CHAPTER SIX

Taylor closed his eyes, resisting a nagging urge to sit down and cry. He had just passed the phone onto the police officer so his parents could discuss the consequences of his actions. They were so mad. More mad than they’d ever been…and it had scared him. He glanced around for Rachael, and saw her chatting smoothly to a young male officer. Why wouldn’t she support him? It didn’t make sense, and it hurt.

Diana closed her eyes as her husband threw down the phone and stormed out of the room. She couldn’t work out what had happened to Taylor recently. He had always been such a great, level headed kid. But he had gained so much independence lately, and he had changed. Maybe it was just a phase he was going through, but it all seemed disturbingly synchronised with his relationship with Rachael. For some reason, Diana didn’t like that girl.

"In you go." The officer mumbled, and locked the door of the cell.

Taylor gripped the bars, his mouth open in disbelief, still trying to locate his speech facility.

He was Taylor Hanson.

THE Taylor Hanson.

And they’d locked him in a cell.

Taylor turned nervously to see two guys of about 18 slouched on the bench behind him.

Oh great. Not only had they locked him in a cell, they’d locked him in with a couple of serial killers.

"Hey kid. S’there anyone else in the station wait’n to come through?"

Taylor fought to regain his language comprehension.

"I…um…I um no? I mean no. No."

The two guys jumped up, ruthlessness flashing across their eyes. Taylor backed away a little as they approached, his throat beginning to choke up in fear. One of them reached one hand slowly into his pocket…

…and pulled out a strange looking paper clip.

Taylor blinked hard, and shut his mouth. The guys glanced at him, with just a hint of amusement. Taylor smiled weakly.

He tried to lean back casually on a wall, but his arm fell through the bars, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. The guys glanced at him again. Taylor groaned inwardly.

He so did not belong here.

Taylor found himself so concerned on maintaining just a thread of his credibility that he didn’t realised what was happening until the lock clicked, and the door swung open.

The two guys began creeping out into the corridor, their eyes alert and rapidly glancing over their precarious environment.

"You commin kid?" One guy hissed.

Taylor’s mouth was open, and hesitant.

"What is your problem kid? Do you want to get us caught? Come on!" His voice was growing harsher, demanding a response.

Suddenly, they crept out and away swiftly and silently. Taylor stepped out. He closed his eyes.

His fans were going to love this.

Trying to stay silent, he headed in pursuit of his inmates, not quite comprehending exactly what his situation was. He turned a corner, and saw the two guys heading to the end of the corridor, where there was a bar-less window.

The prisoners in other cells started taking notice, and making subsequent noise. Taylor tried to ignore the jeers as he walked at a fast pace down the hall. He stopped just a few meters from the guys, who were speaking in rushed whispers.

"Taylor?" A voice exclaimed in shocked surprise.

He startled a little as he saw Rachael’s eyes peering at him from between the bars of a nearby cell incredulously.

"Taylor…I…you…"

"Shut up ok? Just…shut up." Taylor hissed, grinding his teeth.

He jumped again as a loud crash echoed through the building, following by the tinkling of broken glass. They’d thrown a brick through the window.

Everyone froze.

Taylor felt his heartbeat thudding in his chest.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, followed by heavy footsteps coming their way.

Taylor almost stopped breathing as an officer turned the corner, and looked straight into his wide eyes.

"HEY!" He shouted.

In that instant, the dead silent scene turned into one of mayhem. The guys swore, and began running, pushing Taylor along with them in the narrow hallway.

"Move it kid!"

Taylor felt desperate hands push him to one side, and he stumbled, barely saving himself from a nasty fall. He regained his balance just as an officer grabbed his shirt roughly, pushing him up against a concrete wall. He let out a gasp of shock.

Echoed screaming and shouting rang in his ears. Suddenly there was a jingle of metal and a sharp pull on his arms as handcuffs were whipped around his wrists. Taylor let out a cry as the metal crushed his flesh. The officer flipped him and threw him hard against the bars of the opposite cell. The air was knocked out of him, and he gasped for breath.

"Hey! HEY!" A young black man bashed against the barred door near Taylor’s face. He looked about 25, and he had seen everything.

"Hello?! Officer Murray!!?? Let the kid go!"

The officer looked through the bars.

"Oh Kai…I was meant to let you out an hour ago! I’m sorry man!" The officer opened the man’s cell, and went back to holding Taylor’s face to the bars.

"Dammit Murray." Kai muttered, pulling the officer’s arms off Taylor, and turning him around. "He’s just a kid…what are you doing?"

The officer’s mouth fell open.

"Oh my gosh…it’s the Hanson kid."

"Yeah, but he wont be much good if he aint got no hands." He exclaimed, showing the discoloured flesh around Taylor’s wrists.

Murray looked perplexed. Kai thumped him.

"Keys?!"

"Oh…yes…of course."

Kai rolled his eyes. How these guys ever got into the police force, he didn’t know. He turned to Taylor.

"You ok kid?"

Taylor looked up, a little shocked.

"Uh huh." He said breathlessly. "I think so. Um…thanks."

Kai leant back against the bars with a sigh.

"Yeah, well, I wasn’t gonna just sit and let you take the heat. They don’t have wits these guys…but they mean well most of the time."

Taylor nodded.

"We haven’t been properly introduced." The man said, offering a hand. "I’m Kai."

Taylor jingled his handcuffs to remind Kai of his restrictions. Kai calmly marched around behind Taylor and shook his cuffed hand.

"I’m Kai." The man repeated.

"I’m Taylor." He smiled, turning back to Kai’s amused face.

"Taylor Hanson huh?"

"Yeah…" He replied slowly.

"So what was your inspiration to bust out of here? What were you in for?"

Taylor smiled.

"I just kinda sped a little…and forgot my license."

"Oh, ok, not such a great idea." Kai smirked.

"Hmm, next thing I knew I was in here…"

"Taylor?" Rachael’s voice echoed through the building.

"…with her."

Kai, stuck his head around the corner. He glanced back at Taylor.

"Pretty blond with the body?"

He nodded with a grin.

"Girlfriend?"

Taylor nodded again. Kai raised his eyebrows.

"Not bad, not bad."

Taylor shrugged with a smile.

"Taylor? What’s going on?" She yelled again.

Kai grinned, and encouraged him forward with a toss of his head.

Taylor turned the corner and walked to Rachael’s cell.

"Taylor what are you doing?"

"I…"

"Get back in your friggen cell, do you want to go to jail?"

"Rach calm down! Everything’s fine…"

"Fine? Taylor, your hands are cuffed."

"Oh…yeah…I know. But they’re taking them off now…"

"What is with you tonight Taylor?" She exclaimed.

From around the corner, Kai could hear the loud conversation, and raised his eyebrows. This was one obnoxious girl!

"What?" Taylor questioned.

"You speed, you forgot your licence, and now…"

"Ok, shut up. I think I know all that." He interrupted, a little weakly. "Give me a break ok?"

"No you shut up, I hope you get fined for this…"

Taylor looked a little shocked. Rachael rolled her eyes.

"Damn it Tay, don’t look at me like that. I’ll see you later ok just go and get those friggin handcuffs off…I don’t like my boyfriend wondering around looking like an inmate."

"Ok…um…see ya."

"See ya. Love you." She mentioned abruptly.

"Love you too." Taylor said, offering a weak smile, and walked away.

Kai sighed and raised a corner of his mouth in fascination as Taylor rounded the corner and walked back down the aisle to him.

"So…is she good to you?"

Taylor’s expression went blank.

"Huh?"

"Your girlfriend. Is she good to you? Does she treat you right?"

Taylor stared at him.

"I…um…I…well…" He faltered.

Kai, nodded, and looked down. Taylor fell silent.

"Don’t worry kid…I’m not gonna lecture you." Kai stated. "I think you already know what you need to."

Kai hated to see a good guy wrecked by a girlfriend, and knew that if he could just show Taylor’s blind eyes the reality, then he’d save someone a lot of heartache.

Murray returned, and removed Taylor’s handcuffs apologetically. Taylor rubbed his wrists as Kai waved away the officer. Taylor looked up in wonder. How come they all obeyed his every word?

"So um…what are you here for?" Taylor asked curiously.

Kai smiled.

"I’m a drunk!"

Taylor frowned apprehensively.

Kai laughed at his expression.

"Oh, I’m half kiddin’ with ya. I just believe in living out everyday to the full, and not wasting a second, you know what I’m sayin’? I figure we aren’t gonna live forever so make sure you do actually live while you still can. But…sometimes I live it up a little too much, and end up paying a visit here."

Taylor glanced at him with wonder. Kai’s dark eyes seemed to hold the wisdom of years way beyond him, and it filled Taylor with admiration.

"How come the police listen to you?" He asked in wonder.

Kai smiled.

"You know it’s strange…but as long as you believe in yourself as a good person, display that in everything you do, and don’t let anyone else control you who or what you are, people you meet will always respect you."

An officer went by with a small dog on a leash. If it could be called a dog, that is. Taylor screwed up his nose, and drew in his feet to avoid contact. He could barely tell its front end from its back end.

"Hey, Fischer, who’s that?"

The officer paused to look back at Kai.

"What, the mutt?"

Kai nodded.

"It’s a stray Kai, someone just dropped it off. I’m taking it to the pound."

"It stinks!" Taylor exclaimed, taking a step away as it neared him, tail wagging.

"Yeah, but its well tempered, and that’s all I care about." The officer muttered. "At least I’ll keep all my fingers tonight…"

The dog had moved to Kai, and he knelt to pat its tiny matted head softly. It’s tail wagged furiously.

"Fischer." Kai said, looking up. There was a strange look in his dark, powerful eyes.

The officer’s mouth dropped open, and he shook his head.

"Oh no. No Kai. Don’t…"

Kai smiled. Fischer rolled his eyes.

"No Kai! You barely have the means to look after yourself!"

"You know how busy it is down at the pound Fischer." Kai said, a little more seriously, and stood. "You know they’d never even give him a chance."

The officer paused for a moment before groaning loudly.

"Ok, here, fine, have it!" He exclaimed in exasperation, passing the rope that was acting as a leash. "I swear, I will never fully understand you Kai…" With that, Fischer left, and Kai smiled down at his new canine friend.

"So gutterball…" He said softly, and got out his army knife. "Let’s see if there’s a face in there."

Using the tiny scissors, Kai trimmed away the matted fur covering the dog’s face to reveal a big black nose, and two enormous brown eyes.

"See Tay? Cute huh?"

Taylor smiled despite himself.

"Um…sort of."

Kai grinned.

"Come on Tay, give him…oh, um…I mean her a pat."

Taylor reached out an unsure hand and touched the scruffy dog gingerly. A pink tongue emerged from the fur and licked his hand. Taylor smiled.

"Never underestimate something with slightly less beauty, cos you could miss out on a friend for life." Kai said pleasantly.

Taylor withdrew his hand, and looked over at Kai unsurely. He felt so shallow. Kai smiled in satisfaction as he felt Taylor’s eyes on him. Throughout their conversation, Kai pushed discussion into Taylor’s relationship with Rachael as far as he could, exploring it, and trying to make him see that he better without her. Kai didn’t like to see a good person get hurt…especially someone like Taylor, who had the potential to make someone else’s dreams come true.

The Hanson’s car cruised swiftly along the freeway. Taylor squirmed in the unnerving stillness, aching for some music…any music. If there was one thing he truly couldn’t stand, it was silence.

"I am so disappointed in you." Diana breathed, glancing back at her son. She looked really upset, and for a moment Taylor felt sorry for her.

Taylor couldn’t get Kai out of his head.

"I met this amazing person at the station."

"Oh that’s great Taylor." Walker said sarcastically. "Great to know you’ve established a nice bunch of criminals as associates."

Taylor kicked the seat, feeling defence for Kai wash over him.

"It wasn’t like that!!" He yelled.

"Don’t you dare talk to me like that Taylor." Walker shouted. "Don’t you dare. Not tonight."

Taylor threw up his arms, and pouted. He felt like everyone was against him, and he hated it.

_ _ _

Isaac thumped up the stairs to Taylor’s room, fuming with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to blast Taylor’s snobby little attitude into oblivion. In contrast to Taylor’s night in prison, the remaining four of them had returned home, watched funny videos, and had a great night. They’d hit it off well, and had quickly become good friends. Isaac saw sparks of something amazing within Shannon, and began to understand why Zac idolised her so intensely.

Taylor was slouched on his bed in a half daydream state as he entered.

"You prick!!" Isaac exclaimed, throwing up his arms dramatically.

Taylor groaned and rubbed his eyes.

"Oh man Ike, I don’t wanna deal with this now…"

"What do you mean Taylor? You ditched us!! We had to call a taxi to get home!!"

"Hey, it’s not my fault that your girlfriend’s so damn unsociable." Taylor snapped.

After what seemed like hours of intense arguments with his parents, his defences were up. The spiteful words just fell from his lips.

Isaac shook his head in disbelief.

"Taylor, are you blind or something?"

"Ike, what are you talking about?" Taylor groaned.

"Ok, well, it’s either that or you’re just stupid."

"Isaac…"

"Isaac what?! What do you want to say Taylor? You always liked Lara and now suddenly she’s the bitch. Did it ever occur to you that it could be your precious Rachael causing all this stuff?"

"Isaac, you’re just so jealous cos Rachael’s so damn hot."

Isaac stared at his brother, shaking his head. Taylor never used to say things like that. Never. Surely a lifetime of existence could not be violated by one girl in a few weeks. Isaac stared at the floor, unsure what to say. Taylor tried to pretend he wasn’t there.

"Tay…"

"Don’t lecture me, ok?" Taylor said softly. "I know what I’m doing."

Isaac sighed, and sat down beside Taylor on his bed.

"You know, I don’t think you do. Have you forgotten that we’re recording an album here? You know how much work it takes. And lately you just don’t seem to care."

Taylor looked up into his older brother’s eyes defiantly.

"You don’t have to look out for me Isaac. Maybe you did a few years ago, but…things have changed."

"Yeah, they sure have. Funny, it seems all those changes happened when you started going out with Rachael. Oh wow, what a coincidence."

"Don’t bring her into this." Taylor hissed.

"I don’t have to ‘bring her into this’ Taylor, she is this. You, Zac and I used to be like best friends and now you’re dumping us and being arrested by the police and just generally being a retard. I don’t think I like you anymore."

"Oh, well so-rry. I try harder next time to fit into you’re little ‘perfect brother’ stereotype." Taylor dramatised sarcastically.

"She is the worst influence on you. When are you going to see that?" Isaac stated calmly, ignoring his brother’s theatrics.

Isaac’s composure frustrated Taylor. When Taylor was upset he could never keep as cool as Isaac did, and he hated that.

"Why are you blaming this all on her?" He yelled, getting off the bed. "Did it ever dawn on you that it’s not her influencing me, it might be ME influencing me."

"So, you’re saying that this is you?" Isaac questioned, indicating Taylor’s frustrated expression and aggravated body language. Taylor slammed his hand down on the table.

"You know, maybe it is Isaac. And you know what? IT’S MY LIFE AND I’LL DO WHAT I WANT."

"Tay, don’t yell, it’s bad for your voice." Isaac stated calmly, countering Taylor’s aggression.

"I don’t care!! I’ll have a hot girlfriend if I want, I’ll get arrested if I want, and I’LL YELL IF I WANT. So STOP telling me what to do."

"Fine." Isaac said coldly. "Screw up your life - that’s fine by me. Just don’t expect any sympathy."

"I wouldn’t expect any from you anyway." Taylor snarled in reply.

Isaac stared into Taylor’s harsh blue eyes for a moment, looking for just a hint of the boy he used to know.

"I’ve had enough of you Tay, I’m going to talk to Zac. He has a life, unlike other certain rejects I happen to know." Isaac sighed, and headed for the door.

"Ooh no! Isaac called me a reject. Oh, I’m so insulted I think I’m gonna cry." Taylor whined sarcastically.

"Yeah, you do that Taylor. It will be a good representation of your maturity at the moment."

With that, Isaac left the room, glad to have the final say. Taylor lay back on his bed, his eyebrows deep in a frustrated scowl. He was convinced Isaac was wrong. Rachael wasn’t affecting him at all, even if she wasn’t exactly the perfect girlfriend sometimes.

And…in his anger and frustration, Taylor forgot every one of Kai’s wise words.

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