EPISODE TWELVE – How Do I Live ("How Do I Live", LeAnn Rimes)

"This movie sucks," Lauren made a face as yet another of Randy Quaid’s antics in the movie Kingpin’s cracked Taylor up.

Taylor was laughing his head off, "it does not…I mean, what’s NOT funny about a guy taking a dump in a urinal?" he demanded, laughing still.

"Apart from the fact its disgusting?" Lauren asked, taking a spoonful of Ice Cream

"Its not disgusting," Taylor mumbled, "And anyway, if its so disgusting, it didn’t manage to put you off eating that ice cream," he pointed out.

"Well…of course not," Lauren smirked, "I like ice cream," she giggled.

Taylor rolled his eyes, "You girls are all gluttons"

"Liking food isn’t a crime…its just a sin," Lauren grinned.

"My mom gave you the last of the Chunky Monkey and left me with shitty Vanilla?" Taylor demanded, looking at his empty bowl.

"Hey, I need Chunky Monkey, I just got cheated on," she pointed out.

"I want Chunky Monkey…lemme have a taste," He pleaded

"Piss off," Lauren held her bowl protectively.

Taylor whined

Lauren finished her ice cream and she used her finger to scoop up the melted ice cream at the bottom of the bottom of the bowl, Taylor took no haste in grabbing her hand and pulling her finger into his mouth to suck the ice cream off.

Lauren gaped, her finger was in Taylor’s mouth.

"What? I was hungry!" he exclaimed.

Lauren made a face, "You pig."

Before any more insults could be made, Isaac walked in unhappily and slumped down on the couch in the space between them.

Taylor and Lauren turned to look at him.

"She’s gone."

"I take it Ashley just left," Taylor said carefully.

Isaac nodded gave another dramatic sigh, "What am I gonna do?" he sighed unhappily, his eyes fell to the floor.

Lauren put her hand in his shoulder, "I keep asking myself the same thing," she said in a sad tone, "I mean…she’s my best friend…"

Isaac sighed, "I love her…" his eyes fell to the TV, his expression was somewhat lost and abandoned. And it was exactly how he felt. He was sure he could feel love for no one but her. "How do I live without her?"

"How can you love her, you hardly know her!" Taylor laughed.

"Its not funny," Isaac elbowed Taylor in the stomach, Taylor winced. "I love her, and I can’t do anything about it," He pouted miserably.

"Love sucks, anyway," Lauren muttered and spooned her ice cream remains absently. "You give your complete trust and affection to someone and end up alone eventually…they cheat on you, they hit you…they hurt you," She looked to the floor.

Taylor turned and looked at Lauren, he could tell she was still upset about this Jon thing, but he had to get her through it. "What about the good stuff in love?" Taylor asked casually.

"Oh, yeah, the good stuff, they can’t keep their hands off you, they try to eat your face whenever they kiss you…"
Taylor couldn’t help but snicker at the face eating thing.

"It’s true!" Lauren gaped at Taylor, "I mean, kissing Jon was like kissing a gremlin, I was afraid he was gonna bite my lips off!"

Taylor couldn’t help but crack up, however Lauren joined in and Isaac just looked at the TV as if he no longer found anything funny anymore.

Taylor sighed and shook his head at Isaac, "there’s no point in moping," he pointed out, "Its not gonna help, its not gonna bring her back."
"Yeah, well, I don’t feel like doing much else," Isaac whined unhappily. He sounded so pathetic to Taylor, Taylor couldn’t believe this was over a girl – couldn’t believe this was over Ashley.

"Ike, she’s not all that…I mean…she was just this average fat guitar playing geek," Taylor commented.

Lauren reached over and belted Taylor. "Hey! That’s my best friend you’re talking about!"

"I’m going upstairs…" Isaac got up slowly.

"Ike, look—" Taylor was about to try to comfort his brother by using some uplifting words, but Isaac just didn’t want to hear it.

"Leave me alone," Isaac said and left the room.

Lauren waited a few moments before speaking. "Wow, he’s…really hurt."

"I know, I never saw him act this way because of any girl," Taylor admitted. "Must be love."

Lauren looked thoughtful, "He hardly knows her."

"Yeah, but I mean…he keeps saying he loves her," Taylor stated with a serious expression, "He’s never said that about a girl…he means it this time."

"Oh…"

"What can we do? Can’t we get her to call him once in a while?"

"Nope, that’s gonna hurt her too much," Lauren admitted.

"Huh?"

"She does like him, she just…she can’t be with him, because this long distance thing would just be annoying and stuff. Imagine going out with someone who lived thousands of miles away? It wouldn’t be fun," she explained.

"Yeah, I guess you’re right," Taylor shrugged, he looked at the clock, "Its getting late, maybe its time to go to bed," he realised.

"Yeah," she nodded, noticing how silent the house was because everyone else had gone to bed hours ago.

Taylor stood up and pulled her to her feet, not knowing why, they took each others hand without even realising it, and they began for the hall, and up the stairs, and in the upstairs hall, they stopped, and turned to each other, "Night," Taylor said, still holding onto her hand.

"Night," she said also, holding onto his hand, looking at his dark silhouette.

Taylor realised he was holding her hand and let go, just as she did. "Um, night," he gave a nervous laugh, and he went through to his bedroom, and she went through to Jessica’s room.

For the rest of the night, neither one of them slept well…their minds were too busy, working with their hearts.

Lauren’s mind on Jon, and Taylor’s mind on Lauren.