| The rest of that morning went by in a blur. I worked hard on the moves, trying to figure the best ones to bring good scoring for the judges and still be entertaining for the crowd. We had the moves all finished and written out by noon. I was sweating buckets and my leg was sore. I thanked the choreographer and gave her a billing address. We shook hands and she left. I grabbed my towel off the bench and wiped my face. "Eric, would you please make me a photocopy of that list? I will be out of town all next week, I'll need to take it to the other gym." Might as well get it overwith, I thought. "OUT OF TOWN?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING??" he roared. |
| "Excuse me." I said quietly. "BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF MY PERSONAL LIFE?" I roared back. "Taylor has already arranged for me to work out at a gym near his house and I am taking a vacation. GOT IT?" I continued heatedly. "Yeah, whatever..it fucking figures... losing it over some dumb ass musician...YOU'RE GONNA FUCK EVERYTHING UP JESS!" "I most certainly will not, and you will not refer to Taylor that way in my presence again, OR YOU ARE FIRED!! DO YOU UNDERSATND ME?" I screamed and threw my towel at his chest. Jake was right behind me in that instant, his hand on my shoulder urging me to calm down. I was so angry, I felt as if my whole body was coming apart. "Hey Eric, leave her alone, man. She can't constantly train. She's gonna hurt her leg again. It's bothering you isn't it, Jess?" he asked. "Not as much as this conversation is..." I grouched. "Eric, this girl is as happy as I've ever seen her. She's doing just fine. Leave her alone. Taylor," and Jake smiled down at me, "will take good care of her. She needs to get out of town for a while." Eric snatched the list from my hand and stormed out. I sat down on the bench and shook my head. Jake sat down next to me. "He's jealous you know." he stated. I looked at him in complete shock. "What the hell for?" I asked confused. Jake laughed out loud. "You are a ditz, or really focused. Holy shit, Jess. Eric has had it bad for you for the last year." "What? NO..." I said feeling stupid. Taylor had tried to tell me. There went my theory about always being right. "DAMMIT!" I exclaimed. Jake kept on laughing, "You gotta do something, Jessie. He can't take the way you and Taylor look at each other. Hell, I can barely stand it and I'M happy for you...You should see your face every time your cell phone rings. It's killing him." I let out a string of obscenities that would have made my grandmother roll over in her grave. Jake threw his head back and laughed. "I can't believe you didn't know. TAYLOR knows.." "Shit! Jake if you don't quit that this minute you will NOT become my new trainer.." I said angrily. He stopped and looked at me in surprise. "Yes, you MORON." I grinned to take the sting out. "that was why I was going to meet you after work. Tay thinks it's a good idea too." I told him. "but I kind of have to keep the crabass around 'till after the competition an a few weeks." I jerked my head in Eric's direction. I had to shake my head again. "Why the hell didn't he do something about it before? Not that I would have gone for it..he's not my type anyway." I said. "Jess, you dumb ass, you didn't even know you had a type until Taylor came along." he grinned. "Oh shut up, Jake." I grinned back. "Think about it, though, ok?" "Don't have to , Jess. I'm all for it." he said. "Good, we'll talk later." |
| Eric strode up to us and all but threw the list in my face. I took it, folded it and stuck it in my cell phone case. Eric looked as if he was going to say something. "Well, what?" I asked. "I just don't wanna see you ruin all you've worked for over guy you barely know.." he stammered. "I'm not ruining anything," I told him. "Try to relax and get your own ass out of this gym while I'm gone, Eric. You're getting too stressed." He looked angry. "Calm down, Eric," Jake said. "She's right, you know." He looked from one of us to the other and sighed. "Well if you are so determined to go away, then we better make sure you have your routine memorized by Friday, huh? See you tomorrow, Jess." he said and walked away. Jake turned to me and smiled, "I'll see you tonight, Jessie. There's no way I'd turn that offer down." "Kay, Jake. I'm gonna take a shower and a nap before work." |
| I grabbed a shower at the gym to calm myself down. My thoughts were racing. What the hell? I was still in shock at Jake's revelation. I had no idea. Tay was right. I had to get rid of Eric, soon, only because I would not sit and listen to someone, ANYONE, talk about Tay like that. I almost dug Eric's eyes out for that. Stupid son of a bitch, why didn't he say anything before? I could have put the guy out of his misery a long time ago. I never would have considered it, Tay, or not. But now that I had Taylor, well there was no one else for me. Damn Eric anyway! I finished my shower and got dressed. As I was walking to my car, my cell phone rang. "Hello?" "Thank goodness! Jess..I was worried about you, I called the house but you weren't there. After, like the millionth time I decided to try your cell..are you okay?" It was Taylor. I sighed. "Yes, Tay, I'm fine. How's your day going, babe?" I asked. "You don't sound fine, Jess." Tayor said, concerned. "Tay, I am, really..I'm just tired. It was a long morning. I told Eric I was leaving with you next week and he had a cow, the entire gym heard me rip into him and Jake came to his rescue before I killed him. Oh Jake took the offer, too by the way.." I told him. "That's great, Jess. But I am sorry that you had to deal with Eric like that.." I cut him off. "No, Tay..I'M sorry you had to deal with him at all. I'm eating my words as we speak. I am NOT always right." I sighed, and got in my car and headed home, as we talked. "How are things going with you, baby?" I asked him. He told me that they were already tired of all the appearances they had to make and were looking forward to theie week off. When they got back, they'd have to deal with the tour schedule. I was in my living room on the couch by this time. I leaned back on it and groaned. "Tour? Damn! That's gonna be a long trip.." I said. "I know, but that's why we play, Jess." he said. "I know Tay. Just make sure you spend some of your breaks with me." I said. "Wouldn't have it any other way." he said. "Good." "Hey, Jess, I can tell you're tired. I'll let you go so you can sleep." "I am tired, Tay. But I miss you more than I need to sleep." I said softly. "I miss you too, Jessie. But you need to sleep. I'll call you later, I promise." he said. "Alright, Tay. I love you." "Love you too, Jess." |