It was the day before Valentine's Day and Taylor Townsend was spending it in Newport, with her mother. While her mother worked, Taylor absently flipped through the pages of the newest issue of Newport Living; there was an article about a new Thai restaurant that had just opened but the review was not holding her attention; the words seemed lifeless and dull.

"What a way to spend Valentine's Day." She said out loud, though there was no one in the room except her. The maid had just finished cleaning and now the house had a silent, oppressive air. Taylor rose in her seat and glanced out the window—it was still raining—she would be confined indoors at least another hour. Checking her cell phone for a text message, Taylor frowned in disappointment. Summer was supposed to let her know when she had arrived safely in Seattle and she should have landed at least an hour ago. The young woman thought about calling her friend but decided against it—Summer needed her space and probably didn't want her time with her father disturbed by anyone.

No one seemed to be fated to enjoy Valentine's Day except for Seth and Cordelia of course. Their first date had gone very well—the double date had fallen through—and since then the two had become fairly inseparable. It pleased Taylor well that she had been so right in setting them up—Anna agreed that they were a very cute couple and that Cordelia was just as good for Seth as Summer had ever been.

Such happiness and success in love still eluded Taylor of course; things had ended with Gregg only a week ago. The relationship had been certainly souring, but it was still a shock to her when he told her he was leaving her to go back to an ex-girlfriend—the words had a familiar ring to them. She had been surprised and saddened but not crushed; Taylor hadn't cried or lost any sleep. Her life was recovering and she knew that in no time she would be moving on, but still, it had hurt her and the good memories of their relationship oppressed her from time to time.

Her breakup was the reason she was in Newport for a few days. When her mother had heard that Taylor and Gregg had ended, Veronica Townsend had leaped at the chance of having her daughter home for Valentine's Day. "Since you don't have any plans—why don't you come home?" Veronica too had experienced recent disappointment in love and the opportunity to celebrate—or wallow—in singleness with her daughter was not an opportunity she wanted to pass up.

As it were, Taylor had one potential bright spot to cheer the dreariness of the day; Ryan had promised to come by and see her, and she waited, with a mix of hopefulness and anxiety, for him. She knew from his emails and from Seth that things with him and Sadie had improved over the last two weeks, and that he was very interested in making things work. "I hope I don't do anything stupid" Taylor had thought to herself as she waited. When she had heard that he didn't actually love Sadie, a small part of her had been given hope; to see him, once again with confidence in his relationship, might cause that small part of her to do something desperate and foolish. As the doorbell rang, she knew in her heart that it was Ryan, and promised herself that she would not in fact do anything foolish.

It was indeed he.

"Hey Ryan." Taylor hugged her friend tightly and as she did, let her senses take in the feel and smell of his skin. He smelt and felt so good and that small part of her that had been so excited about stealing him back grew stronger within her.

"What's going on?"

"Not much—just reading." She led him back to the living room and plopped down on the couch next to him. "You're leaving tonight right?"

"Yeah—promised Sadie I'd take her out tomorrow."

"Where are you guys going?" He named a restaurant that he had taken Taylor once before. "Oh I'm sure that she'll love it."

"We go there a lot actually." They both sat in silence for a moment and Taylor felt a slight wave of sickness wash over her. She was feeling so awkward around him and tongue tied and she knew that he would notice it; already his eyes were on her, questioning. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah—it's just the weather—sometimes when it rains I can't think straight." She forced a laugh because the words sounded ridiculous to her. "How are Frank and Julie?"

"Good—actually I was sent with an invitation for dinner tonight—at the club."

"That sounds good." Taylor brightened and moved a little bit closer to Ryan; she had always liked Frank and it was sweet of them to still go out their way to be friendly to her even though she wasn't dating Ryan anymore. "What time?"

"Eight." Again she was at a loss of words. She smiled at him and he smiled back, watching her with his blue eyes. Taylor moved an inch closer to Ryan. Why was he so unsettling today? The desires and passions for him within her were gaining in intensity and as they listened to the beating of the rain upon the window Taylor felt an urge to scream in frustration. "How is Summer?"

"I'm sorry?" The question threw her for a second; he never had once asked about Summer in any way except to vent his anger at the girl. "Summer?"

"Yeah—Seth's ex girlfriend?" Ryan's face twitched in amusement.

"She's not well actually." Taylor explained to Ryan that Summer was in Seattle because her father had had a dizzy spell and pain in his chest—the doctors had whispered to her that he was developing cardiovascular problems. "Summer's up there for a couple of days to look after him—she's supposed to call me when she gets a free minute."

"Tell her that I'm sorry."

"I will." What was with the chance of attitude towards Summer? It was strange but nice; no doubt Seth's happiness with Cordelia played a part in it. "Has Seth emailed you a picture of Cordelia yet?"

"She's pretty."

"Well she thinks that Seth's pretty too."

"Thank you for all that—for helping them get together."

"Of course—you know I'd do anything for Seth." The words brought back memories of the last time she had a frank discussion about Seth with Ryan; she had stormed off crying because he had told her about being in love with Sadie. "So I guess you are Sadie are good now?"

"Yeah—pretty good." He didn't really seem to want to talk about Sadie, so she let the topic pass.

"Good—that's great." Despite her sweet support the fires in her heart were even hotter now. She edged even slightly closer to Ryan; they were inches away now and his scent was driving her closer and making her crazier and though she could never exactly prove it, she could have sworn he was doing something to bewitch her.

"Seth told me about Gregg—I'm sorry." This checked her advance for a moment.

"I'll be fine—I'm moving on already." Her hazel eyes held him steadfast and her glance seemed to hold him in place; for the first time she realized that she too might be intoxicating Ryan. Though she was only in a pair of jeans and t shirt, Taylor sensed that something about her was drawing him in the same way something about him was drawing her closer and closer. There was nothing remarkable about the way he was dressed that day, and later in life Taylor would not remember what he wore when he came over, but there was something magical in those deep blue eyes that made her approach him, even if it was not the right thing to do.

"Are you?" Their eyes were locked on each others now and as her body crept forward once more, she knew she had been taking over by forces that only an hour ago had little influence in her heart. She reached out gingerly with her hand and placed it on his face, and as she did so, Taylor felt like she had suddenly fallen back into the past. They had made love once on this very couch when they had been dating and it was almost like the ghosts of the past, that impression of intense love and lust, had consumed them both.

She reached out gingerly with her hand and placed it on his face and he did not pull away. Her soft, small and feminine hand rested on his face and stroked his cheek slightly and he did not pull away; their eyes still bore each other's souls and still he did not pull away. Slowly, achingly, she brought his lips to hers and kissed him, tenderly. As their lips parted she felt a surge of electricity burst through her body and she knew what she had done was right.

Their lips were close still and his blue eyes were still on her, marvelous and blue. She kissed him again and this kiss was not tender, was not sweet. The lust and passion that had been burning inside of her, that must have been burning inside of him as well, let loose. His lips were hard against hers and as they kissed, she thought to herself that he was kissing her like a dying man whose last hours on earth were near and had decided to surrender to pleasure.

Ryan's hands found her waist and then her breasts and as Taylor moaned in pleasure, she did not care that she was causing him to cheat; images flashed through her mind of him leaving Sadie for her and the hours of bliss they would find in one another.

Then, suddenly, it stopped.

"Ryan?" He had pulled away and looked at her with his blue eyes; lust had been replaced by pain.

"Sadie." That was all that he said; he left the room wordlessly and let himself out.