It was slightly musty and the scent of paper and ink clung to the air as the mismatched pair browsed through the stacks, a metal carry basket hanging from the fingertips of the heavily tattooed guy while the girl dashed here and there, picking up books to read the back and quickly discarding them in option for another book.

Mike shook his head at Taylah before picking up a book and flipping it over so he could read the back, tossing it into the basket when he finished having decided it sounded good before walking around, pausing to look at the books on tattoos and their history, sliding further down the aisle to look at the photography section.

Taylah appeared at his elbow five minutes later, holding a copy of Jurassic Park in her hands while she read over Mike’s shoulder one of the books he’d picked up and opened on photography. “I’ve got that one,” she said softly, cheek resting on his arm. “It’s good, really helped me when I was starting out.” Mike nodded and placed it carefully back on the shelf.

“Got everything you wanted?” he asked as he picked up the basket laden with five books.

“Yep,” she nodded, taking his hand and leading him to the counter.

“Hi, all done looking?” the brunette girl with a pixie cut behind the counter asked happily to Mike, she’d been watching the two since they entered the store forty-five minutes ago and couldn’t believe the guy managed to stay sane with the ginger continuously bouncing around.

“Yeah, thanks,” Mike said as he pulled the books out and set them on the counter, Taylah placing the one in her hands on top of the pile before wandering over to a display that caught her attention.

“About time right? You must be so bored,” the girl behind the counter stated as she began scanning the books. “I’m May, just so you know. I don’t know how you deal with someone like that,” May nodded over at Taylah who had picked up one of the display books to read the synopsis.

Mike frowned at the girl, “Someone like what?”

“You know, plain. I mean, her girlfriend must be very happy with her,” May said sarcastically as she scanned the forth book.

“She doesn’t have a girlfriend, what gives you that impression?” he asked, leaning against the counter.

“She clearly doesn’t dress up, she isn’t wearing makeup, doesn’t bother to do her hair properly and just look at that sweater. Whiskey Hands, really? Totally a lesbo.”

Mike straightened up in anger just as Taylah appeared at his side, holding the book she’d been reading out to May to scan with a bright smile. “Hi, are you having a good morning?”

“Oh yeah,” May said with a fake smile, “the best. Not too hot, not too cold. It’s great.”

“That’s awesome. I hope you have a good day,” Taylah said with a smile as she pulled out her wallet, handing the money for her books to Mike. “I’m going to go get us a drink, meet at the first café we saw this morning in five?”

“You got it, babe,” Mike agreed, causing Taylah to blush slightly and head out the door. Turning back to the counter he glared at May. “Taylah isn’t a lesbian, and stating that she is because she doesn’t wear makeup is a ridiculous statement because I have great friends who are lesbian and they dress nice and look beautiful, she doesn’t need makeup, she’s beautiful as she is and she’s dressed like that because she’s been up since 4am and when it’s that early, you dress for comfort.” He slammed the money for the books on the counter in exact change and yanked the bag from her grip. “And her sweater is one of mine, promoting my album. Get the facts before you judge someone, you dumb bitch,” he growled before stalking out of the store.

---

Four stores, three new t-shirts and a jacket, eight CDs, a smoothie and five hours of sleep later, Taylah was standing side stage as she took pictures of Pierce The Veil’s set. Singing along with the words, Taylah moved onto the stage to take closer pictures of Tony shredding on the guitar. They were playing Hold On Till May, one of her all-time favourite songs. Singing along to herself she moved around the stage taking pictures of Jaime and Mike –who each shot her a funny face- before Vic wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to the front of the stage while handing her a second mike.

If I were you I’d put that away,
see you’re just wasted,
thinking about the past again,
Darling, you’ll be okay.
And she said…

Realising what he wanted she leaned into the mike and sang Lindsey’s part of the song.

“If you were me, you’d do the same.
Cause I can’t take anymore,
I’ll draw the shades and close the door,
everything’s not alright and I would rather…”

Vic grinned at her mouthing ‘you’re awesome’ while she just laughed and continued to take pictures of them while they played the instrumental, jumping onto Mike’s bass drum to snap pictures of him before turning and getting pictures of Vic singing the last of the lyrics. When the song faded out the crowd cheered.

“Give it up for the incredible Taylah Mallory! One the nicest fucking people I’ve ever met,” Vic cried into the microphone while pointing back at Taylah who waved sheepishly.

“He’s just saying that,” Tony spoke into the mike having walked over. “She’s mean in reality; she yells at everyone and abuses kittens. She doesn’t even like turtles.”

Taylah picked up the mike she’d set down on the speaker and turned it back on. “Lies, don’t listen to Tony. I love turtles.”

“Yet you don’t deny the rest,” Vic teased, turning to her.

“I only hit my brother, and that’s when he decides 5:30 in the AM is a perfectly acceptable time to wake up. And I think if I ever treated a cat in any way other than loving Alan Ashby would hunt
me down.”

“And you being mean?” Vic asked.

“Oh, that’s completely true. According to Lily I’m a mondo bitch and Rise says I’m a huge cunt, so yeah,” Taylah shrugged. “That part is true but everything else is a lie,” she narrowed her eyes at Tony. “Tony’s just upset that I bought the collector’s edition of the novelisation of Star Wars and didn’t get him a copy.”

“You bet your ass I am,” he cried into the mike.

“Alright, ladies, save this until after the set. I don’t need to see hair pulling and bitch slaps just now,” Jaime called over.

Tony mimed ‘I’m watching you’ to Taylah who returned the gesture before she went back to taking pictures.

---

Lily was lying across the couch of the bus reading ‘An Abundance Of Katherines’ which was one of the books Taylah had bought a couple of days ago when Taylah rolled out of her bunch.

Literally.

Lily sat up as soon as she heard the loud thunk, turning to see Taylah lying on her back in the narrow walkway, groaning slightly. “You okay, man?”

“Peachy,” she wheezed back, looking up at her bunk. “How the fuck did I manage to do that?”

“Dude, if I have a dollar every time you’ve asked me that, I’d be a fucking millionaire.” Taylah didn’t bother to turn from her position on the ground; she simply raised her arm and flipped her off. “Oh, I’m seeing such obscene hand gestures from such a pristine girl.”

“Did you seriously just quote The Breakfast Club?”

“Maybe,” Lily replied as she returned to her previous position. A wheezing cough reached her ears as Taylah made to stand up before groaning. “You’re gonna stay there for a while aren’t you?” Lily called over as she flicked to the next page.

“Thinking about it,” Taylah replied with a pained frown before shifting slightly and pulling a 2 inch, studded creeper from underneath her back. “I fell on your fucking shoes, you bitch,” she said as tossed it aside.

“How was I supposed to know you were planning on falling out of your bunk?”

“Sometimes, Lily Flower, I really fucking hate you,” Taylah said as she pulled the second shoe from under her hip and tossing it to join the second.

“No you don’t.”

“Yeah, I kinda do.”

It was quiet for a while, Taylah having pulled down a pillow from the nearest bunk, was now curled up on the floor while hugging it, almost asleep while Lily continued to read a couple more pages before she set the book down on her stomach. “Tay?” Her only answer was a low grunt.

“Do you like, Mike?”

There was moan as Taylah shifted closer to her borrowed pillow. “What do you mean?” She asked after a while, tilting her head upwards slightly so she could see Lily’s teal tipped hair hanging off the couch.

“I mean do you like him, the way I like Austin?” Lily asked turning her head so she could see the lump on the ground she called a friend.

Taylah sighed as she curled up tighter. “Honestly? Yeah, I think I do, I mean, I like him, a lot, no fucking doubt about that but I just don’t know if he likes me the same and I don’t wanna get hurt.”

“I don’t think he’d hurt you, I have a feeling he feels the same.”

Taylah smiled to herself as she buried her head in the pillow. “I hope so,” she whispered, “because I really, really like him.”

Notes

Yay, proctective/defensive Mike and some more fluff!
Question for you: do you think I'm moving too fast?

Chapter title: Get Your Mind Right by Mikey Whiskey Hands.