"My feet hurt," Seth whined as he leaned against the wall of a clothing store that Brooke had dragged him, Taylor, and Peyton into.
"Taylor, are you coming out," Brooke asked through the door of the dressing room.
"No, I am not," was Taylor's answer.
Brooke shot a look at Peyton who came to stand on the other side of the dressing room door across from Brooke.
"See, T, if you don't come out, then we're coming in," Peyton said.
"I am not buying this outfit, Brooke."
"Why not?"
"Because," Taylor threw open the door and stood there with her hands on her hips, "I refuse to walk down the halls of Harbor looking like Sister Mary Katherine's about to give me detention for skipping class." The outfit Taylor was currently wearing was a pair of black heels with a strap circling her ankle, red knee highs, a red plaid pleated skirt, a white short sleeved button up shirt and a loosely knotted red tie.
"You look hot."
"I look ridiculous. Brooke, this is an outfit you should wear. You're the more outspoken one. Me? I'm perfectly happy in clothes that-"
"Call no attention to the fact that you have a really good body."
"I look hideous."
"Damn," some random guy said as he walked by. This statement earned him a slap upside the head from the girl he was with.
"See," Taylor and Brooke at the same time.
"What? He was obviously in shock over how horrible I look."
"You're crazy. He was in lust at first sight."
"I always said you looked good in red," Peyton said.
"Seth, what do you think," Brooke asked.
"No. It is bad enough I got dragged on this expedition, breaking one of the cardinal rules of my friendship with Taylor, but I am not gonna help you convince her she looks hot because that's some kind of violation of the other cardinal rule of mine and Taylor's friendship."
"Oh right, the no sex thing. Aren't you two a little old for that? I mean it was fine when we were thirteen but seriously what do think opposite sex friends are for?"
"Ew," Taylor shuddered.
"I think I might be sick."
"Hey there you are. I've been looking all over for you," Nathan Scott said as he made his way over, faithful minion Tim Smith right behind him. Nathan spared a glance towards his girl's friends and got stuck when he got to Taylor. "Damn."
"Peyton, he's your boyfriend. You hit him. I am going to go change."
"Good because I found a dress for you to try on," Brooke said handing Taylor a red dress.
"Brooke the neckline on this is a little too low for my tastes," she said handing the dress back. "It shows off something I'd rather not show, okay?"
"Okay," Brooke nodded. "But I still think you should get that outifit."
"One condition."
"Okay."
"After I pay for this, we go home and rest for the rest of the day? Seth and I haven't slept since the plane ride and after this morning's practice and this afternoon's marathon, I feel the urge to become one with a mattress."
"Can I join you," Tim asked with a leer.
"Sure Tim," Taylor smiled, "right after I suffer severe brain damage." She looked at Brooke, "I'll meet you at the register."
Brooke nodded and she and Seth walked away with bags while Peyton tried to convince Nathan that they could meet up later and that he better not skip out on Bevin for the Debutante Ball because if he did he was going to be making nice with his hand for a very long time because she'd trash his reputation so bad that no girl was going to let him within five feet of her.
Taylor giggled to herself, overhearing that bit of information, very glad that Nathan wasn't escorting Brooke tomorrow night.
OCOCOCOCOCOC
Taylor turned left and then right as her full skirt swung with her movements.
"Not bad Townsend."
She looked in the mirror and smiled, "Hey Jake, what are you doing here?"
"I got conned into being Theresa's date for the evening."
She turned around, "Well it's good to see you." She hugged him, "It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. So, who's your escort?"
"I dragged Seth with me from Newport so I wouldn't get stuck with one of Nathan's cronies grabbing my ass all night."
"Smart move. I better get back out there. I just wanted to use the mens' room. I'll look for your friend and save him from being the tormented stranger."
"Thanks Jake," Taylor smiled as she watched him go, remembering why when she'd been twelve she'd wished like hell she'd lived in Tree Hill even if Taylor Jagelski had sounded a little strange. Boys like Jake were few and far between and, save for Seth, she hadn't found one in Newport who had made her feel as if she could trust her whole world with him after just a conversation.
"Hey," Brooke entered the dressing area. "So, here's how it's going to go. Since Davis comes first, Dad's gonna escort me and then he'll come backstage again and escort you. You look amazing by the way."
"You don't look half bad yourself." While Taylor's dress was a little more traditional Brooke's was mermaid style, clinging to her curves. "How badly is Aunt Victoria going to freak when she sees your dress?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, B. Davis, that I have a very strong suspicion that your mother has no idea what you are wearing right now."
"She'll deal. Ex-topless dancers don't get to judge the clothing choices of other people," Brooke smiled.
Taylor snorted before she turned to the mirror once again and smoothed her hair back.
"I better go get in line," Brooke said.
"Be there in a second," Taylor said.
"Okay."
Taylor smoothed out her skirt and then turned to get in line. She stopped and smiled, "Neil? What are you doing here?"
Her stepfather smiled at her, "I called the Cohen house when after forty-eight hours you failed to make even a small appearance and Sandy informed me that my step-daughter was being presented to society in North Carolina today. So, I rescheduled some surgeries, took the day off, and here I am. I hope it's okay."
"It's fine but did you tell Aunt Victoria? She gave the announcer a whole spiel as my introduction and I'm pretty sure Uncle Richard is included in it."
"We're all set. I'm going to go get in line. You look lovely, Taylor."
"Thank you, Neil."
He nodded and Taylor smiled as he left. He may not be her father but he was close enough.
OCOCOCOCOC
"Taylor Penelope Townsend, daughter of Veronica Townsend Roberts, step-daughter of Dr. Neil Roberts, and granddaughter of Penelope and Patrick Delaney," the announcer said as Taylor and Neil walked down the stairs, pausing at the bottom to smile for a picture before continuing, "escorted by Seth Cohen."
Seth stepped up and took her hand from Neil who nodded at him before releasing Taylor and going to stand with the other parents.
"Did you see me not trip," she giggled to Seth.
"Very smooth. Now, if we can get through the dancing without me killing your toes, I think we'll be good," Seth smiled.
"Peyton's here, did you see? She's sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Scott."
"Yeah, I saw. She didn't want to do the Deb thing, huh?"
"I think if Anna were still around, she'd have been putting on the white dress and marching down the stairs on her dad's arm with the rest of us, but with her gone, this is just one more thing she would've shared with her that she can't."
"You wishing your mom was here?"
"Not really. Actually, I'm wishing your mom was here and I love Neil for escorting me down the stairs but for some reason I think I would've liked it more if Sandy had done it."
"They raised you, too," Seth smiled.
"Yes they did."
"Okay, since it's a special occasion, I am going to break the unspoken rule you and I have that says we can never find the other attractive on any level and say this: you look amazing Taylor Penelope."
"Thank you, Seth Ezekiel," she smiled. "You look pretty good yourself.
"Hey guys," Brooke said as she and Vegas danced closer. "Where did Neil come from?"
"He called the Cohen house when I failed to show up at home in a forty-eight hour period and found out about this. So, he decided to come and escort me."
"That was sweet of him. Your mom may be a bitch but she got lucky when she married Neil."
"I think we both got lucky when she married Neil," Taylor smiled. "Hey, tell me there's a real party after this."
"Scott beach house," Vegas nodded. "Surprised you want to go though. You're not a drinker Townsend."
"Someone has to be the designated driver. I may not drink but I appreciate a good time just as much as the next teenager," Taylor said looking at Seth and then back at Vegas, "and I am really rude. Seth, this is Vegas."
"Hey," Seth nodded at the other boy.
"How's it going?"
"Not bad."
"What time's your flight tomorrow," Brooke asked.
"Seven," Taylor said. "I figure after this we go change, get our bags, and party until Nathan tosses us out before we head to the airport."
"Sounds like a plan," Seth nodded.
"And here's another part of the plan," Taylor smiled. "I am, under no circumstances, playing 'I Never'."
"Aw, c'mon T," Brooke teased. "A couple of injuries and you're ready to quit?"
"A couple of injuries? Brooke, we played 'I Never' over the summer at Bevin's birthday party, remember? I got a concussion."
"Remember when we played it at my bar mitzvah," Seth asked. "Sprained ankle."
"I'm still trying to figure out how she got a fractured wrist last Spring break when we played at Nathan's party," Vegas said. "Especially considering she only drinks soda when we play."
"See? I'm cursed when it comes to that game and I am so not playing it tonight and as a matter of fact I am staying far, far away from you guys when you do play it."
"Okay, Taylor, you're off the hook as far as I Never goes," Brooke said.
"Thank you," she smiled. "C'mon, I promised the Cohens' pictures. Let's go grab a disposable camera and Peyton."
OCOCOCOCOCOCOC
"God and Moses, I am so tired," Seth said as he let himself and Taylor into the Cohen house. "Hello? Anyone here?"
"Kitchen," Ryan's voice answered.
Seth and Taylor dropped their luggage and went into the kitchen to find Ryan washing dishes.
"Where are the 'rents?"
"Making the final arrangments for the Newport Group's holiday party on Friday," he said turning around and raising his eyebrows at Taylor. "What happened to your eye?"
Taylor groaned as she sat down at the counter, "Let's just say if I ever hear the words 'I Never' again, I might go lock myself in a closet."
Okay I think I might be in orbit 'cause Obsessed Romantic added this story to her story alerts. OMG! I am a huge fan of hers. I have read her Townwood Lane, Exit, and Hills series over and over again. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. And WickLobo? The recipes are from cookbooks by Elinor Klivans