The pizza place on the corner of Acre street was very warm and busy, almost reminded Taylor of normal life. Everyone was talking, Isaac was explaining out something to Lauren and Ashley while Zac was also explaining something – to Nicole. Taylor felt very left out, had no one to talk to, so he just sat there, brooding, chewing miserably at his pizza, not even feeling as hungry as he had before.

His eyes fell on Ashley, who was watching Isaac’s every move. He could see the girl liked him, and was sure that Ashley and Isaac were a much better match that Lauren and Isaac. Ashley and Isaac were closer in age for a start, they had similar interests – the guitar – and she laughed at all his jokes.

Lauren isn’t Isaac’s kind of girl, Taylor thought, he took a slow sip of his diet Coke through a straw, staring into space, Ashley is Isaac’s kind of girl…Lauren is…Lauren is what? I don’t know, she’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.

His stomach did a flip flop, he frowned a little, why did he feel so nauseated? He held it back, tried to pay attention to what was going on around him.

"So, like, we got on the stage, and like, Zac immediately tripped on the keyboard leads, it was just about hilarious," Isaac was telling more embarrassing stories about his family.

Zac turned to Isaac, "I didn’t trip, I stumbled, I didn’t actually fall…" he then explained to the girls.

"You nearly fell into the audience," Isaac said, which gained a giggle from the girls sitting with them, Isaac was about to say something about Taylor, something funny that might even make him laugh, but he turned to see Taylor, and Taylor did not look happy, nor very well, he’d gone a very pasty colour, and had a fatigue blotch breaking out on his other cheek, his hair was tinged with sweat from his forehead. "Tay, man, what’s up with you?"

"I dunno," Taylor gave a weak shrug, "I’m just gonna, I dunno, get some air or something, its so stuffy in here," he said and he quickly got up, forcing back the urge to throw up over Lauren’s hair.

He left, and Isaac tilted his head to the side, a little worried, "Geez, he didn’t look good," he said, "maybe I should take him home," he added.

"He’ll be fine," Zac rolled his eyes, "he always is in the end."

"Yeah…" Isaac seemed to agree, then realising this would be a good chance to try and get Lauren and Taylor talking like civilised people again, he turned to her, "would you go check on him?" he asked.

"Me? Why me, he doesn’t even like me!" she almost yelled in concern.

"You’re the nearest to the edge of the seat," Isaac responded, pointing this out, "Besides, if I go out there he’s gonna think I’m just there to lecture him, we’ve not been talking well lately.

"Okay, okay," Lauren gave in, realising this was Isaac asking her, she liked Isaac, she’d do anything for the guy.

She got up, and made her way outside where Taylor had headed.

The street outside the pizza place was deserted, except from Isaac’s car out in front, where, Taylor was stationed sitting on the edge of the hood, hunched shoulders, leaning over as if he were ready to throw up. She walked over, her sandals made no noise against the street, and since his back was turned he didn’t see her coming. She didn’t know what to say to him, so she reached out and touched his back, he jumped, and spun around, nearly falling off of the hood.

"What is it?!" He asked in surprise, "Oh, its you…" he lowered his voice, he turned away, "what do you want?"
"Isaac wanted me to see if you were alright."
"Yeah, well, if Isaac is so damn concerned, why didn’t he come himself?" Taylor demanded bitterly, he rested his hands on his knees, taking some deep breaths.

"Are you gonna throw up?" Lauren asked.

"I dunno," Taylor answered her question simply, he wasn’t sure if he would or not.

Lauren sat on the bonnet of the car, deciding she’d wait to see if he threw up, that way she was sure he was alright if he did. She’d do this much for him and for Isaac.

Taylor turned a little, looking at her from the corners of his eye, god this girl was so infuriating, what was it about her? It made him madder that she seemed to actually like Isaac, that seemed quite crazy, she wasn’t Isaac’s type, he could tell that, and he didn’t understand why he should care to be quite honest.

He got up from the car and he walked a few feet away, wringing his hands in frustration, then he spun around helplessly, looking at her, "Why do you have to be so…infuriating?!" he demanded loudly.

"What?" she asked, she stood up too.

"You, you seem set on to annoy me or something…you flirt with my brother when you know there’s no chance there…I mean…its been – what? – four days or something but you’re turning my world upside down because you frustrate me so, I just dunno what to do!"

"I do not flirt with Isaac, he flirts with me, and he has a right if he likes me," Lauren folded her arms, and frowned.

"No offence, doll, but Isaac likes anything with two legs and a pair of tits," Taylor muttered, he stepped a few feet back before she could slap him for that remark, she just stared at him.

"I supposed if I liked you I’d be in the right, though, huh?" she asked bitterly.

"Girl, I couldn’t care less if you liked me or not!!" Taylor almost yelled, he put a hand to his head, "I’m just sick of the arguing, I’m sick of you, I don’t know what the hell it is!" he yelled.

"Yeah, well, I’m sick of you too, why the hell do you have to be so nasty?!"

"Why?! You wanna KNOW why?!" he demanded, taking a step forward, "for the past four nights I’ve had around eight hours sleep tops!" he yelled, "I’m exhausted, I can’t concentrate on anything, can’t write my song, just can’t do anything, then my mom agreed I’d tutor you without even really asking me, she just arranged it before I had a chance to object…god, everything got too difficult and I’m sick to death of it!!"

"You’re taking a break down," Lauren snorted, "dunno how you could be. But looks like you are."
"You don’t know what I have to go through every single day of my life," Taylor lowered his head, "Lauren, you wanna be in a band, you wanna be famous? Get some facts right, look at what me and Isaac and Zac go through, ask them how they feel, then you’ll realise its not all its cracked up to be," he muttered, and then he began walking down the street, "Tell Ike I’m goin’ home," He muttered.

"Fine," she shook her head in disgust, she turned and went back inside, alone. Isaac looked at her, "Is he okay?"

"He’s in a huff and he’s going home, and good riddance, he’s such a whiner."

"Tay usually doesn’t whine unless he’s sick," Isaac said, "truthfully, maybe I should go after him."

"No, sit," Lauren put her hand on Isaac’s arm, "Don’t let him get the better of you and spoil our night just on account of he wants to be broody."
Isaac contemplated this. "I guess you’re right," he said finally.

"Ike, your brother has some serious issues, and I really think you should get him sorted out."

"Yeah, I agree," Isaac nodded, and he chewed his lip contemplating.

"Did you know in the last four days he claims to have had around eight hours sleep?"
Isaac blinked, "Nooooooo, I certainly didn’t…but maybe that explains a lot."