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Taylor felt awareness come to him as if a switch had been flipped. Asleep one moment, awake the next. He smelled pizza and could hear the click of fingers on a computer keyboard. He sat up and looked around. The room was dim but he could see as if it were midday. His brothers were both hunched over the small desk, looking intently at the computer screen. Getting up, he realized he was wearing the same clothes for the third day. He walked over and stood behind them, peering over their shoulders. “What are y’all looking at?” He asked. “Dammit, Tay!” Isaac scolded his brother. “You shoulda cleared your throat or somethin’... I think I just wet myself!” |
“Um, you awake now?” he asked.
“No, I’m still asleep.” Taylor said back. “What is that?” He asked them, gesturing at the screen. Zac still watched him out of the corner of his eye.
“Well,” Isaac said, “it would appear to be one of many memorial pages for you. Very nice.”
Taylor’s eyes widened and he leaned in closer, “You’re kidding, right?”
Zac scooted over a bit, “No, we’re not kidding Taylor. You were murdered on the bus in the parking lot of the hotel, an ambulance came and police cars and there was blood everywhere and all sorts of things happened. The fans aren’t retarded, they saw it, they took pictures. Wait’ll you see the bus.”
“What happened to the bus?” Taylor asked, looking from brother to brother.
“Hit back a couple times, Zac.” Isaac said.
A few clicks of the mouse later, an amazing scene popped up on the monitor. There was the familiar red bus, but it was covered with notes, drawings, trinkets and more flowers than Taylor had seen since viewing the same kind of outpouring of grief when Princess Diana had died, though this was on a much smaller scale. He stood up straight, covering his mouth with his hand. “That’s for me?” He said softly, “but, I’m not dead.”
“Taylor,” Isaac said, flipping on the light, “We gotta do something fast, some of the girls are really freaking, some of ‘em might... you know...”
Taylor looked at him, his eyes wide. “Don’t say that Ike, they’re not that crazy.”
Zac laughed, “what are you, stupid or something? Of course they would.”
Taylor knew his brothers were right, some of the fans did feel that strongly about them. He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back down on the bed. He looked at the clock. It was 4:48 in the afternoon. “Dammit!” He said. “Why didn’t you all wake me up sooner? We’re probably still fifteen or twenty hours from New York!”
Zac and Isaac looked at each other. “Tay, I hate to tell you this,” Isaac said, “but, it can’t be done.”
Taylor threw his hands out, “What the hell are you talking about? Just wake me up next time.”
Zac rolled his eyes and muttered, “A stake in the heart might do it.”
Taylor looked at Zac and his blood went cold and he immediately wished he could take the comment back. “Yeah, I guess that would do it.” Taylor said quietly.
“Tay, I didn’t mean that...“ Zac started.
“It could have been you.” Taylor stated coldly. He then stood up and went to his backpack, pulling the t-shirt off over his head. Isaac glanced at Zac and he shrugged his shoulders. “Have you posted something on Hanson.net or what?” Taylor turned, pulling a thick sweater on.
“We tried,” Zac said, “but it’s locked up or something... too much traffic.”
“Well, we gotta do something! Did you call Dad or Chris?” Taylor said, rummaging through his bag. “Where’s my cell phone?”
Isaac shrugged, “Uh, it’s with all your personal effects. Evidence, you know?”
Taylor stood there, dumbfounded for a moment. Finally, he spoke, “So, I’m dead. The world thinks I’m dead.”
“Not exactly.” Isaac answered. “It’s the weirdest thing, the cops and everybody didn’t believe it. They acted like we were crazy.”
“Yeah,” Zac added, “the ambulance guys pronounced you dead, told US you were dead, then threw your body in their truck. Then, the next time we see ‘em, at the hospital and stuff, they say it was a prank. And there is no body, and we’re all just crazy.” Zac stood up and went into the bathroom, turning on the shower.
Taylor looked back at Isaac. “How’s Mom and Dad?” He asked.
“How do you think? Their seventeen year old son was murdered. Everybody was freaking, including them.” Isaac answered.
“Do they know I’m alive?” Taylor asked.
“Yes.” Isaac said, shutting down the computer.
“Um, do they know about my... problem?” Taylor asked.
Isaac shook his head, “no, we’ll tell them that when we see them... somehow.” He said, handing Taylor his phone.
Taylor took it from him and walked over to the window, pulling the blinds back a tiny bit and flinching at the soft sunlight. He took his hand away, then turned away from the window, punching in the numbers with his thumb. Isaac watched as Taylor began to pace, then stopped in his tracks. “Dad?” he said, “Yeah it’s me. No, I’m ok... I am... I know, I’m really sorry. It’s such a long story Dad, I don’t even know if I know what happened, can’t I just tell you when I see you?” Taylor nervously ran his hand through his hair again and sat down on the bed as Zac walked out of the shower, his hair dripping down his back.
“Who’s he talking to?” He asked Isaac.
“Dad.” He replied.
Zac raised his eyebrows and sat on the bed opposite Taylor and began the task of combing out his thick hair. Taylor spoke into the phone again, “Dad, we’ll be there tonight, I promise. We’ll get a flight out... I promise. We will... tell everybody I love ‘em. Tell Mom I miss her, ok, bye Dad. Love you too.” And he ended the call, flopping back down on the bed.
“Well?” Isaac asked, walking over and sitting next to Zac.
Taylor sat up, “Chris is gonna handle the internet thing till we get there. God! This sucks!”
“So, we’re gonna fly? It’s probably about two hours Tay, can you handle it?” He asked, looking at both his brothers.
Zac spoke, “Tay, you pretty much passed out when the sun came up this morning. Before that, really.”
Taylor stood up and looked over at the clock, “Then we have to make sure we get there before that.” He said, and he grabbed a clean pair of pants from their one suitcase and went into the bathroom, his brothers watching after him.
~~~~~
“I’ve been told the family is in New York.” Beatriz spoke into the phone. On the other end, Sonya was pacing back and forth. “You bring him to me—I don’t care how you do it. I’ll be merciful since he was turned against his will, but he is a vampire now, whether he likes it or not and there are rules that must be followed. I don’t think I need to remind you of that, do I Sonya?”
Sonya looked at the two girls going through Taylor’s closet, “No my Lady, you don’t.”
~~~~~
“There has to be something.” Taylor told the woman at the ticketing counter.
“I can put you on standby.” She said coldly.
The boys had gotten to the airport, Zac and Isaac both amazed that Taylor was able to lug all their bags and run much faster than either of them when they’d seen a flight leaving for New York in twenty two minutes. As the two boys he’d left behind caught up with him, out of breath, sweat rolling down their faces watched, Taylor looked at the woman, his eyes locked on her face.
At last, she looked up at him, “Sir, the flight is full.” She said, then Zac and Isaac watched as a blank look came across her face.
Taylor spoke very softly to her, “If you’ll check again, you will find something. It can be done.” For a moment, the two stood, their faces mere inches apart as Taylor leaned his long body over the counter, “You know you can do it.”
She looked down again and typed something on the keyboard. Zac and Isaac’s jaws dropped open as she handed him three tickets and said, “thank You for flying Delta, Mr. Simpson.”
“No, thank you...” and he looked at her name tag, “...Jenny.” He smiled at her, his eyes glittering as she smiled back sweetly. “C’mon guys, let’s get on, we only have about five minutes.” He snapped at his dumbstruck brothers, then he grabbed their backpacks and walked swiftly to their gate.
~~~~~
It was 8:42 p.m. as they boarded the plane. Taylor placed their bags in the overhead compartment, then waited for his brothers to take their seats, two together and one farther back to the rear of the plane. As Isaac and Zac passed him he caught their stares, “what?” he asked.
“What did you do to that lady?” Isaac hissed as Zac plopped down into the window seat.
“Nothing. She was being a bitch. Look at all the empty seats.” Taylor said, gesturing around him.
“And who is Mr. Simpson?” Isaac asked.
“I don’t know,“ Taylor said, putting his hands on his hips, “just a name I put in her head, alright? Why do you care, Ike?”
Isaac looked over at Zac for a moment, who was staring out the window, then turned back to Taylor, “It’s just not right.”
Taylor rolled his eyes, then gave a dismissive gesture. “Whatever.” He then turned and took his seat 5 rows behind them.
Zac turned and peered through the seats, watching Taylor as he settled into the seat. As the flight attendants began taking their places and announcements were made, Zac whispered to Isaac, “Do you think he can read our minds?”
Isaac put his head back and closed his eyes. “I have no idea Zac. What did Sonya say about it?”
“I don’t remember.” Zac said, still watching Taylor.
“I don’t either. I hope he can. Quit bugging me man, go to sleep or something.” Isaac said, yawning.
~~~~~
Once in the air, Taylor, time and again found himself asking the flight attendants for water. It had driven him crazy watching his brothers finish off the pizza before they’d left the hotel. Not because he was hungry at that moment, but because he knew how wonderful it tasted. He’d actually had to go in the bathroom at one point as he’d felt his teeth getting that familiar ache, telling him they were about to turn into fangs and he knew Zac was frightened of him already. Now though, his hunger was real. Watching the other passengers eat the sandwiches and drink soft drinks that had been passed out was torturous. He moved to the empty seat next to him to look out the window. Below him, he could occasionally see the lights of a city as they passed over it. Suddenly, his senses tingled and his nostrils flared as he smelled food.
Beside him, a girl had set in the empty seat he’d vacated. A fan. “Are you Taylor?” She asked, tears in her eyes.
“Yes.” He answered, hoping his teeth would remain the way they were.
“Oh my God, they said you were dead... Oh my God.” She said, putting her hand on his arm. A tear rolled down her face and she wiped it away.
“I know, I’m sorry they’re saying that. We’ve been trying to get through to tell everybody it’s not true.” He said, leaning in closer.
“But, there were pictures and everything...” She said back.
Taylor watched her, she was chewing gum... spearmint from the smell of it. “Um, you don’t have another piece of gum, do ya?” He asked.
“Oh. Sorry, no. It’s my last piece.” She said.
“Ok, thanks anyway.” He said back.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you alone...“ She started.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to blow you off.” He said, placing his hand over hers and looking into her eyes and when he opened them again, the clouds seemed to reflect off of them and she found she couldn’t stop looking at them...
~~~~~
Zac smacked Isaac. “Ike!” he hissed.
“Huh?! What?” He snapped, opening his eyes.
“He’s got a girl!” Zac said, peeking through the seats at Taylor and the pretty girl who was gazing at him.
Isaac turned around, then back to Zac, “Oh my God, it’s a girl, talking to Taylor! What are we gonna do!?” He asked, mocking his little brother.
Zac just looked at him, “what if he kills her?” He asked calmly.
“Zac! Would you stop with the crap?” He whispered. “Why don’t you just announce it to the world?” Isaac was angry. “He’s not gonna do anything to her right in the middle of a bunch of people. Jeez, now leave me alone.” He said, and he turned away from Zac in a huff.
Zac made a face at Isaac’s back, then turned back to spy on Taylor again. But he was gone, and so was the girl. Zac’s eyes widened. He stood up and looked around, hoping to see them sitting somewhere, but he didn’t see her sitting next to her friend. He made his way past Isaac and down the aisle between the rows of passengers. Taylor’s backpack was in his empty seat. Slowly, he made his way back towards the restroom. He leaned in toward the door, listening. He didn’t hear anything, but the occupied sign was on. Just as he was about to knock, he heard someone inside, obviously right up against the door. He put his ear against it and then he could hear, ”Oh... Oh, God... I love you...” He heard a female voice. There was some moving around, then quiet.
As the door opened, Zac stood face to face with his brother. “Zac, what are you doing?” Taylor asked, closing the door behind him.
“Uh, I have to use the bathroom.” He said, backing up a little.
“Oh, uh, you don’t want to go in there.” He said, smiling.
“Tay,” Zac whispered, “you haven’t used the bathroom for like, three days or something. You don’t even have to do that anymore.”
Taylor looked away, “there’s somebody in there Zac. She’ll be out in a minute.” He said quietly, then he made his way back to his seat and turned the light off above his head and looked out the window.
Zac looked at the door for a moment, then he reached down and turned the handle. Inside the tiny room, he saw the girl standing in front of the sink, gulping water from her hands. She then stood and pushed her hair off her forehead, the drops of water running down her face. “Are you alright?” Zac asked her.
She turned to face him. “Um... yeah.” She said softly. She was pale and tired looking as she passed him in the doorway, walking slowly to join her friend, looking back at Taylor as she made her way to the front of the plane. Zac watched as she sat heavily in her seat and her friend immediately leaned over and began to whisper to her excitedly. Zac looked at Taylor, he was just sitting, unmoving.
He stepped into the restroom and shut the door. Nothing appeared to be out of place, there wasn’t blood everywhere or signs of a struggle. Stepping back out, he walked back and sat down next to Taylor. “Tay, you didn’t... do anything to her, did you?”
Taylor turned his head and looked sadly at him. “Yeah, Zac, I did, alright?”
Zac looked back up at the girl, “How come I didn’t see anything?”
Taylor waved his hand and shook his head, “Something in my saliva... it just... heals really fast or something, Sonya said.”
Zac looked up front again, to see both girls looking back at them, “Well, why isn’t she freaking out? I mean, you bit her and stuff, right?”
Taylor looked at her and she smiled, “Yeah, she just thinks we made out or something.” Zac looked at him, his hair was shinier, his skin was flawless, his eyes so clear they sparkled, yet, the air of sadness around him was thick. “I just...” Taylor started, then he looked away from his brother and covered his face with his hands for a moment. “I just don’t want to do this, but it’s like... I was gonna go crazy or somethin’ and then she sat down... she wanted to make sure I was ok, ‘cause she saw that stuff on the net...” Zac thought he was going to see Taylor cry, but he didn’t. “How am I supposed to live like this, Zac?” He asked, looking Zac in the eye.
Suddenly, Zac felt as if Taylor were looking into his mind, and it took everything he had to look away from him. “I don’t know Tay, but we’ll figure it out. We have to. I don’t know what else we can do.” Taylor sighed. “Hey,” Zac asked, “got any more gum?”
Taylor shook his head. “Nope, it’s my last piece.” He said and he looked back out the window.