Chapter Eleven

~ ~ TAYLOR ~ ~

Ike and I left for LA the day before Claire was due to arrive in Tulsa, he planned on staying with me for a couple of days then flying on to New York to see Sarah. Sarah was Ike's girlfriend, she didn't get to see a lot of him, but never moaned and was always faithful, I envied his relationship with Sarah, whenever he needed her, even if it was just to talk he knew she was there for him.. We had a great time, spent a few hours a day at the beach playing soccer, swimming and even managed a bit of surfing.

We managed to get some great writing done, we were really excited about the songs we wrote, the pain of my personal life showing through In the songs, we even spent time putting a tune to the words. At night we got drunk and had some real heart to heart chats. It was nice to spend a bit of time alone with Ike. He'd really taken the father role while we were away on business, making sure Zac and i didn't get up to our usual mischief. We didn't seem as close as we used to be lately, so it was nice to have the chance to catch up. I never got to spend any real quality time with him.

The night before Ike went to NY, we were eating and he sort of confronted the whole Crystal situation. "Penny for your thoughts Tay", his voice rang in my head and I snapped out of the daze I was in. I looked over and smiled.

"Looks to me like that was a Crystal moment, am I right?" "Err… yeah I guess it was". I confessed.

"How you doing anyway, I've been a little surprised worried even about how well you've taken this break-up Tay, or is it all a front for everyone else's benefit". I looked at him, a little shocked, Ike always knew what was going on in my head, it frightened me at times. "Well, I'm handling it, if that's what you're asking". I didn't want to let him know what I was planning, so I was as vague as I could be.

"Tay, I can stay a few more days if you want the company, or I could ask Sarah to come here to stay with us". I wanted to jump to answer him to put him off, but the last thing I wanted was to have Ike suspicious as well as Zac. So I pretended to think about it for a while then replied. "Nah… it's fine Ike, you go and spend some time alone with Sarah, the last thing you want is to have me hanging around like a prize gooseberry. Besides I want to have a few days alone to think, get my head straight …….you know what I mean don't you?"

"Well if your sure, Tay, I really wouldn't mind, but a few days alone with Sarah would be great, it's been a while and I can't wait to be alone with her". I looked up smiling and wiggled my eyebrows, "I bet you can't". He chuckled and rolled his eyes, his cheeks going a delicate shade of pink. "You go and have fun Ike you deserve it, I'll meet you back home Saturday. He smiled quite satisfied that I'll be okay alone.

What I did find funny the minute we got through the door, Zac had phoned the apartment to make sure we had arrived safely, personally i think it was more a case of to make sure we were actually coming to LA. I thought Zac was going to be checking up on me so I thought I'd call him when Ike leaves to check in and to stop him trying to call me.

When I dropped Ike off at the Airport, I told him I had been invited to join Andy on his boat for a few days. I said I might go, so if he was going to call me, to phone me on my mobile. Andy was a studio technician we knew, we had become quite friendly with him over the last year or so. Ike and I had been on his boat a few times, so this wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary.

When I got back to the apartment I packed my things and made sure everywhere was tidy. Now to check in with Zac I thought, I rang him he wasn't at home, so I dialled his mobile number. "Hi Zac it's Tay, I just thought I'd ring see how things are going?, is Claire enjoying her stay". "Err…yeah she is, how's things with you and Ike? " " Oh good, Ike just left for New York, he's gone to see Sarah for a few days, I'm gonna meet him back home on Saturday".

"Oh really, so what you gonna be up to on your own". His suspicion was real that was for sure. "I'm going sailing with Andy for a few days, that's what I was ringing about, I didn't want you to worry if you couldn't catch me at the apartment. So I'm ringing to let you know I've got my mobile with me should you need to contact me. I know how you worry about me", the hint of sarcasm in that last sentence made me chuckle.

"Oh Okay, well have fun, I better go Claire's calling me". "Well, fine then Zac, before you go, has Claire called her mom?" "Yes she spoke to her last night, why?" "I just wanted to know if she's okay, I was going to ask you to call her if Claire hadn't, because she doesn't answer the phone when I call, I've been a bit worried about her being on her own and all". I didn't want him to think I'd been talking to Crystal, which I haven't. "She's fine Tay, she's been training a lot for the marathon, so she's fairly occupied, don't worry about her". That last comment made my temper ignite slightly, but I wasn't about to show it. "okay, as long as she's good, speak to you in a few days Zac, Bye". How could he think I wouldn't worry about Crystal.

"First class passengers for Flight 9247 to London, please report to gate 22". The boarding call for my flight was announced just as I had booked in my luggage. Sitting on the plane I now had to plan the next stage, I was proud of myself for managing to get away, and for fooling Zac and Ike for that matter. It has all gone according to plan, I'd contacted Andy, He was going to confirm I was with him if he was called.

But that was as far as my mind had planned. Now I'm on my way to see Crystal I had no idea how I was going to handle it when I got there. All I had to do was win Crystal back, this time for good. That much I knew, but how do I go about it, how do I get her to see that Claire was wrong, and there's no problem us being together. I need to get her to see that if Claire loved Zac she wouldn't finish with him, so we could be together and Claire and Zac would sort out their own problems, and I have no doubt they will.