Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
Later that afternoon, Taylor looked over what appeared to be an old run-down building. It was near one of the piers and had a for sale sign on it. On the small patch of grass in front of the building was a sign that read "Fenner Sisters Realty". There was no doubt that this was the building for her future restaurant that Taylor had been talking about. Taylor could still recall the first time she saw the building; she and her family had just taken one of the boats across the pier in order to visit some relatives. In broad daylight it looked like nothing more than an old broken building. But at night when all the lights were lit up and the moon was out shining Taylor couldn't help but admire it. She saw how it glowed on the water and could imagine how amazing it would look with neon green lights, chandeliers glistening from the windows, and the glorious sound of classy music escaping through the cracks. She had pointed it out to her father and suddenly she had all of these amazing ideas on what they could do with it. Ever since then Taylor had vowed that it would be the place for her and her father's restaurant. Luckily since then, the building had not been sold. As broken and run down as it was, it was on a perfect location and if fixed up just right then people would come all over to visit it. Taylor could hardly believe that after all that dreaming and saving she was finally getting it!
Taylor smiled and turned from the building to three young ladies who were in the process of removing the fore sale signs. "Everything looks peachy keen, Ms. Fenner…and Ms. Fenner…and Ms. Fenner."
The Fenner Sisters were three of the best realtors in New Orleans. Despite them being different races and heritages, the three women were miracle workers at selling places that others thought couldn't be sold. Emma, Jackie, and Lea had all been adopted at young ages into one household and although the community looked down on their parents for it, they sure didn't do that anymore. The Fenner Sisters were surely a force to be reckoned with. And if no one went along with their persuasive attitudes or charm, they would definitely be won over by their fabulous play of emotions.
"Oh it was a pleasure for us to be doing business with you. We've been looking forward to this for a long time." Emma beamed.
"You don't have to worry about anything. We'll have all of the paperwork ready by Mardi Gras and this place will officially be all yours." Jackie added.
"Oh the pleasure's all mine." Taylor responded as she watched the women get in their car and prepare to drive off. "But how about I do you all one better? I can sign the paperwork in person tonight at the Evans' masquerade ball."
"You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Taylor!" Lea called as they drove off into the distance. "We'll be seeing you tonight then, doll!"
Taylor smiled at the accomplishment. Not only did she have all the money for her place, not only was her getting it a sure fire thing, but it was going to be as good as hers within a few hours! Taylor could hardly believe that after everything she's gone through, her dream was coming true so fast. Now if only her dad James could be here to witness everything, Taylor would be even more overjoyed. But she knew he was with her in spirit and that if he could see he would be so proud of her. And knowing that her best friend had been able to get her here with what felt like a generous donation for her beignets and that her sister would be supporting her all the way, Taylor couldn't be happier. She couldn't wait to get started setting everything up.
"Table for one please?"
Taylor's thoughts were interrupted as she turned around and saw Gabriella approaching with a big cooking pot.
"Gabriella?" Taylor was a bit shocked to see her here so soon. She thought for sure she wouldn't have seen Gabriella until she got home later and would have help preparing her outfit for the ball.
"I just thought I'd bring a little something to help you get started." She smiled warmly. "I know it's a little rusty and a big out of shape, but I thought it'd be nice to have a piece of Dad here."
Taylor gasped and ran over to hug her sister. "Gabriella, it's wonderful. Daddy's gumbo pot, thank you so much!"
Gabriella hugged her sister back. Even though they'd been through a lot, losing their mom and then a few mere years ago, their father, they still had each other. It was a bond they shared like no other sisters had. "I miss him too, Tay." She said simply. But there would be plenty more time to be sentimental and depressed about missing their father later. This was something they'd been waiting for and it was time to celebrate. Gabriella was not about to waste another minute. Even though she looked the same age as Taylor and had grown into a beautiful curvaceous woman, Gabriella's strongest asset was still her brains. Her second strongest asset was always trying to make people happy and forget about their troubles. Both of which were very much coming in handy right now. "Alright, I really can't wait any longer! Hurry up and open the door?"
Taylor smiled and hurriedly opened the front doors to show Gabriella what exactly they were in store for. "Just look at it, Gabriella! Doesn't this place make you wanna cry?"
Gabriella walked in through the front doors and stopped in her place, looking around the building puzzled. It was two stories high and the second floor could be seen from the front doors. But the staircase leading up to it was falling apart, barely standing; windows and other doors were boarded up, the roof had numerous holes in it, dust covered the wood, the wood itself was breaking if it hadn't already been broken, and it looked like almost nothing but garbage covered the floors. Gabriella was speechless at the sight. It was a lot of work, no doubt, but she didn't expect it to look this bad. She couldn't help but wonder what exactly it was that Taylor saw in this place. Not sure what else to say or how to say it, Gabriella responded hesitantly, "Yes…."
Taylor removed her jacket and threw it on the banister and walked through the building, pointing everything out that she had just in mind with the passion and imagination anyone would have about a dream they had. "The maître d is going to be right where you're standing. And through those doors, a gourmet kitchen. And in the back there's gonna be a stage for music and entertainment. Up the stairs and out the balcony will be a private candlelit dinner for date nights. And hanging from the ceiling, a big old crystal chandelier!"
Gabriella giggled watching her sister. She placed the gumbo pot on a nearby stool and walked over to Taylor. As serious and hardworking of a person that Taylor came on to be, she had this big imagination with images that just about anyone could picture. If Taylor would let her guard down or let loose a little more, then she could be much more fun than she really led on to be. "You're daddy's girl, all right." She said. "I can't tell you how many times after you went to bed that he went on and on about getting his own restaurant. I does seem a little out of shape now, but I'm sure once it's done it's going to be absolutely wonderful. But it is a shame that you're working so hard."
Taylor had picked up a nearby broom and had begun to sweep the floor when she quirked an eyebrow, a bit intrigued yet also offended by Gabriella's comment. Taylor knew she worked hard a lot, but she couldn't believe her own sister called it a bad thing. "What do you mean, it's a shame I'm working so hard? Gabriella, working hard is what I do, what we do. And how can I let up now when I'm so close? I'm less than five hours away from owning this place and getting it together! I've gotta make sure all of Daddy's hard work means something."
"Taylor!" Gabriella gasped. She knew Taylor meant well, but there always seemed to be something that the girl forgot. "Dad may have never gotten the dream or place he wanted, but he had something so much better than any dream could get him. He had us. He had love. And that's all he wanted for us. That's all I want for us, too. Especially you. I'd love for you to find your Prince Charming and sweep you off your feet, dancing the night away and into the rest of your lives together."
Taylor laughed. "Gabriella, you're almost starting to sound like Sharpay. It's not for me now; I've got more important things on my mind. You should go off and find your Prince Charming, if anything. I don't have time for dancing. That's just gonna have to wait a while."
"How long are we talking about?" Gabriella inquired.
"Ain't got time for messing around
And it's not my style"
Taylor led Gabriella over to an empty table and sat her down at it, pulling off one of the ripped and dusty curtains off the nearby window and placed it on the table like a table cloth.
"I'd like some nieces and nephews, please." Gabriella responded.
"This old town can slow you down
People taking the easy way"
Taylor took out the magazine clipping of their dad's dream restaurant from her pocket and showed it to Gabriella, then had her look back at the old building, wishing that she could show her sister exactly what she saw in it, what she wanted to make out of it.
"But I know exactly where I'm going
Getting closer and closer every day
And I'm almost there
I'm almost there"
Taylor could picture it all now. Bright lights illumining the future restaurant, shining on every customer and chef that walked in and out. And as she would enter in a black cocktail dress and shot hair cut so professionally with just a headband to add a splash of color, a couple of maître d's would see her in and she would begin her nights of running one of New Orleans' finest eateries.
"People down here think I'm crazy, but I don't care
Trials and tribulations, I've had my share
There ain't nothing gonna stop me now cause I'm almost there"
Every problem or question that one of the staff members would come to her with, Taylor would be able to solve in an instant. She would perfect the slightest issue with dessert even if it was just fixing a cherry to be placed on top of a chocolate cake. She would taste test the beverages and OK the menus before strutting to continue her business. If someone who was trying to fix the chandelier was about to collapse off the ladder, Taylor would put it right back into place so it or he wouldn't fall over. The waiters would all walk around in tuxedos and have matching flowers on their jackets which Taylor would place on herself and they would go about setting the tables in perfect harmony with each other.
"I remember Daddy told me: 'Fairy tales can come true
You gotta make 'em happen, it all depends on you'
So I work real hard each and every day
Now things for sure are going my way"
After the tables would be set, Taylor would head back into the kitchen and work with the chefs to prepare meals. She would taste the gumbo and add her own special secret ingredient to make it taste perfect. And for dessert she would make and stir all the whipped cream and decorate it onto the snacks perfectly, each one getting the exact same amount of whipped cream and style of it.
"Just doing what I do
Look out boys, I'm coming through
And I'm almost there
I'm almost there"
Taylor would strut through the waiters and be the first to open up at night and let all the customers come pouring in. Every seat in the house would be filled and the waiters would personally carry her upstairs, the customers watching in envy at what a success and inspiration she could be to people everywhere.
"People gonna come here from everywhere
And I'm almost there
I'm almost there"
Then she would raise her glass and toast the customers before they would begin their meals. Taylor would slide down the banister assisting people such as cleaning off little boys' dirty faces with sauce or chocolate, bringing a little extra ketchup or side dish to the tables, and maybe once in a while sneak an extra cherry from one of the dessert carts for herself. And when all was said and done, she would pass by the nice curly-haired guy playing the piano and place a feather in his hair or maybe sneak a little flirt with him.
"There's been trials and tribulations
You know I've had my share"
And as her fantasy fainted, Taylor shared a hug with Gabriella, knowing that her vision had gotten through to her in the slightest bit. But both knew very well that Taylor wouldn't be going through this alone; she would be dragging Gabriella with her through every step. So she led Gabriella through the building once more, climbing over one of the water mills and working together dancing with a couple of extra brooms and sweeping off some more dust.
"But I've climbed the mountain, I've crossed the river
And I'm almost there
I'm almost there
I'm almost there!"
They removed the boards from the doors and windows and tossed out some of the garbage on the floors. Then they set up the single table in there, adjusting the curtain table cloth and placing an empty bottle and plate on it as though they were setting up for a real customer. Taylor picked up the gumbo pot and Gabriella placed a lone flower in the empty bottle like a vase. It was the first of many tables that was going to be set up there and both women knew that this would not be their last time there; that one table where Taylor was able to share her vision with Gabriella and was merely a premise to what would soon be the rest of their lives would be what they would come back to and continue fixing up to fit Taylor's fantasy perfectly. And with that, the two of them linked arms and strutted out happily to prepare for the masquerade ball. They truly were almost there!
I said I would get a second chapter up today to make up for lost time, and I did! Ok...technically since I live in New York and I'm posting this after midnight, it's not on the same day, but on the West coast it's still Friday so if you look at it that way, I really did post both this and the last chapter on the same day! XD This was a pretty simple chapter, I think. Basically it was just Taylor singing the song Almost There. Now I decided to go with Emma, Jackie, and Lea as the Fenner Brothers...or in this case, Sisters. I don't know, I just thought it was nice and simple and can you guys imagine the three of them as the frog hunters later on in the movie? Cause I kinda can't, they seem to squeamish and girlie for that, I think. I mean they were the Sharpettes, right? o_0 Back on track. So I wasn't sure exactly how to describe the whole fantasy scene about the restaurant...or the art style. Don't get me wrong, as an art major I'm familiar-ish with the stye (and I say ish because I can't think of all art movements off the top of my head, but at least i know when something looks familiar, I'm just bad with the artists and dates in general), but I couldn't figure out the right words to describe the fantasy. Especially at like 11 at night. Ok, I started at like 9 or 10 something and then I got distracted by TV and then I was trying to type this while watching iCarly at the same time...it's a really good show by the way, my friend and I totally heart Gibby! LOL Ok, I keep rambling and getting distracted, sorry. Long story short, I decided to go with Taylor describing through the song what she saw in the mess of a building that would become her future restaurant and the actions going on are the visions in Taylor's mind. Makes sense, right? I hope so, cause that's the best way I know to explain it. But what is easy to explain...curly haired piano playing guy? Heh? Heh? Familiar, right? you know who made a little cameo there? you guys totally know who snuck a little cameo in there! =P So I'll see what I can do about the next couple of chapters before school starts, where you will get to learn more about Chad, Troy, and Tiara. Since they should be in the next chapter which will have the very catchy Friends on the Other Side. And if I hadn't said so already, I would like to thank you guys for reviewing and giving your input and I would especially like to thank you for being so patient with me and hopefully not angry with me for being lazy, distracted or whatever and taking so long to update. So I hope you guys continue to enjoy hatever of summer is left, have a wonderful what should be Saturday by the time you read this, and we must end by remembering one important thing which I hope is one of the biggest reasons why we read stories like this... CHAYLOR RULES FOREVER! (=