I did it again. Just went on and on but this won't have an ending like Chapter 7. So, here we go. Enjoy, reply, and Waltz? I loved part three of AIA. :)

OCOCOCOCOC

"So, guess what I just heard," Taylor said, sitting down next to Ryan at lunch.

"Not the greeting I was hoping for, but I'll take it," Ryan teased.

Taylor playfully rolled her eyes, "So sorry." She leaned forward and gave him a kiss. "Better?"

"Much. So tell me what you heard."

"Luke Ward just got suspended."

"What did he do?"

"Fight with the new kid," Taylor told him.

"Oliver?"

"Yeah. Apparently, Luke got a little jealous of the attention he's been giving Miss Cooper."

"You guys talking about Luke," Anna asked, sitting down across from them.

"Yeah. Did you see what happened?"

"All I heard is that Luke 'went nuts' on Oliver," Anna said. "I don't know if I buy it."

"Why not? He repeatedly beat up or got into a fight with the last guy who was interested in Marissa," Taylor said.

"Thanks for the reminder," Ryan said.

Anna giggled.

"Sorry," Taylor said. "Where's Seth?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since this morning," Ryan said.

Taylor nodded.

"So, Ryan, did you know that Taylor found a ring tone for you," Anna asked.

"Oh! I forgot," Taylor said as she dug out her phone. "Okay, call me."

"Can't you just tell me what it is?"

"No, it's not fun that way," she frowned at him. "C'mon!"

"Okay, fine," Ryan took his cell out and dialed.

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride I'm wanted dead or alive

Anna started to giggle at Ryan's expression.

"Okay, before you say anything, just remember that I know how to program your phone to play a Britney Spears song every time it rings and not just for when a certain person calls it."

"It's not that bad, Ryan," Anna said. "Do you know Seth's phone plays that cheerleader chant from Bring it On whenever Brooke calls him?"

"Yeah and you are sexy and cute," Taylor teased. "Maybe I should change it."

"No! Bon Jovi is perfect," Ryan said quickly.

"I'm gonna go get something to drink," Anna said, getting up.

"You mad," Taylor asked after they were alone.

"No," Ryan shook her head. "It's actually a pretty good song, even if I don't have a steel horse."

"We'll work on that," Taylor teased him.

Ryan smiled at her before saying, "So I'm sexy, huh?"

"What," Taylor blushed.

"When you and Anna were trying to convince me your song choice was better than something you could've picked, you said I was sexy."

"No, I didn't," Taylor protested, looking at her hands in sudden fascination.

"Yes, you did," Ryan said. "It's okay. I know I'm nice to look at."

"Oh good God, why did I feed your ego," Taylor groaned.

"Taylor?"

"What," she still refused to meet his gaze.

Ryan's lips got right next to her ear and he whispered, "You're pretty cute and sexy, too."

Taylor turned her head to look at him before she took his face in her hands and kissed him. He smiled into the kiss and covered her hands with his.

"Okay, this is a semi-public place. Can you two do that elsewhere," Seth's voice intruded suddenly.

Taylor was tempted to ignore him but Ryan seemed a little embarrassed at being caught as he pulled away. She knew it wasn't about her, it was about the extremely private nature he had. It was kind of endearing and totally sweet, really.

Still the next time she felt the urge to kiss him, she'd have to remember to get him some place where they'd be alone and maybe some place they could lock the door for total privacy.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"Oh my God. Oh my God."

Taylor lifted an eyebrow when she heard Summer's voice from the next room. She put aside her math assignment and got off of her bed. She went into the bathroom toward her step-sister's room and stopped in the doorway.

"Summer? Is everything okay?"

The brunette looked up from the phone she was staring at to stare at Taylor, "That was Marissa."

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah. That Oliver kid almost killed himself."

"What," Taylor came further into the room and sat on Summer's bed. "What happened?"

"Marissa found out that Oliver was lying about his ex-girlfriend and she tried to leave and he pulled a gun. Thankfully a very jealous Luke followed her to the hotel and managed to talk him out of shooting himself."

"Marissa's okay?"

"Yeah, she's okay."

"Good," Taylor nodded. "Why don't you go see her?"

"I offered. She said she wanted to be alone."

"Do you want anything? I can go make you some tea or something."

"No, I'm okay. Thanks Taylor." Summer looked over her stepsister's shoulder, "Besides I think you're busy for the rest of the night."

"What," Taylor turned around to see Ryan in the doorway. "Hey."

"Hey. You ready?"

"Ready," Taylor frowned and then closed her eyes. "Oh! We're going to a movie, aren't we?"

"We're supposed to."

"I'm sorry. You see? This is what happens when you're forced to read The Odyssey."

Ryan smiled, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah Chino, everything's fine," Summer said. "Get out of here you two."

"You sure you're okay," Taylor asked.

"I'll be fine," Summer nodded.

"Okay," Taylor smiled a little and slid off of Summer's bed. She walked over to Ryan and took his hand, leading him away from Summer's room.

Ryan waited until he and Taylor were in the car and down the block from the house before he asked, "What's going on?"

Taylor looked at him as she stopped at a traffic light, "That new kid Oliver almost killed himself in front of Marissa. Luke, thankfully, was there, because he was following Marissa, and was able to stop him before Oliver did something he couldn't take back."

"So, everyone's okay?"

"Yeah. Marissa called Summer to give her the heads up."

"I'm glad Luke's okay."

"You are?"

"Yeah. I admit we didn't get along at first but he's a nice guy when he's not pummeling you."

"And you guys did burn down a house together," Taylor pointed out as she turned the corner after the light changed. "Isn't that a bonding experience in Chino?"

"Very funny," Ryan said with a smile.

"I thought so, thank you."

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"She broke up with you," Taylor stopped in the middle of the hallway of Harbor and stared at Seth just as they entered the school on Valentine's Day morning. "What happened?"

"She caught me staring at a sketch of Summer that I did for a potential comic book and she just kind of lost it when she saw the outfit."

"The outfit," Taylor narrowed her eyes. "What did it look like?"

"Kind of like Wonder Woman," Seth admitted.

"Oh my God," Taylor sighed. "You're-I can't even think of the appropriate term for what it is that you are right now."

"Pathetic? Hopeless? Stupid," Seth supplied.

"Hey, that happens to be my best friend's name you're disparaging there," Taylor said as they resumed walking. "And I'll have to make use of my right hook if you don't knock it off because nobody rags on my best friend, especially my best friend."

"Thanks Taylor," Seth gave her his goofy grin.

"You okay? I mean really," Taylor said. "Because you haven't said one word all morning, not even about Ryan's pathetic excuse for not riding with us."

"What was it again?"

"He said he needed the exercise riding his bike to school would give him," Taylor rolled her eyes. "I don't know what that's all about."

"You don't think he's trying to get something special together for your first Valentine's Day together?"

"He better not be because I told him that I so do not want him to go overboard."

"What'd you get him?"

Taylor avoided Seth's gaze.

"Taylor?"

"I snooped through his music collection and found out which Journey albums he didn't have and I got them for him," Taylor admitted with a smile as they stopped in front of her locker and she started to spin the dial. "I also bought him all the Rocky movies."

"Very nice," Seth nodded.

"Oh, speaking of gifts," Taylor said as she pulled out a wrapped package. "I know it's a little early and I know we have, or had, significant others, but I couldn't help myself. We've always bought each other gifts. Enjoy."

Seth took the gift with a smile and handed over a small jewelry box to his friend, "I couldn't resist either. I saw this in that funky little antique store you like so much a couple of weeks ago when Dad dragged me in looking for a gift for Mom."

Taylor took the box, "Sandy hates Valentine's Day."

"Yeah but he enjoys breathing and he loves my mom."

"True," Taylor nodded. "Seth, this is beautiful," she held up a tiny cross charm, suitable for the charm bracelet her grandmother had given her when she'd turned eight.

"I knew you didn't have a cross and I thought that that would fit right in."

"It will," she smiled. "Open yours."

Seth opened the wrapped box Taylor had given him and smiled, "EvilDead: A Fistful of Boomstick. Very cool Taylor. I was gonna buy this next week."

"I saved you the trouble," she smiled. "Talk to you later, Seth."

"Bye," he said.

OCOCOCOCOCOCOC

"Hey, good you're both here," Seth said as he walked into Ryan's room without knocking or stopping to consider why Ryan was lying on his bed with Taylor under him. "I need to tell the both of you something and it's not easy to say, so just listen, okay?"

"Seth, do you ever knock," Ryan growled at him as he rolled over and Taylor sat up shooting Seth an annoyed look.

"We really need to start locking that door," Taylor said

"The last time we locked the door, we each got a sex lecture and I am in no mood to repeat that experience," Ryan reminded her.

"It'd kinda be worth it if it meant you and I didn't keep getting interrupted."

"I had sex," Seth suddenly said.

Taylor and Ryan both turned to stare at him.

"You what?"

"With who?"

"I had sex with Summer."

"Oh my God," Ryan said.

"I have to call Brooke," Taylor grabbed her cell off of Ryan's nightstand.

"Why are you calling Brooke," Seth asked.

"I won the bet," Taylor explained as she held the phone up to her ear after hitting her speed dial button for Brooke's cell phone.

"Bet," Ryan asked.

"She and I bet each other a while back about which one of us," Taylor motioned between herself and Seth, "would lose our virginity first. She was convinced I would and I said Seth would do it before me because he's a guy and a slave to his hormones."

Seth looked a little offended and Ryan snorted.

"Hey Taylor."

"Peyton," Taylor rose an eyebrow. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah. Brooke's just inspiring the squad."

Taylor bit her lip to keep from giggling. Brooke's idea of inspiring the Lady Ravens was to threaten to spread every salacious piece of gossip about them that she'd picked up over the years if they didn't whip themselves back into shape and pronto. "Oh, okay. Hey, just tell her she owes me fifty dollars, okay?"

"Seth lost it first?"

"Yes, he did."

"She owes me fifty, too," Peyton said happily. "This is great. Now I can buy that CD I wanted."

"Happy listening, Peyton," Taylor told her.

"Wait a sec, who was it?"

"Oh I don't think I should tell you. It's not my place," she said with a glance at Seth who shook his head at her frantically. "Although he has been displaying some god awful timing when it comes to me and Ryan lately so maybe-"

"I will pay you," Seth said.

"Hold on Peyton," Taylor said. She pressed 'hold' on her phone. "Money, Seth? Seriously? I've got money."

Seth thought for a moment, "I will pay to have your car washed and waxed, just do not tell Peyton who I slept with. She will tell Brooke and the two of them will call me nonstop until I've given them every detail and frankly a lot of those details are embarrassing and nothing I want to share with those two, no matter how long I've known them."

Taylor got back on the phone with Peyton, "Sawyer, have a good Valentine's Day. Tell Brooke I'll be expecting my money in a few days, okay?"

"Sure. Bye T."

Taylor closed her phone and smiled at Seth, "By the end of the week, okay?"

"You got it. I'll see you two later," Seth said as he left the pool house, shutting the door behind him.

Taylor shook her head and lay back on Ryan's bed. She looked over at her boyfriend who was smiling at her, "What?"

"You had no intention of telling Peyton who Seth slept with did you?"

"No," Taylor shook her head. "But Seth's too easy and my car really needed a wash and wax."

"Very sneaky," Ryan nodded.

"Yeah, it was, wasn't it," Taylor smiled. "I can't believe he slept with Summer. He just broke up with Anna."

"Well on the up side and the side that's not completely male and hormone driven, he slept with Summer after he and Anna broke up."

"This is true," Taylor nodded. "So, what time am I picking you up tomorrow night for that whole party at the Club?"

"I was thinking we don't go to that. We do something else."

"You've run this by Sandy and Kirsten? Because this whole thing is a big deal for the Newport Group," Taylor said with a raised eyebrow.

"Sandy helped me get the reservation," Ryan said as he shifted so that he was on his knees facing Taylor. "I just thought that going to a party at the Club might be-"

"Bad luck," Taylor said with a smile. "You know, considering I was drugged last time I went to a party there."

"Exactly," Ryan nodded. "So?"

Taylor smiled and took Ryan's hand as she moved to lie on his bed, pulling him so he hovered over her. She released his hand to wrap her arms around his neck, "I say, hell yes."

"That is a really good answer," Ryan smiled down at her.

"I thought so."

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"So you and Taylor seem to be getting along well," Kirsten said as Ryan helped her clean up the dishes from dinner. Taylor had gone upstairs to have a 'best friend' talk with Seth.

Ryan smiled as he thought of his girlfriend and then looked at Kirsten, "Yeah, we're doing good."

"Heard about the date Sandy helped you with," Kirsten said.

"I hope it's okay that Taylor and I are skipping the party. It's just last time she was at a party there-"

"Ryan, it's fine. I'm actually glad that you two are doing your own thing."

"Yeah, me too."

"She makes you happy," Kirsten observed.

"Yeah, it's nice not dating someone who's going out with you just to piss off her mother."

"Veronica would have to care for Taylor to be able to piss her off. You've already met and gotten the seal of approval from Taylor's parents and she's got the seal of approval from yours," Kirsten said, patting his shoulder as she went upstairs.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"Hey man," Seth said as he came into the pool house where Ryan was tying the tie he was wearing that night. "So, I hear you're ditching the party to take Taylor somewhere more private."

"You hear correctly and no, that doesn't mean I'm going to try and sleep with her," Ryan said.

"Dad gave you the talk already," Seth asked as he sat in the chair.

"A completely unnecessary talk," Ryan said. "I'm not doing anything with Taylor until she's ready, willing, and able."

Seth nodded, "Which must be driving you crazy so congratulations on the amazing willpower, man. Me, on the other hand, I rushed things with Summer and I am now going to bow out gracefully and get some more experience and maybe one day we'll come around to each other again. If not, at least I lost my virginity to the one I always wanted it to be."

Ryan turned to face him, "You okay, man?"

"Yeah," Seth nodded. "So, what did you get Taylor for Valentine's Day?"

"I got her a charm for her bracelet and a new copy of Sixteen Candles. Her old one broke last week from too much use."

"Good choices."

"Thanks."

"Have a good time tonight. I expect a play-by-play tomorrow of the activities that don't include face sucking."

"Night Seth," Ryan smiled to himself as his brother left the room. He pulled on a jacket and picked up Taylor's gift as he headed for the door. Sandy was lending him the Rover for the night and he was due to pick Taylor up in ten minutes. As he got into the car, he spied Luke at the Cooper's front door and smiled a little as he thought of one of the best parts of this evening: No Marissa Cooper lurking in the shadows.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"Wow," Summer said from the doorway of Taylor's room. "I think Atwood might actually die when he sees you."

"Thanks, I think," Taylor frowned a little.

"You look good Taylor," Summer smiled as she walked further into Taylor's room and sat on the edge of her bed.

"You're limping," Taylor observed.

"Yeah. Mishap," Summer said.

"Okay."

"I'd tell you but you're so opposed to hearing anything sexual about me and Cohen-"

"Stop. I get it. None of my business."

"See? Told you so," Summer smiled. "Has Seth said anything to you about me?"

"Seth and I don't really talk about our sex lives, mainly 'cause up until recently we haven't had anything to talk about," Taylor said as she put in her earring and turned to face Summer. "Not to mention it's a tad weird because you're my step-sister and Ryan's his brother."

"It is a little incestuous," Summer agreed with a nod.

"Look, all I know is that Seth is crazy about you. He always has been. I think the thing you have to ask yourself is, are you crazy about him?"

"Miss Taylor," Selina, the maid, poked her head in.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Ryan is here to see you."

"Thanks Selina," Taylor smiled.

The maid smiled and disappeared.

Taylor looked at Summer, "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna go to that party at the club and talk to Cohen."

"Okay. Have a nice night," Taylor said as she picked up a wrapped package and her purse.

"You too," Summer smiled as Taylor left the room.

OCOCOCOCOCOC

"You wanna take a walk," Ryan asked as they left the restaurant.

"I wouldn't mind," Taylor smiled. "Hey, in case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight."

"Me too," Ryan nodded as Taylor took the hand he offered. "You sure you're okay with waiting until later to open gifts?"

"Yeah. I know girls have a reputation for being impatient when it comes to gifts but I already got one Valentine's gift this week. I can wait to open my other."

"Who was the other one from?"

"Seth. We always give each other a gift."

"That's nice," Ryan nodded. "I gotta say, I'm a little jealous."

"Of what," Taylor asked.

"You and Seth."

"Me and Seth? Ryan, you do realize that that's a little crazy, right?"

"I'm not jealous in the sense that I think something romantic is going on between you two because I know that's not possible. You and Seth turn a very interesting shade of green every time someone dares to tease you about it. I'm jealous because you two have always had each other no matter what. You two have always had each other to depend on. I kinda wish I'd had that growing up."

Taylor stopped walking and stood in front of Ryan, taking his other hand in hers and lacing both sets of their fingers together before she kissed him. When they parted Taylor rested her forehead against his and smiled at him just a little, "You may not have had it growing up but you have it now Ryan. You can always count on me and on Seth, okay? Even if we end with some horrendous break-up, when it comes down to it, I've got your back."

I think I love you, Ryan thought but what came out was, "Thank you, Taylor."

"Any old time," Taylor smiled.

OCOCOCOCOC

So, I let her live. How can she wreak havoc later on if I kill her? ;)