"I thought you two were in bed asleep," Shiye blurted in shock as Taylor and Will came through the side door from the garage.

"Um ok," Will laughed as they came to a stand at the kitchen counter.

"Don't tell me you've been out all night?" Shiye asked.

"Ok, we won't," Tay smirked.

"Oh brother," Shiye laughed quietly after turning back to the coffee pot.

"When did," Taylor started as Ike walked in from the hallway with Caleb on his hip.

"When did you get in?" Tay started as Ike winced and shook his head.

"A little bit after you two dropped me off," Shiye replied without turning around.

The look on Ike's face expressed annoyance with Taylor being nosey.

"Ok, well we're gonna get a shower and hit the sack until around three or four this afternoon. I want all four of us heading to the Green Lantern movie premier," Taylor grinned.

"Oh, that'd be cool," Shiye smiled turning around.

"Um," Ike muttered.

"It's at the Westwood Theater and we'll be up in plenty of time, premier doesn't start until around seven tonight anyways," Tay smiled.

"Ike," Shiye asked looking at him.

"Yeah, we'll go," he smiled.

"Great, ok so you guys just go do whatever, Caleb and I are heading out to the beach, we'll be back in around five or so and I guess," she trailed off.

"We'll be up around five thirty," Tay smiled as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and grabbed Will by the hand.

"Later Sweet Pea," Tay cooed as he nuzzled Caleb on the cheek and then headed off down the hall with Will following.

"He'll make a great dad," Shiye smiled watching him walk off.

"If he ever ends up with kids," Ike replied.

"They can adopt," Shiye replied quietly.

"Yeah, I know," Ike sighed.

"You ok?" she replied as she took Caleb into her arms.

"Yeah, it's just, ever stopped and thought about how long two people have been together, you know," he asked.

"I don't follow."

"If you had asked me if they'd still be together I would have told you I doubt it," he whispered.

"Ike that's cruel," Shiye almost snapped.

"No no, I mean, with the way things are these days," he tried to explain.

"I understand, but, Ike they have," she searched for the right words.

"They have something no one has," she whispered glancing off out the window.

"Something no one will ever have."

"You know, considering how rough things can get, and how rough things have been, I am surprised they've held out this long," Ike muttered as he pressed his mouth to the side of Shiye's head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"It's ok," she replied.

"No, it was really shitty of me to have missed last night," Ike whispered again.

"Hey, there will be other dinners."

"I know," Ike sighed as he pulled her close.

The two of them smiled down upon Caleb. Cooing and gurgling quietly with a perpetual smile on his bright little face.

"I love you," Ike whispered, as a tear formed in his eye.

"I love you too," Shiye replied quietly as she kissed his cheek.

*          *          *          *          *

"Taylor," Will exclaimed as he sat at the foot of the bed in the guest room.

"Yeah," Tay replied as he leaned out of the bathroom.

"I'm scared," Will whispered.

"What's wrong?" Tay asked as he came into the room and knelt by Will's side.

"I don't know," Will exclaimed looking into Taylor's eyes.

"Do you feel ok?" Tay asked concerned.

"I feel fine physically," Will whispered as he looked deeply into Taylor's eyes.

"Then what is it?" Tay asked as he wrapped his hand around the back of Will's neck and pulled him close.

"I don't know, I feel," Will paused.

"Shhh," Tay whispered as he hugged Will close.

"I love you," Will whimpered into Taylor's neck.

"I love you too," Tay replied staring off.

A shiver ran down his back. His brain scrambled and he heard things in the depths of his mind.

"You're a fag, Taylor no, I don't buy that," a voice echoed.

"You mean you two fuck," another voice reverberated.

"I thought you liked girls?" yet another voice bounced through the silence.

"That's gonna make headlines," another voice echoed.

Taylor shifted uncomfortably. Sure, he loved Will, but he heard those voices. Reality began to slam into the back of his head. Realizing that the entire world, their fans and the rest of creation wouldn't be as accepting as Drew Barrymore or any of the other Hollywood 'in crowd,' Taylor found himself scared as well. Only, he knew why he was scared. The idea of being outted, the entire act of have having the spotlight of ridicule pointed at him had him trembling inside. It was one thing to be called 'gay' it was one thing to have people say you look like a girl. But it was an entirely different thing to have people bashing you, for simply having feelings for someone. Taylor jerked slightly and pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I'm just weird," Will whispered wiping his eyes.

"Huh, no, no it's ok babe you, we'll be ok," Tay tried to console him.

"Taylor," Will whispered looking into his eyes.

"God those eyes," Taylor heard his mind moan quietly as he looked deep into Will's hazel green eyes.

His mind spun, just looking deep into them made him feel amazing.

"Why?" Taylor thought to himself.

"Why does something so wonderful, a person so beautiful and a feeling so amazing have to be considered by so many to be wrong?" Taylor heard his mind asking.

"Don't leave me," Will's voice snapped Taylor back to reality.

"Don't, I don't know what I'd," Will got quiet.

"I love you," Taylor whispered.

"Taylor, you have so much to lose," Will whispered.

"And I have more to lose if I lose you," Tay replied.

Will's face crunched into a mass of tears as he threw himself against Taylor. Pulling him close, sobbing silently.

"I'm so sorry, I hate it when I feel this way, Taylor," Will tried to calm himself.

"No, you have every right to be afraid, there is so much riding against us," Taylor whispered as his eyes squeezed shut a tear dropping down his cheek.

"Come on, let's get a shower and some sleep, we've got a premier tonight, and then tomorrow we're flying to New York," Tay smiled as he wiped his eyes.

*          *          *          *          *

"Our first red carpet," Taylor grinned as the limo rolled to a stop.

"I'm so nervous," Will gulped as Shiye and Ike laughed.

"Come on, this isn't the Oscars, it's not like Joan Rivers is out there waiting to bust our balls over our wardrobe," Tay giggled.

"Yeah, but still, a red carpet," Will muttered as the driver started around towards the back of the limo to open the door.

Taylor picked up his cell phone and punched a few buttons.

"Yes, I need a favor and I need it quick, can you change out the Westwood theater carpets to blue instead of red, we only have about five seconds," Tay almost finished before he started laughing as Will slugged him in the arm.

"You retard," Will laughed as the door opened.

"Come on," Tay smiled leaning back.

"I'll follow your lead," Will said as he climbed out behind Taylor.

"Just smile and act like you're here for the movie," Tay muttered through a smile.

"But I thought that's why we were here?" Will asked confused causing Taylor to break into a fit of laughter.

"You know what I mean," he smirked as more flash bulbs popped.

"No reporters," Will asked quietly as they moved down the carpet.

"They are all reporters, but they aren't doing interviews, just photos," Tay smiled.

"Oh ok, so, ok I gotcha."

"Why didn't you bring a camera Ike I swear?" Shiye frowned as they stepped inside the theater.

"Sorry, it didn't cross my mind."

"Yeah, well now I'm gonna have to go and bid on some of those they just took to get copies," she laughed.

*          *          *          *          *

"Mom, look," Mackie yelled out from the den.

After coming around the corner to see what Mackie was yelling about Diana saw. There on the TV screen amidst an explosion of flash bulbs were Taylor and Will. Her face grew pale and tense.

"They went to see the Green Lantern," Mackie exclaimed as he turned around. Diana had left the room.

"Mom," he asked confused as he turned back to watch the rest of Entertainment Tonight.

*          *          *          *          *

"Me-yow," Will muttered as they spied Jennifer Love Hewitt standing with some guy near the concession stands.

"Yeah, no shit," Taylor smirked.

"Let's go say hello," Will smiled grabbing Taylor by the hand, dragging him behind.

"It's been a long time, she might not," Taylor tried to exclaim as they walked up to her.

"Oh my God, hey you," Jennifer smiled as she gave Taylor a hug.

Will frowned.

"Where's mine?" he smirked at her.

"Oh, yeah, God I'm sorry, hey William," she smiled hugging him.

"Gosh, last time we saw each other ... "

"Yeah I know," Taylor replied.

"The Big One," Will laughed.

"Gosh that's right, wow," she trailed off obviously thinking back about it.

"So, what are you guys doing here?"

"Um, we came to see the movie," Tay dead panned.

"Oh, duh, geeze where is my brain?" she laughed.

"Alright, I give, where?" Will asked causing her to laugh as she slapped him on the arm.

"Funny," she laughed.

"So, this is Mike," she smiled as she wrapped her arms around the handsome brunette man beside her.

"Nice to meet you," Tay and Will both exclaimed as Jennifer gave a brief explanation of how she knew them.

"Things have cleaned up here pretty well since then," Mike exclaimed glancing around.

"I guess, I've never been here before," Will replied glancing around.

"It's nice, but I dig the Chinese Theater better," Taylor replied.

"Oh I know, me too, but you know sometimes they don't have the budget to pay for the Mans," Jennifer replied.

"By the way, you did an awesome job," Will smiled as he continued to brown nose her.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"Yeah, the entire fight scene in the rain was great," Taylor laughed rolling his eyes.

All three of them excluding Jennifer laughed.

"Yeah yeah, well tell that to the director, tits and ass to boost the movie ratings," she sighed rolling her eyes.

"Yeah but you dish out the t and a so sweetly," Will replied causing Jennifer to do a slight double take. It was obvious that Will was flirting with her, and she knew it.

"Heh, ok," Taylor replied as he put his arm behind Will's back and pulled him back by the belt.

"We're gonna get going, it was good to see you again," Taylor smiled.

"You too," she smiled as she and her date went back to talking.

"What was all that about?" Taylor frowned slightly giving Will a questioning eye.

"What was all what about? You know I've always liked her," Will defended.

"Yeah but geeze, could you have laid it on any thicker?" Tay asked.

"Yeah I guess I could have, want me to show you how?" Will replied curling his lip as he swatted Taylor's hand off his lower back.

"Dude," Tay replied slightly taken back.

"What?" Will asked turning back to him.

"Never mind," Tay muttered.

"No, what seriously, it's ok for you to be a big horn dog flirt on TV, in interviews or on stage but for me it's not allowed?" Will replied as a few people turned around.

"Not here man, come on," Tay whispered smiling at a few people as he pushed Will into a dark theater entry.

"I don't get it?" Will asked as they stood in the darkness.

"I didn't mean anything seriously, it was just kinda," Tay searched for the words to use.

"Make you jealous or something?" Will asked.

"No," Taylor blurted.

"Then, what?"

"You were being too obvious about it, you need to tone things down," Tay exclaimed.

"Oh I see, so I was being a give away about it, you know being too nice and flirty was bad because God forbid someone might find out how I feel that I like her," Will snapped.

Taylor sighed.

"Is that how it's gonna be with us, here in public?" Will asked causing Taylor to look at him suddenly.

"Well, is it? Are you gonna try to be as vague about me as you can, when people look at us? Are you gonna call me a friend and then laugh and avoid questions that might out you?" Will asked as he stepped forward backing Taylor into a corner.

"Will," Taylor started.

"Because if you think, that after everything we've been through, after all the shit that's happened to us and how hard it's been that I'm gonna just sit there and be pawned off as your friend you've got another thing coming," Will growled.

"Will," Taylor almost squeaked in more shock.

"Don't Will me, I'm dead fucking serious. You've got to stop being two faced Taylor. If you won't, then you just will have to go out places with out me. If you can't handle being you around everyone else then do it when you're not around me."

"Will, you know I love you," Tay started quietly.

"If you can't say you love me in front of other people then how can you say it when we're alone?" Will finished walking off.

"Excuse me," Will exclaimed as he nearly ran into someone standing in the entry way.

"No problem," the man replied.

Taylor closed his mouth and swallowed hard. His mind spinning. Suddenly he was chasing himself around in circles inside. Questioning himself as to if he really was two faced. He shook his head, not wanting to believe that. He took a few steps forward and glanced up.

"Oh God," Taylor groaned.

"No, Ted, oh Ted," Ted Casablanca smiled.

"I don't care what you say about tonight, I don't care who you talk about, just don't please, not yet," Taylor exclaimed grabbing him by the lapels.

"Say what?" he laughed.

"Don't you fucking jerk me around," Taylor growled pushing him against the wall.

"Whoa, little Hanson boy you need to take some downers or something, relax kid," he laughed a bit nervously as he pried Taylor's hands from his coat.

"Listen, just don't ok, not yet, let us, on our grounds in our time frame," Taylor almost sounded as if he was begging.

"You know how hard it is to hold things back when the rumors are going around the grapevines," Ted replied without the smile.

"Rumors?" Taylor asked in confusion.

"Yeah babe, it's pretty much out there already, you popping up with him here tonight is only going to fuel it."

"Rumors that," Taylor started.

"The same ones that started up when you were see with little Alex Greenwald."

Taylor stared blankly at the wall.

"We all know babe, I've been avoiding saying anything yet all together, because you're so young," Ted continued.

"Don't," Taylor whispered turning to him.

"Huh?" Ted asked caught off guard.

"Don't," Taylor whispered.

"Don't say anything yet," his voice cracked quietly.

"He's strong enough to hold up, you saw all that fire burning in him just now, he's strong enough," Ted replied putting his hand on Taylor's shoulder.

"Yeah, he is, but I'm not," Taylor replied quietly a tear sparkling in the dim light as it dropped from his chin.

"You've got my word, but that's just my word, that's not everyone else's, Taylor I promise you, it won't come out of my mouth, or be confirmed by me," Ted whispered patting Taylor on the back.

"Thank you," Taylor replied quietly as he wiped his eyes.

"No problemo, now get going, you've got some major relationship chores to deal with and the longer you wait the harder it will get," Ted replied before he walked away.

Taylor glanced around. The small dark entry was empty. He straightened his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. He stopped short of walking into the lobby when he realized sunglasses at night would be ridiculous and it looked as if he had just come out of the saddest movie on earth. He reached into his pocket and got his cell phone.

"Hey, I'm fine, but I can't leave through the lobby, come around to the back of," Taylor glanced up at the archway.

"The back of theater three, I'll be at the exit," he replied as he hung up and headed down into the theater towards the exit door at the far back corner.

At the first row Taylor paused and turned around. There in front of him sat at least one hundred empty seats. All facing him. Silence filled the theater. He closed his eyes and envisioned them all full. Filled with adults, children and fans. The last thing Will said echoed through his mind. He opened his eyes back up and stared at them all.

"I'm in love with Will, and he's a guy like me, and I don't care what you think," he whispered trying to imagine what it'd be to say that to so many people.

He found himself shaking as he turned and walked towards the exit door and shoved it open. There sat the limo with Isaac holding the door open. Taylor paused.

"You gonna get in or what?" Ike exclaimed from just inside.

Taylor swallowed hard and stepped down and climbed in. Looking up towards the driver's window he blinked a few times. Shiye was seated near the front, with Isaac beside him. He looked around confused.

"Where's Will?" he asked almost frantically.

"He's gonna meet us at our place later I guess," Shiye exclaimed.

"But who, where, he doesn't have a," Taylor began to stutter.

"Don't worry about it, he's with someone ok," Ike replied as Shiye winced knowing that would ignite a billion and one questions from Taylor.

"Who?" Taylor asked quietly.

"Well believe it or not but he left with Rosie," Ike exclaimed with an expression that almost appeared to say he didn't even believe what he was saying.

"Rosie, you mean Rosie-Rosie?" Tay blurted.

"Yeah, I know, weird huh, she and her lady friend," Ike tried to explain.

"She and Kelly were here to see the movie," Shiye finished for Ike who realized he wasn't really doing much good.

"What happened with you two?" Ike asked as Taylor looked over at him.

"Why don't you butt the fuck out," Taylor growled as he moved away from Ike and sat on the other side facing the window.

"Geeze," Ike muttered.

*          *          *          *          *

"You gotta give him time," Rosie sighed as she set her empty cocktail glass down.

"You don't understand we've been together now for," Will paused as he took a drag from the cigarette in his hand.

"What seems like decades," Will replied staring out at Sunset Boulevard.

"That's how it is here," she replied as the waiter put another drink down.

"Here, we've not been here the entire time," Will started.

"Kiddo, here is everywhere in show business, whether New York, Miami, Los Angeles, wherever you are in show business it's the same place, the same rules apply the same stereotypes," she explained as Will sprinkled salt on his hand and prepared to do a tequila shooter.

"Remember the earthquake," Will muttered just before he threw back the tequila.

"Yeah, how could I forget?" Rosie almost barked with her thick New York accent.

"We met and fell in love in the middle of it all," Will replied after throwing back a few slugs of beer.

"That long ago?" Rosie asked quietly looking at him almost in shock.

"Yeah."

"How in fucks sake did you manage to keep it this quiet for so long?" she asked.

"Not sure," Will replied totally avoiding the entire ordeal with the M.A.S.T.

"That's amazing," she replied shaking her head.

"So, you two, have you," she started as Will turned his head and stared off.

"I'm sorry it's none of my business," she exclaimed, cutting herself off.

"No, it's ok," he whispered quietly.

"Yeah, we have, in every way imaginable," he whispered as a tear ran down his face.

"Wow," she replied as she held the ash tray under the cigarette and gave his hand a thump knocking the inch long stack of ashes off.

"Didn't want it landing in my drink," she laughed as he turned to see what she was doing.

Will chuckled briefly and smiled.

"I can tell you love him," she sighed.

"I do, but tell me what gives that away?" he asked.

"The intensity of your emotions right now, if you didn't love him you'd brush it off and say 'fuck it,' you wouldn't sweat it like you are," she explained.

"I guess ... "

"Guess nothing, lemme prove my point, see that guy over there," she asked pointing to the bar behind Will.

"Yeah," he replied glancing back.

"Ok, say you and him fucked, now as unrealistic as that is judging by what a highly moral individual you seem to be," she paused with a smirk expecting Will to turn around and laugh, but he didn't.

"Anyway, just imagine that, now say you walked over there seeing him after last night and he brushed you off or told you to get lost," she continued.

Will stared the guy down. Eyeing him from head to toe.

"It wouldn't bother you, you wouldn't care you'd just go 'eh dumb fag,' and forget about him," she laughed.

"Yeah, you're right," Will exclaimed understanding where she was coming from.

"He's not even attractive though," Will muttered.

"What are you talking about, look at his body, and his hair, and shit you can see his eyes sparkling from here, what's not to like about him?" she asked as the pitch of her voice rose.

"He just doesn't appeal to me, I mean yeah no shit he's built and he's attractive, but in order to land me you gotta have more than that, it's what's inside that pulls me," Will replied as he finished off his beer.

"You're a good kid," she smiled ruffling his hair.

"I'm a hurt, angry kid," he smiled as a tear squeezed out of his eye.

"Yeah, well we all are at one point or another, but sooner or later we find that special person who makes all those moments seem insignificant, you just gotta hang on to that person when you find them," she exclaimed leaning back in her chair.

"I'm trying I really am," Will exclaimed putting his face in his hands.

"I was in the same position as Taylor, I know what he's going through," she said sitting forward putting her hand on his shoulder.

"It's not easy for him either, you on the other hand, you don't have to worry if people like you, you don't have a career riding on it."

"I know, I know," Will sobbed quietly into his hands.

"Shh, come on let's go for a drive, you don't need to be crying like this in public," she said as she pulled him to his feet and led him through a side door near the bar.

A few moments through a kitchen and a access hallway and they were outside at her rental car.

"Do you wanna go get him?" Rosie asked as she looked over at Will who sat silently in the car.

"Yes and no," he replied watching the traffic light.

"Well I do, so where are you guys staying?"

Will gave her the address and a few brief directions to Ike and Shiye's house.

"It'll be good, I think talking to both of you will help," she exclaimed.

"Ok," he didn't argue.

At the moment, beyond the pain and anger in him he wanted to look into Taylor's eyes, to smell his hair and feel his body hugged close to his. His face bawled up again and he began to cry quietly.


On to Chapter Six

Back to Chapter Four

Chapter Index

Taylor Quest Home Page

A Love Incognito is Copyright © 2000 by Taylor W. Quest.
This work may not be duplicated in any form – physical, electronic, audio, or otherwise – without the author's written permission.
All applicable copyright laws apply. All individuals depicted are fictional with any resemblance to real persons being purely coincidental.

Home Page | Authors | Christmas Stories | Stories by the Writer Suggested Reading | Suggested Viewing | Links Privacy Policy | Terms of Service Send a Comment All Site Content © 2003 - 2024 Tarheel Writer unless otherwise noted Layout © 2003 - 2024 Tarheel Writer