I hope alerts work. I enjoyed seeing the replies to the last chapter when they finally got to me. ;) I hope you enjoy reading this. I always like writing it. Reply, reply, reply! And Obsessed, I don't know if you got it but I replied to your latest of Whole Thing Happening. So sweet and beautiful.

"You are going to tell her soon, right? 'Cause we may not be very close, but we are getting along better and I don't really relish the idea of lying to Summer," Taylor said as she and Seth sat in his room, Taylor on her futon and Seth on his bed.

"Yes, I promise, I am going to tell her soon."

"And you're going to do it in person, right? Because doing it over the phone is a bad idea, not to mention really crappy."

"Yes, I am going to tell her in person."

"Good, but until you do, I'm staying here."

"That's fine. So, how are things going with you and Ryan?"

"Okay," Taylor smiled.

"Just okay?"

"Maybe a little better than okay," Taylor admitted to her friend. "I kissed him."

"You kissed him?"

"Twice."

"You kissed him twice?"

"Yes, I kissed him twice. They were just small kisses, you know? Nothing like I saw you and Anna doing up against the side of my car yesterday morning but they were kisses all the same."

"And?"

"And they were good kisses," Taylor admitted, blushing just a touch. "They were really good kisses."

"When?"

"When what?"

"When did you kiss him?"

"New Year's at midnight and last night before I fell asleep."

"The second time you kissed him, you were in bed with him?"

"Don't put it like that, Seth. It wasn't like that. It wasn't dirty or anything. It was a good, sweet, soft kiss." Taylor bit her lip, tugging it into her mouth a little. "It was nice."

"Nice?"

"It was a little more than nice. Am I crazy?"

"Yes, but not for liking Ryan."

"Thanks," Taylor shot him a look. "So, when are you going to tell Summer?"

"Soon, why?"

"Because I want to know how long I'm going to have to avoid her. It was a lot easier before she started showing an interest in my life if only because she's got a thing for you."

"Well, I think it might go back to being easy because after I tell her that I'm with Anna, I expect her to kick my butt."

"She is a sufferer of rage black-outs. I'd sleep with one eye open."

"Thanks for the advice," Seth said.

"No problem."

OCOCOCOCOCOC

Taylor shut her locker door and turned around only to take a step back, "Oh!"

"Hey."

"Hi. You scared me."

"Sorry," Ryan grinned at her. "I didn't see you this morning."

"Yeah, Anna wanted to take Seth to school herself so I road alone and I'm just now thinking that I should've offered you a ride. Sorry."

"Well, I'll forgive you if you give me a ride home."

"That's very big of you."

"Not really. It's almost completely self-serving. I think Seth said something about talking to Summer and I really don't want to watch her give him a black eye."

"Smart. C'mon," Taylor tilted her head towards the exit and Ryan walked along side of her. "So, I was thinking."

"What about?"

"You and me and another date," Taylor said carefully, watching Ryan's face for a reaction.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean I had fun on New Year's and I guess you could count Santa Monica as a second date even if we were with Seth and Anna."

"It was a double date," Ryan nodded.

"Exactly," Taylor said. "So, since I had fun and I'm assuming you had fun, it wouldn't be crazy to think we could maybe do it again."

"You want to go back to Santa Monica?"

"No, but I would like to go out on another date, if you would like to."

"Yes, I would."

"Good," Taylor smiled. "Maybe I could make you dinner this time, instead of us going out?"

"You want to make me dinner?"

"Yes, but only if you like meatloaf. I'm really good at making a lot of different types of meatloaf. I mean I can bake until the cows come home but the only thing I'd be able to use the cow for is a meatloaf."

"I like meatloaf."

"Good. How about Friday?"

"Sounds good."

"I'll make dinner in the pool house and I'll even make some type of dessert."

"Can I request something?"

"Request away," Taylor smiled.

"You made those banana butterscotch cupcakes for dessert when Seth and I ate at your house on Christmas Eve with you, Brooke, and Summer. I liked those a lot."

"You got it," Taylor nodded as they reached the car and got in.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"I am such an idiot," Summer said, walking into Taylor's room and stopping by the bathroom door. She looked around and realized she was alone, "Said the girl to no one. Taylor?"

"What," Taylor said from behind Summer.

"Ah! Don't do that," Summer turned around. "What were you doing?"

"I was in the bathroom, take a guess," Taylor smiled.

"Right. Sorry. Anyway, I am an idiot."

"Why are you an idiot," Taylor asked as she climbed on top of her bed and curled up on her side.

Summer followed and lay on her back, "Because I waited too long and I missed my chance and now he's with Anna."

"This is about Seth."

"Yes. You know what the worst part is?"

"She gets to do things with him and to him, that I personally find repulsive to even think about, but that you want to do because you like him, but can't because now he has a girlfriend?"

"No. Well, that's bad, but the worst part is, I like Anna and I am having a really hard time hating her for being smart enough to do what I was too chicken to do."

"Which is going after Seth no matter what other people may think," Taylor said.

"Yes. You know, you're kind of insightful. It's a little disturbing sometimes," Summer frowned.

"Brooke says the same thing to me. I think I read people a little too well," Taylor said. "Hey, why are you talking to me about this? Shouldn't you be talking to Marissa? She is your best friend."

"Coop's got her own boy things right now."

Taylor rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling so Summer couldn't see her face, "Ryan?"

"No. Well, not completely," Summer amended. "Oliver, that new kid, likes her in a way she doesn't really like him and she's trying to figure out a way to let him down gently."

"Gently?"

"I know you think Coop's heartless sometimes and, given her attitude towards you, I don't really blame you, but she's not a bad person."

"Summer, I think you're just the tiniest bit bias when it comes to Marissa. Don't get me wrong, I'm the same way when it comes to Seth, so I know where you're coming from, but I don't think that Marissa and I will ever get along."

"I know and I know she's why you spend so little time here. But this is your house, too and you shouldn't feel like you can't spend any time here."

"It's okay, Summer. I've pretty much lived at the Cohens' since I was seven. I didn't see a reason to change that just because my mother married your dad. Although, maybe I should start sleeping at home more often. I may sleep on a futon but it's still in Seth's room and somehow I just don't think Anna would like me sleeping in the same room her boyfriend lives in."

"Did you always sleep on a futon?"

"No, until the whole puberty thing kicked in, I slept in Seth's bed and stole all his covers," Taylor giggled. "He used to whine all the time about how cold he was."

"Sounds familiar," Summer smiled. "Marissa always says that about me, when I sleep at her house."

"Sum?"

"Speaking of," Taylor said. "Talk to you later."

"Right," Summer got up and headed for her room, closing Taylor's bathroom door behind her. "Hey Coop."

Marissa turned around to see Summer, "Hey. I think there might be someone else."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ryan. I think he might like someone else," Marissa flopped onto Summer's bed. "This isn't fair. How did this happen? Who could he possibly have met that he likes enough to break up with me in less than three months?"

Summer rolled her eyes and got on the bed to lie on her stomach beside her friend, "Marissa, he meets people every day. So do you. Ryan Atwood is not the only boy in the world that has liked you or will like you. You could try again with Luke, but I don't recommend it. There's that Oliver guy; you know he likes you."

Marissa sighed, "I know. I just don't know if I like him like that. Hey, are you okay? I kind of saw Seth making out with Anna after school today."

"I'm just mad at myself for waiting so long. Who knew that after five years of him liking me, he'd suddenly have someone else come out of the woodwork and steal him away before I even got a chance at him?"

"Okay, I'm gonna say this because I think you need to hear it."

"Okay."

"Yes, Anna may have him now, but five years of liking a person and naming a boat after said person does not go away overnight. You might get another shot at him and if that happens do not let it slip through your fingers," Marissa said.

"Why do you care?"

"Seth's a good guy. I think he could make you happy and he obviously has excellent taste in girls."

"Thank you," Summer nodded.

"It's just his taste in friends that needs help."

"Coop," Summer sat up and looked at her.

Marissa rolled her eyes, "What? She may be your step-sister, but she's weird."

"You know a few months ago, I might have agreed with you but I don't agree with you now. Taylor's a good person, not to mention loyal to the ones she loves," Summer got off of her bed and started to organize her desk.

"I wonder where she got that trait."

"Knock it off, Coop."

Marissa sat up and looked at her friend, "Are we seriously going to fight about Taylor Townsend right now?"

Summer turned around, "I don't know. Are you going to stop saying mean things about her?"

"Why do you care so much? It's not like she's really your sister."

"I care because as long as her mother is married to my dad, she is my family and in the last few months, I've gotten to know her better and I like the person I've gotten to know."

Marissa scoffed, "Whatever. See you later, Summer." Marissa got off of Summer's bed and walked out the door.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"So x equals nine," Taylor ventured as she and Seth did their homework.

"Yes. See, you're better at this than you think."

"Yeah right." Taylor checked her watch, "Oh! I gotta go shopping for dinner tomorrow night."

"I thought we'd order pizza. My parents are going out and Anna's got some family thing."

"Not for us," Taylor motioned between herself and Seth as she gathered up her books. "It's dinner for me and Ryan. Didn't I tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"We have a date tomorrow night. I'm making him dinner in the pool house."

"Oh."

"You're mad," Taylor said as she sat back down.

"I'm not mad."

"Seth, c'mon."

Seth sighed, "Can't I worry?"

"Yes. It's actually kind of sweet, but I'm fine. Ryan and I are not going to go fast. It's just dinner."

"It's dinner in his bedroom, his very private bedroom."

"Do you want me to cancel?"

"Would you?"

"Yes, but I'd be a little mad at you for a long time for guilting me into it."

Seth groaned, "Fine. Just be careful, okay?"

"Seth, Ryan's not going to attack me or anything, you know that right?"

"I know that and you know that an attack from Ryan is not what I'm worried about."

"I'll be fine. I can take care of myself. I've learned my lesson about leaving my drink unattended around unbalanced girls who blame me for every problem their parents have had since we were ten."

"You're not funny."

"I disagree. I think I'm hilarious."

"Keep telling yourself that, Taylor."

"You know, sometimes, I think you worry too much," Taylor said as she stood back up and grabbed her stuff. She waved a 'bye' over her shoulder.

Seth heard the door shut behind his friend and sighed, "And sometimes, I think you don't worry enough."

OCOCOCOCOCOC

Ryan opened the door to the pool house at about four-thirty on Friday night and stopped when the smell of food cooking hit him.

"Hello? Taylor?"

"Here," her hand shot up from behind the counter. She appeared a few moments later with a cookie sheet in her hand. "Hi. Sorry. It's a little disorganized in here; makes it harder to find things. I was hoping to be further along by now. The cupcakes are in the oven and the potato salad is done, but I'm still working on the meatloaf."

"Smells great," Ryan smiled as he put down his book bag.

"Thanks." She looked around at the small kitchen, "I've kind of made a mess but don't worry, I will clean everything up before I leave. I wouldn't want you to get ants."

"Don't worry about it. Can I do anything?"

"Yes, you can set the table and pour us something to drink. I brought a bottle of soda. I hope that's okay. I'm not a drinker."

"It's fine. I'm not a drinker either," Ryan said taking the plates and putting the down on the small card table Taylor had set up. Then he placed two sets of silverware next to the plates. Before he poured them both a drink he lowered the shades so that the glare of the sun wouldn't bother them. He turned around just as Taylor slid the meatloaf into the oven after pulling out the cupcakes. He walked over to the counter poured them each a glass of soda. Taylor took her glass with a smile after she set the timer.

"Thank you."

"No problem," Ryan nodded. "So, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away," Taylor said as they took seats on the bed and chair.

"How'd you learn to cook?"

"You mean, why am I not a disaster in the kitchen like so many of the females in Newport?"

"Okay, yeah," Ryan nodded.

"My grandmother taught me and Brooke how to cook. She thought it was a skill essential to survival especially considering our mothers couldn't cook to save their lives."

"Your mom grew up in Tree Hill, right?"

"Yeah. My grandmother owned a diner there. She called it Penelope's after herself. It was also a kind of boarding house. She had rooms above it that she rented out while she raised my mom and aunt in the apartment in back of the diner's kitchen."

"Is it still there?"

"Yeah, but it hasn't been in operation since about a year before she died."

"How long ago?"

"Four years," Taylor said. "Whenever I go to Tree Hill I leave some flowers for her."

"Who owns it now?"

"Brooke and I do."

"What?"

"Yeah, my grandma left it to me and Brooke when she died. God were Veronica and Victoria pissed. They already had buyers for it. But even though Brooke and I were underage, the lawyer said it couldn't be sold until we agreed to sell it and that there was a trust to take care of taxes, so they didn't have a leg to stand on."

"They wanted to sell it that badly?"

"Mother and Aunt Victoria married up," Taylor said. "They grew up the daughters of the local diner and boarding house owner and the granddaughters of an alleged madam and married very prominent citizens."

"Your great grandmother was a madam?"

"That's the story according to some of the older generation in Tree Hill. If Nathan's grandfather can be believed, my great-great grandpa ran a speakeasy in the basement of his old house."

"I never thought we'd have something like that in common."

"Something like what?"

"Both of our families are a little less than law abiding."

"True. But in my family's case, we were never caught," Taylor smirked. "Not that it matters. It's never stopped people from telling stories."

"Nothing ever stops the stories," Ryan said.

"People love good gossip," Taylor nodded.

"Yeah, I guess they do. Any other stories you want to tell me about?"

"I have to save something for dinner, don't I?"

"I guess so."

"Are you hungry? The vegetable potato salad is done."

"Sounds good," Ryan nodded.

Taylor rose to get the bowl from the fridge, "I hope so. I've never tried it out before."

"So, I'm a guinea pig," Ryan asked, an amused tone to his voice as he took a seat at the table.

"Pretty much, yeah," Taylor said as she grabbed a serving spoon. She set the bowl down and took a seat across from Ryan.

Ryan smiled at her, "I'm okay with that."

"Good," Taylor said with a lift of her shoulders and a cock of her head.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

Taylor was putting the last of the dinner dishes in the drainer rack next to the sink while Ryan was folding up the card table and setting it against the wall.

She sighed as she looked down when he turned around. That boy had the cutest behind she'd ever seen in her life.

"So, do you have to get right home or can you hang out?"

"I can stay," she dried her hands with a towel and stepped out of the kitchen, turning out the light as she did, throwing the pool house into partial darkness, since the blinds were drawn, the sun had set and the only other light on was the lamp beside Ryan's bed. "Oh. Maybe I should turn that back on."

"Dark doesn't bother me," Ryan said easily.

"What about what might happen in the dark?"

"That doesn't bother me either. Does it bother you?"

"Ryan, I don't have a lot of experience with guys. I mean I've kissed them but that's as far as it's gone unless you wanna count the time that I played Seven Minutes in Heaven and Tim attempted to stick his hand up my shirt before I broke two of his fingers."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, "Seriously?"

"Oh yeah," Taylor nodded. "I learned to defend myself and Seth at an early age. But I think my favorite incident would have to be beating up Luke's friend Nourlund when he made a play for Brooke when we were thirteen. Brooke and I were at the mall picking out dresses for Seth's bar mitzvah and he just wouldn't take a hint until I put my foot into the back of his knee and knocked him into a dressing room door where Mary-Anne Fischer was changing."

"Holly's mom," Ryan asked.

"Yep and she wasn't exactly fully dressed," Taylor grinned.

"Nice," Ryan nodded before he made a face, "and yet gross."

"Yeah, completely," Taylor said. "But it gets better. He got tossed out of the store and banned. The manager said if he ever caught him around the store again, he'd press charges."

"And you and Brooke?"

"Got our dresses and went to lunch," Taylor said. "By Monday, it was all over school that Nourlund was some kind of pervert with a fetish for older women."

"I think I've learned something tonight."

"And what is that?"

"You're not as harmless as you first appear."

"And don't you forget it," Taylor smiled.

"Oh I won't," Ryan said. "Hey, about the experience?"

"You mean the lack of," Taylor asked.

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. I know how not to push."

"Good. Wouldn't want to have to damage that pretty face of yours, Ryan," Taylor teased. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Are you ever going to kiss me or do I have to keep kissing you?"

Ryan moved to stand in front of Taylor and put his hands on her hips before he carefully kissed Taylor. He felt her smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a loose grip.

When they broke for air, Taylor looked at Ryan with a smile, "Damn."