Chapter two hundred and thirty-five:

Zac hung up the phone and turned to find Becky coming into the kitchen.

“Becca, I’ve got to go pick up Isaac and Christy. He wants to leave his car at their house, so he asked me to pick them up. Want to come?” He held out a hand to her.

“Sure.” She smiled, taking his hands.

“Come on, we’ll take Taylor’s car.” He reached the keys down from the hook in the hall. “He’s parked behind me anyway.”

“Should we ask him first?”

“No, he won’t notice. We won’t be gone long anyway.”

“Okay.” She grabbed her purse from the bench in the entrance hall and followed him down from the front porch. Zac unlocked the door using the button on the keychain and opened the passenger side door for Becky, offering an extravagant bow.

She laughed and climbed into the car, letting Zac close the door behind her.

Taylor’s car was very sporty much like Zac’s, and had an intricate stereo system. It had clearly had a lot of modifications done to it. It even had a musical note-shaped air freshener dangling from the rearview mirror.

Zac climbed into the driver’s side and promptly started the car. The radio blasted, and he quickly turned it down. “Taylor’s taste in music sucks sometimes.” He laughed, buckling his seat belt.

He backed the car from the driveway, and pressed the button for the gate to open. He backed from the driveway and closed the gate before pulling onto the road.

He drove quickly up the hill, pressing the pedal to the ground to make it up the steep hill.

Becky watched out the window quietly, until the forest slowly became less thick and gave way to houses which slowly became closer together.

Zac pulled the car to a stop at a red light, but remained in the left turning lane.

“This is a beautiful neighborhood.” She observed. “The houses are so beautiful.”

“I know,” he smiled. “Isaac showed me some of the places online when he was looking to buy their house. They’re massive inside.” He turned at the green light and slowed to a crawl in a beautiful neighborhood filled with large stone houses and elegant landscaping.

Zac turned a corner and eased the car into a drive way of one of the largest stone houses.

“Wow, this house is beautiful.” Becky observed as he parked the car.

“It is.” He smiled, and climbed out of the driver’s seat. “I’m going to help carry out luggage.” He popped the trunk.

“I’ll help you.” Becky smiled.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Taylor stood outside Jen’s door. She insisted she could get dressed on her own and Taylor wanted to give her some privacy. He checked his watch again.

Even though Isaac, Christy, Becky and Zac weren’t back yet, he knew they were late. They were supposed to be on the bus fifteen minutes ago.

He sighed and knocked on the bedroom door. “Jen? You okay in there?”

“Yeah,” She spoke from inside. “You can come in now.”

Taylor opened the door and found her sitting on the bed, wearing a hoodie that was far too big for her and a new pair of cotton pajama pants.

“You ready to go?”

She nodded.

He stretched out his hands to her and she pulled herself up. He walked backward, pulling her along.

She shuffled her feet slowly, clearly still very weak. He led her very slowly down the hall, barely moving. She swayed weakly, not used to being on her feet.

He stopped walking and sighed. “Jen, I’m sorry, this is nothing against you, but we’re seriously late.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I-“ Taylor bent and scooped her up, hoisting her into his arms like a child. “Tay!” She shrieked, holding on tightly to his neck.

“It’s alright, I won’t drop you!” He urged, carrying her quickly down the stairs.

“This is embarrassing. I can walk!” She protested, but still hung on in fear of being dropped.

“It’s just for a few more feet, Jen. No one is even here. You wouldn’t have made the stairs.”

Jen decided she wasn’t going to argue. She held on tightly, but let him carry her. She was tired anyway.

“You’re okay, right? I’m not pulling your stitches?” He asked, carefully open the door.

“No,” She lied, and winced in slight pain. He carried her out into drive way, where the bus driver opened the door for them. He very carefully navigated through the narrow staircase and into the front lounge of the bus, gently lowering her onto the built-in sofa. “Okay?” He asked.

She nodded. “But if you carry me like a child again, I’ll have to kick your ass.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll remember that.”

Zac came into the bus and immediately announced. “I call the backroom! Who’s up for Halo?” He went straight through the bunks and into the back room.

Becky came in and hugged Jen, sitting next to her.

Christy came in next, flopping down into a turning chair. “I’m exhausted already. Whose bright idea was it to leave so early?” She promptly removed her sweater to show off a light pink tank top. “God, is it me or is it a million degrees in here?”

“I’m fine.” Becky shrugged.

“Me too.” Jen replied.

“Christy, honey, I don’t think we got enough snacks.” Isaac proclaimed sarcastically as he came onto the bus carrying three bags of junk food.

Christy shrugged helplessly.

Isaac put the bags down on the counter. “Okay, so I talked to the driver and he said if we leave now, we’ll be in Buffalo first thing tomorrow for the show. Does everyone have everything they need? Anyone have any questions?”

Everyone looked around at each other. Jen slowly raised her hand. “I’ve got a question… is Christy going to get her own bus? Because I mean if those boobs get any bigger, they’ll crush us all.”

Christy’s jaw dropped, and she narrowed her eyes at Jen. “It’s because I’m pregnant!” She defended. “They aren’t that big are they?!” She demanded, looking up at her husband, who shrugged, which a slight smile on his face.

“They’re not that much bigger than usual, maybe a cup size or so.” Taylor shrugged.

Becky and Jen burst into giggles.

Isaac sighed and tried to remain serious. “Alright, the next person who makes a joke about my wife’s breasts is getting left at the next service station.”

This caused all three girls to laugh hysterically.

There were more footsteps bounding up the front stairs of the bus and Luke appeared through the curtain. “Got room for one more?” He asked with a smile.

“Of course.” Isaac nodded.

“Luke man!” Zac came out of the back lounge. “I knew you’d make it.” He clapped his best friend a high five.

NEXT>>