Chapter 10

Taylor held Vega close as the two were laid on her bed. She seemed like she had passed out. Taylor put his head on her shoulder and rubbed her back, still hugging her tight. What triggered this sudden spazz attack? he thought to himself. He noticed the broken glass on the floor, and the face down picture. He slowly lowered Vega down flat onto her bed, and put a blanket over her. He looked at the almost demolished picture, and managed to see it was of Vega's family. Okay genius, let's put the pieces together. She gets upset and runs upstairs, locks herself in her room, and starts screaming at a photo that she hates it. I start singing, and she opens the door and collapses into my arms... THINK, THINK, THINK! he said in his mind, lightly hitting his head on the wall. He picked up the photo again, and turned it over. In blue pen read "To my dear Vega, the most beautiful star in my life, Love, Dad". He set the picture down on Vega's dresser, and began pacing with one hand on his forehead, deep in thought. "This doesn't help me," he said, glancing at the sleeping beauty. He looked at his watch. It was getting later and later in the day... MoM and DaD would kill him if he didn't get back soon... yet he couldn't leave Vega. He went into V's mom's room and picked up the portable phone. He took out his wallet from his back pocket, and pulled out the hotel key he had. The phone number was labeled on the card. He dialed the numbers and went back into Vega's room. "Hello, may I help you?" a voice answered on the other end. "Yes, I'd like to connect to room 314 please," Tay said, glancing at the hard-to-read numbers on the card. "One moment please," the voice replied. Tay sighed as the phone rang, and he looked up at Vega. Why does she have to be so beautiful? he asked no one in particular. "Hello?" the voice from the other end of the phone said, concerned and cracking, interrupting Taylor's thoughts. "Oh yeah, hi, Zac, it's me," Taylor replied. "TAY!! Where the heck have you been? Ike and I were just thinking of how much trouble you're going to be in," Zac said, mocking Taylor. "I'm at... a friend's house.. I guess I must have fallen asleep playing her N64 last night," Jordan lied. "Ha ha, you've never been a good liar Tay... wait did you say her N64?? Who is this chick? A girl who likes N64? I think I'm in love!" Zac said, faking a day-dreamy voice. "Dang-it Zac! Listen!! Do mom and dad know that I'm not there?" Taylor asked, annoyed. "NopeNopeNope!! But they will know in a sec unless you don't introduce me to this N64-chick!" Zac joked. "Alright... can I talk to Ike?" Taylor asked. "YupYupYup!" Zac answered. "IKE!" he yelled into the phone, piercing Taylor's eardrums. "He's coming," Zac said, casually. "Thanks a lot," Tay mumbled under his breath. "Hey Tay, where've you been?" Ike asked, grabbing the phone from Zac. "Ike, I'm at V's, but don't tell Zac that. Listen, she's really upset and I need to find out why... i can't come back right now... is there any way you can cover for me for like another couple of hours?" Tay asked, knowing Ike would do it. "Sure Tay, but.... Vega? I thought you 2 were... not exactly close..." Ike trailed off. "Yeah, well, we've moved on. She finally realized that it was time to move on," Tay answered, unsure of what he had just said. "Well, just... be careful, alright?" Ike more demanded than asked, his older brother instinct kicking in. "Yeah... you remember where it is, right?" Tay asked. "Yeah, why?" "Can you come and get me in like... 2 hours?" "Yeah I guess... I'll get out of the hotel now and grab some lunch or something... see if I can find any chicks, and I'll get you in 2 hours exactly, alright? Be ready, I don't want to go inside," Ike replied. "Alright, thanks Ike. You're a life-saver!" Tay said relieved. "I know, I'm the best. Bye." Ike said, hanging up the phone.

Tay pressed the off button and went to go hang it up. He returned to Vega's room, and decided it was time to see if she would wake up. He walked over to Vega and shook her shoulders gently. "Vega?" he asked her. "mm.. wha?" she mumbled, stirring and yawning. "Yeah, I have 2 hours hun. We need to talk about what just happened," Tay. "mm.. yeah..." Vega said, still waking up. "Are you able to talk about it yet?" he asked, after 5 minutes of pure silence. "Alright, yeah, I can do it," she said. "Tay... I don't know how to tell you this... but..."