| Taylor hollered a couple of hello's to Jamie's father and uncle, "H'lo boy." Mongo managed, and gripped Taylor's shoulder again. "Taylor." Mr. Vaughn nodded and grabbed a beer off the waitress' tray. She smiled and handed the other to Mongo, Then hurried off as Jamie began another country song. "And this one is for my daddy." she smiled in her father's direction. "But you have to come up and sing it with me Daddy.." she grinned. He tried to beg off, but Jamie wouldn't hear of it, the regulars yelled encouragement and Jade tugged the man by the hand until he was seated next to Jamie. Jade shoved a mic at the man as Jamie kept the beat going, the rest of the band following, repeating the opening bars of the song until he was ready. Taylor was amazed at how Jamie's voice blended with her dad's as they sang a really old Randy Travis song, that he would have remembered the title of if he hadn't been buzzed, and joined in the wild applause with the rest fo the bar when they finished. "That's it for me jameson. I came to listen to YOU, girlie." he kissed her forehead and waved as he left the stage and took his position next to Mongo. "Hey! GIVE IT UP BETTER THAN THAT FOR MY DADDY!!" she yelled and the place errupted again. "That's better.." she chuckled and winked at her dad, then yelled into the headset again. "OKAY!!! TIME TO ROCK THIS PLACE!!!" she called out and they launched into something loud and fast, which made it difficult for any kind of conversation. That was just as well, bcause Taylor had a feeling that the two men would eventually blast him with the inquisition that Jamie saved him from the other day. Jamie watched as her dad and uncle flanked Taylor, Ike and Zac grinning from ear to ear on either side of them, knowing that Tay was under the microscope, so to speak. Taylor simply ordered another round of beer, making sure to include daddy and uncle in the order and continued to watch Jamie play and sing with all the energy she possesed. Jamie's mind stayed focused on the music, until they slowed down a bit, and Taylor managed light conversation with her Dad and her uncle. Then she was shocked to find that this made her angry. It bothered her that Taylor could converse so easily with them, it made her uncomfortable, but she didn't know why. Taylor was easy to talk to, and she could not imgaine him NOT being around, which served to make her even angrier, but underneath was the feeling of fear she'd been shoving down deep all day long. "I NEED A BREAK YA'LL!! BACK IN A FEW..I promise.." she said, three songs early, making the rest of the group stare in shock as she stuffed her drumsticks in her back pocket and stalk off the stage. All except Jade, who knew EXACTLY what her friend's problem was. "Gimme a beer Trish.." she muttered as the waitress scooted past her. "Thanks.." she muttered out of habit and swallowed most of it in one gulp. She blew a kiss to her uncle and father, mouthed the word 'air' to her dad and spun on her booted heel to bolt for the back door, beer in hand. Taylor watched Jamie stalk out the back door, and set his beer down on the bar. "What the hell is that about?" he muttered and started after her. "Give her a minute, son." Jamie's father told him, and gripped his shoulder. "Kay. If you're sure.." Taylor replied and took a long pull off his beer. "I'm sure." he said and then Uncle Mongo decided to launch into another story about Jamie as a kid, which commanded all Taylor's attention. Jade grabbed two beers from the bartender as she watched her friend stomp out the back door. "I'll be right back, Ike." jade told him and followed her friend outside. She found Jamie just outside the back door, leaned up against the brick wall. One of her knees was up, her foot planted flat against the brick wall as she titled her head all the way back and guzzled the rest of her beer. She lowered the beer bottle, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a loud growl, the hurled the beer bottle as far as she could into the vacant lot behind the bar, but getting no satisfaction from the sound of the breaking glass. "And did that help?" Jade grinned and offered the other beer to her friend. "Fuck no." Jamie replied, twisted the cap off the beer with her teeth and down half of it. "Slow down, Jameson. Even YOU can't play wasted. You're chokin', big time, you know." Jamie stared at her friend in disbelief. "What are you talkin' about Jadeleigh?" she asked, not looking at her, but wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Taylor. DUH. Admit it and get on with your life. Let him in, Jamie." she stated. "I still dunno what you're talking about Jadeleigh." Jamie answered and finished the beer, then hurled that bottle into the dark expanse of vacant lot they were both staring into. Jade was 100 percent certain that Jamie was going to put this subject off anyway she could, so she was NOT going to push it now. "You do. But let's go. Mongo's in there telling all the embarrassing details of your childhood he can think of, to all three of them." she told her. "Oh. My. GOD. I think I'll stay here a few more minutes, Jadeleigh. It IS hot in there.." Jamie replied. "I bet.." was Jade's cryptic answer as she left Jamie to stew. |
| "Everything alright?" Ike asked as Jade waded her way through the people to end up at his side. "Aww. She's just bein' Jamie. She'll be back in here in a couple of minutes like the whole episode didn't even happen.." Jade sighed and took a drink of her beer. "How are you doin'?" she grinned up at Ike. Isaac's heart raced to see that sweet, dimpled grin directed at him. He gave her his warmest smile back. "I'm okay. Gotta let Zac drive, but I am with it." he joked. "Do you think Zac'd mind giving me a lift home? I don't wanna drive either." she chuckled. "Two nights in a row? I'm just shocked I tell you.." Issac teased in an imitation of 'Mrs. Doubtfire', making Jade giggle. "Yeah we'll take you, if you wanna brave Zac's driving." he joked. "Thanks." she smiled up at him, both wishing they could take the other one in their arms and stay that way. They were broken from their silent musings and locked eyes as Taylor laid his hand on Jade's shoulder. "Should I go out there? Is she okay?" Taylor asked. "She'll be in any second, Tay. She has her 'diva' moments occasionally. Better to let her blow THAT steam off on her own." she answered and rolled her eyes. Jamie ran a hand through her hair, then squeezed her eyes shut tight and leaned her head back on the cold brick wall. "SUCK IT UP, JAMIE." she told herself sternly as Jimmy's voice echoed in her head, every warning or snide comment concerning men running together and keeping a constant drone in her buzzed brain. "Shit." she muttered and ran her hands through her hair one more time. "Play. I need to play.." she murmured to herself and then grabbed her sticks out of her pocket, her head still echoing. "UUUUUHHGG!!! Jimmy shut UP. GOD!" she groaned and stalked back into the building, shaking her head hard. Tami and Jade caught sight of her, and tapped the other two girls so that the rest of the band managed to beat Jamie on stage. |