Dem Chapter 1

I brought the covers over my head. Hoping somehow that I could become invisible. The door handle turned... Sitting straight up in bed, I look around and realize that it was a dream, a nightmare. They would be so happy. All they wanted was for me to remember. All I want to do is forget. As the door of my room opens, I realize that I not only woke up scared, I woke up screaming. James walks in quietly. James, the only person who hasn't pushed me to talk; the only one who lets me be me. He sits on the edge of the bed. This is the closest he ever gets. James understands me. "Nightmare?" he asks. I just nod my head. James knows not to expect any more than that. "Want to read or watch TV for a while?" He asks this because he knows that sometimes escape from my own mind is necessary. I shake my head as I look at the clock in my room. What I need is to talk to Charlie, the one who can reassure me after my nightmare. James looks where I look, this is how he gets inside my head since I have no words. "It's 2:00 am." That's all he says. He wants to know how important the call is. I nod my head again. James picks up the phone. It seems to take forever for her to answer. "Hey. It's me. I know it's late, but is it possible for Dem to talk to Charlie?" I watch as James talks for me. He explains that I had a nightmare. Luckily, Charlie lives with James' best friend Sky and Sky is very understanding. James smiles and hands me the phone. Charlie knows she won't hear my voice tonight. That is not what's important. "Dem?" she sounds tired and I feel guilty for waking everyone up. If only I could stop the nightmares. I tap the phone so she knows I am listening. This is our code. Codes are how I communicate. "I'm sorry you had a nightmare. Maybe we can see each other tomorrow. And spend a day together. That would help wouldn't it?" I tap again. "Dem, I'm alright. Today Sky took me to the bookstore after school. I got to buy 3 new books! I bought 2 for me and one for you. I'll bring it tomorrow ok?" Another tap. My eyes start to fill with tears. I love her so much. She is my heart. James sees my tears and decides to end the conversation. I agree so I don't resist when he takes the phone back. "Hey Charlie. Tell Sky I'll call tomorrow to work out the details." He smiles. "I know. Love you too." James looks at me as he puts the phone in his pocket. I see tenderness, love, and understanding. That is why I let him closer than anyone else. The understanding. That is what I need most. "Think you can sleep now?" I nod my head slowly. I hope so. I hope no more nightmares interrupt my night or his. "Night." With that he leaves. James never says good night or sweet dreams. He knows that my nights are not good and my dreams never sweet. He understands. I close my eyes and push the bad thoughts away. I recite the facts that I know will calm me and I hope they will ward off any more dreams for tonight. Charlie is fine. Charlie is with Sky. I am with James. No one can hurt me here. I will see Charlie tomorrow. I will see Charlie tomorrow. I will see Charlie tomorrow.

CHAPTER 4

Hailey and Jesse smiled after Taylor explained herself. “You are totally fine,” Hailey said reassuringly, “We understand why you didn’t tell us. It is not a big deal.”

“I know. But I feel bad now that your name has been put into the circus.” Taylor looked upset.

Jesse decided to step in. “You are in an impossible situation. Trying to protect yourself and trying to protect everyone else. Someone is going to get hit. It just happened to be you. And that is because you are the one that won’t tell. There is nothing the media loves more than a scandal, and your refusal to tell them anything makes them curious. Most people know that none of the rumors are true, but there are the few that will eat it up…so they still print it.” He smiled. “You are one of the strongest people I know. You have been through so much that the world doesn’t know about. You can handle this and anything else they throw at you. And you do not need to worry about us.” He looked at Hailey.

 Hailey smiled at him, “We have news too, and it’s good.” She looked nervous.

Taylor raised her eyebrows in anticipation. “Okay, my curiosity is peaked.”

“We are getting married!” Hailey said excitedly. “I’m really sorry you are finding out now, after you have had such a hard week, but I want you to be my maid of honor.”

Taylor jumped up and went to hug Hailey and Jesse. They both smiled. No matter what they should have known Taylor would be happy for them, that’s the kind of person she was. Always giving, always thinking of others. Most of the time this was a good thing. However, Jesse couldn’t help but think it might hurt her in the near future. Taylor was the strong one for the people in her life, she needed someone to be strong for her; everyone leaned on her. She needed someone to be her strong person.

“YAY! Of course, I will be your maid of honor. It is so exciting! We have to start planning.”

Hailey’s smile changed, “Well, we already planned most of it.” She looked at Jesse, “We agreed that we wanted it to be a short engagement and a small ceremony. That way there is less chance of anyone leaking it.” She took a deep breath, “So, we are going to have the wedding in two weeks. We have everything we need; the place, the food, the license, the wedding party, family and friends.”

Taylor’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe it was happening so fast. “Wow…I can’t believe it’s so soon. Let’s go over the details please. I want to be caught up on everything, starting with the proposal.”

Taylor, Hailey, and Jesse talked for over two hours about the proposal, the wedding, Taylor’s life, and what possible solutions there could be. Taylor loved her best friends and could not ask for better people in her life. She was so happy for them, but in her heart she felt jealousy and a little resentment. Her life was not going as well. The media was speculating on her private life for the entire world to see, Jake was out of the country working, and Henry and PJ were in Tennessee at home. She wanted to go to sleep and have it all be a bad dream. Unfortunately, as she locked up after Hailey and Jesse left, Taylor knew this would not happen. She sighed and went to her room to get ready for bed.

As she got dressed the next morning she took time to pray. She knew she could not make it through without Him. “Lord, I don’t know what today will hold. But please let me handle it the way You want me to.” Her voice broke. “I think I am doing the right thing. Please let me know if I am wrong.”

After breakfast Taylor talked to Jake and Henry to assure them she was fine. Neither one of them believed her, she knew this, but they both knew that she could handle herself and Jake knew that it was her decision not to tell where she was on vacation. Henry had a different opinion.

“Tay, you need to tell them you were at home. No one will think anything of it.”

“Henry, no. We’ve talked about this. It would be different if I had planned the trip. The fact that I left so suddenly is the main problem, not the location. If I tell that I was home, they will start poking around to see why the visit couldn’t have waited. You were strong for me. Let me be strong for you. Please.”

Henry knew that tone. He knew that Taylor was not going to change her mind. And he also knew it was her decision to keep his secret; even though he did not totally agree. He sighed, “Okay, on a different note. I have decided that I will take you up on your offer. PJ and I will move to LA and live with you. I have it all worked out, we will be there in a month.”

Taylor jumped out of her chair and did a little dance, “Seriously?! Yes!”

Henry smiled; he knew this would be her reaction. “So, go buy that house you’ve been looking at and get settled before our bachelor ways and craziness invade.”

Taylor laughed, she knew it would be an adjustment, but it would be so nice to have Henry and PJ so close after being apart for so long. “Will do. I have got to go start making arrangements. Talk to you soon! And love you!”

Taylor hung up the phone before Henry could say good-bye. She immediately went and called the real-estate agent she had talked with before. As she sat down at her desk after the call, she thought back to the last time she and Henry had lived together, and how she would be strong for him and PJ because Henry had always been strong for her.

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER

Taylor sat and watched as her parents were lowered into the ground. Dry eyed she sat as the flag was handed to Henry. Sixteen was too young to lose her parents. Her mother wouldn’t be there to help her get ready for her first date or prom. Her father wouldn’t be there to teach her to drive or walk her down the aisle at her wedding. It was not supposed to happen this way. Life was not fair. Taylor thought about PJ and how at one, he wouldn’t even remember his grandparents. She thought about Henry, who had lost his birthmother at five, now he had lost his mother of eighteen years and his father.

Suddenly Henry took her arm. The funeral was over. Taylor wasn’t sure how much time had passed, or what exactly had happened during the service. She felt like she was in a daze.

“Honey, it’s time to go back to the house.” Henry said gently as he led her to the car.

“Okay.”

“It will be alright. Somehow. I promise.”

Taylor looked up at him in his uniform. So like their father is made her heart ache. She looked at her own skin. Henry’s mother had been African while her mother was Caucasian, so the pallor cause by stress, anxiety, sadness, and every other emotion possible made her white skin look even paler next to his. She looked back at the graves that help her parents’ bodies, took a deep breath, and prayed for strength.

“I know. We will make it through. Somehow.” She gathered all of the courage she could and smiled up at her brother.

They went back to the house and sat while people gathered and gave their condolences once more. Taylor was exhausted by the time the last mourner left. Then the door rang. Thinking that there was no way she could handle this, she looked for Henry, when she saw that he was busy with PJ, she knew she would have to face the person at the door.

Taylor opened the door prepared to force a smile and ‘thank you,’ when she got the best surprise of the day, Jake. Jake smiled and took her into his arms; Taylor burst into tears and cried on his shoulder.

FIVE YEARS EARLIER

Taylor stood holding a tired and confused PJ as she waved one last time to her brother. He was being deployed to some far away land and she was now in charge. At eighteen this was not easy, or normal. She looked around at the families there to say good-bye to their service members and once again wondered how anyone could walk away from a husband and child because of the military lifestyle. PJ’s mother had done this very thing when he was six months old and Henry had been set to deploy. PJ had come to live with Taylor and her parents for the duration of the deployment. Then the accident had occurred and Henry had been granted emergency leave. He had been home with them on base for almost two years. It was a blessing he hadn’t been deployed sooner. Henry was the strong one. Taylor went back to the house and put PJ down for a nap. She looked around the house and thought about how much it would take to run a house and thanked her Lord that she had taken extra classes and graduated early, so she didn’t have school to manage as well.

She heard a knock at the door. She had no idea who would be coming by so she had no expectations when she opened the door. Jake’s smiling face greeted her and she squealed as she shut the door behind her so they wouldn’t wake PJ.

“What are you doing here?” Taylor asked. “You are supposed to be working.”

“We finished early and I don’t start my next project for three weeks. So I thought I would visit my best friend. Plus, I knew you could use me since Henry left today.”

Taylor was confused. She never told Jake a specific date for Henry’s departure. She hadn’t known until a couple of days ago herself. “How did you know?”

Jake smiled, “Henry. We talked about me coming while he was away to help and visit. I just wasn’t sure I would be able to with my schedule. But we finished and here I am…for three weeks! We haven’t spent that much time together since I moved to LA.”

“I know! This is great.”

PRESENT DAY

As Taylor stepped out of her memories, she was more determined than ever to protect her family, including Jake.  Henry and Jake had been there through the hardest moments of her life when her parents died. Jake had been there when Henry deployed. They had both been there when she moved to LA for college. And Jake had helped her find the role that made her famous. ‘Yes.’ She thought. I can do this. I will not let them be dragged through this. I will be strong for them. 

chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Taylor made it through the final day of work on the season finale. As she sat down in her trailer, her entire body hurt from the tension she had carried all day. Dodging questions about the article, avoiding calls to the set from reporters, and finally walking through the crowd of reporters and paparazzi trying to get a picture or comment from her had drained the last drop of energy she had left.  

Taylor was ready to be home. She thought about the dinner sitting in her passenger seat that she had picked up from her favorite Mexican restaurant and smiled. At least she could have a quiet and peaceful dinner. Her good mood was increasing as she mentally picked out which movie she would watch during dinner. That good mood was shattered as soon as she could see the entrance to her apartment building; it was filled with reporters. How had they found her? Three years of being on TV and in movies and they had never found her! Someone must have tipped them off. This was NOT a good thing.

The only bright spot Taylor saw was Joel, her doorman/security guard. With a sigh of relief she sent up a prayer of thanks that he was on duty tonight. Joel and his family had taken Taylor in when she first arrived. They were very close. Taylor even thought of his daughter Kim as a sister. Joel had called in backup. Normally there was one security guard, tonight she counted four. Four guards trying to make a path for her to drive through. It took a couple of minutes, but finally there as a path. Taylor parked and took a deep breath as she grabbed her stuff and opened the door. Joel was there; ready to shield her as much as possible. Taylor knew that she had to say something; she had to express her feelings, even if she was not going to answer the reporters’ one burning question.

“Joel, it’s ok. I am going to talk to them. Just stay close.”

Joel looked skeptical, “Ok, if that’s what you want.”

“Apparently what I want is no longer being considered.” Taylor handed her backpack and food to Drew, another security guard that happened to be Joel’s nephew. Then she turned to address the crowd. “Hey guys, I would like to say that since I have been here, no reporter has ever come to my apartment and it is not appreciated.” She tried to continue, but no one was listening because everyone was trying to ask questions. “HEY!” Everyone got quiet. Taylor Robertson was mild mannered and polite; she did not yell. “A press statement has been released. However, apparently it was not to your satisfaction, so I will answer three questions…three. So ask wisely.” She looked out in the crowd and pointed. “You.”

The girl looked startled. She had not expected to be chosen, which is exactly why Taylor had chosen her. She was young and Taylor could tell she was a novice. Maybe this would help her career. Even in with the stress, frustration, and annoyance, Taylor was still trying to help someone else.

“Me? Ummm…okay.” The girl eyes were wide and Taylor saw her swallow. “The statement said you were at an undisclosed location and that you had no intention of disclosure anytime soon. Why have you chosen not to say where you were? Especially considering the reaction.”

Taylor smiled. The girl had guts, and she hadn’t asked where she had gone, which gave her a point in Taylor’s book. “What is your name?”

“Amanda.”

“Okay Amanda, thank you for your question. I have chosen not to say where I was because I believe it is my business and no one else’s. I do not think that the public needs to know where I am all the time. I take my privacy very seriously and I wish that everyone understood that.”

“Thank you.” Amanda said writing furiously in her notebook.

“Question #2: You” Taylor picked a veteran this time. Someone that she had seen on many occasions.

“Yes. Miss Robertson, I would like to know why you have chosen not to tell anyone. Sources have reported that not even your best friend Hailey Lewis knows where you went.”

Taylor was no longer smiling. She knew Hailey wouldn’t have shared this information so the source had to be someone on the show. And she had an idea of who it was. She could have screamed, but she was a professional, so she answered the question with a straight face, none of the reporters knew anything was wrong. “I would like to know who your source is. And I will not confirm or deny what Hailey does or doesn’t know. That is between us. I will say that you are wrong in the belief that no one knows where I went. It is just that very few people know.” He vet reporter did not like her answer, too bad. Taylor picked her last questions, “You.”

The woman smiled, she was happy to be chosen. “Okay. I would like to ask a question that may seem obvious. Any of the rumors of where you went true?”

“No. None of the rumors that I have heard are true. I did not have an abortion. I have never done drugs. I took one drink on my 21^st birthday just because and I have not had any alcohol since. And I do not have an eating disorder. Unless you count not eating due to impromptu press conferences.” She pointed to her now cold dinner and smiled.

A couple of the reporters laughed with her. “That is all I have. I am going to my apartment now.”

“Thank you” was expressed by several of the reporters.

Joel and Drew walked her to the door and went in with her.

“Are you okay?” Joel asked in his fatherly tone.

Taylor smiled. “It was the perfect end to today. But yes I am okay. And I am going to go to my apartment, eat, watch tv, and not think about it until I wake up.”

Drew joined the conversation with a compliment. “You’re tough I will give you that. And you handled yourself very well.”

“Thanks.”

Joel got back to business, “We are going to have two guards on duty as long as this,” he pointed to the door, “continues. I have asked that either Drew or I are here most of the time. Since we know you the best.”

Taylor was touched. It was true that she was more comfortable with Joel and Drew. Joel because he had taken over as her protector when she moved in and Drew because he had taken up right where his uncle had, as protector. They had both been working at the complex since before she moved in, so they had known her before she was ‘somebody.’ Joel had taken her in as family, she was invited to his house for dinner at least once a week and Taylor had become a big sister to Kimberly, Joel’s only daughter. Drew reminded her of her brother; early 30’s, veteran, and humorous even in tough situations. Joel, Drew, and Kimberly were Taylor’s Hollywood family – totally unexpected and absolutely welcome.

“Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Hopefully it won’t last long. Or I will have to come up with a new plan. Good night.”

“Night.”

“Night.”

Finally Taylor was alone. She was so ready for this part of the day. The part where she wasn’t Taylor Robertson. The part where she was just Taylor, a girl from Memphis. She knew though that she owed Hailey an explanation. She deserved to be told. So she picked up the phone and called her best friend.

Chapter 2 part 2

“Taylor. Taylor. You’re cell phone is going straight to voicemail. I don’t know if you have work today. I just saw the article online. Call me as soon as you can.” Taylor listened as her brother left the message. She couldn’t talk to him right now. She knew Henry would insist that she tell the truth about where she had been. And there was no way she could do that. Maybe in the future, but not now. Determined, she got up to finish getting ready for work. Taylor knew there was no way this reporter could verify that she had been at any of the locations mentioned, because she hadn’t been. Only two other people knew where she had been, Jake and Henry, and neither of those people would tell anyone.

On her way to work two hours later, Taylor finally returned her brother’s call.

“What up?” Taylor smiled at the greeting.

“Hey PJ. Why aren’t you at school?” Taylor asked her four year old nephew.

“I don’t have school today. It’s Thursday.” Taylor almost laughed at his incredulous tone. He couldn’t believe that she thought he should be at school.

“Sorry honey. I forgot what day it was. What are you guys doing today? Anything fun planned?” Taylor tried not to let him know she was amused.

“No big plans. Daddy is tired. So we are watching movies and ordering pizza for lunch.” PJ said with enthusiasm. He thought a full day with his dad, movies, and pizza was a party. Taylor knew better.

“That sounds super fun! Can I talk to him for a minute?”

“Totally! Talk to you later.”

Taylor smiled, only PJ could make her smile today, “Definitely. Love you.”

“Love you too.” She heard the phone transferring to her brother and she held her breath, preparing for his voice.

“Hey baby girl.” Taylor teared up at when she heard the endearment.

“Hey big brother. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m okay. Just tired. I promise. Do not worry about me…that is an order.” Henry said firmly.

“You and PJ are my only family. I am going to worry. At least a little bit.”

Henry laughed.

“Hey, at least I’m honest.” Taylor teased back, easing the tension. She couldn’t cry while she was driving.

“I’m honest too. Remember, I taught you that trait. I really am okay. I called to see how you were. I saw the article online this morning.”

“I saw it too. I was shocked at first and angry.” Taylor sighed. “I moved past that already. I accepted it. I knew eventually something bad would have to circulate about me. They can substantiate anything. All they have is rumors. I can live with that.”

Henry took a breath and shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “You can tell them where you were. Tell them you were at home.”

“No. That will only raise the question of why I had to leave so suddenly. I am not bringing you and PJ into this. I promised myself I wouldn’t let my fame affect you guys. And I keep my promises.” Taylor stood firm.

Henry heard the tone his baby sister used. He knew she wasn’t going to budge on the subject. Not now. Maybe not ever.

“Okay. You do what you think is best. But promise to call me if you need anything.”

“I promise. And just so you know Jake promised to call me every day to check in. So you don’t have to worry so much.”

Henry smiled, “I know what he promised. We are backing each other up on this one. It is definitely a project that needs both of our attentions.”

Taylor pulled into her spot and put her car in park. “I should have known you two would tag team me…at least I know I’m loved.”

“Yes. You are by us and millions of people.” Henry wanted to end the conversation on a light note.

Taylor rolled her eyes, “Whatever. I just got to work. I will talk to you soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Taylor Chapter 2 part 1

CHAPTER 2

Taylor woke up with a headache. No surprise since she went to bed with one.

She got up, put her robe on, and went to get some more medicine. As she passed her computer she turned it one so she could check her email.

As she sat down at the computer she swallowed the two blue pills and half the glass of water. Nothing important in her email, so she decided to get ready for work. Today was the review of the episode. Making sure everything had turned out.

As she signed out of her account and swiveled her chair to get up something on the screen caught her eye. It was a picture of her. With a caption that read “Taylor Robertson disappeared to drug rehab: sources report.” Eyes wide, she clicked on the story.

“Sources report a change in TV’s ‘Girl Next Door’ Taylor Robertson. Reports from an inside source say that Robertson has lost weight, is irritable, and that she has uncharacteristic circles under her eyes. Considering that Robertson has a reputation of getting along with everyone and is known for her flawless complexion and skin tone, this reporter is looking into the allegations of drug use, eating disorders, and pregnancy. Any of these would ruin the reputations that Robertson has earned as a good girl and possibly reduce the number of parents who allow their pre-teens to watch her shows and movies.

With these rumors are allegations of how they relate to Robertson’s sudden two week vacation, taken in the middle of filming the season finale. It has been reported that no one knows where the actress went or why her departure was so sudden. Sightings of the actress have been called in by several different sources. Locations include a drug rehab center, an eating disorder counselor, and possibly near an abortion clinic. The last sighting would be the worst for the young actress’ career.

Look for updates on this story as more information is being gathered and reported by the hour.”

Taylor couldn’t believe it.  She had never had rumors circulate about her, at least not vicious rumors, rumors that had the potential to destroy her reputation and affect her jobs. She sat motionless, jumping slightly when her home phone started ringing. She didn’t attempt to answer. Only a dozen people had her home number and only two used it. She knew it would be her brother.

Taylor - rest of chapter 1

Hailey nodded and as she stood up to leave, her phone started ringing. Assuming it was Jessie asking when they would be back on set, she answered without looking at the caller ID. “Hey.”

“Hello. Is this Hailey?” The voice on the phone was not her husband. “Who is this?” Hailey demanded. “How did you get this number?”

“I need to speak with Taylor and her phone goes straight to voicemail.” The voice was very confident. Hailey had no idea who it was or how he had gotten her number. “Who is this?” She demanded once again.

“Look. I need to speak with Taylor. Tell her it’s Jake. Please.” The voice was becoming desperate.

Hailey looked at the phone and then at Taylor. Taylor was oblivious to the conversation occurring. She had her eyes closed, her head leaned back, and was in her own world.

“Taylor.”

Taylor looked up and opened her eyes. “What? Has it been five minutes?”

“No. I never left. Some guy called my phone looking for you. He won’t tell me how he got the number, but he is very insistent.”

“Did he give a name?” Taylor was also confused.

“All he said was tell her it’s Jake.”

Taylor smiled. Hailey was confused by her reaction because they had no friends or co-workers named Jake. She handed the phone to Taylor.

“Will you tell everyone I will be there in a minute? I need to take this call and then I promise we can film the last scene with no interruptions.” Taylor’s eyes pleaded with her best friend not to ask questions right now.

Hailey left, very confused, to do as she was asked.

“Jake.”

“Taylor I just got your message. Do you need me to come?”

“No.” Taylor answered immediately. She knew that Jake couldn’t just leave his work and come to her. No matter how much she wanted her oldest friend with her. “I am fine. I just needed to hear you tell me I can make it through.”

Jake ran his hands through is hair. He needed to be there. But it was impossible. “You are going to make it, I promise. I will come home as soon as possible. And I will call you every day.”

Taylor almost broke down at his promise. She knew he would stand by his word, as they had talked everyday while she was on vacation. Jake was the only person Taylor had called during that time. He was the only one she had wanted to talk to. “I know you will. Finish your job. And don’t worry. I know I am strong enough to handle this, I just needed you to tell me again.” She heard a voice yell in the background and knew that Jake needed to get back to work. “I have to go…have to get back to work. Last scene of the episode.” She told him. She didn’t want him to feel guilty for needing to get off the phone.

“Okay. Call me if you need anything. I will keep my phone close and call you back as soon as I can.” Jake emphasized the part about calling him whenever. He knew Taylor. He knew she was once again being the ‘strong one’ and it broke his heart not to be there for her.

Taylor closed the phone. She could do it. She knew she could. With a deep breath she went to the set for the last scene.

update/Taylor

I love Matthew. But I am blocked on his story. I don't know where it is going.

I have another story in my head. A story that has mapped itself out and I know exactly where it is going. I thought I would share some of this story with you. Enjoy!

Taylor Robertson

CHAPTER 1

She closed her eyes against the tears and hit the wall. Her co-stars stared. Taylor Robertson never got angry. Taylor took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She saw the shock. She saw the confusion. She walked out of the room without a word to anyone.

Hailey Lewis looked to her husband Jessie. He nodded slightly. She followed her best friend out of the room.

Taylor slammed the door to her trailer. She couldn’t believe she broke down like that. She had to get control of herself. People were beginning to talk. Taylor picked up her lucky charm and sat down on the couch.

Hailey knocked lightly on Taylor’s trailer. No answer. She knew Taylor wouldn’t want to talk to anyone, but she had to try. She opened the door and let herself in. What she saw was surprising; Taylor was not in tears, she did not seem angry, in Hailey’s eyes her best friend appeared to be in complete control. But something was missing. Taylor seemed too subdued, but Hailey couldn’t quite put her finger on just what was different.

Taylor heard the knock on the door. She chose not to answer, knowing that if it was Hailey, as she suspected, her best friend would know to just come in. She watched as the door opened as Hailey stepped in quietly and sat beside Taylor. Taylor almost smiled, almost. Hailey knew her. She knew when not to push.

Taylor took a deep breath. “I can’t do this right now. I can’t deal with her.”

Hailey frowned. Taylor never talked like this. She got along with everyone. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I just can’t deal today. I need a break.”

Now Hailey knew something was wrong. Taylor had just returned from a two week vacation. A sudden two week vacation to an undisclosed location.  Not even Hailey knew where she went, and they were best friends. “We are almost done for today. You only have one scene left. Can you do that?”

Taylor closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t have any other choice. This episode is due tomorrow and I am in the last scene. Please tell everyone I will be there in five minutes.”