Once Upon a URL

Part Three

"I was wondering if you wanted-" Ethan started to say but Taylor's phone vibrated and she instantly went to look at it. "So who is this girl?"

"Just a girl, we met online."

"Cool, that who you've been talking to all weekend?" Taylor looked at Ethan confused. "I ran into Hannah."

"Yeah, she's really cool, and she seems to really like me."

"Well duh," Ethan said making himself comfortable on her bed. "What's her name?"

"Heather," Taylor said as she continued to type on her phone.

"Where does she live?"

"Somewhere in California."

"California is a pretty big state."

"I mean, we just talk about how boring our towns are; it doesn't really come up."

"You should ask her, what if she lives nearby, that would be so cool." Taylor shrugged. "What does she look like?"

"I don't really know."

"You didn't ask for a pic? She could be really hot."

"Cause if I ask for a pic, I'll have to send one too."

"And?" Ethan asked slowly.

"What if she doesn't like it?"

"Well she seems to like you; a picture shouldn't cause a problem. And if it does, that is her loss." Taylor didn't respond. "At least find out where she lives."

"Fine." Taylor said and typed in the question and hit send. Taylor's face falls a little. She scrunches it up as she looks at the message she just got.

"What happened?"

"She lives here."

"What?"

"See," Taylor held up her phone so that Ethan could see. "She lives in the same town as us."

"She also called you 'babe'."

"What?"

"Right there, she said: 'what's wrong babe?'"

"What do I say?"

"Tell her same. Man, too bad there are a lot of Heather's around here. If only you knew what she looked like." Ethan was pretty much talking to himself, Taylor just starred at her phone. "Dude!" Taylor looked over. "What if it's Heather Prescott?"

"Yeah right is she on Tumblr." Taylor said actually laughing at that idea.

"You never know. What are you doing?" Ethan asked as Taylor put down her phone. "Did you answer her?" Taylor shook her head. "Why not? Dude, you guys seem to like each other, and you live within the same town."

"I could do this when I thought she lived on the other side of the state and I'd probably never see her."

"I still don't get the problem."

"Look at me Ethan, I'm not cool. I spend my life on this computer, and you and Hannah are really my only friends."

"I think she knows that you don't have a life. I mean: you guys seem to be talking non-stop, so clearly she doesn't have one either. And you met on Tumblr; she probably understands that that is where your life is."

Taylor didn't say anything for a moment; she just stared into Ethan's eyes. "Fine," she said a little angrily and typed out a quick message and hit send. "Happy?"

"Yes. Wanna watch a movie or something?"

"Sure, whatever." Taylor said and she turned on her TV before flopping down next to Ethan, leaving her phone on her desk.

Heather looked up from her phone, confused; five minutes ago she had been messaging this girl that seemed really cool and down to Earth. But after she said what town she lived in, she got a one word answer "cool". Heather had no idea what to make out of it, it's not like they lived that close to each other. No one else around here has a Tumblr, let alone spends so much time on there. That's at least what Heather told herself. In reality: this Taylor could be anyone. For all Heather knew, she could be catfished right now.

She chose to be somewhat mature and wait for this "Taylor" (if that was even their real name) to respond. Now, she will go and hang out with her friends. Even though she felt oddly lonely when she was with them, she never had enough time to herself to fully think. That is just what she needed: not to think, not about Taylor, not about anyone.

The pizzeria was usually full, especially of kids from their high school. But today, it wasn't as full; the only person Heather really hung out with that was there was Mark. They never talked all that much, but he had been pretty close with her brother. Mark saw her and gave her a slight wave. Heather smiled a little and then walked over to him.

"Hey," she said walking over to him.

"What's up?"

"Bored," she said plopping down across from him.

"Me too, plus there was way too much estrogen talk going on at my house."

"I bet that sucks."

"Yeah." Mark took a deep breath. "So how is chemistry going?"

"Not too bad. Your sister is really good in that class; does she have your notes?"

"She glanced at them, but decided she didn't want them."

"Damn, she's smart."

"Excuse me?" Heather looked up to see a waitress standing beside the table, shaking a little. "Would you like a menu?" She held out the laminated paper.

"Can I just have a piece of spaghetti pizza and a coke?" Heather said smiling at the waitress, she looked to be a sophomore and probably went to their school. The waitress just nodded before beginning to walk away. "Thanks," she said in a completely sincere voice.

"Not your usual?" Mark asked surprised.

"Nah, today's been too stressful of a day."

"Wanna talk about it?"

Heather thought for a moment, "it's nothing big, just an essay."

"Is it that one for philosophy?"

"Yes," Heather said, hoping that that was a believable lie.

"It's kicking my ass too."

The waitress put down Heather's soda down at her spot and then walked away. She took a sip and then looked up to see Mark looking at her. "What?" She asked.

"I think this is the first time we have actually talked."

"What? You used to be at my house all the time."

"You were never there, or you were in your room. We never hung out."

Heather shrugged a little, because she knew that was probably true. There was water not too far away, where no one knew who she was. They knew her, not the name that everyone around here knew. It was a great getaway and was where she learned a lot about herself.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking; I need to stop doing that." Mark laughed and then smiled. "You have a really nice smile."

"Thanks. Can I ask you something?" Heather shrugged and Mark took that to go on. "What's the deal with you and Patrick?"

"Nothing. I think I had a crush on him when we were little, and he found out. But then like around middle school I guess he got a crush on me and has had it ever since."

"Do you like him?"

"No, but he knows it and it has sorta become an ongoing thing."

"Do you like anyone?"

Heather thought for a moment, "I think I do." She said smiling.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said, hersmile growing as the waitress put down her pizza.