Hell To Pay

Is It?

It's another work day again with the band. She worked hard all day long and now comes the lunch time. Sitting there waiting for Fred to comes back with food, Sam can't help herself to smile the whole time. "Seems very happy. What's up?" Nate just walks passed her when he notices a wide smile on her face. "Oh, hey Nate. It's... nothing. Not so important."
"Come on, what is it?" Nate can't help but smile too, soon as she hold a giggle. "Sssh. Please don't tell anyone. I only tell you for this one. Okay?" Nate nods and comes closer. "So. What happened?" Sam smiles and show him her fingers, with a ring on one of it. "Holy cow.. for real?"
"Yeah... I mean it was days ago. But I keep that for myself until today."
"When will the wedding?"
"We don't know yet... But probably next year."
"Oh wow. That's fast."
"I know.. but I don't wanna waste another time. I mean... He really changed. I feel it this past days."
"Well, if that's the best for you, I'll support you no matter what."
"Thanks Nate. Promise me not to telling anyone okay? I'm planning to tell my brother first, but I know I can't just tell him days after me and Fred reunited. Chad will be on his nerves."
"You have my words. Don't worry. But better to keep your ring a secret for now. If you don't want anyone to find out."
"Oh, yeah.. you right." She takes her ring and keep it inside her purse.

"Sam! I brought this!" They see Fred from afar already back with plastic bags on his hands. "Okay! Wait there!" Sam gets up and turns to Nate. "I should go. This is our secret, okay?"
"I know. Just go." He giggles and then let her to goes to Fred. He watch them having a lunch together while he rest his head against the wall.

"I can't believe I see this." Suddenly he hears someone besides him. "What?"
"You know.. Sam and Fred. I can't believe they reunited for real."
"What's wrong about it Taylor? I mean, they looked cute."
"Are you serious? Come on Nate. He cheated on her."
"Well, maybe he changed. Also.. what's wrong with you?"
"Umm. Nothing. Just..you know I don't want Sam to hurt again."
"It's none of your business Taylor. Let them be. Also... At least her boyfriend isn't a pain in the ass for our band."
"Excuse me?"
"Nevermind. Just..forget that. I don't want to talk about it." Nate gets up and leave Taylor to be furious by himself.

While enjoying their lunch, Fred quickly notices the absence of the ring on her finger. "Where is it?"
"What?"
"The ring I gave you."
"Oh.. I keep that. I don't want everyone to know about it yet. I need to talk with Chad first. You know it's not gonna be easy."
"Yes, right... I forget how much Chad hates me."
"Noo. He doesn't hate you, it's just he's a very protective brother. That is exactly why I need to win his heart."
"Okay..I understand. Just... Continue your meal, okay?" Sam nods and put another spoon to her mouth. They're half to finish their dish when Fred get a text abd he stop what he's doing abd gets up.

"Sam, I need to make a call to my client. Just 10 minutes. I'll be back, okay?"
"Okay." She continues to eat while Fred goes outside, leaving just Sam and Taylor in the room. "Hey, Sam."
"Yeah?" She answers, with a full mouth. "Can I talk to you?"
"Uh uh."
"Umm. I think you shouldn't trust him easily. You know... Something about him is still fishy for me."
"Uh...what you're trying to say exactly?"
"I think... Umm... I don't trust him, you know. And you shouldn't either." Hearing that, Sam put her food down and give Taylor an upset face. "Taylor, I consider you as my friend. I really do, but you can't step into my relationship and tell me what to do. You hear me?"
"But he cheated on you and might do the same again."
"Can't you just happy for me? Like.. did I ever complain a damn thing about Nina? No. So maybe you can do the same thing."
"Hey, don't bring her up on this. This isn't about me."
"Isn't about you? It is about you. You can't let me be just happy. Are you jealous because your band have no complain about Fred the way they have on Nina?"
"Stop making it about me Sam."
"Or what?"
"Okay. Whatever. I don't care." Taylor leave her, pissed. He walks outside and almost bumped into Fred who just came back inside. "What's wrong with you?" Fred looks at Taylor who doesn't really care to look at him back. Then Sam calls him, tell him to just comes in, "Don't mind him Fred. He just had a bad day." Fred nods and just walk passed Taylor to reach Sam in the room.

He goes out and enter a bar that just opened like 2 hours ago, sit on a chair and order a couple shots. "Isn't it to early to get drunk?" The bartender laugh and serve everything. "Maybe. But maybe not. I need to go in an hour so this is the only time I can get drunk." He smirks and take the shot.

"You seems have a lot of money." A couple of dudes just come in and sit meters away behind Taylor, he doesn't even mind to look at. "Yeah. It's a payday. The person who hired me is having a good time after get his girlfriend back."
"Yeah? You helped him?"
"Help? Umm. Not really. I'm just watching her, report things. Took some pictures and scared her." Something about the conversation makes him interesting. So he decided to listening without turning his back.

"Tell me more about it."
"His girlfriend is hot though. But she's strong."
"What do you mean?"
"Yeah? The job I told you about beating someone? It's all about beating her so he can save her like some kind of hero." Taylor knows what he's hearing and it makes his blood boiled. He turns on the recorder on his phone and taking a picture of those guys quietly before taking a note and give it to the bartender. "Hey umm. Can you give this note after I leave? Make sure the guy read it."
"Okay. No problem." He hands some money to pay his bill and then leave by the side door.

When everyone is almost ready to rehearse a song, Taylor is the one who made it the last. "Sorry I'm late."
"Where were you?" Dave tighten up his strap and looks at his mate. "Not that important. Should we start, like now?"
"Yeah." Dave turns himself again and get ready. All of them put their ear monitor but Dave. "Ready?" Dave makes a sign so the band start to play their instruments. In the middle of One By One, Chris drop his ear monitor and caused a buzz on it afterwards.

"Fuck! Damn." He take it on again  after he dropped it but quickly take it off right after. "What's that?" Dave stop what he does and goes to check on Chris. "I think I broke mine." Handing his ear monitor to Dave and looks at the side stage. Dave then waves to Sam to bring another one.

"I'm wondering why you don't need it." Chris giggles, remember that Dave never wear ear monitor. "Because it's too late to wear one. I already deaf one ear. I don't need monitor anymore." He laughs and just a minute Sam arrives with a new one. "What's so funny?" She asks while put the new monitor on Chris. "No, we were just joking about Dave never wear a monitor."
"Yeah because I'm half deaf." Then Sam laughs along. "Geez, I shouldn't laugh. That is bad but...pffft. Because it's Dave, I don't feel bad."
"I know right?" Chris keeps talking until Sam finish putting it.

"Alright. Now do a test." Sam tells everyone as they play their instruments while Chris listening to his own. "Right! All good."
"Okay then. Good luck."
"Thank you Sam!" Chris pinch her cheek before she runs to the side stage again.

"What is that?" When Sam walk to the side, Fred is already there. Arm crossed. "What do you mean?"
"Looks like that guy likes you." He pointed out to Chris and Sam giggles. "Chris? Of course not."
"He has girlfriend?"
"No.."
"So there's a chance he likes you, right?"
"Oh come on Fred. It doesn't like that."
"Then just put the ring on." Seeing his frowning face, she doesn't even want to argue. "Okay." She take the ring from her purse and put it on. "You happy?"
"Absolutely." Face changes and he goes to hug her. "Now... Everyone knows that you have someone."
"I know.. don't worry about that." They go for a kiss before take a seat together.

After a couple songs, they have a break and take each other's cup. When Dave takes his, he notices something from afar. "Hey umm. Is it just me, or Sam has a ring on her finger?"