"I'm going to miss you too," Nicole said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Isaac gave her a strange look before stepping into the driver's seat of the van. Zac came up from behind and gave her a bear hug, and she quickly turned and returned it. Then she found herself face to face with Taylor. She gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before pulling back abruptly. She made the mistake of meeting his eyes, which held such a sad and tortured look that she couldn't bear to hold his gaze.

"E-Mail me, okay?" she said in a small voice, staring at the toe of her Airwalk. Taylor nodded slowly and climbed into the back of the van, slamming the sliding door behind him.

Nicole sadly walked up the sidewalk and sat down beside Tulsa, who was lounging lazily in the sun. She saw a familiar Jeep drive by and realized that it was Christen, home from her mom's house. She sighed and crossed the yard, needing her friend to talk to. She had kept so much in this week, that she knew that holding her feelings in any longer wouldn't help anything.

"I didn't mean to Chris," Nicole said. "But do you know what the weird thing is? I wouldn't take back that kiss or Taylor's confession for anything in the world."

At that sentence, Christen turned around and stared at Nicole, peering into her eyes as if she could see right into Nicole's soul. Then she slowly covered her mouth with her hand.

"How long have you been in love with him Nic?" she asked suddenly.

"What?" Nicole asked, shocked. "I'm not....in love with Taylor. I'm not!"

"Nic, you can't hide it," Chris said. "I can see it in your eyes when you say his name. And when you said that you wouldn't take that kiss back, I could see you reliving the moment in your brain."

"I was not!" Nicole said, unconvincingly. "I don't love Taylor. I love Isaac." Then seeing the doubting look in her friend's eyes, she repeated herself. "I promise! I love Taylor!"

Christen simply sat there, grinning like a madman and staring at Nicole, hoping that she would realize what she had just said. Suddenly it occured to Nicole, who clamped her hand over her mouth.

"Oh...my...gosh," Nicole whispered through her fingers. Christen knowingly nodded her head. "I said 'I love Taylor'. I meant to say 'I love Isaac'. I don't believe it Chris. I guess I do.....I do love Taylor."

"Told ya," Chris said.

"What am I going to do?" Nicole asked. "What do I say to Isaac? What do I say to Taylor? Will this ever work out? They're both going to end up hating me!" she cried, falling onto her bed, tears running down her cheeks.

"Ssshhhh....," Christen said. "We'll figure out something Nic."

She barely heard the phone when it rang, but when her mother yelled from the kitchen for her to answer it, she grabbed the phone quickly.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hey Nic," came Taylor's voice over the other end.

"Hey Tay," she said nervously. "Where are you guys?"

"We're about ten miles outside of Muskogee, at the Texaco Gas Station. The car just broke down," Taylor explained. "Ike called a tow truck, but we need a ride to your house."

"I'll come pick you guys up," Nicole said. "I got my liscense a few weeks ago. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

"Okay.....um, Nic," Taylor said shakily.

"What?" Nicole asked, mentally slapping herself for sounding so nervous.

"Umm.....no, nothing," Taylor said quickly. "I...we'll see you in fifteen minutes."

"See ya," Nicole said, hanging up the phone and picking up her keys. She got into the car, and soon she was on her way out of city limits. She wished that Taylor would have told her whatever he wanted to say. She couldn't handle all of this. Taylor always seemed uncomfortable and on edge when they spoke on the phone, and sometimes even Isaac seemed distant. She continued to go over the situation in her mind until the large Texaco station rose in front of her. She quickly turned into the parking lot and saw Taylor and Zac sitting on a bench eating ice cream. Ike was nearby, talking to a mechanic. She could see their van at the AutoZone next door.

"Hey guys," she said, climbing out of the car after she parked it in front of the Texaco.

"Nice ride," Zac commented, gazing at her bright red Eclipse.

"Thanks," she said, smiling at him. "What happened?"

"The engine was smoking," Taylor said. "We have no idea what's going on. Ike probably knows," he added, shrugging his shoulders.

"Nicole!" Isaac exclaimed, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her around to face him. "Man I missed you!" he said, giving her a quick kiss. "We're going to have to leave the van here overnight; can we ride home with you?"

"Of course," Nicole said, gesturing to her car. "Get in!"

The guys piled into the car and Isaac took the front seat, with Nicole at the wheel. Zac and Isaac sang along with the radio as they pulled back onto the road, but Taylor remained quiet.

"Come on Tay," Isaac said. "Don't tell me you're going to start the quiet act again."

"So what if I am?" Taylor asked. "I don't have anything to say."

"Don't be rude Tay," Isaac snapped.

"Oh, okay MOM," Taylor shot back icily.

"Here they go again," Zac whispered quietly.

"What do you mean?" Nicole asked him.

"They've been acting pissed off at each other for the past couple of months," Zac explained.

"Don't say pissed Zac," Taylor said.

"You say it," Zac pointed out. "Why can't I?"

"Fine," Taylor said. "But if mom, oh I mean Ike, says something to you, don't blame me."

"Shut up Tay," Isaac said. Then he turned to Nicole. "I'm sorry they....I'm sorry we're acting like this," he said. "But these haven't been the most restful months of our lives. And today was a really bad day. We're just in bad moods."

"Yeah, that's it," Taylor retorted, rolling his eyes. Then he slumped back in his seat and was quiet for the rest of the ride home.