Hey everybody! So I was totoally blown away by the response to this story. I mean, I liked the idea but wow, a lot of other people did to. So thank you for that.

I always thought Taylor gave in way to easy to Ryan. It seemed like he'd mess up in almost every episode and she'd forgive him by the end. Not that I minded the sweet moments between the two of them but make a guy work for it a little...right?

So here's the next chapter. I don't know how long this story will be. I could probably end it in the next chapter or draw it out a little more. What do you think?

The cab pulled out of Summer's driveway and Taylor had to wipe away the tears so she could see the road through the windshield. She wished Ryan hadn't shown up the way he had. It would have been much easier to just leave quietly and call him later to explain things. She didn't mind confrontation, she usually came out on top but it meant more with Ryan.

She took a deep breath as she tried to calm down. She couldn't think when she got all worked up like this. Taylor clenched and unclenched her hands a couple times until she had control over her emotions again. It hurt like hell and it probably would hurt for awhile but she had to keep her composure for just a little while longer.

Taylor wracked her brain trying to figure out where she could go. She hadn't really thought it through when she'd been packing. She just had the instinct to go and she'd gone with it.

"Where to Miss?" The cab driver asked. She'd told him to just pull away from the house and she'd give him directions but they'd been driving for awhile now without her making a sound.

The first thought was, of course, her Mother. Most daughters, when they were hurt or in pain, thought of going to their Mother's for comfort. But Taylor couldn't do that. Veronica Townsend would berate her for being so stupid to hook up with Ryan Atwood in the first place. She would bring up Marissa and all of her problems that she of course blamed Ryan for. No, she couldn't go to her Mother.

Then there was Henri-Michel. He'd welcome her back with open arms. Even though she'd ultimately chosen Ryan over him, he'd told her that he'd always be there for her…and he did love her. He'd told her over and over in many different ways. But she didn't love him. It wouldn't be fair to run back to him. She couldn't go to Henri-Michel.

"Just take me to a hotel," Taylor said finally. She didn't know where else to go. "Any hotel."

She looked down at her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She should probably call Summer and let her know that she'd left. They'd gotten really close in the past couple months. Taylor would even go as far as saying Summer was her best friend. She'd never had one before but she could guess that moving out without telling her wouldn't be appreciated.

Taylor breathed a sigh of relief when Summer's voice mail picked up. "Hey Summer I just wanted to let you know that…I'm okay. I know it wasn't nice of me to run out on my party but under the circumstances. Anyway," Taylor said changing the subject. "I won't be at your house when you get there. I packed a bag and I'm on my way…I don't even know where I'm going actually." Taylor chuckled but she had to wipe away another stray tear. "I'm sorta being spontaneous again…kinda like I did in Paris and look how well that turned out." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Everybody was right Summer. I should have left him alone. He wasn't ready, hell I don't even know if I was ready. I forgot one thing when I chased after Ryan….you can't compete with a dead girl. My mistake right? Well, I'll call you when I get wherever I'm going. Night Sum."

Taylor closed her phone and held it tightly in her hand. She knew Summer would call her immediately after receiving the message and she wanted to be settled somewhere. She closed her eyes and laid her head back against the seat. She just wanted to get to a hotel, crawl into a bed and pull the comforter over her head for a couple days.

Taylor's eyes flew open as the shaking started. She could barely understand the cab driver who was muttering but she stared out the windshield and watched as Newport started falling apart. Cars were crashing into each other, light poles were falling down, buildings were crumbling and the last thing she heard was someone screaming as the taxi veered to miss another car and flew through a guard rail.

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"Ryan," Kaitlyn said surprised to find him sitting on their front stoop. She was carrying an ice cream and wondered if they should have brought something for him. He didn't look the least bit happy. "What are you doing here?" She noticed the gift he was holding in his hands. "Is that Taylor's real present?"

"It was," Ryan said.

"Don't tell me Taylor locked you out?" Julie asked walking up behind her daughter. "Never knew she had it in her."

"She's gone," Ryan said softly. He'd been sitting there since she'd pulled away in the taxi. He couldn't bring himself to go home and admit that they were really over. Sandy and Kirsten had told him from the moment they'd seen Taylor and him together that he should give her a chance. That she was good for him. He couldn't admit how badly he'd messed up…again. He didn't want to see the pity in their eyes.

"Gone where," Kaitlyn asked sitting down beside him. She looked down into the half empty container of ice cream and held it out towards him. He needed it more than her.

"I don't know," Ryan said shaking his head at the ice cream. His stomach was all in knots, he didn't think it could digest anything at the moment.

"What did you do?" Julie asked crossing her arms over her chest. Ryan didn't have the best track record with girls, and she should know, her daughter had been one of them.

"I'm not exactly sure," Ryan admitted. "I know I hurt her pretty bad when I told her I loved her….and then gave her a dictionary for her birthday." Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "She knew I was running…again."

"God you're an idiot," Kaitlyn said shaking her head at him. "Taylor was made for you."

"You were both made for each other," Julie added taking a bite of her own ice cream as she sat down on the other side of Ryan. She'd really gotten to know him in the past couple months and she finally could see why her daughter had fallen so hard for him.

"I always thought Marissa and I were made for each other," Ryan said thoughtfully, his thoughts straying to the girl who'd owned his heart since he was 16.

"No," Julie and Kaitlyn said at the same time. They both exchanged a look but Julie held out a hand for Kaitlyn to continue. "Marissa wasn't good for your hero complex. With you she could constantly screw up and make the stupidest decisions and know you would come rescue her."

"Marissa was a very unhappy girl Ryan," Julie said quietly. She waited until Ryan turned to look at her before continuing. "I think she had so many bad things happen in such a short amount a time that she couldn't recover. The truth is…you are probably the only reason she lived as long as she did." Julie wiped a tear away, talking about her eldest daughter always brought on tears. Parents weren't suppose to out live their children, it wasn't fair. "I know she loved you…but like that letter said, you weren't good for each other."

"I didn't know my sister very well Ryan," Kaitlyn said admitting the one thing she hated even admitting to herself. "We never really got a chance to know each-other. But I do know that she was definitely not the girl for anybody the way she was. She needed help." They all got quieted then, thinking about the many times that Marissa should have received help but they'd let them pass without forcing the issue. "Now Taylor on the other hand…she needs help but for entirely different reasons."

Ryan smiled at that. "She's a little…she's interesting."

"Ryan, the girl is freakin nuts," Kaitlyn said laughing. "But she's also one of the best friends I could have asked for."

"Taylor is what every Mother hopes her son will bring home," Julie said smiling. "She's quirky and can talk about things that nobody understands but she wears her heart on her sleeve. She's strong and independent. She's going places."

"Going right out of my life," Ryan said frowning again.

"Not for good," Kaitlyn said nudging him with her shoulder. "Taylor Townsend is not a quitter. She's off licking her wounds and coming with a killer plan to get you back."

"I don't think so," Ryan said shaking his head. "You didn't see her when she walked out of here." Ryan closed his eyes picturing the look on her face when she'd walked away the last time. "She looked so defeated. Like I've finally sucked the life out of her.'

"I don't think there's a person out there who could suck the life out of Taylor Townsend," Kaitlyn said rolling her eyes. "But she will be back."

"Have a little faith in her Ryan," Julie added. She exchanged another look with Kaitlyn. "And think of ways to start groveling when she does."

"They better be good because Taylor deserves the best," Kaitlyn said standing up. She was fixing her skirt when the shakes started. She looked around before turning to face Ryan and her mother who were standing up too. "Mom…"

"It's an earthquake," Julie said beginning to panic. She'd lived in Newport for 20 years and had never experienced one and couldn't believe she was now.

"Get in the doorway," Ryan said pushing Julie and Kaitlyn towards the doorway. He dropped the present as he made sure both women were safe. Ryan looked out at the driveway on last time before he joined them as a tree crashed right in front of them. It felt like forever but ten minutes later the rumbling finally stopped and the three of them stepped out of the doorway and looked into chaos.

"My house," Julie said covering her mouth with her hand. She sensed both Ryan and Kaitlyn looking at her and quickly added, "I mean, Summer's house."

"It's okay Mom," Kaitlyn said picking up a broken picture frame. "I thought of it as our house too."

"The Cohen's," Julie said turning to face Ryan. She just remembered that they were either still at the party or on their way home.

"I'm sure their okay," Ryan said trying to keep both woman calm. He didn't know if he could handle a hysterical Julie Cooper. "They're probably still at the restaurant." He turned to look at the damage the earthquake had ravaged and his eyes fell on the present he'd dropped in the doorway. "Taylor…"

Kaitlyn shared a look with her Mom before turning to face Ryan. "I'm sure she's okay Ryan. She's probably-"

"She's not okay," Ryan said interrupting her. "She wasn't okay when she left here and there's no way she arrived at whatever her destination was in ten minutes."

"You don't know that," Julie pointed out.

"I have to go look for her," Ryan said walking down the front steps towards Julie's SUV.

"Ryan!" Julie yelled chasing after him. "You don't even know where she is."

"Doesn't matter," Ryan said shaking his head. He opened the door but before he climbed in he sighed. "If our places were reversed and I was the one out there somewhere, she wouldn't rest until she found me. I have to do the same."

Julie stared at him for a moment and knew there would be no talking him out of this. He had that same look on his face, Marissa use to call it his resolve face. Once he made up his mind it was useless to try and change it. She took the keys out of her purse and tossed them at him. "Be careful," Julie warned. "The Cohen's will kill me if anything happens to you."

"I'm going with him," Kaitlyn said hurrying towards the passenger side.

"I don't think so," Julie said crossing her arms over her chest when Kaitlyn turned and gave her the puppy dog face.

"Please Mom," Kaitlyn pleaded. "Taylor is like one of my closest friends. Besides, it's not like we can do much here. You should come too."

Julie turned and looked back at the Robert's estate and knew her daughter was right. There was bound to be structural damage and she didn't feel like dealing with it right now. "Fine, but we are finding Sandy and Kirsten after Taylor."

"Fine," Ryan said tapping the steering wheel impatiently. He peeled out of the driveway and onto the road following the direction Taylor had been headed. He might not know where she was going but he couldn't let that stop him. He'd fallen in love with Taylor and he'd be damned if he'd let the universe take another girl from him.

Please Review. It makes my day.