Later on that afternoon,
Llanview General…
Starr quietly opened up the door to her stepmother’s room and saw her
father tenderly holding Téa’s hand. He looked up at her. His face looked
tired. Téa appeared to be sleeping.
Todd got up quietly and walked out into the hall so he could talk to Starr.
“How are the kids?” he asked.
“Okay. Worried. Taylor’s got play practice today so I’m going to be there
and Trevor is going to pick Terri up from school,” explained Starr, “You do
realize Trevor’s dancing in that Greek festival tomorrow?”
Todd felt conflicted, “Damn. I forgot about that.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Starr.
“I dunno. I wanna’ be here for Téa but she worked so hard to make this
happen for Trevor. She would tell me to go,” said Todd crossing his arms.
“Far be it from me to tell you what to do Dad but I think you could spare
an hour or two. I know Trevor and Amy are going to make a video for Téa.
You could bring it back for her,” suggested Starr.
“Yeah,” said Todd. He sighed.
Starr could tell something was bothering him.
“What is it Dad?” she asked.
“What?” he fussed.
“Your mind is preoccupied with something else,” she stated.
“Oooh. You know me well, don’t you?” he said crossing his arms.
She giggled.
“Yeah, something’s…bothering me,” he said.
“What?” pushed Starr.
“Téa’s having a boy. The doc says the sonogram shows he’s got ten fingers
and toes but Téa’s upset about it. You know, she hasn’t said anything but
it’s how her face scrunches up when she’s troubled…” said Todd explaining
his reasoning.
“About the hemophilia?” questioned Starr.
“Yeah. You know she doesn’t say a lot but I know what she’s feeling.
She’s afraid and she doesn’t want me to know - she doesn’t want me to feel
bad…” said Todd.
“Do you?” asked Starr.
“The only time I feel bad is when T.D. has to go the hospital…I guess…I
never really thought about it…” said Todd.
Starr wrinkled her brow, “But you do understand…?”
“Yeah,” said Todd defensively, “I understand. Téa feels rotten ‘cos she’s
the one passing on that stupid gene but you know what? I’m passing on some
unpleasantness too - dirty little secrets about my past. If I recall you
didn’t take it well when you found out about me. It took you a while to
deal with it. Trevor still thinks about it. And the twins - Well, I
dunno…they’ve taken it the best but it’s gonna’ break my heart, and Terri’s,
when I gotta’ tell her and I know how that feels. Rotten. So I know how
Téa feels. I understand it. Rotten.”
Starr swallowed. Without saying another word, she reached out and gave her
father a warm hug. She knew it wouldn’t elevate any of his immediate
worries but it would provide him a bit of comfort that he needed.
*****
Llanview High,
That afternoon…
Taylor Téa Delgado Manning walked into the school’s auditorium, threw her
books into one of the old fraying seats and walked backstage. She was very
preoccupied. Her mother, to whom she was close to was in the hospital. She
couldn’t help but worry if she was all right. And then there was…
“Hi Taylor.”
Taylor turned around as she walked onto the stage and came face to face
with Brady Buchanan.
Taylor ran her hand through her hair, “Look, Brady, not today, okay?”
Brady narrowed his eyes and stared at her. His look was intense and tinged
with a hint of longing and desire.
“What do you mean? I just said hi. You asked me to back off and I have…”
he replied.
“I’ve just got a lot on my mind that’s all,” mumbled Taylor.
“All right guys,” said Mr. Murdy one of the teachers that was supervising
the play, “We’re really staring to come together. This is our last practice
for this week. Next week, we’ll be conducting full dress rehearsals and
then the play kicks off the following week. Places, everyone.”
Taylor jumped up on the bedside prop. They were rehearsing the final
scenes between Romeo and Juliet where Romeo thinks Juliet is dead. As
Taylor and Brady took their cues and began their scenes, Starr quietly
walked in and took a seat in the front. It was her first play practice.
While she wasn’t aware of the details, she knew Taylor’s practices had to be
supervised and it had to do with Brady Buchanan. Starr didn’t like him too
much.
As she watched her younger sister act, she became very impressed with what
appeared to be a very natural ability Taylor had to connect with her
character. Starr also noticed that Brady…despite his faults…appeared to be
getting into what he was doing as well. And it dawned on Starr…
”Oh Sweet Love! Drank the whole vial and left none for me….”
She was no fool. She understood chemistry. Sparks. Attraction. And
Taylor and Brady had it - in spades. She watched as her younger sister
cradled Brady in her arms. Where those real tears?
Brady was shocked as he felt Taylor’s wet tears delicately fall onto his
face. Taylor was good. He kept his eyes closed, waiting for her to find
the knife.
“Taylor…” whispered Mr. Murdy, “The knife…”
Taylor sniffled and wiped her eyes but she didn’t look for the knife.
Starr stood up. Her sister was crying for real.
Brady opened his eyes and looked at Taylor as she sobbed. Instinctively,
he reached out and drew her into a hug.
“Hey, I’m not really dead. Don’t cry okay. I’m not worth it,” he
awkwardly said, “Remember, I’m the dick who beats up your sick brother for
kicks.”
Starr immediately grew concerned and scared for her sister. Brady was
hugging her!
Starr put her hands on the edge of the stage and pushed herself up onto it.
“Believe me, I know you’re not worth it,” said Taylor trying to compose
herself. She parted from Brady’s embrace and looked into his eyes.
Mr. Murdy handed her a tissue, “Taylor…? Are you all right?” he asked with
concern. Classmates gathered around and Starr put her hand on her sister’s
shoulder and scowled at Brady.
Brady let go of Taylor.
Taylor looked up into Starr’s eyes and wiped her face. Starr bent down and
hugged Taylor.
“Hey Big Tee girl, your mom is going to be okay…she is…I just came from the
hospital. She’s fine. She was sleeping. Everything’s okay…” said Starr.
Brady stood up, “Starr.”
“Brady,” said Starr looking at him harshly.
Taylor turned around and looked at her cast mates and Mr. Murdy.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I cried. I was just thinking of things that made me
sad and my mother’s in the hospital and I…I…really love her, you know?
She’s like my best friend…”muttered Taylor trying to apologize for her
tears.
“Is she okay Taylor?” asked Mr. Murdy.
“She’ll be fine,” said Starr helping Taylor to her feet.
Brady looked at the ground, “Sorry about your mother Taylor.”
He had wanted it to sound warmer and more sincere but he didn’t know how to
say it that way.
“Thanks, Brady,” she replied.
Mr. Murdy excused Taylor from practice and Starr took her to the hospital.
She kept her fears to herself concerning Taylor and Brady knowing full well
their father would be extremely upset to know about just how well Taylor and
Brady interacted with each other, but resolved to talk to Taylor about her
feelings.
TO BE CONTINUED….
