part two
Taylor was walking down the corridor from the movie theatre, where he had just seen another boring movie. His thoughts drifted over to Rose, and he wondered what she was doing at that moment. As Taylor turned the corner, he collided with a sobbing Rose. She shrieked as she hit him, and once she realized who he was, threw herself at him.
“They’re going to make me go home!” She sobbed, holding tightly to Taylor’s arms.
“Who?” Taylor asked.
“The people, whoever owns this boat! Taylor, please! Hide me!” Taylor grabbed Rose’s wrist and took off running. They ran down the stairs three decks to the deck the Hanson’s were on. Taylor threw open his cabin door and they ran in. Taylor pushed Rose into the bathroom and shut the door. He could feel his heart pounding. There was a knock on the door, and Taylor’s head began to spin. Not only would they kick Rose off the boat, but his family also! He took a deep breath and opened the door.
“Hello?” He said, cheerfully as possible.
“Hello, we’re looking for a young woman, a stowaway, we think she ran down here,” A crisply dressed crewmember said.
“I haven’t seen her. I was just in my room doing some sit ups and stuff,” Taylor said, gesturing towards his breathless appearance. The crewmember nodded.
“I’m sorry to bother you, sir. I hope you’re enjoying your stay.” The man walked off. Taylor shut the door with a relieved sigh. He waited until there were no footsteps heard in the corridor and let Rose out. She wrapped her arms tightly around Taylor.
“I owe you so much!” She said.
“It was no problem,” Taylor said, knowing he’d never been more scared in his entire life.
That night, Rose slept in Taylor and Zac’s cabin again. This time she slept on the floor, on a blanket. The next morning the boat was stopping at an island early in the morning, and Taylor wanted to get Rose off the boat for a few hours. They woke up with the sun shining brightly. Taylor lent Rose a pair of sunglasses and a baseball hat. He also lent her one of Zac’s tee shirts. They walked past security with no problem. The island was perfect, just like the ones everyone dreams about. Taylor and Rose explored a little in the small jungle like area that was directly off the beach.
“I could live here forever, just among the trees and the birds,” Rose said wistfully.
“Yeah, it’s really nice, no screaming girls!” Taylor exclaimed. Rose laughed.
“It must be really weird being a famous pop star and all.” It was the first time Rose had brought Taylor’s celebrity standing up.
“Yeah it is. It’s sort of a pain in the ass sometimes. I love music with all my heart, but the business can really ruin it for a person.”
“What will you do when you get back to Tulsa?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, maybe I should just stay here on this island. Maybe someone will take me in or something.” Taylor felt a little pain in his stomach.
“I don’t think that’d be a very good idea, this is a small island, not many resources.”
“But doesn’t it seem a smaller island would be friendlier?”
“I guess…”
“I just can’t possibly go back. It was probably stupid to leave, but it’d be dumber to return. I’d get beaten for sure.”
“I want to help you.”
“There’s nothing you can do, Taylor, that you haven’t already done.”
“I wouldn’t feel right abandoning you on a little island in the middle of the Caribbean.” He’d only known her a few days, but Taylor knew he’d miss Rose if she were gone.
“Taylor, I have to make my own choices.”
“But, Rose…”
“Okay, I won’t stay on this island. But once we reach one of the bigger ones, I’m going to get off the boat.” Taylor felt a lump rise in his throat.
“Are you sure? I still think it’s really unsafe.”
“Just as unsafe to go back.” Taylor turned and began to walk.
“We’d better get back to the boat, it’s almost time to go.”
“Okay.” They walked in silence to the ramp and boarded.
Taylor watched Rose talk animatedly. She was telling Taylor one of her many dreams, and her whole face lit up. She had her legs tucked up in his sweatshirt. Taylor felt a shiver go through him. He wanted to just touch her with his fingers, with his mouth. Her lips formed a perfect pout, and they were just begging to be kissed. Taylor was afraid he’d scare her off.
“Taylor, what are you staring at?” Rose’s question interrupted Taylor’s thoughts. He felt the warmth creep up his neck, into his face.
“You.” For some reason, Taylor decided to go with the truth. Rose looked shocked.
“Why were you, uh, staring at me?” She asked, entangling her fingers.
“Because you’re pretty, I really like your lips.” Rose was just as red as Taylor felt.
“You too, I mean, uh, you’re cute, and um, you have nice…Oh hell, screw it.” To Taylor’s surprise Rose leaned over and kissed him firmly on the lips. It was a childlike kiss, her lips pursed and pressed onto his. It was simple and uncomplicated. She leaned back and took a deep breath. They stared at each other for a moment, before Taylor placed his hand on Rose’s cheek and pulled her close again. This time they kissed slowly, enjoying the feeling of each other’s mouths. Rose pulled back.
“Taylor, I’ve never kissed anyone before this. My mom never let me go any place with boys, and she’s always kept me at home, and it’s just so…I don’t know what to do,” She rambled.
“It’s okay, I’m not exactly all that suave myself. I’ve been a little too busy to go around fucking every girl in sight.”
“Well, if you had time, you certainly wouldn’t waste it on me,” Rose turned away.
“Wait. That sounded wrong. Not that if I had time I’d be screwing, but anyhow, yes I would certainly spend time with you. I like you.”
“Why?”
“You’re smart, creative, sweet, not to mention pretty.”
“Are you smoking weed?”
“Rose…”
“I’m not any of that stuff.”
“You also have low self esteem.”
“Why should I care about myself, when no one else does?”
“I do.”
“Taylor, you hardly know me.”
“But I like what I do know, and I want to know you better.”
“I’m going to live on an island, and I doubt I’ll have a phone, but you can write me.”
“You can come back with us.”
“Yeah right, your parents would freak out!”
“Well, I can be my charming self, and talk them into it.”
“I see you have self esteem to spare.”
“Funny, Rose, really funny.”
Taylor took a deep breath and brought his hand up to his parents’ cabin door. He put it back down. He ran over the speech in his head, again. Rose needed their help. His parents were always into helping people. Surely they’d go for it. He’d never know unless he tried. But what if they turned Rose in? Certainly they couldn’t! Taylor’s stomach turned over. He knocked lightly on the door; half hoping that he wouldn’t be heard. A second later his father opened the door. He stepped aside for Taylor to come in.
“Did you need something, Taylor?” He asked. Taylor looked at his mother, who was lying in bed reading a book.
“I didn’t disturb you guys did I?” He asked.
“No, of course not,” Mr. Hanson replied. Taylor cursed inwardly. Looked like he’d have to go through with it.
“You like helping people, right? I mean, especially kids, or teenagers, right?” Taylor began his plight.
“We do what we can, Taylor, what’s this about?” Mrs. Hanson said, putting her book down, and sitting up.
“Well, I sort of have this friend, who needs our help,” Taylor said.
“A friend?”
“Yeah, I met her on the boat. She really needs help, just our help, we don’t need to tell anyone on the boat about her,” Taylor’s words rushed out. He clutched his hands together.
“Taylor, you’re making no sense at all,” His father said, giving him one of those terrible “I know you’re up to something” looks.
“If I tell you something, can you please promise not to tell anyone?” Taylor begged.
“Depends what it is.”
“Dad!”
“Taylor, what is it?”
“I met this girl, and she is sort of on the boat with out a ticket. But see, she had to get away from her family because they’re really, really terrible. And if she goes back, they’ll beat her up. And we can’t let her get hurt. She says she’s going to live on an island! Dad, she can’t do that either!” By this time there were tears running down Taylor’s face. His parents looked surprised and still confused.
“Taylor, why don’t you introduce us to this girl, and we’ll see what we can do,” His mother said. Taylor nodded and wiped his eyes. He turned around and left the cabin in search of Rose.
Rose sat doodling in a notebook Taylor had given her, up on the top deck where they had first met. She sat on the flooring, in a corner, as to avoid the wind.
“Rose,” Taylor startled her, since she hadn’t heard his footsteps. She stood up.
“Hey, Taylor,” Rose smiled. Taylor smiled back, and gave Rose’s hand an affectionate squeeze.
“Did you talk to them?”
“Yeah.”
“What did they say?” Rose could feel her stomach doing flip-flops.
“They want to meet you.”
“Taylor, I’m so scared! I, what if, I mean, they, oh!” Rose’s eyes filled with tears and she choked her sobs down.
“Calm down, it’s okay, don’t be afraid,” Taylor said, wrapping his arm around Rose’s shoulder. She took a few breaths and wiped her eyes.
“Okay, I can do this. Everything will be alright.”
“That’s the spirit!”
“I can’t do it.”
“Aw, Rose…”
“They’re probably calling the captain down right now!”
“These are my parents you’re talking about, they’re like, really nice.”
“Taylor…”
“Can we just go?”
“Alright.”
Rose turned around and started to go back down the corridor, but Taylor grabbed her arm.
“Come on! You can do this, I know you can,” He encouraged her.
“Taylor, I’m afraid.”
“I know you are, but you can still do it.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
“Let’s just go in!” Taylor knocked on his parents’ door. The door swung open and both of his parents stood in the doorway. Taylor half-drug Rose into the room. She was trembling.
“Mom, Dad, this is Rose,” Taylor said. Rose swallowed nervously.
“Hi,” She whispered hoarsely.
“Hello, Rose,” Mrs. Hanson said.
“Hello,” Echoed Mr. Hanson. Rose burst out crying.
“Please, please, don’t tell them about me! I’ll do anything! I don’t want you to get in any trouble! I was just trying to…” Rose babbled.
“Sweetie, calm down, we’re not turning you in or anything. We want to help. Why don’t you talk to us?” Mrs. Hanson said soothingly. Rose nodded. She slowly sat down in a chair and looked at her toes.
“Why don’t you begin with why you got on this boat illegally in the first place?” Mr. Hanson started out.
“Honey, that sounds a little bit harsh, can’t you see she’s upset?” Mrs. Hanson said, giving her husband a disapproving look.
“I’m sorry,” Mr. Hanson apologized.
“It’s okay,” Rose said, still acting fascinated by the carpet.
“Go on Rose, tell them what you told me,” Taylor pushed her. Rose took a deep breath and began her story again.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanson looked at each other.
“I’m sorry, Rose, that’s terrible,” Mrs. Hanson said, sympathetically.
“Mom, can’t you help her? Can’t she come live with us?” Taylor pleaded.
“Taylor, I don’t know about her living with us…” Mr. Hanson said warily.
“I told Taylor I’d be fine, but he insisted on this,” Rose added.
“We want to help you, sweetheart,” Mrs. Hanson said.
“You don’t have to.”
“You’re just a child, you need someone to take care of you.”
“Mom, you’re really good at taking care of people,” Taylor butted in. Everyone turned to look at him.
“I think we know where you stand on this, Taylor,” Mr. Hanson said with a sigh.
“Sorry,” Taylor looked at his sandals.
“I just don’t know what to do. You do know it’s illegal for you to be on here without paying, don’t you?” Mr. Hanson said, looking at Rose. She nodded and bit her lip.
“We only have like four days left, can’t we just keep her secret? What they don’t know can’t hurt them!” Taylor exclaimed.
“Taylor…” His parents chorused. Taylor sighed and lay down on his parents’ bed with a flop.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” He said, waving his hand in the air. Rose stifled a giggle. Mrs. Hanson smiled and Mr. Hanson just rolled his eyes.
“You know Walker, I don’t see what the big problem is with her coming back to Tulsa with us. Not necessarily to live with us, but until we find out what can be done to help her out,” Mrs. Hanson said, looking at her husband. Taylor sat up in a flash, grinning at Rose. She was biting her lip and staring intently at the Hansons.
“Oh, all right,” Mr. Hanson agreed.
Taylor lay beside Rose on his bunk. He placed his arm around her and inhaled the smell of her hair.
“Taylor…” She began.
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t.”
“Don’t…what?” Taylor froze.
“Don’t touch me, please.” Taylor got out of the bed quickly, with a hurt look on his face.
“What did I do?”
“Nothing.”
“But…”
“It’s not your fault, Taylor. It’s just, I don’t know.” Rose scooted close to the wall and closed her eyes. Taylor continued to stand, embarrassed, in the middle of the room.
“Rose?” He said quietly, a couple of minutes later. There was a small sob. Taylor stepped up to the bed and looked at Rose. She wiped a tear off her face. Taylor felt confused.
“What did I do? I really don’t know what I did. I just wanted to hug you, or whatever. I didn’t mean to upset you…” Taylor frowned.
“Taylor, it’s not your fault.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Rose sat up, Indian style, on the bed.
“It seems all any boy wants is sex! That’s what I figured you were getting to. I’m sorry, I just don’t even want to think about that right now. I don’t mind hugging, but I don’t want you to touch me, not yet anyhow,” Rose said, running her hand through her hair.
“I wasn’t thinking of sex, and I’d never do anything without asking you first, Rose,” Taylor said quietly. Rose nodded. Then she gave Taylor a half smile and held her arms out. He leaned down and gave her a hug. Maybe you call fall in love in two weeks after all, Rose thought to herself, not knowing Taylor was thinking the same thing.
I will have a part three eventually..Whenever I get to it.