No Way Back (a Taylor Hawkins fan fiction)

Chapter 6 - Crash Into Me

His breath was hot on her neck. Her own came out in sharp gasps as she moved underneath him, fingers tangled in his blonde locks.
"I'm so fucking glad you came back," he moaned. Her only response was to throw back her head and dig her nails into his side as he crashed against her and inside her. She was glad she had come back too, she wasn't quite sure how it had happened but here she was, skin against skin, body vibrating at his touch, words catching in her throat. She was at the mercy of his every move - heart pounding out of her chest. She wished that phone would stop ringing...

She opened her eyes and gasped. She was alone. She was in her own bed, her phone ringing on the bedside table, screen lighting up the darkness. She clawed for it groggily, missing the last ring by a moment. An unknown number. Had it been him? She settled back against her pillow. Her sheets were damp with sweat, her heart racing, her breath short. The dream had been so real. She felt the warmth between her thighs and exhaled deeply. She was a goner. She knew it. Her phone buzzed again. Voicemail. She eagerly pressed the "listen to voicemail" button, holding her breath.
"Hi this is John calling from Studio Fitness, we're calling to offer you a discou—" she hung up with a sigh and pulled herself out of bed.

"Good morning, my little rock'n'roll sunshine," Rachel sang as Gen padded into the kitchen. "Did you sleep on cloud 9?"
"Something like that." Gen smiled and opened the cupboard, taking out a bottle of multi vitamins. She poured herself a glass of filtered water from the jug in the fridge and swallowed one down.
"You need the bathroom?" she asked Rachel.
"Naw girl, all you," Rachel replied, peering over her copy of LA Weekly. "No call yet?"
Gen shook her head and shrugged nonchalantly, masking the uneasiness creeping into her stomach. She made her way down the hall to the bathroom and shut herself inside, turning on the water and letting it heat up. She looked at herself in the mirror as steam began to appear around its edges. Her skin was sun-kissed, a smattering of light freckles across her nose and the apples of her cheeks. Her lips were small but full, her nose, a touch pointy, was something she had always hated as a kid, but as an adult she'd grown to appreciate its subtle elegance. Her large eyes, almost lime green now (they were always bright when she was tired or when she cried), betrayed a worry she wished she wasn't feeling. The want twisted in her stomach, turning her guts. Turning away from her reflection, she undressed and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the morning's dreamy desires.

She returned to her room, hair dripping down her shoulders, the yellow towel that wrapped around her soaking it up as it trickled down. She moved to her closet and pulled out a loose white tank top, well worn, and grabbed her favourite pair of boyfriend jeans from a pile of fresh laundry atop her dresser. As she pulled the jeans up to her slender hips, fastening the button, her phone buzzed from the bedside table again. Before she could stop it, her heart leapt into her throat.
"Fuck," she whispered to herself in irritation. She picked up the phone.

Brunch? - T

Her heart swelled against her chest.
"Rachel!" she cried excitedly, giving in to her excitement.
"Yeeeessss?" Rachel drawled from down the hall. Gen burst out of her room and rushed to the kitchen, shoving the phone in her roommates face. Rachel smiled and looked at Gen.
"Awe, babygirl's going to brunch with a rock star," she laughed. Gen smiled back at her sheepishly. Before she could reply the phone vibrated in her hand again and a new message appeared on the screen.

What's your address, Iggy? I'm coming for ya.

Rachel snatched the phone from Gen's hand before she could protest and typed back their address, hitting send quickly.
"Go dry your hair, idiot."
"Wha..." Gen started to protest but realized she had no choice in the matter. She pressed her lips shut and rushed down the hall to do as Rachel said.
Fifteen minutes later she emerged from the bathroom with dry, pin-straight hair. Her lids were perfectly lined with her signature cat-eye, a chunky turquoise and gold necklace resting on her collarbones, large rings on almost all her fingers (another signature of hers). Rachel whistled her approval.
"Dang, girl! You look good enough to eat!" she chided
"Shut up!" Gen laughed, pulling on her favourite mint green ballet flats. Just as she did they heard a knock at the front door.
"I'll see who's there," Rachel whispered with mock seriousness. "It's probably for me."
Gen smiled and rushed back to her room to grab her purse. When she returned Taylor stood in the hallway, trading witty remarks with Rachel.
"Well aren't you a pretty sight in the light of day," he grinned at her. She blushed.
"Excuse me, I have something very important to do, somewhere that isn't here," Rachel said. "You crazy kids have fun with your brunch."
She disappeared through the kitchen as Gen arrived in front of the door.
"I have something important to do also," he said quietly, pulling her towards him and placing a kiss on her lips.
"Oh hi," she said when he released her, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Fuck he was gorgeous.
"Hi."
He returned her smile and took her hand as they stepped outside into the LA sunshine. His SUV was parked on the street. "Where shall we brunch, m'lade?" He bowed as he opened the passenger door for her gallantly.
"Millie's?" she suggested, naming her favourite brunch spot in Silverlake.
"Millie's it is."
They got in and he put the key in the ignition.
"I told you I'd call you."
He placed his hand on her knee as they pulled away from the curb.
"Technically you didn't," she pointed out. "You texted."
"You're lucky you're pretty."
Gen smiled to herself, hopeful eyes safely hidden beneath a pair of Ray Ban Clubmasters.

When they arrived at the diner, Gen slid onto the bench against the window of the restaurant at one of the sidewalk patio tables. To her surprise Taylor opted to sit beside her on the bench instead of at the chair across from her.
"Whatcha gonna get?" he asked, looking over the laminated menu.
"The Usual," she said, pointing to the menu item with that title. "Eggs scrambled, vegan sausage pattie."
"Vegan?" he grimaced dramatically. "You really are lucky you're pretty."
They asked for iced coffees and placed their food orders with the server. Gen was becoming aware of other patrons staring and she felt her face flush. Taylor noticed.
"You alright there, blushy?"
"People are staring."
"I know." He placed his hand on her knee under the table and squeezed. "They can't believe a girl so lovely would sit at a classy diner with some schmuck like me."
Gen laughed and swatted him playfully, forgetting the prying eyes for the moment. Their food arrived and they dug in hungrily.
"Do you work tonight?" he asked her, taking a break from his steak and eggs (which she was convinced he ordered specifically due to her avoidance of meat). She shook her head in response, chewing a bite of French toast.
"Can I kidnap you for the rest of the day then?"
His brown eyes peered at her over his sunglasses. She smiled, swallowing.
"I don't know... what do you have planned?"
"Garbage are playing over at The Satellite tonight." He replied. "Secret show."
Gen raised her eyerbrows.
"Really?"
Taylor nodded.
"Yeah, a few of us are going down. Think we're having a little barbeque action first. You in?"
His hand settled on her knee again as she nodded her yes.
"Rad, let's hit Trader Joe's after this and grab you some weird fake meat burgers and then head to Dave's. Did you bring your swimsuit?"
"I didn't think a swimsuit was necessary for brunch," she replied, her mind spinning at how surreal this day was becoming.
"Touche," he replied, chuckling. "Well Dave lives in the Valley so we can swing by your place on the way over. Problem solved!"

An hour later they pulled up outside her apartment and Gen hurried in the front door while Taylor sat idling at the curb.
"RACHEL!?" she called. No response. She dug her phone out of her purse and dialed her roommate as she rushed down the hall to her room.
"Sup, Mrs. Hawkins?" Rachel's voice chided her from the other end of the line.
"Rachel!" Gen cried. "I'm going to a fucking pool party barbeque situation at the Grohl's house. RIGHT NOW."
"Calm down," Rachel switched into maternal mode. "Wear the polka-dotted bikini. It's sexy but modest. You don't want to look like a tramp in front of a bunch of Rock wives."
"What the fuck am I doing?" Gen lamented as she rifled through her underwear drawer, producing a teal bikini with white polka dots.
"Vieve. Get it together. You're living the dream, that's what you're doing. Now stop freaking out and go enjoy it."
"I love you." Gen replied earnestly. "What the hell would I do without you?"
"Implode, in all likelihood." Rachel laughed. "Have fun, rock star."

Gen hung up, tossed her bikini and a fresh towel in a tote bag along with a few beauty supplies and grabbed a light leather jacket as she scrambled out the door and back to the waiting SUV.