Hey everybody! I'm sorry it took me so long to update but life has been crazy. I'm sorry that this chapter is so short but after watching Thursday's episode I'm feeling a little down. I'm not happy that Taylor and Ryan aren't doing so good right now. Well, hopefully things will get better. So don't hate me, I'll try and update within the next couple days. Please review!

Chapter 7

"Hey boys," Kirsten said walking into the kitchen the next morning. They'd all gotten in late last night and she was surprised to find them up so early.

"Great party last night Mom, it was really…hopping," Seth said sarcastically making Kirsten roll her eyes.

"Yeah nice party," Ryan said sounding distracted. He had been up all night thinking about what Taylor said. He didn't have a right to say anything about her relationship with her Mother. Look at his relationship with his Mother, it was definitely dysfunctional. He was pretty lucky that he found Kirsten. He just wished Taylor had found someone like Kirsten too.

"It was pretty good," Kirsten agreed smiling. "I just wish one invitation would have gotten lost in the mail."

"Who's?" Seth asked curiously as he munched on a bagel.

"Victoria Townsend's," Kirsten said making a face. "I sent her one hoping she would talk to Taylor nicely since it was in public but I was wrong. That woman sure does know how to make a scene."

"She's a real…piece of work," Ryan said almost saying something else. But Kirsten didn't like cursing so he just said it in his head.

"It was nice of you to intercede though before she could say anything else," Kirsten said smiling at Ryan. "Taylor looked like she was handling herself okay but I'm glad you interrupted when you did."

"Well at least somebody is," Ryan muttered. When Kirsten and Seth just looked at him he sighed and admitted, "Taylor wasn't too happy that I interrupted. She said she was handling it basically and I was too quick to judge."

"What'd you say?" Kirsten asked confused.

"Just that she shouldn't let her Mom talk to her that way," Ryan said seriously. "And I still stand by that. Taylor is amazing and she shouldn't let her Mom put her down."

"Well sometimes you just have to accept that people are the way they are and I have a feeling that Taylor knows who her Mom is and she just accepts it," Kirsten said pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I'm not saying you were wrong for saying it, Victoria is too hard on Taylor." She took a sip and set the cup down before continuing. "I'm just surprised that Taylor turned out okay. It's amazing that she isn't…well…mean like Victoria."

"Taylor mean, no never," Seth said making Ryan and Kirsten smile. They both were remembering how she use to be towards Summer and Marissa.

"She's changed though," Ryan said softly.

"She's changed or maybe you're just getting to know the real her this time," Kirsten said picking her cup back up. "I'll talk to you two later."

Ryan watched Kirsten leave the room and sighed. "I have to get to work now too."

"Wait bro," Seth said grabbing his arm. "I've invited Summer over for Chrismukkah but she says she's not comfortable leaving Taylor home alone."

"Julie and Kaitlyn will be there," Ryan said slowly. He could already see where this was going and he didn't like being backed into a corner.

"No they won't, they are going to be over here too," Seth said. "Now I know you are trying to stay away from Taylor because she likes you and everything but even I think it's sad she's going to be all alone on Chrismukkah."

"Are you asking me to invite her over?" Ryan asked interrupting Seth before he laid any more of a guilt trip.

"Well Summer would but we both know Taylor will say no unless you invite her and tell her that you want her here," Seth pointed out.

"So you want me to lie," Ryan replied.

"Well no…but…would it really be a lie?" Seth asked finally. He hurried on when Ryan started to look angry. "Look, I don't want to make you mad but even I see the way you look at her Ryan. I also know how your mind works and you have this insane idea that liking Taylor is a bad thing. Which I also understand because we are talking about Taylor Townsend but….getting back to the topic on hand. Now I've sat back and let you go your way but you aren't happy man."

"She hasn't even been dead a year and you want me to jump into a relationship with Taylor," Ryan said genuinely surprised that Seth was saying this to him. He had thought out of everybody Seth would have been the one to just let him work through everything on his own.

"He's not saying that," Summer said walking into the room. "What he is saying is that is hanging out with Taylor really such a bad thing Ryan? She makes you laugh and you haven't been doing enough of that lately." Summer smiled sadly. "Truth is I've been wrestling with the same thoughts that you've been having. Marissa was my best friend, my very best friend. Nobody can take her place but Taylor…she's wormed her way into my heart now too. She's my best friend too now."

"I know that," Ryan said his turn to shake his head. "But…"

"Just do one thing for me," Summer interrupted him. "Go see her today, talk to her, and see for yourself if you are just a tiny bit happy when you're with her. See for yourself what everybody else has been seeing. Just talk to her Ryan. Give her a chance."

Ryan stood up and walked out of the room without answering her. He didn't know if he would do what she asked. The truth was he did notice how much easier it was to breath and just be alive when he was with Taylor. She made everything seem a bit brighter when he was with her but most days he liked the darkness.

"Do you think he'll do it?" Seth asked after a minute.

"I don't know," Summer said honestly. "It took me awhile to accept that it was okay to have another best friend. For Ryan….it'll probably take twice as long."