A Secret Unleashed - Chapter 2
Title: A Secret Unleashed
Author: eleflowerpot
Fandom: Hanson
Pairings: Taylor/ Zac, Isaac/ OFC
Summary: Third instalment of the ‘Secret’ series
Warnings: Some content may be adult
Chapter 2
Taylor’s POV
It was getting harder to handle, I was nearing breaking point yet again although this time I wasn’t alone. Zac knew everything, the psychiatrist knew everything. Jeez, that’d been hard to do. After all the years of keeping such a thing secret everything felt like it was beginning to unravel, first Isaac finding out and now confessing all to the shrink. I felt better for it though, and it meant that I was getting real advice, coping mechanisms that could really work now I’d been completely honest. My real problem was my home life, it was that making me depressed and anxious. The stress had always been there but the past year had been harder than ever, the only thing I looked forward to was the escape of music, and spending time with Zac of course. I knew what I had to do to be happy, leave Nat. It sounded so simple to do but I knew the reality would have devastating effects for not only myself but the kids, the band, everyone.
I looked at my watch again, he was late, well, they both were but I wasn’t bothered if Isaac was…just meant I got extra time with Zac. I shuffled round to the piano and began working on the melody that might work for the bridge of the song we’d started yesterday. I looked around our new studio as I played, I was glad we’d moved somewhere new. Memories of what I’d done in the last place still haunted me, image after image of her eyes screwed tightly shut, my hands on her…they were ingrained on my retina, every time I closed my eyes they were there.
A bustle of activity from the doorway pulled me from my horrifying thoughts. Both Isaac and Zac entered looking windswept, cheeks red from the burn of the storm. Storm…that was an understatement, it felt more like there was a tornado on its way and I suppose we should all have been at home, ‘battening down the hatches’ as it were, in preparation of what may come. The thought of being trapped in the house with Nat and the kids for goodness knows how long terrified me so I’d insisted we come to the studio. Zac had agreed straight away, his home life barely tolerable at the best of times; but Isaac, his readiness had surprised me. Maybe he was just eager to make progress with the album…it was something I didn’t have the energy to dwell on.
Hours had passed and I felt happy. Happy in the cocoon of music we were creating I felt relaxed for the first time in a while…well, the other day with Zac had been relaxing. I smiled to myself as I remembered our love making and then scowled as I recalled how we’d been thwarted in our amorous attempts by Natalie.
“Seriously Tay, what’s up with your face?”
“Hmmm?” Zac’s question had pulled me from my daydream. He was laughing softly, with only love in his eyes.
“You look like you’re experiencing every emotion under the sun the way you’re flitting from scowl to smile.” So I was causing amusement to Isaac now as well, brilliant, I felt my good mood evaporating. Before I could retort with a witty response the door flung open, Louisa bursting in with a look of disdain on her face. To say I was shocked to see her didn’t go far enough, she’d avoided any contact with me since that fateful day. Yes, I’d seen her at the family meals, only two days before at Isaac’s birthday, but she’d always kept her distance, never putting herself in a situation where she had to speak to me, or even be near me…. Yet here she was. I looked to Isaac to find the same shocked looked on his face as must be on mine. I found it only mildly comforting that he had no idea why she was here either. She strode further into the room as she was speaking, an accusatory tone to her voice,
“Why don’t you answer your damn phones?! What’s the point in having them if you ignore them?” I looked down at the floor, unsure as to why I felt so guilty. So I’d rejected a bunch of calls from Nat, what was new there? I looked to Zac as he began to answer,
“I always have it on silent, don’t want to be disturbed when we’re working…” I knew that he must also be guilty of the same crime as me. She left out a long sigh, the fight leaving her,
“And your excuse?” Isaac didn’t even reply, simply shrugging as a response. His eyes looked lost, sad and alone. He too broke eye contact with her, choosing to stare at his knotted hands.
“Well it’s a good job I answer when there’s a crisis…” We all paid attention at this, shit…what the hell had happened?
“Tay, you need to get to the hospital. Nat’s taken the baby. Zac you need to get home, Kate’s freaking out cause a tree’s hit the porch. And Ike, you need to pick Zoe up from school and take her to your mom’s.”
I tried to take the information in, hospital? The baby? Before I could articulate any of my confused thoughts Zac was up and literally running for the door.
“Thanks Lou, sorry…see ya later.” And he was gone. I sat rooted to the piano bench, still unable to speak.
“Why am I picking Zoe up?” He looked as confused as I did, it didn’t make any sense.
“The storm’s got a hell of a lot worse, buses have stopped running so she’s stuck at school cause your dad’s car’s still in the garage. She’s shit scared Ike, she was crying on the phone, that’s not like her at all.” He nodded his agreement and made to leave, only stopping as he reached the door.
“If Nat’s got the baby who’s looking after the rest of the kids?” Jeez, he’d hit the nail right on the head, the others!
“I’m going over there now. Nat only left in the ambulance about 10 minutes ago. The kids know to sit tight until I get there.” Ambulance? Shit, this was worse than I thought. My brain finally sent a message to my body to move itself and I gathered my things quickly yet in a haze. As we made our way out I managed to mumble a small ‘thankyou’. In return I received a smile…yet it was bittersweet, a smile tinged with sadness and sorrow. Knowing that I was the cause of it broke my heart.