Chapter Twenty Three

Taryn awoke the neck morning to something tickling her nose. She sniffled and twitched her nose, hoping that whatever it was would go away. When it didn't, Taryn opened her eyes. She didn't see anything. She shifted and found that her face was nuzzled into Isaac's neck and his hair was in her face. She rubbed her nose and leaned back. Isaac's arm was still draped across her waist, so she gently lifted it off and quietly rolled out of bed. Taryn ran a hand through her hair and wrinkled her nose when she felt how greasy it was.

She tip-toed to the bathroom, undressed and hopped into the warm inviting shower. She was a little sore, but she was refreshed and happy. As Taryn shampooed her hair, she thought of how she and Isaac were really going to Washington D.C. and that they were becoming "better" friends. She rinsed out her hair and stood in the spray of the shower for a few minutes, loving the feel of the steaming hot water on her back. Taryn finally stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself up in a hotel towel. She looked at her hair in the mirror, deciding what she would do with it. She didn't have a comb, they would get that later. Taryn found a rubber band in the pocket of her jeans and tied her damp hair up with it. As she was washing her face with some soap, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," she said, knowing that the door was unlocked. The door opened and Isaac peeked in. Immedietly he closed the door again.

"Hey, I though you were dressed," he said through the door.

"I am dressed, silly" Taryn said, giggling.

"Yeah, but just in a towel! I though you were decently dressed..." he said. Taryn laughed and opened the bathroom door.

"Why? Aren't I decently dressed?" she asked, striking a model pose.

"Oh well, decent enough for me," he grinned and grabbed Taryn, pulling her close to him and pressing his lips to hers. Taryn wrapped her arms around Issac's neck and returned the kiss. It ended when Isaac pulled away.

"Well, that was a good way of saying good morning," he said, smiling as they lightly touched noses,"And if you'll excuse me, I have to use the bathroom." He spun her around and gently pushed her out of the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. Taryn went to walk towards the beds but something suddenly came into her mind. She rushed back to the bathroom and pounded on the door.

"Isaac! My clothes are still in there!" she shouted, leaning against the door as Isaac laughed.


Mike paced around the kitchen as he had been doing all day. He couldn't sit still, or even sit down. He was so jumpy that he called off from work. Katya was at work, making up for some lost hours. Kaylen and Ricky were outside playing.

The police had called, reporting that Isaac and Taryn hadn't been found yet, but they were still looking. The Hanson's were pretty shaken up too. Mike walked over to the kitchen counter and tapped his fingers against the linolium(sp?) as he looked out the window to check on his children.

"Kay! That's no fair! You can run faster then me!" Ricky shouted, running as fast as he could after his sister. Kaylen laughed back at him as she ran across the large backyard, towards the small forest that was at the end of the property.

Kaylen stopped at the treeline, waiting for Ricky to catch up with her. He finally made it to her, gasping for breath.

"Kaylen! You run too fast!" he said, sitting down on the ground to catch his breath.

"So? You run too slow....and...." Kaylen paused.

"What?"

"Do you smell that?" she said, sniffing.

"Yeah......what is it?" Ricky asked, snorting.

"It smells nasty," she said, sticking out her tounge.

"Yeah,"

"Let's find out what it is...." Kaylen said, grabbing Ricky's hand and proceeded to drag him into the woods. They walked a few feet into the woods and then stopped. They stared at the scene before them.

They began to scream.


"Isaac! C'mon! Gimme my clothes!" Taryn shouted through the door,"Look! All you have to do is open the door and give me my clothes!" She could hear the shower going in the bathroom, so she knew that it would be a while before she would get her clothes. Taryn paced through the motel room, scuffing her feet.

"Ouch," she said when her foot hit something semi-sharp. She looked down to see a bobby pin. An evil smile spread across her face as she bent over to pick up the bobby pin. She went back to the bathroom and began to pick the lock. She smiled even wider as she heard the click of the lock opening. Taryn silently opened the door and stepped inside. Her clothes were on the floor, mixed with Isaac's clothes. She could hear Isaac humming in the shower and she paused. She shook her head to get any thoughts out of her mind. She bent over and picked up all the clothes, including Isaac's

Taryn left the bathroom, closing the door behind her, making sure it was locked again. She dumped all of the clothes on the bed, seeing what was there. She dropped the towel and dressed in her regular undergarments, but decided to put Isaac's clothes instead, as a joke. As Taryn laid down on the bed to watch some tv, wearing Isaac's oversized clothes, she could hear the shower stop and a voice yelling,"Hey! Where are my clothes!"


Katya sat in the living room, comforting her children as the police flocked around the backyard.

In the back yard, Mike was with the policemen, being questioned. He glanced over the officer's shoulder, who was standing in front of him, at the small square of land that was surrounded by police tape.

"So Mr. Colling, when exactly did you find the body?" the policeman, Officer Stuple asked.

"It was around four thirty, I was in the kitchen, Kaylen and Ricky were outside, running around. All of a sudden, they started screaming and I ran outside, and then...and then..." Mike said, glancing over the officers shoulder again.

"Okay, we're still investigating this. It seems like your family has a little problem...." Office Stuple said, leading Mike over to the police tape where behind it, the body lay with the sheet drapped over it, a knife driven deep into the deceased person's back. Definently a murder. Another man, with a pen and notepad walked over.

"We've identified the body Officer Stuple," the man said.

"Alright, who is it Mr. Jones?" the officer asked.

"Well, it appears that the body belongs, excuse me, belonged, to a young man named Vince Hall," he said, writing another note down on his notepad.

Mike placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.


"Alright Tayrn, what did you do with my clothes," Isaac asked, stepping out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Taryn lay on her side on the bed, staring at Isaac with a grin on her face.

"I didn't do anything with them," Taryn said, toying with the fabric of Isaac shirt.

"So if you're going to wear my clothes, then am I going to have to wear your clothes?"

"Not all," Taryn laughed, turning her attention back to the tv, while she casually reached behind her, grabbing Isaac's black boxer shorts, and throwing them at him.

"Oh thanks," he said dryly,"But hey, it's better than nothing," he said, going back to the bathroom. Taryn rolled her eyes. Isaac emerged from the bathroom with his boxer shorts on.

"Now, are you going to give me the rest of my clothes, of am I going to have to get them back myself?" he asked. Taryn got off the bed and went over to Isaac, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes and no," she grinned, pushing Isaac onto the bed. She changed the channel on the tv where some music was playing.

"Oh, no," Isaac groaned,"What are you going to do now..." Taryn just smiled at him, swaying to the music. She continued to do a little slow dance, reaching up and unbuttoning the first few buttons of Isaac's shirt.

"You're kidding me," Isaac said. Taryn stepped closer and placed a finger over his lips. That made him shut up. Taryn turned her back to him and continued to unbutton the shirt. She slowly slid it off her shoulders, spinning around and tossing it onto Isaac's lap. She crossed her arms over her chest and swayed her hips, which caused the pants to slide down her waist and onto the floor.

"That wasn't planned," she giggled, kicking the jeans in Isaac's direction. She laughed when she noticed his eyes were wide open as he stared at her.

"Pass me my clothes please," she ordered. Isaac numbly reached over and grabbed the clothes, handing them to her. She slowly pulled her shirt over her head. She approached Isaac and ran one hand over his cheek while grabbing her pants with the other. She stepped back and put the jeans on. She turned around and struck another model pose. Isaac just stood there with a look of shock on his face.

"Was I that good?" Taryn asked, flipping off the tv. Isaac just sat there.

"Isaac?.....Isaac? Are you there?" she asked, waving her hand in front of his face. He snapped to attention.

"Woah," he murmured. Taryn collapsed next to him on the bed in a fit of laughter.

"Alright lover boy, get dressed. We gotta go," she said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Isaac shook his head and finally stood up, grabbing his clothes. He pulled on his jeans and his shirt without saying a word. After fixing his hair in the mirror, he turned to Taryn, clearing his throat.

"When we get back home...can you do that again?" he asked, sounding dead serious. That sent Taryn into another fit of laugher, which Isaac soon joined in.

"We should be on our way right now," she said, standing up and walking to the door of the motel room.

"Right behind you," Isaac said, following her out the door, locking it behind him. They paid for their room and got in the car, continuing their small jouney.


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