Hell To Pay

The One

"Is that all true?" Dave looks at her, can't believe everything he just heard. "You cheated on her, Taylor?"
"Yeah. Tell him about it Taylor. Don't fucking blame Chris about it. Shame on you." Sam now take a jab at him, waiting for him to confess everything. "I... I'm sorry. I really think that you and Chris really...."
"Even if we had something. You have no fucking rights! You cheated on me!"
"I know... I'm... I'm so mad thinking about the fact you live together and do something behind me and...."
"You fucked Patricia behind me! You should've think about that first!"

Dave cut the argument and then frustratedly ask Taylor for more. "So, you really did that? And I gave Chris the hard time instead? Fuck. What have I done??"
"Dave I just...."
"What the hell are you thinking? You should've told me that!"
"I'm so afraid that you will angry and...."
"I am angry! But it doesn't matter. Sam is the only one who have any rights to be angry. I am your fucking best friend Taylor! What am I to you?"

"You guys done?" Sam says that all of sudden. "Because I shouldn't be here. All I need to do is... Make sure Chris is okay."
"Sam.." Dave stop he for awhile. "Yes?"
"I know I've been a jerk but... Please tell him I'm sorry. There's a lot I need to say to him if...he allow me to call him."
"I'll make sure he picks up the phone." She grab her backpack and then leave the place. With Dave constantly pinch his forehead.

Nate do nothing but grab his glass and finish his drink. "I'm gonna go home. Call me when any of you need to talk." He stands up and then Pat joins him. "Wait Nate. I'll go with you. And Dave...."
"Yes?"
"I feel bad about Chris. And I really don't want his position at all. We're friends and I know it. But I'm not gonna join the band. Not like this. I like to play with him. He's a good player."
"I know. That's... totally on me. It's my fault." Dave welcome his hand and then waves to him before he and Nate leave them.

It's all silence. Just Dave, Taylor, and two glasses. Both looking down the table. Regret everything that they've done. "I feel like... I lost her already, and I don't want to lose you too." Taylor turns his chair and looks to Dave, who's very much upset. "How many times did I almost fucking lose you? Many times. I saw you on a death bed. How the fuck you think that I'm gonna leave you for admitting your mistake?"
"I'm really sorry."
"It's not like you did something wrong to me. But you did shit to Sam. Now Chris, and I'm fucking involved on that one." He takes a deep breath and swallow the rest of his beer before looking at Taylor again.

"And I feel like I'm a real jerk for putting all the pressure to Chris." Dave ask the bartender to fill his glass again but Taylor stop him instead. "I'll do everything to bring him back. I promise you. You have my words on this one."
"You better do. Because I don't know what else to do."

••••••

"Hey, what's wrong with your voice?" Josh sounds like genuinely worry about her. She just cried and she doesn't want him to know that. "I drink too much, I guess."
"Where are you? I'm gonna pick you up."
"No, umm. I can take a cab really. I just need to hear your voice. Is that okay?"
"Sure. Everything. Are you okay Sam?"
"Maybe. I mean, I don't know." Talking with Dave about how Taylor cheated on her is like digging an old problem which she will never do if it's not for Chris. So it's kinda affect her in a negative way. She still can feel the pain and anger. But at the same time she knows that she needs to move forward and put Taylor in the past.

"Just tell me where you are, okay? I really don't want something happen to you. You sounded very upset."
"Okay. I'll text you my location. But no need to be hurry or something. I need some times to calm myself."
"Okay. Just tell me when you need me to go. Promise?"
"I cross my heart on that." She smiles between the call. "I love you Josh."
"Me too."

She tries to close her eyes, feel the smell of the upcoming rain. She knows it. It's pretty much gonna rain tonight. Thinking that all the hates she had for Taylor these whole time. She needs to forgive him so she can move her life with Josh. She looks at the keychain that still lingers on her backpack. She almost forget that it was given to her when Taylor and her went to a flea market back then. It was a polish stone with a pretty brown-ish color. It's always been there since the day and she never take it off. Seeing him today and then the keychain, makes her realized that she needs to take it off.

So she did, and then put it on her palm while she type a text for Josh. Telling him about her location. And then just like what she thought, it's raining all over the place. She put the keychain on the bench and then looks up, she doesn't bring any umbrella and it's kinda late to actually run into a building or something. So she just sitting still, doesn't give a fuck of her getting soaked by the rain.

••••••

"I hope you got the lesson, Hawkins. I really do. It's a lesson for me too. We should tell each other when things like this ever happen again. You hear me?" Dave turns to him but he's pretty much out of mind. He doesn't respond anything. "Taylor?"
"Uh, yes?"
"You didn't hear me, did you?"
"I'm sorry... I really..."
"I get it. We both tired. I'm gonna drop you at...." Dave isn't finish with his words when Taylor suddenly grab his wheel and ask him to pull over. "Stop. Dave, stop right here."
"What?"
"I think I saw Sam there."
"It might just your guilt and..."
"No, I really saw her. It's raining out there. Please?" Dave then surrender and throw him an umbrella. "Bring that."
"Okay. Wait here, I'll be back soon."

He runs out from the car to the bench where Sam is now sitting. She looks like staring to nothing. Taylor carefully touch her shoulder. "Sam?" She turns around and somehow their eyes meet. Even with all the rain on her, he still can see her red eyes. He knows she's crying there. "I... I saw you when I passed the road. I think you need an umbrella or something..."
"I don't need one. I already under the rain for the past 15 minutes." She says, quickly snap the eye contact with him. "You need a ride home?"
"No. Actually I wait for someone to pick me up. Umm... My boyfriend."
"Oh...okay. I understand... I wish you two for the best." he sighs and then about to leave but she grab his arm. He turns around, "Yes?"
"I... I need to give you this..." She hands him the keychain and then looks down. "I hate you. So much. Because you can't stop walking into my life. Over and over again. I hope this will be a proper closure. I don't want to have anything to do with you again. I deserve to be happy with someone that truly care about me."
"I know. I'm sorry. I.... I will not bothering you anymore. I promise."

Taylor now let Sam's hand off of his arm. "I truly wish all the happiness for you, and anyone who's ended up with you."