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As the Christmas season was fast approaching, Brent was keeping himself busy at a local brewpub in a town nearby. Every Friday night they hosted live music, usually local bands. Occasionally there was a "larger" name band but not too often. Since Kurt had come to town, he and Terri went with Brent to hear the music. At first Andrea encouraged him to go but since it became a regular thing it began to bother her. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of Brent spending every Friday night at a bar, often times alone. He did his Christmas shopping for Andrea alone after she went to work. He wandered around the mall by himself, peeking inside stores here and there, not really seeing anything he thought she would like. In fact, he was at a loss as to what to get her. She was fairly simple when it came to material needs and the thought of surprising her with something perplexed him. He bought one or two small things and then left, frustrated. Wednesday morning, while Andrea was down in the basement on the treadmill when the phone rang. He picked it up absently while he was reading the Naperville Daily newspaper.
"Talk to me." He said into the phone.
"Well, it's the rockstar!" Taylor said surprised. Brent felt himself flush and then cleared his throat.
"Hey! It's the artist!" He retorted. She giggled quietly.
"Starving artist you mean." She said.
"I thought you did some big job recently." Brent said folding up the newspaper.
"I did but one job doesn't pay the rent, you know?" Taylor said, now pacing in her apartment.
"Hmmm ..." Brent said thoughtfully.
"Where's Annie?" Taylor asked, not really wanting to talk to her sister just yet. Now that she had Brent on the phone she wanted to chat him up, to tease him. Ever since Andrea began telling her about Brent, Taylor had an attraction for him. It wasn't as though she wanted to steal him from her sister! God knows she didn't need another loser in her life ... She was just very strongly sexually attracted to him. He had this 'aura' about him that titillated her to her very core. She had seen pictures of him, and he didn't look half bad, but seeing him in person -- there was something about him. That wild, untamed blonde mane, those blue eyes, his tall, slim body, his voice - low and gravelly ... She felt heat rising to her belly just picturing him. She wondered what kind of lover he was. Did he like caresses? Was he into biting? Did claws in his back spur him to buck harder? She longed to ask Andrea but couldn't. Andrea wasn't jealous by nature but she could be the vicious lioness if someone got too close to her den. And close Taylor intended on getting.
"Annie is downstairs running." Taylor sighed heavily. She envied her sister's drive. Of course she was just as thin as Andrea and she didn't have to work at it. The walking she did living in Oak Park was exercise enough. The village didn't allow parking on the side streets overnight so she rented a parking space three blocks away and since the car was parked so far away she mostly just walked everywhere.
"God, doesn't she get bored with that shit?" Taylor said. Brent chuckled.
"I would think so. I know I couldn't do it."
"Well, look at you stickman, you don't have to. I'm guessing you've always been a stick." He nodded.
"Yep. And how I would love to gain some weight. I look like shit in clothes."
"How do you look without clothes?" Taylor said in a breathy voice. Brent smiled.
"Well, you'll have to ask Annie about that, won't you?" He taunted.
"I wouldn't dare ask her, she'd lie about it to throw me off the trail." Brent sat upright and cleared his throat again.
"Would she now? You think she's a jealous person?"
"No, she isn't." Brent frowned.
"She isn't?" He asked, disappointed. It wasn't as though he wanted her to be a maniacally jealous person but sometimes jealousy was a way to show you care.
"No, not really. But, if she feels someone is getting to close to home the claws will come out." Brent smiled. He would like to see that! The thought of Andrea scrapping with another woman was somewhat erotic.
"Hmmmm, well, perhaps I could have a picture taken for you." Taylor was thrown off the track by that remark.
"Well, wouldn't that be something? Were you a Playgirl model before a rockstar?" He laughed.
"Uhhhh no. But, hey, Brent Jr. is something to see."
"Mmmmmm ... I'll just bet." She smiled to herself. "If Andrea is still interested in you he must be." Brent heard the treadmill slowing down.
"Hey, Taylor, would you help me with something?" Brent asked quickly.
"Does it involve Brent Jr.?" She asked. He chuckled.
"No, not this time. I want to get Andrea something for Christmas and don't know what. Would you go to the mall with me one day after she goes to work and help me?" Taylor grinned to herself. Alone with Brent while Andrea was at work? Oh yes ...
"I would be happy to help you Brent." She said sweetly but grinning lewdly.
"Great, thanks. She's coming up here soon and I don't want her to hear me making plans so how about you plan on coming over next Monday and we'll go to the mall?" Taylor was drunkenly giddy at the thought.
"I will!! Now, is she up yet?" Brent heard her footsteps on the stairs, unfolded the newspaper and draped it over his lap like he was still reading it.
"Here she comes." He said.
"So, what have you been up to lately?" Taylor asked changing the subject.
"Well, I went to Founder's Hill last Friday with Kurt and Terri. That was pretty cool." Taylor frowned.
"Why didn't Annie go?"
"Annie's been working Friday nights. There are a few people who have taken time off and she's covering. Since we really don't have anywhere to go until Christmas she figured I wouldn't mind."
"Do you mind, Brent?" Taylor asked softly. The basement door opened and a sweaty, panting Andrea emerged.
"Uhh, no, not really. I'm going to go back to Founder's this Friday and listen to the band play." Andrea looked over at Brent and frowned. 'Who is it?' She mouthed. He covered the mouthpiece and told her it was Taylor. She nodded.
"Is Annie going?" Taylor asked, hoping he would say no.
"Nope. She's working at the hospital." Taylor smiled slyly to herself.
"Want some company then?" She asked.
"Hey, that would be great! And since Annie is here now, I'll let you talk to her." He said and held the phone out to Andrea. She took it and frowned at Brent.
"This phone is HOT!" She said before putting it to her ear and saying hello. Andrea walked off into the next room with the phone, wiping her face with the towel. Brent turned back to the newspaper but couldn't concentrate on it. He had Taylor on his mind. She sure was a flirt. And he loved it!
Friday evening Kurt and Terri arrived at Brent's at 7. He was dressed and ready to go.
"Hey, uh, can we wait just a few minutes for Annie's sister. She's coming with us tonight." Terri frowned.
"Taylor? Does Andrea know Taylor is coming with us?" Terri asked suspiciously. Brent looked over at Terri just as the doorbell rang and Taylor let herself in.
"She does know." He said to Terri and then to Taylor; "Hey! Good timing, we were just getting ready to leave." Taylor approached Brent and gave him a hug. Terri eyed the exchange with interest. There were more than a couple of relationships that Taylor wrecked by coming between Andrea and her man. Brent turned to Kurt.
"Ready to go?" Kurt held his hand out towards the door.
"After you sweetie." He said to Brent. Brent made a face but pushed Taylor out the door. Kurt and Terri followed. Once outside Brent locked the door and the four got into Terri's Cavalier and they were off. It was nicely cramped in the backseat of the car. Taylor enjoyed being pushed up against Brent. Her leg pressed against his. He was quite warm. She looked up at him and he smiled.
The place was booming by the time they arrived. The bar was filled near capacity. They decided to head to the restaurant area and sit at a table near the stage. Once seated, a waitress sidled up to them and took their order; Kurt and Terri were drinking vodka and cranberry juice, Brent and Taylor settled on a pint of red ale. While waiting, Terri questioned Taylor about her whereabouts recently. Taylor told her about her drawings and the few jobs she had done recently.
"It's very easy to scoot on downtown with both the train and the 'el' right nearby. The best jobs, of course, are downtown. Like the last one!" Taylor said as the waitress set down her beer and she promptly picked it right up and sipped it.
"Hey, is James here?" Brent asked the waitress of the Brewer. Brent had met him last Friday night when he was at Founder's listening to the music with Kurt and Terri. The waitress thought a moment, planting her hand on her hip.
"I haven't seen him. I'll ask around." She said before she breezed off.
"Where do you live, Taylor?" Brent asked taking a long pull off his beer. It was good. He loved fresh-brewed beer. Before a moment passed he took another.
"I live in Oak Park." Taylor said to Brent who was distracted and looking all around at the many people who were filling up the place. The band was there and beginning to set up. Kurt was watching them intently. It hadn't been long since Foul was where they were, playing small places, dragging in their own equipment and setting it up themselves. He sighed, reached down, found Terri's hand and slid his own warm hand inside hers. She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back and then turned his attention back to the band. Brent suddenly turned to Taylor.
"Oak Park? I think we were there once, weren't we Terri?" Brent asked turning to Terri who was sipping her beverage. She nodded.
"Yep. We were." She said matter-of-fact.
"That was a pretty cool town if I remember correctly." Kurt said and Brent nodded.
"Yeah, someone famous is from there." He added. Terri rolled her eyes.
"A couple someone famouses Brent!" She said, scolding. He frowned at her.
"Really?" He said, confused. He remembered one person but two ... Taylor was rubbing the condensation that had formed on the outside of her glass.
"Yeah, Brent, Frank Lloyd Wright being one of the more famous of the two." Taylor said turning Brent's attention toward herself.
"Well, I don't know Taylor, Ernest Hemingway was pretty famous in his own right. I think they are about tied in the 'fame' department." Brent snapped his fingers and pointed at Terri.
"I think I remember the Ernest Hemingway one!" He said excitedly. Terri smiled triumphantly at Taylor who pretended to ignore it.
"How the hell can you remember a writer over an architect?" Taylor asked turning to Brent. He frowned at Taylor and then shrugged.
"Dunno, perhaps I've heard more about Hemingway then Wright. Or maybe it just stuck more in my mind." He waved her away. "I don't know!" He turned his attention back to the band who was near to setting up. The guitarist was plugging in his equipment and now stood on the stage strumming the strings and listening to the sound. Taylor gulped down her drink and motioned for the waitress for another. She wanted Brent's attention and he was giving it all to the band. She sat and watched him a moment before turning her attention to the stage where he was looking. Terri watched Taylor. She knew how Taylor could be and was grateful that if she and Brent were together that Terri was there as a 'babysitter' so-to-speak. She was sure Andrea knew that Taylor was there and trusted both Brent and Taylor but Terri didn't trust either. One chance, one moment alone and it would be all over. It wasn't that Terri thought Brent didn't love Andrea, but he was a man. And men thought with their dicks. It was as though the minute the dick got hard the brain turned off. Of course, Kurt was different. She looked at him, his blue eyes sparkled as he watched the goings on up on the stage. He really thought about things. He thought about her. There was a time in the recent past that she thought he was just another man but recently he'd made her think otherwise. She glanced over at Taylor who was looking at Brent and then looked away. She made a face to herself. Taylor would get what she wanted and if Brent was it well then she would keep trying until she made it so. Terri would not allow that to happen. Brent was oblivious and probably trained himself to block out that kind of thing being as he dealt with that stuff on a daily basis. Well, Terri was not oblivious to it and if she could help it, would put a stop to it. Taylor got up and announced she was going to the bathroom. She leaned down close to Brent and asked him if he knew where the bathroom was.
"I'll go with you, Taylor." Terri said getting up. "It's this way." She led Taylor down a hall and to the bathroom. After the two had finished and were washing up at the sink, Terri turned to Taylor. "Don't even think about it Tay." Terri said. Taylor was applying another coat of lipstick, finished one lip and turned to Terri. She had an 'innocent' look on her face. It was amazing how alike she and Andrea were except Andrea would never wear that dark a shade of lipstick.
"I don't know what you mean." Taylor said and turned back to the mirror.
"Stay away from Brent. He and Andrea are getting married." Taylor finished with the lipstick, rubbed her lips together and threw the lipstick back into her purse before looking at Terri who by now had her hands planted on her hips.
"Knock it off Terri. You think every guy Andrea is with I want to steal. Well, I don't. I am an adult, I have my own life. I didn't steal the last dork she was with now did I?" Terri shrugged.
"He was sleeping with a lot of tramps, Taylor, I can't be sure you weren't one of them." Taylor's eyes flashed angrily.
"I'm not appreciating this Terri. How about we just go back out there, listen to the music and have a good time. I'm not after Brent. He invited me here with you guys and I want to have a good time." Terri sighed.
"That's fine Taylor. I'm just warning you that I'm watching." Taylor, again, looked in the mirror and played with her hair. It had that 'messy' look and so she fluffed it up more with her fingers.
"Did Annie send you on this mission?" Taylor asked.
"Nope. Andrea doesn't suspect a thing. And she probably wouldn't. I, on the other hand, know you all too well Taylor." Taylor looked at Terri a moment and smiled slyly.
"Do you now?" Terri gazed back at her challenging.
"Yes I do." Taylor licked her lips before grabbing the handle of the door.
"Not as much as you think you do." She said before opening it and blowing out the door leaving a scent trail of perfume and cosmetics behind her.
By the time the girls got back to the table, both Brent and Kurt were up near the stage talking to the guitarist of the local band that was to play there that night.
"Well, we've lost them." Taylor said as she slid into the booth and took a drink of her beer. She absently wiped off the lipstick smear with her thumb.
"Naww, they're on their break, they have come here to listen!" Terri said eyeing Kurt. Since the boys were still chatting, Terri turned to Taylor. "Hey, Taylor, I'm sorry if I upset you at all." Taylor waved her away.
"I understand why you would say what you did, Terri. Don't worry about it." Terri wasn't going to worry about it, she was just going to watch ...
The boys came back a short time later and scooted in next to the girls. The other three finished their drinks and ordered another moments before the lights went down and the show began.
"Thank you for coming to our show." The lead singer and guitarist began. "We are 'Layers' and we're gonna rock you right out of this joint!" The show began and both Kurt and Brent turned toward the stage to watch and listen. A few songs into the set Taylor was getting bored. She glanced over at Terri who was watching the show. She turned her attention to the man in front of her. His shoulder-length blonde hair was pulled into a pony tail at the nape of his neck. She sketched the outline of his back into her mind. She could picture him without a shirt and how she would be raking her nails over his back and watching him squirm. She guessed he was ticklish in places you would have to seek to find. How the hell did Andrea find a man like him? Taylor wondered. She turned sideways in her seat towards the stage and while pulling her leg up onto the seat bumped Brent. He turned around quickly to her thinking she'd summoned him. She just smiled and mouthed 'sorry.' He smiled back and then turned around. Halfway into the set the singer motioned for Brent to come up to the stage. A stage assistant handed Brent a guitar, Brent slid the strap over his head and climbed up onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a guest guitarist here tonight. We're going to collaborate on the next song ..." The singer said and then they broke into the song "Crazy" by Foul. Brent just played the guitar and let the singer of the band handle the singing. After one song Brent handed them back the guitar and sat back down. He wanted to keep going, that exhilaration, that rush he felt while onstage playing had come to him and made his heart pound but he was there to watch, he reminded himself. And watch he would ...
When he sat down Kurt smiled at him. The two couldn't talk to each other because the music was too loud but the communication was there. Kurt knew Brent had that feeling of Deja Vu. Been there, done that, probably won't be back. But the smaller crowds and venues were amazing. It was the closeness of the audience that made it fun. Taylor touched Brent's arm in congratulation and found he was covered in a thin layer of sweat. She drew her hand back quickly. He looked at her, raised one eyebrow and shrugged, then turned his head back to the stage. When the show was over the boys turned back around and drained their glasses. After another refill the two talked about the band while they dismantled their equipment.
"I think they need a new bassist. That guy was lax." Kurt said glancing over at the band. Brent nodded.
"He wasn't bringing it all up like he should have. The drummer wasn't bad though." Brent said.
"Not bad. Not bad at all for a local band." Kurt replied. Brent set his hand on the seat and leaned on his arm. Taylor felt his fingers were close to her thigh and moved over slightly so that they were touching.
"You know, Brent, this could be very cool to sit here and watch these bands and see which ones go somewhere and which ones disappear." Kurt said winking at him. Brent smiled.
"I know. I feel like some bigwhig sitting here watching them being as where we are now." Kurt laughed.
"Oh you're some big star all right." Terri commented. Brent stuck out his tongue at her playfully.
"I see you're a big star too, Ter." He teased.
"I could be, if I wanted to." He laughed.
"Oh yeah, doing what? I don't think there's much draw for medical in the world of entertainment." He challenged.
"I could entertain people by writing down your witty comments and publishing them." He looked at her quickly and then frowned. "You might be a smartass blonde if ..." She said indicating the title of the book she would write about Brent. He raised a finger to her.
"Listen you ..." He said feigning anger. Kurt laughed out loud. Brent laughed. "One day, Terri, one day ..."
"You might come up with something profound?" Terri said and giggled. Brent kicked her lightly under the table. "Ouch, hey!" Terri said. "Don't hurt me big man!" Kurt stuck his finger up at Brent.
"Don't you hurt my woman! I'll have to take you out to the alley and teach you a lesson." Brent laughed at Kurt and then they all laughed. Taylor was getting very frustrated at the whole thing. Brent wasn't paying attention to her, no one was really, so she drank. By the time they left the brewpub she was a few sheets to the wind. Brent threw his arm around her as they made their way to Terri's car. Taylor was giggling and singing.
"You are so drunk!" Brent told her as she stumbled up the curb towards the parking lot across the street.
"I am not, I've only had four beers." She slurred.
"Four beers for a lightweight is a lot!" He said. She stumbled again and he caught her. She slid her arms around him and looked up at him.
"Thank you." She said. He pulled her after Kurt and Terri who kept walking and were now at the car.
"Let's go killer." He said as they approached the car. He helped her into the backseat and then crawled in next to her. He set his arm on the ledge of the back seat and Taylor snuggled up next to him. He smelled sweaty but she could smell his cologne wafting through. The combination of scents was very stimulating to her and the desire to have him flared. Terri started the car and pulled away. Taylor let her hand drift to his leg and set it there. Within minutes she had her hand on his thigh and touched him lightly. He was talking to Kurt and if he noticed, paid her no mind. When her hand began to moved upward, he reached down absently and moved it off his leg without breaking conversation. She tried it again and again, he took her hand but this time he held it. She pulled it away and waited another moment before she placed her hand on his waist. He looked down at her and frowned. She smiled at him drunkenly. She slid her hand right up his jacket, under his shirt. He pulled her hand out and held it again. "Cut it out Taylor." He whispered. She put her finger over her lips and told him to 'shhhh' before making another attempt. This went on the whole way home. Terri watched in the rearview mirror. Taylor was playing the game but Brent was discouraging it. When they pulled up in front of Andrea's, Brent climbed out and then reached in for Taylor. When he pulled her out by her hands, her foot caught on the car and she fell out and into his arms.
"Fuck! That was close ..." Brent said clutching her, his heart pounding. He pictured her falling out and smashing her face on the ground. Kurt grabbed them both.
"You need some help getting her inside?" Kurt asked. Brent shook his head. He reached down and scooped Taylor up into his arms.
"I'll just carry her. Thanks though, and I'll talk to you tomorrow or something." Brent said heading towards the house. Taylor slung her arms around Brent's neck and looked at him as he carried her. Terri and Kurt pulled away.
Inside the house Andrea stood at the front window and watched the whole scene. She had been waiting there a while. It was after midnight and she was more than a little agitated. After working, she was tired and wanted to sleep but knowing Brent was out at a bar with her sister made her uneasy. Now, watching Taylor hanging all over him, presumably drunk, Andrea felt her temper flare. The only consolation was that Terri was with them. Terri knew Taylor well and would watch what went on closely. It wasn't as though Andrea hated her sister, she just didn't trust her as far as she could throw her. Taylor had an itch that needed to be scratched and often times in the past, she used Andrea's boyfriends to scratch that itch. It wasn't going to happen this time, she would see to it! When Brent picked up Taylor and began to carry her towards the house Andrea went over to the door, opened it and stepped outside into the cold. She crossed her arms over her chest in protection from the cold and steam blew out from her nose as she breathed. She heard Taylor giggle and saw her wiggling her feet. Brent was struggling to carry her.
"My hero!" Taylor said to Brent touching his face and kicking her feet. He pulled his face away from her, almost dropped her, repositioned his arms and continued on.
"Relax Taylor, you're making this difficult!" He growled. She leaned close to his ear.
"Am I making it hard, Brent?" She whispered. He cleared his throat. She would have if she wasn't wiggling around! He felt like he was pulling a nut ...
"Not presently, no." He approached the stairs and out of the corner of his eye saw Andrea at the top of the steps.
"You having fun Brent?" Andrea spoke and with her words came a plume of smoke. He leaned against the rail and looked up at her.
"Buckets of it babe." He set Taylor down on her feet on the stairs. "You can walk the rest of the way." He said and smacked her ass hard. Taylor jumped and then smiled back at him. She turned to Andrea.
"I was drinking." She said blinking. Andrea uncrossed her arms and moved down the stairs to her sister.
"I can see that." And as she got closer she said, "Smell it too." Taylor giggled and threw her arm around Andrea's neck.
"Help me inside, Sis." She slurred. Andrea helped Taylor inside while Brent moved behind them just in case Taylor lost her balance. Once inside, Brent took off for the bedroom. He needed to pee and wanted to crawl into bed, away from Taylor and her teasing.
Andrea pushed Taylor down onto the couch.
"You're spending the night Tay. No way I'm letting you drive in this condition." She said and went off to turn down the bed in the extra bedroom. Taylor sat down and pulled off her shoes. She took off her shirt and fiddled with the zipper of her pants. She stood up and dropped her pants to the floor just as Brent rounded the corner into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Taylor, his eyes roaming her tight, petite body. She glanced up at him and their eyes locked. A smile spread over her face. Panic fled through Brent at the thought of Andrea catching him there watching his sister undressing and he turned and bolted back into the bedroom. Taylor giggled and sat back down on the couch shaking her head just as Andrea came back.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked seeing that Taylor was completely undressed save for a bra and thong panties. Andrea looked around for Brent. When she didn't see him she pulled Taylor by the hand into the bedroom and closed the door. "Taylor, you are not a child now stop acting like it!" Taylor sat down on the bed and gave Andrea a look like she didn't know what she was talking about. "You are not so drunk! I can tell, I'm not the idiot you think I am!" Andrea hissed. Taylor crawled underneath the blanket and lay down.
"Annie, I am drunk. And now I'm tired. Can I just go to sleep?" Andrea shut off the light and opened the door.
"Go ahead Tay, but listen to me ... don't fuck with my relationship here or I will kill you. I mean it!" Taylor yawned and then sighed.
"Don't worry Annie!" She said loudly and when she didn't say anything more, Andrea left the room closing the door behind her.
Her heart was pounding as she joined Brent in their bedroom. He was laying in bed waiting for her, his arms crossed behind his head. He smiled as she came in. She didn't smile back. Just seeing him there, grinning like a fool at her angered her more. She grabbed her nightshirt, went into the bathroom and shut the door. He watched her, the smile fading from his face. He pissed her off and he knew it. He was instantly disappointed in himself. He thought about the night. He hadn't done anything to encourage Taylor's flirting yet she persisted. And he still felt guilty. But what did he have to feel guilty about? Nothing! He sighed heavily and frowned. He had a good time tonight. Not particularly with Taylor either. He thought about seeing her in her underwear a few moments ago. He felt himself blush. He raised his eyebrows. Wow! She had a hot body! He very much enjoyed that show ... but she wasn't any better than what he already had. In fact, Andrea was tighter and better built! Of course, Andrea wasn't as shapely now as she was before but she had told him that was due to the pregnancy. Her belly wasn't big yet but she'd definitely lost her shape! He saw Taylor's scantily clad body in his mind, that lacy, black push-up bra and black, lace thong ... he felt himself getting excited. Damn! He heard the water shut off and then the toilet flush and knew Andrea was on her way out. He rolled over from his back to his side and waited. She came out and slid into bed beside him. She reached up and turned off the light. The room was bathed in darkness and in silence. It was a few long moments before Andrea finally spoke.
"I hope you had a good time tonight, Brent." She said quietly. He reached over and touched her arm lightly.
"It was fun. The band was good. I got to play with them." He said. She slid herself closer to him and rubbed the arm that was sticking out of the covers and lay on his hip.
"Did you? I wish I could have seen that ..." He pulled her to him and held her there.
"I do too." He kissed her mouth a few times. "I love you baby. And, I want you. You, Annie!" He said and before she could speak kissed her more and filled her mouth with his tongue. Andrea let him kiss her. He was the best kisser she'd ever had and with one kiss could melt her on the spot. When he finally pulled away she was ready to make love and they did. Afterwards, Brent fell sound asleep but Andrea lay awake for a while wondering if she was accusing Taylor of something that wasn't there and worried that she drew attention to Brent by making a big deal of it. She finally decided she would give it a toss, let it go and see where it ended up ...
