| "What?" Watts asked into our silence. "Did you happen to see who her trainer was Watts?" I asked. "OHHH....That was ERIC?" she said stunned. "Yeah..you didn't recognize him?" I asked equally stunned. "I only saw him from a distance, and I didn't think it was him because of his arm...what the hell happened to it?" she asked. Taylor and Jake burst out laughing. I just shook my head. "It was broken and obviously didn't heal right." I said. "If his sissy ass would have gone to the emergency room and had it set right it wouldn't BE like that." Jake said. "It's not your fault, Jess." Tay gripped my shoulder more tightly with his fingers. "What do you mean, it's not her fault?" Watts asked totally confused. I sighed and Jake answered her. "Jess hurt her leg kicking him down because he was waaaay out of line. Taylor went to get her some ice and Eric decided to attack Taylor when he wasn't looking. Jess got there before I did and broke his arm, in two places from the look of it.." Watts eyes got wide and she breathed, "Holy fucking shit, Jess." "It's a long story Watts, another time, ok?" I said as Tay kissed the top of my head. "Yeah.." she said. "No wonder that Liz was giving you the evil eye. I saw her do it and couldn't figure it out, she's got it bad for that asshole." "poor thing.." I said. "Yeah. But you better watch her, Jess." I groaned. "Let's change the subject. I'm losing my appetite." I said and Taylor and Jake both chuckled. "Yeah, right.." Jake muttered. I stuck my tongue out at my brother and giggled. "Shut up, Jake." "Oh Jess. I have a date for tonight, too. Mind if we join you guys? I think she'll have a blast with you freaking nutcases." Jake said. "Of course we don't mind! Who is it?" I asked, curious. "The same girl I took out last weekend. Her name is Abbey. You probably know her, she graduated same time you did." he said. "Abbey Fuller." "Yeah, I recognize the name, but I can't think of who she is. What's she doing out here?" I asked. |
| "Buisness. I told her we'd be here so she said she'd stay an extra night." "Cool, Jake. Bring her along." We got to the hotel and went our separate ways, promsing to meet Watts in he lobby in half an hour. Jake, Tay and I took the elevator up and found Zac standing in front of the doors when the opened at our floor. "Hey guys! What took you so long?" he asked and walked back toward the rooms with us. "Photos and autographs.." I said and he nodded. "Tay wound up having to sign some too.." I grinned. "Blah..if we had all stayed we'd STILL be there. I'm too hungry for that." Zac said and I laughed. "Me too..." |
| TAYLOR: I saw Jess walk out on stage and I sat up and held my breath. What the hell was she doing? She had on Jake's hat and my shirt over her costume, which I was still dying to see after Lacey's comments a few weeks ago. I knew that wasn't part of her routine, I'd seen her do it a couple of times. She raised her arm in the air and I heard the music start. That was kind of weird, to hear my music coming out of a spaeker that loud and not be behind my keyboard. As the drumbeats sounded she turned and whipped that hat off and I saw her smile, eyes glittering. Damn! She was too sexy. I watched, enthralled as she filpped across the stage swinging her hips, then she turned her back and raised her hand again, pulling the hairtie out and flinging it toward the crowd, her hair falling in front of her face as she smiled again. My hand reached out instinctively and grabbed it out of the air as her eyes met mine. I was totally gone. Lacey leaned over to me and said into my ear, "You ain't seen nothin' yet, boy." I grinned. This was gonna be good, and not one step had she practiced ahead of time. She turned her back again and did a couple more flips and wiggled her hips again, oh..my..god...she turned back to the crowd and ripped my shirt off her body, throwing it toward Jake, whom I assumed was backstage. She flipped herself again and then smiled right at me. Holy shit! Lacey leaned toward me and giggled before she said, "Close your mouh Tay, you're gonna get drool on your shoes. I told her you were gonna die when you saw that.." I looked at her and smiled, "Stick a fork in me..." Jessie flew across the stage, looking way too sexy for me to handle, but she rocked that place. The crowd was into it and the music. It amazed me how she could get everyone into it like that. Her enthusiasm was contagious and everyone felt it. My heart grew even more as it filled up with amazement and love. That woman up there was going to be my wife and I was so proud of her. |
| She finished her routine with a series of flips that ended in a split with her head down. On the last beat she filpped her head back up, her hair falling around her face, making her look incredibly hot. Her eyes met mine and I smiled at her and stood with the rest of my family, who were hooting and hollering, and joined in adding my applause. She stood and waved to the crowd her eyes coming to rest on my face again and I had to mouth, "I love you" to her. She smiled and winked at me as she left the stage. I couldn't wait to get back there to see her, but I knew she had one more area of judging to go throuh and I didn't think I could handle that, the swimsuit round, I might have to jump on stage and carry her off. It was a good thing she was slated last for that, it gave me time to catch my breath before she walked out on stage again. She was wearing a very skimpy red two piece bathing suit, covered in glitter. I groaned inwardly, it took all I had not to get up and head backstage right then. I knew she expected me to stay with my family until they announced the winner. I was surprised that Liz Jackson took third, but not when Watts took second. I knew before they announced it that Jess would win, I was on my feet as soon as her name was called, the rest of my family right along with me. I watched her walk off stage and grabbed Zac's arm and drug him through the crowd of people, head down to get backstage to see her. |