Chapter 39: Red Dragon

POV: Gabby

December 28, 2007

It had been one of the best Christmas’s I’d had in a very long time and I was still riding pretty high from that. Shawn was due over today to pick up his present from me, I’d worked extra hard the last few days and thankfully Zac was okay with that because he had new games to attack and conquer. So, while he whipped alien or human ass, I fretted over the color of the dragon, having perfected the piece as much as possible. I had finished it yesterday and even this morning I liked the end result, therefore I signed the drawing, dated it, framed it and then wrapped it. Zac woke up fairly early as well and we had breakfast and was just sitting at the counter, waiting for Shawn.

“So, what do you normally do for New Year’s?” He asked.

“The last couple of years nothing, Simon didn’t allow me to go out for holidays usually. Before Simon it really depended on who I was with, most the time it was huge party where I’d show up with one guy and end up with someone else.”

“What do you want to do this year? I can guarantee that you will show up with me wherever and leave with me.”

I smiled, I had no doubt that if we attended any party or even just went out, I’d be staying near him all night and enjoying his company and presence. But, I wasn’t quite sure that I wanted to just party the night away.

“I’m not sure. What do you normally do?”

“Well, if we’re home and not busy then I generally go to Andrew’s and Jack’s party, they are doing one this year as well. It’s over by the river so it’s a good view of the fireworks and the party is usually not as crazy. Like, I know some can get way out of hand but not theirs.”

“But you don’t stay all day?”

“No. Generally it’s some family time and then we head over. Tay and Ike usually attend with their girlfriends. We don’t have to go if you’d rather do something else.”

“I wouldn’t mind going to something that wouldn’t be insanely wild. But, I think I’d rather spend the day with you more than anyone else.”

“Are Abby and Max not doing anything?”

I shrugged. “I guess they’re going to party somewhere. But, I’d rather not spend it with them. Max is just…I don’t know what his problem is and I’d rather just avoid it right now. I would like a few holidays that are not filled with drama and bullshit.”

“I’m sure we can accomplish something. Mom mentioned she called you.”

“She did yesterday yes. Um, she wants to spend time with me.”

“You don’t sound so thrilled with that idea.”

“I don’t know her Zac and I don’t know about being totally alone with her just yet. I don’t know how to really interact with parents. Most of mine were just more hands off.”

“Just be yourself, she just wants to know you a little better. If they were your parents, wouldn’t you think they’d want to know me?”

“I have no doubt they would but…”

He kissed me, stopping my sentence and obliterating my thoughts.

“No buts. She just wants to spend time with you because you’re now her daughter, someone she’s wanted all her life Gabby. She’s not going to be disappointed and she knows that things are a little weird and strange. Didn’t Nicole also want time?”

“Yeah. I guess it’s a good thing because you guys will be busy at the studio.”

“You’ll do fine Gabriella.”

“I hope so!”

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask and just didn’t. I usually file taxes in February, is our tour the only one you worked on this past year?”

I paused confused on why he would ask considering he was filing his in February. Yet, I hadn’t filed taxes in a long time as Simon really didn’t pay me for anything.

“I uh…haven’t filed in like three years.”

He smiled. “Baby, you’d be filing with me as a joint return.”

I blinked, that concept completely escaping my thoughts.

“Uh..Yeah, the tour is it. Simon wouldn’t let me tour with anyone else and his tours never paid me, what little I was paid for was sent to him anyway. Max told me not to bother when I mentioned it in like May. So, yeah all I have is the tour, which if I remember right Taylor told me was a 1099 something?”

“Yeah. You were responsible for the taxes.”

“I had no idea what that meant really.”

“It’s not a big deal really. I over pay anyway.”

“Why did you order me a card for your bank and credit card?”

He picked at the jeans for a moment. “I don’t want you to worry about needing anything. You don’t strike me as the type of person to go insane with spending. You didn’t during the tour and you haven’t now. For crying out loud you called me to ask before using them.”

“I wasn’t sure why you gave them to me! You gave me your card and then ordered me one.”

“I know it’s a bit strange Gabby but it’s what married couples do. I know you may not be used to it, but you shouldn’t have to worry.”

“I just don’t want you to feel like you have too.”

“I don’t. I know you are more than capable of caring for yourself.”

“Good.”

The doorbell rang and he got up and got it, letting Shawn in with his bags. It was good timing because the conversation was getting a bit deep and joint accounts wasn’t something I was looking forward too. I greeted Shawn and we had light conversation before he handed us both wrapped boxes.

“I started to bring yours Zac, but I really wasn’t sure what to get. So I had to do a little snooping with your brothers.”

“You didn’t have to get anything really.”

Yet, Zac had gotten him a large gift card because he really didn’t know much more than I did. My box felt light but I just blinked when I opened it, inside was several different computer graphic programs and they were all compatible with the laptop he’d gotten.

“I know you draw more, but perhaps you can practice more with those.”

I really wasn’t use to expensive things and this I know had to be expensive, I’d seen some in the store before and they can range up to the hundreds.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

I got the frame and handed it to him and I didn’t expect such a quiet response but he just stared at the picture, so long that I glanced at Zac for reassurance that I hadn’t totally fucked up. Then again, he hadn’t even seen the final results so he couldn’t tell me if I had or not.

“Shawn?” I asked.

“I…”

His voice clearly resonated that it wasn’t bad, he was on the verge of tears actually. I hadn’t really ever seen him cry much, get angry and scream sure, but not cry.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He finally looked at me. “You remembered what I wanted?”

“Yeah. You said many times you wanted a Dragon, specifically red. I couldn’t think of anything else so I went with what I knew you wanted before and just hoped you still did. Took a few days to practice those scales and stuff. I’m not sure the color is even right.”

“It’s perfect.”

“You should show her the other one. Only reason I got her to finally do something was telling her what you got.” Zac said.

I was rather shocked that he did and I had to give the tattoo artist credit, he did a great job copying my drawing and making it look real. He’d even gotten some of the line stokes in the trees right.

“You decide to get that dragon, I want to meet the guy. This is awesome.”

“I carefully chose the artist, because I didn’t want them to mess up.”

“They didn’t. It’s quite remarkable actually.”

“I agree. So, the programs are they okay really?”

“Yeah. I haven’t really worked with any computers much, so I’ll have to learn. But, I guess the months on the road will help me. Drawing on a bus that’s moving isn’t easy.”

“I wasn’t sure if you were, I did get like a beginners guide to one program, the others didn’t have them. I also wasn’t sure if that would be pressuring you. I don’t want you to think I am shoving this at you.”

“You’re not Shawn. Everyone has been very good about just leaving things up to me. I just…”

I sighed, not knowing how to much explain it to him.

“I guess I’m not use to making decisions that actually make sense or that are good. I mean, most of them are horrible.”

“Not all of them are, you just had influences that weren’t good for you.”

“I guess. Um..do you know how Julian is?”

“She is actually doing very well. Um, Jacob is in jail.”

“Jail?” I asked.

“They adopted after us another girl, but she was very pissed about her adoption. She didn’t like them much anyway and when he touched her the first time she told the teacher. A few of the neighborhood girls made accusations after that.”

“Oh..I didn’t know.”

“They tried to reach you but no one knew where you were.”

“It’s fine, I doubt I could really have told anyone anyway. I tried desperately to just forget it and let’s face it my word wouldn’t be too credible given the drugs I used.”

“I understand. So…are you two ever going to tell anyone else you’re married?”

I think he avoided the drug use on purpose because that would mean without even knowing my parents, I’d fallen in step with them. I was glad he avoided it though.

“Zac actually made a scheduled post for Christmas. So, I woke up the next morning to 2,000 notifications of people liking my Instagram and Twitter. Mostly fans of course.”

“Oh yeah, I can imagine. I hadn’t seen anything really.”

“MTV covered it, People called me yesterday. People wanted photos which we won’t provide for obvious reasons. But, I made the post and I feel like that’s enough.” Zac said.

“Going to assume there are haters too?”

“I haven’t gotten any messages really, just people liking the photos I posted. I mean I wasn’t really obsessed I have them all there.”

He giggled. “Saying I shouldn’t tag them in anything?”

“I wouldn’t.”

We all laughed at that and just settled in for a bit. I did ask more about Julian, she really hadn’t been that bad of a mother figure, she was always making sure I was okay and I had felt bad when I left. Although, he assured me that she felt bad about what happened and was upset that she hadn’t seen the signs. Then again, most of my issues were attributed to Shawn leaving versus anything else. He said she’d divorced him and that she was dating someone so that was a plus. He told me more about Grace, what she liked and didn’t like, how she was in general and that she did want to meet me and wanted to spend time together when she had a day off. January was looking like my month to just meet everyone and spend days with them.

Honestly, maybe that is better because it would get me around other women that didn’t seem to believe sex, drugs and rock n roll was a religion to live by. Nicole, Grace and Stella were all pretty down to earth and straightforward. If any of them had dabbled in illegal drugs they hadn’t mentioned it to me, so I assumed they weren’t heavy users or users at all.

Zac asked for the picture of us, it would be the first one we had since before my birthday, it was Shawn’s idea to include the framed picture and Zac was completely fine with that. He even got a good picture of just the drawing to have for us.

“So, I know you both said you’d cook dinner, but what if we went out instead on me?”

“Are you sure?” Zac asked.

“Yes. I’m sure. I’ll even drive if you’re okay with that.”

“That’s fine by me.” Zac said.

He and I did need to change shirts, he’d just tossed a white t-shirt on and I hadn’t even bothered with a bra this morning. We changed quickly and came out.

“How are you doing healing wise?” Shawn asked.

“Pretty good. Zac’s been handling bandage changes and there isn’t any redness or anything. Hoping the doctor releases me in January.”

“Well, how are you doing without the gallbladder?”

“Honestly, no difference. Although I had some twinges with the overly chocolate cake. But, nothing major.”

I slipped my shoes on and we left, Zac put me in the front and he chose the back. The drive was pleasant now, Tulsa was a blanket of whiteness and while it wasn’t really piling up it was making things pretty. He went to Fleming’s in downtown and parked, he really meant all out.

“I’ve wanted to come here for a good steak but I didn’t want to come alone and Grace isn’t crazy about steak.”

“Is she a vegetarian?”

“No, but her ex-husband works here.”

“Oh, are we doing a kiss off to the ex?”

“No. But, she knew I was going to ask, so she’ll be okay. I have orders for a to-go plate for her.”

We smiled and inside was nice, we were taken to our seats quickly. He ordered wine for everyone and it taste so good. A white zinfandel that had a slight fruit flavor and smelled great too. Conversation was kept light, they talked about music and being a nurse, but he didn’t detail anything gory. We all ordered ribeyes, but I chose the smallest on the menu while they went with the largest.

“Fellas I’ll be back. Ladies room.”

I got up and they both nodded, the appetizers were done so the order shouldn’t be too much longer. The bathroom was in the rear and I went straight there, no need to venture anywhere else. After using the bathroom I went to wash my hands.

“Gabriella?” She asked.

I looked up in the mirror at my name and saw her standing behind me, she had on a black skirt, that showed off her legs well, high heels, a corset top that upped the cleavage and a vest that kind of hide it. Her hair was red, not a really bright red but more medium red. Her blue eyes were the same color as I remembered.

“Tera, I uh..didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Well, I could say the same for you.”

“I’m here with my husband and brother.”

“Husband? I know it’s not Newton as you told me about him.”

“No, not him.”

She stepped forward those heels clicking on the tile floor and she backed me against the sink.

“Surely it’s not Sierra either, although I swear you loved her more than him.”

“Tera…”

Her fingertips left warm trails down my arm and I had to move away quickly.

“Aw, come on Gabs. You use to like when I undressed you with my eyes.”

“It’s been a long time Tera, I’m not the same person.”

Her eyes traveled. “No, you definitely added clothes, such a shame to cover that ass of yours up in those loose jeans. Who did you marry?”

“Zac Hanson.”

The laughter vibrated off the bathrooms walls, sharp and filled with humor. Clearly, she thought I was kidding. I remembered when they first came out and yeah, we’d been critical of the long hair but we hadn’t necessarily bothered to listen to anything they did. When I didn’t join her laughter she paused.

“You’re serious?”

“Yeah, we got married in Vegas in November.”

She didn’t need to know we were drunk as hell.

“So, was Zac a girl? Does he still have that long stringy blonde hair and skinny arms?

“He’s definitely not a girl in any way. No, it’s shorter and darker and no skinny arms there.”

“Well, give me details!”

Tera’s version of details weren’t how we met or anything, what she wanted was dick sizes and while in the past I didn’t give a shit if I told her, because most of the time the men were just jerks anyway, this time was different.

“I’m sorry Tera, I can’t do that. I really need to get back to the table.”

She got a napkin and wrote something down with a pen she borrowed from the confused woman in here with us. I had no idea what she was writing down but she folded it up and came back to me quickly pulling me to her and her hands went right to my ass, one hand sliding into the pocket.

“Well, if he’s not making you scream then look me up. I can make sure you scream and get the confused look in your eyes to just go away.”

She nipped my neck and then she was gone, leaving me against the wall and the older woman very confused but she didn’t ask anything. When I checked the napkin she’d written down a phone number and address. I should throw it away but instead I put the napkin back in my pocket and went back to the table.

She was sitting eight tables away and she smiled when I sat down.

“Gabs are you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Took way longer than normal, your face is very flushed. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I didn’t lock the stall very well, some poor woman walked in and we both had a moment.”

I should probably tell him the truth about Tera, but honestly I doubted I’d ever see her again. I’d just throw the number away when I got home. The plates arrived and conversation paused a bit, but I was fully aware of her watching me. I could see her sitting with a group of older gentleman, it wouldn’t surprise me if she was escorting at least one. The way she kept watching me and the little movements. I nearly jumped out of my seat when my phone vibrated against my thigh. Both of them looked up. But I got it, quickly checked.

Hey! Are you joining us for New years?!

No. Zac and I are going to chill at home a bit then maybe attend a small party with some of his friends. I didn’t want to attend anything big because I’m afraid I’ll be elbowed the wrong way.

No problem. Just checking. We’re going to the city to a huge party, I told Max you prob wouldn’t want to because of the stitches and stuff. Doing okay?

Yeah. We’re at dinner with Shawn. I’ll txt you ltr!

Okay – enjoy!

I laid the phone down and tried to focus on Zac and Shawn and ignore that she was there. He took us back home afterwards and didn’t stay too much longer, he had Grace’s dinner after all. Apparently she loved the chicken.

“So you want to tell me what really happen in the bathroom?”

“I did.”

“So the woman was the red head that kept staring at you?”

Shit! I didn’t even think he would have paid attention to that.

“Her name is Tera and she kind of cornered me in the bathroom. I didn’t ever expect her to be there.”

“She someone you actually know?”

I twisted the tail of the shirt around my fingers. “I know her very well Zac, she’s an ex-lover of mine. Met her when I was with Newton but when I got back to Tulsa after leaving I found her. We never really dated or anything but yeah, we had sex a lot.”

“She’s…her?”

“I wouldn’t let too many of those images float to the surface there buttercup.”

“She just stared at the table, I thought at first it was just someone staring because I was there but then I realized she wasn’t looking at me. She was looking at you.”

“Yeah. I was washing my hands when she called my name. Asked and laughed when I told her who I married.”

“Why laugh?”

“We may have called you a cute girl the first time we saw pictures. I mean she wanted to fuck Taylor until we realized Taylor wasn’t a girl.”

“You seriously called me a girl?”

“You were 12.”

“You would have been fourteen Gabs, so it wasn’t when I was 12.”

Damn! I didn’t think he’d catch that. “You would have been fifteen but really, compared to what I was listening to at the time. Tera said it first and it was before I ever saw many photos.”

He slid closer to me and went right for my neck, nipping lightly. “I guess I’ve more than proved I wasn’t a girl.”

“Oh, you are far from being a girl. But you know I can’t do anything.”

He didn’t stop though, kept on with the soft kisses to my neck and it really wasn’t helping. It only took a few minutes before I laid my head back and he moved around. I could feel the slight release of pressure at my waist when he undid the buttons of my pants. I know I should stop him but I really didn’t want too. I knew the pants were very loose on me when his hand was able to slide down into them without problems. He was even able to slide the panties aside to get to where he wanted, and really I didn’t mind.

His fingers found the clit quickly and the little circles were feeling quite nice, I didn’t bother to contain the little moans that occurred, between what his lips were doing to my neck and his fingers I felt wonderful. I slipped down on the sofa and he stopped moving, but I figured it was the pants tightening up.

“I think you need to get rid of these.”

Getting them off was very easy and he kissed me. “Why do I get the feeling you want this more than me?”

I pulled him to me for a deeper kiss and just moved his hand back where it was, I was never quite one for lack of sex either. Things were going well, his fingers were working the clit just the right way and his lips on my neck was making it even better but I must have moved wrong or something because the jolt of pain caused me to yelp and him to stop.

“Baby?”

“My side…”

“Hurting?”

“Yeah.”

I moved back in a more sitting position and the pain seemed to fade a bit. Fuck my luck that the one time I don’t turn him down, is when I should.

“I can continue, if you feel okay.”

“Not really going away quickly, stupid jackasses. They should have stabbed my leg or something.”

His lips landed on my cheek. “Why don’t we lay down and I’ll check and make sure nothing came undone.”

“Better not have!”

We got up and he checked first, he didn’t notice any stitches that were coming loose and no blood, so the pain was likely caused from the way I was laying or muscles in that area. As badly as I wanted him to continued I declined but he wouldn’t let me do anything to him either. Kind of made me wonder why because he couldn’t deny that he was aroused, but he seemed content just laying here in bed with me. He was asleep much quicker than I was though, I was waiting for the pain medication to kick in.