As The World Turns

Chapter 16

It took Jodie a while to gain the skill of speech back. She had been looking at him for what felt like over at least five minutes.

''Taylor isn't here right now, you seem to have missed her again,'' she finally replied. The man removed his glasses and looked right into her eyes. Jodie recoiled a little, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.

''Yo man you wanting something,'' Jodie jumped as Marshall's voice came out of nowhere, along with his arm moving to rest around her waist. He'd heard the conversation occur and decided to make himself known after peeking around the corner of the living room.

''I was just asking for Taylor,'' the man took a step back and Jodie suppressed a confused expression from falling across her features. He appeared to be slightly intimidated by Marshall. Perhaps it was because she'd gotten to know him rather well over the past couple of days, but she couldn't see him being able to intimidate anyone with just his looks; maybe because all she was starting to see was cute whenever she looked at him.

''But I can see that she isn't available so if you could give her my card again and remind her it'd be appreciated,'' the man held out the same card he'd given her the other day. Jodie accepted the card and without saying goodbye, Marshall shut the door on him.

''What the fuck was that?" Marshall cursed out pulling the card out of Jodie's grip. She was a little taken aback by his aggressiveness but decided not to question it, ''shit do you know who these guys are Jo?'' He signed when Jodie shrugged, ''well their dangerous and if Taylor is involved with them and they wanna talk to her no wonder she been avoiding them,'' he mumbled flicking the card over in his hands to read the back.

''Wait who are they, Marshall, why are they so dangerous?"Jodie asked as he moved away from her and back into the living room. He would have sat down where he had been before, but a fluffy black cat seemed to have stolen his seat.

"Not right now Jo, I don't wanna have to explain it all twice,'' he responded taking up the seat Jodie had had on the sofa earlier, while she picked Blink up placing him on her lap so she could sit where he had been.

''What do you mean twice?'

''I gotta warn Taylor before she keeps ignoring them,'' he replied.

''I think she already knows who they are Marshall because last time she literally ran back to the car leaving him to give me the card again the first time,'' Marshall glanced over at her, his eyes wide.

"Well, then I'm definitely staying. So wanna do anything to pass the time, I can think of a few things,'' as he wiggled his eyebrows, Jodie commanded him on changing the subject from something rather serious to light-hearted in seconds.

''Wanna hold Blink?'' Marshalls faced fell for a second; Jodie giggled as he seemed to analyse every aspect of Blink's body, ''he won't piss on you if you're worried.''

"Well that's a little more reassuring, but I've been good with cats. Whitney has a couple and well they always seem to hiss at me and runoff. So...''

''Blinks harmless come on, I want him to get comfortable around you and you him. Please,'' he shook his head giving in as Jodie pouted at him sticking out her bottom lip. He found himself unable to say no to that look, it was the one weakness he had with women.

''Fine, but if he so much as scratches me I'm never holding him again,'' he said sternly as a cat was now placed in front of his face.

''I assume you know how to hold him?'' Jodie questioned. She didn't get a reply but instead found Marshall's arms wrap around Blink's body. Blink gave a little purr as he pushed his head against Marshalls' neck; despite trying to move away Blink continued.

''Sorry he likes doing that, just scratch his head to get him to stop,'' Jodie smiled as Marshall did what she'd said. The next thing he knew there was a click of a camera as Jodie had taken a picture, not with her phone, but an actual camera, ''aw this is precious,'' he shook his head, watching as she cooed over the image on the little screen.

Marshall opened his mouth to make a comment when the front door suddenly opened. both he and Jodie looked over at each other, there was only one person who was going to be coming through the door.

''Taylor,'' both scaring each other as they called her name at the same time. The reaction was Taylor entering the living room looking bemused at the scene before her, especially since Marshall appeared to be having to time of his life as he played with Blink on his lap.

''Did you wanna talk to me or were you just pointing out I was back?'' Taylor asked glancing back and forth between the two.

''Yeah I want too,'' Marshall reluctantly moved Blink off his lap, placing him on the floor before standing up and walking towards Taylor, ''what did you do to get involved with Joey and his idiots.''

Taylor started to stutter as she looked up at Marshall. She looked as if she was about to bolt out of the door at any second, but Jodie reached out an arm to stop and reassure her that everything was going to be fine. Taylor nodded at that before explaining almost everything to Marshall.

''It was way before I met your dad and started working at the club, Jo. I was kinda a little too deeply involved with Joey you see Jazz was my boyfriend and so was involved even if I didn't want to be. Anyway um, they appear to be wanting to talk to me again because of what happened at the club the other night. When I got given the ecstasy without knowing,'' Taylor blew out a low breath feeling as if a big weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.

''They gave you the ex?'' Marshall asked raising a brow.

''No somebody else is suppling it and they wanna know why cause they're taking their business,'' Taylor shrugged, ''what I went to see Joey ok. I could deal with one of his guys coming round here in the middle of the day, but by the way you're looking at me that's already happened,'' she hung her head as both Jodie and Marshall nodded their heads.

''So that guy ain't gonna start harassing Jodie any time soon?'' Marshall asked.

''No, hopefully not.''

''Thank god,'' Marshall breathed out slumping back down on the sofa.

''Well now that's sorted imma leave you two alone,'' Taylor left, not before picking Blink up and removing him from the room though. It appeared she wanted so loving from him.

''So what do you wanna do now?'' Jodie asked as she shifted herself so she sat right next to him.

''Make out,'' he had been joking, but it appeared Jodie didn't care because before he knew it they were making out on her sofa, without a care in the world.