| As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I instantly regretted them. The look of hurt on Taylor's face was too much to bear. Tears stung behind my eyelids as I closed them and took another deep breath. I opened my eyes and looked at Taylor, then spun and walked toward the driveway from the back of the house. I stopped in the middle of the driveway and tightened my shoe laces, stood stretched my leg and started to run. I took two steps before I felt Taylor grab my arm. He spun me to face him and looked straight into my eyes. "Jess...what are you doing? Where are you going?" He asked softly. "Taylor, I am sorry I said that to you, I'd never want to compare you to him. I was angry. I didn't mean it. But I am still angry at both you and at myself for saying such a stupid thing. Please just let me go and calm down, please. I don't want to say anything else to hurt you... " I said and turned from him. "Jessie, no. I know what you are doing. You're gonna take of running and wind up hurt, please don't.." he said looking directly into my eyes. "Tay.." I groaned and sat on the bumper of his truck, covering my face in my hands, tears filling my eyes. He came and sat next to me, and put his hand on my shoulder. |
| That was too much for me. "Tay.." I sobbed. "I'm sorry, really.." I looked up at him and wiped tears from my eyes. He pulled me to him and squeezed my shoulder. "It's okay, Jess. I just don't want you to get hurt again. I already set you back far enough, I don't want you to miss your opportunity because of me..." he said. "What on earth are you talking about, Taylor?" I asked, stunned. He sighed a heavily and turned my face to look at him. His eyes were dark and he looked like he was about to give way to tears. I laid my hand on his cheek. "Taylor, answer me..." I said, "I have no idea what you're getting at." "Jessie, if it wasn't for the fact that I was there, that fool would have left you alone. I feel terrible every time I see you wince in pain, knowing that if I would have acted more quickly, or if I had been with you the whole time...I keep trying to think of something I could have done differently, to keep you from having to deal with this. When I watched you that night, Jess...god!...You were flying, I saw the look on your face when you were performing that routine, I don't want to be the one to take that away from you. And I want to watch you do it again. You were so beautiful and sexy, and if you do something dumb, like wrestle with my retarded brother, before you are really able what's gonna happen? And I will know that it was my fault for not thinking quickly enough to spare you that injury." I sat, staring dazed. Then I got angry. "Taylor, LISTEN TO ME," I said forcefully, "apparently you weren't the other day when I explained this to you, this was NOT your fault. I would have been hurt no matter what. I was angry with that stupid moron for insinuating that I could not do what I have been training for NONSTOP for years. He insulted me and I was going to prove to him what a major idiot he really was. Then to top it all of he had me working that routine to music with no HEART. I hate that manufactured bullcrap..I always have...I DID THIS TO MYSELF, Tay. I got out on that floor, determined, oh man! And when I heard that song of yours...your voice mostly coming out of those speakers...I was in another world, Tay. And you were standing there, watching, almost like you were right inside me. I had to come over to you..when I finished up, during that last flip I FELT my leg muscle tear then, Taylor. I did it.." I pointed at my own chest, tears streaming down my face. "I did..I shouldn't have let my temper get to me, baby. You and Jake were standing right there. |
| All I had to do was say something to either one of you...but nooo I had to be my own stubborn self..." I looked into his eyes trying to make him see, he would drive himself, and me, insane if I let him continue to feel at fault. "Tay, it's NOT YOUR fault..I've been injured before and I know what to do, I swear I will not do anymore than I am able. Just stop doing this to yourself. Please.." I wiped the tears from my eyes and hugged him to me. "Taylor, I love you. I am so sorry for what I said, I don't ever wanna see that look on your face again. Not because of me. I'm sorry." I told him. "Jessie.." he held me tightly to him, "I love you so much, just be careful, please, I don't want to have to carry you off anymore floors or see you in such pain again. When Jake checked your leg and you screamed, it ripped through me like someone was tearing me in half. I don't want to see that again, not over something dumb.." He lifted my chin and kissed me tenderly and wiped my wiped a tear from my cheek. He cupped my face in his hands and his eyes locked with mine. "I love you.." he said again in a low voice. "I love you, Taylor." I answered him and pressed my cheek against his chest. |
| "Everything ok, now guys?" Zac asked from behind us, causing me to jump. "Dammit Zac! You scared me.." I scolded. "Sorry, Jessie...you ok? You really didn't hurt your leg did you?" He asked concerned. "No Zac, I didn't. How's your ego?" I teased. "I'll survive that humiliation, but not the ass chewing my mother just gave me. I was just goofing off, Jess. I really just forgot about your leg." he said. "I did too, Zac, it's okay.." I assured him. "Tay?" Zac turned to his brother. "It's okay, man. Just try not to get her riled up for a couple more days." he said. I could swear I saw Zac breath a sigh of relief. "Jess...do you mind if I talk to Tay a minute?" he asked me. "Why should I mind? He's your brother.." I said, and got up to go back into the house. |
| ZAC: "Tay, are you nuts? You know how she gets when someone tries to tell her what to do.." I asked my brother wondering why the heck he lost it like that. Jessie was a tough chick, toughest one I ever met. She could probably whip all three of us with one arm tied behind her back AND a bum leg. Damn! She loved Tay, too. More than she cared to admit even to herself. And here he was acting like a mother hen, when she would have jumped in front of a speeding bus to save his ass. She should know what she could and couldn't do. But I also knew that he felt responsible for her injury. He was almost crazy when she passed otu in his arms after breaking that asshole's arm. Holy shit! Never seen anything like that in my whole short life. I saw her face too, that guy should have never tried to lay a hand on my brother, if she hadn't surprised him, he could have killed her. And instead she jumps on him and braeks his arm and threatens to snap his neck. Wow! I guess that's when I knew that this was my future sister-in-law, even though they still didn't know it yet. "Tay?" I asked again. "Zac, if you hadn't been screwing with her, she wouldn't have done it. Much as I was loving watching her humiliate you, she could have messed her leg up, BAD." he said. "I know, man. I'm sorry. But you gotta admit, she's fun to mess with. She takes what she gets and gives it right back. I heard how you woke her up this morning, man. Lacey said she just dragged your sorry ass in there with her." I had to laugh, I could picture it. "Dude, if you would have let her get a LITTLE sleep, she'd have gotten up before you, had coffee on and the whole nine yards. I don't think you two know what sleep is." I kidded him. "Shut up Zac." he grinned. "but yeah, I see your point. Dude, I just would feel really bad if she missed her opportunity, she's fucking GOOD...you saw her...and you know how we feel when we're on stage..I don't want to be the cause of her losing out on that." he said. |