DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING.

Chapter 5: Excuses

Previously…

She opened her mouth and said "Taylor." He smiled and replied "Troy."

Their moment was interrupted by the announcer once again filling the room with his booming voice. "WOAH! That was hype my man I like the way you move and I'm sure we wouldn't mind if you came back to visit us sometime, you know even after you blow up!" Troy grabbed Taylor's hand and they both bowed to the crowd one last time before he pulled her off to the back stage dressing room. Once in the room he shut the door and spoke, "That was amazing! I had no idea what I was getting into when I asked you on that stage, it was beautiful - you were beautiful." He looked down at their still intertwined fingers and palms and realized that she hadn't said a word to him. "Say something. Anything." Taylor sighed and dropped her hand from his, instantly feeling guilty for allowing herself to get lost in this dream word. She forgot about her obligations, situations and complications. She knew it was unfair for her to lead him on just as it was unfair for her to be bound to a person who no longer held her respect or her love.

"I'm sorry." She said simply while pacing the room in a nervous habit. "It's just complicated, I'm complicated and it was so unfair to drag you into my world just to tell you that I have to shut you out." She felt her voice crack as her grief for her lost life and ambitions began to rise. But being the usually composed socialite she was brought up to be, she pushed them back into their place. I never cry in front of strangers why now? "What do you mean shut me out?" He walked closer to her and she just backed away. "I'm married Troy."

He stopped mid stride and stared at her, a surprised and somewhat disappointed expression etched on his magnificent features and she looked away unable to hide her shame. "Wow." He flopped down on the worn couch and smiled easing her feelings slightly. "Well I knew there was a possibility that you weren't single but …" He trailed off and laughed while patting the spot next to him for her to sit. Taylor complied and sat with him. "I'm sorry if I led you on, I should have told you - " "And what chance did I give you to say so anyway? It's my fault really for making assumptions." They sat there in silence looking around the room in an attempt to avoid each other. "For what it's worth, that was the best time I've had in a while. I haven't been on stage in about five years." She smiled remembering the feeling, the adrenaline rush. "How long have you been married?" Troy asked finally looking at her. Taylor turned toward him as well and said "Five years." She laughed and he followed.

As their laughter died down a knock came on the door. "Come in!" Exclaimed Troy and in walked Gabriella. "WOW! Tay that was amazing I just figured out what you should do for the rest of your life!" She continued rambling until she noticed the beautiful stranger that Taylor seemed to be so enticed by. "Hello I'm Gabriella, Taylor's best friend." They shook hands. "Nice to meet you and I'm glad you enjoyed the set." Taylor smiled and then looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh shit! It's so late I have to get home." She turned to Troy and without thinking placed a kiss on his cheek. "Bye." And with that she grabbed Gabi's arm and rushed out the door. Once they were outside, Gabriella wretched her hand away from Taylor's death grip and folded her arms across her chest. "What the hell was that?" Taylor looked at her confused as ever. "Huh?" "Don't play dumb with me you know what I'm talking about." She hissed with a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "That was an awfully friendly goodbye." "Whatever Gabi it was nothing I wasn't thinking and I panicked and Chad h-" Gabriella silenced her with the infamous death glare that had claimed many lives. "You like him. You might not be ready to admit it now but in the back of your mind you're thinking about him and maybe even wishing you met him five years sooner." Taylor stared blankly at her and shook her head. "You're wrong." "Whatever."

An hour later, Taylor unlocked the door to her home and flipped on the lights. She placed her purse on the table and proceeded to hang up her coat when she heard an angry voice behind her. "Where have you been?" She turned around slowly to see a furious Chad sitting in their armchair arms crossed, brows furrowed and mouth in a snarl, he was furious. Taylor froze. She had never seen him this mad before, then again he was hardly home enough for that to happen. "I went out with Gabriella." "Oh and did you just brush off the fact that you have a husband and that we had plans tonight?" Suddenly all the courage that had briefly left her body returned and she felt herself tense with rage. "Funny, I thought it was just your same bullshit like always." She said trying to keep her voice even and calm. The comment came out bitter and cold like a slap in the face to the confused and shocked Chad. "What the fuck are you talking about?" He almost yelled raising from his seat preparing for a battle.

"Oh so you're mad? Do you know how many times I got my hopes up because you told me you were coming home early? You'd kiss me on the lips in the morning and whisper in my ear and I would be excited all day. I'd dress up and cook dinner and fix up the room and I would wait for you. Then the phone would ring and you say the same thing every time about the office being crazy and you have to stay and I-" Taylor felt her anger subside and morph into sadness. "I would go to bed alone." She turned her back on him and walked into the guest room pulling out a pair of pajamas. "I hate you…" She whispered when she felt him behind her. And I wish I meant it… She felt him heave a sigh and felt she had gained a small victory in making him feel a tenth of the low she had felt for years. She turned around and looked up into his coffee colored orbs catching a gleam of remorse lurking in the shadowy depths to a soul she could not reach. "You don't mean that" he whispered back. Taylor looked away unable to deal with the truth of that statement. All logic points to feeling hatred for this man, and here I am feeling… sorry for him? Damn it I'm too nice! She snapped out of her inner dialogue when she felt the familiar warmth of his palms on her lower back pressing her into his hardened torso. She rested her hands on his chest as an effort to push him away but it didn't turn out in that manner. His lips moved to her neck and ear as he whispered his apologies and excuses. All the while Taylor tuned him out, knowing this garbage would be old news when the sun rose and their trysts between the sheets were over.

Damn, its times like these I wish I was Adam Sandler with that magical remote.