Chapter Nineteen- 'Oh No I See
A Spider Web And It's Me In The Middle'
11 Souls Later...
Isaac woke up extra early. He knew what was today and what was his fate. He looked at Melissa and didn't find any happiness. When this day was over he would have lost her forever. Not only her, he would have lost everybody. His whole life to be precise. In under fifteen hours they would all be gone. He hadn't the heart to tell them. He couldn't tell them. There was no way in hell he could break the news that he was leaving and never returning. He would have forgotten everything about himself in replace of his family, friends and his girlfriend being spared. He just couldn't tell them.
"You're awake early." Melissa mumbled, lying on his chest.
"Got stuff on my mind." Isaac replied.
"What kinda stuff? Vampire stuff, us stuff, crappy band stuff, what?" Melissa smiled.
"A little of everything really." Isaac replied.
Melissa rolled over and yawned. "Well I'm not going back to sleep any time soon. Not that it'll do much help anyway." She waved her hand at both of them. "We look fabulous."
"Well you can speak for me but I'm not so sure about you." Isaac laughed. It was good to get his problems off of his mind.
"Blonde." Melissa smiled.
"Goth." He replied without blinking.
"Bimbo."
"Witch."
"Bubblegum lover."
"Pop star lover." Isaac laughed. "And you know that one is true."
"I thought you didn't like being called a pop star, Hendrix wannabe?"
"But if it insults you that's Okay."
Melissa kissed him on the lips and grinned. "You know I'm only dating you for the money, right?"
"And I'm only dating you because you're easy."
She hit him. "You are such a pig! Wait until Tiger Beat hear about this!"
"Just wait until your Goth friends hear your dating a pop star." Isaac smiled.
"They know, and they pity me."
"Come on admit it, you know I'm hot."
Melissa got out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. "Not hot enough for me, sorry. I've had a lot better than you. I'd give last night, oh, a D minus."
"Hey! That's low!" Isaac called after her.
He stopped smiling and sighed. This was basically his last day on earth and he was spending it insulting his girlfriend. He had to do something special.
"Melissa? You got any plans today?"
"Not really. I met a few people at this bar last night but I ate one of them so I think our shopping date is cancelled." Melissa called back.
"Well I want an extra special day today."
"How come?" She yelled over the taps running.
"Isn't it some sort of anniversary of ours?"
"What like our one thousandth insult?"
"No, like our third month together." Isaac thought that one through. It could work.
"I'm not sure. I can't even remember how we met up."
"You insulted my taste in woman at the bar, remember?"
"Oh yeah, Gemma was ranting about some monster to my boss the next day and I think she's in therapy or something. Nice going. So is it our third month?"
"As far as I know, I think it is."
"You sure you don't have any promoting?"
"If I do I'm cancelling it." Isaac said.
Melissa walked out in a bath robe. "You don't have to do that, I'm not bothered."
"Yeah I do, this is important to me." He kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"And this is coming from somebody who forgot Tay's birthday two years in a row?"
"Oh he doesn't care."
"And neither do I. Ike, if you have to work you should. I'm not going to stop you. I've basically been declared dead or fired because I haven't turned up for a month to work and travelling is my speciality. I'm staying with you so I don't care about your job. It's not like I have any other life to go to, aside from me and Carise watching reruns of 'I Love Lucy'."
"But I want today to be a good day and that's final."
"Have it your way." Melissa shrugged.
Isaac suddenly thought of something. Something perfect. "I'm going to go out for about half an hour, Okay?"
"Ike, it's daylight, you can't feed." Melissa pointed to the sunlight pouring through the bay windows.
"I'm not hungry, I just want to do something quick."
"Well then scoot, I'll probably be downstairs with the boys and your mom."
"Yeah sure, wake them up."
"Will do." Melissa called as he walked out of the door. She sighed happily and skipped into the bathroom. Despite her protests she wanted it to be a nice day too. She wanted a carefree, all Ike, doing special sort of stuff day. She was smiling as she had her shower and got dressed, feeling good about the day that lay ahead. She looked at the clothes in her wardrobe. After going shopping with Diana her clothes had piled up and soon she had enough outfits to choose from for every occasion. So she put on her 'special day' outfit and tried tidying up a little in the apartment. She liked this one more than the one they had stayed in the first two weeks. It didn't look so expensive and fit for a king. This one was much cosier and warmer. She liked the feeling throughout the hotel even though it was full of snobby rich folk.
Melissa let herself into Taylor's bedroom despite he had locked it. He was still asleep even though his TV was on. It looked like he too had tried to watch 'Trainspotting' and 'Shallow Grave' that had been playing on Channel 4 from midnight. Melissa switched off 'Bewitched' and shook Taylor awake. He was laid out on the king-sized extra soft-looking bed with the covers tangled up everywhere and hugging a pillow. If he didn't look so lazy and zombie-like, she would say he was quite cute when asleep. In a little brother sort of way.
"Fuck off..." Taylor mumbled from his pillow.
"Oh but Taylor! I'm your biggest fan! I want your masculine body you keyboardist from heaven!" Melissa said in a fake girlie English accent.
"Melissa, I know it's you." Taylor replied with a hint of amusement.
"Really?" Melissa asked, dropping the accent.
"Really now go away or get room service to bring me some breakfast."
"Oh how pampered do you sound?" Melissa asked, disgusted with his pop-star ego.
"I'm allowed to sound like that, we're in the classiest hotel in London plus I was on TV just last night."
Melissa sighed. "I didn't think I'd have to do this..."
She picked up the mattress and Taylor rolled off of the bed and onto the floor. He shook his head clear and looked at her in amazement. "Why can't you sleep in like normal people?"
"Because it's a nice day outside." Melissa pulled open the curtains and Taylor groaned at the sudden light. "Plus..."
She pulled Taylor's covers away from him and threw them into the next room. Taylor moaned but couldn't be bothered to go get them.
"I'm not people Taylor-Tot."
She laughed wickedly and walked into Zac's room. Taylor had no choice but to get up and start the day with bed-hair and the half-awake feeling from a too short sleep.
"Ohhh! Melissa! It's too early...!"
Sometimes he really hated sisters.
It was amazing how many jewellery stores were open that early in the morning. Ike had about ten to choose from according to the taxi driver. He got out at one and was told where the others were before entering. His experience of jewellery buying was minimal, apart from his dad asking for a second opinion on his wife's birthday presents that he never took. So Ike was a blank on what was good and what was bad.
"Can I help you?" An elderly man asked. He looked like the owner or at least the boss.
"Uh, yeah. I need a ring."
"Ah, yes, for anyone in particular?" He asked warmly.
"Well for my fianc� to be, I hope." Isaac replied and smiled at the idea.
The man looked at him. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen."
The man sighed. "Young love. I really hope you actually love one another."
"Trust me on this, we do."
The man smiled and opened up a cabinet. "Because I don't sell these for cheap marriages."
"I know, it would be a shame to do so."
The man laughed. "Which one do you like?"
Ike looked at them. "What do you recommend?"
"Jazz music and open theatre." The man laughed at his own joke but Ike only laughed politely. "Well what kind of jewels does she like?"
"Oh I know she likes aquamarine, that's her birthstone." That was the most Melissa knew about her birthday and so cherished it to the fullest.
"Aquamarines. A March birthday then." The man took one out. "How about this?"
He should Ike a ring that had a blue stone in the shape of a heart. Around it were tiny diamonds and bigger ones encircled the whole ring.
"That's great." Isaac realised. "In fact it's perfect! She'll love it."
The man hesitated. "Certain?"
"Yeah, I am." Ike nodded.
"Don't want to ask the audience? Phone a friend?" He asked again.
"What?" Isaac asked, confused.
"Ah, kids. Never watch good TV any more." He picked it and looked at the price tag. "Sure you can afford it?"
"I'm pretty sure, yeah." Isaac replied with ease.
"Want me to engrave it?" The man smiled.
"Yeah. Just let me think of something you could put in it."
"Just please not any cheesy clich�s, I can't stand them."
"Sure."
"Why are you so happy?" Zac asked one hour later to a dancing Melissa. They were seated in the living room with bowls of Corn Flakes and porridge that Melissa had insisted they had because it was good for them, compared to their usual king sized full-English breakfast.
"It's a special day." She almost sung that line and all.
"So that's why you're dancing badly to Madonna?" Zac asked with amusement.
"Hey! I could waltz better than anyone in a ballroom in my day."
"Well this is the twenty-first century grandma, try to get some rhythm, girl." Taylor replied.
"You're just jealous you aint got my moves."
"You haven't seen me in action, have you Babe?" Taylor asked, getting up.
"Oh no..." Zac mumbled, burying his face in his hands.
"I need a couple shots of vodka and a continuos tape of 'Louie Louie'!" Taylor demanded.
"Plus ten years dance lessons, then you'll be set." Zac replied. "So, why is it a special day?"
"Ike said he wanted it to be a special day so it must mean good things!"
Zac shot a look at Tay as Melissa skipped to the CD player to change it over. Taylor gave him a questionable look so Zac mouthed what he hoped Tay would be thinking also but obviously wasn't.
'Is he gonna propose today?'
Taylor shrugged then mouthed: 'He said once we got back home.'
'Are you sure?'
"Trust me on this." Tay whispered.
"What are you two whispering about?" Melissa stood over them with her hands on her hips. They had forgotten she could hear better than most people.
"Oh nothing, you'll find out soon." Zac promised.
"If it involves anything to do with water balloons I'm ordering in for dinner tonight if you know what I mean." Melissa grinned, licking her lips for effect.
"Hey last time was an accident! That stupid bellboy kept on moving!" Taylor protested.
"Yeah well remember I can get mighty hungry when pissed off so leave the tricks up your sleeves, thanks." Melissa said and sat down, satisfied.
"Isn't it funny when she starts sounding like a grandma?" Zac suddenly said.
"I do not!" Melissa said.
"I have heard a few lines that were too old for even Cary Grant films." Tay agreed.
"I'm still twenty at heart!" Melissa shot back.
"With four hundred years on that." Tay grinned.
Melissa thought for a second. "Hands up in this room who saw Elvis, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Who live while they were in their prime?" She raised her hand happily. "So I may be a grandma but at least I saw the greats."
"And yet you can't carry a tune on that little guitar of yours? Sad." Zac laughed.
"I'm better than a certain guitarist your related to though." Melissa grinned.
"Yeah, but that's a given. Come on, are you sure you don't want to join up? You could take Tay's place as the pretty one."
Melissa sighed. "But Tay will always be the prettiest, I can't compete against him! Besides, if you bring in a perfect musician like myself they'll be no need for us to improve. Our work in music will be done."
"So your saying it's better to keep a novice like Ike than risk having to finish the band because we can't top ourselves?" Tay asked.
"Yep." Melissa paused. "Oh and plus I hate your music. Sorry."
"Nice to see you think a lot of me." Ike said as he walked in and sat next to Melissa.
"She's just telling like it is Ike, sorry." Zac patted Ike on the arm. "You suck."
"And I've been playing longer than you." Ike grinned.
"Hey! That's not... You..." Zac was stumped. "Screw you."
"Admit it, all three of you suck individually but collectively you're even worse. I can't even stay in the room when Mmmbop is playing without gagging." Melissa got up happily and walked to the bathroom door. "I told your mom I'd split you up and it's working." She closed the door shut and cackled evilly.
All three looked at one another. They were not going to sit there and let a groupie get away with comments like that. Even if they did start it. This meant drastic measures.
"I think we've been saving this." Taylor said. His brothers nodded.
Zac came back a minute later having found his megaphone which Melissa had used to wake him up a couple hours earlier.
"Anybody been practising or even sung along to anything -and I'm talking even Limp Bizkit- lately?" Ike asked.
"Nope."
"Not since last week."
"Perfect." Ike smiled.
Melissa happily splashed some water on her face, felling victorious as she should for making them, in a way, admit that they are a bad excuse for a band. It felt good. Suddenly she heard whispering. There was an ambush afoot.
"Guys?" Melissa opened the door slowly, making sure she could not be hit by whatever weapons they had chosen.
"Mmmbop du ba du ba DO BOP! Du ba da ba DU BOP! Du ba do ba DOOOO...!"
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