Excerpt: Someone Else's Story

Excerpt
London, England
Ivan thumbed through the music he was working on for the final concert but found himself oddly distracted. The chat they had had over instant messaging the previous night before had greatly disturbed him. The rogue, Dominic what’s-his-face, had had the audacity to break Taylor’s heart. Taylor...the girl that he had just recently found out he was in love with. Taylor…the one person other than his close friends that he had shared his deepest family secrets with. Who knew what she was going through right now?
He opened up his instant messaging chat box which had saved the messages from the night before.

violavocals@bu.edu:: It feels awful. It came completely out of nowhere.
dazzleandcharm@uk.com:: He gave you no warning? Was there nothing in his previous actions that stated he was going to do this?
violavocals@bu.edu: No…none.

It bothered Ivan that the despicable rogue would do this to such a wonderful girl. They had been dating for over a year and there wasn’t anything about Taylor that was just unattractive. She had a wonderful large family, she had a great future planned ahead of her, what was there that he didn’t want to have anything else to do with?
“Hey, Ivan. You in here?” The door to his office opened.
Ivan turned to find Preston with his head sticking through the doorway. “What do you want?”
“You got everything packed?” James asked, pushing Preston through the door and resting himself on the doorframe.
“Packed?” Ivan stood up and rested his hands on the desk in front of him. “What are you talking about?”
“Packed? Like, clothes put in suitcases, toiletries put in a bag, and don’t forget to grab your shower shoes those Americans are disgusting.” Preston crossed his arms and smirked.
“And where, may I ask, are we going?” Ivan asked, coming around to the front of his desk and leaning against it.
“Do you honestly think we’re going to let our little girl suffer all alone, now when she needs us the most?” James walked further into the room and took a seat in one of the large leather chairs. “You really are quite dense sometimes. It’s probably the reason why you’ve never seen how much you truly care about Taylor.”
Ivan scoffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Well, you can think about it as we cross the time zones to America.” Preston ran and grabbed Ivan’s arm. “We’ve got your things packed anyway, and the tickets have been bought.”
“We can’t just drop everything!”
“And why not?” James asked, pushing his glasses further up his nose. “Taylor would do the exact same for us, and she has if you remember.” James gave a very pointed look to Ivan to prove his point.
Ivan knew that he was referring to that time his sophomore year of college when things with his family had taken a drastic turn. Taylor had shown up completely unannounced and had comforted him when he needed it the most. “There are things here that have to be taken care of.”
“Already done.” James smiled, quite pleased with himself. “We have other people taking over our roles. Your understudy will be quite excited to get to practice on stage, since you’ve always been present and he’s never been needed.”
“Yes…but…”
“Why are you making such a big deal of not going? You love Taylor don’t you?” Preston asked, pushing his point.
“Well…I think very highly of her and she’s been such a great friend these past few years…”
“That alone should be enough of a reason to go see her. She’ll be getting ready for this silly production they’re doing, so maybe we could go and say that we’re there to support her.”
“Taylor’s a smart person. She’ll know why we’re there.”
“Then let her figure it out.” James grabbed hold of Ivan’s other arm. “The point of the matter is, is that we’re going and that’s an end to the matter.”
Ivan swallowed, realizing that he had no choice. He did want to go see her. He wanted to be there while she was suffering and console her just as much as she consoled him. But he knew that he loved her desperately, and he was an impatient selfish being at times, and he would want her to get over him quickly so that she could fall in love with him. So, why should he go if he was only going to push his feelings onto her?
“Alright…let’s go.” Ivan said. He would deal with that question at a later date.
 
Next Chapter
Bayside University
Taylor had spent too long getting ready. She had not spent too long that it had caused her to be late for rehearsal, but spending an hour had been too long. She had dressed in a long black skirt that had embroidery work of lilies along the hem. Her sweater was white and it sparkled in the light. The sides of her red hair were pulled back and she had not straightened it when she had gotten out of the shower, so it fell in soft waves around her shoulders. She had done her make-up and even gone so far as to paint her nails and toes a pastel pink color.
“You’re just going to a rehearsal, Taylor.” Gwen was signing away with someone on her computer, but she had paused long enough to talk to Taylor. “There’s no need to get all dressed up.”
Taylor shrugged and slipped on a pair of ballet flats. “It makes me perform better, being all dressed up.”
“Well, I’m not going to get all decked out just to go sign for people.” Gwen scoffed signing to the person that she was leaving and that she’d be back later.
“You don’t even have to come today, unless you just really want to.”
Gwen laughed. “You’re funny. Who else is going to hold back the throngs of people who are going to pester you into how you’re doing or to wonder what you did to break Dominic’s heart.”
Taylor’s hands stilled from where she was pinning back a wayward curl of hair. “People are saying I broke up with Dominic?”
Gwen typed away on her computer and motioned for Taylor to come over. “It’s all over Facespace.”
Taylor looked over Gwen’s shoulder and grimaced. Her relationship status had changed as well as Dominic’s and people had posted all over both of theirs. Some people were on both sides and some people took Dominic’s side, but most of the people were on Taylor’s, which she found to be a little puzzling. Some of the people commenting on Dominic’s status, had asked questions as to what she had done and calling her some less than pleasant names.
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t think you’re meant to. Come on. Let’s get going. It’s already four-thirty and rehearsal starts at five. You warmed up?”
Taylor nodded, thinking that Gwen was really considerate in asking. Usually Gwen wasn’t so thoughtful. Oh, she couldn’t fault her friend for being so wonderful. She trusted Gwen with more than just temporal things. She trusted Gwen with her life.
“Did you eat?”
Taylor thought about the apple and crackers she had for dinner. “Yes, I did.”
Gwen nodded, and Taylor felt really bad for a moment about lying to her friend. In truth, she had eaten but she knew that had not been Gwen’s question. Taylor also hadn’t felt really hungry since she had eaten that huge breakfast early in the morning.
“Well, let’s get going then.” Gwen grabbed her hoodie and put it on.
“All right then.” Taylor picked up her long winter coat, scarf, and gloves. She looked over at Gwen who looked at her. She shrugged. “Sorry. I get cold.”
“Mmmhmmm.”
Taylor rolled her eyes good naturedly and quickly bundled up. “Let’s see…keys…wallet…notebook.” She grabbed each thing as she said it and quickly the two were out of the apartment complex.
“So, who were you talking to earlier?” Taylor asked, referring to the person that Gwen had been signing to earlier.
“His name is Damien. He’s in my American Sign Language in Culture class.”
Taylor nudged Gwen in the side. “Is he cute?” She teased. Gwen had yet to date anybody since Nathan Akers who, sadly, they would see tonight. The two had dated for almost eight months and they had gone pretty strong. In fact, Taylor had started dating Dominic the day Nathan had broken up with Gwen.
Gwen simply shrugged. “Depends on what you call cute. If you think reddish brown long hair, that’s put in a ponytail, body jewelry, and a beard to be called cute then sure.”
Taylor laughed and grabbed hold of her stomach. “Oh, Gwen.”
Gwen kept going in her attitude that Taylor might actually be attracted to this Damien character. “He even had on the Spill Canvas t-shirt.”
“Gwen!!” Taylor up a hand over her mouth and was suddenly very thankful for her best friend. Gwen knew how to cheer up just when she needed it, and now it had never been more obvious.
“Hey! Taylor!!”
Taylor turned at the sound of a very familiar voice. “Hey Sapphire!!” Taylor waved and the two waited for Taylor’s other friend, Sapphire Star, to run in her stiletto heels over to them.
“You look chipper this cold afternoon, Taylor.” Sapphire stepped to the other side of Taylor and put her arm around her shoulders.
Taylor would never cease to be amazed at Sapphire’s appearance. Sapphire was usually a crazy dresser, always being very dressed up. Today her hair had been styled in a very late 80’s look with a yellow ribbon tied in it and the ends flung over her shoulder. Her white shirt was very thick with fur hemming and she had on a flowing brown skirt that matched the lining of her shirt. She had on, as usual, tons of bangles on her arms, huge hoop earrings in her ears and at least six different rhinestone necklaces hanging from her throat. Over her she had on a dark brown suede and brown suede boots.
“Yes well, Gwen has been cheering me up. Can’t go into rehearsal looking all gloomy like.” Taylor shrugged and the trio settled into their usual walk of going arm and arm into the large auditorium where rehearsal had always been held. Her good spirits, however, were quickly brought down when she saw Dominic enter from the other side of the auditorium. What happened wanted to make her run back to her room, crawl under the covers and weep. Dominic did not look at her. He just kept walking. He walked upon to the stage to talk to the professor who was assisting him.
Gwen and Sapphire must have noticed her expression because they pushed her forward and towards her seat. Taylor ignored the looks from the other performers who were sitting in the auditorium. Bayside was a small university and the music department was even smaller. It was not a large cast and Taylor knew that every eye in the room, other than Dominic’s, was on her.
She quickly took her seat and removed her coat.
“So, we’re going to have to get together and have a girl’s night. What do you think?” Sapphire was talking to her and Taylor could only nod. She didn’t realize what was going on around her. Her eyes were focused on Dominic and did not leave him.
“Hey! Taylor?” Gwen snapped her fingers in front of her face. “Snap out of it.”
Taylor jumped and looked at her friend. “Gwen, I don’t think I can do this.”
“Of course you can. It’s just acting. It doesn’t really mean anything.” Sapphire remarked and laid back in the chair.
Taylor was silent. “But it was real…” Taylor whispered. “Our acting was flawless because we were so good together. Our love showed on stage because we loved each other.” Her eyes turned back to Dominic who appeared to be in some argument with the professor. What were they talking about?
“Well, honey, I hate to break it to you, but he obviously does not love you. Otherwise why did he break up with you?” Sapphire turned in her chair and looked at Taylor.
“I wish I knew,” Taylor’s voice was just above a whisper. How she wished she knew. The memories of last night seemed to be in such a blur. It was like someone had drugged her and she couldn’t remember the break up…just the pain…only the pain.
“Alright, everyone.” The professor turned and looked at the cast. Taylor recognized him as Dr. Thomas Moreland, Dominic’s theory professor. “Listen up. In lieu of the recent circumstances,” he turned very sad eyes to Taylor who wished the floor would swallow her whole. “We will not be canceling the show.” He gave a very pointed look to Dominic who clearly looked disappointed in that decision. “We are three weeks out and next rehearsal, which will be Tuesday night at five o’clock, will be our first dress rehearsal. Too much effort has been put into this to have it put off now.”
Taylor’s fiery temper, which took a lot to get out suddenly rose the fore. So, Dominic wanted to cancel the show on something that was his fault?! She gripped the arm rests of the auditorium chair she was sitting in and ground her teeth. The audacity! Taylor couldn’t remember the last time she had been so mad!
“So, we will start at the beginning of the second act which puts Taylor and Dominic on stage…now.”
Taylor gladly stood up and made it very apparent that she was furious as she walked to the stage. Her character, Kayla, was mad at one of the boys, Peter, for doing something exceedingly stupid. They were having a private confrontation.
“What was up with that?” Taylor demanded, putting her hands on her hips and facing the audience.
“What do you mean?” Dominic asked, sitting down on a chair and reclining back on its back two legs.
Taylor resisted the urge to throw the chair back and send him flying back. “I mean that being friends with me one minute and treating me like dirt the next? What kind of person are you?” She turned to him and found his own face to be exceedingly impassive, devoid of all emotion. And that was the final straw. Dominic was not supposed to answer her anyway and she had to reiterate the question. She walked over and grabbed the back of the chair.
“I said,” she threw the back of the chair to the stage floor and Dominic looked up at her from the floor with wide eyes. “What KIND of person ARE YOU!?”