chaptertwentysix

Madison just looked at me the whole time I recounted the Taylor story I�d just heard from Zac. When I finished, I fell back onto my bed and closed my eyes.

�You have got to be fucking kidding me,� Maddie said.

�Nope. Zac told me everything. And he wouldn�t lie�not about that.�

Madison hugged me tightly and tried to comfort me.

�I�m so sorry, Natalie. You deserve so much better. You know that, right?�

�What the hell did he think he was doing??? Does he think I�m fucking stupid?�

�You�re not stupid, Natalie.�

�Then how did this happen? How did I not stop this?�

�You shouldn�t have had to stop this, Nat! This is not your fault,� Madison nearly yelled at me.

�I know�but it just hurts, you know?�

�Yeah I know�But you can�t be angry at yourself. You did nothing to deserve this. He�s the fucker here�and look what he�s missing!�

My pity party suddenly seemed like a waste of time. This wasn�t MY fault! I was suddenly angry.

�Who does he think he is?�� I started.

�He thinks he�s Taylor fucking Hanson,� Madison said.

�And he thinks the whole world owes him�pop-star with a fucking attitude problem!� I spat.

�Exactly!� Madison said. �This is all on him.�

�AHH!� I yelled. �I could seriously kill him.�

�Well when does he come home? We could organize a group beat-down. You Elle and me could totally kick his ass. And if we�re not big enough, I�m sure Kyle would help,� Maddie said.

�Did Kyle finish his service?� I asked. Madison�s brother Kyle had been in Germany as a Marine for like four years now.

�Yep. Came back about a month ago. He�s like doubled in size, so I�m sure he could make Taylor cry,� she said with a smile.

�Niiice,� I said. I shook my head and looked around my room.

�What�s wrong? Well, besides the obvious,� Maddie asked.

�I�m not as upset about this as I should be,� I said. �Tomorrow�s our one year��

�No kidding,� Madison said. �Wow��

�But I�m really not sad. I saw this coming. Maybe I�ll be sadder when I see him again.�

�You�re gonna see him again?� Madison asked with concern in her eyes. �Why?�

�Because the shit has my favorite body lotion.�

******************

Taylor�s wake-up call came at 10am. They needed to be up, dressed, and at the House of Blues for makeup and wardrobe by 12. For Taylor, that was a pinch.

�Taylor!� Zac was banging on his door.

�What?� Taylor called from the bathroom, his American Crew gel in a pool in his hand.

�Let me in!�

�Zac�hair�busy�� he said.

�I�m gonna get the key from dad,� Zac said.

�Fine�but what do you need?�

Taylor didn�t get an answer. Zac came back about three minutes later and scared the hell out of Taylor.

�Jesus, child,� Taylor said. �You should work for the FBI, the way you lurk around and shit. What can I help you with?� he asked as he turned back to his hair.

�My black sweater. You wore it to that party. I need it,� Zac said.

�Check in the suitcase in the closet,� Taylor said.

Zac walked away to do so, but stopped short at Taylor�s bedside table.

�Umm�Taylor?� Zac asked.

�Yeah?�
�Why do you have Pearberry lotion next to your bed?� Zac questioned.

�It�s Nat�s. I took it so I could smell her when I was gone,� Taylor said.

�You better not let people see that. The gay rumors are already flying.�

�Shut up,� Taylor said.

�Speaking of the gay rumors,� Zac continued. �Where�s your famed scarf?�

�Natalie has it. Are you here to question my sexuality or to get your fucking sweater?� Taylor asked.

�K, I�m getting out. Just let me find the damn thing.�

Zac pawed through a whole heap of clothing before he found his sweater.

�Got it.� Zac said as headed for the door.

�Thanks for letting me use it,� Taylor said.

�No problem,� Zac replied. He started out the door and mumbled something under his breath.

�What?� Taylor asked.

�Nothing,� Zac said. �Just thinking out loud.�

Zac slammed the door to his brother�s room closed and shook his head. �I said happy anniversary, fucker��