Installment 20

Taylor

The next couple of days passed by in a whirl for me. All I can really remember was the immense amount of time I spent with Callista and the wondrous memories we had tucked away into our minds so we would never forget this vacation. I knew for sure that I would remember these days for the rest of my life, my life with Callista. We had promised each other that we would be together forever, how long this will last I'm not sure but I'd like to think that it actually will be forever. I had closed one chapter of my life on Christmas day and opened a new one, the rest of my life lie ahead of me and as of now it's shaping up to be more than good.

Since the day after Christmas when I had made my confession to Callista the bond between us had only grown stronger. She and I were so in love, that I'm sure of, that nothing else mattered except for our newfound goal...spending our each and every breath from now until the sun no longer shines�at each other's side. I was always with Callista in some way, if we weren't together physically we were on the phone from the hotel to her house and vice versa. I had become so accustomed receiving calls at 1 am from her to tell me about her dream or just to say that she loved me, and I knew everything about her. It was almost scary because there was a message on the machine in my hotel room and no one spoke, it was just soft breathing but I knew it was Callista because of the pattern the breaths came in, I can now identify Callista by her breathing patterns outrageous huh?

The only thing I really missed was having someone to talk to, not that Callista wasn't a great listener but I couldn't very well talk about Callista with Callista now could I. I couldn't very well talk to Mikeala because she was still pissed off at me, not that I'm too upset. Noah wasn't an option unless I wanted to hear more of his sardonic (Ooh, I just used one of my ninth grade English vocabulary words, this one's for you Mrs. Haskell) comments and attitude. There was no one around for me to converse with, I really needed Ike, right about now even Zac would be a major improvement but at this moment and they weren't here. Finally giving in, and praying that Ike wouldn't babble too much wracking up a huge long distance phone bill, I called my house.

"Hello, you've reached Fortune Cookies Chinese restaurant how can I..."

"Zac, shut up and get Isaac. Oh, and next time try answering the phone like a normal human being. Why don't you try to say something like 'hello Hanson residence'."

"Because that would be way too atypical of me, I'm expected to answer the phone in strange ways and if it were to be a fan I wouldn't want to disappoint them."

"Get a life, and while you're at it get Ike for me."

"Sure, treat me like dirt and expect me to be your little slave."

"Zac..."

"Alright, I'll do it but only because I love you."

"Yeah, yeah same here. Now go!"

Zac covered the mouthpiece in a futile attempt to drown out his voice and screamed across the house for Isaac. He has lungs larger than Mackie, and man was that one three-year-old who could throw a fit. I prayed that he didn't upset my hormonal mother because at this time she was probably sleeping. She always slept when she was pregnant.

A few moments a breathless Isaac joined me on the phone. Apparently he thought I was someone else, someone worth sprinting across the house for.

"Hi, Ike."

"Oh, it's you Tay."

"Gee, thanks it's nice to know I'm loved. Let me guess you're waiting for a call from some new girl."

"Remember Rhyann, she's Kylie's older sister?"

"How can I not, Kylie and I used to hang out together all the time...Ashley had a crush on her."

"Oh, yeah. Well anyway, we've been hanging out lately and I called her last night, she was out so I'm waiting for a call. Kylie promised me she would so..." he was beginning to babble and I know if I didn't stop him really soon I'd never get in a word edgewise, plus I was calling to vent, not let him vent.

"Ike, stop, I'm calling 'cause I need to talk not 'cause I want to hear about your lack of a love-life."

"Alright, relax, anyway I've got way more of a love life than you do. What's up?"

"Trust me bud I've got way more of a love life than you can imagine," I took a deep breath before continuing, "Okay this poses to be a long story so sit back and relax."

"Oo, sounds like someone is having a little fun."

"Isaac, you believe in love at first sight right..."

"Yeah, I guess. Wait a sec. I know where this is going. I bet you think you've fallen in love."

"Isaac, I know I've fallen in love, I'm totally serious."

"You sound serious..."

"That's because I am. I met the most perfect, amazing, sweet, smart, athletic, talented, gorgeous girl in the world and she loves me too."

"Her name..."

"Callista Jordan Genevieve Cartwright...she's tall, thin, curly black hair, amazing green eyes, perfect teeth, hands, arms, body, freckles, cute nose you name it and it's impeccable on her. The sound of her voice is like music to my ears and she inspires me so much, like whenever she's around me all these words spin around through my brain and they make songs and poems and stories. I love the way she smells, the way her breath feels on my skin, the taste of her lips, the feeling of her hand in mine. She has a wonderful and distinctive personality, an amazing attitude, incredible maturity and a total understanding of me plus she's a great listener. She's just amazing all together."

"Sounds like you're in deep."

"I'm in beyond deep...Ike she's the one."

"Yeah, sure. Tay, you're like 15 its puppy love."

"Isaac, don't even think about it. I know puppy love, this is far from it. When I'm around her it's like I can concentrate on nothing but her and she's like a magnet that draws me toward her, I can't stand to not be around her. When she's gone my head spins and my heart aches and I can think about nothing but seeing her again. She takes over my whole being when I'm with her and when we're apart. This is way beyond a crush it's the real thing. Anyway at 15 it's totally possible to be in love, mom and dad were."

"Okay so I see you're point. My boy this girl has you whipped."

"You're damn straight, although I wouldn't say whipped. I really love her and she says she loves me too. Isaac, if I could marry her now I would."

"Jordan Taylor Hanson, you are really scaring me now�I never expected to hear this from me, much less you."

"Well you are...I just called to tell you this cause I had to tell someone other than Callista just how much she means to me and I figured that you would listen.."

"Well, Tay I'd love to chat but I best be going. Rhyann just stopped by so I'll be leaving. Mom wants to talk to you though, she heard me talking so be ready for a grilling beyond he usual are you behaving' stuff."

"Okay, thanks for listening I'll see you in about another 4 days."

"Don't tell anyone who you heard this from me but I think you'll see us sooner."

"Cool, see ya."

A moment later my mother picked up Isaac's end of the line, "Hey honey how are you doing?"

"Mother I'm happier then I've ever been in my entire life."

"What can I attribute this to, or whom should I say?"

"The one and only love of my life."

"Her name?" I could hear my mother laugh lightly on the other end of the line, although I knew she knew I was totally serious.

"Callista Jordan Genevieve Cartwright."

"What does she look like?"

"Like an angel...actually she's tall, thin, beautiful, with attractive green eyes, curly black hair, adorable freckles, a cute nose, a great body..."

"Okay point well taken. What's she really like?"

"She's really intelligent, actually she's ahead two years in school, so now she's a junior when she would be a freshman at 15 years old. She's really mature, extremely interesting to talk to, loveable, talented in athletics and arts, she's totally understanding and she's a great listener. She's a lot like me too, she's introspective and she's quiet at sometimes but psycho at others. And get this...she hides under the Christmas tree too, or in her tree house."

"Taylor she sounds great. So what was Ike saying about you being whipped?"

"He was just saying that because I told him that I was in Love and that she's 'the one'."

"Tay, don't rush into these things."

"Mom, listen to me, do I sound anything close to someone rushing into this. You know that I don't use the word Love lightly I mean everything I say. I want you to listen to me closely as I say this, you'll know if I'm serious or not, you're a mother you can tell when your kid lies. I want to marry Callista. She's the one and that I'm sure of...in fact I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Honey, you're not lying. I can hear it in your voice, I hope this works out for you and I can't wait to see you tomorrow so I can meet this Callista." I could practically hear her smile over the phone, although I'm not sure if it was a nervous reaction or a genuine smile.

"TomorrOW?" my voice cracked as I said that, gosh is that embarrassing.

"Yeah hun, that was our surprise for you. We're coming out to Long Island for a vacation so after Noah and his family leave we can stay for more time. It'll be great fun."

"Mom that's so awesome!!"

"Well sweetie I've got to go and make sure all the kids are ready to leave tomorrow morning."

"Okay mom, thanks for talking to me. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

We both hung up the phone, my mother feeling completely apprehensive and I feeling completely relieved. I had finally talked to someone about it and now I could be at ease. So feeling completely refreshed I lie down on the bed in my hotel room and took a long needed nap.