CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
MEL
Cabo San Lucas.
It was probably the most beautiful place Mel had ever seen. The plane ride was long and Jason was nice enough to let her have the window seat since he had seen his fair share of tropical geography.
The plane ride was also peaceful. She enjoyed having Jason as a travel companion. He was quiet, he was considerate, he was a gentleman. And he slept like a baby. He had told her once before that he sometimes got his best sleep on a plane and he wasn't kidding. Something about sitting on this plane next to Jason felt right. Not the same kind of right as it would have been if it had been Taylor sitting there instead. But still right. She couldn't really put her finger on it but she wasn't really sure she cared to explore it, either.
Upon picking up the rental car, the clerk had handed Mel the keys to a sedan when Jason, who had been silent during the transaction, suddenly spoke up. "Wait, wait, a sedan? You're giving us a sedan?"
Mel felt herself turning red. "Uh, Jason, it's really not a big deal."
"No, no, now wait a minute," he said to her. He leaned on the counter and flashed the desk clerk one of his signature, award-winning smiles. "We are in exotic Cabo San Lucas. Surely this lovely young lady can provide us with a vehicle more suited to enjoying this beautiful peninsula."
Mel could practically see the poor girl melting right before her eyes.
Ten minutes later, Jason was behind the wheel of a red, door-less, topless Jeep with Mel riding shotgun. Mel was hysterical with laughter. "Does that work every time?"
He grinned at her as he started the engine. "I only use it on desperate occasions."
Still laughing, Mel responded. "I don't know if this would hardly be considered desperate."
"Are you kidding?" he asked as he began to drive away.
The pair were exhausted and Mel had decided that they might as well stay in the vacation home that was left to her while it was still hers. The attorney had given her the keys the day the deeds were signed over and she had to admit, she was sort of excited to see what she was getting into. As they rode, the hot sun burned her skin and the wind blew her hair in fifty different directions. It felt wonderful. She felt as if all of the stress and worry and toxins from her feelings for Tay were swiftly leaving her body. She wasn't sure if it was being in another country and literally being far, far away from her problems or if it was the hot sun and the gorgeous blue water that did it, but she had never felt so free in her life.
When they pulled up to the house, it appeared like less of a house and more like a villa. It was one story and not quite as large as Mel's Tulsa home, but certainly large enough to be comfortable. The house was white with a brown roof and boasted a mass amount of open patio space. This house was obviously intended for entertaining.
It was located on the beach of Cabo. Mel wondered how Bernice Bradshaw had managed to get her hands on a property so private and secluded and all the way down on the beach, when she saw so many properties built into all the craggy cliffs above them.
As they rounded the outside of the house they found the pool in the back and Mel's breath momentarily left her. The pool overlooked a completely unobstructed view of Cabo's gorgeous ocean and El Arco off in the
distance. She was in paradise. She stole a glance over at Jason who was busy looking around as well. Here she was, with the perfect house, the perfect location, and the perfect tropical man to match. It was as if the
stars aligned in her favor. But her mind constantly drifted to Tay. He would have loved it here. He would have found endless opportunities to be romantic, holding her under the stars, a private picnic on the beach--he could be so incredibly sweet sometimes. She realized she missed him terribly. And the kiss and what he had said--she was still so rattled by it all. She wanted desperately to believe him but he still never said he was prepared to end his marriage and that bothered her. It didn't seem right.
Suddenly Jason spoke, a welcome interruption in Mel's train of thought. "So this is yours?"
Mel sighed, taking it in. "Yep. All mine."
"And you're selling it?"
"Yep?"
"Why?"
Mel looked at Jason, matter-of-factly. "Do I really need my un-dead husband's dead family's property?"
Jason gazed out at the beach again. "I guess when you put it that way."
Mel smiled at him. "Think of this as a mini vacation. It's only four days, but it's four days in Cabo." She breathed in the beach air and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sure you could use a little R&R before you ship out to Ireland."
He looked over at her and smiled. "Well I can't argue with you there."
They spent the rest of the afternoon and that night holed up in the house and hanging out by the pool. They stood at the side of the pool, facing the beach at sunset, taking in the breath-taking view of the sun setting on the water with El Arco silhouetted in the orange light off to the side. Mel could have watched that sun set for hours. She and Jason looked at each other and she smiled at him. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said.
"I've seen better."
Mel scoffed. "Really? You've seen better? Well, I guess Hawaii does have some pretty nice sunsets."
"I wasn't talking about the sunset."
Mel's body immediately tensed up in fear. It was a feeling she was beginning to be all too familiar with. She realized that Jason's face was all seriousness--not a trace of a smile anywhere. She silently prayed.
"Mel, I'm not going to make promises to you that I can't keep," he continued. "And I'll never say a word to you that I don't mean. You know that."
She had nothing else better to say than, "Um, I appreciate that."
"I know what's going on with you and Taylor."
Mel was stunned. Absolutely floored. WHY must everyone keep dropping these goddamn bombshells on her like this? "How--how do you always KNOW all this stuff?"
"It doesn't matter. I just do. And I understand it. I understand your position and I know where you stand. You're the best friend I have, Mel. Honestly. I don't want to ruin that." He smiled and lifted her arm. "I mean, hell, we have matching tattoos for fuck's sake."
She smiled a half smile as he continued. "I don't dislike the guy. I don't. He actually seems like he could be pretty cool. But he pisses me off because he's an idiot. I mean, sure his wife is cute and all but she's not you. And it's stupid for him to make you feel the way you do."
"But, Jason I--haven't told you--we haven't--"
"Come on," he responded, skeptically.
"Then why do you stay?"
He was silent for a moment before he spoke. "I'm riding a very thin line here with you. I didn't lie when I said I couldn't commit to you. And that's still true. But even if it weren't, you and I?" he motioned to the both of them. "Can never happen."
Mel could only stare in disbelief.
"And it's not because I don't want it to. It's because I know I'll never truly have all of you. You and I could go elope right now and live the rest of our lives happily ever after and I still wouldn't have all of you because your heart will still be with him. And I can't take you away with me if I can't have every piece of you. And I accept that, wholeheartedly. It wouldn't be right. But no matter what, despite everything, you're still my best friend. And I could never stay away from you."
Mel felt...emotion. She felt a sense of sadness and a sense of relief all at the same time. She felt freedom. She felt happiness and joy. SOMEONE had FINALLY told her where they stood with her and how things were going to be. She was so grateful she almost cried.
Resting his forearms on the side of the pool, looking out at the now dark beach, he turned his head to look at her again and now she saw that familiar sparkle in his eye as he smiled and winked at her. "But I'm still gonna fuck the hell out of you every chance I get."
Mel blushed fiercely, out of excitement she knew, and bit her lip. "I'm still gonna let you."
That night Mel and Jason didn't have sex. It was almost weird not to. But she did allow him to hold her as she drifted off to sleep.
___________________________________________
The next day, Mel walked around inspecting the house. The appraiser was scheduled to come that morning and then after that she had a meeting with the realtor. After that, the rest of the trip belonged to her and
Jason.
Dressed in a simple pair of shorts and V-neck t-shirt, Mel was so busy inspecting corners and looking for ceiling cracks that she barely noticed Jason as he crossed her line of vision. She did a double-take and her heart stopped. No matter what she felt about whom, one thing would never change and that was how absolutely gorgeous this man was. He dressed simply in a pair of cargo shorts and a loose-fitted, white, button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up quarter length. She had a secret weakness for quarter-length
sleeves she just couldn't deny. His long hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. His dark, Hawaiian skin radiated from beneath the white of his shirt. It was all she could do to keep her composure.
When the appraiser showed up, Mel was a bit surprised to find that she was female. And white. She looked middle-aged, early 40s, with a simple, sandy blonde shoulder-length cut, dressed in a business suit and low
heels. As the women entered the living room, Jason walked in and took a position beside Mel. The woman looked up at Jason and smiled, reached out, and shook his hand. "This must be your husband," she said to
Mel.
Mel didn't know what came over her at that very moment but before she could think to stop it from coming out, she told the woman, "Uh, we're not married." Then she turned and looked up at Jason. "Why does everyone always ask me that?"
Taking the bait, Jason shrugged his shoulders and looked down at her, calm as a cucumber. "I dunno. I guess we're just made for each other."
Mel shrugged as well. "Hm. I guess so."
Jason looked the appraiser dead on, a boyish gleam in his eye. "We probably ought to be married, though. The sex is magnificent."
Mel nodded at the appraiser in agreement. "Oh, yes. It's fabulous."
The appraiser stared back at the both of them, eyes wide in shock. "Um, okay then!" she said, finally. "I'm just going to take a few pictures outside then work my way in. I won't be long at all." It seemed as if she couldn't get outside fast enough.
Not able to hold it in any longer, Jason and Mel burst into uncontrollable laughter. Mel punched him in the arm. "What the fuck was that?"
"What? You started it! And she was asking for it anyway, come on."
"I guess she won't assume so much with her next appraisal."
______________________________________________________
After the meeting with the realtor, Mel felt another weight lifted off her shoulders as they rode down a road that overlooked the ocean. "And you're sure you want to sell it?" Jason asked for about the millionth time over the wind as he drove.
"Yes!" She said back. She spied a break in the cliffs and had the sudden urge to see the sights. "Pull over!" She said suddenly.
Jason pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road and Mel wasted no time getting out. Jason joined her at the side of the cliff. If they looked down, they stared directly at the water. When they looked out, they spied
water as far as the eye could see. It was so blue, they could barely tell where the sky ended and the water began.
"I don't necessarily want to sell it," Mel said as they peered over the cliffs and out into the ocean. "But I need to. I need to get rid of it all. Just wash away the Bradshaw and start over with the Banks."
Jason nodded in understanding. "I can respect that. I'm proud of you, Banks," he said. "You're really taking your life by the horns. Looks good on you."
Mel took a deep breath and smiled. "I am, aren't I? I feel so free right now. I really needed this trip. I need the clear mind. The clear conscience..."
Jason stood comfortably, arms crossed over his chest. He took a side glance at her. "We're not gonna be in Cabo forever," he said. "What happens once you land in Tulsa?"
Mel sighed. "Well, he's had a week without me there. Maybe he will have some grand revelation or some shit, but I doubt it. Honestly. Everything will be the same."
Jason chuckled to himself. "I can't believe I'm fucking saying this. Maybe he needs reassurance from you. Maybe he's afraid to give his wife the old heave ho because he is unsure that you'll be there to break the
fall."
"That would be stupid. He knows. He's always known. That's why I'm such a worthless, fucked up mess."
"But has it actually come out of your mouth?"
Mel scowled at him. He was right. And this wasn't fun anymore. "I thought we were, like, friends with benefits and shit?"
Jason laughed, amused. "Consider this the friend part."
"You're making me think too much," Mel pouted.
He took another side glance at her. "Then stop thinking."
And that was when she jumped.
______________________________________________
I'm blind with eyes wide open
My body's tired and broken
I want a taste of something
That doesn't leave me dry
This hope for answered questions
As rare as true conviction
I stare into the distance
There is no truth in sight
Who can tell me why
Everybody's looking for a Blue Sky
Searching for an answer on a satellite
I know that there's got to be a Blue Sky out there to see
A Blue Sky waiting for me
I've seen the main attraction
I've felt the moment's passion
I won't be no soap box teacher
Just taking your time
Who can tell me why
Everywhere I go
I feel like I'm always searching for something
Till I know for sure
I'll be right here waiting for something more
DREW
Drew was sitting in Mel's office at 3CG, responding to emails and milling around on the band's website when Taylor knocked on the door. "Hey, Drew, you got plans for lunch today?"
Clicking out of the window that was pulled up on the computer, she said to him, "Uh, no, actually I don't. You're actually taking one today?" She was referring to the fact that for the past few days the guys had
sequestered themselves deep, deep in their studio, never to see the light of day.
He laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair. "Uh, yeah. Developing a little cabin fever, I think. So you wanna go to lunch?"
Drew locked up the office and half an hour later they sat across from each other at a local diner.
Drew shrugged her shoulders and smiled, looking around. "I've missed this place. I can't believe it hasn't crossed my mind to come here."
Tay smiled in agreement. "Yeah. We had a lot of fun times here, didn't we?" As a group Drew and Tay, along with Isaac, Zac, and Mel, spent a lot of time in this diner. Because they were young teenagers and at the height of their success, Diana tended to panic when they went off alone when they were at home. But as long as they were at the diner, they could stay out as long as they wanted.
Taylor continued. "Look, Drew, about last week--"
"No, Tay, let me start," she cut him off. "I'm sorry I went off on you in the parking lot like that. I'm dealing with some things myself and it wasn't fair to use you as a scapegoat for them. I had no right saying what I said."
"But that's just it," he said. "You had every right because you were right in everything you said. I am having a hard time with this because I really do have feelings for Natalie, though they may not be near what they are for Mel. But they're still there. And after ten years, how easy do you think that is to walk away from? And then--and then I have to wonder--if I do it, if I actually decide to do it...will she be there?"
"Why wouldn't she be?" Drew asked.
"Drew, she's in Cabo with him!"
She narrowed her eyes at him in realization. "This is about Jason."
Taylor sighed and ran both his hands through his hair and looked across at Drew. "What does he have that I don't?"
Drew nearly choked on her food. She couldn't hold back her snickering. "Besides the obvious?"
He furrowed his brow at her.
Collecting herself, she continued. "I had the opportunity to actually witness them together before they left last weekend. He relaxes her. He lets her be herself. He doesn't pressure her or try to control her or change her. There's no stress and no tension there."
"So I'm an asshole."
Drew couldn't help but laugh. "You're not an asshole. You just have baggage. Tay, I promise you don't have to worry about the two of them. She loves you and she's gonna be there. Just make sure you don't DRIVE her away."
"I know," he said, shaking his head shamefully. "This week since she's been gone, it's given me a lot of time to think. I've been pushing her really hard and it's not fair to her. Not when it's me that has the real problem."
"You and Mel are always going to pressure each other and challenge each other. It's just who you are, it's how your relationship works. You wouldn't be Tay and Mel if there weren't a few fireworks every now and then."
Tay smiled in response. Then he was serious again. "She comes home in a few days. What do I do? Where do I go from here?"
Drew thought for a moment. "Um...I think what she needs is to not come home to all the heavy emotional...stuff I don't see the point in beating a dead horse with her if you aren't ready to make a decision yet. You're the one here holding onto all the baggage. If you haven't noticed, she's been working hard to get rid of all of hers. Don't let your baggage bring her down. Don't make it hers."
"Oh my GOD," he said, frustrated, his face in his hands. "You're telling me to leave her alone. You are telling me to do the impossible."
"I'm not telling you to leave her alone. I'm telling you that if you really care about her, you'll respect her and her feelings. That includes Jason."
Tay sighed. "I don't hate him. That's the honest truth. The truth is, I wish I was him. I wish I was the one she ran to, and made her laugh, and--"
"But you are. You're the one she called to come out to New York that week. You are. She didn't call Jason. She called you. She really does love you--I shouldn't have to sit here and convince you of that. Basically, Tay, you're worrying too much. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Snap out of it!"
"Okay, I'm gonna do it," he said. "I'm gonna keep it to myself. I'm gonna fight my own battles. I don't want her to resent me and I don't want to drive her away." Tay smiled at her triumphantly. "Now let's work on you and Zac."
This time Drew dropped her fork. The loud clang of silver on ceramic quickly woke her from the shock. "Excuse me?"
"Zac misses you."
"I know."
"And I know you miss him."
"Of course I do."
"So what about it?"
"What about what?"
"You and him?"
"Um...we don't...it's not...he's not gonna leave Kate."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Do you know something I don't?"
"Well, no."
"I have to accept the fact that it's not going to happen. He has kids, too. If I know Zac as well as I think I do, and I know Zac, he's just too damn loyal. He's not going to leave his wife for me. I don't expect him to and I wouldn't ask him to."
"Well I know Zac, too. He's my brother. And I'll tell you, he's just as conflicted as I am. I wouldn't write him off just yet."
"Tay, I leave in a week. Don't give me false hope like that."
"Do you ever talk about the way you feel about each other?"
"Um, well--a little. But as you can see, we're happy and we're okay with the way things are. That's why you and Mel are having these issues and we aren't. Because we don't feel the need to talk about it all the time."
"Yeah but Mel and I know where we stand with each other. We may not like it all the time and it may kill us sometimes, but at least we know."
Drew scowled at Tay. "I thought we came here to talk about you?"
Taylor shrugged. "I thought we came here to just talk?"
Drew wasn't thrilled with the direction the conversation had taken. Tay didn't know what the hell he was talking about. She and Zac totally knew where they stood with each other. Right?
____________________________________________
I heard you crying
Somebody stole my soul
How could I be dying?
I turned twenty five days ago
We're all on the ground just crying out
Would somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tomorrow brings
I'm Dying To Be Alive
I'm Dying To Be Alive
Let's not go through our lives
Without just Dying To Be Alive
The people you've touched
The way you've touched them
I hope they've touched you, too
Cause in this life it's hard to tell
What false and what is true
We're all on the ground crying out
Would somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tomorrow brings
I'm Dying To Be Alive
Not trying to just survive
Let's not go through our lives
Without just dying to be alive
And we all come tumbling down
No matter how strong
We all return to the ground
Another day gone
A day closer to fate
And soon we'll find it's a little bit too late
The things you see, the way you see them
Will never be seen again
Let's go through life, living on luck
Betting ten thousand to ten
Mistakes I've made in this life
I can't way why or when
But the thing that's strange is you only live once
I'll never look back again
And we all come tumbling down
No matter how strong we all return to the ground
In the days to come you'll say why did I wait
You can't just leave your life up to fate
You got to turn it around before it's too late
MEL
Mel came up out of the water, shocked at herself and complete exhilarated at the same time. She looked up at the cliff she jumped off of and was startled at just how high up it actually was. She wiped the water out of
her face and looked all over the cliffs for Jason but he was nowhere to be found.
Her heart began to beat rapidly. She hoped he had not gone for help. She hadn't meant to make him think--
Suddenly the sound of the water changed behind her and she realized she wasn't alone. She whipped around to see Jason shaking the water out of his hair and slicking it back out of his face. "Goddamn it, woman!" he
said, swimming over to her. "You're fucking crazy as hell!"
She felt herself grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. "Holy shit! That was the most amazing thing I've ever done! EVER!!"
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Still grinning, she shook her head. "I wasn't! You told me not to and I didn't! And then I jumped and it was fucking FANTASTIC!! I mean, the rush--it was unreal!!"
Jason laughed. "You sound like me the first time I ever cliff dived."
"I bet you're some kind of pro."
"My cousins and I used to compete against each other. Nothing serious."
"Wow..." was all she could say. Treading the water, she took in her surroundings. "Oh my god," she said. "It's one thing to just look at all this, but to actually be in the middle of it? This is unbelieveable..."
Looking around, they realized that not only were they closer to the beach than they thought, but also on the beach was an enormous, craggy cliff-like structure that was part of El Arco, the gorgeous rock formation that could practically be seen from all over Cabo. The majority of the rock formation they now swam to was on the beach, but the tip of it extended out into the water. In the middle of a formation was what resembled a valley, extending all the way up to the top. The bottom of this valley provided excellent climbing and sitting space.
Mel and Jason swam as far as they could to the structure until they could feel the sand beneath their feet and they walked the rest of the way, exploring their surroundings. Finally, they picked a spot in the sun about three or four feet off the ground that provided a small bit of flat rock just big enough for them to share and which happened to provide excellent footing all around the area. Mel was glad she had made the decision to wear her swimsuit under her clothes and before she sat, she removed her soaked white t-shirt and khaki
shorts, revealing the simple red bikini she wore underneath. She fell in love with this bikini when she had tried it on because of how awesome she thought it looked with her long, dark hair. She honestly didn't think she would ever have an excuse to wear it.
She noticed Jason watching her as she undressed but she smiled to herself as she knew he would be disappointed. She stopped undressing after the shirt and shorts. As she sat down beside Jason, stretching out as much as she could on the craggy rock for maximum sun exposure, she looked over at him and, for the first time, noticed how the sun caused the water to glisten off his dark, Hawaiian skin.
She could have died right then.
Instead she asked, "Did you lose your shirt in the water?"
Jason smiled over at her, amused. "Unlike you, I had a couple of seconds longer to prepare for this little impromptu adventure. It's somewhere up there on the side of the road."
Mel followed his gaze to the top of the cliff they had jumped off of. "How are we going to get back up there?"
Jason let out a small laugh. "I actually have no idea."
The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the sound of the ocean and the peace and serenity that surrounded them. The sun burned Mel's skin, but the burn had never felt so good. She could have sat right there on that rock forever--or at least until her rear end was numb.
Suddenly, she felt Jason's fingers behind her, lightly caressing the small of her back. She stole a sideways glance at him and he wasn't even looking at her. It was like a mindless action for him. Seemed innocent
enough. Please, who was she kidding? This was Jason. Nothing was innocent when he touched her.
And then, as nimbly as if he'd done it a hundred times, he pulled a single string on her bikini, completely releasing the back. Mel jumped and covered her front, laughing. "Jason!" she scolded, looking over at him, expecting his smile to match hers.
Except he wasn't smiling. She knew the look in his eye. This was happening. Startled, she looked at their surroundings. This was impossible, was what it was.
She looked back over at Jason. He wasn't messing around. Slowly, she released her arm from her chest, letting her top hand loosely around her neck. The feeling of lust overtook her body almost instantly as he
leaned over and tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her, his tongue exploring the depth of her mouth. His hand drifted down her neck and cupped her small breast in his large hand. As he massaged her breast and
allowed her nipple to harden between his fingers, Mel's breathing picked up rapidly and her heart began to race. She was extremely turned on, but broke their kiss long enough to express one concern: "Someone's gonna see us." She was right. The part of the rock they were on was so far out in the open, they could be seen from just about every angle and distance possible. There was no way they could have been more exposed than right now.
"Look around," his deep voice breathed quietly in her ear as the back of his hand slowly made its way from her breast further down her body. Mel tensed up in pleasure at his touch. "We're the only ones here. It's
just us and the ocean."
His hand reached it's destination between her legs and she spread her legs a little to accommodate him. He kissed her as he massaged her through her bikini bottom and the entire situation made her want to lose her mind. She reached up with both hands and let her hands grip fistfuls of his hair on the back of his head, gently tugging as she deepened their kiss. The better his hand made her feel, the more she realized she couldn't kiss him deep enough.
She found herself begin to whimper in need inside his mouth and he quickly pulled the strings on either side of her bikini bottom and aggressively pulled the untied front down, exposing her completely to the sun. Positioning himself on a lower rock to better reach her, he placed both of her legs over his shoulders and began to work on her with his tongue. The moment his warm mouth took her, she cried out, her voice echoing off of the cliff behind them. She didn't care anymore.
She nearly lost her mind and she cried out louder when his fingers entered her. Now working with both his tongue and his fingers, it took her mere minutes to finish and she felt herself pulsating all around his
fingers. He never stopped until her breathing subsided.
Lifting his head and flipping his long brown hair to one side, he lightly slapped the outside of her thigh, and said, "Turn around.
Obediently, she did as commanded, quickly picking up her bikini bottom and strategically placing it under her knee. She was thankful for this action, as he then turned her body at an angle, lifted her free leg and let her knee hook his neck. The position he took on the rocks below her not only allowed for perfect penetration, but allowed him to be fully inside her.
She cried out again as he penetrated her and as she felt him bottoming out in her it hurt her a little but it hurt so good. There was something in that mild pain that felt so savage and, surprisingly, it turned her on and she found herself begging for more.
Jason gave her what she wanted and more and it was over within minutes. She couldn't help but think for just a slight second that if something actually happened with Taylor and she got back together with him, how would she be able to stay away from hot sex like this? Then again, she had yet to have sex with Taylor in ten years--she didn't know what his skills were anymore. And maybe she could teach him a thing or two. It could be fun...
Her train of thought was gladly interrupted when Jason turned her around and kissed her once more. It was the perfect cool down exercise to the intense workout they had just finished. Naked, having sex with the
Hawaiian Sex God in the sun on a rock in the middle of paradise...could Cabo get any better?
_________________________________________________
I am taking a chance
Walking with my laces loose
Wrapped up, taking the maze
That everybody's running through
I'm sick of black tie
Nickel and dime
We're going through the roof
I'm not a wise man
But I see the haze
And this is what I'm gonna do
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
There's a fine line
You walk everyday
Cause somebody told you to
A white lie
You can't erase
Now you're gonna have to choose
You know a blind man
Won't show he way
But he can tell you what it's coming to
Apparently, it could.
The next day Jason and Mel decided to explore some of Cabo's local economy. It was a good day. They shopped, they saw the sights, took a few pictures. That evening, as they walked back to the Jeep, they were
approached by a Mexican man selling random trinkets. He carried a couple of windsocks, had several watches on his wrists and in his shirt pockets carried a few lacy hand fans for women. They were about to tell the man they weren't interested when Mel spied the hand fans. Not able to resist, she found herself saying, "Ooooh, I love these! Can I see one?"
"Mel--" Jason tried to stop her, but it was too late. The Mexican smiled excitedly and handed her a gorgeous blue fan. She opened it up about halfway when she saw it.
Very strategically wrapped was a bag of marijuana taped flat to the inside of one of the slats on the fan. She looked up at the Mexican and he raised his eyebrows at her enthusiastically and smiled. "You like?"
Mel did not smoke marijuana. As a matter of fact, Mel had never done a drug in her life. It wasn't that she was against drugs, they just weren't very high on her priority list. To her astonishment, the thought actually crossed her mind. She and Jason glanced at each other. For the first time since she'd met him, she spied a look of uncertainty on his face as well.
"Uh..." Mel started, not knowing what to say.
Jason's uncertainty was short-lived. Instead a small grin flashed across his face and he said, "Fuck it. You only live once, right? How much?"
The Mexican looked as if his night had been made and five minutes later, Mel and Jason were driving down the road with their ill-gotten booty.
"Oh my god," Mel laughed. "Are you a regular smoker?"
Taking his eyes off the road long enough to smirk at her and shake his head, he said, "Hell no. I've only done it once or twice a long time ago. But tonight we're stopping for a bottle of tequila and then we're gonna go home and light that shit up."
This made Mel laugh even harder. Jason was something else entirely. She felt corrupted and she loved it. She could see that she could easily get used to this freedom. She had had a lot of firsts with him. Her first one-night stand (or so she thought at the time), her first tattoo, first sex in her new house, cliff diving experience,
first sex on the beach, and now he was about to get her high for the first time. She understood now why being with him was so damn addictive! Who needed marijuana??
They found a liquor store where they bought their alcohol and where the owner was able to hook them up with paper for their small stash. With their goods, they headed back to the villa, had sex once more in the shower, and then took their bottle of tequila and the hand fan to the back bedroom and set up shop on the bed.
Craftily, Mel had grabbed a small cutting board from the kitchen so Jason could have a hard surface to roll the joints on. He laughed when she laid it on the bed between them. "What the fuck is that?"
"Well you weren't gonna roll on the bed were you?"
"I thought you weren't a smoker?"
"Doesn't mean I'm not familiar."
He gave her an amused Look as he carefully dumped out the bag onto the cutting board. "Well it was good thinking anyway."
Mel smiled triumphantly.
She watched as Jason skillfully rolled them up. There was something kind of sexy about this debauchery and she wasn't sure why she found it so. Maybe it was just that--the "debauchery." It also could have been the tequila she had been swigging straight from the bottle. She didn't know. She didn't really care. "You're looking awfully skilled with that," Mel observed.
He made a face at her and mocked her previous comment. "Doesn't mean I'm not familiar."
"I'm gonna fucking throw something at you."
Jason laughed at her. When he finished, he lit it up and took the first hit. The smell filled the room instantly and Jason coughed after he inhaled. "Whoa," he was finally able to choke out. "That's actually pretty decent shit."
"Oh how would you know?" Mel teased as he passed it to her. She simply sat there with it in her hand, unsure.
"Well?" Jason urged. "What are you waiting for?"
"What do I do with it???"
Jason laughed harder. "You smoke it!"
"I've never smoked anything before, like, EVER. Not even a cigarette! Well--" she cut herself off and glanced quickly at Jason's lap. "Never anything with a flame on the end."
Jason grinned deviously at her and said, "Just put it in your mouth and inhale it."
Mel did as she was instructed and was convinced she would cough up a lung. "Holy Christ," she said, passing it back to Jason. "How do people get into to that shit?"
Jason laughed and took another hit. "You'll get used to it, here." He passed it back to her.
After a couple more hits, she did get used to it. After a few minutes, she realized she was sitting still, looking around the room with only her eyes. Across from her, Jason was obviously quite amused as he smiled and said, "What's wrong with you?"
Slowly a smile spread across Mel's face and she continued to look around the room, not moving a muscle. "Uh, I think I'm fucking lit..."
This sent Jason into a howling fit of laughter and suddenly Mel couldn't hold it in any longer and she howled right along with him. Between the weed and the tequila, Jason and Mel were completely trashed. They talked
about crazier shit than Mel had ever dreamed of and she knew the morning would not be kind to them. At one point, Jason said, "Shit, we should totally be filming this."
Mel pouted. "I didn't bring a video camera."
Suddenly, Jason's face lit up as if he had invented the cure for cancer or something. "By George, I've got it!" he announced. He framed his hands in front of his face and pretended to take a picture. "We can use my invisible camera! And take invisible pictures! They would be our secret, nobody would ever know!"
Mel lost her mind with laughter. She could barely breathe. "Let me borrow that damn thing!" She demanded to share the invisible camera and they both took turns doing crazy poses. She had never laughed so hard in
her entire life. Suddenly, Mel stopped and had an idea of her own. "Oh my god!! We should TOTALLY Skype Drew! Like, right now!"
"No!" Jason protested. "She'll see our invisible pictures!"
"Don't worry, I have them hidden!" she reassured him.
Reaching Drew on Skype was easier than Mel thought it would be. Either that or time was just racing by. She had no idea. When Drew popped up on the screen, Mel could only giggle uncontrollably.
A knowing smile spread across Drew's face over the computer screen. "Mel..." she said. "What are you doing?"
"What are YOU doing?" Was Mel's response. Jason snickered in the background and Mel attempted to slap his arm to shut him up.
Still smiling, Drew moved her computer. "I'm actually here with Zac. Say hi, Zac."
Jason joined Mel in front of the screen and they said in unison, "Hi, Zac!"
Zac smiled on the screen and shook his head. "Oh my god..." They saw him trying to look in the background behind them. "Are you guys...?"
Mel bounced on the bed and nodded excitedly. "We are lit the fuck UP! We're so high as shit right now. And a little drunk, too." Mel cackled loudly. There was nothing that could be done or said that wasn't hilarious right now.
"Shit..." Zac laughed loudly.
"Mel??" Drew was in shock. "You're smoking weed?? I don't know if I should be proud or concerned."
"Be proud!" Jason said. "She smokes like a champ!"
Mel laughed harder. "Like a champ? That makes no fucking sense!"
"So how the hell did you get ahold of weed?" Zac asked, smiling.
"We bought a hand fan!" Mel said proudly.
"What the hell?" Drew said.
"This little Mexican dude had it taped to a hand fan," Jason said. "So we were like what the fuck, why not? And now here we sit! At least I'm pretty sure I'm sitting..."
"That shit is supposed to, like, mellow you out," Drew said. "What the fuck did you get ahold of?"
"I guess some magical Mexican shit, I don't know," Jason said. "It's nothing like I've ever smoked before, that's for fucking sure."
Mel just laughed and repeated, "Magical Mexican shit." Then her train of thought shifted. "Oh my god...I am so fucking hungry I think I'm gonna die!"
Drew and Zac laughed on the screen. "Holy shit, this is comedy gold," said Zac.
"I know, I wish we could have been there for Mel's first joint," Drew laughed.
"Look, I hate to run, but we have serious top secret business that's, like, a matter of national security or something!" Mel said. "Someone is holding the ice cream hostage and we have to go rescue it, like, STAT.
Tell nobody what you saw or else we'll have to erase your memories!"
Zac and Drew were still laughing when Mel ended the Skype session. She turned to Jason. "Seriously, I'm not kidding. We better find some ice cream in this fucking house."
Then they both scrambled for the kitchen.
______________________________________________
The next morning, the tropical sun shone through the open windows and Jason and Mel were crashed all over the bed. Neither one of them had even made it under the covers and neither one remembered falling asleep. Jason's eyes were open when Mel woke up. "I don't know what in the fuck we smoked last night," he said in a groggy voice. "But that was NOT your garden variety hash. Congratulations. We survived."
"I cannot remember the last time I got that trashed," Mel said. "I'm not even counting being sloppy drunk, I mean we got completely trashed last night. Can you even move?" she asked, half jokingly.
"Oh yeah, I can move. The question is, do I WANT to? And the answer to that question is no. We can't fly today," he said. "We won't even make it to the airport in time."
"Will it hurt your schedule if we just fly out tomorrow morning?"
"Nah. We don't even leave out for Ireland till next week."
"Good. I wouldn't mind one more good day with you before you started filming," Mel said. She looked over at him. "Even if we spend it hung over as shit."
Jason simply smiled at her in agreement.
_____________________________________________
MEL
Cabo San Lucas.
It was probably the most beautiful place Mel had ever seen. The plane ride was long and Jason was nice enough to let her have the window seat since he had seen his fair share of tropical geography.
The plane ride was also peaceful. She enjoyed having Jason as a travel companion. He was quiet, he was considerate, he was a gentleman. And he slept like a baby. He had told her once before that he sometimes got his best sleep on a plane and he wasn't kidding. Something about sitting on this plane next to Jason felt right. Not the same kind of right as it would have been if it had been Taylor sitting there instead. But still right. She couldn't really put her finger on it but she wasn't really sure she cared to explore it, either.
Upon picking up the rental car, the clerk had handed Mel the keys to a sedan when Jason, who had been silent during the transaction, suddenly spoke up. "Wait, wait, a sedan? You're giving us a sedan?"
Mel felt herself turning red. "Uh, Jason, it's really not a big deal."
"No, no, now wait a minute," he said to her. He leaned on the counter and flashed the desk clerk one of his signature, award-winning smiles. "We are in exotic Cabo San Lucas. Surely this lovely young lady can provide us with a vehicle more suited to enjoying this beautiful peninsula."
Mel could practically see the poor girl melting right before her eyes.
Ten minutes later, Jason was behind the wheel of a red, door-less, topless Jeep with Mel riding shotgun. Mel was hysterical with laughter. "Does that work every time?"
He grinned at her as he started the engine. "I only use it on desperate occasions."
Still laughing, Mel responded. "I don't know if this would hardly be considered desperate."
"Are you kidding?" he asked as he began to drive away.
The pair were exhausted and Mel had decided that they might as well stay in the vacation home that was left to her while it was still hers. The attorney had given her the keys the day the deeds were signed over and she had to admit, she was sort of excited to see what she was getting into. As they rode, the hot sun burned her skin and the wind blew her hair in fifty different directions. It felt wonderful. She felt as if all of the stress and worry and toxins from her feelings for Tay were swiftly leaving her body. She wasn't sure if it was being in another country and literally being far, far away from her problems or if it was the hot sun and the gorgeous blue water that did it, but she had never felt so free in her life.
When they pulled up to the house, it appeared like less of a house and more like a villa. It was one story and not quite as large as Mel's Tulsa home, but certainly large enough to be comfortable. The house was white with a brown roof and boasted a mass amount of open patio space. This house was obviously intended for entertaining.
It was located on the beach of Cabo. Mel wondered how Bernice Bradshaw had managed to get her hands on a property so private and secluded and all the way down on the beach, when she saw so many properties built into all the craggy cliffs above them.
As they rounded the outside of the house they found the pool in the back and Mel's breath momentarily left her. The pool overlooked a completely unobstructed view of Cabo's gorgeous ocean and El Arco off in the
distance. She was in paradise. She stole a glance over at Jason who was busy looking around as well. Here she was, with the perfect house, the perfect location, and the perfect tropical man to match. It was as if the
stars aligned in her favor. But her mind constantly drifted to Tay. He would have loved it here. He would have found endless opportunities to be romantic, holding her under the stars, a private picnic on the beach--he could be so incredibly sweet sometimes. She realized she missed him terribly. And the kiss and what he had said--she was still so rattled by it all. She wanted desperately to believe him but he still never said he was prepared to end his marriage and that bothered her. It didn't seem right.
Suddenly Jason spoke, a welcome interruption in Mel's train of thought. "So this is yours?"
Mel sighed, taking it in. "Yep. All mine."
"And you're selling it?"
"Yep?"
"Why?"
Mel looked at Jason, matter-of-factly. "Do I really need my un-dead husband's dead family's property?"
Jason gazed out at the beach again. "I guess when you put it that way."
Mel smiled at him. "Think of this as a mini vacation. It's only four days, but it's four days in Cabo." She breathed in the beach air and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sure you could use a little R&R before you ship out to Ireland."
He looked over at her and smiled. "Well I can't argue with you there."
They spent the rest of the afternoon and that night holed up in the house and hanging out by the pool. They stood at the side of the pool, facing the beach at sunset, taking in the breath-taking view of the sun setting on the water with El Arco silhouetted in the orange light off to the side. Mel could have watched that sun set for hours. She and Jason looked at each other and she smiled at him. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," she said.
"I've seen better."
Mel scoffed. "Really? You've seen better? Well, I guess Hawaii does have some pretty nice sunsets."
"I wasn't talking about the sunset."
Mel's body immediately tensed up in fear. It was a feeling she was beginning to be all too familiar with. She realized that Jason's face was all seriousness--not a trace of a smile anywhere. She silently prayed.
"Mel, I'm not going to make promises to you that I can't keep," he continued. "And I'll never say a word to you that I don't mean. You know that."
She had nothing else better to say than, "Um, I appreciate that."
"I know what's going on with you and Taylor."
Mel was stunned. Absolutely floored. WHY must everyone keep dropping these goddamn bombshells on her like this? "How--how do you always KNOW all this stuff?"
"It doesn't matter. I just do. And I understand it. I understand your position and I know where you stand. You're the best friend I have, Mel. Honestly. I don't want to ruin that." He smiled and lifted her arm. "I mean, hell, we have matching tattoos for fuck's sake."
She smiled a half smile as he continued. "I don't dislike the guy. I don't. He actually seems like he could be pretty cool. But he pisses me off because he's an idiot. I mean, sure his wife is cute and all but she's not you. And it's stupid for him to make you feel the way you do."
"But, Jason I--haven't told you--we haven't--"
"Come on," he responded, skeptically.
"Then why do you stay?"
He was silent for a moment before he spoke. "I'm riding a very thin line here with you. I didn't lie when I said I couldn't commit to you. And that's still true. But even if it weren't, you and I?" he motioned to the both of them. "Can never happen."
Mel could only stare in disbelief.
"And it's not because I don't want it to. It's because I know I'll never truly have all of you. You and I could go elope right now and live the rest of our lives happily ever after and I still wouldn't have all of you because your heart will still be with him. And I can't take you away with me if I can't have every piece of you. And I accept that, wholeheartedly. It wouldn't be right. But no matter what, despite everything, you're still my best friend. And I could never stay away from you."
Mel felt...emotion. She felt a sense of sadness and a sense of relief all at the same time. She felt freedom. She felt happiness and joy. SOMEONE had FINALLY told her where they stood with her and how things were going to be. She was so grateful she almost cried.
Resting his forearms on the side of the pool, looking out at the now dark beach, he turned his head to look at her again and now she saw that familiar sparkle in his eye as he smiled and winked at her. "But I'm still gonna fuck the hell out of you every chance I get."
Mel blushed fiercely, out of excitement she knew, and bit her lip. "I'm still gonna let you."
That night Mel and Jason didn't have sex. It was almost weird not to. But she did allow him to hold her as she drifted off to sleep.
___________________________________________
The next day, Mel walked around inspecting the house. The appraiser was scheduled to come that morning and then after that she had a meeting with the realtor. After that, the rest of the trip belonged to her and
Jason.
Dressed in a simple pair of shorts and V-neck t-shirt, Mel was so busy inspecting corners and looking for ceiling cracks that she barely noticed Jason as he crossed her line of vision. She did a double-take and her heart stopped. No matter what she felt about whom, one thing would never change and that was how absolutely gorgeous this man was. He dressed simply in a pair of cargo shorts and a loose-fitted, white, button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up quarter length. She had a secret weakness for quarter-length
sleeves she just couldn't deny. His long hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. His dark, Hawaiian skin radiated from beneath the white of his shirt. It was all she could do to keep her composure.
When the appraiser showed up, Mel was a bit surprised to find that she was female. And white. She looked middle-aged, early 40s, with a simple, sandy blonde shoulder-length cut, dressed in a business suit and low
heels. As the women entered the living room, Jason walked in and took a position beside Mel. The woman looked up at Jason and smiled, reached out, and shook his hand. "This must be your husband," she said to
Mel.
Mel didn't know what came over her at that very moment but before she could think to stop it from coming out, she told the woman, "Uh, we're not married." Then she turned and looked up at Jason. "Why does everyone always ask me that?"
Taking the bait, Jason shrugged his shoulders and looked down at her, calm as a cucumber. "I dunno. I guess we're just made for each other."
Mel shrugged as well. "Hm. I guess so."
Jason looked the appraiser dead on, a boyish gleam in his eye. "We probably ought to be married, though. The sex is magnificent."
Mel nodded at the appraiser in agreement. "Oh, yes. It's fabulous."
The appraiser stared back at the both of them, eyes wide in shock. "Um, okay then!" she said, finally. "I'm just going to take a few pictures outside then work my way in. I won't be long at all." It seemed as if she couldn't get outside fast enough.
Not able to hold it in any longer, Jason and Mel burst into uncontrollable laughter. Mel punched him in the arm. "What the fuck was that?"
"What? You started it! And she was asking for it anyway, come on."
"I guess she won't assume so much with her next appraisal."
______________________________________________________
After the meeting with the realtor, Mel felt another weight lifted off her shoulders as they rode down a road that overlooked the ocean. "And you're sure you want to sell it?" Jason asked for about the millionth time over the wind as he drove.
"Yes!" She said back. She spied a break in the cliffs and had the sudden urge to see the sights. "Pull over!" She said suddenly.
Jason pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road and Mel wasted no time getting out. Jason joined her at the side of the cliff. If they looked down, they stared directly at the water. When they looked out, they spied
water as far as the eye could see. It was so blue, they could barely tell where the sky ended and the water began.
"I don't necessarily want to sell it," Mel said as they peered over the cliffs and out into the ocean. "But I need to. I need to get rid of it all. Just wash away the Bradshaw and start over with the Banks."
Jason nodded in understanding. "I can respect that. I'm proud of you, Banks," he said. "You're really taking your life by the horns. Looks good on you."
Mel took a deep breath and smiled. "I am, aren't I? I feel so free right now. I really needed this trip. I need the clear mind. The clear conscience..."
Jason stood comfortably, arms crossed over his chest. He took a side glance at her. "We're not gonna be in Cabo forever," he said. "What happens once you land in Tulsa?"
Mel sighed. "Well, he's had a week without me there. Maybe he will have some grand revelation or some shit, but I doubt it. Honestly. Everything will be the same."
Jason chuckled to himself. "I can't believe I'm fucking saying this. Maybe he needs reassurance from you. Maybe he's afraid to give his wife the old heave ho because he is unsure that you'll be there to break the
fall."
"That would be stupid. He knows. He's always known. That's why I'm such a worthless, fucked up mess."
"But has it actually come out of your mouth?"
Mel scowled at him. He was right. And this wasn't fun anymore. "I thought we were, like, friends with benefits and shit?"
Jason laughed, amused. "Consider this the friend part."
"You're making me think too much," Mel pouted.
He took another side glance at her. "Then stop thinking."
And that was when she jumped.
______________________________________________
I'm blind with eyes wide open
My body's tired and broken
I want a taste of something
That doesn't leave me dry
This hope for answered questions
As rare as true conviction
I stare into the distance
There is no truth in sight
Who can tell me why
Everybody's looking for a Blue Sky
Searching for an answer on a satellite
I know that there's got to be a Blue Sky out there to see
A Blue Sky waiting for me
I've seen the main attraction
I've felt the moment's passion
I won't be no soap box teacher
Just taking your time
Who can tell me why
Everywhere I go
I feel like I'm always searching for something
Till I know for sure
I'll be right here waiting for something more
DREW
Drew was sitting in Mel's office at 3CG, responding to emails and milling around on the band's website when Taylor knocked on the door. "Hey, Drew, you got plans for lunch today?"
Clicking out of the window that was pulled up on the computer, she said to him, "Uh, no, actually I don't. You're actually taking one today?" She was referring to the fact that for the past few days the guys had
sequestered themselves deep, deep in their studio, never to see the light of day.
He laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair. "Uh, yeah. Developing a little cabin fever, I think. So you wanna go to lunch?"
Drew locked up the office and half an hour later they sat across from each other at a local diner.
Drew shrugged her shoulders and smiled, looking around. "I've missed this place. I can't believe it hasn't crossed my mind to come here."
Tay smiled in agreement. "Yeah. We had a lot of fun times here, didn't we?" As a group Drew and Tay, along with Isaac, Zac, and Mel, spent a lot of time in this diner. Because they were young teenagers and at the height of their success, Diana tended to panic when they went off alone when they were at home. But as long as they were at the diner, they could stay out as long as they wanted.
Taylor continued. "Look, Drew, about last week--"
"No, Tay, let me start," she cut him off. "I'm sorry I went off on you in the parking lot like that. I'm dealing with some things myself and it wasn't fair to use you as a scapegoat for them. I had no right saying what I said."
"But that's just it," he said. "You had every right because you were right in everything you said. I am having a hard time with this because I really do have feelings for Natalie, though they may not be near what they are for Mel. But they're still there. And after ten years, how easy do you think that is to walk away from? And then--and then I have to wonder--if I do it, if I actually decide to do it...will she be there?"
"Why wouldn't she be?" Drew asked.
"Drew, she's in Cabo with him!"
She narrowed her eyes at him in realization. "This is about Jason."
Taylor sighed and ran both his hands through his hair and looked across at Drew. "What does he have that I don't?"
Drew nearly choked on her food. She couldn't hold back her snickering. "Besides the obvious?"
He furrowed his brow at her.
Collecting herself, she continued. "I had the opportunity to actually witness them together before they left last weekend. He relaxes her. He lets her be herself. He doesn't pressure her or try to control her or change her. There's no stress and no tension there."
"So I'm an asshole."
Drew couldn't help but laugh. "You're not an asshole. You just have baggage. Tay, I promise you don't have to worry about the two of them. She loves you and she's gonna be there. Just make sure you don't DRIVE her away."
"I know," he said, shaking his head shamefully. "This week since she's been gone, it's given me a lot of time to think. I've been pushing her really hard and it's not fair to her. Not when it's me that has the real problem."
"You and Mel are always going to pressure each other and challenge each other. It's just who you are, it's how your relationship works. You wouldn't be Tay and Mel if there weren't a few fireworks every now and then."
Tay smiled in response. Then he was serious again. "She comes home in a few days. What do I do? Where do I go from here?"
Drew thought for a moment. "Um...I think what she needs is to not come home to all the heavy emotional...stuff I don't see the point in beating a dead horse with her if you aren't ready to make a decision yet. You're the one here holding onto all the baggage. If you haven't noticed, she's been working hard to get rid of all of hers. Don't let your baggage bring her down. Don't make it hers."
"Oh my GOD," he said, frustrated, his face in his hands. "You're telling me to leave her alone. You are telling me to do the impossible."
"I'm not telling you to leave her alone. I'm telling you that if you really care about her, you'll respect her and her feelings. That includes Jason."
Tay sighed. "I don't hate him. That's the honest truth. The truth is, I wish I was him. I wish I was the one she ran to, and made her laugh, and--"
"But you are. You're the one she called to come out to New York that week. You are. She didn't call Jason. She called you. She really does love you--I shouldn't have to sit here and convince you of that. Basically, Tay, you're worrying too much. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. Snap out of it!"
"Okay, I'm gonna do it," he said. "I'm gonna keep it to myself. I'm gonna fight my own battles. I don't want her to resent me and I don't want to drive her away." Tay smiled at her triumphantly. "Now let's work on you and Zac."
This time Drew dropped her fork. The loud clang of silver on ceramic quickly woke her from the shock. "Excuse me?"
"Zac misses you."
"I know."
"And I know you miss him."
"Of course I do."
"So what about it?"
"What about what?"
"You and him?"
"Um...we don't...it's not...he's not gonna leave Kate."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Do you know something I don't?"
"Well, no."
"I have to accept the fact that it's not going to happen. He has kids, too. If I know Zac as well as I think I do, and I know Zac, he's just too damn loyal. He's not going to leave his wife for me. I don't expect him to and I wouldn't ask him to."
"Well I know Zac, too. He's my brother. And I'll tell you, he's just as conflicted as I am. I wouldn't write him off just yet."
"Tay, I leave in a week. Don't give me false hope like that."
"Do you ever talk about the way you feel about each other?"
"Um, well--a little. But as you can see, we're happy and we're okay with the way things are. That's why you and Mel are having these issues and we aren't. Because we don't feel the need to talk about it all the time."
"Yeah but Mel and I know where we stand with each other. We may not like it all the time and it may kill us sometimes, but at least we know."
Drew scowled at Tay. "I thought we came here to talk about you?"
Taylor shrugged. "I thought we came here to just talk?"
Drew wasn't thrilled with the direction the conversation had taken. Tay didn't know what the hell he was talking about. She and Zac totally knew where they stood with each other. Right?
____________________________________________
I heard you crying
Somebody stole my soul
How could I be dying?
I turned twenty five days ago
We're all on the ground just crying out
Would somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tomorrow brings
I'm Dying To Be Alive
I'm Dying To Be Alive
Let's not go through our lives
Without just Dying To Be Alive
The people you've touched
The way you've touched them
I hope they've touched you, too
Cause in this life it's hard to tell
What false and what is true
We're all on the ground crying out
Would somebody save me please
I won't sit around just thinking about
The troubles that tomorrow brings
I'm Dying To Be Alive
Not trying to just survive
Let's not go through our lives
Without just dying to be alive
And we all come tumbling down
No matter how strong
We all return to the ground
Another day gone
A day closer to fate
And soon we'll find it's a little bit too late
The things you see, the way you see them
Will never be seen again
Let's go through life, living on luck
Betting ten thousand to ten
Mistakes I've made in this life
I can't way why or when
But the thing that's strange is you only live once
I'll never look back again
And we all come tumbling down
No matter how strong we all return to the ground
In the days to come you'll say why did I wait
You can't just leave your life up to fate
You got to turn it around before it's too late
MEL
Mel came up out of the water, shocked at herself and complete exhilarated at the same time. She looked up at the cliff she jumped off of and was startled at just how high up it actually was. She wiped the water out of
her face and looked all over the cliffs for Jason but he was nowhere to be found.
Her heart began to beat rapidly. She hoped he had not gone for help. She hadn't meant to make him think--
Suddenly the sound of the water changed behind her and she realized she wasn't alone. She whipped around to see Jason shaking the water out of his hair and slicking it back out of his face. "Goddamn it, woman!" he
said, swimming over to her. "You're fucking crazy as hell!"
She felt herself grinning so hard her cheeks hurt. "Holy shit! That was the most amazing thing I've ever done! EVER!!"
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Still grinning, she shook her head. "I wasn't! You told me not to and I didn't! And then I jumped and it was fucking FANTASTIC!! I mean, the rush--it was unreal!!"
Jason laughed. "You sound like me the first time I ever cliff dived."
"I bet you're some kind of pro."
"My cousins and I used to compete against each other. Nothing serious."
"Wow..." was all she could say. Treading the water, she took in her surroundings. "Oh my god," she said. "It's one thing to just look at all this, but to actually be in the middle of it? This is unbelieveable..."
Looking around, they realized that not only were they closer to the beach than they thought, but also on the beach was an enormous, craggy cliff-like structure that was part of El Arco, the gorgeous rock formation that could practically be seen from all over Cabo. The majority of the rock formation they now swam to was on the beach, but the tip of it extended out into the water. In the middle of a formation was what resembled a valley, extending all the way up to the top. The bottom of this valley provided excellent climbing and sitting space.
Mel and Jason swam as far as they could to the structure until they could feel the sand beneath their feet and they walked the rest of the way, exploring their surroundings. Finally, they picked a spot in the sun about three or four feet off the ground that provided a small bit of flat rock just big enough for them to share and which happened to provide excellent footing all around the area. Mel was glad she had made the decision to wear her swimsuit under her clothes and before she sat, she removed her soaked white t-shirt and khaki
shorts, revealing the simple red bikini she wore underneath. She fell in love with this bikini when she had tried it on because of how awesome she thought it looked with her long, dark hair. She honestly didn't think she would ever have an excuse to wear it.
She noticed Jason watching her as she undressed but she smiled to herself as she knew he would be disappointed. She stopped undressing after the shirt and shorts. As she sat down beside Jason, stretching out as much as she could on the craggy rock for maximum sun exposure, she looked over at him and, for the first time, noticed how the sun caused the water to glisten off his dark, Hawaiian skin.
She could have died right then.
Instead she asked, "Did you lose your shirt in the water?"
Jason smiled over at her, amused. "Unlike you, I had a couple of seconds longer to prepare for this little impromptu adventure. It's somewhere up there on the side of the road."
Mel followed his gaze to the top of the cliff they had jumped off of. "How are we going to get back up there?"
Jason let out a small laugh. "I actually have no idea."
The two of them sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the sound of the ocean and the peace and serenity that surrounded them. The sun burned Mel's skin, but the burn had never felt so good. She could have sat right there on that rock forever--or at least until her rear end was numb.
Suddenly, she felt Jason's fingers behind her, lightly caressing the small of her back. She stole a sideways glance at him and he wasn't even looking at her. It was like a mindless action for him. Seemed innocent
enough. Please, who was she kidding? This was Jason. Nothing was innocent when he touched her.
And then, as nimbly as if he'd done it a hundred times, he pulled a single string on her bikini, completely releasing the back. Mel jumped and covered her front, laughing. "Jason!" she scolded, looking over at him, expecting his smile to match hers.
Except he wasn't smiling. She knew the look in his eye. This was happening. Startled, she looked at their surroundings. This was impossible, was what it was.
She looked back over at Jason. He wasn't messing around. Slowly, she released her arm from her chest, letting her top hand loosely around her neck. The feeling of lust overtook her body almost instantly as he
leaned over and tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her, his tongue exploring the depth of her mouth. His hand drifted down her neck and cupped her small breast in his large hand. As he massaged her breast and
allowed her nipple to harden between his fingers, Mel's breathing picked up rapidly and her heart began to race. She was extremely turned on, but broke their kiss long enough to express one concern: "Someone's gonna see us." She was right. The part of the rock they were on was so far out in the open, they could be seen from just about every angle and distance possible. There was no way they could have been more exposed than right now.
"Look around," his deep voice breathed quietly in her ear as the back of his hand slowly made its way from her breast further down her body. Mel tensed up in pleasure at his touch. "We're the only ones here. It's
just us and the ocean."
His hand reached it's destination between her legs and she spread her legs a little to accommodate him. He kissed her as he massaged her through her bikini bottom and the entire situation made her want to lose her mind. She reached up with both hands and let her hands grip fistfuls of his hair on the back of his head, gently tugging as she deepened their kiss. The better his hand made her feel, the more she realized she couldn't kiss him deep enough.
She found herself begin to whimper in need inside his mouth and he quickly pulled the strings on either side of her bikini bottom and aggressively pulled the untied front down, exposing her completely to the sun. Positioning himself on a lower rock to better reach her, he placed both of her legs over his shoulders and began to work on her with his tongue. The moment his warm mouth took her, she cried out, her voice echoing off of the cliff behind them. She didn't care anymore.
She nearly lost her mind and she cried out louder when his fingers entered her. Now working with both his tongue and his fingers, it took her mere minutes to finish and she felt herself pulsating all around his
fingers. He never stopped until her breathing subsided.
Lifting his head and flipping his long brown hair to one side, he lightly slapped the outside of her thigh, and said, "Turn around.
Obediently, she did as commanded, quickly picking up her bikini bottom and strategically placing it under her knee. She was thankful for this action, as he then turned her body at an angle, lifted her free leg and let her knee hook his neck. The position he took on the rocks below her not only allowed for perfect penetration, but allowed him to be fully inside her.
She cried out again as he penetrated her and as she felt him bottoming out in her it hurt her a little but it hurt so good. There was something in that mild pain that felt so savage and, surprisingly, it turned her on and she found herself begging for more.
Jason gave her what she wanted and more and it was over within minutes. She couldn't help but think for just a slight second that if something actually happened with Taylor and she got back together with him, how would she be able to stay away from hot sex like this? Then again, she had yet to have sex with Taylor in ten years--she didn't know what his skills were anymore. And maybe she could teach him a thing or two. It could be fun...
Her train of thought was gladly interrupted when Jason turned her around and kissed her once more. It was the perfect cool down exercise to the intense workout they had just finished. Naked, having sex with the
Hawaiian Sex God in the sun on a rock in the middle of paradise...could Cabo get any better?
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I am taking a chance
Walking with my laces loose
Wrapped up, taking the maze
That everybody's running through
I'm sick of black tie
Nickel and dime
We're going through the roof
I'm not a wise man
But I see the haze
And this is what I'm gonna do
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
Tearing It Down
There's a fine line
You walk everyday
Cause somebody told you to
A white lie
You can't erase
Now you're gonna have to choose
You know a blind man
Won't show he way
But he can tell you what it's coming to
Apparently, it could.
The next day Jason and Mel decided to explore some of Cabo's local economy. It was a good day. They shopped, they saw the sights, took a few pictures. That evening, as they walked back to the Jeep, they were
approached by a Mexican man selling random trinkets. He carried a couple of windsocks, had several watches on his wrists and in his shirt pockets carried a few lacy hand fans for women. They were about to tell the man they weren't interested when Mel spied the hand fans. Not able to resist, she found herself saying, "Ooooh, I love these! Can I see one?"
"Mel--" Jason tried to stop her, but it was too late. The Mexican smiled excitedly and handed her a gorgeous blue fan. She opened it up about halfway when she saw it.
Very strategically wrapped was a bag of marijuana taped flat to the inside of one of the slats on the fan. She looked up at the Mexican and he raised his eyebrows at her enthusiastically and smiled. "You like?"
Mel did not smoke marijuana. As a matter of fact, Mel had never done a drug in her life. It wasn't that she was against drugs, they just weren't very high on her priority list. To her astonishment, the thought actually crossed her mind. She and Jason glanced at each other. For the first time since she'd met him, she spied a look of uncertainty on his face as well.
"Uh..." Mel started, not knowing what to say.
Jason's uncertainty was short-lived. Instead a small grin flashed across his face and he said, "Fuck it. You only live once, right? How much?"
The Mexican looked as if his night had been made and five minutes later, Mel and Jason were driving down the road with their ill-gotten booty.
"Oh my god," Mel laughed. "Are you a regular smoker?"
Taking his eyes off the road long enough to smirk at her and shake his head, he said, "Hell no. I've only done it once or twice a long time ago. But tonight we're stopping for a bottle of tequila and then we're gonna go home and light that shit up."
This made Mel laugh even harder. Jason was something else entirely. She felt corrupted and she loved it. She could see that she could easily get used to this freedom. She had had a lot of firsts with him. Her first one-night stand (or so she thought at the time), her first tattoo, first sex in her new house, cliff diving experience,
first sex on the beach, and now he was about to get her high for the first time. She understood now why being with him was so damn addictive! Who needed marijuana??
They found a liquor store where they bought their alcohol and where the owner was able to hook them up with paper for their small stash. With their goods, they headed back to the villa, had sex once more in the shower, and then took their bottle of tequila and the hand fan to the back bedroom and set up shop on the bed.
Craftily, Mel had grabbed a small cutting board from the kitchen so Jason could have a hard surface to roll the joints on. He laughed when she laid it on the bed between them. "What the fuck is that?"
"Well you weren't gonna roll on the bed were you?"
"I thought you weren't a smoker?"
"Doesn't mean I'm not familiar."
He gave her an amused Look as he carefully dumped out the bag onto the cutting board. "Well it was good thinking anyway."
Mel smiled triumphantly.
She watched as Jason skillfully rolled them up. There was something kind of sexy about this debauchery and she wasn't sure why she found it so. Maybe it was just that--the "debauchery." It also could have been the tequila she had been swigging straight from the bottle. She didn't know. She didn't really care. "You're looking awfully skilled with that," Mel observed.
He made a face at her and mocked her previous comment. "Doesn't mean I'm not familiar."
"I'm gonna fucking throw something at you."
Jason laughed at her. When he finished, he lit it up and took the first hit. The smell filled the room instantly and Jason coughed after he inhaled. "Whoa," he was finally able to choke out. "That's actually pretty decent shit."
"Oh how would you know?" Mel teased as he passed it to her. She simply sat there with it in her hand, unsure.
"Well?" Jason urged. "What are you waiting for?"
"What do I do with it???"
Jason laughed harder. "You smoke it!"
"I've never smoked anything before, like, EVER. Not even a cigarette! Well--" she cut herself off and glanced quickly at Jason's lap. "Never anything with a flame on the end."
Jason grinned deviously at her and said, "Just put it in your mouth and inhale it."
Mel did as she was instructed and was convinced she would cough up a lung. "Holy Christ," she said, passing it back to Jason. "How do people get into to that shit?"
Jason laughed and took another hit. "You'll get used to it, here." He passed it back to her.
After a couple more hits, she did get used to it. After a few minutes, she realized she was sitting still, looking around the room with only her eyes. Across from her, Jason was obviously quite amused as he smiled and said, "What's wrong with you?"
Slowly a smile spread across Mel's face and she continued to look around the room, not moving a muscle. "Uh, I think I'm fucking lit..."
This sent Jason into a howling fit of laughter and suddenly Mel couldn't hold it in any longer and she howled right along with him. Between the weed and the tequila, Jason and Mel were completely trashed. They talked
about crazier shit than Mel had ever dreamed of and she knew the morning would not be kind to them. At one point, Jason said, "Shit, we should totally be filming this."
Mel pouted. "I didn't bring a video camera."
Suddenly, Jason's face lit up as if he had invented the cure for cancer or something. "By George, I've got it!" he announced. He framed his hands in front of his face and pretended to take a picture. "We can use my invisible camera! And take invisible pictures! They would be our secret, nobody would ever know!"
Mel lost her mind with laughter. She could barely breathe. "Let me borrow that damn thing!" She demanded to share the invisible camera and they both took turns doing crazy poses. She had never laughed so hard in
her entire life. Suddenly, Mel stopped and had an idea of her own. "Oh my god!! We should TOTALLY Skype Drew! Like, right now!"
"No!" Jason protested. "She'll see our invisible pictures!"
"Don't worry, I have them hidden!" she reassured him.
Reaching Drew on Skype was easier than Mel thought it would be. Either that or time was just racing by. She had no idea. When Drew popped up on the screen, Mel could only giggle uncontrollably.
A knowing smile spread across Drew's face over the computer screen. "Mel..." she said. "What are you doing?"
"What are YOU doing?" Was Mel's response. Jason snickered in the background and Mel attempted to slap his arm to shut him up.
Still smiling, Drew moved her computer. "I'm actually here with Zac. Say hi, Zac."
Jason joined Mel in front of the screen and they said in unison, "Hi, Zac!"
Zac smiled on the screen and shook his head. "Oh my god..." They saw him trying to look in the background behind them. "Are you guys...?"
Mel bounced on the bed and nodded excitedly. "We are lit the fuck UP! We're so high as shit right now. And a little drunk, too." Mel cackled loudly. There was nothing that could be done or said that wasn't hilarious right now.
"Shit..." Zac laughed loudly.
"Mel??" Drew was in shock. "You're smoking weed?? I don't know if I should be proud or concerned."
"Be proud!" Jason said. "She smokes like a champ!"
Mel laughed harder. "Like a champ? That makes no fucking sense!"
"So how the hell did you get ahold of weed?" Zac asked, smiling.
"We bought a hand fan!" Mel said proudly.
"What the hell?" Drew said.
"This little Mexican dude had it taped to a hand fan," Jason said. "So we were like what the fuck, why not? And now here we sit! At least I'm pretty sure I'm sitting..."
"That shit is supposed to, like, mellow you out," Drew said. "What the fuck did you get ahold of?"
"I guess some magical Mexican shit, I don't know," Jason said. "It's nothing like I've ever smoked before, that's for fucking sure."
Mel just laughed and repeated, "Magical Mexican shit." Then her train of thought shifted. "Oh my god...I am so fucking hungry I think I'm gonna die!"
Drew and Zac laughed on the screen. "Holy shit, this is comedy gold," said Zac.
"I know, I wish we could have been there for Mel's first joint," Drew laughed.
"Look, I hate to run, but we have serious top secret business that's, like, a matter of national security or something!" Mel said. "Someone is holding the ice cream hostage and we have to go rescue it, like, STAT.
Tell nobody what you saw or else we'll have to erase your memories!"
Zac and Drew were still laughing when Mel ended the Skype session. She turned to Jason. "Seriously, I'm not kidding. We better find some ice cream in this fucking house."
Then they both scrambled for the kitchen.
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The next morning, the tropical sun shone through the open windows and Jason and Mel were crashed all over the bed. Neither one of them had even made it under the covers and neither one remembered falling asleep. Jason's eyes were open when Mel woke up. "I don't know what in the fuck we smoked last night," he said in a groggy voice. "But that was NOT your garden variety hash. Congratulations. We survived."
"I cannot remember the last time I got that trashed," Mel said. "I'm not even counting being sloppy drunk, I mean we got completely trashed last night. Can you even move?" she asked, half jokingly.
"Oh yeah, I can move. The question is, do I WANT to? And the answer to that question is no. We can't fly today," he said. "We won't even make it to the airport in time."
"Will it hurt your schedule if we just fly out tomorrow morning?"
"Nah. We don't even leave out for Ireland till next week."
"Good. I wouldn't mind one more good day with you before you started filming," Mel said. She looked over at him. "Even if we spend it hung over as shit."
Jason simply smiled at her in agreement.
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