| far cry away page 3 |
| Ike was in a constant state of worry over his little brother. He had never seen him act like he had been lately. He wouldn't eat unless forced, and then he would only pick at his food. He was restless, not really going out, but just disappearing for hours on end in his bed or down in the studio. He was the typical stereotype of depressed. Tay and Ike tried their best to talk to him, get him to do things, he wouldn't even laugh at Mac's stupid jokes like he used to. He was a sorry state for sure, and Ike was hatching a plan to see if maybe he couldn't rectify that. "Tay, do you remember when Zac was out that night and we went to that party over at Prestons?" "Yeah... why?" "Well, I was thinking... do you think Zac would go for that cute little brunette that was hanging all over him? I mean, he acted interested that night..." "I don't think Zac's in the mood for a tease right now... from what I've gathered, he was pretty hung up on that Chamille." "Exactly!" Ike exclaimed. Tay gave him a look like what the hell are you talking about? But he didn't have time to ask for Ike hurried away up the stairs. Imediately he was ringing up Preston to find out how to get a hold of that little brunette bombshell. Two hours later, his plan was forming nicely. Now came the hard part. He had to call... HER. He had to, it was essential to his plan to help his brother. His shakey fingers dialed the number that he had sneaked from his brothers mythical little black book. It had been a harrowing experience just finding the damned thing let alone finding the right number while Tay kept Zac out of their room and Ike stood over Zac's underware drawer with pen poised over a scrap of paper. But he could guarentee, he was sweatting bullets a hell of a lot more now then he was then. When he was finnished he let out a huge sigh as he hung up the phone. That had to be one of the most nerve wracking conversations he had ever had to have had. But his goofy grin assured anyone that may pass... he was definately in a dreamy mood, a happy camper indeed. Now the stage was set. The only thing left to do was get Tay to do his part, after he was told what it would be, and... get Zac there. That was gonna be the hardest part of all. But he just had to do it, he had to... for Zac. Right? The music was obnoxiously loud, the booze was freely flowing, the dancefloor was writhing... oh yeah, this was a kind of party Zac would be found at on any given night... before Chamille had invaded his life that is. Tay had practally dragged him there. Zac was scowling and his thick arms were crossed over his broad chest like a pouting toddler at nap time. But at least he was there. Ike sought out the lovely blonde that was to be his accomplice for the evening. He was so damned tickled that she had agreed to help him, he was walking on air. He caught her eye and they subtly nodded at each other. The stage was set, he hoped the players would know their parts like he had hoped when his plan had formed in his mind. Tay coaxed Zac over to a seat on a couch, offering to get him a drink. Grudginly, he accepted and sat with a stony look on his face that easily discouraged any conversation. Tay slipped into the kitchen and scoped out the selection, grabbing the largest cup he could find, he filled it up with ice and poured some orange juice in it, the a splash of vodka. He knew Zac would bitch that it was weak and go to fix himself another. It was exactly what Ike had told him to do. They both knew Zac liked his liquer a bit too much, they were counting on it. He stood in the doorway, two cups in hand as he looked for his signal. He caught sight of Ike from across the room and asked the question with his eyes. Ike shook his head and held up his hand telling Tay to wait a bit before he gave Zac the bait. Tay nodded in understandment and stood, idlely chatting with some random people that were passing in the hall. He kept c(ecking back for the signal from Ike from time to time. Finally, Ike nodded at him and Tay started on his way back over to his younger brother sitting now alone on the couch that he had left him on. He handed Zac his cup and sat down next to him, sipping off his own drink as he eyed the crowd. "Lotta people here tonight huh?" He asked off handedly, his eyes scanning the crowd casually. Zac shrugged and took a sip of his own drink. He scowled. He sniffed the cup. He took another drink, a longer pull. Then he looked at his brother as if he were the village idiot. "What the hell did you do Tay, let your imaginary friend mix my drink? Cuz it sure as hell tastes like pretend vodka." He grumbled. "What? That's not strong enough for you? What the hell are you, an alcoholic Zac?" Tay taunted. Zac glared at his brother and got up from his spot. "I'm going to go and fix me a drink... and maybe that way I'll actually get some real bite to it. No i'm not an alcoholic, but I do intend to have a couple of drinks that contain more then a thimble full of liquer in them. Geez Tay, learn how to make a drink huh?" He complained and tottered off toward the kitchen. Bingo. Phase one complete. Now to put part two into action. Quickly Ike passed by Chamille, she not even noticing Ike as she talked and laughed with her little group of friends and her cousin sitting beside her. Little did she know, when Ike walked by, he discretely tapped her cousins shoulder, signaling the start of phase two. Chamille was gripped and startled out of her conversation abruptly as her cousin grabbed her arm. "Chamille! I need to talk to you for a minute." She pleaded with begging eyes. Chamille rolled her own eyes and followed along, excusing herself from the circle of people. She let herself be dragged over to a dark corner as she waited for her seemingly insane cousin to spill it, whatever it was that was so damned important, it just couldn't wait. "Nicky, this had better be damned important, I think that tall brunette with the grey eyes was getting interested in me!" "Don't call me Nicky!" "Fine! Nicholette then! Now spit it out woman!" "Nichole will do fine thank you. Now listen up... I was over near the bathroom waiting in line a bit ago and I heard some girls talking." "And so...?" "So... they were talking about some guy asking who you were. Tad I think his name was. They said that he was asking a bunch of people who you were cuz you looked familiar and he wanted to know your name." "And I care why?" "Well, by the sounds of the hen party I was witness to, he was like some trophy to land. I want you to be careful. I don't want you to get into anymore trouble like you did last year when you were here." "How the hell was I supposed to know he was engaged?! He asked me to go upstairs, not the other way around remember!?" "I don't care, that's all in the past now, I just want you to watch your step and don't do anything stupid! I'm warning you. You make any mistakes, just one little one, and I'll have Daddy send your ass back home so fast it will make your head spin!" "That's not fair Nic..." "After getting your ass outta the sling over the empty liquer cabinette and the broken window in the study? I think that's more then fair! You broke that guys heart and without a care to how he was going to react. You just can't do that kind of stuff Chamille without facing the consequences. There's always repercusions to stupid decisions. Remember that tonight as you are trying to find your next hook up." With that she walked away and left a teary-eyed Chamille behind. Cue sympathetic Taylor the snake in disguise and catalyst for phase three, part a to begin. Tay slid right into his role that Ike had cooked up for him. He approached Chamille and played up on her need for sympathy. He elluded the line of evasive questioning from her asking if he was the one inquiring about her earlier. He lead her on, right to the point where she was falling into Ike's trap. It was like leading the innocent lamb to the slaughter. Nothing could have been easier. Just when she was getting way beyond flirty and started to get all touchy with him... he started getting a bit standoffish and looked around for the signal from Ike. He had to be ready... the last thing he needed was to have Zac slug him... he'd most likely end up breaking every bone in his body if given half the chance. Zac just had that kind of temper.Across the room, Ike siddled up next to a sullen Zac that was doing his best to ignore the tempting brunette that had tried to attach herself to him. She had been hanging all over him on occasion at various parties. She was cute yes, but someone was still filling up his soul and tearing out an empty hole within him... Chamille. It was something he just couldn't deni. "Hey little brother, enjoying yourself?" Ike asked as he plunked down beside him. He smiled politely at the brunette, a quick wink to let her know she was doing a great job. "Yeah, just peachy." Zac rolled his eyes. Ike chuckled despite himself. He leaned towards his brothers ear, the one the brunette wasn't blowing in, and whispered to him loud enough to be heard over the music and chatter. "Come on, I'll save ya bro." Zac shot him a look that was dripping with pleads for help. Ike grinned, then spoke up loudly. "Hey Zac man, I got someone I want ya to meet k?" "Sure. Sure Ike, be right there." Then Zac gently removed the brunettes hands from under his shirt and smiled weakly at her. "I'll be back ok? I just gotta go see someone with my big brother ok? Wait for me?" She nodded demurely, sitting back and crossing her legs as the leather skirt she wore hiked up even further. She gave him a doe eyed smile knowing that he had absolutely no intentions of returning and she could care less. He hurried off after a quickly retreating Ike, not wanting to loose him in the crowd. He watched the general direction his brother had gone and took off at a fast pace to keep up. Ike slipped around a corner, and Zac hurriedly followed in his footsteps... then stopped dead in his tracks. There in a corner, all too cozy for his liking, a sight that made his blood boil. Tay with his hands on slight shoulders of a petite blonde goddess... "Chamille!" His whisper the last thing calm about him before he exploded with rage... and all for the pair of betrayers set before his aching eyes. He stalked across the room and took ahold of the back of Tay's collar, yanking him backwards and onto his ass. Tay had been expecting some sort of violent reaction, but even then, he was still scared of the damage his little hulking brother could do to him. His voice was shakey from real fear when he found his voice. "What the hell Zac?" "What the fuck is your problem? I can't believe you would do this to me! How could you stab me in the back like this Tay? You're my brother for Christ's sakes!" "What?!" "Are you really that blonde Tay? I can see what's been going on! I'm not as stupid as you think!" "It's not what it looks like!" "Oh please! Don't give me that shit Tay! I'm not God damned blind! I saw it with my own two eyes!" "I know what it looks like, but really Zac, I was just trying to make her feel better cuz she was feeling bad..." "I know how she works, I know everything about her... now" "Nothing happened Zac! You've got to believe me!" "Nothing! Does this look like nothing!" Zac screamed, as he grabbed a sobbing and frightened Chamille, pulling her infront of him and shaking her a bit before Tay as if she were a rag doll. "Don't hurt her Zac! It's not what you think!" "I could never hurt her as much as she's hurt me." Zac sneered as he pushed Chamille away from him with a disgusted look in his eyes. Chamille fled into the waiting arms of her cousin and Nichole huged her soothingly. Tay found his bravery and got to his knees, he lay a hand on Zac's arm as he spoke softly, his eyes meeting his brothers in earnest. "I know she hurt you Zac, I think you need to talk like a civil human with her. This temper tantrum shit is getting thin. You are scaring the life out of her. If you really want to try to get her back like you've been moaning about for weeks, then scaring her is not the answer." Zac's eyes were down cast and teary, he knew his brother was right, and he felt like an ass for thinking his brother could betray him like that... but he still didn't trust Chamille, even though she still owned his heart, he had to be truthful with himself. How could he ever trust her again after what she'd done to him. Besides, she had made it pretty clear... she wanted nothing more to do with him. But he just couldn't help himself. The jealousy of seeing her with another man, any man, even his brother, it was more then his tortured soul could bare. He needed her. She was under his skin like an itch he couldn't reach. He wanted her back. He wanted her bad. Ike was far enough off so he could witness the first act of the play he had been writting his brother's life into... He watched as Nichole led Chamille away quietly, the shaking shoulders belied the sobs that shook Chamille. She was frightened, but she was also hurting. She maybe was realizing that Zac cared. cared enough to cause a sceene, even after the fact was clear that she had broken up with him. But what was she going to do about it? Had she dumped him because she was scared before? Did she still care for him? Want him back? There were so many questions left to find the answers to. For the sake of saving his brothers sanity, and ridding the band from a threat of Zac not careing about music enough to continue due to depression... he was bound to find out some of those. And if he had to get chummy with the icy Nichollette... well then all the better right? After all... it was all done becuse of how much he loved his brother... right? |
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