Chapter Ten
The plane landed forty five minutes later. After they got their bags, they found their way to her car.
"This is it." She said, slightly embarrassed, motioning to a silver 2003 Altima. Popping the trunk, she threw her bag in. Taylor followed suit.
"It's nice."
"I guess, since I don't use it much." They got in, and Madi immediately turned off the stereo.
"You can leave it on," Taylor told her, smiling.
"Okay, but maybe not so loud." She laughed. "Don't be angry, I'll pay you for them. I mean, I was going to in Vegas, but I blanked when I saw you, so here." She pulled an enveloped card out of her door pocket.
"What's this for?"
"This." She turned her radio on, and there it was. One of Hanson's pet peeves. The second verse of Breaktown drifted through the speakers.
"Oh." Now was a good chance to make her squirm again. He looked down at the card, turned it over in his hand as she sat, watching him.
"I know that you don't like fans having unreleased songs, but they're so good and-" she stopped suddenly, mid sentence when he looked up at her agian. He could see her eyes cloud, go wairy and worried at the same time. Then they turned to panic. "And they're perfect to me, and I know I shouldn't have them..." she looked down at her hands, slightly ashamed. He flew out here with her, and here she was, offending him not half an hour off of the plane. She felt the lump form in her throat. "But I love them," she said quietly.
"Madi." She looked at him slowly. He could see the guilt and distress. It broke his heart, the one he didn't know was this involved. "It's okay." He reached over and caressed her cheek. She searched his eyes, looking for reassurance, for truth. "It is."
"But I also feel bad because I found out about most of them through the forums on hnet, so they have them too, and you don't have money to show for them."
"Madi, it's not always about the money. I'm glad you love them."
"But I was thinking," Madi said with optimisim in her voice, "that maybe, you know how on your myspace page you can buy the albums, and a couple singles?" He nodded. "That you could do something like that, with the songs that are collecting dust, waiting for their chance on an album, but are leaked anyway." She began to drive. "I mean, I'd gladly go back and pay for them, because then they'd be official, not just random. And when you do find a spot for them, put them in. I know you've said that those not on an album probably aren't finished yet, so finish them and put them on. Or change them around a little. Like the different versions of 'Got A Hold On Me', 'I've Been Down' and 'Something Going Round'." She glanced over at Taylor, waiting for a reponse. He was looking out his window, watching the brown dirt, scraggly trees and random cactus passing. After a minute, she let it drop, and concentrated on drivin, hoping she hadn't made him angry.
"That's a good idea. I'll run it by Zac and Ike." He looked over at her and saw her shoulders relax. "You seem so tense, Madi." He noticed her lower lip tremble briefly before she bit it to keep it still.
"It's just-" she took a deep breath, willing her voice steady. "You flew all the way out here, with me, and I don't want to blow it." There. She'd confessed. Automatically she felt better for having said it. Taylor laughed gently, laying a hand on her leg.
"Believe me. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be, and I wouldn't be here if I didn't think there was anything between us. I think there is. Don't you?" She looked at him quickly.
"Yes. But I already know that I love you." He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "And I'm not just saying that because you're you. I know that sounds terrible, like a crazy stalking teeny bopper. I'm going to stop now before I embarrass myself further. Okay, maybe just a little more, then I can take you back to the airport if you want. Ever since we kissed in the cab-"
"It was real. It is real." He cut in. "And you don't have to turn around."
"Good, 'cause we're here."
"I bet you didn't know that I believe in love at first sight. Crush, lust, of course those too, but this is real, and I know it." He took both of her hands in his. With that the single tear escaped from her eye. He reached up to brush it away, just barely accepting what he'd just said, and scared about it.
"Hey, I'm a romantic, so do you mind if we have this beautiful moment in some other place then my parking lot?" She gave half a smile, and Taylor burst out laughing.
"Alright. Let's go." They got out and got their bags.
Chapter Eleven