Happiness Is: Chapter 4
"Thanks for the ride, Randel." Kat called out as they exited the limo.
The three girls all walked to the opening of The Planet. One walking slowly, one bouncing in excitement, and one slinking to the entrance of the club, winking at every available male in the vicinity.
"Kat, your hormones are raging again." Taylor said softly as she watched Kat wink, then lick her lips at some guy for the fifth time.
Kat flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled at Taylor. "I just can't help myself."
Taylor rolled her eyes and scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar face; but then again any unfamiliar face would do as well.
"Well, try and control yourself please so that I'll at least get one." Dani said sarcastically, while perusing the line out the door.
"Why would you have trouble finding someone, Dani?" Kat asked, looking down at the girl.
Dani rolled her eyes. "Because most men want some tall beautiful woman instead of some short, curvy female."
"No, all males like curves and yours are in all the right places. They always drool over you."
"Not true."
The two began to bicker about male preferences as they headed inside, the bouncer allowing them to enter without standing in line.
~*~
"I can't believe they didn't believe that I was 21." Justin grumbled as they walked into the club.
Lance laughed. "I didn't have any problems and I'm not 21."
As the five walked deeper into the club, they had to talk louder as the music began to blare in their ears.
Justin turned and glared at his friend. "Someone is feeling particularly full of themselves this evening."
JC laughed and threw his arms around the duo. "Boys, we got in without any REAL problems, let's enjoy ourselves."
Justin lifted one corner of his mouth in what resembled a small smile, then broke out into a full laugh. "Sounds like a plan." He rubbed his hands together. "Lead me to the women."
Joey's head came up. "Hey! That's my line!"
Chris smacked him upside the head before heading toward the bar. "You guys want anything?"
Justin's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I'll have a…" His eyes met JC's before he finished. "…a coke."
JC grinned as the rest of them began to laugh. Chris nodded and walked off.
Joey spotted a tall redhead wearing a tight red tanktop and immediately wandered after her without saying a word.
Lance shook his head and muttered. "Then there were three." His eyes wandered around the club and all of a sudden he saw her. She was sitting at a table, sipping on a drink, watching all of the dancers out on the floor. She's beautiful. Her hair was pulled up into a topknot so that a few tendrils came down to frame her face, she had on a red tank top and her boot clad legs were crossed as one tapped along with the beat.
Justin looked over when he noticed that Lance had stopped paying attention. He smirked when he saw the glazed over look in his eyes and followed his gaze, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman who had caught his attention. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Taylor.
Justin leaned over and smacked JC, behind Lance's back, who was watching the dance floor, while figuring out whom to dance with.
JC glared at Justin for smacking him but when Justin nodded his head in Taylor's direction, he began to smile. "Looks like this evening could get interesting."
Justin laughed but then stopped, as another thought popped into his head. "Do you think…"
JC coughed trying to cover up the laugh that had almost burst out. "She's on the dance floor, dude."
Justin's eyes widened and he began searching for her. JC just shook his head and began to steer Lance toward Taylor's table, leaving Justin drooling over Kat. Lance quickly shook his head no, but they had already reached the table.
"May we sit down?" JC asked.
Taylor looked up and found Lance and JC looking down at her, one with a shocked expression and one with a huge smile. She shrugged. "It's a public place. I can't stop you."
JC grabbed a chair and sat down, his eyes immediately lighting onto the dancers. "Well, you could stop us, but you're nice and won't make us go and bug some other poor helpless female."
She turned so that her attention was on the young men sitting with her. "I'm not helpless."
JC leaned back in his seat. "I know. I just wanted to get a reaction."
She scowled but didn't say anything else.
"How are you?" Lance asked quietly.
She looked over at him. "What? I can't hear you over the music."
"I said… How are you?"
"Oh good. Thanks."
Lance looked back at the table and began to trace the designs that people had etched into the top. Good one slick. Couldn't come up with anything more creative?
"How’s your music coming along?"
Taylor sighed. "JC, can’t you think of anything else? This is my night out. I’m not thinking of music and I’m certainly not even going to discuss handing my music over to you."
JC held up his hands in surrender. "I was just making conversation."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Sure you were." She turned back to the dancers and hummed along with the music.
Lance sat there stunned not knowing what they were talking about or what even to say. It always seemed like every time he was around her, sparks would fly but he didn’t know what to do or how to go about initiating anything without his tongue getting all tied up.
He locked his jaw, contemplating what to say and finally took a deep breath. "Taylor, would you…"
"Hey guys!" Joey said, bounding over with the redhead on his arm.
Lance and Taylor both glared at him for different reasons, while JC leaned back enjoying the show. "Hey Joe. What’s up?"
Joey pulled a few chairs out and joined the table. "Not much, this is…" He turned to the redhead but she had disappeared on another guy’s arm to dance. Joey shrugged. "Oh well, I didn’t know her name anyway."
JC and Lance both laughed, because it was a typical Joey thing to do. Taylor growled but didn’t say anything.
"Hey Taylor, want to dance?" Joey asked turning to her when he heard the noise.
Taylor shook her head. "Not with you."
"Oh come on."
"Not in this lifetime."
"Please."
"No, but at least you know my name."
"Come on, what harm would there be."
"You’d give me a headache. Go away flea."
Joey just shook his head and through his hands up into the air. "Well, you can’t say that I didn't try." He told the table, then leaned back in the chair.
Taylor grimaced as she realized that none of them would be leaving soon, so she turned back to the dancers, trying to tune them out and ignore them.
Joey leaned over to JC and whispered in his ear. "What does she have against us?"
JC shrugged. "Nothing that I know of…she’s just not much of a talker."
"I always thought she was so nice and polite but she’s really just a b….."
Taylor turned and focused on Joe. "If that’s how you feel, feel free to find another table."
"I…"
She rolled her eyes and faced away from them again.
JC and Lance both reached out and slapped Joe before turning to Taylor. "Hey Tay, he didn’t mean it." Lance said, placing a hand on her arm.
Taylor jumped a foot in the air and almost bolted at the touch. "Don’t touch me. I know he didn’t mean it but he should learn to watch his mouth and maybe learn some tact as well."
Lance met her eyes and almost fell out of his chair at the amount of pain that was apparent in her eyes. But the pain could only be seen for a split second, before it was pulled back in and her eyes returned to normal again.
Taylor turned away quickly from Lance, stunned that he had seen right through her. Lance turned to the guys, wondering if they had seen what he had but they were talking about some chick on the dance floor and weren’t paying attention too much.
"So where are the other two clowns?" Taylor asked.
Lance looked over in astonishment to find that she had initiated a conversation. "Chris is at the bar and Justin went… somewhere."
"You mean he went looking for Kat."
Lance’s lips twitched. "Yeah."
"That boy… "
"You gotta give him credit for being stubborn."
"True." She sighed.
Lance leaned over. "Are you okay, Tay?" He asked.
He quickly leaned back as she whirled around to face him. "I’m fine. Why does everyone and their dog have to ask me that?"
"I.. Uh…"
"Cause they care." JC broke in knowing how much Lance couldn't stand confrontations.
"Well, they can take their concern and shove it. I’m sick of it. Excuse me." She grabbed her purse and stood up, heading toward the bar to get another drink.
"Is she 21?" Joey asked.
Lance shook his head. "Nope."
Joe grinned. "My kind of woman."
Lance eyed him but didn’t say a word.
JC smirked at Lance’s sullen expression. "Nah, Joe. I think someone has the hots for her and you should leave her alone. Plus… she wasn’t interested dude."
"Can’t sue me for wanting a piece of that."
"I can’t believe her!" Justin said, interrupting, pulling up the chair Taylor had just vacated.
"Huh?"
"KAT!"
JC sighed. "What now?"
Justin got comfortable before starting on his story. "After you guys left, I decided to meander out onto the dance floor and maybe work my way over to where her and Dani were and see if I could weasel in and steal a dance… just as I was about to make my move…"
"I told the little boy to scram because I don't dance with babies." Kat finished for him as she and Dani pulled up a chair, both sweaty from dancing, wearing similar outfits to the one Taylor had on, both dressed in skirts, tanktops and boots.
Justin grimaced at her before turning to Dani, pointedly ignoring Kat, who just rolled her eyes at his behavior. "So, having a good time tonight?"
She nodded. "Yeah, it's been awhile since we were all out together so it's nice. Although, now that I think about it… Tay hasn't been out dancing and… " She looked around. "Where is she?"
Lance sighed. "She headed toward the bar."
Kat looked over at him and winked. "She's a big girl."
Lance raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm well aware of that."
She shrugged. "You were just looking a little concerned there for a minute."
Lance just shook his head and stared off into space.
Kat shook her head and arched an eyebrow at the guys. "So…"
Joey leaned forward. "So…"
Kat rolled her eyes and pushed him away. "Down boy."
JC slung an arm behind his seat. "So, you're finally being social, what gives?"
Kat and Dani looked at each other and shrugged. "Change of heart?" Dani smiled.
Joey smirked. "I don't buy it."
Dani wiggled her eyebrows at him, giving him a start. "You don't have to buy anything Joe."
Justin's eyes widened at the new Dani. Lance rolled his eyes and looked for Taylor. He was beginning to get a little worried since she hadn't come back yet, but then again…
~*~
"I'll have another rum and coke, please."
"Shame shame, we don't let the youngen drink, maybe we shouldn't let you either."
Taylor turned and found Chris standing by her side, drinking a whiskey and coke. "Maybe you should mind your own business."
"And maybe someone needs to remove that chip on your shoulder, it’s getting to be a little heavy even for you."
"I can handle it." She paid the bartender and reached for the drink, only to find it missing. Chris had taken it.
"I don't think you need this right now."
"And I think you need to stop taking JC's role and stop trying to be my father." She signaled the bartender again and ordered a shot. He set it in front of her and she downed it before Chris could take that one away from her.
Chris sat down on the stool next to her. "Problems?"
"You're my problem."
"You're sure in a snit tonight."
"Yeah, well that's what happens when you get guilted into going out and then nothing seems to go right, cause the people you least want to see happen to show up at the same place you're at."
"Guilted? You didn't have to come."
"Yeah well, what Dani and Kat want they get."
"Were you having an okay time before we arrived and bothered you, your highness?"
"Actually, yes."
"Well, then. I'll bid you good night."
Chris got up and left, leaving her at the bar by herself. She shook her head, willing away the hurt at the absence of his presence. She signaled the bartender, paying for another shot before turning to the dance floor. A young good-looking man wandered up behind her. "Would you care to dance?" He asked.
Taylor looked up at him carefully then smiled. "I'd love to."
~*~
Chris handed Justin his coke and sat down. "It's a regular party here."
Justin rolled his eyes and took a swig. "Hey, there's nothing in here."
"I know."
"Well, this night just keeps getting better and better." He muttered, glancing over at Kat who was deep in conversation with Lance and JC.
Joey, who had been talking to Dani, looked over. "Having problems little buddy?"
He shook his head. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Someone fall off her pedestal?" Dani asked.
Justin's eyes widened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Dani smirked. "Sure ya do, just like we all know how you feel about Miss Beautiful over there."
"I…"
"She's not perfect, nor will she ever be. Don't make her into something she's not."
"I'm…"
Chris and Joey both nodded in agreement. "Yes you are."
Justin sighed. "I…just…"
"You like her and want to be with her." Dani said softly, so soft, that he barely heard her.
Justin nodded slowly.
"Ask her to dance… nicely." Dani grinned sadly, before turning back to Joe.
He looked to Joe and Chris before taking a deep breath. "Hey Kat…"
She rolled her eyes to Lance and JC before turning to face him. "What now, youngen?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to dance?"
Her eyes narrowed and studied his face. "No funny business?"
"None." He held up his hands in defeat and smiled.
"One dance and that's it."
"Got it." Justin jumped up and grabbed both of her hands to help her up and lead her out to the floor.
Joey watched the kid practically bounce to the floor before turning to Dani. "Want to take their lead?"
"I'd love to."
The two wandered out and began dancing, leaving Chris, Lance and JC by themselves.
"Did you see Taylor?" Lance asked.
Chris sighed. "Yeah, drinking it up at the bar."
"Something's wrong with her." JC said, watching their friends dance.
"You're not a kidding. She told me to leave her alone and to quit playing daddy."
Lance zoned out, looking around the club. His eyes widened as they found her stumbling out to the dance floor with another guy. "Uh guys…" he said.
They all looked to where he was pointing. JC cursed and stood up. "I'll go get her."
Lance shook his head. "No, let me."
JC opened his mouth to argue but Chris placed a hand on his arm to stop him and motioned for Lance to go. JC sat back down and sighed. "I've talked to her more."
"Yeah, but Lance has always been better with people."
"True."
Lance weaved his way through the crowd and came to the couple, one leading, and one stumbling. "Hey Tay… why don't you come back to the table?" Lance asked gently.
Taylor looked over. "Why don't you go f--- yourself?"
Lance stepped back in shock, then took a deep breath and turned to the guy. "She's a friend of mine. Let me take care of her.."
"Dude, I asked her to dance and we're dancing."
Lance shook his head. "Nah, I don't think so."
"Well, I do." The guy grabbed her arm and tried to walk off, but Lance laid a hand on his arm.
"She's coming with me. That's final."
Taylor's head rolled back. "I don't feel so good."
The guy grimaced. "Don't want to deal with that. Here you go." He deposited her into Lance's arms.
Her head sank down on his shoulder and Lance breathed deep her vanilla perfume. "You okay?"
She nodded. "Just… need…"
"To sit down, got it." He led her back to the table and sat her down next to JC, so that she was in between them.
"Looked like you were going to punch the guy out there for a second." Chris laughed.
"I wouldn't have…"
JC laughed then and put out a hand to steady Taylor. "Sure looked like it to me…you were scowling something fierce at that guy."
Lance just shook his head and turned to Taylor. "How are you feeling?"
She glared up at him. "Fine, thanks for your concern."
Chris shook his head. "You’re not a very nice drunk. Show some appreciation for the man."
She rolled her eyes and put her head in her hands. "Why won’t you guys just leave me, us, alone." She muttered.
JC rubbed her back. "Cause for some reason, we like you. Don’t know how that happened, but we do."
She groaned. "Well… I… don’t… like… you…"
JC smiled. "Sure ya do."
"No, not really."
"I think you do." He put his face down beside hers then crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.
She pushed his face away. "Why would I like men who never act their age all the time?"
Lance shrugged. "Cause we make you laugh."
"You don’t."
"Sure we do." Chris said, leaning back. "Give it up, girl. You like us and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re group mates have stopped fighting it and look, they’re having a good time."
Taylor glared at him and glanced out at the dance floor and found Kat and Dani. Her eyes widened. What are they doing?
Lance watched her expression with interest. He watched all the anger fade away and stark terror and pain replaced it. It’s a cover up… all that anger covers up all the pain.
Taylor stood up. "I have to get out of here."
"Do you want me to see you home?" Lance stood with her.
She turned and looked at him, then shook her head. "No. I’ll be fine."
"You’re not going alone." He said firmly, grabbing his coat.
"I won’t. Randel will see me back to the hotel."
"I’m going with you and that’s that." He said. He pulled on his coat and nodded at the guys before placing a hand on her lower back to guide her out.
She pulled away from his hand. "I have to tell Kat and Dani where I’m going."
"Okay, I’ll wait for you here."
"Fine." She tossed back before striding onto the dance floor out of sight.
He sat back down and turned to the guys. "Oh boy…"
Chris laughed. "That one is a handful."
JC grinned. "You’re telling me. A regular spitfire." He shook his head. "And we all thought they were nice girls."
Lance shook his head. "Girls with problems."
Chris turned and looked where Kat and Taylor were talking animatedly. "She reminds me a little of the girl in the letter."
"Huh?" JC and lance both said at the same time.
"Taylor. She’s covering up a lot of pain."
JC shook his head. "Too much anger."
Lance agreed. "The girl who’s writing isn’t angry but extremely upset."
"Upset can be both anger and sadness, sometimes they’re one and the same."
Lance shook his head. "I still don’t think it’s her. I mean why would any of Dolphin’s Cry write us when they weren’t even talking to us until recently."
JC nodded. "I’ve got to agree with the albino. It’s probably some unknown person who we’ll never meet, or even be able to help through this."
Chris eyed the girls again and shrugged. "I don’t know. I just have this feeling that not everything is right with them, like we’re not getting the entire story."
"We haven’t gotten their story from day one. They’re like a big mystery." JC said.
"One I’d like to crack though." Lance said turning back to see if Taylor was coming yet.
JC patted his arm. "You like her a lot, don’t you?"
Lance shook his head. "I’m not sure, how I feel. She interests me; I find her fascinating. The way one minute she’s so angry, the next pain radiates from her, and then she’s indifferent, all in a matter of minutes. I’d like to be able to understand her."
JC and Chris’ eyes widened. "You’ve been watching her for awhile haven’t you?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I don’t remember when… but I remember just stopping to watch her one day and ever since then, I haven’t been able to stop."
His eyes widened as he looked back out on the dance floor and she wasn’t there. Kat and Dani were dancing together while Joe and Justin stood back and watched. Bad Touch by the Bloodhound gang had come on and the girls were having a good time watching the guys out of the corner of their eyes as their tongues began to roll.
Lance jumped and strode out, grabbing Justin by the arm. "Where did she go?
He shrugged. "Who?"
"Taylor."
"I don’t know. She took off out that door." He pointed to the side exit.
Lance groaned and tried to catch Kat’s eye. She smiled, shrugged and mouthed. "Not feeling good. Hotel."
Lance gritted his teeth in frustration and ran his hands through his hair, before heading back to the table. "I’m leaving. She took off."
JC stood and shrugged into his coat. "I’ll go with you."
He nodded and the two left.
Chris shook his head and finished his drink. "I don’t think they’ll find her." He muttered to himself before getting up to go and dance.
~*~
The two arrived back at the hotel and walked up to her room and knocked on the door. Neither was surprised when there wasn’t an answer and walked back to JC’s hotel room to call the front desk.
"Hi, my name is Taylor and I’m in room…"
Lance mouthed. "Room 1432."
"1432. I seemed to have locked myself out of my hotel room and was hoping I could get an extra key."
"Great, my friend Lance, will be down to get it." JC hung up and looked at Lance. "Go get it."
Lance hurried back and the two knocked again and opened her room to find no one there.
"Where could she have gone?" He said, turning and looking around.
JC shrugged. "The bus?"
"That doesn’t seem right. The girl is drunk."
JC pulled his lower lip under his teeth as he thought. "What if she wasn’t really?"
Lance turned and looked at him in shock. "Dude, you saw her."
JC nodded. "But we all know that playing drunk isn’t that hard to do."
Lance’s eyes widened. "You mean, to get away from us?"
"Maybe to get away from it all. She obviously wasn’t happy when we got there and I don’t think it was just with us. She was walking fine after she saw Kat and Dani on the dance floor and… it was almost like she panicked."
"Kat and Dani… you don’t think something happened before we got there, do you?"
JC nodded.
Lance thought about it before concurring. "I talked a bit with Kat today and they’re having problems. I wonder what happened."
JC motioned for them to get out, and as they left, Lance shut the door behind them, locking it. Neither of them noticed the blue stationary on the dresser.
The three girls all walked to the opening of The Planet. One walking slowly, one bouncing in excitement, and one slinking to the entrance of the club, winking at every available male in the vicinity.
"Kat, your hormones are raging again." Taylor said softly as she watched Kat wink, then lick her lips at some guy for the fifth time.
Kat flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled at Taylor. "I just can't help myself."
Taylor rolled her eyes and scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar face; but then again any unfamiliar face would do as well.
"Well, try and control yourself please so that I'll at least get one." Dani said sarcastically, while perusing the line out the door.
"Why would you have trouble finding someone, Dani?" Kat asked, looking down at the girl.
Dani rolled her eyes. "Because most men want some tall beautiful woman instead of some short, curvy female."
"No, all males like curves and yours are in all the right places. They always drool over you."
"Not true."
The two began to bicker about male preferences as they headed inside, the bouncer allowing them to enter without standing in line.
~*~
"I can't believe they didn't believe that I was 21." Justin grumbled as they walked into the club.
Lance laughed. "I didn't have any problems and I'm not 21."
As the five walked deeper into the club, they had to talk louder as the music began to blare in their ears.
Justin turned and glared at his friend. "Someone is feeling particularly full of themselves this evening."
JC laughed and threw his arms around the duo. "Boys, we got in without any REAL problems, let's enjoy ourselves."
Justin lifted one corner of his mouth in what resembled a small smile, then broke out into a full laugh. "Sounds like a plan." He rubbed his hands together. "Lead me to the women."
Joey's head came up. "Hey! That's my line!"
Chris smacked him upside the head before heading toward the bar. "You guys want anything?"
Justin's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I'll have a…" His eyes met JC's before he finished. "…a coke."
JC grinned as the rest of them began to laugh. Chris nodded and walked off.
Joey spotted a tall redhead wearing a tight red tanktop and immediately wandered after her without saying a word.
Lance shook his head and muttered. "Then there were three." His eyes wandered around the club and all of a sudden he saw her. She was sitting at a table, sipping on a drink, watching all of the dancers out on the floor. She's beautiful. Her hair was pulled up into a topknot so that a few tendrils came down to frame her face, she had on a red tank top and her boot clad legs were crossed as one tapped along with the beat.
Justin looked over when he noticed that Lance had stopped paying attention. He smirked when he saw the glazed over look in his eyes and followed his gaze, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman who had caught his attention. His eyes widened when he saw that it was Taylor.
Justin leaned over and smacked JC, behind Lance's back, who was watching the dance floor, while figuring out whom to dance with.
JC glared at Justin for smacking him but when Justin nodded his head in Taylor's direction, he began to smile. "Looks like this evening could get interesting."
Justin laughed but then stopped, as another thought popped into his head. "Do you think…"
JC coughed trying to cover up the laugh that had almost burst out. "She's on the dance floor, dude."
Justin's eyes widened and he began searching for her. JC just shook his head and began to steer Lance toward Taylor's table, leaving Justin drooling over Kat. Lance quickly shook his head no, but they had already reached the table.
"May we sit down?" JC asked.
Taylor looked up and found Lance and JC looking down at her, one with a shocked expression and one with a huge smile. She shrugged. "It's a public place. I can't stop you."
JC grabbed a chair and sat down, his eyes immediately lighting onto the dancers. "Well, you could stop us, but you're nice and won't make us go and bug some other poor helpless female."
She turned so that her attention was on the young men sitting with her. "I'm not helpless."
JC leaned back in his seat. "I know. I just wanted to get a reaction."
She scowled but didn't say anything else.
"How are you?" Lance asked quietly.
She looked over at him. "What? I can't hear you over the music."
"I said… How are you?"
"Oh good. Thanks."
Lance looked back at the table and began to trace the designs that people had etched into the top. Good one slick. Couldn't come up with anything more creative?
"How’s your music coming along?"
Taylor sighed. "JC, can’t you think of anything else? This is my night out. I’m not thinking of music and I’m certainly not even going to discuss handing my music over to you."
JC held up his hands in surrender. "I was just making conversation."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Sure you were." She turned back to the dancers and hummed along with the music.
Lance sat there stunned not knowing what they were talking about or what even to say. It always seemed like every time he was around her, sparks would fly but he didn’t know what to do or how to go about initiating anything without his tongue getting all tied up.
He locked his jaw, contemplating what to say and finally took a deep breath. "Taylor, would you…"
"Hey guys!" Joey said, bounding over with the redhead on his arm.
Lance and Taylor both glared at him for different reasons, while JC leaned back enjoying the show. "Hey Joe. What’s up?"
Joey pulled a few chairs out and joined the table. "Not much, this is…" He turned to the redhead but she had disappeared on another guy’s arm to dance. Joey shrugged. "Oh well, I didn’t know her name anyway."
JC and Lance both laughed, because it was a typical Joey thing to do. Taylor growled but didn’t say anything.
"Hey Taylor, want to dance?" Joey asked turning to her when he heard the noise.
Taylor shook her head. "Not with you."
"Oh come on."
"Not in this lifetime."
"Please."
"No, but at least you know my name."
"Come on, what harm would there be."
"You’d give me a headache. Go away flea."
Joey just shook his head and through his hands up into the air. "Well, you can’t say that I didn't try." He told the table, then leaned back in the chair.
Taylor grimaced as she realized that none of them would be leaving soon, so she turned back to the dancers, trying to tune them out and ignore them.
Joey leaned over to JC and whispered in his ear. "What does she have against us?"
JC shrugged. "Nothing that I know of…she’s just not much of a talker."
"I always thought she was so nice and polite but she’s really just a b….."
Taylor turned and focused on Joe. "If that’s how you feel, feel free to find another table."
"I…"
She rolled her eyes and faced away from them again.
JC and Lance both reached out and slapped Joe before turning to Taylor. "Hey Tay, he didn’t mean it." Lance said, placing a hand on her arm.
Taylor jumped a foot in the air and almost bolted at the touch. "Don’t touch me. I know he didn’t mean it but he should learn to watch his mouth and maybe learn some tact as well."
Lance met her eyes and almost fell out of his chair at the amount of pain that was apparent in her eyes. But the pain could only be seen for a split second, before it was pulled back in and her eyes returned to normal again.
Taylor turned away quickly from Lance, stunned that he had seen right through her. Lance turned to the guys, wondering if they had seen what he had but they were talking about some chick on the dance floor and weren’t paying attention too much.
"So where are the other two clowns?" Taylor asked.
Lance looked over in astonishment to find that she had initiated a conversation. "Chris is at the bar and Justin went… somewhere."
"You mean he went looking for Kat."
Lance’s lips twitched. "Yeah."
"That boy… "
"You gotta give him credit for being stubborn."
"True." She sighed.
Lance leaned over. "Are you okay, Tay?" He asked.
He quickly leaned back as she whirled around to face him. "I’m fine. Why does everyone and their dog have to ask me that?"
"I.. Uh…"
"Cause they care." JC broke in knowing how much Lance couldn't stand confrontations.
"Well, they can take their concern and shove it. I’m sick of it. Excuse me." She grabbed her purse and stood up, heading toward the bar to get another drink.
"Is she 21?" Joey asked.
Lance shook his head. "Nope."
Joe grinned. "My kind of woman."
Lance eyed him but didn’t say a word.
JC smirked at Lance’s sullen expression. "Nah, Joe. I think someone has the hots for her and you should leave her alone. Plus… she wasn’t interested dude."
"Can’t sue me for wanting a piece of that."
"I can’t believe her!" Justin said, interrupting, pulling up the chair Taylor had just vacated.
"Huh?"
"KAT!"
JC sighed. "What now?"
Justin got comfortable before starting on his story. "After you guys left, I decided to meander out onto the dance floor and maybe work my way over to where her and Dani were and see if I could weasel in and steal a dance… just as I was about to make my move…"
"I told the little boy to scram because I don't dance with babies." Kat finished for him as she and Dani pulled up a chair, both sweaty from dancing, wearing similar outfits to the one Taylor had on, both dressed in skirts, tanktops and boots.
Justin grimaced at her before turning to Dani, pointedly ignoring Kat, who just rolled her eyes at his behavior. "So, having a good time tonight?"
She nodded. "Yeah, it's been awhile since we were all out together so it's nice. Although, now that I think about it… Tay hasn't been out dancing and… " She looked around. "Where is she?"
Lance sighed. "She headed toward the bar."
Kat looked over at him and winked. "She's a big girl."
Lance raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm well aware of that."
She shrugged. "You were just looking a little concerned there for a minute."
Lance just shook his head and stared off into space.
Kat shook her head and arched an eyebrow at the guys. "So…"
Joey leaned forward. "So…"
Kat rolled her eyes and pushed him away. "Down boy."
JC slung an arm behind his seat. "So, you're finally being social, what gives?"
Kat and Dani looked at each other and shrugged. "Change of heart?" Dani smiled.
Joey smirked. "I don't buy it."
Dani wiggled her eyebrows at him, giving him a start. "You don't have to buy anything Joe."
Justin's eyes widened at the new Dani. Lance rolled his eyes and looked for Taylor. He was beginning to get a little worried since she hadn't come back yet, but then again…
~*~
"I'll have another rum and coke, please."
"Shame shame, we don't let the youngen drink, maybe we shouldn't let you either."
Taylor turned and found Chris standing by her side, drinking a whiskey and coke. "Maybe you should mind your own business."
"And maybe someone needs to remove that chip on your shoulder, it’s getting to be a little heavy even for you."
"I can handle it." She paid the bartender and reached for the drink, only to find it missing. Chris had taken it.
"I don't think you need this right now."
"And I think you need to stop taking JC's role and stop trying to be my father." She signaled the bartender again and ordered a shot. He set it in front of her and she downed it before Chris could take that one away from her.
Chris sat down on the stool next to her. "Problems?"
"You're my problem."
"You're sure in a snit tonight."
"Yeah, well that's what happens when you get guilted into going out and then nothing seems to go right, cause the people you least want to see happen to show up at the same place you're at."
"Guilted? You didn't have to come."
"Yeah well, what Dani and Kat want they get."
"Were you having an okay time before we arrived and bothered you, your highness?"
"Actually, yes."
"Well, then. I'll bid you good night."
Chris got up and left, leaving her at the bar by herself. She shook her head, willing away the hurt at the absence of his presence. She signaled the bartender, paying for another shot before turning to the dance floor. A young good-looking man wandered up behind her. "Would you care to dance?" He asked.
Taylor looked up at him carefully then smiled. "I'd love to."
~*~
Chris handed Justin his coke and sat down. "It's a regular party here."
Justin rolled his eyes and took a swig. "Hey, there's nothing in here."
"I know."
"Well, this night just keeps getting better and better." He muttered, glancing over at Kat who was deep in conversation with Lance and JC.
Joey, who had been talking to Dani, looked over. "Having problems little buddy?"
He shook his head. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Someone fall off her pedestal?" Dani asked.
Justin's eyes widened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Dani smirked. "Sure ya do, just like we all know how you feel about Miss Beautiful over there."
"I…"
"She's not perfect, nor will she ever be. Don't make her into something she's not."
"I'm…"
Chris and Joey both nodded in agreement. "Yes you are."
Justin sighed. "I…just…"
"You like her and want to be with her." Dani said softly, so soft, that he barely heard her.
Justin nodded slowly.
"Ask her to dance… nicely." Dani grinned sadly, before turning back to Joe.
He looked to Joe and Chris before taking a deep breath. "Hey Kat…"
She rolled her eyes to Lance and JC before turning to face him. "What now, youngen?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to dance?"
Her eyes narrowed and studied his face. "No funny business?"
"None." He held up his hands in defeat and smiled.
"One dance and that's it."
"Got it." Justin jumped up and grabbed both of her hands to help her up and lead her out to the floor.
Joey watched the kid practically bounce to the floor before turning to Dani. "Want to take their lead?"
"I'd love to."
The two wandered out and began dancing, leaving Chris, Lance and JC by themselves.
"Did you see Taylor?" Lance asked.
Chris sighed. "Yeah, drinking it up at the bar."
"Something's wrong with her." JC said, watching their friends dance.
"You're not a kidding. She told me to leave her alone and to quit playing daddy."
Lance zoned out, looking around the club. His eyes widened as they found her stumbling out to the dance floor with another guy. "Uh guys…" he said.
They all looked to where he was pointing. JC cursed and stood up. "I'll go get her."
Lance shook his head. "No, let me."
JC opened his mouth to argue but Chris placed a hand on his arm to stop him and motioned for Lance to go. JC sat back down and sighed. "I've talked to her more."
"Yeah, but Lance has always been better with people."
"True."
Lance weaved his way through the crowd and came to the couple, one leading, and one stumbling. "Hey Tay… why don't you come back to the table?" Lance asked gently.
Taylor looked over. "Why don't you go f--- yourself?"
Lance stepped back in shock, then took a deep breath and turned to the guy. "She's a friend of mine. Let me take care of her.."
"Dude, I asked her to dance and we're dancing."
Lance shook his head. "Nah, I don't think so."
"Well, I do." The guy grabbed her arm and tried to walk off, but Lance laid a hand on his arm.
"She's coming with me. That's final."
Taylor's head rolled back. "I don't feel so good."
The guy grimaced. "Don't want to deal with that. Here you go." He deposited her into Lance's arms.
Her head sank down on his shoulder and Lance breathed deep her vanilla perfume. "You okay?"
She nodded. "Just… need…"
"To sit down, got it." He led her back to the table and sat her down next to JC, so that she was in between them.
"Looked like you were going to punch the guy out there for a second." Chris laughed.
"I wouldn't have…"
JC laughed then and put out a hand to steady Taylor. "Sure looked like it to me…you were scowling something fierce at that guy."
Lance just shook his head and turned to Taylor. "How are you feeling?"
She glared up at him. "Fine, thanks for your concern."
Chris shook his head. "You’re not a very nice drunk. Show some appreciation for the man."
She rolled her eyes and put her head in her hands. "Why won’t you guys just leave me, us, alone." She muttered.
JC rubbed her back. "Cause for some reason, we like you. Don’t know how that happened, but we do."
She groaned. "Well… I… don’t… like… you…"
JC smiled. "Sure ya do."
"No, not really."
"I think you do." He put his face down beside hers then crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.
She pushed his face away. "Why would I like men who never act their age all the time?"
Lance shrugged. "Cause we make you laugh."
"You don’t."
"Sure we do." Chris said, leaning back. "Give it up, girl. You like us and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re group mates have stopped fighting it and look, they’re having a good time."
Taylor glared at him and glanced out at the dance floor and found Kat and Dani. Her eyes widened. What are they doing?
Lance watched her expression with interest. He watched all the anger fade away and stark terror and pain replaced it. It’s a cover up… all that anger covers up all the pain.
Taylor stood up. "I have to get out of here."
"Do you want me to see you home?" Lance stood with her.
She turned and looked at him, then shook her head. "No. I’ll be fine."
"You’re not going alone." He said firmly, grabbing his coat.
"I won’t. Randel will see me back to the hotel."
"I’m going with you and that’s that." He said. He pulled on his coat and nodded at the guys before placing a hand on her lower back to guide her out.
She pulled away from his hand. "I have to tell Kat and Dani where I’m going."
"Okay, I’ll wait for you here."
"Fine." She tossed back before striding onto the dance floor out of sight.
He sat back down and turned to the guys. "Oh boy…"
Chris laughed. "That one is a handful."
JC grinned. "You’re telling me. A regular spitfire." He shook his head. "And we all thought they were nice girls."
Lance shook his head. "Girls with problems."
Chris turned and looked where Kat and Taylor were talking animatedly. "She reminds me a little of the girl in the letter."
"Huh?" JC and lance both said at the same time.
"Taylor. She’s covering up a lot of pain."
JC shook his head. "Too much anger."
Lance agreed. "The girl who’s writing isn’t angry but extremely upset."
"Upset can be both anger and sadness, sometimes they’re one and the same."
Lance shook his head. "I still don’t think it’s her. I mean why would any of Dolphin’s Cry write us when they weren’t even talking to us until recently."
JC nodded. "I’ve got to agree with the albino. It’s probably some unknown person who we’ll never meet, or even be able to help through this."
Chris eyed the girls again and shrugged. "I don’t know. I just have this feeling that not everything is right with them, like we’re not getting the entire story."
"We haven’t gotten their story from day one. They’re like a big mystery." JC said.
"One I’d like to crack though." Lance said turning back to see if Taylor was coming yet.
JC patted his arm. "You like her a lot, don’t you?"
Lance shook his head. "I’m not sure, how I feel. She interests me; I find her fascinating. The way one minute she’s so angry, the next pain radiates from her, and then she’s indifferent, all in a matter of minutes. I’d like to be able to understand her."
JC and Chris’ eyes widened. "You’ve been watching her for awhile haven’t you?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I don’t remember when… but I remember just stopping to watch her one day and ever since then, I haven’t been able to stop."
His eyes widened as he looked back out on the dance floor and she wasn’t there. Kat and Dani were dancing together while Joe and Justin stood back and watched. Bad Touch by the Bloodhound gang had come on and the girls were having a good time watching the guys out of the corner of their eyes as their tongues began to roll.
Lance jumped and strode out, grabbing Justin by the arm. "Where did she go?
He shrugged. "Who?"
"Taylor."
"I don’t know. She took off out that door." He pointed to the side exit.
Lance groaned and tried to catch Kat’s eye. She smiled, shrugged and mouthed. "Not feeling good. Hotel."
Lance gritted his teeth in frustration and ran his hands through his hair, before heading back to the table. "I’m leaving. She took off."
JC stood and shrugged into his coat. "I’ll go with you."
He nodded and the two left.
Chris shook his head and finished his drink. "I don’t think they’ll find her." He muttered to himself before getting up to go and dance.
~*~
The two arrived back at the hotel and walked up to her room and knocked on the door. Neither was surprised when there wasn’t an answer and walked back to JC’s hotel room to call the front desk.
"Hi, my name is Taylor and I’m in room…"
Lance mouthed. "Room 1432."
"1432. I seemed to have locked myself out of my hotel room and was hoping I could get an extra key."
"Great, my friend Lance, will be down to get it." JC hung up and looked at Lance. "Go get it."
Lance hurried back and the two knocked again and opened her room to find no one there.
"Where could she have gone?" He said, turning and looking around.
JC shrugged. "The bus?"
"That doesn’t seem right. The girl is drunk."
JC pulled his lower lip under his teeth as he thought. "What if she wasn’t really?"
Lance turned and looked at him in shock. "Dude, you saw her."
JC nodded. "But we all know that playing drunk isn’t that hard to do."
Lance’s eyes widened. "You mean, to get away from us?"
"Maybe to get away from it all. She obviously wasn’t happy when we got there and I don’t think it was just with us. She was walking fine after she saw Kat and Dani on the dance floor and… it was almost like she panicked."
"Kat and Dani… you don’t think something happened before we got there, do you?"
JC nodded.
Lance thought about it before concurring. "I talked a bit with Kat today and they’re having problems. I wonder what happened."
JC motioned for them to get out, and as they left, Lance shut the door behind them, locking it. Neither of them noticed the blue stationary on the dresser.