- - - - -
Zac sat on a tan black stool, looking back and forth between the clock and Davey. He wished it would ring already, meaning break time, he wanted to ditch Taylor so bad. The sooner he ditched Tay the sooner he could hit with Davey and not be scolded for his attempts because he was goofing off and not being serious. They were days ahead of schedule, and Taylor wanted to keep it that way.
"Dave, can we do that again? I don't think Ike hit the key." Tay said, speaking out of singing term. They were in mid-song, and Tay just had to speak up right.
"Why not? I went two ranges higher then necessary." Ike battled.
"Nah, I think Tay is right." Davey replied, a small smirk covering her face. She was going to scare Taylor shit-less, she just hope Zac would become angry enough to portray his act strong enough so Tay would believe him.
"Taylor's always right!" Zac said, his eyes darting back and forth between Ike and Davey. This was great. "God guys, haven't you gotten sick of Taylor always having his way? It's always 'do this' 'we need to finish this up by midnight'," Zac raged. Ah, this was good. Isaac and Davey smiled slightly, almost invisibly to each other. Zac gazed roughly at his older brother, watched the confusion wash over his face. "I mean, c'mon. He thinks he owns this freakin' place! Everything he says goes, and I'm fed up with dealing with his crap. Everything he has an opinion on, and its always picking on me and Ike. I'm finally standing up for this! My god, I'm so sick of it.!"
"What?" Taylor questioned, this wasn't fair. Is it so horrible that he questions things, in order to make them better? Is it such a crime? "How long have you felt this way?" his face went pale, and he felt incredibly hurt that Zac felt this way.
"Always! Everyone always recognizes you over me and Ike. Sure, you have a slightly higher roll then Ike and I, but you don't seem to realize that this isn't your team to lead." he trailed off, pleased with himself.
- - - - -
I watched through the window, and noted the reaction on Tay's face. He was hurt and shocked, and I wondered exactly was going on. All I really knew about this plan was that I was suppose to be outside the back door, where Taylor would exit from, and pull him aside, acting as if I were kidnapping him. Funny huh? Silently, I pulled up beside the door and got out of the car. My heart was beating a mile a minute, and I wondered how long I had to wait out here.
- - - - -
"I'm sorry Davey, Ike, but I have to do this." Zac said, sip forming on the sides of his mouth. Man, is he good or what? Davey said to herself, gazing amazingly at the one she slowly falling for. "Either Taylor leaves, or I'm gone." Taylor gasped, Isaac following suit.
"Zac!" Ike scolded, almost feeling bad. Taylor's body felt as if it were about to crumble, he couldn't understand why this was going on, why does his brother hate him so? "Don't do this to Taylor," he turned to face his other brother, "Zac, please."
"I'm serious." Zac replied, grabbing his jacket, and walking toward the door. As he slowed his approach, he wondered if Taylor was going to reject the option and refuse to let Zac leave. Was he going to speak up and leave, or just sit there and let him go? "I'm leaving." he stepped out into the doorway slowly.
"Wait. Don't." Taylor said, his voice breaking in agony. This wasn't happening, he wanted to think to himself. He felt as if he should be crying for his brother, they had never fought like this before, what could he have possibly done to bring this upon himself? "If this is really how you feel, I will leave." he said. Davey held back her smile, as she handed Taylor his bottle of water, silently saying her apologies.
"We'll talk later, I'm sorry Tay." Ike said, patting his brother on the back. Zac stepped aside, and avoided Taylor's confused, hurt gaze as he watched him exit the recording studio. Davey ran to the window, to spot me. She waved down to me, and I gave her a thumbs up to prove I was ready.
"I can't believe I just did that." Zac said, falling against the shut door.
"Good job, beautiful actor." Davey said, rolling her eyes and trying to hide the smile of admirance that suddenly threatened to wash over her.
- - - - -
I stood, waiting of the door to open. I heard a sob, and stepped away from the door. It flew open, and I saw Taylor rush out of it. I stepped into his path, grabbing him around the waist and bringing him close. He had tears in his eyes, and I instantly thought what I was doing wasn't good.
"Amanda? What are you doing here?" he questioned, stopping. I shushed him and dragged him into the car. I locked the door behind him and got in the driver's seat.
"I'm kidnapping you." I told him, before I turned on the radio, hoping he wouldn't question me. He sat, his head down, gazing at the floor. "Tay? What happened?" I asked him, wishing I hadn't asked him.
"I'm not up for being kidnapped, can we just go home?" he said, his voice was cracked and husky. If he weren't sad, I would have found it as a turn-on. I started the car, and instead of turning to go home like he had asked, I continued with my plans. I was bringing him to a hotel far out of Tulsa range. No one had the number of where we'd be except for Isaac, in case of an emergency.
"As much as I love you, I can't do that." I told him just before my car phone went off. It was hooked up so I could talk into thin air, and even be whispering, yet the person could still here me. It was a safe way of communicating when driving. "Already?" I whined, wondering why we weren't even three minutes into the kidnapping and I was being called. "Hello?" I asked, pressing it on.
"Hey Mands." It was Zac. "Is Tay with you yet?" I looked at Taylor, he nodded softly.
"Mm, yeah he is." I replied.
"Is he mad at me? He knows this was just a joke, right?" Instantly I saw Taylor perk up, as I entered the on-ramp to the highway.
"Davey never told me what you were gonna do. Why would he be mad?" I questioned my younger brother-in-law. *hehe* feels good to be able to say that, huh? I was trying to act as if Tay wasn't right next to me, even though I knew he was gazing at me.
"Yeah, well the plan was that I had to threaten to quit because I was fed up with him, because we all knew Tay would make the right choice, and he'd quit."
"Zac!" Taylor said, his eyes drying from the hidden tears. "How could you?"
"Man, god Tay, it was only because you needed a break, if anything you should be thanking me." Zac said. I rolled my eyes, trying to smile at Taylor, thinking maybe it would lighten the moment.
"That wasn't at all funny. I thought I had lost you, thats the worst feeling in the world." Tay replied, his hands running through his hair. He was mad, but not incredibly mad, 'cz if he were, he'd be turning beet red. Which, is a bad thing, believe me.
"I had no idea your plan was so heartbreaking' Zac! I wish you guys would have run it through me first." I said, finally getting my say in the conversation. I was upset, which wasn't good, because I almost missed my turn off. Thank god I realized it in time, and turned off the highway. The air was silent, before Taylor finally hung up the phone. "I'm sorry Tay, I didn't know what their plan was." I admitted, turning onto a few back roads. We were 40 minutes off the Tulsa highway now, almost toward the Inn I was taking him too.
"That joke wasn't the least bit funny."
"I wasn't laughing."
"God, that pisses me off how they call that a joke. I really thought I had quit." Tay said. I reached for his hand, smiling.
"I'm sorry Tay, baby, I didn't know it was going to hurt you. I never knew the plan, Davey came up with it so we could finally be alone for alittle while." Tay smiled at me, leaning over to kiss me. I tilted my head and allowed him to kiss my cheek, just before we reached the Inn.
- - - - -
Davey watched Zac pace the room, the cell phone still in his hand. "I can't believe he hung up on me." Zac stated.
"It could have been Mandy." Ike replied, rolling his eyes. Davey shushed Ike, and shooed him away. Ike followed the command, and left the room.
"Zac," Davey spoke, her voice soft and tender, "It'll be okay, Mandy will tell him what was going on, he can't be mad for long."
"How do you know? You bearly know him."
"But I know you, and I know you wouldn't have done that if it weren't me asking you." Davey said.
"True." Zac replied, stopping in front of Davey. "Can I ask you something?" he asked, watching her lift herself so she were standing even with him.
"Zac," she spoke, "look, if this worries you so much, let me make it up to you."
"How?" he asked her, thinking she couldn't know what he wanted.
"Tomorrow night, we'll leave early to go out for dinner, that new place down town. Okay? Say you'll come, give me this chance to prove to you the plan was just for fun." Davey leaned close, her mouth moments away from his.
"Alright." he leaned forward, pressing his mouth to hers. Her lips, he couldn't help but notice, tasted like strawberries and bananas. He felt her bring her hands to his chest, as he ran his hands up to her face and hair, getting ready to open his mouth to her.
"Hey guys, dinner's here!" Isaac called, walking into the room. He saw them, and instantly turned around, "Opps." he laughed.
