Desire Ch. 2 - Pictures

[itztigress3]

*Yes, I made the banner MUCH smaller*
Chapter 2 – Pictures
POV: Emily
Word Count: 3513

March 25, 2009

I had been woken up to five text messages, all telling me how much he loved me and as soon as I replied he called. I finally had to let him go though, because Amanda was picking me up. I showered and got ready for the day, she and I were just chilling today, maybe some shopping and general hanging out. Aaron was watching TV when I came out of the spare room.

“About time, your ringtone was driving me insane.”

“I can’t help that he misses me Aaron.”

He looked at me. “Like you don’t him?”

“Never said I didn’t miss him, but I know that there will be times where we can’t be together and it’ll take getting use too for both of us. He’s worried I’m going to get hurt.”

“He has a good reason to be worried. How is it living with him?”

I got a granola bar and juice and sat down with him. “Different. I mean I am use to living with men, as I grew up with 6 of them. But, I guess once I moved out and it was just me I got use to that. It’s really nice that it’s not lonely all the time. He is there to talk too, cut up with, and just be there. But, we do still have times where he’s playing video games and I am reading or doing something else. It’s almost like this is what was meant to be.”

He laid his book down and looked at me. “If things are so good and everything is fine, how come you two aren’t going public?”

“We’re just not ready. He is still being questioned about the divorce.”

“I still think you should have told people Emily. I understand you didn’t want Zac to be seen as a bastard but what will people think when he says he’s been dating you over a year?”

I looked at him. “But it wasn’t your decision Aaron; we went over the pros and cons and decided they were worth it not to say anything.”

“True. Be careful today Emily.”

“Why?”

“Because, Dad has not given up on you being with Adam, in fact he claims Adam was mailing you letters and you were responding favorably.”

I sat there on the couch quietly, just sipping the juice. It had been over a year since the attack had occurred; it was not Gary that bothered me it was Adam. It was him that I felt sometimes, it was him that I smelled at times. I couldn’t return to the apartment alone because all I could feel and see was Adam. I had tried to return with Craig, my brother, and even Taylor and Isaac but each time it never made it past the front door. Only Zac had been able to get me inside and to a point where I felt safe with him there.

“Emily?”

“Sorry, I uh..I don’t talk about that and no one really brings it up.”

He shifted toward me. “That’s not good for you Emmy. You should talk about it and be ok with it.”

“I’ll never be ok with it Aaron. I can barely pick up Zac’s drumsticks now.” I knew he missed that too.

“Is Adam writing to you?”

“I don’t know Aaron. He can write the letters all he wants, but the jail will not mail them to me. The same goes for Gary. They are prohibited from mailing anything to several addresses including the home, his brothers, and the company. I am not contacting him ever and I have no reason too.”

“I told Dad it was bullshit, but Emmy he is adamant about you and Adam being together.”

I shook my head. “He’ll have to get over it Aaron. If I ever get married it’s not going to be Adam.”

My phone buzzed and it was Amanda. “She’s here. I have the spare key with me so if you need to go anywhere you can.”

He smiled. “Have fun and be careful.”

I smiled and got up, got my wallet and the key and met her at the front of the building. Our first stop was lunch, which we had a good meal and caught up. She’d been seeing a guy which she shared pictures of and told me all about. I got to show her pictures of Taylor and Isaac’s adorable little mini-me’s. I could now keep whatever pictures I wanted on my phone and they didn’t mind if I shared with Amanda or my family or Craig.

“How is Zac with them?”

“Wonderful, great, perfect. We’ve kept each of them for a few days at a time to let Taylor and Isaac have a date night or sleep. He’s so good with Ezra and the baby, it’s great.”

She looked at me. “Any current plans for a mini you or a mini Zac?”

“We have not really talked about that but I mean we do both want children and I believe that both of us want to be stable and know that our relationship is very solid. He’s got a few friends who were divorced with young children and they rarely see them.”

“Stable? My god women you moved in and bought a place together.”

“We did, but Amanda that’s not like set in stone.”

She smiled. “In his mind, it is.”

“In any event, there are no current plans.”

We finished lunch and then went to the mall for a bit where we browsed dresses and I found the perfect dress to wear to George’s wedding, so I went ahead and bought it while it was there. I also found the right wedding gift, so I purchased it as well and Amanda said she’d hold onto it for me. We were at her house just talking when her phone pinged and she checked it. She looked at it for several moments, frowning.

“Amanda?”

“Didn’t you tell me that Zac wasn’t home?”

“Yeah, there at Sonic Ranch in Texas. Fool’s Banquet, it’s like a song writing week.  They spend a bunch of time with a bunch of guys writing songs.”

“Are there women there?”

“Um…from what he said no, why are you asking?”

She held her phone out to me and I took it and looked at the screen. There was a picture of Zac on her phone but there were two blonde haired girls in the picture with him. They were hanging all over him; I scrolled it down a bit to read the caption, which simply said hanging with Zac Hanson. He’d never even said that women would be there. I handed it back.

She looked at me for a few moments. “Emily?”

“I didn’t think women were there but obviously there is. He’s not alone there.”

She kept looking at me and waited, for what I wasn’t sure.

“Amanda what do you want me to say? That I think he’s sleeping with them? Zac isn’t like that. Sure, there a little close for my comfort but what can I do?”

“Retweet and tell them he’s your man and to get their hands off of him?”

“You know we agreed mutually not to announce our relationship.”

“So, you are saying if you took a picture with some random guy he would be completely ok with it?”

“Yes. But, I am not going to play childish games like that Amanda. I can ask him when he gets home who they are. I get messages from him all day long, twelve from him today.”

“Seriously Emily? Does not that strike you as odd?”

“No. Because I’ve sent him fifteen today, it’s the first time in a year that we’ve been apart for more than one night. I basically lived with him and either his brothers or Craig until the renovations were done. I trust him Amanda. I know that he’s not going to be sleeping with them.”

“I would seriously kick Bradley’s ass.”

“Bradley’s not famous and really, there are other pictures of him like that with women.”

She laughed. “But, honey you took the pictures.”

I looked at her. “I’m not going to debate it Amanda. You have me today and tomorrow and let’s not argue about it. He took a picture with two women, looked like one of them actually took it. It doesn’t mean he’s fucking them, it doesn’t mean anything beyond it was a picture.”

She looked at me for a moment and then nodded. “Ok. So, what is going on this year?”

“Not much really.  There talking about a new album, obviously the membership kit, George’s wedding is this year, there is a community thing in June. It’s to promote local smaller businesses, we volunteered to help sponsor so we have that. Beyond that I think the year is pretty calm. This would be awesome considering if they do the album there will be promo stuff and tours next year and late this year.”

“Hanson Day?”

“There doing it this year. I can’t say what they’re doing though, Taylor and his confidentiality papers.”

“Ugh! I should have a talk with Taylor.”

“Good luck; he’s the tough one on rules. I think there doing some special recordings or something. Were you coming out?”

“I was thinking about it.”

“You should, it should be fun and I have spare rooms!”

“Have they been broken in?”

“No…there is nothing in them right now but boxes we haven’t unpacked. I didn’t realize how much was crammed into that apartment or how much one guy could have.”

“Didn’t you guys spend most of January unpacking?”

“Well, we unpacked some stuff…but spent most of it was spent breaking things in.”

“Rabbits.”

I smiled at her and we moved on to discuss other things like her going back to school, investing chances, and even being more serious about Bradley. I met Bradley that night, he seemed nice but even he brought up the picture of Zac and those two women. I didn’t understand why they felt it was such a big deal. She dropped me off at 8:45 and I went inside. Aaron was already in bed apparently so I went to the bedroom. I had seen the messages about 3 and Zac had sent me several messages after that and he had not mentioned anything being wrong. I had just laid down when the phone rang and it was him.

“Hey Baby.”

“Hey sweetness. Did your day go well?”

“It went very well. I found the wedding gift which Amanda is holding and I found the dress to wear to the wedding, Amanda is holding that too.”

“That dress is awesome; Amanda sent me the short video of you modeling it for her. I got it in the middle of a jam session and they nagged me when I stopped paying attention to stare wide eyed at my phone. If you’d bitten your lip in that video, I would have had to run.”

I giggled. “I did well then.”

“Wait, you knew she sent it? You did that on purpose?”

“Maybe…She suggested sending you a photo since I wouldn’t be bringing it home. But, I suggested the video.”

“Ugh, what am I going to do with you? So evil. I have no doubt that you will be gorgeous in person though. Video’s don’t do you justice.”

“Well, I get to see you wear a tux, which is strange enough since I don’t think you own any.”

“I do, there just still packed up I think or there at the 3CG closet. But, don’t remind me, I hate wearing them.”

I smiled to myself. “Actually….I could pull another tour bus…wait until you’re in the middle of a jam session and send you another picture.”

“Emily…”

“It really would not take much either, I can just image you’re here with me and I have my own room here too.”

“Baby, please don’t do that. I really don’t want to have to explain why I needed to run like hell.”

I giggled. “I’ll be nice only because you asked nicely.”

“It sucks being here without you.”

“It’s not too pleasant here either, but having your shirt has helped.”

“My shirt?”

“I snuck one from the drawer, knew you wouldn’t need it.”

“I brought one of yours with me. It’s my pillow case actually. It’s probably the only reason I sleep.”

“A few more days and you can use me as your pillow.”

“Yeah and I am looking forward to that. I guess I should get back though. My group was breaking for a bit and I knew you’d be going to bed soon.”

“Already lying down actually.”

“Gown or pajamas?”

“Gown, he keeps the apartment pretty warm.”

“I miss you Emily.”

“I miss you too. Get back to your group and sleep well when you finally do sleep.”

“I love you, talk to you tomorrow.”

“I love you, talk to you tomorrow.”

We hung-up and I laid there a moment, he’d not even mentioned the picture and surely he knew it was posted on the internet. But, if it wasn’t posted would I have ever been told? I didn’t like those thoughts, he wouldn’t cheat on me. Not after all that has happened, not after the promises he’d made. I laid my phone down and curled up with his shirt under my face. I was about asleep when my phone rang, I looked at it wondering if he was calling back but it was no name, no number. I answered because sometimes clients call from those numbers.

“Emily Daniels. How can I help you?”

The other end was quite, no one said anything but I knew someone was there. I could hear them breathing.

“Hello? Emily Daniels. Can I help you with something?”

The line grew quieter, even the breathing had gone silent. I just hung-up. It must have been a prank call or a wrong number. Again, I curled up and before long I was asleep.


March 27, 2009 – Friday

Amanda and I had spent Thursday mostly lounging at her apartment and kicking back. Today I was with Christina all day. Aaron dropped me off at their house at eight on his way to work. She had first made breakfast and we discussed what she needed to do. George was leaving the planning to her, she had asked me to help when I could, and Zac had found and booked the band for them actually. Her goal today was invitations and after dragging them out, we were left sitting at the table addressing, labeling, and sealing invitations. She seemed a little reserved though, as we labeled them.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“No. It’s just surreal to have you here helping really.”

“Well, there was nothing for me to do with them gone and I get vacation time too.”

She hesitated before getting something and laying it down, the same picture of Zac Amanda had shown me.

“Have you seen that?”

“Yes. Amanda showed me the picture when it was posted.”

“Have you seen it since?”

“No. I’m not worried about it really. We talk daily and he’s sent me some amazing sunset pictures from the ranch. Taylor’s also sent me some of Zac and Isaac has too.”

She sighed. “Emily they are saying that one of them is his girlfriend, that he’s dating her.”

I laid the pen down, I wasn’t aware of that but it didn’t bother me because I knew they weren’t.

I slid the photo back. “He’s taken hundreds of pictures like that and a lot of them I took, but there are a lot that I did not. People are going to talk, they’re going to try and assume things about him that aren’t true. Neither of those women are his girlfriend, I am his girlfriend. I’m the one he will come home too.”

“But he didn’t tell you about it? Didn’t say anything about the picture did he?”

“No. But, I haven’t asked either. Christina I know you don’t approve of the way we got together or how things progressed from there. We are both aware that we shouldn’t have done anything with him married but it happened. There isn’t any way for me to change that. Honestly, he may not even know the photo was posted. He hasn’t mentioned it and it’s not a big deal to me.

“It doesn’t bother you that fans see this and assume one or both are his girlfriend? It doesn’t bother you that no one knows you’re together?”

“No. He and I talked about that and we mutually agreed not to say anything. We knew there would be rumors like this, we knew people would assume or try to say they were. Zac and I both know who we belong with and who we are dating. That is what matters.”

She took a deep breath. “I don’t approve of the way you got together or the secrecy thing, but I don’t know the complete story so as long as you’re OK with it then I’ll leave it be.”

“I am ok with it.”

“Ok. Was Taylor or Isaac coming to the wedding?”

“I’m not sure if they planned on coming, but if you want I’ll take them an invitation. I cannot give you their address without asking.”

“Taking it is fine; I understand their need for privacy.”

“Yeah, there just way private on that stuff.”

“I understand they have young kids to protect.”

It got quite a moment and I looked at her. “Do you want kids?”

“Yes. In fact we have discussed kids a few times. He wants about two, maybe three. Right now we are both stable career wise and we have the house now. I am not sure when exactly we will have children, but I know we both want them.”

“He’s never wanted a huge family; always said two to three was fine and he’s been that way forever.”

“What about you Emily, do you want children?”

“I do, not sure how many though.”

She lowered her head. “I think George is hesitating with having children because of your father, I think he’s worried about what he was told and what he told you.”

“I can understand that, but even he said there was no proof that our father is that way.”

“That is true.”

After that it got quite as we both wrote out addresses. I addressed three for each of us and laid them aside, I would not mail those. Once they were all addressed and them stamped we left the house and mailed them all. On the way back she and I stopped by the store and got stuff for dinner. While we were there the no name no number called again, I got the same response as the night before. Nothing but breathing, but I didn’t bother to ask a second time, instead I just hung-up.

Once we were back home we started dinner, discussed the few odds and ends like food choices and whether they should serve alcohol or not. By the time George and Aaron arrived dinner was done and we ate. They talked about work and we talked about the day. George and Aaron both saw the photo as well and they both gave me their patented we’re concerned on this faces and I told them the exact same thing I had told both Christina and Amanda – I wasn’t worried about it.

Aaron and I made it home about 9 and both of us got ready for bed. I was just about to lay down when I got a text message from Zac. I opened it to find a rather sexy photo of him in the shower, he had taken the photo himself, showing most of his back and ass with water running down it. I replied back with how absolutely mean that was, teasing me when he has asked me not too. He called to brag a bit and we got to talk for a longer period of time, his group was done for the night and he was crashing early.

Despite myself, I kept trying to hear voices in the background. When I hung-up I found myself back to that picture, this time on my own phone and I read the comments. Christina had been right, just about everyone asked if that was his girlfriend, if they were dating, the person who posted it was Gabby, no last name and she was a musician. Not even she denied the rumors, and I found several pictures of him from the week, mostly around other people but there was always her or another girl near him somewhere, usually much to close for my comfort.

“Your being paranoid Emily. Stop that.” I said.

I finally closed it out and curled up to his shirt, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I finally got my mp3 player and went to the recording he made for me, one when we did have to sleep at separate houses. That helped greatly and I fell asleep to his sweet voice filling my head.