Wake5

Taylor walked through he crowd of people , smiling and greeting them like he and his brothers always did. He watched his brothers meeting people and went to the bar to get a drink. He was exhausted, having only slept the equivalent of a couple of hours during th night. The rest was spent tossing and turning, trying to push Calley out of his mind or dampen the desire to strangle Zac for talking to her like that. He let his eyes scan the room and his heart stopped in his chest when he saw her. He took a long drink and set his glass back on the bar and swallowed the lump in his throat when he realized the man she was with must be Adam Price, her husband. He'd only seen pictures of him and listened to Calley ramble on about what a jerk she was married to, but never actually MET him. Which was just fine by him, the way Calley made him sound. He silently seethed as he watched him guide her lovingly around the room, introducing her to people. His hand never left her elbow, or her back, and he made sure she always had a full drink. "Another lie.." he mumbled and took another drink then decided to step outside for some air and a cigarette to calm his temper. He wanted to strangle her. This man that was taking care of her like she was a treasure was NOT the man she described being married to, so she must have lied to make him go against his morals, when everything in him had screamed to let her go, walk away. She was another man's wife after all, and he had no buisness putting himself in that situation. He stood outside and lit a cigarette, taking a long drag and blowing it out slowly, then took another drink. "Damn it.." he muttered to himself and then jumped at the voice behind him. "Yeah...he's treating her like crap, huh? The mean bastard.." Zac said sarcastically and took a sip of his drink. Taylor stood silent.
"Is this enough, Tay? 'Cause from what I can see everything's just dandy.." he took another sip. "Come ON, man...you can do better. Get your butt in there MEET people, have fun. Don't let her see she's kicking you all over the pavement AGAIN, it's what she wants, the sadistic.." "SHUT UP ZAC!!" Taylor cut his brother off. "I KNOW okay? I can SEE that. Just give me a minute, alright?" he said, trying to get his brother to give it a rest, even though he knew Zac was probably right. "Okay, man." Zac said and gripped his shoulder, "but if you're not back out there and at least ACTING like you're havin' a good time. I will drag you back out..don't let her screw you up, Tay. I just got you back.." he said and strode back into the party. Taylor finished his cigarette and his drink, sighed heavily and went back inside, telling himself that his brother was right.

Calley thought she saw the retreating form of Taylor heading outside, but Adam was stuck to her like glue, so she couldn't just go outside and check. She followed her husband around nervously, silently praying that Adam would give it a rest long enough for her to speak to Taylor privately or at least warn Zac to behave himself in this sistuation, even if it took telling Zac she would avoid Taylor the rest of the evening like the plague. She caught a glimpse of a tall, long-haired figure slipping out the same set of doors she thought she'd seen Taylor use and her heart sunk. It had been him, and he had probably seen Adam acting like his uncustomarily sweet self tonight. She took a sip of the drink Adam handed her and sighed softly. "What's the matter Cal?" he asked directly in her ear. "Noting Adam. I told you I was too tired to do this tonight. Can't we just go home? OR can't I just go home?" she asked. "You don't need me for this.." she told him, plastering a polite smile on her face so as not to alert onlookers that there was anything wrong. THAT would just make him angry and things would be bad again when they got home. "Calley, love, you know I DO need you for this. And you know exactly why. So if you want me to continue to SUPPORT YOU," he said through an equally fake smile, "in the manner to which you have become accustomed, act like the woman I know you can be." he told her and then his expression softened. "Besides, " he gave her a genuine smile, "the music hasn't started yet, and I know Hanson is your favorite band. Just hang in there a little longer okay? Soon you'll be enjoying the show and you won't realize that you're a little tired." he said. She sighed and took a sip of her drink. "Okay, Adam. But I want to go home as soon as it's socially acceptable." she told him. "Thats' better." he placed his hand on her back and guided her toward another group of people, wondering what had gotten into her. She never tried to get out of these functions, and it wasn't like he'd brought her to see a band he'd have to compete with for her attention, they were BOYS after all. He took a sip of his drink and stayed by his wife's side, watching her mood closely.

Taylor strode back inside and he saw her. She was standing next to her tall, quite handsome, and older husband, smiling brightly as they chatted. Taylor felt his blood boil and then his chest pound when she turned and their eyes met. He nodded curtly and then turned with a bright smile to the pretty dark-haired girl who was trying to get his attention. "Hi.." she smiled brightly at him when he finally looked at her.
"Hi. I'm..." he began and then stopped when she chuckled. "I know who YOU are..and it's nice to meet you Taylor. I'm Courtney." she stuck her hand out to shake his. "Nice to meet you, too, Courtney." Taylor had to admit, if it wasn't for Courtney's attention and sweet personality, he might not have made it successfully through the evening until it was time for he and his brothers to perform. "I'm sorry Courtney, but I really have to..." he started to apologize. "Don't be silly Taylor. I've been looking forward to hearing you guys play all evening. I love your stuff. Go on. Just promise you'll at least introduce me to your brothers before you leave, okay?" she smiled. "Deal.." he grinned and set his drink down, then went in search of his brothers.

Calley felt a huge knife twisting in her chest as she watched the cute drak-haired girl monopolize Taylor, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Suddenly all she wanted to do was climb into her bed, ALONE, and pull the covers over her head. And to top it all off, she caught Zac's eye nd he was grinning maliciously at her, then nodded in Taylor's direction. "Offer stands, babe.." he mouthed, then chuckled and turned away to talk with the very pretty blond woman who seemed to hang on Zac's every word. Calley inwardly seethed at Zac's arrogance, but she had to give him credit for his fierce loyalty to Taylor. "Calley? Did you want.." Adam began and then realized she was watching Zac. "Well come on, silly. I'll introduce you.." he grinned and tugged her hand. "ADAM...no.." she stammered. "I mean, it's not like you know them personally.." she desperately did NOT want to act like she'd never met ZAC...'why Zac first?' she groaned to herself.
"Calley. I'm in big buisness, I can introduce myself without making myself look like an ass, alright?" he chuckled. "Alright.." she suddenly resigned herself to the situation. Fortunately, Zac was polite and charming, though he slipped her a cutting gaze or two when Adam was talking to Ike, and Ike chose to go along with the premise that Calley had never met any of them before. Then, like a ton of bricks, Taylor was standing in front of her. "Sorry to interrupt." he said directly to Adam. "But we really need to get set up. we have to go on soon." He looked pointedly at his brothers, who readily agreed and set their drinks on the waiter's tray as he passed.. "Nice meeting you." Ike and Zac said in unison and shook Adam's hand, then nodded in Calley's direction. Adam quickly took the opportunity to introduce himself to Taylor, then introduce Calley. "Nice to meet you." Taylor said quickly. "I don't mean to be rude.." he looked back toward his brothers.
"By all means.." Adam waved him on. "Thanks. Hope you enjoy it.." he looked directly at Calley then and she cringed inwardly, as he looked back at Adam, then turned and strode off. Calley quickly took a sip of her drink and avoided her husband's gaze, until she felt she had herself under control, then obediently sat down in the chair he held for her.