No Way Back (a Taylor Hawkins fan fiction)

Chapter 3 - Nobody's Girl

They pulled over in front of a modest two story yellow house with a bunch of cars out front. Gen put the car in park and sighed. 

“Hey,” said Rachel, sternly. “This is going to be fun. Stop trying to pretend you’re not excited - no one’s buying it, not even you.”

“Okay, okay you’re right,” Gen conceded. “There are worse things to be doing on a Thursday night than partying at the house of a famous rock star.”

“There’s my girl!” Rachel cried opening her door and yelling out to Jerry. “Hey Jer, did you grab a bottle from the bar?”

He held up a bottle of Bourbon.

“What do you think I am, an amateur?”

The girls laughed and followed him up the steps to the front door. A couple ahead of them held it open and they found their way to the kitchen to find some cups.

Bourbon and ginger in hand, Gen surveyed the scene. Taylor and Dave were nowhere in sight but she spotted Pat Smear and a blonde chatting on the other side of the room. Kristin Wiig was perched on a couch next to Fabrizio Moretti and various other characters were milling about.

“Patio?” Rachel pointed to the glass sliding doors to their left. Gen nodded.

They walked out to a small lawn that seemed to drop right off at the end straight into the canyon. A large pool was down some steps to their right with a balcony looking over it from the second level.

“Liv!” Rachel called, spotting Olivia Wilde across the yard. She ran over and the two embraced and began talking excitedly. Gen shook her head and laughed. It never ceased to amaze her that Rachel seemed to know everyone.

Gen walked down the steps to the pool and found a free lawn chair by the fire pit. She had to admit it was a beautiful night. The summer air was warm on her skin and the sky was clear and lit with stars. She pulled a cigarette out of her purse and put it to her lips. Suddenly, a lighter was extended to her.

“Iggy! Glad you could make it!” said Taylor, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

She accepted his offering, lit her cigarette and took a drag, smiling at him hesitantly.

“I was told it was a mandatory work excursion.”

He laughed and lit a smoke for himself. 

“Jerry’s a rad dude, Iggy,” said Taylor. “You should listen to everything he says.”

Gen cracked a smile despite herself.

"This is a really nice house."

"Yeah I’ve been living here for a long ass time," he replied, surveying the yard. "My ex and I bought a bigger place in a gated community awhile back but I kept this one to rent out. Ended up working out well when we split - I got to come back here and not have to deal with the bullshit of finding new digs."

"I’m sorry about that…your ex."

"Naw, don’t be. Ali’s the best. We were together for so long, we have two great kids - we’re still really close. No bad vibes."

"That’s really great," said Gen, taking a sip of her drink only to find it down to melted ice.

"Whatcha drinkin’ there?" Taylor asked, gesturing to her cup.

"Bulleit Ginger."

"Ah, high-end gal," he smiled. "You continue to impress me."

Gen was feeling uncomfortable. He was so handsome, he was talking to only her, paying her compliments. She wanted to swoon, she wanted to flirt, but she remained stiff and steadfast.

"Can I get you another one?" he ventured, bemused by her deadpan.

"Oh I shouldn’t," she replied, smiling politely. "It’s been a long night and I’m the D.D." She turned to look for Rachel and spotted her across the yard, she and Olivia had now been joined by Jack Black and some other guy she didn’t recognize. She turned back and was startled to see Taylor now standing in front of her, hand outstretched.

"Come on Iggy," he grinned. "You’re being a party pooper, which is unacceptable for a woman of your profession."

She looked up at him, resolve cracking.

"Let’s go!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.

She laughed as he lead her across the patio and back through the glass doors. He kept hold of her hand even as they stopped in the kitchen where Dave was grabbing a beer from the fridge.

"Dave! Two more while you’re in there! Iggy needs to loosen up!"

Dave handed two beers their way. Gen let go of Taylor’s hand to take the drink and opened it.

"Iggy, is it?" Dave said, closing the fridge and turning to face them.

"It’s Gen," she corrected him, reaching her hand out to shake his."I think your friend here has a preoccupation with my Stooges shirt."

"Jennifer?" Taylor asked, grabbing her hand again as soon as she dropped it back to her side.

"Genevieve," she corrected, feeling her cheeks grow warm.

"Of course!" he said with a goofy grin. "A classy name for a classy girl!"

"And she’s talking to you?" asked Dave, laughing.

"She is here against her will and I’m forcing her to talk to me.”

"That makes more sense." Dave said, nodding, brows furrowed. "Well Genevieve, I’m sorry about your luck. Perhaps we can find something to make this less painful for you…" his eyes scanned the assortment of bottles on the counter. "Ah yes," he sighed, picking up a bottle of Buffalo Trace. "A fine Kentucky bourbon should do it!"

"I really shouldn’t…" Gen started, but Taylor shushed her.

"I promise if you have too much fun I will get you and your friend a safe cab ride home, on me," he said seriously.

She sighed. Why was she behaving like the exact opposite of the fun, outgoing woman she had normally always been? Here she was at a great party surrounded by interesting people, she didn’t have to work in the morning and she now had a 100% safe and secure way to get back home. She smiled and her shoulders relaxed. She grabbed the bottle from Dave and took a hearty swig.

"That’s my girl!" cried Taylor

"I’m nobody’s girl,” Gen replied boldly and handed the bottle back to Dave.

Taylor’s grin spread from ear to ear.

“Challenge accepted.”

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