CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
MEL
For two days, Mel had woken up next to Taylor. Isaac still had his room ready for him at his house. He had only brought a few articles of clothing, some toiletries, and his favorite coffee mug to Mel's. He was by no means moved in.
While she loved going to bed with him and waking up with him and just feeling his presence around the house, she could feel the anxiety slowly setting in. He left his toothbrush on the sink instead of putting it in the cup. He left his wet towels on the bed. She found his coffee mug in the most random places. She was on edge. Every move he made, made her blood pressure rise. She hadn't lived with a man in almost four
years. She had been alone for almost four years. She'd grown so used to it, she didn't know how not to live alone. Living with Drew was basically like living alone because she was never home!
Not to mention, she and Tay had never really found each other in a "domesticated" position before. No doubt things were going EXTREMELY fast. I mean, who did this? Honestly? Who got divorced in a matter of days and then immediately started a brand new relationship? Who does that?
Who was she kidding? This was her and Tay. This was them. This was the couple that tackled each other in the grass and trashed hotel rooms and passed each other notes and hopped planes for each other at a moment's notice. Maybe what was strange and outlandish to others was just normal for them.
But normal was certainly not normal. Not by a long shot. And while Mel wasn't exactly an accomplished housekeeper herself, adding someone else's mess to her own was beginning to rock her entire world. And not in a good way.
Mel loved Tay. With all her heart, she loved him. The sun rose and fell with him. She wanted nothing more than to be with him every night and every day of her life. But sometimes--well maybe sometimes not so
MUCH. It was obvious they were definitely going to have to learn how to live together. Or maybe Mel was just going to have to learn to adapt...
Tay was puzzled when Mel decided to stay home from the studio that day. That was another thing that had weirded her out the previous day--riding to work together. That was just...odd...she wasn't sure how she felt about that either. She didn't tell Tay that she was staying home to she could straighten up the house without him seeing her. And to think about things. Something had to give here. There had to be something they could work out until Mel could get used to the idea of having him there all the time.
He came home late, as expected. She knew better than to expect him at any certain time when he and his brothers were writing. That was something she'd learned the hard way when they were writing This Time Around and had grown to respect. However, when he came home that night, he brought a box.
Mel could feel herself on edge at the mere sight of it. She coaxed herself down. 'It's okay,' she thought to herself. 'He seems to be taking baby steps. That's good. Okay now what--what is he taking out of the box? What is that thing? Is he--is he putting it right there? Right next to the--?'
"Tay!" Mel found herself saying very loudly as he attempted to set--whatever the hell that thing was--on one of the shelves in the living room.
She caught him with the object in mid air. "What?"
She looked from his hand to his face, not really knowing what to say. "Um...uh--"
Tay looked at his own hand and then at Mel. Slowly he put the object back in the box. "Oh god," he said. "I'm so sorry, Mel. I wasn't even thinking. I just--I start to get comfortable and then I tend to invade..."
"No. I mean, you're not invading...I just...Tay, I'm freaking out. Seriously, I am. I mean, I want you to be here with me but--I don't know, I'm just freaking out. I've been alone for several years now and--well, I'm impossible to live with."
"So am I," he admitted. "I'm not so great at picking up behind myself sometimes."
"I noticed."
"And I can't stand it when you're constantly moving my coffee mug."
"Even when I find it in the damn shower?"
"I always intend to come back for it."
"We're going to kill each other."
"You'll die first," Tay said. "Buried under my clothes hoard in the corner of the room. Laundry isn't my strong suit."
"My eulogy better be fucking Shakespeare. I started writing yours today."
"Is it an award winner?"
"Pulitzer."
Suddenly they both burst out laughing. Taylor crossed the room and wrapped Mel in a hug. "I know how you are," he said to her. "I know you're getting kind neurotic over this. I get it. It'll take time. Hell the closest we've ever come to living together was that summer on the tour bus and--well--I just don't even think I'd count THAT."
"That was prison is what that was. A bus full of teenagers? I was in testosterone hell that summer."
"You want me to just stay at Ike's for awhile? I mean, I miss you like hell when you're not around but I don't want to scare you or make you feel like we're trying to jump in too fast or anything. I want you to be happy."
"What makes me happy is your being here. Honestly. I'm just very...territorial, I guess. It's been quite a long time since I had to share anything."
"Sharing, huh?" Taylor said, a devious smile crossing his lips. "I got something you can share right here."
Mel giggled and within minutes they were both naked on her sofa.
____________________________________________________
DREW
Drew found herself alone at 3CG separating merchandise. She didn't really know what possessed her to do it. She guessed that since she was about to leave for LA with a lot on her mind she felt the need to keep herself
busy.
Also Tay and Mel had decided to stay home today and Drew just rathered not walk in on yet another "episode."
She was in the zone, stacking and separating items when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she stood and whipped her head to the right. Zac stood there. "What are you doing here?" she
asked.
"Looking for you."
"Well you found me."
"You're leaving in a couple of days."
"I am."
"Are you coming back this time?"
Drew sighed. "Zac, I never felt like I belonged in Tulsa. Never really fit in. And after my dad died--I mean, come on. You've heard this a million times."
Zac shuffled his feet nervously. "So you're not coming back."
"Things are starting to get really busy for me. I've been offered several parts already, I'm reading scripts, shopping for a new agent--LA is just closer to everything for me."
"Come on. Actors live all over the world. There's no rule that says you have to reside in California."
"When I leave work or premiers or whatever it is I'm doing, I just want to go home. YOU, of all people, should understand where I'm coming from. I don't want to go to some random hotel or trailer or something. I want something that's mine. I've never had that before."
"But what if you already do? Have something that's yours, I mean?"
Drew's throat ran dry at his words. Surely he wasn't serious. She finally managed to choke out, "I'm different, Zac. I'm not the same. I can feel it."
"You're still Drew to me," he said quietly.
Dropping the t-shirt that was in her hand, Drew walked over to Zac and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. As she hugged him, she felt him move her hair out of her face. And then he kissed her
cheek...turned her face to his...closer...closer...their lips touched and a shiver ran down Drew's spine. She drew in a breath and kissed him back, holding him tightly. Before she knew it, things were getting heated, as
they tended to when they found themselves in such positions.
As their kiss deepened, Zac's hands drifted lower and lower down her back until he cupped her tightly and pressed himself against her. She could feel him harden against herself and she couldn't help her knee bending alongside of him in response. The heavy petting turned her on, that she couldn't deny.
She felt her hands drifting along his body as well and before she knew it, her hands were up his shirt, feeling the curves of his chest, her fingernails nimbly grazing his nipples. With his hands around her waist, he began to slowly walk her backward as he kissed her. She didn't object. Even though she couldn't see where she was going, she chose to trust him. Tearing her lips away from him now would have been a tragedy.
He walked her through a doorway and she discovered that he had backed her into the small conference room and she only realized it when she backed up against the end of the table. Never missing a beat, he bent her backward on the table and positioned himself over her, his hands beginning to get a little more involved with her.
And then her shirt came off and his mouth was immediately all over her. Chills took over her body as she felt his lips and his tongue all over her breasts and stomach. He always knew exactly what she liked. Within
minutes his own shirt was off and the skin-on-skin contact made Drew hotter by the second.
And then...something happened...she wasn't exactly sure when or how but it happened. Zac's hands were tight on her waist as he kissed her neck and suddenly her switch just--turned off. Completely. Out of nowhere, she lost it. The mood was gone, the chills were gone, the desire--completely gone!
"Zac. Zac, stop. Stop," she said, pushing him off of her and sitting up. She fished her shirt off the table behind her and put it back on.
Zac looked flabbergasted. "WHAT? What do you mean, stop? What are you doing, why are you getting dressed?"
Drew frowned, a little confused with herself. "I'm sorry, I--I'm just not feeling it, I don't know."
"Just not FEELING it?? You were feeling it pretty good just a minute ago!"
"I don't know!" Drew said, frustrated. "I don't know, I just--it just doesn't seem right."
Zac looked hurt. "It's always been right..."
Drew was hurt for him. She felt horrible. But she had to be honest with herself. She wasn't lying when she told Zac she was different. She'd known it since Ireland. She had--well--dare she say she had grown up a little?
"Um," Drew searched desperately for the right words. They were nowhere to be found. "It's not. It's not right. I don't feel right anymore."
Zac's jaw dropped. "And you choose NOW to just not feel right? Like, RIGHT NOW? In the middle of sex??"
"Please. We weren't even close to sex."
"We would have been!"
Drew narrowed her eyes at Zac. "Is this all it's been about? Really? Sex? What about what you told me in Ireland?"
"Well, uh...you've caught me in a very precarious position here..."
"Well put your damn shirt back on and answer the question."
Begrudgingly, Zac pulled his t-shirt over his head. "It's not just about sex," he said. "It's not. We just happen to be in this moment..."
"Do you really love me? Like you said you did?"
Zac's eyes widened. "Well--yes--"
"Really? Would you leave Kate for me? Break up your family? Start a life with me, move to LA? Support my career?"
Zac was speechless. It was obvious Drew had her answer and she was furious. He wasn't ready. She always knew he wasn't. "I can't believe you," she continued, his silence speaking volumes. "You have the
balls to say what you said to me and then can't even back it up. Maybe I was right to stop us right here before we go on doing more things we're going to regret."
"Drew--"
"No. You love Kate. You know you do. And I don't think you love me. At least not like that. You love the old me, the old us. But that's not who I am anymore and it's not who you are anymore. Stop trying to take back what's gone and be who you are now. This, right here? This is not who you are. You're my best friend, despite it all. I think it needs to stay that way."
"Drew, I can't--"
"You better. It's the only way you're going to have me from now on. I need you, Zac. But not like this."
Drew wanted to scream. She wanted to pull a Mel and go crazy all over him, screaming and yelling and throwing things. But she saw his face and she just couldn't do it to him. She couldn't be that person. It
wasn't in her. "Look. I leave in two days. I found an apartment in LA and I'm moving in when I get there. Can't we just be friends and hang out? Enjoy this time I have left here?"
Zac just stared at her. Finally his only response was, "I need to go home."
And then he was gone. Just like that.
__________________________________________________________
TAYLOR
To be with Mel was to completely submerse one's self into Mel's world. Taylor thought he knew Mel, and he did. Spiritually. Emotionally. Physically. But it was apparent that Mel was about a lot more than he had imagined. She completely fascinated him. He hadn't had the opportunity to spend THIS much time with her in--well in ten years. Even over the past several months since she had come into his life, being the whirlwind that it was, he was never able to really see her in her element. And her element was completely the opposite of his element. He was still deciding if he liked it or not.
Who was he kidding, it didn't matter. All he wanted was to cling to her no matter where she went or what she did.
He got his first taste on a Saturday when she decided, on a whim, to trade her car in. "I want something bigger," she had said.
"For WHAT?" he had asked. "Who or what are you planning on hauling around?"
"You never know..." was her matter-of-fact response. Who was he to argue with her? He was learning very quickly that whenever she set her mind on something, it was going to happen. Her spur of the moment
decisions were beginning to leave him in a constant daze.
At the car lot she fell head over heels in love at first sight with a 2014 Jeep Gladiator. She loved how it was vaguely reminiscent of old cars from the early 1900's. Taylor thought it was absolutely hideous and was
miraculously able to talk her out of it.
Then she found herself a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. He hated the grill. "Who is this car for?" She had asked in frustration.
He simply shook his head.
Finally they drove off the lot in a 2014 Jeep Patriot in black. Taylor shook his head. "I can't believe you traded a perfectly good car for THIS."
She smiled at him and took a deep breath, sliding her hands over her steering wheel. "Isn't it so sexy, thought?"
"Oh I'm not denying it's a sexy vehicle," he said. "It's just funny to see...well you're so tiny and this thing is so big..."
Mel looked hurt. "So?"
Taylor couldn't take her expression. He sighed and shook his head. "So if it makes you happy..."
She smiled. "It does. And listen to THIS sexiness!" She then proceeded to crank up her 80's rock music on her brand new sound system. It wasn't necessarily his cup of tea but some of it was growing on him. And he had to admit, there was something just slightly sexy about how much she loved it...
And here came the blue lights.
"Shit," Tay said, sinking in his seat. He was in the passenger's side but it didn't matter. "I'd bet an entire year's royalties that this is the same damn cop that gets me every time."
Mel pulled over. It killed him how she acted so oblivious to what was going on. He hated getting pulled over.
The cop came to the window and Mel rolled it down. Taylor was absolutely right. It was the same guy. Every damn time...
"Oh my god, Eric?" Mel squealed. "Eric Masters?"
Tay did a double-take toward the driver's seat. Was this seriously happening?
The cop smiled. "Melody Banks! Wow, it's been years! How are you?"
"I'm great! How are you? You're an officer now, that's awesome! I was an officer for awhile myself."
"No kidding?" Eric's smile spread across his face. "Here in Tulsa?"
"No, NYPD. I just moved back from New York."
"NYPD, huh? You were some kind of big shot, then."
"Not hardly. I was only on for about four years."
Eric craned his neck and saw Taylor in the passenger's seat. An amused smile crossed his face. "Mr. Hanson! Fancy meeting you here!"
Taylor wanted to crawl in a hole. He couldn't begin to define how he hated hearing this man say this every single time he saw him.
Mel, of course, was completely unaware. "Oh, you know Tay?"
"Taylor and I have become fast friends. Practically buddies. I see some things never change. After all this time, still hanging around with him, huh?"
"Wouldn't trade him for the world!" Mel flashed Tay an award-winning smile.
"So are you coming to the reunion in a couple of months?"
You had to be fucking kidding...
"I didn't even know about it!" Mel said.
Of course she didn't...
"But, it's been more than ten years..." Mel said, puzzled.
"Yeah...some things in planning fell through and we weren't able to do it at the time. Scheduling worked out, though, finally. But hey, give me your number and I'll keep in touch. I'm on the committee. Where's Drew nowadays?"
On the committee...how convenient. Tay found himself rolling his eyes.
Mel smiled. "Drew actually just wrapped filming on her very first movie. A Gerard Cline film. She's about to make the move to LA."
"Wow. After seeing you all over Glamarazzi I thought you were Central High's most famous face, but Drew seems to have stolen that title right out from under you!"
"And she can gladly keep it," Mel laughed.
This exchange was making Tay sick. He hated the gooney smile and the obvious flirting...he wished the guy would just issue the ticket and let them move on.
"Well it was great to see you, Mel. You take care, okay? I'll call you about the reunion. And make sure Drew comes, too! This party is going to be epic!"
"I can't wait! Hey, what about my ticket?"
"What ticket?" Eric asked, winking at Mel. "Be careful and have a great day."
As Mel pulled off the curb, she smiled. "It was so great to see him. I can't believe I forgot about my own high school reunion!"
"Uh, are we going?"
She looked at Tay as if he had two heads. "Of course we're going! I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I'm sure Eric would be more than happy to let me be his plus one. He had such a huge crush on me in high school."
"Oh lovely. No wonder he hates me..."
Tay was cussing silently. How had Mel and high school completely slipped his mind? He guessed with her being gone for so long he didn't even think about how she would likely run into everybody she knew, all over
town, all the damn time...
Would he be able to keep his jealousy at bay??
________________________________________________________
DREW
Mel was insistent on throwing Drew a going-away party. Drew was completely flattered and equally as surprised. This new side of Mel she was seeing lately was a side Drew hadn't seen in years. Mel was happy. And fun. It was like having her old best friend back again.
They held the party in a bar in downtown Tulsa. After meeting up with Eric Masters again, Mel even managed to invite a few of their old high school friends. It was such a pleasant surprise!!
One surprise that Drew wasn't prepared for, however, was when Zac showed up with Kate. Drew had no earthly idea how she was supposed to feel about it. None, whatsoever. She and Zac were supposed to be focusing on this friendship thing. Did that mean having to include his wife?? She guessed so...
As if she wasn't floored already, Kate handed Drew a small package upon their arrival. Drew didn't know what to think. Part of her actually felt guilty. Extremely guilty. It's not like Zac was completely innocent either, though. They had done their thing, seen what was out there for them. And it all ended here, with Kate handing Drew a going-away gift. It was actually kind of ironic if you thought about it.
It was nothing spectacular. Just a little scrap book in case Drew wanted to record any of her upcoming memories in it. It was apparently some type of peace offering. Had Kate accepted the fact that Drew wasn't
exactly walking out of Zac's life anytime soon, or was this possible relief at the fact that she physically was?
Drew thanked her awkwardly and the hug Kate offered was even more awkward. Drew decided she needed to ponder on this before she decided whether she was ready to extend any type of social grace towards Kate
yet. She did know, however, that she needed a drink.
Isaac and Nikki were happy to oblige. Drew was so glad they were both there she couldn't even think straight. However, before she got her drink, she was treated with a round of shots and her eyes widened as she looked around. "Um, surely I'm not expected to do ALL these shots!"
"They're on the house," the bartender said.
"Oh, wow...okay! Thanks!" Drew decided to pass them out to the nearest people to her, which happened to be Mel, Nikki--and Kate. Drew passed one to Kate anyway. Hell, if she was going to hang out, she might
as well party like one of the girls, right?
The four ladies did their shots at the same time and let out a cheer. Drew glanced at Mel and smiled as Kate coughed and made a face. It was obvious she wasn't used to this sort of thing.
Within seconds, Mel had disappeared. She spotted her dancing with Eric and a couple of their old friends about the same time Taylor leaned against the bar beside her, beer in hand. "So what's that guy's deal?" he
said, pointing to Eric with his beer.
"Um, I'm not really sure," Drew answered. "I mean I haven't seen him in so long. In high school he was a little...strange, I guess. Slightly socially awkward. Tended to hang out with the girls--but straight, not gay. He had a huge crush on Mel. He would ask me about her all the time. And when she started dating you?" Drew laughed and shook her head. "He was on me every day. 'Are they still together? Did they break up?' I felt sorry for the poor guy..."
"You know, that explains a lot. I have gotten more speeding tickets out of that guy than any other cop in Tulsa. You think it's coincidence?"
"I don't know..."
"So is he not married?"
Drew shrugged. "I don't know. He showed up by himself tonight. But he seems all right now, not as awkward as he was in high school. Maybe he changed for the better."
"He has blown up her phone these past couple of days since she gave him her number..."
"Give it a rest, Tay, jeez. He's an old friend we haven't seen in years. So what if they want to catch up? You gotta stop worrying about stuff like this."
"It's not--it's not THAT. I mean, not like you think. This guy just rubs me the wrong way. I dunno..."
"Look, while we're on the subject, I wanted to say something," Drew said. "And I swear I'm not trying to beat a dead horse or anything here. But Mel--well we both know what Mel has been through. With you and John and Jason...and you again...I've been there for her through thick and thin, picking up the pieces. I've been picking up pieces since the moment you shoved her against that bus--"
Tay winced at her words.
"I'm not trying to rehash bad memories, I'm just stating fact. I have lived with Mel practically this whole time, picking up the pieces and holding her up when she couldn't do it herself. I'm not going to be there as often anymore. I won't be able to drop everything and go to her all the time like I used to. Tay, I need you to take care of her."
"You want me to not fuck up."
"That would help, yes."
"I don't want to fuck it up this time. I've been--handed this chance with her that I probably didn't even deserve to begin with. I CAN'T fuck it up this time."
"The two of you are an interesting pair. You're both emotional, you're both passionate, you're both quick-tempered--and you're both extremely jealous of each other. If you don't handle this relationship with
care--well I don't have to tell you what the outcome would be."
"I'd lose her forever."
"She would never look back."
"Drew, I'm scared to death. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life."
She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing to be scared of. Just love her, trust her, and let her freak out once in awhile. She has you now, so she's happy. Hell, this is the happiest I've seen her in years. All you gotta do is keep her that way."
"Gee," Tay smirked. "You've been a big help."
Their conversation was interrupted by Zac. "Mind if I steal the woman of the hour?"
Tay smiled. "Sure, go ahead. I gotta go steal my woman back from Deputy Dog over there..."
A slow song was playing and Zac led Drew nearby to dance with her. He didn't hold her close like he would have under different circumstances. He kept his distance friendly and respectful. "So, uh, I hope you don't mind me bringing Kate tonight."
The truth was, she DID kind of mind because she wasn't ready to jump right into every aspect of this friendship yet. But she chose to try to keep things as light-hearted as possible. "Well she IS your wife..."
"Um, so I think you were right. About me not being ready to leave. I almost feel like I shouldn't be telling you this, but I do love her. I love my family. Maybe this is who I am, maybe I'm a family man."
"Maybe you are," Drew reluctantly agreed. "And despite our past, I want you to be able to talk to me. I want you to be able to pick up the phone and tell me anything and vice versa. I want us to be there for each
other."
"We will be, no question. Although I have to admit, watching you naked on the screen while sitting next to Kate at the movie premier will be awkward..."
Drew giggled. "Who said you're getting invited to the premier?"
"I'm inviting myself. You see, my best friend's in the movie..."
"Oh really? So you just automatically have connections then?"
Zac smiled. "Of course I do."
"Well, I suppose I can issue a couple of invites then," Drew said in mock defeat.
"On a serious note, I really am proud of you. I know I've said it a few times, but I do mean it. It takes a lot to just get out there and do this kind of thing. I would know..."
"I look up to you, you know," Drew said. "You've kind of always been...well you're kinda my inspiration. I hope I can handle myself with my career as well as you handle yours. I'm really quite impressed with you."
Zac blushed. "You know you were kind of my muse back in the day..."
Drew smiled. She was touched. "I was?"
"Yeah. I drew a kind of energy from you. My confidence level was through the roof. Very necessary for the creative process."
"Wow...I don't even know what to say to that."
"Say...'why, Zac, I would love to put you on the guest list for my movie premier.' "
"Yes, yes, of course you're coming to the premier!"
Suddenly, Mel's voice rang out as the song was ending. "What the fuck is SHE doing here?"
"Jesus Christ," Zac muttered. "We can't get through ONE night without something happening here?"
Drew and Zac glanced toward the entrance to find that Natalie and Bethany had just walked through the door. Mel hated them both.
Zac and Drew made their way back to a group that was partially frozen and nervously looking around at one another. Ike, ever the adult, decided to be the one to approach them. Mel stayed close to Tay.
"Um, listen, I don't think it's a good idea that you guys are here tonight," Ike said to Natalie and Bethany. "This is a private function--"
"Well it's a public place," Bethany interrupted him.
As they witnessed the exchange, Zac's head was in his phone. Suddenly his phone was in front of Drew's face. Pictures of their group were already on Glamarazzi. This most likely explained their presence. Although Drew wouldn't have put it past Kate to say something to Natalie...
Drew walked over and stood on the other side of Mel. It had just occurred to her that Mel hadn't seen Natalie since the benefit, and certainly not since her big secret came out and after Tay divorced her. This made
Drew extremely nervous.
"I just--I need to talk to Tay for a minute," Natalie said.
"The hell you do!" Mel said. Drew could practically feel the rage radiating off of her.
Zac stood on the other side of Tay. "You gotta get her out of here."
Tay looked at Zac, incredulous. "Why do *I* have to do it?"
Zac rolled his eyes. "I mean Mel. Glamarazzi already has pictures of our little get-together. The media doesn't need to get ahold of THIS exchange..."
Tay's eyes widened in realization. He took Mel's hand. "Uh, Mel, let's go get a little fresh air, okay? Let's just go step outside."
"No!" she said, jerking her hand away, eyes glued on Natalie. "We're going to settle this right now."
Natalie's eyes bore right back into Mel. "Oh so there's something to SETTLE?"
Tay leaned down into Mel's ear. "The media is going to have a field day with this..."
"Oh they'll have a field day, all right. They'll have a field day over me stomping her ass!"
Visibly annoyed at how worked up Mel was getting at Natalie's presence, Tay finally had it. "Natalie, get the fuck out of here. I have nothing to say to you and I was serious when I said I had no desire to even see your
face again. There is NOTHING left to be said. It's over, it's been over, it will always BE over." Then he took Mel by the shoulders and turned her body toward a side door and began to walk with her. In her ear he said, "WE are going outside and WE are going to cool off."
As Mel and Tay walked out the door, Ike turned to Natalie. "Uh, so I think you got your response. My brother is over it. This family is over it. You're no longer welcome."
Tears filled Natalie's eyes. "So it's like that then. Just like that."
Drew glanced at Kate. Kate was so visibly torn, Drew almost felt bad for her. This night would surely create a rift in hers and Natalie's friendship. Drew put herself in Kate's shoes for a second. If Mel had done what Natalie had done, if she had faked her pregnancy twice just to keep a man and lied to him for over ten years--could she forgive her? Should it even be a question? Should she question if their friendship was based on lies as well? What more would she be capable of? But then she loved Mel, regardless. She would want to be there for her if her relationship crumbled. But with her doing something so despicable...Drew just didn't know. She didn't know...and that was most likely exactly what Kate was going through.
What if--what if Drew reached out to Kate? Maybe this was the reason things turned out like they did? What if Drew's and Zac's relationship didn't take off for a reason? Because maybe Zac didn't need Drew? Maybe KATE needed Drew.
Drew was stunned by her own thought. The world worked in mysterious ways...
________________________________________________________
MEL
For two days, Mel had woken up next to Taylor. Isaac still had his room ready for him at his house. He had only brought a few articles of clothing, some toiletries, and his favorite coffee mug to Mel's. He was by no means moved in.
While she loved going to bed with him and waking up with him and just feeling his presence around the house, she could feel the anxiety slowly setting in. He left his toothbrush on the sink instead of putting it in the cup. He left his wet towels on the bed. She found his coffee mug in the most random places. She was on edge. Every move he made, made her blood pressure rise. She hadn't lived with a man in almost four
years. She had been alone for almost four years. She'd grown so used to it, she didn't know how not to live alone. Living with Drew was basically like living alone because she was never home!
Not to mention, she and Tay had never really found each other in a "domesticated" position before. No doubt things were going EXTREMELY fast. I mean, who did this? Honestly? Who got divorced in a matter of days and then immediately started a brand new relationship? Who does that?
Who was she kidding? This was her and Tay. This was them. This was the couple that tackled each other in the grass and trashed hotel rooms and passed each other notes and hopped planes for each other at a moment's notice. Maybe what was strange and outlandish to others was just normal for them.
But normal was certainly not normal. Not by a long shot. And while Mel wasn't exactly an accomplished housekeeper herself, adding someone else's mess to her own was beginning to rock her entire world. And not in a good way.
Mel loved Tay. With all her heart, she loved him. The sun rose and fell with him. She wanted nothing more than to be with him every night and every day of her life. But sometimes--well maybe sometimes not so
MUCH. It was obvious they were definitely going to have to learn how to live together. Or maybe Mel was just going to have to learn to adapt...
Tay was puzzled when Mel decided to stay home from the studio that day. That was another thing that had weirded her out the previous day--riding to work together. That was just...odd...she wasn't sure how she felt about that either. She didn't tell Tay that she was staying home to she could straighten up the house without him seeing her. And to think about things. Something had to give here. There had to be something they could work out until Mel could get used to the idea of having him there all the time.
He came home late, as expected. She knew better than to expect him at any certain time when he and his brothers were writing. That was something she'd learned the hard way when they were writing This Time Around and had grown to respect. However, when he came home that night, he brought a box.
Mel could feel herself on edge at the mere sight of it. She coaxed herself down. 'It's okay,' she thought to herself. 'He seems to be taking baby steps. That's good. Okay now what--what is he taking out of the box? What is that thing? Is he--is he putting it right there? Right next to the--?'
"Tay!" Mel found herself saying very loudly as he attempted to set--whatever the hell that thing was--on one of the shelves in the living room.
She caught him with the object in mid air. "What?"
She looked from his hand to his face, not really knowing what to say. "Um...uh--"
Tay looked at his own hand and then at Mel. Slowly he put the object back in the box. "Oh god," he said. "I'm so sorry, Mel. I wasn't even thinking. I just--I start to get comfortable and then I tend to invade..."
"No. I mean, you're not invading...I just...Tay, I'm freaking out. Seriously, I am. I mean, I want you to be here with me but--I don't know, I'm just freaking out. I've been alone for several years now and--well, I'm impossible to live with."
"So am I," he admitted. "I'm not so great at picking up behind myself sometimes."
"I noticed."
"And I can't stand it when you're constantly moving my coffee mug."
"Even when I find it in the damn shower?"
"I always intend to come back for it."
"We're going to kill each other."
"You'll die first," Tay said. "Buried under my clothes hoard in the corner of the room. Laundry isn't my strong suit."
"My eulogy better be fucking Shakespeare. I started writing yours today."
"Is it an award winner?"
"Pulitzer."
Suddenly they both burst out laughing. Taylor crossed the room and wrapped Mel in a hug. "I know how you are," he said to her. "I know you're getting kind neurotic over this. I get it. It'll take time. Hell the closest we've ever come to living together was that summer on the tour bus and--well--I just don't even think I'd count THAT."
"That was prison is what that was. A bus full of teenagers? I was in testosterone hell that summer."
"You want me to just stay at Ike's for awhile? I mean, I miss you like hell when you're not around but I don't want to scare you or make you feel like we're trying to jump in too fast or anything. I want you to be happy."
"What makes me happy is your being here. Honestly. I'm just very...territorial, I guess. It's been quite a long time since I had to share anything."
"Sharing, huh?" Taylor said, a devious smile crossing his lips. "I got something you can share right here."
Mel giggled and within minutes they were both naked on her sofa.
____________________________________________________
DREW
Drew found herself alone at 3CG separating merchandise. She didn't really know what possessed her to do it. She guessed that since she was about to leave for LA with a lot on her mind she felt the need to keep herself
busy.
Also Tay and Mel had decided to stay home today and Drew just rathered not walk in on yet another "episode."
She was in the zone, stacking and separating items when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she stood and whipped her head to the right. Zac stood there. "What are you doing here?" she
asked.
"Looking for you."
"Well you found me."
"You're leaving in a couple of days."
"I am."
"Are you coming back this time?"
Drew sighed. "Zac, I never felt like I belonged in Tulsa. Never really fit in. And after my dad died--I mean, come on. You've heard this a million times."
Zac shuffled his feet nervously. "So you're not coming back."
"Things are starting to get really busy for me. I've been offered several parts already, I'm reading scripts, shopping for a new agent--LA is just closer to everything for me."
"Come on. Actors live all over the world. There's no rule that says you have to reside in California."
"When I leave work or premiers or whatever it is I'm doing, I just want to go home. YOU, of all people, should understand where I'm coming from. I don't want to go to some random hotel or trailer or something. I want something that's mine. I've never had that before."
"But what if you already do? Have something that's yours, I mean?"
Drew's throat ran dry at his words. Surely he wasn't serious. She finally managed to choke out, "I'm different, Zac. I'm not the same. I can feel it."
"You're still Drew to me," he said quietly.
Dropping the t-shirt that was in her hand, Drew walked over to Zac and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. As she hugged him, she felt him move her hair out of her face. And then he kissed her
cheek...turned her face to his...closer...closer...their lips touched and a shiver ran down Drew's spine. She drew in a breath and kissed him back, holding him tightly. Before she knew it, things were getting heated, as
they tended to when they found themselves in such positions.
As their kiss deepened, Zac's hands drifted lower and lower down her back until he cupped her tightly and pressed himself against her. She could feel him harden against herself and she couldn't help her knee bending alongside of him in response. The heavy petting turned her on, that she couldn't deny.
She felt her hands drifting along his body as well and before she knew it, her hands were up his shirt, feeling the curves of his chest, her fingernails nimbly grazing his nipples. With his hands around her waist, he began to slowly walk her backward as he kissed her. She didn't object. Even though she couldn't see where she was going, she chose to trust him. Tearing her lips away from him now would have been a tragedy.
He walked her through a doorway and she discovered that he had backed her into the small conference room and she only realized it when she backed up against the end of the table. Never missing a beat, he bent her backward on the table and positioned himself over her, his hands beginning to get a little more involved with her.
And then her shirt came off and his mouth was immediately all over her. Chills took over her body as she felt his lips and his tongue all over her breasts and stomach. He always knew exactly what she liked. Within
minutes his own shirt was off and the skin-on-skin contact made Drew hotter by the second.
And then...something happened...she wasn't exactly sure when or how but it happened. Zac's hands were tight on her waist as he kissed her neck and suddenly her switch just--turned off. Completely. Out of nowhere, she lost it. The mood was gone, the chills were gone, the desire--completely gone!
"Zac. Zac, stop. Stop," she said, pushing him off of her and sitting up. She fished her shirt off the table behind her and put it back on.
Zac looked flabbergasted. "WHAT? What do you mean, stop? What are you doing, why are you getting dressed?"
Drew frowned, a little confused with herself. "I'm sorry, I--I'm just not feeling it, I don't know."
"Just not FEELING it?? You were feeling it pretty good just a minute ago!"
"I don't know!" Drew said, frustrated. "I don't know, I just--it just doesn't seem right."
Zac looked hurt. "It's always been right..."
Drew was hurt for him. She felt horrible. But she had to be honest with herself. She wasn't lying when she told Zac she was different. She'd known it since Ireland. She had--well--dare she say she had grown up a little?
"Um," Drew searched desperately for the right words. They were nowhere to be found. "It's not. It's not right. I don't feel right anymore."
Zac's jaw dropped. "And you choose NOW to just not feel right? Like, RIGHT NOW? In the middle of sex??"
"Please. We weren't even close to sex."
"We would have been!"
Drew narrowed her eyes at Zac. "Is this all it's been about? Really? Sex? What about what you told me in Ireland?"
"Well, uh...you've caught me in a very precarious position here..."
"Well put your damn shirt back on and answer the question."
Begrudgingly, Zac pulled his t-shirt over his head. "It's not just about sex," he said. "It's not. We just happen to be in this moment..."
"Do you really love me? Like you said you did?"
Zac's eyes widened. "Well--yes--"
"Really? Would you leave Kate for me? Break up your family? Start a life with me, move to LA? Support my career?"
Zac was speechless. It was obvious Drew had her answer and she was furious. He wasn't ready. She always knew he wasn't. "I can't believe you," she continued, his silence speaking volumes. "You have the
balls to say what you said to me and then can't even back it up. Maybe I was right to stop us right here before we go on doing more things we're going to regret."
"Drew--"
"No. You love Kate. You know you do. And I don't think you love me. At least not like that. You love the old me, the old us. But that's not who I am anymore and it's not who you are anymore. Stop trying to take back what's gone and be who you are now. This, right here? This is not who you are. You're my best friend, despite it all. I think it needs to stay that way."
"Drew, I can't--"
"You better. It's the only way you're going to have me from now on. I need you, Zac. But not like this."
Drew wanted to scream. She wanted to pull a Mel and go crazy all over him, screaming and yelling and throwing things. But she saw his face and she just couldn't do it to him. She couldn't be that person. It
wasn't in her. "Look. I leave in two days. I found an apartment in LA and I'm moving in when I get there. Can't we just be friends and hang out? Enjoy this time I have left here?"
Zac just stared at her. Finally his only response was, "I need to go home."
And then he was gone. Just like that.
__________________________________________________________
TAYLOR
To be with Mel was to completely submerse one's self into Mel's world. Taylor thought he knew Mel, and he did. Spiritually. Emotionally. Physically. But it was apparent that Mel was about a lot more than he had imagined. She completely fascinated him. He hadn't had the opportunity to spend THIS much time with her in--well in ten years. Even over the past several months since she had come into his life, being the whirlwind that it was, he was never able to really see her in her element. And her element was completely the opposite of his element. He was still deciding if he liked it or not.
Who was he kidding, it didn't matter. All he wanted was to cling to her no matter where she went or what she did.
He got his first taste on a Saturday when she decided, on a whim, to trade her car in. "I want something bigger," she had said.
"For WHAT?" he had asked. "Who or what are you planning on hauling around?"
"You never know..." was her matter-of-fact response. Who was he to argue with her? He was learning very quickly that whenever she set her mind on something, it was going to happen. Her spur of the moment
decisions were beginning to leave him in a constant daze.
At the car lot she fell head over heels in love at first sight with a 2014 Jeep Gladiator. She loved how it was vaguely reminiscent of old cars from the early 1900's. Taylor thought it was absolutely hideous and was
miraculously able to talk her out of it.
Then she found herself a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. He hated the grill. "Who is this car for?" She had asked in frustration.
He simply shook his head.
Finally they drove off the lot in a 2014 Jeep Patriot in black. Taylor shook his head. "I can't believe you traded a perfectly good car for THIS."
She smiled at him and took a deep breath, sliding her hands over her steering wheel. "Isn't it so sexy, thought?"
"Oh I'm not denying it's a sexy vehicle," he said. "It's just funny to see...well you're so tiny and this thing is so big..."
Mel looked hurt. "So?"
Taylor couldn't take her expression. He sighed and shook his head. "So if it makes you happy..."
She smiled. "It does. And listen to THIS sexiness!" She then proceeded to crank up her 80's rock music on her brand new sound system. It wasn't necessarily his cup of tea but some of it was growing on him. And he had to admit, there was something just slightly sexy about how much she loved it...
And here came the blue lights.
"Shit," Tay said, sinking in his seat. He was in the passenger's side but it didn't matter. "I'd bet an entire year's royalties that this is the same damn cop that gets me every time."
Mel pulled over. It killed him how she acted so oblivious to what was going on. He hated getting pulled over.
The cop came to the window and Mel rolled it down. Taylor was absolutely right. It was the same guy. Every damn time...
"Oh my god, Eric?" Mel squealed. "Eric Masters?"
Tay did a double-take toward the driver's seat. Was this seriously happening?
The cop smiled. "Melody Banks! Wow, it's been years! How are you?"
"I'm great! How are you? You're an officer now, that's awesome! I was an officer for awhile myself."
"No kidding?" Eric's smile spread across his face. "Here in Tulsa?"
"No, NYPD. I just moved back from New York."
"NYPD, huh? You were some kind of big shot, then."
"Not hardly. I was only on for about four years."
Eric craned his neck and saw Taylor in the passenger's seat. An amused smile crossed his face. "Mr. Hanson! Fancy meeting you here!"
Taylor wanted to crawl in a hole. He couldn't begin to define how he hated hearing this man say this every single time he saw him.
Mel, of course, was completely unaware. "Oh, you know Tay?"
"Taylor and I have become fast friends. Practically buddies. I see some things never change. After all this time, still hanging around with him, huh?"
"Wouldn't trade him for the world!" Mel flashed Tay an award-winning smile.
"So are you coming to the reunion in a couple of months?"
You had to be fucking kidding...
"I didn't even know about it!" Mel said.
Of course she didn't...
"But, it's been more than ten years..." Mel said, puzzled.
"Yeah...some things in planning fell through and we weren't able to do it at the time. Scheduling worked out, though, finally. But hey, give me your number and I'll keep in touch. I'm on the committee. Where's Drew nowadays?"
On the committee...how convenient. Tay found himself rolling his eyes.
Mel smiled. "Drew actually just wrapped filming on her very first movie. A Gerard Cline film. She's about to make the move to LA."
"Wow. After seeing you all over Glamarazzi I thought you were Central High's most famous face, but Drew seems to have stolen that title right out from under you!"
"And she can gladly keep it," Mel laughed.
This exchange was making Tay sick. He hated the gooney smile and the obvious flirting...he wished the guy would just issue the ticket and let them move on.
"Well it was great to see you, Mel. You take care, okay? I'll call you about the reunion. And make sure Drew comes, too! This party is going to be epic!"
"I can't wait! Hey, what about my ticket?"
"What ticket?" Eric asked, winking at Mel. "Be careful and have a great day."
As Mel pulled off the curb, she smiled. "It was so great to see him. I can't believe I forgot about my own high school reunion!"
"Uh, are we going?"
She looked at Tay as if he had two heads. "Of course we're going! I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I'm sure Eric would be more than happy to let me be his plus one. He had such a huge crush on me in high school."
"Oh lovely. No wonder he hates me..."
Tay was cussing silently. How had Mel and high school completely slipped his mind? He guessed with her being gone for so long he didn't even think about how she would likely run into everybody she knew, all over
town, all the damn time...
Would he be able to keep his jealousy at bay??
________________________________________________________
DREW
Mel was insistent on throwing Drew a going-away party. Drew was completely flattered and equally as surprised. This new side of Mel she was seeing lately was a side Drew hadn't seen in years. Mel was happy. And fun. It was like having her old best friend back again.
They held the party in a bar in downtown Tulsa. After meeting up with Eric Masters again, Mel even managed to invite a few of their old high school friends. It was such a pleasant surprise!!
One surprise that Drew wasn't prepared for, however, was when Zac showed up with Kate. Drew had no earthly idea how she was supposed to feel about it. None, whatsoever. She and Zac were supposed to be focusing on this friendship thing. Did that mean having to include his wife?? She guessed so...
As if she wasn't floored already, Kate handed Drew a small package upon their arrival. Drew didn't know what to think. Part of her actually felt guilty. Extremely guilty. It's not like Zac was completely innocent either, though. They had done their thing, seen what was out there for them. And it all ended here, with Kate handing Drew a going-away gift. It was actually kind of ironic if you thought about it.
It was nothing spectacular. Just a little scrap book in case Drew wanted to record any of her upcoming memories in it. It was apparently some type of peace offering. Had Kate accepted the fact that Drew wasn't
exactly walking out of Zac's life anytime soon, or was this possible relief at the fact that she physically was?
Drew thanked her awkwardly and the hug Kate offered was even more awkward. Drew decided she needed to ponder on this before she decided whether she was ready to extend any type of social grace towards Kate
yet. She did know, however, that she needed a drink.
Isaac and Nikki were happy to oblige. Drew was so glad they were both there she couldn't even think straight. However, before she got her drink, she was treated with a round of shots and her eyes widened as she looked around. "Um, surely I'm not expected to do ALL these shots!"
"They're on the house," the bartender said.
"Oh, wow...okay! Thanks!" Drew decided to pass them out to the nearest people to her, which happened to be Mel, Nikki--and Kate. Drew passed one to Kate anyway. Hell, if she was going to hang out, she might
as well party like one of the girls, right?
The four ladies did their shots at the same time and let out a cheer. Drew glanced at Mel and smiled as Kate coughed and made a face. It was obvious she wasn't used to this sort of thing.
Within seconds, Mel had disappeared. She spotted her dancing with Eric and a couple of their old friends about the same time Taylor leaned against the bar beside her, beer in hand. "So what's that guy's deal?" he
said, pointing to Eric with his beer.
"Um, I'm not really sure," Drew answered. "I mean I haven't seen him in so long. In high school he was a little...strange, I guess. Slightly socially awkward. Tended to hang out with the girls--but straight, not gay. He had a huge crush on Mel. He would ask me about her all the time. And when she started dating you?" Drew laughed and shook her head. "He was on me every day. 'Are they still together? Did they break up?' I felt sorry for the poor guy..."
"You know, that explains a lot. I have gotten more speeding tickets out of that guy than any other cop in Tulsa. You think it's coincidence?"
"I don't know..."
"So is he not married?"
Drew shrugged. "I don't know. He showed up by himself tonight. But he seems all right now, not as awkward as he was in high school. Maybe he changed for the better."
"He has blown up her phone these past couple of days since she gave him her number..."
"Give it a rest, Tay, jeez. He's an old friend we haven't seen in years. So what if they want to catch up? You gotta stop worrying about stuff like this."
"It's not--it's not THAT. I mean, not like you think. This guy just rubs me the wrong way. I dunno..."
"Look, while we're on the subject, I wanted to say something," Drew said. "And I swear I'm not trying to beat a dead horse or anything here. But Mel--well we both know what Mel has been through. With you and John and Jason...and you again...I've been there for her through thick and thin, picking up the pieces. I've been picking up pieces since the moment you shoved her against that bus--"
Tay winced at her words.
"I'm not trying to rehash bad memories, I'm just stating fact. I have lived with Mel practically this whole time, picking up the pieces and holding her up when she couldn't do it herself. I'm not going to be there as often anymore. I won't be able to drop everything and go to her all the time like I used to. Tay, I need you to take care of her."
"You want me to not fuck up."
"That would help, yes."
"I don't want to fuck it up this time. I've been--handed this chance with her that I probably didn't even deserve to begin with. I CAN'T fuck it up this time."
"The two of you are an interesting pair. You're both emotional, you're both passionate, you're both quick-tempered--and you're both extremely jealous of each other. If you don't handle this relationship with
care--well I don't have to tell you what the outcome would be."
"I'd lose her forever."
"She would never look back."
"Drew, I'm scared to death. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life."
She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing to be scared of. Just love her, trust her, and let her freak out once in awhile. She has you now, so she's happy. Hell, this is the happiest I've seen her in years. All you gotta do is keep her that way."
"Gee," Tay smirked. "You've been a big help."
Their conversation was interrupted by Zac. "Mind if I steal the woman of the hour?"
Tay smiled. "Sure, go ahead. I gotta go steal my woman back from Deputy Dog over there..."
A slow song was playing and Zac led Drew nearby to dance with her. He didn't hold her close like he would have under different circumstances. He kept his distance friendly and respectful. "So, uh, I hope you don't mind me bringing Kate tonight."
The truth was, she DID kind of mind because she wasn't ready to jump right into every aspect of this friendship yet. But she chose to try to keep things as light-hearted as possible. "Well she IS your wife..."
"Um, so I think you were right. About me not being ready to leave. I almost feel like I shouldn't be telling you this, but I do love her. I love my family. Maybe this is who I am, maybe I'm a family man."
"Maybe you are," Drew reluctantly agreed. "And despite our past, I want you to be able to talk to me. I want you to be able to pick up the phone and tell me anything and vice versa. I want us to be there for each
other."
"We will be, no question. Although I have to admit, watching you naked on the screen while sitting next to Kate at the movie premier will be awkward..."
Drew giggled. "Who said you're getting invited to the premier?"
"I'm inviting myself. You see, my best friend's in the movie..."
"Oh really? So you just automatically have connections then?"
Zac smiled. "Of course I do."
"Well, I suppose I can issue a couple of invites then," Drew said in mock defeat.
"On a serious note, I really am proud of you. I know I've said it a few times, but I do mean it. It takes a lot to just get out there and do this kind of thing. I would know..."
"I look up to you, you know," Drew said. "You've kind of always been...well you're kinda my inspiration. I hope I can handle myself with my career as well as you handle yours. I'm really quite impressed with you."
Zac blushed. "You know you were kind of my muse back in the day..."
Drew smiled. She was touched. "I was?"
"Yeah. I drew a kind of energy from you. My confidence level was through the roof. Very necessary for the creative process."
"Wow...I don't even know what to say to that."
"Say...'why, Zac, I would love to put you on the guest list for my movie premier.' "
"Yes, yes, of course you're coming to the premier!"
Suddenly, Mel's voice rang out as the song was ending. "What the fuck is SHE doing here?"
"Jesus Christ," Zac muttered. "We can't get through ONE night without something happening here?"
Drew and Zac glanced toward the entrance to find that Natalie and Bethany had just walked through the door. Mel hated them both.
Zac and Drew made their way back to a group that was partially frozen and nervously looking around at one another. Ike, ever the adult, decided to be the one to approach them. Mel stayed close to Tay.
"Um, listen, I don't think it's a good idea that you guys are here tonight," Ike said to Natalie and Bethany. "This is a private function--"
"Well it's a public place," Bethany interrupted him.
As they witnessed the exchange, Zac's head was in his phone. Suddenly his phone was in front of Drew's face. Pictures of their group were already on Glamarazzi. This most likely explained their presence. Although Drew wouldn't have put it past Kate to say something to Natalie...
Drew walked over and stood on the other side of Mel. It had just occurred to her that Mel hadn't seen Natalie since the benefit, and certainly not since her big secret came out and after Tay divorced her. This made
Drew extremely nervous.
"I just--I need to talk to Tay for a minute," Natalie said.
"The hell you do!" Mel said. Drew could practically feel the rage radiating off of her.
Zac stood on the other side of Tay. "You gotta get her out of here."
Tay looked at Zac, incredulous. "Why do *I* have to do it?"
Zac rolled his eyes. "I mean Mel. Glamarazzi already has pictures of our little get-together. The media doesn't need to get ahold of THIS exchange..."
Tay's eyes widened in realization. He took Mel's hand. "Uh, Mel, let's go get a little fresh air, okay? Let's just go step outside."
"No!" she said, jerking her hand away, eyes glued on Natalie. "We're going to settle this right now."
Natalie's eyes bore right back into Mel. "Oh so there's something to SETTLE?"
Tay leaned down into Mel's ear. "The media is going to have a field day with this..."
"Oh they'll have a field day, all right. They'll have a field day over me stomping her ass!"
Visibly annoyed at how worked up Mel was getting at Natalie's presence, Tay finally had it. "Natalie, get the fuck out of here. I have nothing to say to you and I was serious when I said I had no desire to even see your
face again. There is NOTHING left to be said. It's over, it's been over, it will always BE over." Then he took Mel by the shoulders and turned her body toward a side door and began to walk with her. In her ear he said, "WE are going outside and WE are going to cool off."
As Mel and Tay walked out the door, Ike turned to Natalie. "Uh, so I think you got your response. My brother is over it. This family is over it. You're no longer welcome."
Tears filled Natalie's eyes. "So it's like that then. Just like that."
Drew glanced at Kate. Kate was so visibly torn, Drew almost felt bad for her. This night would surely create a rift in hers and Natalie's friendship. Drew put herself in Kate's shoes for a second. If Mel had done what Natalie had done, if she had faked her pregnancy twice just to keep a man and lied to him for over ten years--could she forgive her? Should it even be a question? Should she question if their friendship was based on lies as well? What more would she be capable of? But then she loved Mel, regardless. She would want to be there for her if her relationship crumbled. But with her doing something so despicable...Drew just didn't know. She didn't know...and that was most likely exactly what Kate was going through.
What if--what if Drew reached out to Kate? Maybe this was the reason things turned out like they did? What if Drew's and Zac's relationship didn't take off for a reason? Because maybe Zac didn't need Drew? Maybe KATE needed Drew.
Drew was stunned by her own thought. The world worked in mysterious ways...
________________________________________________________