Tranquil Falls

Caught Off Guard

Neither of my parents were home when I walked in. I dropped my backpack to the floor and headed to the kitchen, pausing when I heard someone moving around upstairs. I grabbed a water from the fridge and headed towards the stairs, music starting softly, then growing louder as I reached the top of the stairs. Something fell and shattered, followed by a curse.

I headed towards the room, taking the top off the water as I reached the end of the hallway. As I leaned against the doorframe, I watched Taylor struggle to move his dresser and keep everything from falling off the top.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I asked.

He jumped and turned around to look at me, pushing his dark mop out of his eyes. "I want to move my desk here so I can stare out the window while I procrastinate instead of staring at the wall."

I nodded slowly. "And you didn't think it would be a good idea to take the things off the top of it first?"

He made a face at me. "Of course I did," he replied, coming over and shoving me before he snatched the water out of my hand and took a drink. "Think you can make yourself useful and help instead of making fun of me?"

I rolled my eyes and pushed off the doorframe. "I always was the brains between the two of us."

"Shut up," he said, shoving me down onto the bed.

I laughed and pushed him back. "You shouldn't be beating up on me if you want my help!"

"Well, if you want something to eat tonight, you should help me," he said as he turned around. "Watch out for the glass on the floor."

"What do you mean?"

"I knocked off a picture frame and it busted."

"No," I said as I stood up. "You said if I wanted something to eat tonight, I needed to help you."

"Oh," he replied as he knelt down and started picking up the bigger pieces of glass. "Your parents are going to dinner with some people from your dad's work at that fancy hotel across town? Said they wouldn't be back until tomorrow afternoon, so we're on our own."

"What about Gabby?"

"She's with your aunt," he replied as he dumped the glass into the trash, brushing past me. "They didn't think we needed a babysitter. I asked."

I nodded slowly and started taking the things off the top of the dresser. "They didn't want her to stay here with us?"

He laughed, clapping me on the back. "Would you want your child to be baby-sat by us, Gat?"

I rolled my eyes and shrugged him off. "I think we'd do a kick-ass job."

"Hell yeah. Some tequila, a little bit of rum. We'd be the best babysitters in the world," he replied.

I set the items on the bed and helped him shift the dresser to the wall where his desk was. I watched as he knelt down and unplugged his chargers, setting them on top of the messy desk. He paused and looked at me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were just staring at me like you had the best idea ever," he replied, straightening up. "Spill it." I shook my head. "No, no, and no. You're not worming your way out. What is it?"

I put my hands in my sweatpants' pockets and leaned against the wall. "I just...I was just wondering how you get past it."

Taylor leaned against the desk in the middle of the room. "Past what?"