A NIGHT ON THE TOWN
MEL
Sleep eluded Mel. She had slept a couple of hours when she'd first gotten into bed--alone, as always. But now here she was, hours later, laying wide awake beside Taylor as he slept soundly. Looking over at his silhouette in the dark, he seemed so far away from her in their king-sized bed. She made a mental note to look into queens. This surely couldn't be healthy for them. Hell, what was healthy for them? She didn't know.
Fred stirred at her feet and she heard his light purring in the silence of the bedroom. She reached over and checked her cell phone. 4:23am. She knew she'd been awake at least two hours, staring listlessly into the blackness, her brain going a mile a minute.
Mel did everything Pastor Bradley told her to do. It didn't take her long. She would probably skim her pros and cons list again and she was surprised at her Five Love Languages result. Pastor Bradley hadn't been kidding when he said you could learn a lot about yourselves. It startled Mel how spot-on her result seemed to be.
She had no way of knowing if Tay even started on his. What was supposed to be an evening together--both Pastor Bradley's and Tay's ideas--turned into Tay working. How in the hell could he find so damn much to work on, even when Isaac and Zac weren't around? She loved him and she loved his work and the way he worked and his passion for it--but there had to be a point where the work didn't come first. And that made her think--did he work so much because he genuinely wanted to work? Or did he work so much to get away from her? Should she be concerned?
She looked over at sleeping Tay in the dark and didn't realize she still had her phone in her hand when it vibrated suddenly, startling her. Checking her messages, she was a little surprised to see a text from Jason. "Hey, gorgeous. Hope I didn't bother you so early in the morning. Anyway, wanted to let you know before it got out. Had a date with a girl last night. Her name is Maria and she's from the Dominican Republic. It seemed to go well. She's nice. I think we'll go out again."
Mel felt herself sighing in the dark. She couldn't let this upset her this time. She had to cut the cord. She had to have faith in knowing that he would always be there for her, even when he found someone else. Her being with Tay didn't stop Jason from being there when she needed him. She knew he wasn't the type of person who would drop her like a bad habit like that. It's why she trusted him. It's why was her best friend.
So she sucked it up and she texted him back. "Good, I'm glad for you."
"Wow, I can't believe you're awake."
"Can't sleep."
"What's wrong?"
"Why does anything have to be wrong?"
"Because I know you and I know you love to sleep and if you aren't sleeping, something's wrong."
"I thought we were talking about you?"
"Apparently not anymore."
"Tell me about Maria."
"Go downstairs and call me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Tell me about Maria."
"Tell me what's going on."
Mel sighed again and rolled her eyes. Attempting to downplay it and calm Jason down, because she could just see how his face must look at that moment, she texted him, "It's no big deal, really. I told Tay I wanted a religious wedding so he found a pastor and now we're in premarital counseling."
"You? In counseling? ROFL"
"Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't be doing it if the guy didn't require it."
"So it's keeping you awake."
"I don't know. I guess. Maybe."
"Are there problems in your relationship? Is that why you can't sleep?"
"I didn't think there were, but I guess maybe there are. But that's normal, right?"
"I guess so. Every relationship has its issues. I'm not gonna pry or anything, but the two of you will get through it. Your issues and the counseling. It'll happen for you."
"I hope."
"You hope?"
"I don't like having my short-comings just called out in the open like that. His, either. It's like a slap in the face."
"Now that sounds more like the Mel I know."
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me about Maria. And where are you, anyway?"
"Chicago, filming a few scenes. She's a production assistant..."
As she read his texts about the apparent foreign beauty, Tay stirred in bed beside her. The glow of her phone lit up the room and she could see his eyes opening as he raised his head and looked at her. "Hey, babe," he said, groggy with sleep. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "Sorry if I woke you."
"No, you didn't wake me." He rubbed his eyes and propped himself up on his elbow. "Who are you talking to?"
"Oh. Just Jason."
"In the middle of the night?"
"Well, it's not really the middle of the night, it's 4:30 in the morning. He's sitting in hair and makeup in Chicago, telling me about the new woman he's seeing."
She could practically see Tay smiling in the dark. "A girlfriend, huh? Good for him."
"Yeah," Mel said nonchalantly. "She's Dominican. A production assistant."
Tay pulled the covers further over him and slid himself closer to her. "Well, good, then, maybe we can double date sometime. That'll be fun."
"Oh, sure," Mel agreed, half-heartedly. "I'm sure it would be."
"So why are you awake so early?"
Quickly, Mel texted Jason, "Tay's awake, gotta go" and then laid her phone back on the bedside table where it belonged. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to be so secretive about it, but something about Tay catching her texting Jason in the middle of the night just felt--off. And it shouldn't have.
"Just couldn't sleep," she answered. "What time did you get to bed?"
"Um, I don't know...one, maybe?"
"I miss you, Tay."
"What?"
"I miss you."
"But I'm right here."
Sighing in defeat, at how hopeless he seemed to be, she covered herself and turned over to face the room. He wrapped his arm around her and spooned her as he fell back asleep and she allowed it. What was the issue here? Was it her? Was it him? Was it all in her head?
Were they going to survive counseling?
--------------------
"Where are you going?" Taylor asked Mel the next evening as he watched her adjust the sleeves on the loose-fitted button down shirt she wore with her black mini-skirt and black platform pumps.
"I told you earlier," she responded, now messing with her hair in the mirror. "I guess you didn't pay attention, as if that's anything new. Nikki and Katie, from the office, invited me to go out tonight."
"In that?"
In just over twenty-four hours, she had witnessed her fiancée get emotionally torn to shreds as they sat through counseling, then he ditched her for work later that night, and then Jason texted her with info about his new exotic girlfriend at 4:30 in the morning. What she didn't need right now, was Tay's obvious jealousy over her choice in wardrobe. She eyed him, hard, daring him to continue. "What's wrong with it?"
"The skirt's a little...short...don't you think?"
"I bet if I were wearing this somewhere with you, you wouldn't have a damn thing to say about it. As a matter of fact, you'd be feeling me up underneath the table."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means it doesn't matter what I wear. This outfit is cute and I like it, so I'm wearing it. You're not going to start controlling what I wear."
"I wasn't trying to."
"Yes, you were. In your own little secret way, you were. If you think I'm gonna sit here all holed up in this house like your little trophy wife like Natalie did, you've got another thing coming. I have a life, I have friends. I have people. And I'm going to enjoy it, with or without you."
"MEL. WHAT is going on with you? Why are you being so hostile? I simply asked a question."
"In your accusatory tone."
"I didn't even use a tone."
"Do I ask you where you go all the time? Who you're with, where've you been? Do I?"
"Hon, I just want to know you're safe."
"You want to know I'm not fucking around on you."
"What in the--Mel, I wish you would calm down."
"I wish you would trust me."
Suddenly, he leaned over and breathed in. "Have you already been drinking?"
She scowled at him. It was true. She'd already had a couple of glasses of wine, but who was counting?
"Maybe you should reconsider tonight," Tay continued.
"No. I am going out. Nikki and Katie invited me and I'm gonna go."
"Well, you sure as hell aren't driving. I'm calling a cab."
"Let them know they have three stops to make."
------------------
"I'm such an asshole," Mel lamented to Katie and Nikki over cocktails.
"What?" Katie asked. "No, you're not. Why?"
Mel wasn't sure why, but she proceeded to tell them, in not so much detail, about her failures as a fiancée and how she chewed Taylor out for no apparent reason before she'd come out tonight.
"Well, he ditched your quality time together for work last night," Nikki said, flipping her mass of curly hair off her shoulder. "I'd be mad, too."
"He was nice enough to call a cab for us tonight so we wouldn't be caught driving," Katie, always the optimist, pointed out.
"Yeah, probably so he could control the driver," Mel responded.
"Is it really that bad?" Nikki asked.
Mel sighed. "I don't know. He's got all these issues, he thinks all these things are problems HE has, but I feel like if a lot of it weren't for me, he wouldn't feel what he feels. So, ultimately, I'M the problem here. Not him."
"You know what?" Nikki said. "Tonight is girls' night and we're going to dance and we're going to have a good time and we're going to forget all about his junk for awhile. Who needs men tonight?"
After the three ladies toasted and finished their drinks, they left the table and were on to the next bar.
Bar number two was one that Mel hadn't frequented very often. It was crowded and the music pumped and the lights flashed and the drinks flowed freely from all directions. After several shots and much dancing, Mel was finding it difficult to stand on her heels, so the three women decided to sit at the bar and take a break from the dance floor.
Mel and Katie and Nikki talked and laughed and people-watched as they sat on their bar stools. Mel smiled as men hit on Nikki and Katie. None of them hardly looked at her. She guessed that's what recognition got you, but she would have been flattered of one had maybe inappropriately ogled her for a second, but oh well. She was happy enough for her friends that it didn't matter.
The night was going swimmingly until the shrill sound of, "Hey, bitch!" came from behind them. The three women glanced at each other, but none of them thought anything of it. There were so many drunk women around, it could have been anything.
But it came again, this time closer to Mel's ear. "Hey, bitch!"
Finally, Mel turned around in her barstool and faced an obviously inebriated girl with straight, sandy blonde hair, who was barely able to stand and was apparently on something a little stronger than alcohol. "My friend just told me you were all over my man on the dance floor!"
"Who the fuck is your friend?" Mel responded as Nikki and Katie left their barstools to witness the confrontation.
"It doesn't matter," said the drunk girl. "Just because you walk around here, thinking you're some superstar or some shit, doesn't mean you can just be all over my man!"
"Sweetheart, I don't know who the fuck you think you're talking to, but I didn't dance with ANY men tonight. And furthermore, since you think I'm some kind of superstar, then you MUST know who MY man is and, that being the case, there would be absolutely NO reason I would want YOURS. Trust me."
"Are you saying your man is better than mine?"
"You're goddamn right that's what I'm saying. I'm not a liar." Mel stood from her barstool and struggled to stand, herself. She was apparently a little drunker than she thought she was. Perhaps she should close her mouth now. Except the drunk girl wasn't finished.
"I'm just saying that just because you're in some magazines and hang around with some band doesn't give you the right to whore around with other women's men!"
"Well, honey, I don't know what to tell you. I haven't hung out with any men tonight. Maybe your friend is blind or something. But I'll tell you, if your man WAS looking at me, maybe it's because he longs for something a little better than trailer trash."
And then it was on.
No sooner had the girl thrown her drink at Mel, Mel had her on the floor. There was no clawing or hair-pulling or any of the other cliché female fight tactics. Mel went for blood and didn't take long uncovering it. A crowd formed around them quickly and she could hear Nikki yell, "Call Taylor!" to Katie before she said to Mel, "Mel, let her up!"
Mel saw red, literally and figuratively. She wasn't sure what her problem was, whether the girl really had pissed her off or if she simply found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up becoming Mel's human punching bag to get out her recent aggressions--she didn't know. But what she did know was that she couldn't stop hitting the girl as she straddled her on the bar floor and only stopped when Nikki wrapped her arms around her waist from behind and lifted her off the girl, both women still kicking and tearing to get back at the other.
By the time Nikki was able to get Mel back on her feet and Katie returned with her cell phone in her hand, bar security had already made their way to the middle of the crowd and escorted all parties involved out the door, no questions asked. Outside, Nikki and Katie stood with Mel as security talked with the girl and her friends and then he made his way back over to Mel. "Look. The paramedics are on their way to examine her. You got her pretty good. Because there are witnesses that say she started it, we talked her out of attempting to press charges, so the police isn't being called. Besides that and being who you are, there's no way she'd win this with the cops, anyway. It's the nature of the beast. We're not going to ban you this time, but just know, you can't just come busting up in our club and fighting like this. This won't happen again."
"You act like I've beat up the whole town. This is the first fight I've been in in years!"
"I'm just letting you know. Don't let it happen again. We'll be out here until your ride comes. I assume you have one coming?"
"Yes," Katie nodded.
----------------------------------------------------------------
TAYLOR
When Katie called him to tell him that she was watching Mel pound a random girl into the floor in the bar they were at, Taylor thanked the lord above that he was able to hear his phone ring.
Pulling up to the curb outside the bar, the first thing he saw was the ambulance with its lights on. Walking around it, he saw Mel's victim leaning with her back against the side of it as the paramedics tended to her wounds. Two black eyes and blood coming from who knew where. Taylor shook his head and shoved a business card into one of the paramedics' hands. "Give this to whoever needs to contact me regarding the medical bills," he said to him.
Then he spotted Mel with Katie and Nikki on the sidewalk at the other end of the building. Mel held a small plastic cup to her lip that he could only assume was filled with ice. Taking a deep breath, he approached her and softly touched her shoulder to get her attention. "Hey," he said to her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"What are you doing here?" Mel asked.
"Taking you home."
"I don't need you to take me home."
"You gonna camp out here on the sidewalk then?"
"Maybe."
"You really did a number on that girl, Mel."
"Well, she shouldn't have run her mouth."
"So you had to black both her eyes?"
"She threw her drink at me, Tay! Was I supposed to smile and coddle her for it? This shirt is dry-clean only!"
"She could have called the cops."
"She isn't going to, trust me. Too many people saw her start it."
"But she could have."
"I don't give a fuck what she does."
Gently Tay took the plastic cup from Mel's hand and leaned over to examine her bottom lip himself, wincing at the sight. "Damn, that's gotta hurt."
"Not as bad as hers does."
He took a portion of the scarf that wrapped around his neck and dabbed the blood from Mel's lip with it. "So what happened?"
"I told you. She ran her mouth," Mel muttered as best she could while Tay cleaned her up.
"The bitch accused Mel of messing with her boyfriend or whatever," Nikki finally said. "Except Mel only danced with me and Katie and didn't even talk to anybody else. Honest. And then the girl threw her drink at her. And, honestly, if Mel hadn't hit her, I would have."
"And that's it?" Tay asked.
Mel nodded.
He sighed and returned her ice cup to her lip. "Come on," he said as he started to lead her away.
"Um, we have a cab coming," Katie spoke up.
Tay turned around and looked at her. "So cancel it. I'm taking you home. Both of you." He reached back and took Mel's hand. "Come on."
The ride was silent. And dark. As Tay drove, his mind wandered. He had no idea how to feel about any of this. In a way, he kinda wished he was able to witness Mel in action. Maybe it was the masochist in him. But then part of him was furious with her. Something in his gut told him she shouldn't have gone out that night and now here they were. Or maybe it wasn't even her he was furious with. Her busted lip alone was enough to nearly send him over the edge. Sure, she had obviously dominated her little fight, but he had seen enough marks on Mel in the past for it to make him sick--to him, she was perfect and any blemish on his perfect canvas that was Mel, made him want to kill someone.
Beside him, Mel texted on her phone. Before he could think before he spoke, he said quietly, in a surprisingly accusing tone, "You texting Jason?"
"No," she spat out at him. And then her phone came flying across the Jeep, nearly missing his head and hitting the window next to him, falling down between his seat and the door. "I'm texting Nikki and Katie. They're back there wondering if you're mad and you ARE. Look for yourself."
If Tay wasn't fuming before, he was now. The Jeep swerved as he dug into the side of his seat where her phone fell. He retrieved it and tossed it into his own lap without looking at it, and continued to focus on the road.
"Well? Aren't you going to look? To make sure I'm not lying?" Mel taunted him.
"Um, she really was texting us," Nikki spoke up nervously from the back seat.
Tay glanced over at Mel and he could see her raised eyebrows in the dark.
"What is your problem?" he asked her. "You've had a problem since before you LEFT tonight, and goddammit, I'm going to know what it is."
"Because you're forever trying to control me, Tay! Always! Criticizing what I'm wearing, telling me I shouldn't go out! Now you're picking me up from the club and checking up to see who I'm texting--you're--you're--exactly the same as you used to be!"
"Oh, come OFF it, Mel!" he responded, his voice steadily getting louder. He caught a glance at a wide-eyed Nikki and Katie in the backseat but at this point his blood boiled too much to care about the company they were in. "First of all, you're drunk. Period. I can't believe I'm even trying to talk to you right now--"
"Then DON'T! What else is new, anyway?"
He wanted to pull the Jeep over so bad he couldn't stand it. "Come on. What the hell does that mean? You got in a fight with some random woman, Mel, and I came. I'm here. Isn't that your issue lately? You think I'm not 'there' enough? Well, here I am, Mel! I'm HERE. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?"
"I want out of this car. Let me out of this car."
"Not gonna happen."
"Unlock the doors."
"No."
"DO IT!"
"Stop making an ass of yourself."
"FUCK YOU! UNLOCK THESE DOORS RIGHT NOW!"
And then she proceeded to unlock it herself and open her own door.
Swerving all over the road, Tay nearly freaked out, his heart pounding in his chest. Reaching over, he grabbed her by the arm, perhaps a little harder than he should have, and jerked her back into the vehicle. Slamming on the brakes in the middle of the road, he unbuckled his belt and leaned over her lap, pulling her door shut. "ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?"
"I told you I wanted out of this car."
"I don't really give a shit what you want right now. I want you sober but you don't see that happening any time soon."
As Tay adjusted himself back in his seat and began to drive again, he noticed Mel scowling at him out of the corner of his eye. Then he looked over at her. "Put your seat belt on. Next time you decide to pull a stunt like that, you better make it count." Then he dug her phone out from between his legs and tossed it in her lap. "There's your phone. I'm sure you have plenty to say now."
Between dropping the girls off at home and driving to their own home, Mel never once touched her phone.
--------------------
Once home, Mel was out of the car and heading for the front door before Taylor even had his own door shut. She slammed the front door behind her, not even leaving it open for him and as he followed her into the house, clothes littered the floor, leaving a trail to where she was heading, one article at a time.
He picked up the clothes and shoes along the way and tossed the heap onto the sofa before heading into Mel's favorite bathroom, the one under the staircase. He crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway as she stood naked at the sink. She looked in the mirror at him. "What do you want? The bathroom's occupied."
He was almost amused. As much as she infuriated him in times like these, he couldn't deny that he loved every minute of it. She was spiteful and full of fire at the moment, but he wouldn't have her any other way. He wasn't even close to being brave enough to tell her how adorable he thought she was when she got like this--no matter how much she pissed him off, she was still adorable.
He answered here. "I'm just checking up on you."
"You've done enough checking up for one night, don't you think?"
"I'm not the one who got in a drunken brawl in the floor of a bar." He walked in and started the tub, adjusting the temperature.
"What are you doing?" Mel asked.
"Getting you cleaned up. I'm sure that floor was covered in all kinds of lovely things."
"I can do it myself." And then she stumbled and gripped the bathroom counter for support.
"Mmhmm," he responded.
Bathing her was a struggle and he decided he wasn't even going to touch her hair. So while she sat curled up in the tub, he found a hair tie and tied her hair up on top of her head. When he helped her out and helped dry her off, she randomly stumbled out of the bathroom.
Dropping the towel in the floor, he followed her out the door. "Mel, where are you going?"
"To bed," he heard her call from the small hallway.
"Our bedroom is upstairs," he called his reminder.
"I'm not sleeping with you." And then he heard the door slam.
He let his forehead fall against the bathroom doorway. Lord knew what tomorrow was going to hold. But for now he prayed for his patience to stay intact.
His first thought was to go upstairs and change, but who was he kidding? He knew she said she wasn't sleeping with him, but he knew better. When she drank like this, she was all mouth. He could still do what he wanted and he knew there was virtually nothing she could do about it and she would eventually cave anyway. This night wouldn't be any different.
Following her into the guest bedroom, she was already curled up under the covers in bed. Stripping down to his underwear by the bed, he climbed into bed with her. "I said I wasn't sleeping with you," she mumbled lazily, her voice muffled from the pillow.
"You're not sleeping with me," he said softly. "I'm sleeping with you."
"Okay," she agreed sleepily.
"Do you want any water or anything?"
"No. Just sleep."
"Mel, what's going on with you?"
"I'm sleepy."
"You know what I mean."
"I don't want to go to counseling anymore."
"We've only been once."
"I don't care."
"Do you not want a religious ceremony anymore?"
"Yes."
"Then this is what we have to do."
"It's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"The things he said to you. The stuff he made you say."
Tay sighed and lay on his side, facing her, sinking his own head into his pillow. "Mel, it's--it's--"
"It makes me feel like an asshole. It's my fault you're feeling all the shit you're feeling and I hate it and I'm sorry and I keep being such a bitch because of all this stress--"
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault--"
"It IS my fault. You're afraid I'm going to leave you and you're afraid you're not good enough for me and that means that there's something that I'M not doing right." She started to cry and her voice squeaked. "But I love you, Tay."
"Baby, I know. I love you, too--"
"No, I mean I REALLY love you. And you don't believe it, but I do."
"I know you do."
"No, you don't."
"Let's talk about this tomorrow, okay? After we've gotten some caffeine and some food in you. Okay?"
Within seconds, she was snoring.
MEL
Sleep eluded Mel. She had slept a couple of hours when she'd first gotten into bed--alone, as always. But now here she was, hours later, laying wide awake beside Taylor as he slept soundly. Looking over at his silhouette in the dark, he seemed so far away from her in their king-sized bed. She made a mental note to look into queens. This surely couldn't be healthy for them. Hell, what was healthy for them? She didn't know.
Fred stirred at her feet and she heard his light purring in the silence of the bedroom. She reached over and checked her cell phone. 4:23am. She knew she'd been awake at least two hours, staring listlessly into the blackness, her brain going a mile a minute.
Mel did everything Pastor Bradley told her to do. It didn't take her long. She would probably skim her pros and cons list again and she was surprised at her Five Love Languages result. Pastor Bradley hadn't been kidding when he said you could learn a lot about yourselves. It startled Mel how spot-on her result seemed to be.
She had no way of knowing if Tay even started on his. What was supposed to be an evening together--both Pastor Bradley's and Tay's ideas--turned into Tay working. How in the hell could he find so damn much to work on, even when Isaac and Zac weren't around? She loved him and she loved his work and the way he worked and his passion for it--but there had to be a point where the work didn't come first. And that made her think--did he work so much because he genuinely wanted to work? Or did he work so much to get away from her? Should she be concerned?
She looked over at sleeping Tay in the dark and didn't realize she still had her phone in her hand when it vibrated suddenly, startling her. Checking her messages, she was a little surprised to see a text from Jason. "Hey, gorgeous. Hope I didn't bother you so early in the morning. Anyway, wanted to let you know before it got out. Had a date with a girl last night. Her name is Maria and she's from the Dominican Republic. It seemed to go well. She's nice. I think we'll go out again."
Mel felt herself sighing in the dark. She couldn't let this upset her this time. She had to cut the cord. She had to have faith in knowing that he would always be there for her, even when he found someone else. Her being with Tay didn't stop Jason from being there when she needed him. She knew he wasn't the type of person who would drop her like a bad habit like that. It's why she trusted him. It's why was her best friend.
So she sucked it up and she texted him back. "Good, I'm glad for you."
"Wow, I can't believe you're awake."
"Can't sleep."
"What's wrong?"
"Why does anything have to be wrong?"
"Because I know you and I know you love to sleep and if you aren't sleeping, something's wrong."
"I thought we were talking about you?"
"Apparently not anymore."
"Tell me about Maria."
"Go downstairs and call me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Tell me about Maria."
"Tell me what's going on."
Mel sighed again and rolled her eyes. Attempting to downplay it and calm Jason down, because she could just see how his face must look at that moment, she texted him, "It's no big deal, really. I told Tay I wanted a religious wedding so he found a pastor and now we're in premarital counseling."
"You? In counseling? ROFL"
"Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't be doing it if the guy didn't require it."
"So it's keeping you awake."
"I don't know. I guess. Maybe."
"Are there problems in your relationship? Is that why you can't sleep?"
"I didn't think there were, but I guess maybe there are. But that's normal, right?"
"I guess so. Every relationship has its issues. I'm not gonna pry or anything, but the two of you will get through it. Your issues and the counseling. It'll happen for you."
"I hope."
"You hope?"
"I don't like having my short-comings just called out in the open like that. His, either. It's like a slap in the face."
"Now that sounds more like the Mel I know."
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me about Maria. And where are you, anyway?"
"Chicago, filming a few scenes. She's a production assistant..."
As she read his texts about the apparent foreign beauty, Tay stirred in bed beside her. The glow of her phone lit up the room and she could see his eyes opening as he raised his head and looked at her. "Hey, babe," he said, groggy with sleep. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "Sorry if I woke you."
"No, you didn't wake me." He rubbed his eyes and propped himself up on his elbow. "Who are you talking to?"
"Oh. Just Jason."
"In the middle of the night?"
"Well, it's not really the middle of the night, it's 4:30 in the morning. He's sitting in hair and makeup in Chicago, telling me about the new woman he's seeing."
She could practically see Tay smiling in the dark. "A girlfriend, huh? Good for him."
"Yeah," Mel said nonchalantly. "She's Dominican. A production assistant."
Tay pulled the covers further over him and slid himself closer to her. "Well, good, then, maybe we can double date sometime. That'll be fun."
"Oh, sure," Mel agreed, half-heartedly. "I'm sure it would be."
"So why are you awake so early?"
Quickly, Mel texted Jason, "Tay's awake, gotta go" and then laid her phone back on the bedside table where it belonged. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to be so secretive about it, but something about Tay catching her texting Jason in the middle of the night just felt--off. And it shouldn't have.
"Just couldn't sleep," she answered. "What time did you get to bed?"
"Um, I don't know...one, maybe?"
"I miss you, Tay."
"What?"
"I miss you."
"But I'm right here."
Sighing in defeat, at how hopeless he seemed to be, she covered herself and turned over to face the room. He wrapped his arm around her and spooned her as he fell back asleep and she allowed it. What was the issue here? Was it her? Was it him? Was it all in her head?
Were they going to survive counseling?
--------------------
"Where are you going?" Taylor asked Mel the next evening as he watched her adjust the sleeves on the loose-fitted button down shirt she wore with her black mini-skirt and black platform pumps.
"I told you earlier," she responded, now messing with her hair in the mirror. "I guess you didn't pay attention, as if that's anything new. Nikki and Katie, from the office, invited me to go out tonight."
"In that?"
In just over twenty-four hours, she had witnessed her fiancée get emotionally torn to shreds as they sat through counseling, then he ditched her for work later that night, and then Jason texted her with info about his new exotic girlfriend at 4:30 in the morning. What she didn't need right now, was Tay's obvious jealousy over her choice in wardrobe. She eyed him, hard, daring him to continue. "What's wrong with it?"
"The skirt's a little...short...don't you think?"
"I bet if I were wearing this somewhere with you, you wouldn't have a damn thing to say about it. As a matter of fact, you'd be feeling me up underneath the table."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means it doesn't matter what I wear. This outfit is cute and I like it, so I'm wearing it. You're not going to start controlling what I wear."
"I wasn't trying to."
"Yes, you were. In your own little secret way, you were. If you think I'm gonna sit here all holed up in this house like your little trophy wife like Natalie did, you've got another thing coming. I have a life, I have friends. I have people. And I'm going to enjoy it, with or without you."
"MEL. WHAT is going on with you? Why are you being so hostile? I simply asked a question."
"In your accusatory tone."
"I didn't even use a tone."
"Do I ask you where you go all the time? Who you're with, where've you been? Do I?"
"Hon, I just want to know you're safe."
"You want to know I'm not fucking around on you."
"What in the--Mel, I wish you would calm down."
"I wish you would trust me."
Suddenly, he leaned over and breathed in. "Have you already been drinking?"
She scowled at him. It was true. She'd already had a couple of glasses of wine, but who was counting?
"Maybe you should reconsider tonight," Tay continued.
"No. I am going out. Nikki and Katie invited me and I'm gonna go."
"Well, you sure as hell aren't driving. I'm calling a cab."
"Let them know they have three stops to make."
------------------
"I'm such an asshole," Mel lamented to Katie and Nikki over cocktails.
"What?" Katie asked. "No, you're not. Why?"
Mel wasn't sure why, but she proceeded to tell them, in not so much detail, about her failures as a fiancée and how she chewed Taylor out for no apparent reason before she'd come out tonight.
"Well, he ditched your quality time together for work last night," Nikki said, flipping her mass of curly hair off her shoulder. "I'd be mad, too."
"He was nice enough to call a cab for us tonight so we wouldn't be caught driving," Katie, always the optimist, pointed out.
"Yeah, probably so he could control the driver," Mel responded.
"Is it really that bad?" Nikki asked.
Mel sighed. "I don't know. He's got all these issues, he thinks all these things are problems HE has, but I feel like if a lot of it weren't for me, he wouldn't feel what he feels. So, ultimately, I'M the problem here. Not him."
"You know what?" Nikki said. "Tonight is girls' night and we're going to dance and we're going to have a good time and we're going to forget all about his junk for awhile. Who needs men tonight?"
After the three ladies toasted and finished their drinks, they left the table and were on to the next bar.
Bar number two was one that Mel hadn't frequented very often. It was crowded and the music pumped and the lights flashed and the drinks flowed freely from all directions. After several shots and much dancing, Mel was finding it difficult to stand on her heels, so the three women decided to sit at the bar and take a break from the dance floor.
Mel and Katie and Nikki talked and laughed and people-watched as they sat on their bar stools. Mel smiled as men hit on Nikki and Katie. None of them hardly looked at her. She guessed that's what recognition got you, but she would have been flattered of one had maybe inappropriately ogled her for a second, but oh well. She was happy enough for her friends that it didn't matter.
The night was going swimmingly until the shrill sound of, "Hey, bitch!" came from behind them. The three women glanced at each other, but none of them thought anything of it. There were so many drunk women around, it could have been anything.
But it came again, this time closer to Mel's ear. "Hey, bitch!"
Finally, Mel turned around in her barstool and faced an obviously inebriated girl with straight, sandy blonde hair, who was barely able to stand and was apparently on something a little stronger than alcohol. "My friend just told me you were all over my man on the dance floor!"
"Who the fuck is your friend?" Mel responded as Nikki and Katie left their barstools to witness the confrontation.
"It doesn't matter," said the drunk girl. "Just because you walk around here, thinking you're some superstar or some shit, doesn't mean you can just be all over my man!"
"Sweetheart, I don't know who the fuck you think you're talking to, but I didn't dance with ANY men tonight. And furthermore, since you think I'm some kind of superstar, then you MUST know who MY man is and, that being the case, there would be absolutely NO reason I would want YOURS. Trust me."
"Are you saying your man is better than mine?"
"You're goddamn right that's what I'm saying. I'm not a liar." Mel stood from her barstool and struggled to stand, herself. She was apparently a little drunker than she thought she was. Perhaps she should close her mouth now. Except the drunk girl wasn't finished.
"I'm just saying that just because you're in some magazines and hang around with some band doesn't give you the right to whore around with other women's men!"
"Well, honey, I don't know what to tell you. I haven't hung out with any men tonight. Maybe your friend is blind or something. But I'll tell you, if your man WAS looking at me, maybe it's because he longs for something a little better than trailer trash."
And then it was on.
No sooner had the girl thrown her drink at Mel, Mel had her on the floor. There was no clawing or hair-pulling or any of the other cliché female fight tactics. Mel went for blood and didn't take long uncovering it. A crowd formed around them quickly and she could hear Nikki yell, "Call Taylor!" to Katie before she said to Mel, "Mel, let her up!"
Mel saw red, literally and figuratively. She wasn't sure what her problem was, whether the girl really had pissed her off or if she simply found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up becoming Mel's human punching bag to get out her recent aggressions--she didn't know. But what she did know was that she couldn't stop hitting the girl as she straddled her on the bar floor and only stopped when Nikki wrapped her arms around her waist from behind and lifted her off the girl, both women still kicking and tearing to get back at the other.
By the time Nikki was able to get Mel back on her feet and Katie returned with her cell phone in her hand, bar security had already made their way to the middle of the crowd and escorted all parties involved out the door, no questions asked. Outside, Nikki and Katie stood with Mel as security talked with the girl and her friends and then he made his way back over to Mel. "Look. The paramedics are on their way to examine her. You got her pretty good. Because there are witnesses that say she started it, we talked her out of attempting to press charges, so the police isn't being called. Besides that and being who you are, there's no way she'd win this with the cops, anyway. It's the nature of the beast. We're not going to ban you this time, but just know, you can't just come busting up in our club and fighting like this. This won't happen again."
"You act like I've beat up the whole town. This is the first fight I've been in in years!"
"I'm just letting you know. Don't let it happen again. We'll be out here until your ride comes. I assume you have one coming?"
"Yes," Katie nodded.
----------------------------------------------------------------
TAYLOR
When Katie called him to tell him that she was watching Mel pound a random girl into the floor in the bar they were at, Taylor thanked the lord above that he was able to hear his phone ring.
Pulling up to the curb outside the bar, the first thing he saw was the ambulance with its lights on. Walking around it, he saw Mel's victim leaning with her back against the side of it as the paramedics tended to her wounds. Two black eyes and blood coming from who knew where. Taylor shook his head and shoved a business card into one of the paramedics' hands. "Give this to whoever needs to contact me regarding the medical bills," he said to him.
Then he spotted Mel with Katie and Nikki on the sidewalk at the other end of the building. Mel held a small plastic cup to her lip that he could only assume was filled with ice. Taking a deep breath, he approached her and softly touched her shoulder to get her attention. "Hey," he said to her. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"What are you doing here?" Mel asked.
"Taking you home."
"I don't need you to take me home."
"You gonna camp out here on the sidewalk then?"
"Maybe."
"You really did a number on that girl, Mel."
"Well, she shouldn't have run her mouth."
"So you had to black both her eyes?"
"She threw her drink at me, Tay! Was I supposed to smile and coddle her for it? This shirt is dry-clean only!"
"She could have called the cops."
"She isn't going to, trust me. Too many people saw her start it."
"But she could have."
"I don't give a fuck what she does."
Gently Tay took the plastic cup from Mel's hand and leaned over to examine her bottom lip himself, wincing at the sight. "Damn, that's gotta hurt."
"Not as bad as hers does."
He took a portion of the scarf that wrapped around his neck and dabbed the blood from Mel's lip with it. "So what happened?"
"I told you. She ran her mouth," Mel muttered as best she could while Tay cleaned her up.
"The bitch accused Mel of messing with her boyfriend or whatever," Nikki finally said. "Except Mel only danced with me and Katie and didn't even talk to anybody else. Honest. And then the girl threw her drink at her. And, honestly, if Mel hadn't hit her, I would have."
"And that's it?" Tay asked.
Mel nodded.
He sighed and returned her ice cup to her lip. "Come on," he said as he started to lead her away.
"Um, we have a cab coming," Katie spoke up.
Tay turned around and looked at her. "So cancel it. I'm taking you home. Both of you." He reached back and took Mel's hand. "Come on."
The ride was silent. And dark. As Tay drove, his mind wandered. He had no idea how to feel about any of this. In a way, he kinda wished he was able to witness Mel in action. Maybe it was the masochist in him. But then part of him was furious with her. Something in his gut told him she shouldn't have gone out that night and now here they were. Or maybe it wasn't even her he was furious with. Her busted lip alone was enough to nearly send him over the edge. Sure, she had obviously dominated her little fight, but he had seen enough marks on Mel in the past for it to make him sick--to him, she was perfect and any blemish on his perfect canvas that was Mel, made him want to kill someone.
Beside him, Mel texted on her phone. Before he could think before he spoke, he said quietly, in a surprisingly accusing tone, "You texting Jason?"
"No," she spat out at him. And then her phone came flying across the Jeep, nearly missing his head and hitting the window next to him, falling down between his seat and the door. "I'm texting Nikki and Katie. They're back there wondering if you're mad and you ARE. Look for yourself."
If Tay wasn't fuming before, he was now. The Jeep swerved as he dug into the side of his seat where her phone fell. He retrieved it and tossed it into his own lap without looking at it, and continued to focus on the road.
"Well? Aren't you going to look? To make sure I'm not lying?" Mel taunted him.
"Um, she really was texting us," Nikki spoke up nervously from the back seat.
Tay glanced over at Mel and he could see her raised eyebrows in the dark.
"What is your problem?" he asked her. "You've had a problem since before you LEFT tonight, and goddammit, I'm going to know what it is."
"Because you're forever trying to control me, Tay! Always! Criticizing what I'm wearing, telling me I shouldn't go out! Now you're picking me up from the club and checking up to see who I'm texting--you're--you're--exactly the same as you used to be!"
"Oh, come OFF it, Mel!" he responded, his voice steadily getting louder. He caught a glance at a wide-eyed Nikki and Katie in the backseat but at this point his blood boiled too much to care about the company they were in. "First of all, you're drunk. Period. I can't believe I'm even trying to talk to you right now--"
"Then DON'T! What else is new, anyway?"
He wanted to pull the Jeep over so bad he couldn't stand it. "Come on. What the hell does that mean? You got in a fight with some random woman, Mel, and I came. I'm here. Isn't that your issue lately? You think I'm not 'there' enough? Well, here I am, Mel! I'm HERE. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?"
"I want out of this car. Let me out of this car."
"Not gonna happen."
"Unlock the doors."
"No."
"DO IT!"
"Stop making an ass of yourself."
"FUCK YOU! UNLOCK THESE DOORS RIGHT NOW!"
And then she proceeded to unlock it herself and open her own door.
Swerving all over the road, Tay nearly freaked out, his heart pounding in his chest. Reaching over, he grabbed her by the arm, perhaps a little harder than he should have, and jerked her back into the vehicle. Slamming on the brakes in the middle of the road, he unbuckled his belt and leaned over her lap, pulling her door shut. "ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?"
"I told you I wanted out of this car."
"I don't really give a shit what you want right now. I want you sober but you don't see that happening any time soon."
As Tay adjusted himself back in his seat and began to drive again, he noticed Mel scowling at him out of the corner of his eye. Then he looked over at her. "Put your seat belt on. Next time you decide to pull a stunt like that, you better make it count." Then he dug her phone out from between his legs and tossed it in her lap. "There's your phone. I'm sure you have plenty to say now."
Between dropping the girls off at home and driving to their own home, Mel never once touched her phone.
--------------------
Once home, Mel was out of the car and heading for the front door before Taylor even had his own door shut. She slammed the front door behind her, not even leaving it open for him and as he followed her into the house, clothes littered the floor, leaving a trail to where she was heading, one article at a time.
He picked up the clothes and shoes along the way and tossed the heap onto the sofa before heading into Mel's favorite bathroom, the one under the staircase. He crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway as she stood naked at the sink. She looked in the mirror at him. "What do you want? The bathroom's occupied."
He was almost amused. As much as she infuriated him in times like these, he couldn't deny that he loved every minute of it. She was spiteful and full of fire at the moment, but he wouldn't have her any other way. He wasn't even close to being brave enough to tell her how adorable he thought she was when she got like this--no matter how much she pissed him off, she was still adorable.
He answered here. "I'm just checking up on you."
"You've done enough checking up for one night, don't you think?"
"I'm not the one who got in a drunken brawl in the floor of a bar." He walked in and started the tub, adjusting the temperature.
"What are you doing?" Mel asked.
"Getting you cleaned up. I'm sure that floor was covered in all kinds of lovely things."
"I can do it myself." And then she stumbled and gripped the bathroom counter for support.
"Mmhmm," he responded.
Bathing her was a struggle and he decided he wasn't even going to touch her hair. So while she sat curled up in the tub, he found a hair tie and tied her hair up on top of her head. When he helped her out and helped dry her off, she randomly stumbled out of the bathroom.
Dropping the towel in the floor, he followed her out the door. "Mel, where are you going?"
"To bed," he heard her call from the small hallway.
"Our bedroom is upstairs," he called his reminder.
"I'm not sleeping with you." And then he heard the door slam.
He let his forehead fall against the bathroom doorway. Lord knew what tomorrow was going to hold. But for now he prayed for his patience to stay intact.
His first thought was to go upstairs and change, but who was he kidding? He knew she said she wasn't sleeping with him, but he knew better. When she drank like this, she was all mouth. He could still do what he wanted and he knew there was virtually nothing she could do about it and she would eventually cave anyway. This night wouldn't be any different.
Following her into the guest bedroom, she was already curled up under the covers in bed. Stripping down to his underwear by the bed, he climbed into bed with her. "I said I wasn't sleeping with you," she mumbled lazily, her voice muffled from the pillow.
"You're not sleeping with me," he said softly. "I'm sleeping with you."
"Okay," she agreed sleepily.
"Do you want any water or anything?"
"No. Just sleep."
"Mel, what's going on with you?"
"I'm sleepy."
"You know what I mean."
"I don't want to go to counseling anymore."
"We've only been once."
"I don't care."
"Do you not want a religious ceremony anymore?"
"Yes."
"Then this is what we have to do."
"It's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"The things he said to you. The stuff he made you say."
Tay sighed and lay on his side, facing her, sinking his own head into his pillow. "Mel, it's--it's--"
"It makes me feel like an asshole. It's my fault you're feeling all the shit you're feeling and I hate it and I'm sorry and I keep being such a bitch because of all this stress--"
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault--"
"It IS my fault. You're afraid I'm going to leave you and you're afraid you're not good enough for me and that means that there's something that I'M not doing right." She started to cry and her voice squeaked. "But I love you, Tay."
"Baby, I know. I love you, too--"
"No, I mean I REALLY love you. And you don't believe it, but I do."
"I know you do."
"No, you don't."
"Let's talk about this tomorrow, okay? After we've gotten some caffeine and some food in you. Okay?"
Within seconds, she was snoring.