Leigh and I, and Ike and Lacey managed to gather up the kids and pile into Ike's truck and haul them all home. Jessica was still a little shaken, but she would be fine. "I don't blame Jess for not wanting to see him." she commented, "He IS mean. Jessie didn't even let him get a hand on me before she.." she stopped and sighed. "Why would he be so mean to me? He doesn't even KNOW me.."
"Jessica, only cowards and sick people pick on little girls half their size. Appearently he's both, and poor Jess had to deal with alot worse from him growing up. She doesn't like to talk about it, so save your questions for Mom, Dad, or one of us, okay?" Ike said. "Well DUH, Ike..I thought that's what I was doing.." she huffed and I chuckled. "You were, Jessica. But talk to Mom, she can explain it better." I ruffled her hair, like Jake always did to Jess. "ZA-AC don't.." she huffed again. "Now I know why Jess always grouches at Jake, that's ANNOYING you know.." she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, like any 11 year old girl, and Avery and Mackie thought that was hysterical, so basically, it turned in to a normal ride home. I took Leigh's hand in mine and smiled at her, and I noticed Ike do the same with Lacey. "Ewww...it's gonna get mushy in here.." Mac complained making all of us laugh. "I can't wait to get home.." he grouched.
"Me either.." I said softly to Leigh. She squeezed my hand and smiled in return.
TAYLOR:
I couldn't help worrying about Jess the whole way home. I kept watching her closely, without realizing it, but I was waiting...for the contractions, something..I just had a feeling that something bad was going to happen or that there was something wrong that I didn't know about. "Tay...I'm really okay, baby." Jess said softly and squeezed my hand. "No contractions...I'm not dizzy....HUNGRY.." she grinned, "but not dizzy. I just feel like I worked out a little too hard, that's all. He barely touched me. He was too pissed off at me to concentrate.." she grinned again. "What do you mean?" I looked at her, puzzled. "I kinda pissed him off on purpose.." she gave me a cautious look. "But you should have heard him Tay...it was disgusting. So I told him I wasn't surprised that my mother went lookin' for a REAL man, I would have too. That's when he lost it.." she laughed. "Stupid idiot! It would have been alot harder for me to keep him back if I hadn't, but
he was so mad.." she looked at me, and I stared back, stunned. Then anger like I've never felt at her before came over me. I pulled the truck over and slammed on the brakes, then turned to face her, barely registering the shock on her face. "ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE??" I hollered. She blinked in shock and stared at me with her mouth hanging open. "ANSWER ME JESS!!!" She scooted away from me and folded her arms over her chest. "No, Taylor. I am NOT insane." she said quietly. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT??" I roared, "HE COULD HAVE..." I stopped and smashed my fist down on the steering wheel. All I could think about was the fact that Eric had almost killed her, I almost lost her that way once, and now it was happening again and she tells me she made him angry on purpose, I was livid.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!?!" I hollered again, still unable to believe she'd aggravate something like that on PURPOSE. "Taylor. If you would calm down and listen to me. I WOULD TELL YOU!!" she roared back. "Now please stop yelling at me or I will get out of the truck and WALK home." she said. I stared at her in disbelief. She reached for her bag and the door handle at the same time. "Jess, what are you doing? You can't..." She was out of the truck before I could finish. I jumped from my side of the truck and ran around to stop her, before she seriously decide to take off and I wouldn't be able to catch her. I groaned when I looked back, and Dave was staring at us, through his windsheild. I was ready to pound the living shit out of security too, except Jake had been expecting Alex and the other guys only knew to keep paparazzi away. "Jess wait.." I hollered as she slung her bag across her back, and started to run. "JEEESS DAMMIT WAIT!!" I yelled
and reached out, grabbing her arms and pulling her back. I turned her to face me and noticed the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. "Please Jess, just get in the truck.." I said softly, but she stood with her arms folded and her face set, telling me she wasn't about to move a muscle. I ran my hand through my hair and paced for a minute. "Jess. I can't understand why, WHY you would egg him on, KNOWING..and the baby.." I rambled incoherently, trying to find a way to tell her how terrified I was of losing her, and the baby like that. I looked into her eyes as tears spilled over and down her cheeks. She dropped her bag on the ground and re-folded her arms across her chest, shivering as if she were cold. "Taylor. Were you listening to me the other night?" she asked softly. "Of course I was Jess..." I answered. "Why?" She sighed heavily. "BECAUSE, I keep telling YOU..I KNOW what I am doing. I let my guard down with Eric, that was MY fault. I knew
better. But I was sick and tired and I didn't think, I turned my back.." she sighed again. "You can't fight effectively if you are in a full out rage. If your opponent is in a rage, he will wear himself out long before you get tired and you keep the upperhand. All I had to do was block him and keep out of the way. I was GLAD that you and Jakey showed up when you did because I was starting to get tired. I pissed him off to get the upperhand, Tay. I haven't spent the last..." she thought hard, "FOURTEEN years taking self-defense and martial arts for NOTHING. Plus he's a disgusting pig.." she shuddered hard then. "I would never ever want to do anything purposely that would hurt out baby, Taylor. EVER. I was TRYING to protect him..and Jessie. He would have hurt her. I KNOW that look.." she said and her shoulders shook as she buried her face in her hands. I groaned out loud and ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "Jess. I'm sorry I yelled at you.
You scared me. I almost lost you once..." I said softly and pulled her into my arms. "You have no IDEA how I felt..what went through my brain when I saw Eric holding you by the throat.." I choked out, my voice barely a whisper now. "I knew you couldn't breathe Jess and I was scared...I don't wanna live without you, I couldn't go on.." I continued. "Then today...ohgod.." I groaned. "The door was jammed and I couldn't get to you..and it was happening all over again. Jessie...do you understand me? I can NOT bear the thought of being without you.." I cupped her face and made her look at me. Tears pourde down her face now and she covered my hands with hers. "To think that you would put yourself in that kind of danger..yes I was angry. If you're gone, my life is gone...you are everything to me Jessie. Everything.."
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