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"I think I really screwed up," Summer said to Taylor as the two of them sat eating breakfast on January 2nd.

Taylor looked up from her eggs, "What do you mean?"

"I think I screwed up with Seth."

"Oh," Taylor said.

"I just, I don't want to be his friend."

"It's not so bad."

"But you've never kissed him. It's amazing."

"Stop. Stop right there," Taylor said. "I do not, under any circumstances, want to know what kind of kisser Seth is. Just thinking about it- ew."

"Sorry," Summer said, not sounding at all sorry. "You two have a weird relationship."

"I don't think we do," Taylor frowned. "We're friends. It's always been like that."

"But you do like guys, right?"

"Yes Summer, I like guys," Taylor rolled her eyes. "It's just hard to try and be into a guy whose sole purpose in life seems to be torturing your best friend. I think that's why my first crush was in Tree Hill instead of here."

"What was his name?"

"Jake Jagielski."

"Was he cute?"

"Yeah," Taylor nodded with a smile.

"That's all I get? C'mon Taylor. I need details. Tell me what he looked like."

"I can do you one better," Taylor said getting up and exiting. She came back a few moments later with an album. "The week I was on bed rest, I made this with all the pictures we took from the disposable camera that was at our table." Taylor flipped through and found the one she wanted before laying it next to Summer and pointing, "That's him."

"Not bad."

"Yeah he's cute, but his looks are not the reason I wished like hell I still lived in Tree Hill the summer I was twelve."

"What was it then?"

"It was the feeling that I got when I talked to him. I felt like I could trust this boy with my whole world and I knew he'd take care of it. Up until that point the only other person who ever made me feel that way was Seth and that has always been and will always be in a purely platonic sense. With Jake it just felt different and surprisingly similar, if that makes any sense at all."

"It does in a way," Summer nodded. "So, you saw him, right? Anything there?"

"Yes and no. Yes, because he was my first crush and you don't forget stuff like that. No, because we're older and we're wiser and there's someone else."

"On his part or yours," Summer asked.

"Then, just his. But now? I think there might be someone else on my part, too."

"Who?"

"Sum? You here?"

"Marissa."

Taylor checked her watch, "Damn. I gotta go. I was supposed to pick Seth up five minutes ago. We're going to the Santa Monica Pier for the day."

"Sounds like fun."

"Yeah, it usually is. Bye," Taylor said after she took a last sip of her coffee. Then she grabbed her keys and headed out the door just as Marissa came in.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"Hey, where have you been," Seth asked once Taylor stopped her car in the driveway.

"And good morning to you, too, Seth," Taylor greeted. "Sorry I'm late. I was talking to Summer."

"Speaking of, there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay, so tell me on the way."

"See, that's part of what I need to tell you."

"You're cancelling on me," Taylor said.

"No, no," Seth shook his head. "But I want to bring someone with us."

"Who?"

"Anna. We're together."

"You're with Anna. How did that happen? The last I heard, she and Summer weren't interested in just being your friend."

"They weren't but Anna came over on New Year's and we ended up making out on my bed all night."

"So, Anna got there first, huh," Taylor asked.

"Yeah."

"Summer doesn't know yet, does she?"

"No. I'm still trying to figure out how to tell her."

Taylor sighed. "This is not going to end well."

Seth nodded. "So, can she come?"

Taylor shrugged, "Yeah, why not?"

"Good. Thank you."

"Sure. And could you not tell Summer? I want to do it myself."

"Yeah right like I was letting you out of that particular job. As always, your secret's safe with me, Cohen."

"Thank you. So, I was thinking, to keep you from feeling like a third wheel, I say we bring Ryan along."

Taylor smiled, "Okay."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. It'll be fun and nice to have someone to talk to."

"Good. Go ask him."

"Seth!"

"Go."

Taylor rolled her eyes and shot Seth a mean look before she climbed over the passenger seat and then resting her butt on the door she swung her legs over the side and slid to the ground. Instead of going through the house, she headed around it and went straight to the pool house. She knocked on the door and heard a 'Come in' shouted a moment later. She opened the door and poked her head in.

"Ryan?"

"Just a sec," he shouted from the bathroom.

"Hey, it's Taylor. So, you know, don't come out here naked or anything," she said.

"Okay."

Taylor could hear the smile in his voice as she sat down on the edge of his bed with her back to the bathroom door to wait.

"Hey."

She turned around smiled, "Hi. Sorry if I interrupted your shower."

"No, I was done, don't worry. What's up?"

"Are you doing anything today?"

"No, not so far, why?"

"Do you want to come to the Santa Monica Pier with Seth, Anna, and me?"

"Yeah, sounds like fun. Let me just get some shoes on."

"We'll be waiting out front," Taylor motioned as she got up from Ryan's bed.

"Be right there," Ryan nodded.

OCOCOCOCOC

"Ryan'll be right- whoa! Sorry," Taylor said, turning in a circle at the sight of Anna and Seth making out against her car. "And I'll thank you two not to defile my baby."

Anna smiled, "Sorry Taylor. He's just a really good kisser."

Taylor made a face, "Ew."

"Thanks Anna," Seth said.

"No problem," Anna said.

"In the car," Taylor said. "You two take the back and Ryan can ride up front with me."

Seth opened the passenger side door and took Anna's hand, helping her into the back seat before following her, as Taylor rolled her eyes and slide into the driver's seat. Ryan joined them a few seconds later, getting into the front seat beside Taylor.

"Hey Anna," he greeted.

"How's it going, Ryan? Happy New Year," she said.

"You too," Ryan nodded. "How was your New Year's Eve?"

Taylor backed out of the driveway.

"Not bad," Anna smiled. "Did you two have fun?"

"Yeah, we did," Taylor answered. "Ryan took me to an Italian restaurant and I even got him to dance with me once."

"Work that mojo, Taylor," Anna smiled.

"I blame her dress. You look hot in red."

"I've had people tell me that, but thank you."

Anna and Seth exchanged a smile in the backseat.

"Have you talked to Brooke?"

"Yeah, she called this morning to say 'hi'. She had a good time on New Year's. Nathan threw a party so she went to that."

"Did you guys make your wishes?"

"Yes, Seth."

"So, what were they?"

"Haven't you ever made a wish Seth? You're not supposed to say what they are," Ryan said.

Taylor smiled a little at Ryan's words.

"C'mon, maybe I can help it come true."

"Seth, just because you've told everyone your wish five seconds after making it every year since you could talk doesn't mean that other people can't keep their mouths shut," Taylor said.

"How else are you supposed to make it come true?"

"By opening yourself to possibility of it and the certainty of it," Taylor said. "Do that and you just might get the thing you're wishing for."

"So cornball," Anna rolled her eyes. "But in a really sweet way," she amended.

"Thank you," Taylor smiled.

Seth rolled his eyes as Ryan turned on the radio.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"So, you're not into rollercoaster's, huh," Ryan said as they watched Anna drag Seth away to wait in line.

"No, the carousel is more my speed and the Ferris wheel," Taylor said.

"Ah, now that's one ride I really don't feel comfortable on."

"According to all sources, you looked pretty happy last time you were on one."

"We all know how that turned out," Ryan said.

Taylor giggled a little as they sat down on a bench with their sodas. She looked over at Ryan, "Have you talked to her since it happened?"

"No. She's called a couple of times but I don't want to make the whole thing messier than it has to be. It's over and it's staying that way."

Taylor nodded, "I gotta say, I'm just the tiniest bit surprised you broke up with her so fast. I know there was drama but from all accounts, you were hers long before she and Luke broke up."

"Things change," Ryan said. "She's not the person I thought she was."

"Ryan, we don't know for sure-"

"Stop. Do not defend her. She doesn't deserve it."

"You sound like Brooke," Taylor smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Good." Taylor looked around them, "Do you play skeet ball?"

"I never have, why?"

"C'mon, let's go see if we can expand your horizons, Ryan," she took his hand and pulled him off the bench and over to a couple of open lanes.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

Ryan watched as Taylor giggled and whooped as she scored again against Seth on the air hockey table they were using. Anna was getting the two of them a refill while they waited for Taylor and Seth to be done with their game. He smiled a little as she pointed at Seth, "You suck!"

"Two out of three," Seth said.

"Sore loser!"

"Yeah, yeah. Just play T."

"Here you go," Anna handed Ryan a soda and leaned against the wall next to him. "So, how's it going?"

"Seth is a very bad loser and even worse at playing this game," Ryan said. "Taylor's kicking his butt."

Anna nodded, looking at Ryan watching Taylor. She smiled around the straw she was sucking her drink through before turning to Ryan, "She likes you too, you know."

Ryan stared at the pixie like blonde, "What?"

"Taylor. She likes you, too. She's just a little slow to pick up on what she's feeling because liking a boy who lives in Newport is a first for her. All her crushes have been elsewhere or unattainable. Liking a guy who not only lives near her but is available is new to her."

"She's never had a crush in Newport before?"

"Okay, every guy you've ever been in school with has a hard on for making your best friend miserable and that's a guy you're gonna go for?"

"Good point."

"And it's not just because you're good to Seth, it's because you're a good person," Anna said. "Anyone can see that."

"Thanks," Ryan nodded.

"No problem." She looked at Taylor and then back at Ryan, "Just be patient, okay? Also, be careful with her. She's a lot more fragile than she lets on."

"You sound like Seth."

"I'll take that as a compliment," she smiled before she turned to their friends who were gearing up to play another game, "Enough already guys. Seth, you suck at this game and hell, I think my eighty-five year old grandmother, who is blind in one eye, could beat you. Accept it. I'm hungry. Food, now!"

"I'm with her," Taylor put her paddle down. "C'mon guys."

"Alright. Let's go to Rusty's Surf Ranch," Seth said as he and Anna took the lead, his arm around her shoulders, while Ryan and Taylor walked behind them. After a moment of walking Taylor hooked her arm with Ryan's as they walked.

OCOCOCOCOC

"So, glad you came," Taylor asked Ryan as they walked ahead of Seth and Anna to Taylor's car. It was late and they had a long drive ahead of them but they were all smiling and happy.

"Yeah, this was fun."

"Even the part where I got you to dance again," Taylor teased.

"Yeah, I even liked that part," Ryan smiled. "Slow dancing's okay, but please, never make me fast dance, okay? I'll look even more spastic than Seth did when Anna got him on the floor."

"Deal," Taylor nodded. Then she caught sight of her car, "Crap."

"What's wrong?"

"Flat tire," Taylor said as they got to the car and she crouched down. "Guess Seth was right about those shards being glass. Dammit, I knew I should have put air in the spare when we stopped at the gas station."

"What's going on?"

"Flat tire," Ryan said as Taylor straightened up.

"Should we call Sandy," Taylor asked of Seth.

Seth checked his watch, "Yes, but just to tell him we're not coming home tonight. I have my emergency card and I think this qualifies." He nodded across the street, "Motel, anyone?"

"Let's go."

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"What do you mean you only have one room," Seth asked.

"At least tell me it has two beds or you and Ryan are sleeping my car," Taylor said to Seth.

"Yes, it has two beds," the man behind the desk assured the teens.

"We'll take it," Seth said, handing over the card.

After finding Ryan and Anna who had gone in search of clothes to wear to bed, the teens found their room and all four stood by the door after it was closed behind them looking around them.

"Okay, so sleeping arrangements," Taylor said as she grabbed a T-shirt from Anna and held it to herself. It came down to her knees.

"Well, you and I can sleep together," Anna said to Taylor.

"And leave me and Ryan to hop into bed together? I don't think so."

"I can sleep with you, Seth," Taylor suggested.

"And leave me to sleep with my brother's girlfriend? No," Ryan shook his head.

"He's got a point. Why don't I sleep with Seth and you can sleep with Ryan?"

"Can you keep your hands to yourself," Taylor smiled at Ryan.

"I'll do my best," Ryan said.

"Okay then," Taylor nodded. "We should start changing."

"Ladies first," Seth motioned to the bathroom.

"Anna?"

"Go ahead."

"I won't be long," Taylor said.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

Taylor was on her back, looking up at the ceiling. She could hear Seth's heavy breathing from the next bed as well as soft snores that she could only attribute to Anna.

"You awake?"

She turned her head to Ryan, "Yeah. I hate sleeping in hotels. I can never get used to the bed. What's your excuse?"

"I think I'm too used to the pool house and the silence that comes with sleeping alone."

Taylor turned onto her side to face Ryan more fully, tucking one arm under her pillow and the resting the hand of her other arm on her bicep, "So I'm keeping you awake?"

"No, actually it's Anna and Seth. You're pretty quiet."

Taylor smiled, "I don't think anyone's ever said that to me before. Seth always says the time to worry about me is when I'm being quiet. It means I'm holding everything in."

Ryan smiled back, "I'll have to remember that."

Taylor nodded and pushed herself up. She hesitated a minute before giving Ryan a soft kiss. Then she lay on her back with a smile, "Goodnight, Ryan."

Ryan smiled in the dark, "Night Taylor."