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Chapter 12
"Taz? What happened?" It was Johnson.
"I have to fix this! Please! Just move!" Taz begged trying to get around William.
"Whoa! Taz calm down!" he exclaimed grabbing her hands, "Tell me what's going on."
Taz stood there taking in big breaths, trying to calm down and looking at Johnson as if the world had crashed down around her.
"I...I...Up...I don't know what to do.", she finally stuttered out as a fresh wave of tears streamed down her face. Johnson's heart broke watching one of his best friends in so much pain. He couldn't take anymore and pulled her to him. Taz clung to him and continued to sob.
"Tazzy. I will fix this okay? I swear." Will picked her off her feet and carried her to her room around the corner. He tucked her in bed and said, "Try to get some sleep. I'll be back in a little bit."
"Thanks Will." Taz whispered as he walked out. He shut her door and headed to where he knew Up would be. You better have a good explanation for this one Up.
A few minutes later Johnson was walking into the library in the abandoned part of the ship. It used to be a place that Taz, Up and himself would go and hangout away from everyone else when they all first got assigned to Starship 15A2. It had this hidden area with two couches facing a huge window showing the beauty of space and surrounded by shelves of books. Up, exactly as Will predicted, was sitting on one of the couches staring out the window. He walked over and sat down.
"You better have a good reason why I had to take care of a heart broken Taz for the second time in our friendship."
Up spun around to look at him, "What do you mean second time?"
"That's not the point at the moment. What the hell happened? Taz couldn't even form complete sentences because she was so upset."
Anger flashed through Up's eyes and he clenched his fists, "Why is she upset! She is free to be with Derek. They live happily ever after."
Johnson stared in confusion and surprise at his outburst. "What are you talking about? Taz loves you. Since the moment you met and always will. Who is this Derek guy?
"He is the dumb ass Lt. I punched earlier. Apparently he is from Taz's past. They were best friends..."
"So what does an old friend have to do with any of this?"
"You didn't let me finish. They were each others first love."
"Okay and..?" Johnson prodded and Up tuned to the window again.
"She doesn't know if she still loves him or not. I kissed her and told her I loved her. Then she dropped that on me. So I ran away telling her just to forget it, all of it. Now I don't know what to do."
Johnson let out a low growl and stood in front of the window making sure he was all Up could focus on. He wanted his full attention to establish his anger. "I usually leave these situations for you to handle and I pick up the piece after. Not this time. You have put Taz through a lot and I am not letting you do it anymore. You have two options, One," one finger went up. "You fight for her. Or Two," a second finger went up. "You stay away from her. You let her be happy with this Lt."
The room was silent for about thirty seconds before Up said, "You're threatening me." Johnson narrowed his eyes and hissed, "I care too much about Taz to let this continue, so yes I believe I am." With that he left the room.
Up pulled at his hair in frustration, what the hell just happened? He stood up and started to pace, thinking over everything that happened in the last twenty four hours. He sat down once more feeling drained emotionally and physically. "When did we get so complicated Taz?" he asked aloud and his eyes began to droop. One last thought crossed his mind before falling into a fitful sleep. Things used to be so simple and easy between us.
*Flashback*
A year had passed after Up's birthday and neither Up nor Taz would acknowledge it happened. The year was spent getting Taz ready to graduate the Academy. After many training lessons, tests, and a lot of hard work, graduation day finally arrived. All of the cadets were sitting on stage in their regular uniforms eagerly awaiting the start of the ceremony. The audience was packed with families and other rangers. Taz looked across the sea of people and found her family. There was AJ, Sarah, Johnson and of course Up. They all were dressed nicely, the guys in dress shirts and slacks while Sarah was in a summer dress. She caught Up's eye and smiled. He grinned and waved back with a wink.
The ceremony started with the Head of the entire Galactic League coming out on stage, Dr. Spaceclaw. He was a tall and bulky man, with brown hair and green eyes. Up didn't particularly care for him; there was something about him he couldn't trust. Spaceclaw came out and introduced himself then gave a speech on how each cadet was special and courageous for wanting to be a Starship Ranger. Then he talked about the bright future of the G.L.E.E. and how advanced space exploration had become.
Eventually, all of the speeches were over and it was time for diplomas. Dr. Spaceclaw began calling out names and handing out diplomas. Along with them, cadets would get a Ranger uniform with their name sewn on it, so it took a long time to get to Taz. Finally it was her turn to go up but instead of calling out her name Spaceclaw began saying something else.
"Our next graduate is very different from the others."
Taz felt all eyes focus on her as a spotlight was placed on her. She tried not to react and met Up's eyes with a questioning glance. All she got in return was a shrug and a slight smile.
"Taz will you come join me up here please?" She got up and walked to the podium with a smile, hoping everything was okay.
"Now I want to make an example of Taz for future generations. She is the best cadet the Academy has ever seen. She worked her ass off and graduated in three years instead of four, while being ranked number one in her class. So in reward for all of her hard work and assiduous effort the G.L.E.E. awards her with the valedictorian medal."
Taz gasped in surprise and a huge smile came across her face. As Spaceclaw gave her the diploma, the Ranger uniform and put the medal around her neck the whole place went crazy. The cadets started yelling out and joined the audience in a standing ovation. Taz shook Spaceclaw's and turned to the audience mouthing thank you and bowing, earning more yelling. Taz let out a joyous laugh in response, bowed once more and went to sit down. After the place calmed down, Spaceclaw called the rest of the names and ended the ceremony with saluting the new Rangers. Up and the rest went outside to wait for Taz.
Johnson grabbed Up's arm and said in mocking high voice, "Our little girl is all grown up! Where did the time go?!" Up pretended to wipe tears off his face, "I don't know, I can remember the first time she cussed out AJ." Everyone laughed and AJ stuck his tongue out at them. Just then Taz opened the door and spotted them. She took off running and was heading straight for Up. He turned around and caught her in his arms, picking her up into a hug.
"I am so proud of you Tazzy," he whispered putting her down.
"Thanks, I couldn't have done it with out you though."
"Well of course, I'm a great mentor," Up responded pretending to poof up his hair. Taz laughed with him and pushed his shoulder.
Hey Taz, you know we exist as well?" AJ jabbed with his signature smirk.
She spun around and hugged all three of them saying, "Of course thank you for coming it means the world to me."
"We'd do anything for you Taz, you know that. So you wanna head off to dinner?" Johnson said putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah, we can go to Magiano's down the street."
"Sounds good to me," Sarah said grabbing Taz's hand, "Come on I brought extra clothes for you to change into, I had a feeling we would go somewhere for dinner."
"Okay, thanks Sarah." Taz said turning to AJ, "You have the keys to the car?"
"Yes, and?" Taz glared at his smirking face ready to strike.
"Sweetie give me the keys or you'll be sleeping alone tonight." Sarah ordered smiling in triumph when he turned red and handed her the keys. As they walked away they heard AJ mumbling under his breath threats to Up and William what would happen if they didn't stop laughing.
Fifteen minutes later they were all seated at Magiano's. Taz had changed into a simple black flowy skirt, a purple blouse, and had let her down which ended just past her shoulders. They were sat in a booth so it was Up, Taz, Johnson, Sarah, and AJ. UP's mind began to wonder while everyone talked and ate. He began to think of how far Taz had come. She was fixed on becoming a Ranger and now she was. He was with her every step of the way. He challenged her so much as her mentor during their three years together. He found out how far she could go physically and how she dealt with things emotionally.
He remembered when they first started training. She was so quiet and kept to herself, after a while she opened up and showed him how amazing she really was. She became his best friend. The person he wanted to spend every second with. Before Taz his life was good but he always felt as though there was something missing. Then she came along, like a beautiful melody swirling through his life, filling in all of the empty spaces, lifting him so high he couldn't imagine anything better. It terrified him. He knew it would hurt when she left after he started to become friends with her. However, that was three years ago. He never even expected them to be as close as they were and the time to fly past like it did. Now here he was pretty much addicted to her presence and she was going to leave as a Starship Ranger. He knew he had to make the time they had left last.
"Hey, Taz?" Up interrupted her conversation with Sarah and she turned to him with a semi- annoyed face, "Oh. Sorry." He apologized lowering his head. Taz lifted it back up with her hand, "Hey its fine what did you want?"
Up looked at the others with smile in which they all returned and said, "You knew we all are so proud of you as we said earlier, so we have a little present for you." He pulled out five tickets, "Here".
Taz took them gently and exclaimed, "Really?! I love you guys!" they were round trip tickets for them all to go to Europe for a week.
"We thought that we should all spend some time together before you head off and become a big bad Starship Ranger." Johnson said poking her side.
Taz giggled and asked, "Okay, so when do we leave?"
"Day after tomorrow." Taz's eyes got huge and she looked worried.
"Its okay love, I'll help you pack." Sarah said patting her hand.
Taz left out a breath, "Thanks, I have never been anywhere for more than two days, I am a little nervous but way for excited."
The next day passed quickly and departure day arrived. Taz was up at the crack of dawn and was buzzing with excitement. Everyone else got up and they made it to the airport just in time for their 8'o clock flight. Since their base was in Boston the flight should have been around seven hours. Johnson sat with Sarah and AJ with Taz and Up in the row behind them. Taz had never of flown over the ocean so she called the window seat. Up didn't mind, watching her stare out the window in fascination was a great view. Since Taz hadn't really slept the night before and had gotten up so early she had dozed off with her head against the window. UP took off his leather jacket and draped it over her. She awoke a few hours later to find him looking at her.
"Hi, how long was I asleep?"
"A few hours, we have about three hours left."
"Okay, here's you jacket back. Thanks by the way." Taz commented trying to hand it back but he pushed it back.
"Keep it for a while. It is kinda cold in here, Plus in looks good on you."
Taz smiled and tried to put it on properly but since it was big on her she was having trouble. Up helped her and smoothed his hands over her shoulders. Taz turned her head to look at him as he leant forward. Up was trying to fight the urge to kiss her; there were only a few inches. He saw the almost daring look in her eyes and glanced down to she her lick her lips. Screw it. He was an inch away from meeting her lips when AJ turned around.
"Hey guys, you want to… Oh.. uh.. sorry."
Up snapped back facing his little brother who looked back sheepishly, "It okay Andrew, what did you want?"
"You wanna play go-fish with us?"
Taz giggled and said, "What are we little children?" AJ pouted at her, "I'll play." AJ smiled and hand both of them cards.
Up shook his head at them and asked, "Who said I was playing?"
"Me." AJ retorted sticking his tongue out and Up flicked his ear in response. Then the slap fight started. Sarah spoke up, "Now boys. You better behave or you will be put in time out."
Everyone laughed and began to play the game. Taz acted like the moment they had never happened and he couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing. Finally the pilot announced they would be landing in Heathrow airport in a few minutes, Taz got all bouncy with excitement which was contagious. Soon all of them were really excited. Looking out the window while landing they could see the city.
"Its beautiful I can't wait to see it all!" Taz said grabbing his hand to show her excitement. She didn't seem to realize it until Up squeezed it back in reassurance. They smiled at each other and didn't let go.
I hope you like it? Please review! It means the world to me. Love you all, have a good day! ~ Catie :)
