Chapter 21:
Taylor slipped the ring Randy had given her on a cheap necklace she had gotten from the store. It was hidden nicely behind the large gold colored heart that hung on a black string. She didn't want to wear it on her finger, fearing someone would try and take it from her not to mention it would upset John.
She tried to break up with John several times over the next week, but his charms always made her hesitate and then when he would smile or say something sweet, she would feel bad and change her mind. She was having trouble figuring out if John truly had feelings for her or if she was only something to help his time pass.
Taylor began to drink more with Randy gone. Knowing the truth about his innocence and being able to do nothing about it tore at her heart even though it was a relief not to be in the middle of the war Randy and John had over her.
"I'm not going to miss this place." John sighed as they sat around drinking in his apartment as they did every night. Taylor just drank one beer after another. Soon she would be completely alone. Randy would more than likely not return, John's time was up in less than a month and as she looked around the room she knew that the others would be gone eventually as well. There would be more and she may or may not make friends with them during her three years, but she was not like them. They all sat around talking about their plans for the future. Taylor was escorted to the library that sat in what used to an office in the mill and attended online classes every night. She was very close to gaining her GED. Then she thought about taking some college classes. But she wondered why. It was nothing but a waste of her time or maybe just something to do. She would never use those degrees. She had no future.
"Maybe when you are released you can tell who attacked you and free Randy." Taylor had not brought up Randy since the day after Ron's death, but she could not help thinking about how wrong it was for John to refuse to give information that could save a man's life.
"Nope." John took a big swig of his drink and swatted the air as if he were swatting away her conversation like he would a fly.
"John! He has a kid and a family that depends on him. You have to tell the truth."
John answered her by getting up from the couch and walking out of the apartment. Taylor tried to understand that John was scared. Mike was still in the hospital slipping in and out of a coma and Punk had a permanent scar on his neck that he managed to conceal with a new tattoo and it could now only be seen up close.
That night was not the last night that Taylor got extremely drunk. It became a nightly ritual for her to get drunk and dance to the music on the radio. She laughed and joked and no longer cared what anyone thought of her. She acted wild and crazy and did not care. John pulled away from especially when he realized she was still not going to sleep with him no matter how intoxicated she was. He seemed embarrassed by her actions.
"I don't think I will ever forget these songs." Taylor laughed when someone slipped behind her while Shaggy's Mr. Lover played. The nineties were almost over, but she knew she would never forget them.
"What has gotten into you?" The man chuckled and put his hands on her hips so he could sway with her. She smiled. She had assumed it was John who had slipped behind her, but it was not his voice.
"You're complaining Viper?"
"Hell, no. It's just different. You seem happier. Maybe I should stay away from you."
"Don't you dare." She chastised and leaned her head against his shoulder as he swayed with her.
"I hope this doesn't piss off your boyfriend, but right now I really don't care."
"Someone finally told the truth?"
"Ya, Mike woke up yesterday."
"That's wonderful, Randy."
"I wasn't worried. I knew Mike would do the right thing."
"And what if he wouldn't have woken up?"
"It doesn't matter now." Randy continued to dance to the music, holding her as close as he could. He closed his eyes and dreamed of the day when they would both be free and she would be his. He imagined the life they would live together and how great she would fit in with his family. He could see her laughing and cooking holiday dinners with his mom and being a big sister to his little sister. He knew life was going to be better. By the time Taylor was released he expected to be living in a decent neighborhood and life for all of them would be easier and happier.