"Mark, Taylor, you guys are absolutely adorable together!" Maureen exclaimed. Taylor smiled, and gave Mark a quick kiss on the cheek. Everyone was on the way to the loft after trashing the Life. Everyone, but Angel, Collins, and Mimi. Angel and Mimi had to work, and Collins had more papers to grade. Mark smiled. He was glad that Maureen was finally accepting of his relationship with Taylor. Joanne had confined in Mark that she had a feeling that Maureen was slightly jealous of Taylor. Taylor had sensed this too, but now they were practically the best of friends.
"Hey baby, I have to go the drugstore for some aspirin; I'm getting a headache," Taylor told Mark. Mark kissed the top of her head.
"Hurry up, Angel and Mimi should be off work soon," Joanne said. Taylor nodded, and waved. She walked into the drugstore across from her building as her friends went up to the loft.
While Taylor was browsing the drugstore for the cheapest bottle of aspirin, she felt like someone was watching her. The only other person in the store other than the cashier was a man in black. Wishing to get out of the silent store, Taylor quickly grabbed a bottle of aspirin, and paid.
When Taylor was walking towards her building, she felt a pair of strong hands grab her from behind, and pull her into a dark alley. A hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from screaming for help.
"You thought I had left you for good, Taylor Davis," a harsh, familiar voice whispered in her ear. "Well you were wrong." Taylor was spun around, and was face to face with Frank. Her eyes nearly doubled in size, and she back up against the cool brick wall. Before Taylor could react, Frank's fist came in contact with her face multiple times. Taylor crumpled to the ground, and covered her head with her arms. Frank kicked her repeatedly until she began to sob uncontrollably. He pulled her to her feet roughly. "Tell anyone who did this to you, and I swear that you'll regret it. Got it?" Taylor nodded. Frank shoved her against the wall before leaving. Taylor tried to remain standing for as long as possible, but eventually fell against the metal trashcans; knocking them over.
The sound of metal trashcans being knocked over attracted the attention of Angel who was walking to the loft with Collins.
"What was that noise?" Angel asked Collins. Collins shrugged.
"Probably just a drunk homeless person," he replied. "Come on, let's go." Angel ignored his lover's comment, and walked down a dark alley. "Jesus Christ Angel, you're going to get yourself killed one day," Collins said before following Angel. Angel saw a small figure lying in the middle of the alley. He cautiously approached it, and carefully tuned it over.
"Taylor?" he gasped. Collins froze. What the hell was Taylor doing way out here in an alley? She was supposed to be back at the loft with everyone else. "Taylor, honey, can you hear my voice?" Angel asked tenderly. Taylor moaned softly.
"We should get her back to the loft," Collins said. Angel got up, and handed him his pickle tub.
"Hold this baby," he said. Not wishing to anger his boyfriend, Collins complied. Angel gently picked Taylor up, and began to walk towards the loft.
Mark was starting to worry about where Taylor was. A wave of relief washed over him when he heard the door open, but his hopes were shattered when he saw Angel carrying Taylor.
"Oh my God Angel, what happened?" Maureen exclaimed as everyone gathered around Angel.
"We heard a noise in an alley, and found Taylor like this," Angel replied. "Move so I can put her on the couch." Everyone immediately listened to Angel. Once Taylor was lying on the couch, Roger and Mark got a good look at her injuries. The rest of the Bohemians backed away, giving the trio their space. Taylor had a black eye and fat lip. There was also a dried trickle of blood on one side of her mouth, and numerous bruises on her arms. Dirt was smeared across her face, and her hair was coming out of the ponytail she had had it in.
"Who could have done this?" Joanne asked nobody in particular quietly. Mark sighed, and turned around to face his friends.
He replied, "Taylor's ex-boyfriend was abusive. She came here after he left her for a hooker. My guess is that it was him."
"If we hurry, we might be able to find him," Collins said. He wanted so desperately to hurt whoever had beat up someone as sweet as Taylor.
"No, it's too dangerous," Roger said firmly. "Besides, he could be anywhere in Alphabet City by now."
"Don't you want to find out who did this to your sister, Roger?" Maureen asked with a concerned tone (I know…shocker!).
"First I want to talk to my sister," Roger snapped. No one dared argue with Roger when he was in a mood like this.
"Collins, I think we'd better go," Angel said.
"Maureen, we should probably get going too," Joanne said. "Call us first thing in the morning to let us know how Taylor's doing."
"We will," Mark promised.
The second the heavy metal door to the loft slid shut, Roger flopped down in the nearest chair, cursing loudly.
"How did this happen?" he demanded. "How did he find her?" Mark retreated to the bathroom, and returned a minute or so later with a damp washcloth in hand.
"We'll talk to Taylor when she comes around. It could have been someone trying to mug her; that's all," he said as he sat down on the edge of the couch, and wiped the dirt off his girlfriend's face. Roger looked reluctant to believe Mark, even Mark doubted his own words, but didn't say anything more about it.
"Whatever, are you staying out here with Taylor?" Roger asked. "I'm going t go to sleep." He got up, and began to walk away.
"Roger, wait!" Roger stopped and turned around to face Mark.
"What?" he snapped.
"What's wrong with you? Angel and Collins bring home your sister badly beaten, and you can't even look at her. Talk to me, tell me what's wrong." Roger laughed bitterly.
"You want to know what's wrong? Okay, I'll tell you if you're dying to know. Taylor came here so I could protect her, but I couldn't even do that."
"God, Roger, that's what this is about? This was an accident. I feel horrible that I couldn't protect Taylor too, but I'm not eating myself up inside about it. You know what, you're really stressed. You go to sleep; I'll stay out here with Taylor." Roger ran his fingers through his hair.
"I don't know, maybe I should stay out here too," he said slowly.
"I'm fine staying out here, really. You go to sleep, I'll stay here." Roger sighed, and retreated to his room.
Mark sat on the edge of the couch, and took Taylor's cold hand in his own. Five minutes later, Mimi came bursting into the loft with a smile plastered across her face. The smile quickly disappeared when she saw Taylor.
"What happened, Mark?" she asked as she stood next to the couch.
"Angel and Collins found her in a deserted alley like this. She hasn't come around yet, so we don't know what really happened, but Roger and I have some ideas." Mimi looked around the loft.
"Where is Roger?" she asked.
"In his room. He's mad that he couldn't protect Taylor from something like this." Mimi sighed, and dropped her bag in the middle of the floor.
"I'll go talk to him." She gave Mark a quick hug. "Don't worry, Mark, things will all work out in the end." Mark smiled weakly.
"Thanks Mimi." Mimi sauntered off to the room she shared with Roger. Mark went back to Taylor, but after about a half an hour, felt himself get suddenly tired. He draped her body gently across Taylor's resting his head on the back of the couch, and quickly fell into a light sleep.
Taylor awoke an hour later very confused with a bad headache. She was back at the loft with something heavy across her middle. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw that it was Mark. Taylor ran her fingers through his hair, and gently stroked his cheek. He looked so peaceful asleep. Mark suddenly sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Let the interrogation begin, Taylor thought bitterly.
A/N: Sorry I didn't update this sooner, I'm typing this before I get ready to perform at Graduation! We'll miss you Brad! (sorry, spazz moment). I'll update soon now that I'm almost done with school…yeah! Much love!
Tina101