Where We Begin

Chapter 2 - So Refreshingly The Opposite

July 2nd, 2002 - Taylor

"OK girls, let's splurge!" I exclaimed as I entered my favorite clothing boutique in downtown Mt Blue. 

With me were my three best friends, Kiki, Amber and Brandy. After all the crap they helped me through over the past couple months, I felt the least I could do was treat them to new outfits. Especially since the occasion was my 16th birthday, only a couple days away.

Kiki pulled a classic black dress off the first rack. "Taylor! This is all so expensive! I don't know...."

"Yeah, shouldn't we be buying gifts for you? This seems a little backwards." Brandy said.

"Shush, shush. This is going to be the party of the year and we all need to look smoking hot. It's all going on Daddy Johansen's AmEx today," I said with a wink. 

I know what you're thinking, I'm a spoiled brat. But for the record, the spending limit my parents set for me would easily cover new clothes for my friends and I. I may have had to cut the life-size ice sculpture of yours truly from the list, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

Truth is, my friends deserved it. I found out what true loyalty was at the end of the last school year. My boyfriend Kit and I were the picture perfect couple. He was rich, I was rich. He was hot, I was hot. He was on the football team, I was a cheerleader. Only problem was he was unfaithful, and I was a chump. 

Last April, I went over to his house to surprise him for our nine month anniversary, and found him naked by his pool with Susie Smith of all people. (I know, what an unoriginal name.)

That day I caught them, I actually went over there with the intention of losing my virginity to Kit. Even though I was humiliated, at least I dodged that bullet. I would have thought we were sharing something special, when in reality he had gotten impatient and was getting action on the side, for who know's how long. 

Ugh, and I feel like just looking at Susie the right way would result in herpes. 

Kit had been friends with my whole crew, and really close with Kiki's boyfriend Jake, since they were both on the football team. But when everyone heard that Kit was a cheating bastard, they all rallied around me. I may have grown up rich and privileged, but I am smart enough to know your true value in life is measured by the company you keep. 

I am forever grateful for having the best friends in the world. They were there for me during that terrible time, so I decided to finish my sophomore year focused on them, school, and my birthday party. I was so over wasting my time thinking about guys, dating and especially sex.

I loved having all this girl time. We spent almost two hours trying on clothes and laughing together. Kiki went with the black dress, Brandy picked out an embellished white halter top and a hot pink skirt, and Amber chose a sleek gold tube top and skinny black pants. I found a gorgeous red mini dress, completely covered in sequins. My birthday was the Fourth of July, after all. I had to outdo the fireworks.

* * * * * 

When I got home, I changed into my favorite black swimsuit, ready to waste a couple hours by the pool before I met back up with the girls for a movie. I walked into the kitchen and saw my mom coming in from the back porch. "Hi love," she said. "Carl and his new helper are here to help set up your party. Very exciting, huh?"

I looked through the french doors and saw our beloved landscaper Carl, as expected, opening up the boxes of string lights. What I did not expect was this "helper." Normally Carl's crew are older guys, but this one looked about my age. He had dark hair with green streaks in it, that curled around his ears and hung in his eyes in the most adorable way. He wore ripped jeans and a Slayer t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. 

I watched him talk to Carl for a second, and when he smiled, I swear I felt my heart melt. I didn't want to think about guys, but this one was so refreshingly the opposite of Kit I couldn't help but be intrigued. In fact, he was like no one I'd ever seen around Mt Blue.

My mom was prepping some lemonade and started pouring it into glasses. "Are those for the guys?" I asked cooly. "I was going to the pool anyway, I could take them out."

"Thank you, Tay! I've been dying to hop in the shower after my tennis lesson. Tell them they are welcome to whatever snacks or drinks they want." My mom, who didn't look like she had sweat one drop, kissed me on the cheek and hurried out. 

I picked up the tray and headed outside. As the door opened, I caught the cutie speculating about my party. "No one I know throws parties this big in backyards this big. They must be super patriotic," he said with a laugh.

"Wrong!" I exclaimed. The boy whipped around, his smile fading. "This is not just a 4th of July party, this is my 16th birthday party! When you share a birthday with America, you have to really go all out. Here's some lemonade."

I put the drinks down on the patio table. The new boy just stared. Obviously, he wasn't much of a conversationalist. I turned instead to his boss.

"Who's this, Carl?"

"This is Simon. And Simon, this is Taylor," Carl said.

"HI Simon." I gave him a little wave. 

He continued to stare, silent and slack jawed. I wished he would flash that winning smile one more time. But I couldn't lie, it had been a long time since a boy looked at me that way, and I didn't hate it. Most guys at Mt Blue were too concerned with their own appearance, and were hardly ever speechless.

I strutted right past Simon to the pool. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time, until I dove into the cool blue water. Summer vacation just got a little more interesting.