Author's Note: Look it, look it a chapter! I have been working on this chapter for over a week but finally finished. Rejoice! Hopefully some of the content in this one makes up for the long wait. Wow, getting closer to hundred reviews. As an incentive for more, how about the hundredth reviewer gets a lovely one-shot with the conditions of their choice. How's that sound? Thanks to all those who have reviewed so far though and have faved or put this story on alert. It's really marvelous and I love you all! On another note I have a poll up for what story I should write next. Please check it out and vote! Full summaries of the choices are in my profile. Anyway, enjoy this chapter.

The Thing About Babysitters...

My mind kept returning to that moment when he caught me.

After I had showered, dressed for bed, and eventually fell asleep I started to have this weird dream. It started off normal enough with my first day of high school. I rode my bike to the school and it took longer than it probably should have. The scene changed then to a cafeteria that was filled with students but they were not chatting and eating. All was quiet and every eye was on me as I stood in the center. I felt this overwhelming humiliation and trembled with that feeling. A figure began to approach and as it drew closer I realized it was Taylor. He stopped in front of me and smiled so beautifully it was nauseating. When I looked around all those people were suddenly gone and we were alone.

Sebastian, Taylor said my name softly but it sounded as if it came directly from inside my head. Then soft cool lips pressed against my forehead. But that tender moment lasted all but a few seconds.

Next thing I knew, Taylor had stepped back from me with his lips contorted into a sinister smirk I have never seen him wear. It scared me. Then there was a never-ending cacophony of laughter drumming heavily on my ears. My peers had returned and as they laughed they pointed at me. Slowly before my eyes, those same peers had transformed into vicious hyena ready to pounce even as they snickered at my expense. I realized as I nervously peered down at myself that I was dressed like a baby; large diaper, bib, bonnet, rattler and all. I think I even had my old binky in my mouth. I had awakened then with a start nearly screamed and covered in a light coat of sweat. My mind raced with the possible meanings of that particular dream gone nightmare whilst threading my fingers through my hair and drawing my knees in. It was about that time I finally heard the occasional tap at my window.

I couldn’t believe that Taylor Greene, who I had just been dreaming about, was outside my window like an annoying modern-day Romeo. I mean not that I had thought he had come to woo me but just what that given situation had reminded me of. The real question was why one of the most popular guys at Caprice High had come to my window this late at night to get slushies with a Class A dork like me? Talk about strange and unusual behavior.

I was so nervous when he made me jump from the second story of my house but true to his word he had caught me. Now, as we walked in silence toward the closet gas station, my mind kept remembering the feeling of him holding me. I won’t lie, it was real nice. Maybe even beyond so and just added more fuel to the fire growing for him inside me. Or rather another scrap to feed the hungry beast aka crush I have on my annoyingly handsome babysitter. What did I do to deserve such a torture? I bet I assassinated the Dali Llama or something equally naughty in a previous life. Damn karma. On the other hand Jordana would probably call this fate and tell me to make the most of it. In her mind I’m sure she would think of something dirty, in a sexual way. I glance at him from the corners of my eyes and note the soft content smile he is sporting.

Oh god, why must he be so fucking gorgeous?! It’s too unfair, too tempting.

He catches me looking grin widening and I look down at my feet quickly feeling the burn in my cheeks. I grumble to myself at how irritatingly attractive my babysitter is. Why am I so smitten anyway? This is probably just a temporary crush. I’ve had plenty of those and they usually only last a week or two. My infatuation with Taylor is just a shallow attraction that will fade with time, I’m sure of it. I think. Okay this silence is starting to get awkward. Maybe I should say something? Fortunately I don’t have to because suddenly Taylor’s smooth deep voice breaks that silence.

“So uh…you don’t like me?”

“Wh-what?” I stare at him quite shocked.

He rubs the back of his head. “I mean…when I’m over sitting, you like never talk to me and I get this hostile vibe from you…I guess, I don’t know.”

I’m astonished. I’ve never seen him so out of sorts. It’s actually…endearing. He glances at me sheepishly and shrugs. I don’t know why but it is the most amusing thing ever and I laugh. It starts from the pit of my stomach and bubbles up like a boiling pot till it spills out. I actually stop and double over a moment I find it that funny. I am not even entirely sure why either. It’s so weird.

Taylor glares at me but it seems playful. “Okay…What’s so hilarious, Burke?”

I take a deep breath quieting my laughter but I can’t keep this huge smile off my face. “You! Mr. Popularity stumbling over words like that…it’s just funny, is all,” I finished lamely. Taylor just stares at me briefly before I see him smile too and finally laugh while I decide I love the sound of it.

“Hey, I’m just like everybody else.”

“Sure you are.”

“I am!”

“I never would have thought so.”

“Does it make me seem intriguing?”

I smirk a little, “maybe.”

He grins 1000 watts at me and I think that maybe he isn’t such a bad guy, he certainly much more down to earth than I expected him to be after so many years of living the popular life. I mean for goodness sakes, the proverbial King of Caprice is talking to me and taking me out for something sweet and cool which is perfect for such a hot summer night. It just seems too good to be true. That thought makes me a little nervous though.

I can feel his gaze still on me while we walk and without my control my cheeks gain some unexpected warmth. I keep my eyes straight ahead.

Finally we make it to the corner of Thornhill and James. Just across the street on another corner is small gas station with three pumps and at this time of night there was no cars. Kinsey’s has been there for as long as I remember and when I was nine or ten I used to ride my bike there for popsicles and ice-cream. Going back there now brought back some of those memories fondly and I felt myself smile thinking about it. I sure am smiling a lot tonight around Taylor. Not that I don’t smile enough when I’m not around him but it is steadily heading towards one in the morning. I should really be grumpier. What is the deal with that?

A little bell tingles when Taylor opens the door which he holds open for me. I shake my head and hide a slight blush before stepping inside the cool store. The lights are bright overhead and strain my eyes briefly before they adjust. There were about four aisles of food stuff and knick-knacks, a small little ATM machine they got last year, one wall had a large fridge with several glass doors stocked with mostly drinks and some cold food, and the register counter with displays of cigarettes, gum, and mints. It’s basically the typical gas station. What we came for is in one corner with hotdogs and nachos. Two flavors swirl inside the machine taunting me and I realize my mouth is watering a little. Perhaps it was the walk that made me so thirsty suddenly.

The lady behind the register is probably in her early thirties and flips through a magazine while chewing gum. She looks really bored and tired. I don’t blame her. Working the night shift here must be torture. Remind me not to apply for a job here if I can help it.

I follow Taylor to the slushie machine and the register lady doesn’t even look up. He grabs two cups and hands me one with a half grin permanently plastered to his face. I’m starting to think he’s smiling more than me. I bet his cheeks are sore or at least they were going to be. However his smiles were terribly contagious. Darn him.

“Which flavor do you like, Sebastian?” This is embarrassing but what I very much like is how he said my name, stressing the ‘bast’ portion of it. So it came out Sebastian. It gave a bit of a shiver down my spine. Jordy would laugh if she saw me like this. Crap, I think I’m blushing again. What the hell is wrong with me? Is this normal having blood rush to one’s face so much?

There were only two choices: Cherry and Mango. Why they had mango of all flavors in such a small establishment I will never know. “Mango,” I said in reply while putting the cup under the spout and pushing the tab down to fill it with orange colored frozen treat. Taylor suddenly chuckles at my response and I raise an eyebrow at him in question. He just shakes his head and doesn’t explain. He’s so weird.

Taylor chooses cherry and once we’ve capped them and grabbed a straw we move to the counter. I stand beside him while he stares at register lady waiting. She flips the page of her tabloid magazine and pops a bubble but doesn’t seem to have noticed us standing there. Taylor glances at me with raised eyebrows before clearing his throat to get her attention. She finally looks up at our expectant faces with a cool, dull expression. She doesn’t speak a word.

“Uh…hey, two slushies?” Taylor says somewhat uncertainly.

She rings up the drinks and Taylor pulls out a wallet from the back pocket of his jeans to pay. After that, we step back outside and settle on the curb just outside of the store. I finally take the chance to taste my slush and lick my lips afterwards grinning. “Yum!”

“So it’s good then?”

I flick my eyes to him and nod, feeling kind of like I’m nine again for some reason. In other words a little giddy, though I’m trying to keep it under control. “Yup. Yours?”

“Yup,” and to emphasize his agreement he wrapped his lips around his straw and sucks up the red semi-frozen liquid. For some reason I really wish I was that straw. It is a really dirty thought but I’m a hormonal teenager. That’s my story I’m sticking it to it.

It was comfortable silence after that even as we decided to head back still slurping our midnight snack. I noticed he seemed lost in thought so I took the time to observe him. I follow the line from his chin up to his jaw, noticing how defined it is. I like how his sandy blond hair looks a bit silvery in the moonlight. It’s strange how things turn out. I always thought that nothing unexpected in my life would happen. I live in a town where the most crime we have is the occasional shoplifter and maybe some punks doing a little graffiti on the side of the local general store. The last fire I heard of was about eight years ago and only a barn had caught fire with no casualties. Our fire department is one of those that often rescue cats from trees for little girls and old ladies. Caprice is a lazy quiet sort of town though not as conservative as “Pleasantville” was. I wonder if after the summer when school starts if this side of Taylor will still show himself to me. Will we go back to being strangers or just the kid and his babysitter? Truth be told, I don’t want that. At the same time I hate how nice and wonderful he’s being around me. It’s like a mouse being dangled in front of a cat but not allowed to even press his paw against it. However I have a feeling that if that dream I had earlier is anything go by that I might be the mouse pretty soon.

I’m kind of scared.

When we reach my house, we toss our empty cups in the trash bin by the garage and then get Taylor to help me carry a ladder from the side of the house. I didn’t bring my key with me so I can use the front or back door. Besides going through either one might wake my parents which could lead to an awkward scenario. We set the ladder up against the veranda roof. I take a deep breath and turn towards the older boy. I shyly look up at him the awkwardness returning. What do I say? What should I say?

I softly knead my lip with my teeth before I speak. “Um, thanks…for tonight,” well that was a start. I peer up at him uncertainly through my bangs to find him standing kind of close. He tilts his head.

“You’re very much welcome,” a corner of his lips lifts up. “I had fun and…uh, we should do it again sometime of course preferably during the day maybe.”

I blink and stutter. “Wh-wha…what?”

“Well, I mean if you want to…I understand if-” I cut him off.

“I want to. I mean…I guess that’s cool, but…” It really sounds as if he’s asking me out. Though I could be wrong, because why would he want to go out with me? Isn’t he straight anyway? I think I am going to freak out.

“But…?” He raised an eye-brow but all I do is shrug not sure what I was going to say. “Well you’re probably tired, see ya around yeah?”

I nod and look into his green eyes. “Don’t forget to put the ladder away, okay?” He smiles softly and we share a moment, at least I think we do. Suddenly he’s moving in closer and my own eyes widen a little. What is he doing? Oh my god, he’s not…is he? I swallow hard right before soft warm lips meet my own. This is not a dream. I know it’s not, because for one his lips are not cold. It’s brief but it leaves a lasting impression. I lick my lips afterwards and taste cherry. Opening my eyes, which I didn’t realize I closed, and stare dumbfounded. My stomach feels really warm.

He grins and winks at me, “Goodnight, sleep tight.”

Now I’m freaking out.