"My full name and number are on the card..sugar..." he smiled. "You're very talented. How much dance did you take in school? Are you still taking classes?" he asked. Emma's eyes widened in shock. "You've GOTTA be kidding me.." she said. "I'm not kidding. So? Still taking classes?" he asked again. "Never have taken any dance classes." she amswered. "Was a cheerleader for about five minutes in high school, but gave that up when I could drive myself to the beach." she said. "I surf." "Well....how'd you wind up dancing on THIS stage, then? You really are good." he told her. Emma poured herself a shot and knocked it back quickly, to calm her shaking nerves and her anger at Taylor. "Long story, Jack." she told him. "One I am sure you don't want to hear." she told him. "Fair enough." he smiled. "Girl's gotta have some kind of privacy. Call me..that's my OFFICE number. Once you're convinced I'm legit, I'll give you the other numbers. I am always looking for dancers for music videos, TV commercials..I am a talent scout and sometimes an agent. Get in touch with me at the office. I could keep you working for a long time...sugar." he smiled, finished his beer, set the bottle on the counter and gripped Taylor's shoulder. "Thanks for turnin' me onto her, man. She could go places." he smiled and looked back at Emma one more time. "Call me." he said and left the bar. Emma looked around, to make sure Danny wasn't anywhere in earshot then turned angry eyes to Taylor. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???" she said angrily through gritted teeth. Taylor looked at her with a shocked expression, "What? Damn..I thought I was helping you get out of 'this dump', as you so colorfully put it. What is wrong with you?" he asked. "Tay...god..." she poured herself another shot and swallowed it quickly. "What the hell? How the fuck would I explain it to Zac for one? Tay I can't make myself tell him..I open my mouth and the words don't come. I am so OUT OF HERE...in just a few days...why are you doing this?" she asked, her head spinning from the effort to piece everything together. "I'm still trying to figure out how to tell him once I quit.. why Tay?" she asked again. "Because. You can't see your face when you dance. You love it, Emma and you're good. It's just that Danny and this whole whatever-it-is that he's holding over your head has taken the joy out of it. I've seen the pure look on your face too, Emma. The first time I met you, when we were at the club? And the other night, when Zac played for you? You LOVE it." He did NOT say that he would have given anything to see that look directed at him, it was futile. "And you could make a GOOD living and be proud of yourself if you just call Jack. He's for real, Emma. You know I wouldn't lie to you." Emma stood staring at him until one of the regulars clamored loudly for a round of beer. She quickly pulled it, then turned back to Taylor. "How will I explain it to Zac?" she almost whined. "Tay.." her eyes begged him to come up with a solution to that. "Zac's been bugging me for weeks to do something about my dancing. I thought he was nuts..and Danny always LIES.." she turned it over in her head and out loud. "Danny's trying to break you, Emma. Break you and keep you here lining HIS pockets. You don't deserve that." he covered her hand with his and Emma pulled hers back. The look on Taylor's face hit her in the chest like a ton of bricks. He knew she'd seen it too and dropped his head. "Don't do this to me, Hanson. Please.." she begged.  "Emma, I'm..." he stopped and looked up at her. They were so involved in the discussion, neither of them noticed Danny watching from the dressing room door.

"What? God..." Emma covered her face with her hands then shook her head, hard. "I need to think. Why? Why did you do this to me now?" she gasped and knocked back another shot. "Emma. I'm sorry, okay? But not for calling Jack. You deserve so much more than this...and you should tell Zac. NOW. He won't be upset that this is what you do..we've played in some pretty weird places and done some crazy things, just so someone would hear us play. Ask my mom," he grinned. "Alot of it was her doing. But he will be hurt that you couldn't tell him. He loves you, Emma. He KNOWS YOU. He would know right away that this is NOT you. Just like I did. Call Jack, then go talk to my brother." he said swallowed the rest of his beer and left the bar, Emma staring after him in a state of total confusion. She finally shook herself out of it and went back to doing her job, watching the end of Candie's routine. She put the last set of dry shot galsses on the shelf and wiped the counter, then washed her hands. She began gathering up her things to leave when Danny slithered up behind her. "Hey Sugar...what the hell is up, baby?" he smiled coldly. "My foot will be up your ass if you don't get the hell away from me, Danny." she snapped and tossed him the roll of cash she owed him from her dance number. "Thanks babe." he gave her another evil smile. "What are you smiling at? Would you like to keep those teeth?" she asked sarcastically. "I should start bookmaking, taking bets on which brother you're doing tonight.." he laughed. "What the fuck are you talking about, slime?" she snapped angrily. "Don't you try to PLAY me, you bitch." he snapped back. "I saw him, choir boy's pretty brother. haven't seen his face before tonight, but he's in here lusting after you all the time, isn't he?" he asked her. "Which one are you lettin' in your panties tonight, huh?" he stepped closer. Emma shoved him back away from her, hard enough that he hit his back on the counter behind him. "They're brothers, asshole. They are also best friends, something you know NOTHING about. He comes in here to make sure you keep your greasy hands off me, that's all. I keep telling him he doesn't need to, though, 'cause I can kick your sissy, wanna-be, ass all by myself." she told him and started to walk past him. "Bullshit, SUGAR..." Danny said coldly. "I KNOW that look. Trust me, I see it everynight when your high and mighty ass takes the stage. Only he wants you more... he must not know what kind of bitch lurks underneath the sexy cover." "Fuck off, asshole. And by the way, tomorrow's my last night." she said and smiled sweetly and sailed past him on her way out the door. "Oh and don't bother looking for me at home. I don't live there anymore." she added and walked out the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't follow her, then threw her things in the car and sped home. She was NOT prepared for what she found inside.

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