Hell To Pay

Back At It

"Wait, what ring?" Taylor goes grab his drink and accidentally hear what Dave said. "That ring." He pointed it out to Taylor. "I didn't see that before. It just happened?"
"Me neither. I didn't see that when she put Chris's ear monitor. So, it's official huh?"
"Probably." Dave see a glimpse of sigh from Taylor and he quickly respond, "What's that about?"
"What?"
"That sigh."
"Nothing. Just hoping the best for them."
"Well, okay then." Dave put his drink back and grab his guitar. When Taylor get back behind his kit, he steal a glance at Sam's hand again. It's a silver ring with deep blue diamond. Judge from the look, it might be quite expensive and he understands why it's getting serious between them.

Right after the rehearsal, Dave go straight to where Sam is, along with the rest of the band. "Hey. I saw you have the ring on you. Congratulations!"
"Thanks Dave!" She smiles wide while Fred keeps holding her hand. "Yeah. Congratulations." This time Taylor gives them a sincere words. He also smiles to both of them. Chris seems really happy for her. "That's awesome! I'm looking for an invitation. Right Nate?"
"It's gonna be next year. Chill down." Nate says to Chris, with a giggles. "Wait, you know?"
"Yep. She told me, but she ask me not to tell anyone yet. Didn't know you guys found out so fast."
"Yeah. Fred told me to put the ring on so... Anyway. Please don't tell Chad about this."
"Why?" Dave is confused and see a doubt on Sam's face. "I want him to know it from me. And I know it's not gonna be easy. He's super protective."
"Don't worry. Take your time. I'm sure he will understand about what makes you happy and not."
"Yeah. I hope so. And thanks guys. I promise you, I'm gonna tell you all the date right after we decide it."

At a moment, Taylor can't really imagine that it's actually happening. Especially with all the circumstances. He had a plan to actually giving Sam the conversation at the bar that he recorded, but seeing her happy face, he doesn't have guts to say something about it. "Sam, I need to call my partner again. . Oh, and maybe I can't follow the whole show tomorrow, my partner ask me to meet him somewhere. But I'll be back before midnight." He stands up and quickly leaving Sam with the band. The looks on Fred face tells everyone that he's tired.

"He works hard.." Taylor is mumbling and Sam replies to him. "Yeah. He push himself to work outside his office so he can accompany me."
"Yup. I see that. And umm.. by the way. Since we're friends, maybe we can..you know, celebrate your engagement. Bills on me?"
"Sure. When and where?"
"How about tomorrow? I'll find out the place later. You guys will come along, right?" Taylor turns to the rest of the band but seems like they're trying to avoid that. "Umm. Tomorrow? I have a plan with Jordyn." Dave is the first one to say no. "Me too. I have a date." Nate follows. And then Taylor looks at Chris, "You don't have a plan, do you?"
"I don't... But I have a project to do."
"What project?"
"It's a side project. And still secret so.."
"Well, alright then. Guess it's only me and Sam." He sighs and then looks at Sam, asking for agreement. "You okay with that?"
"That's fine Taylor. A dinner at a food truck will be nice." She smirks and then stands up. "Anyway, text me the detail."
"See you Sam."
"Okay."

The night is quickly coming and it's time for the band to do the show for day 2 out of 2 days here. They're planning to expand the set list for these shows because this is the place that they don't visit regularly and they want to make the show as huge as possible. All the crew work really hard for it.

"Leo, can you make sure all the stuff working? I need to put them together." Sam can't stop to walk here and there. Even with Leo around, the works still out of hand. "I'll check it Sam. Give me 8 minutes."
"Make it 5 Leo! We need it fast. Thanks!" She watches him as he gives her a sign and quickly connect the jack. "Fuck!" Right after she did that, she throws those cables and holding her left arm. "Hey! What happened?" Taylor goes up from behind his kit and looks at Leo. "I don't know, she told me to check these stuff, I told her these work and then that happened." He goes from Leo to Sam to check her out. "Sam, are you alright?"
"Yeah, umm. Just.. I think the cable leaked again."
"Damn, let me see it." He grab her arm and see a reddish area on it. "Seems like it burned a little bit."
"Yeah, I can see that."
"Wait here, I think Chris or Dave have this cream for burn mark or something."
"No no, you dou have to. I'm good."
"Just wait. Okay?" He runs to the band and then she can see Dave goes backstage and comes with a tube minutes later. "Trust me, there will be no marks left." Taylor take the tube and help her to put the cream on her arm while Dave goes back to his position.

"Thanks. I mean it's not a big deal."
"Of course it's a big deal. That cable already hurt 2 persons."
"Oh, yeah. I remember. Nina also the victim of this cable. Sorry."
"No, that's okay. But we really need to get rid of this one. I guess."
"Yeah."
"I'll talk to our tour manager. Don't worry."
"Okay. Thanks, Taylor."
"You're welcome. And.. if you had nothing to do again, you can back to your room and.. get rest a little."
"Right.. okay then. Just call me if you need anything."
"Sure, also, we still have Leo. And.. see you after the show. Food truck. Remember?"
"Yeah, absolutely! I'll text you later."

It feels like a day off when she gets back to her room. Usually, she does that at night, right after the show. Also with Fred have an appointment today, there's nothing she can do until the show ends. So she lay her head down, and then trying to close her eyes, maybe a little of quick nap. But when she's about to do that, a vibration from the table surprised her. Turns out it's Fred's cellphone.

"I guess he forgot to bring his phone..." She smiles but not until she see the name. "Burgundy? Wait...what?" Her nerves is going high and she can't help to pick it up. But right before she pick that up, the call goes off. And then all of sudden a text comes in.

Where are you? I'm at the dine already for half an hour. You said you want to talk to me?

Sam just stand there and stoned. After all this time, this girl can't stop reaching out for Fred. She quickly delete the text so Fred will never find out that she actually open the message and then put the phone right at its place again.

The last time she knew Fred was cheating, she didn't have the chance to see this girl in person, so this time she decided that she has to know this girl's face. For once and all.