Chapter 26: The Kiss

POV: Gabby / Zac

November 14, 2007; Santa Fe, NM

The Los Angeles shows went very well, the temperature was perfect and the shows themselves had no complications or problems. That was great but Las Vegas was a completely different story. The show went well but the sound check and set up had been horrible. Nothing wanted to work, nothing seemed to go right, and it was just bad. Not that after the show got any better, mistakes were made and there was nothing either of us could do now but wait and pray. The drive to Santa Fe had been kind of tense but not bad. We had to wait until 10 am to unload and that was the first task of the day, but once the boxes were unloaded and the music instruments were inside we set up. By 12:30 they were set up and fixed.

“Gabs, pizza okay?” Isaac asked.

“It’s fine. No hot peppers please!”

He smiled. “Deal!”

He left and I sat down, heard my phone and ignored it the first two times before I finally looked at the face calling and answered.

“What do you want Abigail?”

“Hello to you as well, why else would I call but to talk to you?”

“I know you saw Taylor’s photo, you liked it. So, I assume you’re calling to ask me why I was so close to Zac or why I was even there with them at all.”

When she didn’t reply I knew I’d caught her red handed. That was the whole purpose for her calling me today, wasn’t to ask about anything else.

“I was close to him because we’re dating, it was posted to Taylor’s Instagram because Taylor took the picture and he asked beforehand. I was at the Zoo with the most of the crew, it was a group gathering to have some normalcy. Before you even ask no, I’m not saying anything else and I’m not talking to Maxwell until I see him next week.”

“Gabby…”

“No. He knows he was wrong before he said it. He knew Jacob didn’t give me a choice in what was done. If he believes I had a choice in that matter then I will pack whatever I own and leave.”

“Where would you go?”

“I really don’t know and I wouldn’t care. Obviously Zac isn’t as bad as he claims, he did ask me to be his girlfriend.”

“Only to get you to say yes, least that’s a plus on your behalf. You just haven’t texted or called and I seen the photo and the ones you posted at the dessert. You…look happy.”

“I was happy on those days and stuff. You guys keep saying what an asshole he is but, he’d not doing anything to prove you right.”

“It’s still early Gabs, but it’s also possible we were wrong. But you’re okay?”

“Peachy. Simon texts me non-stop but beyond lack of sleep and stress I’m fine.”

I was not even going to mention Vegas, she was still under the impression I was saying no. So, telling her about Vegas would just make it worse. Not that I’d ever used condoms but this was different.

“Simon still hasn’t left you alone?”

“No. Yet, I still can’t do anything legally. He’s made no threats, nothing that insinuated he intend to do any harm to me. He’s just being annoying according to the police.”

“Want me to ask around?”

“No, like I keep telling Zac hopefully with pictures of us he will see that I’ve moved on. Yet, he just keeps calling me a whore and telling me I should come home.”

“He’s an asshole. Anything else going on?”

“Nope. Pretty normal actually.”

“I missed you Halloween.”

I lowered my head. “I’ll send a picture, but I need to get going. I need to finish setting up the drums before Ike gets back.”

“Okay, do send a picture. We never even saw you.”

“Yeah…”

I hung-up and kept my word, sent her a picture that Taylor had taken of us. I then finished up right before they got back and called for us. I sat beside Zac and even after the other’s cleared out I stayed there.

“You okay, baby?”

I don’t think I’d ever get use to him calling me that, felt so different to have a pet name that wasn’t bitch or babe.

“Talked to Abigail.”

“Oh? You actually answered for her this time?”

“Yeah. She only called because she saw the photos from the Zoo. I told her about us and she’ll probably tell Maxwell and then he’ll text or call or whatever.”

He kissed my forehead. “It’s okay if they disapprove, I’ll just try harder.”

“Of course you will.”

His lips moved down to my temple, then he was nipping my ear.

“Zac.”

His hand came over my thigh, up rather high and he moved to my neck.

“Zac..come on. Don’t you think one mistake is enough?”

“I wouldn’t call it a mistake, we were drunk Gabby.”

“Two wrongs won’t make it right.”

“Yeah, we won’t have two wrongs. I found the drug store earlier.”

“Setting me up, so rude.”

I let him lure me away from the left over pizza to the bathroom that was just down the hallway, which was ironically the smallest bathroom ever.

“Little..small isn’t it?”

“No, it’s just perfect.” He said.

His hands went up my sides, pulling the shirt over my head and dropping it into the sink and then he was dipping his head to place kisses on what the bra wasn’t covering. Considering there was a time issues he didn’t bother taking the bra off, just pulled the fabric down. I loved that I could get my hands into his hair, tug on it a bit, which he seemed to be fine with. He really didn’t have much room, but he made the best of it.

Wasn’t the first time I’d had sex in a bathroom, but it was by far the best sex in a bathroom I’d ever had. He didn’t want a rear entry position, so having him so close to me was perfect. Even if Andrew did bang on the door to tell Zac the walk was in like fifteen minutes, thankfully it was moments after we finished, otherwise it would have screwed us both up.

“You don’t have time for a shower.” I said.

His hands were still on my ass and he squeezed. “I don’t need one yet, I have no problem if people smell you all over me.”

“No one better be that close to your crotch to smell me all over you.”

“No, they won’t be.”

He went ahead and did wash off a bit before running to the front, I got redressed and finished what I had too. I set up the merchandise booth and then actually showered because while he didn’t mind, I kind of did. I listened to their sound check and when the show began I was waiting out front with the merchandise. Women and even men came and gone for an hour but I kept feeling like I was being watched, yet Simon’s band was in the north east United States right now, so couldn’t be him. When the lull occurred I saw her. The blonde hair and blue eyes and just the way she looked at me said she was pissed at me for some reason. I did not need this tonight.

“Gabriella.” She said.

“Priscilla.” I replied.

“Who do you think you are? I mean he came out with the patent got laid look and you are the only female. Yet, you’ve been there over a month. So either you’re being his personal little sex toy or something is up.”

“What we are is none of your business.”

“Really? I’m his ex and he asked to marry me. Yeah, I know about that ring he bought, know I messed up but you are standing in my way and I don’t like that.”

“Jealous?”

“Confused. You’re not a blonde, he loves blondes.”

“Guess he changed his mind and decided to like brunettes. You know we’re less bitchy and don’t cheat.”

She laughed. “You think he kept his dick in his pants for two years? Please, I know better. He won’t say no to any blonde.”

“He will you, he doesn’t like you. He’d rather just have random blondes over you. Why are you even following him around like a puppy anyway? You can claim that Austin, Carrick, or Mikey are the ones you want and you’re here for them, but you really aren’t. You’re here to watch Zac.”

“Mikey is more than willing.”

“Good for you, perhaps he’s the one you should be following. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to finish and you’re beyond my scope of even caring at this point.”

She stared at me for several minutes. “You should care about me.”

She then walked away, the tight black skirt that I swore was short enough to show her underwear and the top that barely covering anything as well. She was nothing for me to be scared about. From what I heard the show went very well and after the venue was empty Zac came up to tell me they were showering and then greeting fans, which was fine. He went to shower and I packed up the merchandise stuff and took it on out. I then came in and helped break down everything and began to pack it up. I saw Taylor and Isaac go outside first, greeting fans and signing things. I passed Zac on his way out and he pulled me to him for a quick kiss before letting me inside. I got side tracked with some light cleaning duties before I got the last bag of wires, the two remaining items the boys usually handled they were Taylor’s keyboard and Zac’s big drum, both of which required some effort to move. I sent them out first, I saw Isaac first, followed by Taylor but I stopped ten feet out the door. Zac was there but so was Priscilla. I could feel my heart drop because her lips were on his.

-Zac-

The before show sex and then a great walk, sound check, and show was awesome. Despite the Vegas issues which we’d sort out when we got home everything was going well. Priscilla had approached me during the walk wanting to talk and I told her there was nothing for us to discuss, she’d cheated on me and that was all I needed to know. She walked near me the whole time and took a dozen selfies of which I was sure she was trying to capture me in most of them, I was rather glad when this bright red hair obscured her from me. I saw her in the crowd that night as well, standing off to the side. Gabby seemed liked she came there too so as I passed her going out I couldn’t resist pulling her in for a kiss before heading out to face the hoard of fans waiting. Yet, Priscilla was like the tenth person to approach me. She had a room key which she handed me.

“I’m sure you want to, two years you wanted to.”

I removed the card from my pocket and held it out. “I don’t want you.”

“You can’t want that brunette that’s with you. Come on, I’m way better than her.”

“She won’t cheat on me like you did.”

I was rather shocked when she moved between the barriers and spun me around, didn’t think she’d ever be able to move that quickly and why turn me? It made no sense.

“You don’t want her and I can prove it. One night with me is all you need.”

“I don’t want a night Priscilla, I don’t want a day I don’t want five minutes. I want you to leave me alone.”

I saw the guys taking Taylor’s piano to the trailer and I was distracted by them, yet I felt her lips and not even three seconds later my eyes landed on Gabriella standing behind her. Just the look on her face made me feel sick, her quick run to the trailer didn’t help. I pushed Priscilla away from me.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Proving to your little bitch of a whore that you can’t say no. My room key is in your pocket, use it.”

She then moved away like nothing was wrong, I completely forgot the women behind me calling my name and went to find her, she ran right past me going inside and I turned heeled and went after her.

“Gabby! Stop!”

She kept walked, speed walking inside and I finally caught up on the stage, she really had nowhere else to run to, unless she just went into the crowd and that was a four foot drop.

“Gabriella.”

“What?” She snapped.

She’s turned around and I could see the tears in her eyes, which just made my stomach turn knots more, made the sick feeling more pronounced.

“It’s not what you think Gabriella.”

“Not what I think? I’m sorry how can it not be what I think? Fuck I didn’t think the bitch was right. Fourteen days Zachary, just two weeks, that’s all you can give me?”

“She kissed me, not the other way around.”

“You didn’t stop her from kissing you and you didn’t stop her from slipping her room key into your pocket either. Yeah, I saw that too.”

“Gabby.”

She was being unrealistic! I had no intention of using the key, I didn’t even want it. Why would I need it? She was right here. I got her shoulders to keep her from moving away, gently though.

“I’m not using the key, it’s going in the trash. I don’t need it. You are all I need Gabby.”

“Fourteen days. I need to get my bag so we can go.”

“We need to talk.”

She moved my hands. “There’s nothing to talk about Zac. Fourteen days and that doesn’t even cover Vegas. I guess Max was right and I owe him an apology.”

She moved away and I called her name several times but she just got her bag and left me standing in the middle of the stage. I hadn’t done anything wrong! I didn’t kiss Priscilla, I wasn’t going to her hotel room, I had no interest in my ex-girlfriend. Yet, I wasn’t even sure now what Gabby was, she seemed final on Max being right and that means she wouldn’t be considering herself my girlfriend anymore.

“Hey Z, Tay and Ike sent me to find you. We’re almost ready to leave.”

“Can I just stay here?”

“No. Why?”

“Priscilla kissed me and Gabby saw her. She won’t even listen to me Carrick. She just tells me fourteen days and that’s it.”

“You let Priscilla kiss you?”

“I didn’t let her do anything, I saw you and Andrew with the piano and I was watching you both when she just did. Of course, Gabby was right behind you. She put her hotel key in my pocket and Gabby saw that too.”

“For Christ sake you’re not going to her room are you?”

“Hell no. The bitch didn’t want me when she could have me, why would I care now?”

“Did you tell Gabby that?”

“She won’t listen to me, she said she guessed Max was right and that was it.”

He whistled. “Maybe you should give her a few hours and talk to her when you get home. She’s upset Zac, it’s natural to be mad and upset.”

“Maybe.”

“Anyway, it’s time to go. So, you’ve got to just give her space.”

I got the key card and while he was watching, tossed it in the trash. I then got my bag and went back outside. He took my bag to the bus and I signed some more autographs. I knew she would probably be in the back watching, so I kept my distance from them and when I saw Priscilla making her way to the front again, I said I was done and beelined the bus. Yet, Gabby wasn’t in the back and her curtain was closed.

I flopped onto the couch in the back.

Can we talk when we get home?

About what Zac?

Us? You didn’t even give me time to explain or anything.

I think I want a few days alone actually. No one will be there but me, Stella sent me an invite to Ike’s party Saturday. Maybe we can talk then, until then I just…I want time.

I sighed. What else was I suppose to do? I couldn’t explain over a message and I knew about Ike’s party, so I guess that wasn’t an unreasonable request. It would give her time to calm down and me time to find the right fucking words this time.

Maybe after the party, dinner?

That’s fine. Goodnight Zac.

Goodnight Gabriella.

I sat back and just browsed through the picture until I got to those from Vegas, drunken night that lead to some stupid decisions but I really didn’t regret anything about Vegas, I wasn’t sure what that meant. Carrick sat down beside me.

“She agree to talk?”

“Yeah, Saturday.”

I couldn’t say anything about the party but Carrick knew so he understood.

“That’s a plus Zac.”

“Not if she talks to Max, he’ll have her convinced that one kiss is enough to prove his entire point.”

“But he doesn’t come home until Monday. So, you have time.”

“I hope.”

“Want to play?”

“Sure.”

He put in a good shooting game and we played for the entire trip home, Gabriella never came out of her bunk and when she did get up to get her bags I could tell she’d spent most of the night crying, which made me feel even worse. She refused to allow me to take her home, instead she called a cab. I did wait with her until the cab driver left. I really didn’t like that she was going home alone, Max wouldn’t be home for days and Simon I know kept calling and texting. He wasn’t giving up. The only consoling part was that he was still touring and not scheduled off until after Max was due home. I got home an hour after she left and found Priscilla standing at my door.

“What the fuck do you want?”

“You got on the bus when it left, figured you weren’t showing.”

“Never intended too. I don’t love you Priscilla, I don’t want to have sex with you. In fact, what I want is for you to leave.”

She came to me and with full intention of another kiss and this time I stopped her, using her shoulder to push her away gently.

“I said no. Go home.”

I moved around her and went into my apartment, closing the door behind me and locking them all. She had no key to this apartment, just my old place. I dropped my bags in the bedroom, showered and crashed. She’s requested I not call or text, I’d give her time but after Saturday I’d bug her if I had too.