys," he said to us as we left the class.

Scarlet and I made our way to the door behind everyone else and I shoved her though after shouting, "bye, dad!"

He laughed at my eagerness and shook his head. He knew how much I wanted to see my best friend.

"Girl, calm down!" Scarlet exclaimed as I pushed her to our lockers.

"I can't! I'm going to see him in..." I stopped and looked at my watch to get the exact time, "exactly four hours, forty-three minutes and twenty-seven seconds!" I exclaimed, doing the combination on my locker and opening it quickly, almost hitting Scarlet in the face with the door.

"Be careful," she scolded, combing through her hair with her fingers.

"Sorry, I'm just so excited."

"Trust me, I know. You're never animated like this. Or excited about anything."

I frowned. She had a point. I never really say this much at school.

"It's a good thing, Hayley," she added, opening her own locker a few lockers down and stuffing things into her backpack.

"Oh." I finished putting the things in my own backpack and was about to shut the door when something caught the corner of my eyes. It was the picture of Taylor and I when we were ten-years-old, the summer before he moved to L.A. It was him hugging me and kissing my cheek while I hugged him back and had a huge smile on my face. It always made me smile the same smile in the picture every time I saw it.

"Come on," Scarlet said happily, shutting my door for me and linking her arm through mine. She led me down the hallway out toward the senior parking lot. "I'm sure he's just excited to see you," she reassured me.

I was in my bathroom, staring at my mirror, with all of my make up laid out in front of me. I just got out of the shower and was currently trying to figure out what my make-up should look like to go accordingly with the dress Scarlet picked out for me. Our families decided to have a 'Welcome Back Home' dinner for the Lautners at my house, and it was kind of dressy. She picked out a strapless dress with a heart shaped bust, that was grayish black and that had white outlined roses all over it. It hit at about my knees and had a huge black bow tied around my waist. If was actually hers that she brought over because I would never own something like this. Although it was pretty, it screamed 'Scarlet'.

I was going to do a smoky eye when I stopped and gazed at myself in the mirror, and began to think. Even though I was a good make up artist (which is one of the key things that will help me when I move to New York to become apart of the theatre), no matter how much eye shadow or eye liner or mascara I put on, I will still be plain, old Hayley. I won't be anything like Scarlet, who let's face it, is simple gorgeous. I guess I was okay - I had simple features, but nothing striking like Scar. My body was much like a teenage boy's. I had a flat chest and no curves. Scarlet's had huge boobs and curves just like J-Lo. She had beautiful natural red hair, while I had fake bright red, orange, and yellow in my hair, much like Hayley Williams. If Taylor saw me now and saw Scarlet, he would forget all about me and take all interest in her. Every guy that has come across Scarlet and I chose her.

Not that Taylor's like that. He's nothing like that. Personality means everything to him. Looks did matter, but nothing like actions and personality.

After a few minutes, I finally stepped out of the bathroom into my bedroom where Scarlet lay lazily on my bed, flipping through a Vogue magazine.

"How do I look?" I asked.

She looked up at me and immediately, her face lit up. "Hayl, you look beautiful!" She exclaimed, jumping off my bed, taking my hand and leading me to my full length mirror. "I don't know why you say you aren't pretty, because you are."

"Not as pretty as you though," I mumbled, checking myself in the mirror to make sure I looked half decent.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Hayley," my mom said, knocking on my door.

"Huh?" I turned to see my mom standing in the doorway with a grin on her face.

"They're here," she said happily.

My face lit up as I turned to Scarlet. I shared a happy shriek with her and hugged her.

"Have fun," she said.

"Thanks." I let go and walked to the door. Once I got around my mother, I ran to the stairs and ran down to the living room. My smile grew when I saw Taylor in the foyer, looking at family photos. From what I could hear, my dad and his parents were in his office catching up.

I climbed down the stairs and stood next to Taylor, his eyes locked on a picture of him and I when we were kids.

"I wish we could go back," I mumbled, staring at the photo.

"Me too," he smiled, and looked at me.

Seeing all of him now put a huge grin on my face. He seemed even taller than me than last time, leaving me at 5'5" and him at at least 5'10". I was pretty much used to it though. He always towered over me. And not only did his height improve, but his weight most likely did too. He was huge! And no, I don't mean huge as in fat. I mean huge as in, boy got some serious muscles. He was kind of hard to look like now, because I've never seen him this ripped before. Wow. He's really turning into a man. His face has more prominent features and his cute, boyish baby face is nowhere to be found.

I ripped myself from my trance and gazed into his beautiful, chocolate eyes. "Taylor, what happened to you?"

He looked down at himself as his smile faded. "Why, what's wrong with me?" he asked, afraid that I don't like what he became.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant. I just meant that...You aren't the Taylor I grew up with. Last time you were, but...I hardly recognize you," I said, kind of disappointed.

I do love how he looks, trust me, but I'm not really good with change. It will take me a while to get used to it.

"It's still me, Hayley. I'm the same Taylor, I promise," he reassured, pulling me into a strong embrace.

He had a point, I'm sure he is the same Taylor as before. But his hugs are so much better because of his strength.

I nodded and squeezed him back before letting go. "Want to go to the park?" I asked, referring to the park with the playground we used to play in just a couple blocks away.

His lips curved into another huge smile. "Of course."

I smiled back and pulled him toward the front door, where he helped me into my coat after putting on his own. All our lives, Taylor always saw me as fragile and always insisted on helping me with simple things. Even things like putting on my coat, when even a fragile person can do that by themselves. I didn't mind though.

"Taylor and I are going out! Be home for dinner!" I shouted to anybody who could hear me.

"Come on," he smiled, eager to get to our beloved playground so we could have Hayley-Taylor bonding time again.

I laughed at his eagerness and opened the door. The cold, crisp Michigan winter air hit us as we stepped out onto the porch and walked down the driveway.

Once we got onto the sidewalk, I held my coat closer to me, not realizing how cold it would be.

"Are you cold?" he asked suspiciously.

I wanted to say no so he wouldn't baby me, but I really was. "Yes..."

He stopped in front of me and crouched down. "Get on my back."

"What?"

"Get on my back so I can give you a piggy back ride and keep you warm?" he chuckled.

"Oh," I said, feeling stupid. I did what he said and held on close to him, feeling warmer the second he touched me. "Thank you."

"No prob, Hayl. You're nothing compared to what I can bench now," he commented.

"Oh, what's that?" I asked, fake excited.

"One eighty."

"What ever."

"It's true."

I rolled my eyes as he turned the corner onto the last block before the playground. "So how much do I feel like?"

"At most, about one o' five?"

Well shit. I was one hundred and two pounds. "What, are you calling me anorexic?" I accused jokingly.

"Oh, of course," he retorted sarcastically.

We remained silent until we got to the playground, where we climbed into one of the tunnels. Already knowing that I was freezing, he pulled me into his lap and held onto me tightly, while I rested my head on his chest. I forgot how much of a daffodil I felt when I was around Taylor.

"Tell me that my Christmas present from you is you and your parents moving back in Grand Rapids," I asked quietly, reaching out to touch the words Taylor and I wrote on the tunnel wall right before he moved to L.A. It read Hayley + Taylor = BFF.

He sighed and gazed at the writing. "Hayley, I wish, but I'm honestly having the time of my life back in L.A. I love acting and I love being Jacob Black."

I nodded. "I understand."

He hugged me tighter and sighed again lightly. "Come to L.A. with me after graduation. You can stay with me and find work. Your dad emailed videos of your high school performances and you're good, Hayley. You're really good."

"I can't do that. You know I want to go to Columbia. And I wouldn't intrude on you and your family-"

"You are family-"

"You know I want to be a stage actor. And we'll have time together. I promise."

"I know."

"And we're together now. Let's not waste it."