CHAPTER FIFTY
MEL
The next morning came early. The day was full of meetings, interviews, and final preparations for the evening's event. Mel had hardly slept and she was exhausted. But yet, the show must go on.
As Mel walked out her door, Taylor had just come out of his, the door closing behind him. They stood and looked at each other for a moment. Attempting to smile, he said to her, "Funny how we keep doing this."
"It's a riot," Mel responded, expressionless.
She turned and walked down the hall, Tay falling into stride beside her. "Look, Mel--"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay."
Mel walked silently to the elevator with Tay just as silent beside her. Silently they rode the elevator to the ground floor and silently they got off the elevator and met Isaac and Zac in the lobby. Silently the four of them made their way down the hallway to the conference room. Mel knew Tay was walking behind her, checking out her backside in her tight jeans and black stiletto boots. He was hard to ignore, even when he was out of sight.
The four of them entered the conference room, warmly greeted by the foundation heads they were working with. The meeting got underway and they discussed every aspect of the evening, including guests, décor, food, the silent auction, the entertainment, and the red carpet.
"Wait, red carpet?" Mel asked, surprised. "I wasn't aware of this. Did it get that big?"
"The list of big names that RSVP'd was astounding," one of them said. "There was almost little to no choice. This is a major event. Lots of money being raised for the foundation and lots of publicity for the foundation and for 3CG and Hanson. It's going to be a fantastic evening."
The four of them all glanced at each other. None of them had realized that this would turn out to be as large an event as it had. Mel was on the verge of excitement. She caught herself actually smiling until Tay locked
eyes with her. Her smile faded quickly.
"So you'll have to arrive early," the event's publicist said. "You know, to do the whole red carpet walk. There will be cameras, questions, the whole nine yards."
"Me?" Mel asked in disbelief.
"Yes."
"I can't walk the red carpet. I'm not even famous."
"You're the emcee. The woman of the hour. This is your event. You have to walk."
Mel dropped her head into her hands. "Oh god," she groaned.
The publicist laughed. "It won't be that bad, I promise. I'll be there directing you and everyone else, it'll be fine. These guys have done it plenty of times and they'll be there with you so just follow their lead. No sweat."
Mel looked back up from her hands. "Come again?"
"Yes they'll be behind you in line. And of course you'll have to be photographed together, obviously. There will be photos of you alone, you with the three of them, you with Zac..."
Mel let her head fall back into her hands as she replayed in her mind all the things that could, and probably would, go wrong on the red carpet. She could see it now. She would trip and fall, have a wardrobe malfunction, say something stupid. This was just great. Just great. She didn't even belong in a room full of
celebrities, much less a red carpet full of them. This was unbelievable.
The conversation then shifted to entertainment. "Okay so let's get this schedule straight," someone said. "We have Mel speaking, the DJ during dinner, one of the bands, the silent auction, Mel speaks again, another
band, then Hanson, and then the DJ for the rest of the night. Is this correct?"
"Wait, wait, wait," Mel said suddenly. "Hold on. Bands? There are only two other bands besides Hanson? It's supposed to be live music the entire night. Where did the DJ come from?"
"It was difficult to get anyone on that short of notice," Zac said.
"A DJ is tacky! We can't host a charity benefit with a DJ!"
"It's fine, we're controlling the music somewhat," said Zac.
"Where was I in this decision? Why did I not know about this?"
Zac looked uncomfortable. "Um, this was that--that week...you know, when we came home from Ireland? And, uh, I handled most of the details for this that week?"
Mel suddenly remembered and wished she hadn't. She found herself glancing over at Tay, who locked eyes with her once more. His eyes fell to his hands that lay folded on the table in front of him.
She didn't have a choice but to give in. "Okay. We have a DJ. Now what?"
The rest of the meeting was a basic review and overview of how the night was going to go. Mel's nerves were shot. Between being there with Jason and Tay being there with Natalie and emceeing and walking the red carpet, she wasn't sure she would survive the night.
After the meeting, the group all met in the grand ballroom where the event was being held. Two stages were being set up, one for music and one for speaking. The DJ was there, setting up in a corner. A dance floor
was being cleared out and tables were being set. They spent that time reviewing the list of guests and assigning tables. Mel was glad for the project to concentrate on to keep her mind off of the way Tay was constantly staring at her.
After lunch were several small interviews with several news outlets wanting the story behind 3CG and their involvement with the foundation to include in their nightly newscasts or newspapers covering the benefit. There were interviews with all four of them and with just her and Zac since Zac was representing the band. Mel felt weird all day. And bored. Is this what they did? All the time? She had only done about four
interviews and she was already yawning with boredom at answering all the same questions. How did they do it? How did any celebrity do it?
After an entire day of preparation, Tay and Mel fell into stride once more on their way back to their rooms. Silently they took the elevator to their floor. Silently they walked down the hall together. Silently they
stopped at their doors and looked at each other.
Mel's heart pounded for him. It was loud in her ears. She couldn't count the ways she loved him. There were too many. And god, he was gorgeous. It pained her. His hair, his eyes, his lips--she could kiss him forever and never need to come up for air. He was--
About to have a family. That's what he was. His pregnant wife was behind that door. Mel's eyes fell and she unlocked her door and went inside her room.
_______________________________________________
"Yeah, I'm not really feeling this whole bun thing," Mel said, looking at her hair in the mirror.
"It's not a 'bun' it's an 'up do' and it's very elegant with that dress, " Drew responded.
Drew, along with Drew's stylist, were in Mel's room as they got ready for the evening. Mel never thought she'd see the day where she was getting hair and makeup done at four in the afternoon. She never got ready for anything before seven!
As Drew took her turn in the chair, Mel began pulling on her dress. It was a little heavy but she didn't mind. She zipped it up the side and shifted the skirt and adjusted the slit on her thigh. When Mel strapped her shoes on and stood to look at the finished product, Drew called from her chair, "Mel, Jesus Christ!"
"What?"
"That dress is hot!"
"You think so?"
"Tay is gonna lose his shit!"
Mel sighed. "Well that doesn't really matter anyway, does it?"
Awhile later, when Drew had finished zipping her dress up, Mel remarked, "Well, Zac isn't going to fare much better, I'll tell you that." Drew wore an emerald green, floor-length mermaid gown with a slit on the front. A
small portion of sheer, black material rested between her breasts on top and the left breast flaunted a small floral design of the same color. Zac would have to be an idiot not to drop Kate for Drew on that red carpet.
After awhile there was a knock on Mel's door. When she opened it, Jason and Gerard stood there. When Mel saw Jason her stomach flip flopped. Or maybe it was her hormones. She didn't know. Her jaw dropped and she slowly looked him up and down in complete disbelief in just how much sex stood in front of her. She couldn't make any sense of it. He stood before her in a perfectly-tailored gray suit. No tie. God forbid Jason wore a tie. He wore the jacket open revealing a matching vest over a blue button-down shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, similar to last night's except...tonight he had pulled his hair back and
had completely shaven his face clean. He looked like an entirely different person. He looked like the GQ model version of himself.
Mel couldn't even speak to him. He made her shy all of a sudden. She felt like such a plain Jane compared to him...
He broke her train of thought. "Oh wow..."
"What?" Mel asked, frantically. "Is my dress crooked? Did I get deodorant on it? I'm so afraid I'm going to trip and fall over it!"
Jason smiled an amused smile. "You're absolutely beautiful."
Mel felt herself blushing. "Really?"
"As if you didn't know," he said, holding his arm out for her to take.
Following behind them, Drew said, "Trust me, she never does."
"Well then, you clean up quite nicely, Miss Brooks," Gerard said to Drew.
"Almost don't recognize me out of makeup, do you?"
"Are you kidding, *I* almost don't recognize you out of makeup," Jason joked.
"Ha ha," Drew said sarcastically. "Anyway, you're looking quite dapper yourself, Mr. Cline."
Drew wasn't kidding. Gerard looked quite handsome in his basic tuxedo. He seemed like a man who preferred to keep his wardrobe on the classic side. Mel couldn't help but smile a little when the couple came and walked alongside her and Jason down the hotel hallway. Drew and Gerard were adorable together. Sure he was a little older than them, but his personality seemed to be great and he fit right in. He knew how to handle Drew and that was important. Mel thought about Zac. She knew he cared about Drew but let's face
it. Just like Tay, Zac had a family. It wasn't that easy just to run off with Drew into the sunset. And Mel wasn't even sure if Zac knew if that's what he wanted or not. Either way, she thought that if Drew and Zac didn't end up working out, Drew should definitely pursue Gerard...
_____________________________________________
TAYLOR
Mel dashed past a line of people, hiking her heavy skirt off the ground, the rest of it softly flowing behind her as the air caught it. Taylor wanted to faint.
As she breathlessly took her place in front of him and Natalie, Jason at her side, she said, "I can't believe we were almost late! I completely lost track of time!"
She was stunning. More gorgeous than she had ever been before and he couldn't even tell her. It was almost worth the risk of a beat down and a divorce just to tell her how beautiful she was. Even if he could, he couldn't get the words out. He couldn't get any words out. So he kept silent.
And then Natalie struck again. "Wow, Mel! Your dress is fabulous! You're going to knock 'em dead on this carpet!"
Taylor was completely confused. Natalie didn't like Mel. She never had. And now she was attempting to be nice to her, twice in less than 24 hours? Should he be grateful that she was making an effort? Or should he be afraid she had ulterior motives?
To his surprise, Mel smiled. "Well thank you, that means a lot coming from you. I know you're practically a veteran to these things. You're looking pretty fabulous yourself!"
She was lying. Tay knew Mel. He knew every inch of her inside and out and he definitely knew when she was lying. She had to be. He looked at his wife and gave her a quick once-over. She looked...matronly. For once in their ten years he prayed that Natalie would wear something just a little sexy to an event or party. She had the body for it. She could pull it off with no problem. But she preferred to stay covered up. Everything she wore had sleeves or fell to her knees or below. For once he would have loved to see her in something short or form-fitting. For instance, tonight she wore a red dress that just came to her ankles with some gold print all over it. It was strapless, yet on top she covered it with a matching mini blazer. He had lied to her when he said it looked fine. He honestly didn't care. He looked again at Mel, who would have looked absolutely fantastic on his arm in her black one-shouldered number. The bit of leg that peeked out underneath the slit in her dress nearly drove him mad. They would have been the best-looking couple there that night, guaranteed.
His train of thought was interrupted when someone with a makeup brush rushed over to Mel and began brushing it all over her face. When the lady rushed down the line with her brush, Mel said, "This feels so silly, having to come downstairs and stand in line just to walk a carpet to go BACK inside." She glanced behind her and locked eyes with Taylor for a moment. His heart pounded. She then leaned forward to check the rest
of the line. She waved. Tay turned to see who she was waving at. Drew and Gerard stood behind Isaac and Nikki. There weren't many people behind them. Most everyone "arrived" in limos and such. They were simply there because they were staying in the hotel.
"Stop fidgeting, you'll be fine," Tay heard Jason murmur to Mel. "Relax."
"You remember what happened last time you told me to relax?" she responded.
Jason laughed quietly. Taylor was disgusted. He could only imagine the source of this little exchange.
The publicist approached Mel at the front of the line. "Okay, this is it. There are several of us along the line so we'll direct you where to move and who to talk to. It's pretty simple. Smile, pose, show the dress, answer questions. Keep your ears open, they'll want pictures of you with the guys, too. They'll be right behind you. They might ask you about other projects. Jason, be prepared to be asked about the movie. Make sure you keep all your answers short and try to keep moving. It won't be easy to move fast but don't get yourself flustered
over it. Okay? Are you ready?"
"No," Mel said.
The publicist laughed. "Well, you have about 30 seconds to get ready."
And then she walked. With Jason by her side, she walked out in front of the hundreds of flashing bulbs. Jason's hand rested on the small of her back and the two of them smiled for the cameras. She was a natural.
Taylor always knew she was meant for this. He just always assumed her first carpet would be with him. And yet he looked on, so incredibly proud of her and so incredibly in love with her. So incredibly heartbroken.
A lump formed in Taylor's throat but the publicist saved the day when she announced that it was their turn to walk. The fans that showed up let out a loud shriek as Hanson "arrived" and the six of them walked, posed, and smiled, just as in any other event they had attended.
Pulling Jason and the wives to the side, the requests were starting to come in for pictures of Mel alone and Hanson alone, Mel with Hanson, and Mel with Zac. Taylor couldn't deny he was glad that he was right behind Mel in line because that meant that she was beside him in all the photos. He would take any moment he could get to be close to her.
When everyone split back up into their respective parties, the questions started. Tay tried his hardest not to overhear what was going on in Mel and Jason's world but to no avail. He couldn't escape hearing the
questions about Jason's movie, about his and Mel's relationship, about how "gorgeous" he was and blah blah blah. And the answers were just as bad. He and Mel both were flirty and evasive. They were already being dubbed the night's "hottest couple" all over the carpet. Taylor couldn't get out of there fast enough.
__________________________________________________
ZAC
Kate was looking absolutely gorgeous tonight. Zac couldn't deny that he was proud to have her on his arm. She wore a black, strapless, form-fitting gown with diamond-shaped cut-outs on either side of her waist. Her hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders and she towered over him in her heels but he didn't care. He kind of liked it when her model stature stood taller than him. It was kind of hot.
He also didn't deny it when he did a double-take on Mel. It was an extremely rare occasion when she made him say, "Damn," mostly because he thought of her as a sister. Tonight was one of those occasions.
And then Drew showed up. Jesus Christ, how was he going to get through this night? That dress. That peek-a-boo slit up the front. The messy faux bob she sported. Her delicate arm hooked around Gerard's...
Wait, what? He had been fantasizing about her so hard he hadn't even noticed that Gerard was with her. Sure he had seen them at dinner last night but for some reason he just assumed that they were coming to the benefit alone. And now Zac was glancing behind him on the red carpet at Drew and Gerard as they posed for pictures and answered questions about the movie they had just finished filming. What the hell was going on here? Were they dating? Surely not. Drew would have mentioned it. This wasn't cool. Gerard Cline was his favorite director. He idolized him. He never thought for a second he would ever meet him, much less get
to hang out with him on multiple occasions. But taking it a step further and showing up here with Drew? Zac just couldn't wrap his head around it.
Zac glanced over at Kate. Still gorgeous. Goddammit. And then she smiled. At Drew. Confusion completely overtook him. Honestly, he never knew how Kate felt about Drew. The subject never came up. "I love your dress," Kate said to Drew.
Drew smiled back at her. "Thanks, I love yours, too."
Zac's head spun. This was too much. He could barely handle the two of them separately, much less together. And getting along. Visions of an ultra hot ménage a trois occupied his mind until he was pulled away to take pictures with Mel. "This is already proving to be a very trying evening," Zac murmured to her softly so that nobody could hear.
"Tell me about it," Mel agreed.
Between smiles and poses, he said quietly, "I need to tell you something so that you're not surprised when we go inside."
He felt Mel's body instantly stiffen under the hand he had on the small of her back. "There's been an adjustment on the place cards at a couple of the tables."
"Meaning?" Mel asked through her still-smiling teeth.
Still smiling and posing for the cameras, Zac murmured, "I went back and changed some of the place cards so that we're all sitting at the same table."
Completely ignoring the cameras, Mel grabbed the side of her dress to move it so that she could turn her entire body to him. "You WHAT?"
Zac grabbed her by the arm and turned her back toward the cameras. "They're watching, keep smiling," he said through his teeth.
Mel got her composure once more and smiled for the cameras, walking a few more steps only to stop again and pose more. "Who is 'we're all?' "
"All of us. You, Jason, the six of us. And Drew and Gerard."
"How convenient that the tables seat ten," she said through her teeth.
"I'm sorry. It made more sense for all of us to sit together since it's our party."
"I understand us. But Drew and Gerard?"
"Well, I mean Jason is--"
"You're despicable, you know that? Putting Tay and I in a setting we don't need to be in and then seating Drew at your table just so you can keep tabs on her. I swear you're a glutton for punishment. Don't you
remember what happened the last time we all sat around a table together?"
"Well this time it's business. And circumstances are different."
"Keep digging, Zac. Just keep digging."
The pair were split up once more and as Zac kept walking, he glanced back at the laughing pair behind him. Gerard signed autographs and apparently one of them had shared a hilarious story. He wondered if Gerard frequently did this. Taking up-and-coming hot stars younger than him and "taking them under his wing." The idea made Zac livid.
Finally through with the carpet, they made their way inside the building and to the ballroom. After getting everyone settled and familiar with the table, and after the silent murder threat Zac received from Mel for seating her and Taylor next to each other, everyone went their separate ways. Mel went to meet with the foundation and Zac and his brothers went to the stage to check their equipment.
"Well. They both look amazing tonight," Isaac observed.
"Shut up," Zac and Tay said in unison.
"Both of you had better behave yourselves tonight," he continued. "Tonight completely reflects on Hanson and 3CG. None of your crazy shit tonight. Not from either of you."
Zac glanced back at their table. Drew actually appeared to be having a conversation with Kate and Natalie. Zac didn't know what to make of it. He knew the intention was for them all to get along in the beginning
but everyone had been so used to separating Drew and Mel from Kate and Natalie in their minds that it still came as a shock when they appeared to be civil.
Then he looked at Gerard. Gerard Cline. Gerard Cline who gave Drew an expensive bracelet for her birthday and asked for nothing in return. Gerard Cline who never once looked at nor touched Drew in any inappropriate manner. Was he the reason that Drew didn't return the sentiment when Zac told her he was falling in love with her that night in Ireland? He couldn't help but wonder if there was something she wasn't
telling him.
________________________________________________
MEL
People were filing in and the benefit was starting in just a few minutes. Mel had snuck behind the DJ booth for a quick review of what was on the playlist for the night. She scrunched her nose at some of it. Busy doing some quick deletions and additions, a voice startled her. "No heavy metal tonight."
She looked up and Taylor was standing there, a shy smile on his face, hands in his pockets. She melted. She hadn't had any real time to look him over and now that she had she wished she hadn't. He was so devastatingly gorgeous in his tuxedo. She found herself glancing around, entertaining the idea of them in that corner alone--
"I'm not stupid," she said, instantly finding the guard she almost let down.
"It was a joke," he said quietly. Then he continued. "Weird how this keeps happening all weekend, isn't it?"
"How what keeps happening?"
"This. How we end up next to each other on the plane. Our rooms. This table. It's almost like fate, you know?"
"Or a cruel coincidence."
Tay shifted his weight nervously. "I wish you didn't hate me so much."
Mel sighed and leaned on the table, putting down the pair of headphones she had held up to her ear. She turned to Tay and looked into his eyes. "He's back," she said.
"Who?"
"Him. From before. Desperate. Crazy. Jealous. Illogical, unreasonable. Controlling. Angry. The old Taylor, from years ago. He's back. And I don't like him."
He looked back at her, pained and confused. "You loved me then."
"I left you then."
Tay bit his lip and looked around anxiously, then back at her. "What do you want me to do? Tell me. Tell me what you want."
"I don't want old Taylor back. I love the man you are now. The one you became--well before I came back into the picture. I want you to accept the decision that you've made for yourself and I want you to understand
that I have a life to live, too. That's what I want."
"What if I can't? What if I can't accept that?"
"I'm thinking about leaving the studio. And possibly leaving Tulsa, too."
"What?"
"There's an entire world out there, ready for me to discover it. Why should I stay tied down in Tulsa? There's nothing keeping me there."
"Mel, no. NO. You can NOT leave me, not again. Every time shit gets hard you run. Well, dammit, this time you're not running, I swear it."
"See, THIS. This right here is exactly what I'm talking about--"
"How do you not feel it?? How could you possibly not feel every goddamn shred of pain in your body the way I do? How?"
"Dammit, Tay, I DO feel it! I feel what YOU did to me every waking hour of every goddamn day! I just can't walk around acting all scatterbrained and neurotic like you do. YOU'RE the one who has to live with the decision you made, I just have to adapt to it. I want us to have a decent relationship, and maybe even be friends someday, but it will NOT happen as long as you're acting like this goddamn lunatic that's standing in front of me now. Fucking get ahold of yourself and grow a pair and get back to me when you do! By the way, if I hear that fucking song tonight that I just deleted off this playlist I swear to god your life will be even more hell than it is right now."
With that, Mel swiftly walked back to the table and took a seat beside Jason. She picked up her wine glass and practically chugged it, grateful that it was waiting for her when she sat down. "What happened, what did he
do?" Jason asked. He always knew.
Looking around the table, everyone but Tay was present. Mel didn't give a shit. "Nothing new. Crazy strikes again."
Jason leaned down in Mel's ear. "Do you want to switch places with me?"
"Um, no. You are the LAST person who needs to sit next to him."
Mel took a look around the room and a knot formed in her stomach. Everyone who was anyone was filing into the room. She was so star struck she didn't know where to begin. She had always imagined that the day she found herself in this position, Taylor would be the one introducing her to everyone and they would mingle, drinks in hand, laughing and cutting up with all the other couples. She looked around the table and her
heart sank at the reality. Though Jason's presence never failed to put her at ease.
Within minutes, Taylor was back at the table, taking his seat between Mel and Natalie. Someone from the foundation came over and tapped Mel's shoulder to let her know it was time to start. She wanted to faint.
She sat there, still, like a deer in headlights. She couldn't move. "Jason," she said. "I can't do this. I can't. I
can't do it. What am I gonna do?"
He gently placed a hand on her cheek. "You are absolutely gorgeous tonight. You're going to be just fine. Everyone will fall head over heels for you, just like--just like they ought to. Okay? You're going to be wonderful. And if you decide you just can't do it, just look at me. I'm right here. Keep your eyes on me and I'll get you through it. Okay?"
Mel swallowed the growing lump in her throat and nodded. He was right. She could do it. Just look at Jason. No biggie. She walked up onstage after an introduction by someone with the foundation and took one look around the room at the sea of famous faces. Her knees locked.
_____________________________________________
DREW
The table was silent and Drew's eyes wide as she witnessed the exchange across the table. Except she could hardly witness the exchange over keeping her eyes on Taylor. He watched Jason coach Mel just the same as
everyone else did. She sort of felt bad that he had to witness that private moment. She felt bad that he had to witness the fact that Jason was the one that Mel turned to in her hour of need instead of turning to Taylor like she used to. She knew it was tearing him up inside.
When Mel took her place at the podium on the stage, Drew couldn't have been more proud of her best friend. Looking around the room at the celebrities and the decorations and the entire party--she knew nobody could have planned a better event. Drew watched intently as she waited for Mel to speak. Except that Mel didn't speak. Not for a few seconds, anyway. She looked down at the podium to gain her composure and then suddenly she began rattling off words as if she'd been up there forever. It was like a switch went off inside her. And she spoke so well! Drew beamed with pride.
She glanced across the table at Taylor. She could see the small smile he hid behind the hand that rested on his chin. He was proud of her, silently supporting her. Drew's heart warmed a little.
"...so eat, drink, dance, and dig deep! Remember what we're all here for. And most importantly, have fun!"
Mel took her seat back at the table between Jason and Taylor as dinner was prepared to be served. Drew said across the table, "Mel I'm so proud of you! You did just fine up there, I don't know what you were so freaked out about."
Gerard spoke up. "I completely agree, you're a natural. Have you ever thought of doing movies?"
Across the table, Jason laughed. "Wow, Gerard. I've seen pornos that start out..." he looked over at Mel and his voice trailed off. "Um, I mean--"
Mel smiled and playfully back handed his arm. "Shut up, I've seen them, too."
He grinned and put his arm around Mel's shoulder. "I knew there was a reason we got along so well."
As they all laughed, Taylor turned up his glass.
"Speaking of movies," Zac spoke up, on the other side of Gerard. "I can't tell you how excited I am to see the finished product of this latest one. And not because one of my best friends stars in it." He winked at Drew.
Drew's heart sank. 'Best friend,' he had called her. Just a month ago he had said he was falling for her. Did it go away that fast? Had she waited to long to respond? Was he just using those words due to present company? Drew didn't want to be bothered by it, but she couldn't help it.
"Not as excited as I am, I'm sure," Gerard answered him. "This was the most interesting project I've worked on to date."
This piqued Drew's interest. "Oh, really?"
"Oh of course. I've never worked with actors who were so...green before. It was extremely pleasant not having any divas on set." He suddenly lowered his voice. "I can point out certain actors in this very
room who are absolute nightmares to work with, with their silly demands and argumentative attitudes as if they were better than everyone else. It's disgusting."
"I know you're not talking about me over there," Jason said. "This isn't the first time you've worked with me."
Gerard laughed. "No but it's the first time I've actually seen your face."
As Zac further grilled Gerard about the movie, Drew could tell by the way he frequently glanced her way that this was simply an ulterior motive. He was feeling them out. Zac was curious. That's what this was. He wanted to know if they were actually dating or not.
What got Drew even more was that Gerard knew about her and Zac and he didn't seem to care. He didn't act weird or awkward about it. There were no chest-puffing contests or snarky comments like the ones that went on between Jason and Taylor. It was as if he just ignored the elephant among their little trio.
As dinner was wrapping up, Zac leaned over Gerard to look over at Drew. "Hey, Drew, you wanna--"
And as if Gerard hadn't heard a word he said, he interrupted, "Oh, Drew, there are some people over there that I'm dying to introduce you to. Come, let's go say hello."
Even outside of work, when Gerard Cline said to do something, you didn't argue. Returning the hurt expression on Zac's face with the helpless one of her own, Drew took hold of Gerard's arm and let him lead her across the room.
____________________________________________________
MEL
The next morning came early. The day was full of meetings, interviews, and final preparations for the evening's event. Mel had hardly slept and she was exhausted. But yet, the show must go on.
As Mel walked out her door, Taylor had just come out of his, the door closing behind him. They stood and looked at each other for a moment. Attempting to smile, he said to her, "Funny how we keep doing this."
"It's a riot," Mel responded, expressionless.
She turned and walked down the hall, Tay falling into stride beside her. "Look, Mel--"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay."
Mel walked silently to the elevator with Tay just as silent beside her. Silently they rode the elevator to the ground floor and silently they got off the elevator and met Isaac and Zac in the lobby. Silently the four of them made their way down the hallway to the conference room. Mel knew Tay was walking behind her, checking out her backside in her tight jeans and black stiletto boots. He was hard to ignore, even when he was out of sight.
The four of them entered the conference room, warmly greeted by the foundation heads they were working with. The meeting got underway and they discussed every aspect of the evening, including guests, décor, food, the silent auction, the entertainment, and the red carpet.
"Wait, red carpet?" Mel asked, surprised. "I wasn't aware of this. Did it get that big?"
"The list of big names that RSVP'd was astounding," one of them said. "There was almost little to no choice. This is a major event. Lots of money being raised for the foundation and lots of publicity for the foundation and for 3CG and Hanson. It's going to be a fantastic evening."
The four of them all glanced at each other. None of them had realized that this would turn out to be as large an event as it had. Mel was on the verge of excitement. She caught herself actually smiling until Tay locked
eyes with her. Her smile faded quickly.
"So you'll have to arrive early," the event's publicist said. "You know, to do the whole red carpet walk. There will be cameras, questions, the whole nine yards."
"Me?" Mel asked in disbelief.
"Yes."
"I can't walk the red carpet. I'm not even famous."
"You're the emcee. The woman of the hour. This is your event. You have to walk."
Mel dropped her head into her hands. "Oh god," she groaned.
The publicist laughed. "It won't be that bad, I promise. I'll be there directing you and everyone else, it'll be fine. These guys have done it plenty of times and they'll be there with you so just follow their lead. No sweat."
Mel looked back up from her hands. "Come again?"
"Yes they'll be behind you in line. And of course you'll have to be photographed together, obviously. There will be photos of you alone, you with the three of them, you with Zac..."
Mel let her head fall back into her hands as she replayed in her mind all the things that could, and probably would, go wrong on the red carpet. She could see it now. She would trip and fall, have a wardrobe malfunction, say something stupid. This was just great. Just great. She didn't even belong in a room full of
celebrities, much less a red carpet full of them. This was unbelievable.
The conversation then shifted to entertainment. "Okay so let's get this schedule straight," someone said. "We have Mel speaking, the DJ during dinner, one of the bands, the silent auction, Mel speaks again, another
band, then Hanson, and then the DJ for the rest of the night. Is this correct?"
"Wait, wait, wait," Mel said suddenly. "Hold on. Bands? There are only two other bands besides Hanson? It's supposed to be live music the entire night. Where did the DJ come from?"
"It was difficult to get anyone on that short of notice," Zac said.
"A DJ is tacky! We can't host a charity benefit with a DJ!"
"It's fine, we're controlling the music somewhat," said Zac.
"Where was I in this decision? Why did I not know about this?"
Zac looked uncomfortable. "Um, this was that--that week...you know, when we came home from Ireland? And, uh, I handled most of the details for this that week?"
Mel suddenly remembered and wished she hadn't. She found herself glancing over at Tay, who locked eyes with her once more. His eyes fell to his hands that lay folded on the table in front of him.
She didn't have a choice but to give in. "Okay. We have a DJ. Now what?"
The rest of the meeting was a basic review and overview of how the night was going to go. Mel's nerves were shot. Between being there with Jason and Tay being there with Natalie and emceeing and walking the red carpet, she wasn't sure she would survive the night.
After the meeting, the group all met in the grand ballroom where the event was being held. Two stages were being set up, one for music and one for speaking. The DJ was there, setting up in a corner. A dance floor
was being cleared out and tables were being set. They spent that time reviewing the list of guests and assigning tables. Mel was glad for the project to concentrate on to keep her mind off of the way Tay was constantly staring at her.
After lunch were several small interviews with several news outlets wanting the story behind 3CG and their involvement with the foundation to include in their nightly newscasts or newspapers covering the benefit. There were interviews with all four of them and with just her and Zac since Zac was representing the band. Mel felt weird all day. And bored. Is this what they did? All the time? She had only done about four
interviews and she was already yawning with boredom at answering all the same questions. How did they do it? How did any celebrity do it?
After an entire day of preparation, Tay and Mel fell into stride once more on their way back to their rooms. Silently they took the elevator to their floor. Silently they walked down the hall together. Silently they
stopped at their doors and looked at each other.
Mel's heart pounded for him. It was loud in her ears. She couldn't count the ways she loved him. There were too many. And god, he was gorgeous. It pained her. His hair, his eyes, his lips--she could kiss him forever and never need to come up for air. He was--
About to have a family. That's what he was. His pregnant wife was behind that door. Mel's eyes fell and she unlocked her door and went inside her room.
_______________________________________________
"Yeah, I'm not really feeling this whole bun thing," Mel said, looking at her hair in the mirror.
"It's not a 'bun' it's an 'up do' and it's very elegant with that dress, " Drew responded.
Drew, along with Drew's stylist, were in Mel's room as they got ready for the evening. Mel never thought she'd see the day where she was getting hair and makeup done at four in the afternoon. She never got ready for anything before seven!
As Drew took her turn in the chair, Mel began pulling on her dress. It was a little heavy but she didn't mind. She zipped it up the side and shifted the skirt and adjusted the slit on her thigh. When Mel strapped her shoes on and stood to look at the finished product, Drew called from her chair, "Mel, Jesus Christ!"
"What?"
"That dress is hot!"
"You think so?"
"Tay is gonna lose his shit!"
Mel sighed. "Well that doesn't really matter anyway, does it?"
Awhile later, when Drew had finished zipping her dress up, Mel remarked, "Well, Zac isn't going to fare much better, I'll tell you that." Drew wore an emerald green, floor-length mermaid gown with a slit on the front. A
small portion of sheer, black material rested between her breasts on top and the left breast flaunted a small floral design of the same color. Zac would have to be an idiot not to drop Kate for Drew on that red carpet.
After awhile there was a knock on Mel's door. When she opened it, Jason and Gerard stood there. When Mel saw Jason her stomach flip flopped. Or maybe it was her hormones. She didn't know. Her jaw dropped and she slowly looked him up and down in complete disbelief in just how much sex stood in front of her. She couldn't make any sense of it. He stood before her in a perfectly-tailored gray suit. No tie. God forbid Jason wore a tie. He wore the jacket open revealing a matching vest over a blue button-down shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest, similar to last night's except...tonight he had pulled his hair back and
had completely shaven his face clean. He looked like an entirely different person. He looked like the GQ model version of himself.
Mel couldn't even speak to him. He made her shy all of a sudden. She felt like such a plain Jane compared to him...
He broke her train of thought. "Oh wow..."
"What?" Mel asked, frantically. "Is my dress crooked? Did I get deodorant on it? I'm so afraid I'm going to trip and fall over it!"
Jason smiled an amused smile. "You're absolutely beautiful."
Mel felt herself blushing. "Really?"
"As if you didn't know," he said, holding his arm out for her to take.
Following behind them, Drew said, "Trust me, she never does."
"Well then, you clean up quite nicely, Miss Brooks," Gerard said to Drew.
"Almost don't recognize me out of makeup, do you?"
"Are you kidding, *I* almost don't recognize you out of makeup," Jason joked.
"Ha ha," Drew said sarcastically. "Anyway, you're looking quite dapper yourself, Mr. Cline."
Drew wasn't kidding. Gerard looked quite handsome in his basic tuxedo. He seemed like a man who preferred to keep his wardrobe on the classic side. Mel couldn't help but smile a little when the couple came and walked alongside her and Jason down the hotel hallway. Drew and Gerard were adorable together. Sure he was a little older than them, but his personality seemed to be great and he fit right in. He knew how to handle Drew and that was important. Mel thought about Zac. She knew he cared about Drew but let's face
it. Just like Tay, Zac had a family. It wasn't that easy just to run off with Drew into the sunset. And Mel wasn't even sure if Zac knew if that's what he wanted or not. Either way, she thought that if Drew and Zac didn't end up working out, Drew should definitely pursue Gerard...
_____________________________________________
TAYLOR
Mel dashed past a line of people, hiking her heavy skirt off the ground, the rest of it softly flowing behind her as the air caught it. Taylor wanted to faint.
As she breathlessly took her place in front of him and Natalie, Jason at her side, she said, "I can't believe we were almost late! I completely lost track of time!"
She was stunning. More gorgeous than she had ever been before and he couldn't even tell her. It was almost worth the risk of a beat down and a divorce just to tell her how beautiful she was. Even if he could, he couldn't get the words out. He couldn't get any words out. So he kept silent.
And then Natalie struck again. "Wow, Mel! Your dress is fabulous! You're going to knock 'em dead on this carpet!"
Taylor was completely confused. Natalie didn't like Mel. She never had. And now she was attempting to be nice to her, twice in less than 24 hours? Should he be grateful that she was making an effort? Or should he be afraid she had ulterior motives?
To his surprise, Mel smiled. "Well thank you, that means a lot coming from you. I know you're practically a veteran to these things. You're looking pretty fabulous yourself!"
She was lying. Tay knew Mel. He knew every inch of her inside and out and he definitely knew when she was lying. She had to be. He looked at his wife and gave her a quick once-over. She looked...matronly. For once in their ten years he prayed that Natalie would wear something just a little sexy to an event or party. She had the body for it. She could pull it off with no problem. But she preferred to stay covered up. Everything she wore had sleeves or fell to her knees or below. For once he would have loved to see her in something short or form-fitting. For instance, tonight she wore a red dress that just came to her ankles with some gold print all over it. It was strapless, yet on top she covered it with a matching mini blazer. He had lied to her when he said it looked fine. He honestly didn't care. He looked again at Mel, who would have looked absolutely fantastic on his arm in her black one-shouldered number. The bit of leg that peeked out underneath the slit in her dress nearly drove him mad. They would have been the best-looking couple there that night, guaranteed.
His train of thought was interrupted when someone with a makeup brush rushed over to Mel and began brushing it all over her face. When the lady rushed down the line with her brush, Mel said, "This feels so silly, having to come downstairs and stand in line just to walk a carpet to go BACK inside." She glanced behind her and locked eyes with Taylor for a moment. His heart pounded. She then leaned forward to check the rest
of the line. She waved. Tay turned to see who she was waving at. Drew and Gerard stood behind Isaac and Nikki. There weren't many people behind them. Most everyone "arrived" in limos and such. They were simply there because they were staying in the hotel.
"Stop fidgeting, you'll be fine," Tay heard Jason murmur to Mel. "Relax."
"You remember what happened last time you told me to relax?" she responded.
Jason laughed quietly. Taylor was disgusted. He could only imagine the source of this little exchange.
The publicist approached Mel at the front of the line. "Okay, this is it. There are several of us along the line so we'll direct you where to move and who to talk to. It's pretty simple. Smile, pose, show the dress, answer questions. Keep your ears open, they'll want pictures of you with the guys, too. They'll be right behind you. They might ask you about other projects. Jason, be prepared to be asked about the movie. Make sure you keep all your answers short and try to keep moving. It won't be easy to move fast but don't get yourself flustered
over it. Okay? Are you ready?"
"No," Mel said.
The publicist laughed. "Well, you have about 30 seconds to get ready."
And then she walked. With Jason by her side, she walked out in front of the hundreds of flashing bulbs. Jason's hand rested on the small of her back and the two of them smiled for the cameras. She was a natural.
Taylor always knew she was meant for this. He just always assumed her first carpet would be with him. And yet he looked on, so incredibly proud of her and so incredibly in love with her. So incredibly heartbroken.
A lump formed in Taylor's throat but the publicist saved the day when she announced that it was their turn to walk. The fans that showed up let out a loud shriek as Hanson "arrived" and the six of them walked, posed, and smiled, just as in any other event they had attended.
Pulling Jason and the wives to the side, the requests were starting to come in for pictures of Mel alone and Hanson alone, Mel with Hanson, and Mel with Zac. Taylor couldn't deny he was glad that he was right behind Mel in line because that meant that she was beside him in all the photos. He would take any moment he could get to be close to her.
When everyone split back up into their respective parties, the questions started. Tay tried his hardest not to overhear what was going on in Mel and Jason's world but to no avail. He couldn't escape hearing the
questions about Jason's movie, about his and Mel's relationship, about how "gorgeous" he was and blah blah blah. And the answers were just as bad. He and Mel both were flirty and evasive. They were already being dubbed the night's "hottest couple" all over the carpet. Taylor couldn't get out of there fast enough.
__________________________________________________
ZAC
Kate was looking absolutely gorgeous tonight. Zac couldn't deny that he was proud to have her on his arm. She wore a black, strapless, form-fitting gown with diamond-shaped cut-outs on either side of her waist. Her hair fell in loose curls over her shoulders and she towered over him in her heels but he didn't care. He kind of liked it when her model stature stood taller than him. It was kind of hot.
He also didn't deny it when he did a double-take on Mel. It was an extremely rare occasion when she made him say, "Damn," mostly because he thought of her as a sister. Tonight was one of those occasions.
And then Drew showed up. Jesus Christ, how was he going to get through this night? That dress. That peek-a-boo slit up the front. The messy faux bob she sported. Her delicate arm hooked around Gerard's...
Wait, what? He had been fantasizing about her so hard he hadn't even noticed that Gerard was with her. Sure he had seen them at dinner last night but for some reason he just assumed that they were coming to the benefit alone. And now Zac was glancing behind him on the red carpet at Drew and Gerard as they posed for pictures and answered questions about the movie they had just finished filming. What the hell was going on here? Were they dating? Surely not. Drew would have mentioned it. This wasn't cool. Gerard Cline was his favorite director. He idolized him. He never thought for a second he would ever meet him, much less get
to hang out with him on multiple occasions. But taking it a step further and showing up here with Drew? Zac just couldn't wrap his head around it.
Zac glanced over at Kate. Still gorgeous. Goddammit. And then she smiled. At Drew. Confusion completely overtook him. Honestly, he never knew how Kate felt about Drew. The subject never came up. "I love your dress," Kate said to Drew.
Drew smiled back at her. "Thanks, I love yours, too."
Zac's head spun. This was too much. He could barely handle the two of them separately, much less together. And getting along. Visions of an ultra hot ménage a trois occupied his mind until he was pulled away to take pictures with Mel. "This is already proving to be a very trying evening," Zac murmured to her softly so that nobody could hear.
"Tell me about it," Mel agreed.
Between smiles and poses, he said quietly, "I need to tell you something so that you're not surprised when we go inside."
He felt Mel's body instantly stiffen under the hand he had on the small of her back. "There's been an adjustment on the place cards at a couple of the tables."
"Meaning?" Mel asked through her still-smiling teeth.
Still smiling and posing for the cameras, Zac murmured, "I went back and changed some of the place cards so that we're all sitting at the same table."
Completely ignoring the cameras, Mel grabbed the side of her dress to move it so that she could turn her entire body to him. "You WHAT?"
Zac grabbed her by the arm and turned her back toward the cameras. "They're watching, keep smiling," he said through his teeth.
Mel got her composure once more and smiled for the cameras, walking a few more steps only to stop again and pose more. "Who is 'we're all?' "
"All of us. You, Jason, the six of us. And Drew and Gerard."
"How convenient that the tables seat ten," she said through her teeth.
"I'm sorry. It made more sense for all of us to sit together since it's our party."
"I understand us. But Drew and Gerard?"
"Well, I mean Jason is--"
"You're despicable, you know that? Putting Tay and I in a setting we don't need to be in and then seating Drew at your table just so you can keep tabs on her. I swear you're a glutton for punishment. Don't you
remember what happened the last time we all sat around a table together?"
"Well this time it's business. And circumstances are different."
"Keep digging, Zac. Just keep digging."
The pair were split up once more and as Zac kept walking, he glanced back at the laughing pair behind him. Gerard signed autographs and apparently one of them had shared a hilarious story. He wondered if Gerard frequently did this. Taking up-and-coming hot stars younger than him and "taking them under his wing." The idea made Zac livid.
Finally through with the carpet, they made their way inside the building and to the ballroom. After getting everyone settled and familiar with the table, and after the silent murder threat Zac received from Mel for seating her and Taylor next to each other, everyone went their separate ways. Mel went to meet with the foundation and Zac and his brothers went to the stage to check their equipment.
"Well. They both look amazing tonight," Isaac observed.
"Shut up," Zac and Tay said in unison.
"Both of you had better behave yourselves tonight," he continued. "Tonight completely reflects on Hanson and 3CG. None of your crazy shit tonight. Not from either of you."
Zac glanced back at their table. Drew actually appeared to be having a conversation with Kate and Natalie. Zac didn't know what to make of it. He knew the intention was for them all to get along in the beginning
but everyone had been so used to separating Drew and Mel from Kate and Natalie in their minds that it still came as a shock when they appeared to be civil.
Then he looked at Gerard. Gerard Cline. Gerard Cline who gave Drew an expensive bracelet for her birthday and asked for nothing in return. Gerard Cline who never once looked at nor touched Drew in any inappropriate manner. Was he the reason that Drew didn't return the sentiment when Zac told her he was falling in love with her that night in Ireland? He couldn't help but wonder if there was something she wasn't
telling him.
________________________________________________
MEL
People were filing in and the benefit was starting in just a few minutes. Mel had snuck behind the DJ booth for a quick review of what was on the playlist for the night. She scrunched her nose at some of it. Busy doing some quick deletions and additions, a voice startled her. "No heavy metal tonight."
She looked up and Taylor was standing there, a shy smile on his face, hands in his pockets. She melted. She hadn't had any real time to look him over and now that she had she wished she hadn't. He was so devastatingly gorgeous in his tuxedo. She found herself glancing around, entertaining the idea of them in that corner alone--
"I'm not stupid," she said, instantly finding the guard she almost let down.
"It was a joke," he said quietly. Then he continued. "Weird how this keeps happening all weekend, isn't it?"
"How what keeps happening?"
"This. How we end up next to each other on the plane. Our rooms. This table. It's almost like fate, you know?"
"Or a cruel coincidence."
Tay shifted his weight nervously. "I wish you didn't hate me so much."
Mel sighed and leaned on the table, putting down the pair of headphones she had held up to her ear. She turned to Tay and looked into his eyes. "He's back," she said.
"Who?"
"Him. From before. Desperate. Crazy. Jealous. Illogical, unreasonable. Controlling. Angry. The old Taylor, from years ago. He's back. And I don't like him."
He looked back at her, pained and confused. "You loved me then."
"I left you then."
Tay bit his lip and looked around anxiously, then back at her. "What do you want me to do? Tell me. Tell me what you want."
"I don't want old Taylor back. I love the man you are now. The one you became--well before I came back into the picture. I want you to accept the decision that you've made for yourself and I want you to understand
that I have a life to live, too. That's what I want."
"What if I can't? What if I can't accept that?"
"I'm thinking about leaving the studio. And possibly leaving Tulsa, too."
"What?"
"There's an entire world out there, ready for me to discover it. Why should I stay tied down in Tulsa? There's nothing keeping me there."
"Mel, no. NO. You can NOT leave me, not again. Every time shit gets hard you run. Well, dammit, this time you're not running, I swear it."
"See, THIS. This right here is exactly what I'm talking about--"
"How do you not feel it?? How could you possibly not feel every goddamn shred of pain in your body the way I do? How?"
"Dammit, Tay, I DO feel it! I feel what YOU did to me every waking hour of every goddamn day! I just can't walk around acting all scatterbrained and neurotic like you do. YOU'RE the one who has to live with the decision you made, I just have to adapt to it. I want us to have a decent relationship, and maybe even be friends someday, but it will NOT happen as long as you're acting like this goddamn lunatic that's standing in front of me now. Fucking get ahold of yourself and grow a pair and get back to me when you do! By the way, if I hear that fucking song tonight that I just deleted off this playlist I swear to god your life will be even more hell than it is right now."
With that, Mel swiftly walked back to the table and took a seat beside Jason. She picked up her wine glass and practically chugged it, grateful that it was waiting for her when she sat down. "What happened, what did he
do?" Jason asked. He always knew.
Looking around the table, everyone but Tay was present. Mel didn't give a shit. "Nothing new. Crazy strikes again."
Jason leaned down in Mel's ear. "Do you want to switch places with me?"
"Um, no. You are the LAST person who needs to sit next to him."
Mel took a look around the room and a knot formed in her stomach. Everyone who was anyone was filing into the room. She was so star struck she didn't know where to begin. She had always imagined that the day she found herself in this position, Taylor would be the one introducing her to everyone and they would mingle, drinks in hand, laughing and cutting up with all the other couples. She looked around the table and her
heart sank at the reality. Though Jason's presence never failed to put her at ease.
Within minutes, Taylor was back at the table, taking his seat between Mel and Natalie. Someone from the foundation came over and tapped Mel's shoulder to let her know it was time to start. She wanted to faint.
She sat there, still, like a deer in headlights. She couldn't move. "Jason," she said. "I can't do this. I can't. I
can't do it. What am I gonna do?"
He gently placed a hand on her cheek. "You are absolutely gorgeous tonight. You're going to be just fine. Everyone will fall head over heels for you, just like--just like they ought to. Okay? You're going to be wonderful. And if you decide you just can't do it, just look at me. I'm right here. Keep your eyes on me and I'll get you through it. Okay?"
Mel swallowed the growing lump in her throat and nodded. He was right. She could do it. Just look at Jason. No biggie. She walked up onstage after an introduction by someone with the foundation and took one look around the room at the sea of famous faces. Her knees locked.
_____________________________________________
DREW
The table was silent and Drew's eyes wide as she witnessed the exchange across the table. Except she could hardly witness the exchange over keeping her eyes on Taylor. He watched Jason coach Mel just the same as
everyone else did. She sort of felt bad that he had to witness that private moment. She felt bad that he had to witness the fact that Jason was the one that Mel turned to in her hour of need instead of turning to Taylor like she used to. She knew it was tearing him up inside.
When Mel took her place at the podium on the stage, Drew couldn't have been more proud of her best friend. Looking around the room at the celebrities and the decorations and the entire party--she knew nobody could have planned a better event. Drew watched intently as she waited for Mel to speak. Except that Mel didn't speak. Not for a few seconds, anyway. She looked down at the podium to gain her composure and then suddenly she began rattling off words as if she'd been up there forever. It was like a switch went off inside her. And she spoke so well! Drew beamed with pride.
She glanced across the table at Taylor. She could see the small smile he hid behind the hand that rested on his chin. He was proud of her, silently supporting her. Drew's heart warmed a little.
"...so eat, drink, dance, and dig deep! Remember what we're all here for. And most importantly, have fun!"
Mel took her seat back at the table between Jason and Taylor as dinner was prepared to be served. Drew said across the table, "Mel I'm so proud of you! You did just fine up there, I don't know what you were so freaked out about."
Gerard spoke up. "I completely agree, you're a natural. Have you ever thought of doing movies?"
Across the table, Jason laughed. "Wow, Gerard. I've seen pornos that start out..." he looked over at Mel and his voice trailed off. "Um, I mean--"
Mel smiled and playfully back handed his arm. "Shut up, I've seen them, too."
He grinned and put his arm around Mel's shoulder. "I knew there was a reason we got along so well."
As they all laughed, Taylor turned up his glass.
"Speaking of movies," Zac spoke up, on the other side of Gerard. "I can't tell you how excited I am to see the finished product of this latest one. And not because one of my best friends stars in it." He winked at Drew.
Drew's heart sank. 'Best friend,' he had called her. Just a month ago he had said he was falling for her. Did it go away that fast? Had she waited to long to respond? Was he just using those words due to present company? Drew didn't want to be bothered by it, but she couldn't help it.
"Not as excited as I am, I'm sure," Gerard answered him. "This was the most interesting project I've worked on to date."
This piqued Drew's interest. "Oh, really?"
"Oh of course. I've never worked with actors who were so...green before. It was extremely pleasant not having any divas on set." He suddenly lowered his voice. "I can point out certain actors in this very
room who are absolute nightmares to work with, with their silly demands and argumentative attitudes as if they were better than everyone else. It's disgusting."
"I know you're not talking about me over there," Jason said. "This isn't the first time you've worked with me."
Gerard laughed. "No but it's the first time I've actually seen your face."
As Zac further grilled Gerard about the movie, Drew could tell by the way he frequently glanced her way that this was simply an ulterior motive. He was feeling them out. Zac was curious. That's what this was. He wanted to know if they were actually dating or not.
What got Drew even more was that Gerard knew about her and Zac and he didn't seem to care. He didn't act weird or awkward about it. There were no chest-puffing contests or snarky comments like the ones that went on between Jason and Taylor. It was as if he just ignored the elephant among their little trio.
As dinner was wrapping up, Zac leaned over Gerard to look over at Drew. "Hey, Drew, you wanna--"
And as if Gerard hadn't heard a word he said, he interrupted, "Oh, Drew, there are some people over there that I'm dying to introduce you to. Come, let's go say hello."
Even outside of work, when Gerard Cline said to do something, you didn't argue. Returning the hurt expression on Zac's face with the helpless one of her own, Drew took hold of Gerard's arm and let him lead her across the room.
____________________________________________________