Girls Never Go Out of Style - A Kaylor Fanfic

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Well, don't you look fancy!"

"Thanks, Mom."

It was true: Taylor had pulled on a snug red pencil skirt and a soft, fitted black sweater. Her lips bore a slash of red, and she had tapped down the stairs to the living room on black patent leather heels that she loved but seldom wore. She was just about to grab her purse and dash to the sidewalk, preventing her parents from seeing Karlie a little longer, when someone knocked on the door.

"Is that your friend?" Andrea asked. Before Taylor could stop her, she called out, "Scott, I think Taylor's friend from school is here if you want to meet her!"

Taylor's heart constricted with nerves. Everything moved in tortured slow motion as Andrea reached out and opened the door, revealing Karlie standing on the porch. She was handsomely beautiful, standing with a wide, rakish smile on her lips and a bouquet of daisies wrapped in cellophane in one hand.

Karlie had thought that Taylor would answer the door, and her eyes widened in surprise to see Andrea. For a moment everyone was suspended, still and silent and surprised.

"Uh, hi!" Karlie said, stumbling to recover. "You must be Taylor's mom. I'm Karlie."

Andrea's eyes were hard and suspicious as they took in Karlie's leather jacket and jeans, but she had the social grace to return Karlie's politeness. "It's nice to meet you, Karlie. Won't you come in?"

Karlie was painfully self-conscious as she stepped into the Swifts' foyer. One look at Taylor had her heart beating fast--both from excitement at seeing her again and from how she looked in that tight red skirt. But Taylor's expression was strained. Was she embarrassed to have Karlie in her house?

"Why, aren't those lovely flowers?" Andrea exclaimed. "Why don't I go put those in some water?"

She took the bouquet from Karlie and disappeared down the hall. Karlie heard footsteps, a man's voice, whispering.

Are they talking about me? she wondered.

Meanwhile, Taylor still hadn't spoken. Karlie couldn't read her expression. She was about to say something when Andrea's voice rang out from the hall.

"Scott, this is Karlie, Taylor's friend from school!" Her voice was unnaturally cheery.

"It's nice to meet you, sir," Karlie said when Scott joined them in the foyer.

Scott nodded by way of response. "You girls are going to the movies?"

"Yes, sir. There's a drive-in theater out by the highway."

A beat of silence. There was nothing Karlie wanted than for this uncomfortable interlude to end.

Scott turned his attention to Taylor. "Be back by ten. And Taylor?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Be careful."

__

Karlie had thought that the night would improve once they were in her car, but Taylor was quiet on the ride to the drive-in, barely responding to Karlie's attempts at conversation.

"Okay, Taylor," Karlie said once they were parked in front of the giant screen. "What the hell is going on?"

Taylor's eyes widened at the harshness in Karlie's tone. "Nothing!"

"Really? Nothing? Because I'm confused, here. I mean, I don't have much experience with girls, but I'm pretty sure you were flirting with me when we met. And I'm pretty sure that you went on a date with me. And if I'm not mistaken, you kissed me in the park. You know, right before you ran away and pretended that I didn't exist?"