[ discovering you ] - sequel to camp discovery || a tayvis story.

outtake twelve.

JULY 25, 2013

6:57 PM

"Well, long time no talk," Ms. Jay said upon answering the phone. It had been almost a month since the last time Taylor talked to her on the phone. She sent her text from time to time to check in, ask how she was doing, but nothing compared to actually speaking with the woman that took her under her wing and made sure both she and Michael were good since the moment she found out she was pregnant.

"I know! I'm so sorry. I've been busy." Taylor defended herself.

"Mhm, hunching that boy. I know." Ms. Jay told her, sass present in her voice.

"No!" she tried to say, but stopped herself. Saying she wasn't doing that meant "Well, yes. But that's not all I've been doing!" She laughs.

"Mhm. I know. The love of your life is back and you don't have time for little ol' me anymore. I understand." Ms. Jay sniffled and pretended to cry on the other end of the phone. Taylor let out a loud laugh as she leaned back in bed. 

"Ms. Jay! I love you. I'll always have time for you." Taylor told her, still chuckling at the woman that was like a mother figure to her since she was in 10th grade. 

"But it took you almost a month to call me back. Mhm." Ms. Jay said, still giving Taylor an attitude. 

"ANYWAY! Guess what!" Taylor said, her energy high. 

"What, dear?" Ms. Jay answered. 

"I got a job interview at the company that Lance works for," Taylor revealed. "I'm really nervous about it. I don't want to mess it up since he recommended me and this is his livelihood and all." She had been nervous ever since Lance told her. She had tried her best not to think about it, but the thought of it kept creeping into her mind. 

"Watcha nervous for? You gonna do amazing, mama," Taylor smiled at Ms. Jay's words. If she didn't have anyone else in the world who believed in her, she knew Ms. Jay did. She always had and most likely always would. She cherished that about the woman. She appreciated it.  "And make sure you tell them people that you speak Spanish this time, so they give you more money. Sitting over there with all these skills and not telling folks you have them. Blocking your own blessings that way, girl."

"Mom already put it in my new résumé," Taylor told her. A few days ago, Tree and Taylor sat down and redid her entire résumé. It felt like it had taken them hours to perfect it, but eventually, they got it done, making sure everything was there, including a cover letter that was universal enough to beg any company for a job.

"I'm so happy my girls have true mother figures now, other than myself. Tree and Donna are really going to take such good care of you guys." Ms. Jay said. Taylor caught something in her voice that she had never heard before. It sounded as if the words were caught in her throat. "I can't believe both of my babies left me. I guess this is what it means when they say we gotta let y'all spread your wings and fly."

"I don't think I tell you enough just how much I appreciate everything you have done for me over the last 8 years of my life," Taylor said, a frown present on her face. 

"No. Don't you start that shit. You not about to make me cry on this phone. I'm having dinner with Blake and Ryan later, and I'll be crying enough then." Ms. Jay said. 

"MOMMY!" Michael screeched from the hallway right before he opened the door and came into her bedroom. 

"What-y? What happened?" she asked, seeing Michael's face. 

"Is that my little green bean baby?" Ms. Jay asked. 

"Daddy is mean!" Michael said, climbing into Taylor's bed. 

"Hey now. Don't lie on me. Kylie threw the blue shell. It's not my fault you lost," Travis followed in behind him, pleading his case to Taylor already before she could even question what Michael meant.

"In my defense, I thought Travis was in first place," Kylie defended. 

"I slowed down so he could win, and here comes the damn blue shell noise!" Travis said to Kylie.

"What the hell is going on?" Ms. Jay asked, laughing on the other end of the phone. 

"My three children were playing Mario Kart, and the older two didn't let the baby win," Taylor laughed.

"Oh goodness gracious," Ms. Jay huffed while laughing. 

"Ms. Jay?" Michael questioned, hearing the voice that was coming from the phone. 

"Yes, String Bean?" Ms. Jay answered. 

"I miss you!" Michael exclaimed, pleased to hear Ms. Jay's voice again. 

"I miss you too, cutie pop." Ms. Jay told him. "You're going to have to call me because your Mommy forgets I exist sometimes."

"Can I call you on my iPad?" Michael asked. 

"Of course, anytime you want," Ms. Jay replied. "Who got my baby an iPad?" 

"Daddy did," Michael told her. 

"Where is he? I need to still meet this young man," Ms. Jay said. 

"He's standing at the door looking nervous," Taylor revealed, laughing at Travis face turning the color of cherry tomatoes. 

"What he over there for? He scared Imma bit him through the phone? Tell him come over and talk," Ms. Jay said. 

"You heard her, come over here," Taylor told Travis. Travis smiled, shaking his head slightly as he walked over to the bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to Taylor. 

"Hi, Ms. Jay. How are you?" Travis asked the woman on the other side of the phone. 

"Well, hello to you. Nice to finally put a voice with the decade old picture." She said. 

"It's good to finally speak with the famous Ms. Jay. We hear a lot about you on our end." Travis told her. 

"You just don't know how much I heard about you and that Kylie girl," Ms. Jay said, laughing.

"Hi, Ms. Jay," Kylie chimed in from the foot of the bed. 

"Is that the Kylie girl?" Ms. Jay asked. 

"Yes, how are you," Kylie asked. 

"I'm wonderful, sugar. I'm happy that you folk over there are taking good care of my girl and my favorite boy. When Blake gets there, take care of her too. They're my prized students. The best I ever raised."

"We will," Kylie responded.

"We're going to have to get you and the Garcia's up here for a visit one of these days," Travis said. "I know that would mean a lot to Tay."

"Most definitely," Ms. Jay replied. "I'm going to have to see when they'll be able to close the restaurant for a couple of days so we can make the trip. But until then, I have a dinner date with another blonde that is leaving me in the morning," Ms. Jay said, letting out a small laugh. 

"We'll let you go then, talk to you another time," Taylor told her. 

"Yes. And before I go, I want to tell y'all to let my baby win that game. Don't be making him cry." Ms. Jay said, making all of them laugh. 

"Yes, ma'am," Travis said with a laugh. They all said their goodbyes and ended the call. 

"She seems like she's another version of Ms. White," Kylie said. "Like, they give off the same vibe."

"I said the same thing when I met Ms. White," Taylor told her.