CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
TAYLOR
Due to growing anxiety, and the fear of moving too fast, Mel and Taylor decided that perhaps it wasn't such
a great idea that he moved in just yet. Ike continued to offer his guest room, which Taylor took him up on, but he had decided to do a little apartment hunting after all.
However that didn't stop Taylor from spending several nights per week at Mel's house. Try as they might, neither one could stand to be apart from the other. He couldn't count many times Mel had called him hours after he had gotten back to Ike's, asking him to come back. He could never tell her no. If it was up to him, he'd never sleep alone again.
One day, after spending the night apart, Tay had some down time so he chose to sit with Mel on her sofa and search for apartments on his laptop. He sat with his legs propped up while Mel leaned on his shoulder. He was happy. Completely content. He was comfortable, relaxed, he had Mel beside him. Life couldn't have been more perfect in that moment.
Except that Mel couldn't keep her head out of her damn phone!
It was starting to get annoying. One minute they were in deep conversation over this condo or that one and the next minute she was texting away, completely ignoring him. After what seemed like the thousandth time
her fingers flew on her phone, Tay finally asked her, "Who the hell do you keep texting?"
"Eric," she said, matter-of-factly.
Tay sighed and rubbed his face. They had finally gotten past the whole Jason ordeal. Was there someone else he was going to have to worry about now? He had to admit, if he had to concern himself with any other
man, he'd rather it be Jason than weasley Deputy Dog. That was practically an insult.
"What could he possibly have to say that's so damn interesting?"
"Talking about the reunion," she muttered. She muttered. Like it was nothing. Like completely ignoring her boyfriend to totally submerse herself in a conversation with another man was just no big deal at all. None. Whatsoever.
"Okay...so he's planning a reunion that you just recently found out about. Why does he need so much input from you?"
Mel sighed in frustration. "It's not just that. We're talking about who might show up, who's doing what nowadays, stuff like that. I've missed a lot over the years."
'And you couldn't find this out from one of your fifty other friends?' Tay thought to himself. He refrained from saying it out loud. He felt jealousy rearing its ugly head and he did not want to start a fight. He did not want to be that person anymore. Besides, it was just Deputy Dog. If he felt like he had to be jealous of him, then Tay really had some deep issues.
And then Mel's phone rang. Before he could get a peek at who was calling her, she was off the sofa in a flash and was standing in the kitchen. Tay knew it was wrong to eavesdrop. He hated invading her privacy. But he just HAD to know what on earth commanded so much of her attention today.
"Hey, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" he heard her ask.
Tay relaxed for a moment. He knew right then she had to be talking to Drew. He went back to his laptop and began to surf when her next words brought him back to the conversation. "Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry."
Jason? Great. That's just great. He knew Jason was a staple in Mel's life. He knew it and she would never let him forget it. But the mere sound of his name still made his stomach churn. To know that he almost lost Mel to him--on several occasions--well, it just wasn't a good feeling knowing he was still around.
"No," she was saying. "No you're not, you're magnificent. It's not the end of the world, I promise. Listen to you, I've never heard you like this before. I don't like this side of you, it concerns me."
Her tone was so caring and gentle. Tay's blood began to boil.
A few minutes later when the conversation ended, Mel walked back in the room and sat back down. He waited for her to say something. Anything. She said nothing.
So he instigated. "So. Jason, huh?"
"Yeah."
"What did he want?"
Mel sighed. "He just found out he didn't get a part he auditioned for. He worked really hard for it. He needed to talk. Are you going to be like this every single time I talk to him?"
"Why do you feel the need to leave the room every time he calls?"
Mel looked at him in disbelief. "Because maybe I want to concentrate on what my best friend is saying to me."
"You couldn't concentrate in here?"
"No, Tay. I couldn't. I can't concentrate on the conversation at hand when you're staring me down the whole time or acting all huffy every time I open my mouth. It's rude and it's distracting."
"Rude? Who's talking about rude? What's rude is you and I trying to spend time together while you have your head in your phone talking to not one, but two other men."
"They are my FRIENDS, Tay. I'm allowed to have friends. And there's nothing wrong with having friends of the opposite sex. None, whatsoever."
"Okay, then," Tay said, closing his laptop. "I'll find two of my female friends in my phone and we'll just chat away. How would that make you feel? If I sat next to you and chatted up my two best female friends?"
Mel's face fell. Tay smiled. He knew he had her. Problem solved.
Until she opened her mouth again. "You don't have any female friends."
"Goddammit, Mel, you're missing the point."
"No, I see the point. The point is you don't trust me and you're jealous!"
"What? I am not--I do trust you, Mel. It's THEM I don't trust."
"Well *I* trust them and, really, that's all that matters."
Tay was flabbergasted at this statement. Completely taken aback. "Are you saying that my opinion doesn't matter? That how I feel doesn't matter?"
"Are you seriously picking another fight right now?"
"No. I just want to know. Do you care what I think or how I feel? About anything? Or are you just choosing to go off and do your own thing regardless?"
Mel's face softened into an expression of sorrow. "Of course I care. Why wouldn't I care?"
Tay instantly felt like an asshole. He hated this feeling. "I don't know. I guess when you're off making all of these spur of the moment decisions all the time and doing everything on a whim where I don't have time to
react I feel like--I guess I kinda feel invisible sometimes."
"Well that sounds an awful lot like someone else I know. Acting on impulse, flying by the seat of your pants..."
Tay felt himself blushing. "Yeah, yeah, I get your point..."
"You're not going to tell me to stop seeing my friends. That is one thing you will never do. I don't play that game."
"No. I would never keep you from your friends."
"Then you're going to have to trust me. When I say they're just friends, I mean they're JUST friends. I only love you. I only want you. I thought we were past this?"
"We are," he said. "We are."
"Good," Mel said, finding her head on his shoulder again. "Show me what you're looking at."
He watched Mel toss her cell phone on the end of the sofa as he retrieved his laptop and opened it back up. Smiling, he began to click away again.
________________________________________________________
NATALIE
She had seen him there, in the bar. She recognized him. With as many times as Taylor had been ticketed in the same location, she knew exactly who he was and she knew where he stayed.
Natalie was grateful for Kate. She knew that Kate was probably having a few internal issues, between her best friend and her family, but she was thankful that Kate hadn't turned her back on her. She was the only one
who hadn't. So when Natalie casually asked about the guy at the bar, Kate offered up the information that she needed. Eric Masters was an officer for the City of Tulsa. Conveniently he graduated high school with Mel and Drew and there was a reunion planned soon. No doubt Taylor would show up with Mel. It was practically guaranteed.
Natalie had only wanted to apologize to him. To tell him how sorry she was for what she had done. To ask him how he could throw away ten years in a matter of days. She had to know at what point he stopped
loving her--if he ever did. But most importantly, she had to get him back. She just had to. It wouldn't be easy, that she knew. So the divorce was final, so what? So it was fast. Taylor was known for his impulse decisions. Maybe he'd had time to think on it. For all she knew, maybe he missed her, even just a little. Maybe he missed her and didn't know how to let her know. That little bitch was not going to ruin her life any more than she already had. Natalie had what she'd always wanted and there was no way she was letting it go that easily. And, so, if Taylor wouldn't come to her then Natalie would just have to go to him.
As Natalie drove down the road, she spied the patrol car and gently pressed her foot down on the gas. As she flew past, she smiled as she saw the car pull onto the road behind her. A grin spread across her face when the blue lights came on.
Natalie pulled her car over and waited. Sure enough, Eric Masters came to her window. "Good afternoon, ma'am," he said to her. "Any idea why I pulled you over today?"
He was...sort of attractive. Nothing to write home about. His blonde hair was cut so close to his head he was practically bald. He was tall, not very muscular. He would have to do, she guessed.
Fear spread across her face with ease. "Officer, I am so sorry. I tried to watch my speed but I'm in sort of a rush. My sister called me and the way she sounded worried me so I'm on my way to check on her."
Eric's face softened a little. "Well I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. If you'll just provide me with your license and registration, I'll make this quick and you can be on your way."
Natalie obliged and gave Eric what he needed. He looked at her license and back at her. "Hanson, huh? You related to any of those Hanson guys?"
"Um, I used to be. Haven't gotten around to getting it changed yet."
Eric narrowed his eyes at her. "Hey, I think I recognize you..."
Natalie shook her head quickly, afraid her plan may have been falling through. "Uh, I don't think so. I've never met you before." She smiled at him. "I would have remembered if I had, though." She wanted to gag.
As expected, Eric's fair skin turned an abnormal shade of red. He smiled and said, "Well that's very kind of you. I suppose I would have remembered meeting you, too."
Natalie continued smiling. "Well then maybe this was fate."
Nonchalantly handing Natalie her license and registration back through the window, he said, "You know, maybe it is. Hey, I don't normally do things like this seeing as I'm on patrol and all, but I have...well I have this thing coming up. A party--well, a reunion. I know this is kind of forward, but you wouldn't be interested in going with me, would you?"
Natalie smiled again and she swore she may have even batted an eyelash or two. She didn't care. Whatever she was doing, it was working. "I thought you'd never ask," she responded.
"Wow, that's great," Eric said nervously. They exchanged phone numbers and then he said, "Okay, then. I better get back to work. It was nice meeting you and I look forward to our date. I hope your sister is okay."
"You're not as excited as I am," she threw in for good measure. Within moments she was driving down the road once more, a smile glued to her face.
_____________________________________________________
DREW
Drew sat at breakfast with Gerard when the text from Mel came through about the date for the reunion. Drew frowned and frantically began checking the calendar in her phone.
Apparently Gerard had noticed. "Is there a problem?"
"I don't think so..." Drew's voice trailed off as she went through her schedule. She found herself smiling in triumph. She was free that day and the day after.
Gerard noticed again. "Problem solved, I presume?"
Drew put her phone down and smiled across the table. "I'm sorry. I just found out I was free to go to my high school reunion."
"Oh. Well that'll be fun," he said.
"Maybe," Drew said. "I only had a few friends in high school. I had more before I started hanging out with Ike, Tay, and Zac. I guess when fame gets involved in any way people tend to leave you alone."
"It's juvenile jealousy, dear. We all go through it. It's nice that you've been invited to attend now, though."
Drew sighed. "I never really fit in there. I always felt different. It might be a little weird..."
"So then why go?"
"Why not?"
Gerard seemed to accept her response and they both went back to their food. After a moment, he said to her, "So...do you care to invite me along?"
Drew looked up at him and almost laughed. "To my high school reunion?"
"Well, yes."
"Um...I don't know...I mean Tay's already going to be there. And Mel's getting recognized a little more now and then I've done this movie...I'm afraid if I bring you everyone will just think she and I are rubbing things in and...I don't want it to be weird."
"Darling, the point of high school reunions is to reunite. See how everyone's grown up. This happens to be your life now, there's no need to feel ashamed of it. It's not your fault that this was your dream and not
everyone else's. However if you think my presence would make you uncomfortable, I won't attend."
Drew smiled gratefully. "It's just--well nobody knows about us yet. I'm not sure a high school reunion in Tulsa, Oklahoma is the place to go public...you know?"
Gerard smiled back. "I completely understand. I'm impressed with how well you're taking this whole fame thing in stride."
"Well I'm not exactly famous yet..."
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Just wait until this movie is released. It'll be a mad house. You think you have offers coming in now? After the release it'll be a whole new ballgame."
_________________________________________________________
KATE
Kate walked into 3CG a nervous wreck. Stopping by the studio never made her nervous before but today was an exception. Today she wasn't here to see her husband like she normally was. In fact, he had no idea she was even there. Instead she had other plans.
Kate took a deep breath and knocked on Mel's office door. "Come in," she heard.
Kate walked in and greeted Mel quietly. "Um, hi."
Mel looked up at her and took her glasses off of her face. "Zac's in the back, working on some paintings. Did you need me to get him for you or something?"
"No," Kate gently closed the door behind her. "I actually came to see you."
There was surprise in Mel's eyes and Kate couldn't say she blamed her for it. "Uh, well, okay then...you can sit if you want to," Mel said.
"Thank you." Kate took a seat across from Mel at her desk. "Um, so...I know I haven't been...well I know I haven't attempted to get along with you or anything. It was wrong of me to judge before trying to get to
know you first."
Mel simply nodded and listened.
Kate continued. "I know it's been several weeks already since--well, you know. And I just wanted to stop by and apologize for calling you like I did. I know I've owed you this apology for awhile. It wasn't my place to say anything, I know that. I just wanted to you to know that, in that present situation, when she showed up at my house, all I could do was react. On behalf of her. And I know that if it was Drew that had come to your door like that, you would have done the same thing."
"Oh I'd have done her one better," Mel said. "I'd have killed someone."
Kate smiled at the joke. "But I do apologize, from the bottom of my heart I do. And I know you have no real reason to trust me right now. And I'm not asking you to. I'm just--I'm going through some stuff right now, too. Learning who to trust and who not to trust in light of current events. I hope you understand that."
Mel nodded, not saying much. This made Kate nervous. She never realized how intimidating Mel could be just sitting across from her. Why did she want her acceptance so much? This was new to Kate.
Finally Mel said, "Apology accepted. You're right. I would have done the same thing."
"And--and can I say one more thing and then I'll go? I don't even know why I even feel the need to say this to you, but--I always thought there was something kind of off about Nat and Taylor's relationship. And then
you came along and I realized that what was off about it--was you. I think it was always you, all these years. I see how happy he is now and--well she's my best friend but I never saw him look at her the way he looks at
you." Kate took her purse in her hand and stood. "Anyway, that was really all I wanted to say. I'm sorry for bothering you. Have a good day, okay?"
As Kate headed for the door, Mel stopped her. "Kate? Uh, thanks for stopping by."
Kate returned the sentiment with a shy smile and she left the office. Walking out the door of 3CG, Kate felt better. She had to admit, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She never realized
how--held back she felt around Mel. And it was the same with Nikki. Natalie showed dislike toward the two of them and Kate had always kind of gone along with it because she was her best friend. She honestly couldn't remember the last social decision she had made without heavy influence from Natalie. Now that she was being forced to look at things around her a little differently, things were being put more and more into perspective for her. Maybe Taylor's life wasn't the only one that was negatively affected by Natalie. Maybe Kate's life--
Her thoughts were interrupted when her cell phone rang. Speak of the devil.
"So guess what?" Natalie said into the phone. "Guess who's going to the Central High reunion?"
Kate's heart sank as she got into her car. "Natalie..."
"You guessed it! I'm going with that Eric guy..."
"How?"
"Well that's neither here nor there. The point is, I'm going."
"Natalie, you can't go. You can't go to that reunion, it's not right."
"What's not right about it? He won't talk to me, Kate. They even changed the locks at the studio so I can't get in. I need to talk to him and this seems to be the only way I can do it. I'm not going to cause any trouble, I just want to talk to him."
"I just don't think this is a good idea. There has to be another way."
"If there was any other way I wouldn't be going to this thing!" Natalie hissed into the phone.
"Nat, please. Just let them have their night. Okay?"
"Just let them have--who's side are you on, anyway?"
Kate sighed, knowing what she now had to do. She had made a decision, right there in that instant. "Natalie, I think we need to talk."
_______________________________________________________________
TAYLOR
Due to growing anxiety, and the fear of moving too fast, Mel and Taylor decided that perhaps it wasn't such
a great idea that he moved in just yet. Ike continued to offer his guest room, which Taylor took him up on, but he had decided to do a little apartment hunting after all.
However that didn't stop Taylor from spending several nights per week at Mel's house. Try as they might, neither one could stand to be apart from the other. He couldn't count many times Mel had called him hours after he had gotten back to Ike's, asking him to come back. He could never tell her no. If it was up to him, he'd never sleep alone again.
One day, after spending the night apart, Tay had some down time so he chose to sit with Mel on her sofa and search for apartments on his laptop. He sat with his legs propped up while Mel leaned on his shoulder. He was happy. Completely content. He was comfortable, relaxed, he had Mel beside him. Life couldn't have been more perfect in that moment.
Except that Mel couldn't keep her head out of her damn phone!
It was starting to get annoying. One minute they were in deep conversation over this condo or that one and the next minute she was texting away, completely ignoring him. After what seemed like the thousandth time
her fingers flew on her phone, Tay finally asked her, "Who the hell do you keep texting?"
"Eric," she said, matter-of-factly.
Tay sighed and rubbed his face. They had finally gotten past the whole Jason ordeal. Was there someone else he was going to have to worry about now? He had to admit, if he had to concern himself with any other
man, he'd rather it be Jason than weasley Deputy Dog. That was practically an insult.
"What could he possibly have to say that's so damn interesting?"
"Talking about the reunion," she muttered. She muttered. Like it was nothing. Like completely ignoring her boyfriend to totally submerse herself in a conversation with another man was just no big deal at all. None. Whatsoever.
"Okay...so he's planning a reunion that you just recently found out about. Why does he need so much input from you?"
Mel sighed in frustration. "It's not just that. We're talking about who might show up, who's doing what nowadays, stuff like that. I've missed a lot over the years."
'And you couldn't find this out from one of your fifty other friends?' Tay thought to himself. He refrained from saying it out loud. He felt jealousy rearing its ugly head and he did not want to start a fight. He did not want to be that person anymore. Besides, it was just Deputy Dog. If he felt like he had to be jealous of him, then Tay really had some deep issues.
And then Mel's phone rang. Before he could get a peek at who was calling her, she was off the sofa in a flash and was standing in the kitchen. Tay knew it was wrong to eavesdrop. He hated invading her privacy. But he just HAD to know what on earth commanded so much of her attention today.
"Hey, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" he heard her ask.
Tay relaxed for a moment. He knew right then she had to be talking to Drew. He went back to his laptop and began to surf when her next words brought him back to the conversation. "Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry."
Jason? Great. That's just great. He knew Jason was a staple in Mel's life. He knew it and she would never let him forget it. But the mere sound of his name still made his stomach churn. To know that he almost lost Mel to him--on several occasions--well, it just wasn't a good feeling knowing he was still around.
"No," she was saying. "No you're not, you're magnificent. It's not the end of the world, I promise. Listen to you, I've never heard you like this before. I don't like this side of you, it concerns me."
Her tone was so caring and gentle. Tay's blood began to boil.
A few minutes later when the conversation ended, Mel walked back in the room and sat back down. He waited for her to say something. Anything. She said nothing.
So he instigated. "So. Jason, huh?"
"Yeah."
"What did he want?"
Mel sighed. "He just found out he didn't get a part he auditioned for. He worked really hard for it. He needed to talk. Are you going to be like this every single time I talk to him?"
"Why do you feel the need to leave the room every time he calls?"
Mel looked at him in disbelief. "Because maybe I want to concentrate on what my best friend is saying to me."
"You couldn't concentrate in here?"
"No, Tay. I couldn't. I can't concentrate on the conversation at hand when you're staring me down the whole time or acting all huffy every time I open my mouth. It's rude and it's distracting."
"Rude? Who's talking about rude? What's rude is you and I trying to spend time together while you have your head in your phone talking to not one, but two other men."
"They are my FRIENDS, Tay. I'm allowed to have friends. And there's nothing wrong with having friends of the opposite sex. None, whatsoever."
"Okay, then," Tay said, closing his laptop. "I'll find two of my female friends in my phone and we'll just chat away. How would that make you feel? If I sat next to you and chatted up my two best female friends?"
Mel's face fell. Tay smiled. He knew he had her. Problem solved.
Until she opened her mouth again. "You don't have any female friends."
"Goddammit, Mel, you're missing the point."
"No, I see the point. The point is you don't trust me and you're jealous!"
"What? I am not--I do trust you, Mel. It's THEM I don't trust."
"Well *I* trust them and, really, that's all that matters."
Tay was flabbergasted at this statement. Completely taken aback. "Are you saying that my opinion doesn't matter? That how I feel doesn't matter?"
"Are you seriously picking another fight right now?"
"No. I just want to know. Do you care what I think or how I feel? About anything? Or are you just choosing to go off and do your own thing regardless?"
Mel's face softened into an expression of sorrow. "Of course I care. Why wouldn't I care?"
Tay instantly felt like an asshole. He hated this feeling. "I don't know. I guess when you're off making all of these spur of the moment decisions all the time and doing everything on a whim where I don't have time to
react I feel like--I guess I kinda feel invisible sometimes."
"Well that sounds an awful lot like someone else I know. Acting on impulse, flying by the seat of your pants..."
Tay felt himself blushing. "Yeah, yeah, I get your point..."
"You're not going to tell me to stop seeing my friends. That is one thing you will never do. I don't play that game."
"No. I would never keep you from your friends."
"Then you're going to have to trust me. When I say they're just friends, I mean they're JUST friends. I only love you. I only want you. I thought we were past this?"
"We are," he said. "We are."
"Good," Mel said, finding her head on his shoulder again. "Show me what you're looking at."
He watched Mel toss her cell phone on the end of the sofa as he retrieved his laptop and opened it back up. Smiling, he began to click away again.
________________________________________________________
NATALIE
She had seen him there, in the bar. She recognized him. With as many times as Taylor had been ticketed in the same location, she knew exactly who he was and she knew where he stayed.
Natalie was grateful for Kate. She knew that Kate was probably having a few internal issues, between her best friend and her family, but she was thankful that Kate hadn't turned her back on her. She was the only one
who hadn't. So when Natalie casually asked about the guy at the bar, Kate offered up the information that she needed. Eric Masters was an officer for the City of Tulsa. Conveniently he graduated high school with Mel and Drew and there was a reunion planned soon. No doubt Taylor would show up with Mel. It was practically guaranteed.
Natalie had only wanted to apologize to him. To tell him how sorry she was for what she had done. To ask him how he could throw away ten years in a matter of days. She had to know at what point he stopped
loving her--if he ever did. But most importantly, she had to get him back. She just had to. It wouldn't be easy, that she knew. So the divorce was final, so what? So it was fast. Taylor was known for his impulse decisions. Maybe he'd had time to think on it. For all she knew, maybe he missed her, even just a little. Maybe he missed her and didn't know how to let her know. That little bitch was not going to ruin her life any more than she already had. Natalie had what she'd always wanted and there was no way she was letting it go that easily. And, so, if Taylor wouldn't come to her then Natalie would just have to go to him.
As Natalie drove down the road, she spied the patrol car and gently pressed her foot down on the gas. As she flew past, she smiled as she saw the car pull onto the road behind her. A grin spread across her face when the blue lights came on.
Natalie pulled her car over and waited. Sure enough, Eric Masters came to her window. "Good afternoon, ma'am," he said to her. "Any idea why I pulled you over today?"
He was...sort of attractive. Nothing to write home about. His blonde hair was cut so close to his head he was practically bald. He was tall, not very muscular. He would have to do, she guessed.
Fear spread across her face with ease. "Officer, I am so sorry. I tried to watch my speed but I'm in sort of a rush. My sister called me and the way she sounded worried me so I'm on my way to check on her."
Eric's face softened a little. "Well I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. If you'll just provide me with your license and registration, I'll make this quick and you can be on your way."
Natalie obliged and gave Eric what he needed. He looked at her license and back at her. "Hanson, huh? You related to any of those Hanson guys?"
"Um, I used to be. Haven't gotten around to getting it changed yet."
Eric narrowed his eyes at her. "Hey, I think I recognize you..."
Natalie shook her head quickly, afraid her plan may have been falling through. "Uh, I don't think so. I've never met you before." She smiled at him. "I would have remembered if I had, though." She wanted to gag.
As expected, Eric's fair skin turned an abnormal shade of red. He smiled and said, "Well that's very kind of you. I suppose I would have remembered meeting you, too."
Natalie continued smiling. "Well then maybe this was fate."
Nonchalantly handing Natalie her license and registration back through the window, he said, "You know, maybe it is. Hey, I don't normally do things like this seeing as I'm on patrol and all, but I have...well I have this thing coming up. A party--well, a reunion. I know this is kind of forward, but you wouldn't be interested in going with me, would you?"
Natalie smiled again and she swore she may have even batted an eyelash or two. She didn't care. Whatever she was doing, it was working. "I thought you'd never ask," she responded.
"Wow, that's great," Eric said nervously. They exchanged phone numbers and then he said, "Okay, then. I better get back to work. It was nice meeting you and I look forward to our date. I hope your sister is okay."
"You're not as excited as I am," she threw in for good measure. Within moments she was driving down the road once more, a smile glued to her face.
_____________________________________________________
DREW
Drew sat at breakfast with Gerard when the text from Mel came through about the date for the reunion. Drew frowned and frantically began checking the calendar in her phone.
Apparently Gerard had noticed. "Is there a problem?"
"I don't think so..." Drew's voice trailed off as she went through her schedule. She found herself smiling in triumph. She was free that day and the day after.
Gerard noticed again. "Problem solved, I presume?"
Drew put her phone down and smiled across the table. "I'm sorry. I just found out I was free to go to my high school reunion."
"Oh. Well that'll be fun," he said.
"Maybe," Drew said. "I only had a few friends in high school. I had more before I started hanging out with Ike, Tay, and Zac. I guess when fame gets involved in any way people tend to leave you alone."
"It's juvenile jealousy, dear. We all go through it. It's nice that you've been invited to attend now, though."
Drew sighed. "I never really fit in there. I always felt different. It might be a little weird..."
"So then why go?"
"Why not?"
Gerard seemed to accept her response and they both went back to their food. After a moment, he said to her, "So...do you care to invite me along?"
Drew looked up at him and almost laughed. "To my high school reunion?"
"Well, yes."
"Um...I don't know...I mean Tay's already going to be there. And Mel's getting recognized a little more now and then I've done this movie...I'm afraid if I bring you everyone will just think she and I are rubbing things in and...I don't want it to be weird."
"Darling, the point of high school reunions is to reunite. See how everyone's grown up. This happens to be your life now, there's no need to feel ashamed of it. It's not your fault that this was your dream and not
everyone else's. However if you think my presence would make you uncomfortable, I won't attend."
Drew smiled gratefully. "It's just--well nobody knows about us yet. I'm not sure a high school reunion in Tulsa, Oklahoma is the place to go public...you know?"
Gerard smiled back. "I completely understand. I'm impressed with how well you're taking this whole fame thing in stride."
"Well I'm not exactly famous yet..."
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Just wait until this movie is released. It'll be a mad house. You think you have offers coming in now? After the release it'll be a whole new ballgame."
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KATE
Kate walked into 3CG a nervous wreck. Stopping by the studio never made her nervous before but today was an exception. Today she wasn't here to see her husband like she normally was. In fact, he had no idea she was even there. Instead she had other plans.
Kate took a deep breath and knocked on Mel's office door. "Come in," she heard.
Kate walked in and greeted Mel quietly. "Um, hi."
Mel looked up at her and took her glasses off of her face. "Zac's in the back, working on some paintings. Did you need me to get him for you or something?"
"No," Kate gently closed the door behind her. "I actually came to see you."
There was surprise in Mel's eyes and Kate couldn't say she blamed her for it. "Uh, well, okay then...you can sit if you want to," Mel said.
"Thank you." Kate took a seat across from Mel at her desk. "Um, so...I know I haven't been...well I know I haven't attempted to get along with you or anything. It was wrong of me to judge before trying to get to
know you first."
Mel simply nodded and listened.
Kate continued. "I know it's been several weeks already since--well, you know. And I just wanted to stop by and apologize for calling you like I did. I know I've owed you this apology for awhile. It wasn't my place to say anything, I know that. I just wanted to you to know that, in that present situation, when she showed up at my house, all I could do was react. On behalf of her. And I know that if it was Drew that had come to your door like that, you would have done the same thing."
"Oh I'd have done her one better," Mel said. "I'd have killed someone."
Kate smiled at the joke. "But I do apologize, from the bottom of my heart I do. And I know you have no real reason to trust me right now. And I'm not asking you to. I'm just--I'm going through some stuff right now, too. Learning who to trust and who not to trust in light of current events. I hope you understand that."
Mel nodded, not saying much. This made Kate nervous. She never realized how intimidating Mel could be just sitting across from her. Why did she want her acceptance so much? This was new to Kate.
Finally Mel said, "Apology accepted. You're right. I would have done the same thing."
"And--and can I say one more thing and then I'll go? I don't even know why I even feel the need to say this to you, but--I always thought there was something kind of off about Nat and Taylor's relationship. And then
you came along and I realized that what was off about it--was you. I think it was always you, all these years. I see how happy he is now and--well she's my best friend but I never saw him look at her the way he looks at
you." Kate took her purse in her hand and stood. "Anyway, that was really all I wanted to say. I'm sorry for bothering you. Have a good day, okay?"
As Kate headed for the door, Mel stopped her. "Kate? Uh, thanks for stopping by."
Kate returned the sentiment with a shy smile and she left the office. Walking out the door of 3CG, Kate felt better. She had to admit, she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She never realized
how--held back she felt around Mel. And it was the same with Nikki. Natalie showed dislike toward the two of them and Kate had always kind of gone along with it because she was her best friend. She honestly couldn't remember the last social decision she had made without heavy influence from Natalie. Now that she was being forced to look at things around her a little differently, things were being put more and more into perspective for her. Maybe Taylor's life wasn't the only one that was negatively affected by Natalie. Maybe Kate's life--
Her thoughts were interrupted when her cell phone rang. Speak of the devil.
"So guess what?" Natalie said into the phone. "Guess who's going to the Central High reunion?"
Kate's heart sank as she got into her car. "Natalie..."
"You guessed it! I'm going with that Eric guy..."
"How?"
"Well that's neither here nor there. The point is, I'm going."
"Natalie, you can't go. You can't go to that reunion, it's not right."
"What's not right about it? He won't talk to me, Kate. They even changed the locks at the studio so I can't get in. I need to talk to him and this seems to be the only way I can do it. I'm not going to cause any trouble, I just want to talk to him."
"I just don't think this is a good idea. There has to be another way."
"If there was any other way I wouldn't be going to this thing!" Natalie hissed into the phone.
"Nat, please. Just let them have their night. Okay?"
"Just let them have--who's side are you on, anyway?"
Kate sighed, knowing what she now had to do. She had made a decision, right there in that instant. "Natalie, I think we need to talk."
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