Tainted Love ( Trigger Warning Mentions of abuse)

(this is part of a larger story I’m working on altered slightly)

Taylor dropped off her clients dog one evening before heading home

: …“Thanks Mrs Feilds”. “Aw no problem, she’s no trouble are you princess”? Taylor bent down and petted Mrs Stevens’s dog: “No you’re not, no you’re not”. “You’re so good with her”. Mrs Stevens remarked as Taylor stood back up to face her: “Aw, it definitely helps when you enjoy the company you’re with”. Mrs Steven’s smiled as Taylor gave the dog an affectionate pat on the head: “How much do I owe you”? “£30”. Mrs Stevens located her purse and dug out £30, she handed it to Taylor: “Thanks, take care”. Taylor answered giving Mrs Stevens a wave: “You too dear”. Mrs Stevens replied as Taylor headed toward the door. Once outside, Taylor looked around to see if Ellie and Cody were around, having not spotted them, she breathed a sigh of relief before starting for home. She walked a few steps forward and was about to round that first corner on the way to her’s when all of a sudden, Ellie and Cody appeared seemingly out of nowhere: “Boo”! Ellie exclaimed, Taylor jumped a little: “What are you doing here”?! “We just finished up, we were gonna come get you from Mrs Stevens’s”! Taylor shook her head: “Listen guys I’m really not feeling well”- “blah blah blah blah blah”. Ellie answered as she and Cody each linked an arm through each of Taylor’s, forcing her along with them: “Honestly guys, it’s been a long day”- She protested, looking over her shoulder: “One drink isn’t gonna hurt we just wanna catch up”! Cody answered.

They entered their local club and Ellie took a seat on one of the bar stools with a “whoop”! Cody and Taylor closely following: “So what’ll it be first”? Cody asked, rubbing his hands together: “First”? “You said one”! Taylor answered in shock: “Ah ah ah you said one”. Ellie pointed out, playfully poking Taylor in the chest: “Besides, you’ll love it once things get going”. They looked around to see people starting to loosen up for the night: “”I’ll have a Rum and Coke and Tay’ll have”…. Ellie gave Taylor an expectant look, she sighed and plopped down on the seat beside Ellie: “Sex On The Beach”. Ellie nodded with a smile: “Sex On The Beach”! She repeated to the bar tender as Cody got out his card to pay.

A few moments later Ellie, Taylor and Cody sat at a table enjoying their drinks and chatting: “So, do you wanna hear the goss on the others”? Ellie asked excitedly, Taylor turned to Cody, jerking a thumb over at Ellie: “Cody, what’s wrong with her”? She turned back to face Ellie: “Did you really corral me all the way here just so you could talk shit on the others”? “We did say this was a catch up”. Cody defended Ellie with a shrug before taking a swig of his beer, Taylor turned to face him again: “Yeah with each other”. Ellie raised an eyebrow: “So you don’t wanna hear about Steph getting a boob job last month”? Taylor gasped: “Last month”?! “How did I miss that”?! “Because you’ve been avoiding us that’s how”! Cody answered, giving Taylor’s shoulder a light shove: “I haven’t been avoiding you it’s just, Jack and I needed to take some time for ourselves you know”? Taylor answered before sipping at her cocktail: “Yeah and we totally get that it’s just”…. “We kinda got the feeling you were still mad about what happened at Charley’s 27th”. “I’d have told you if I was, anyway what made Steph decide to get a boob job”?! Taylor asked intrigued, leaning in with her elbows on the table: “I don’t know, she just said she wanted bigger boobs coz they looked nice and she wanted to be able to feel them bob up and down and jiggle”. Ellie wiggled her body around demonstrating, they all burst out laughing:, “Have you really not seen her around”? “Guess I’ve not been paying much attention, I will now though I assure you”. Taylor affirmed with a nod: “Oh can we tell her about our trip now”? Cody asked, giddily: “Ugh it was amazing Tay”! Ellie dug out her phone and began showing Taylor photos of her and Cody in France: “Oh wow”! “Yeah and that was when we went zip lining, that’s us at The Eiffel Tower”. “Aww you guys look so happy”. “Yeah it was the best”! “That’s us trying some french food”. “I begged Ellie to try some escargots but she was like, ewww no”! Cody mocked flapping his hands about dramatically: “Yeah no thanks, you could not pay me enough money to eat snails”. “I bet I could”! Taylor answered, looking at her amused: “Nope”. Ellie answered shaking her head: “Aaaah”! “Oh my gosh this is my jam”! Ellie screamed suddenly before shoving her phone back into her handbag: “Come on guys let’s dance”! She pulled Taylor and Cody up by their arms and dragged them toward the middle of the dance floor: “Don’t forget the drinks”! Cody raced back to their table, grabbed their drinks and rushed back to join Taylor and Ellie in the dance floor.

Meanwhile, throughout the late afternoon/evening, Monica and Jack had been doing some paperwork in Jack’s office and taking the odd break here and there. They had just finished all the filing by this point, and had set aside the papers. Jack sighed before stretching his arms: “Thanks Monica, you’ve been a big help”. “All part of the service”. Monica saluted: “Do I get to hear a song now”? “That was the deal, any requests”? “Hmm, how about something from The Lion King”? “Ok, how’s this”…? “From the day we arrive on the planet, And, blinking, step into the sun.There's more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done, there's far too much to take in here, more to find than can ever be found.But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round, It's the circle of life, and it moves us all through despair and hope, through faith and love.'Til we find our place, on the path unwinding, In the circle, the circle of life”. Jack sang in a rich, soulful voice. When he finished, Monica clapped enthusiastically: “Haha, thank you, was, was that ok”? “Jack that was amazing, honestly”. Jack smiled: “Thanks, can I hear you sing a little something now”? Monica giggled: “Aw no I’m a little intimidated now”. “Don’t be, if it helps I’ll close my eyes so I’m not looking at you”. Jack offered, closing his eyes making Monica giggle again: “Ok, erm”…. “Today, is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you, and by now, you should've somehow realised what you gotta do, I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now, And backbeat, the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out, I'm sure you've heard it all before, but you never really had a doubt, I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. And all the roads we have to walk are winding, and all the lights that lead us there are blinding, there are many things that I, would like to say to you, but I don't know how. Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me, and after all, you're my wonderwall”. Her voice was light but strong as she sung, afterwards, Jack opened his eyes: “fantastic”. Monica gave an shy smile: “Yeah”? “You’ve got real talent Monica, you’re gonna ace that audition, I’ll miss having you around you only just got here”. Monica laughed: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves”. “You’ve got to work on being more confident Monica, you’ve got a lot of potential”. Monica smiled:““Thanks Jack, that means a lot”. “No problem”. Jack stood up: “Right let’s get these papers sorted out and we can”- He stopped suddenly when he picked up his phone and saw the time, his face growing a little pale: “What”? “What is it”? Monica asked concerned: “I er I should get going”. He told her, beginning to gather his things and walk quickly toward the door: “Can you sort the papers into piles for me”? “Er sure has something happened”? “No no it’s just my wife’s expecting me, I told her I’d be home by half 9 she’s got something planned”. He informed, opening the door: “Ok, well don’t worry I’ll sort this out”. “Thanks, see you tomorrow”. He answered hurriedly before making his exit not even looking back: “Have a nice evening”. She called after him, not knowing whether or not he even heard her.

Jack opened the door of his and Taylor’s home at 9:28 looking a little flustered, he called out to her as he placed his briefcase on the floor and threw his keys on the coffee table: “Hey, under the wire again, you proud”? “Tay”? He wondered around the house but couldn’t find her. Unbeknownst to Jack, Taylor, Ellie and Cody had been at the club for a couple hours now, enjoying a few more drinks and dancing: “Seeee, aren’t you glad you came out in the end”? Ellie asked, beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol a bit, Taylor giggled, starting to feel it too: “Awwww yes Ells I am, I am baby”! She hiccuped: “Woooow”! Ellie yelled waving her arms around: “Knew you would”! At that moment Taylor felt her phone vibrate in her handbag: “Oh hang on who’s calling me”? She fished her phone out and saw Jack’s name flash across the screen, she answered happily: “Jacky”! “Baby I’m so glad you called”! “How are you baby”? “Erm where are you Tay”? A subtle feeling of guilt sobered her a fraction and she rubbed the back of her head: “Oh er, I’m just out will El El and CoCo”. “Oi”! “Don’t call me that”! Cody shouted in the background, she heard Jack sigh at the other end of the phone: “I thought we agreed”- “I know baby but they dragged me out unex- unex- un erm”… she groaned frustratedly at herself: “You know the word I mean”. “You can come too if you want Jack”! Ellie yelled, jumping up and down on Taylor’s shoulders causing her to wobble a little: “Erm no thanks Ellie that’s fine I’ll just see you at home Tay”. “Noooo please Jack in the box, We need you and your giant bean stalk”! Taylor turned to Ellie and Cody, moving the phone away from her ear: “Did I ever tell you that my Jack has a very very large bean stalk”? Ellie cackled hysterically while Cody wrinkled his nose in disgust: “Ok I know you’re drunk but that was way too much info”. Ellie snatched the phone from Taylor: “Please come, we might need a des-ig erm”- “Nated”. Taylor and Jack helped in unison: “That’s it”! Ellie exclaimed pointing: “So you lot only want me to come out so I can drive you back”? “No course not we want you but what’s the point paying for a cab when we’ve got a loving, caring friend slash husband”? Jack rolled his eyes: “I expect to see a Diabolo Grenadine at the bar when I get there”. Ellie squealed: “Yay”! “Thanks Jack see you in a bit”! She hung the phone up and handed it back to Taylor.

When Jack arrived they spotted him from where they were dancing, Taylor ran up to him and flung her arms around him: “You came”! “My hero”! She kissed him deeply. “Hey Jack, long time bud”. Cody remarked walking over and handing him his drink: “Thanks”. Jack replied, accepting it: “Come on guys let’s get back out there”! Ellie ordered, dragging Cody back out onto the dance floor, Taylor did the same with Jack. Out on the dance floor, Taylor wrapped her arms around Jack’s neck as he snaked an arm around her waist: “I’m so glad you came”! Taylor stated, tipping her head back then moving it back up to face him: “It was not the same without you Jack Jack”. He smiled half heartedly at her before taking a sip of his drink with his free hand.

A few hours later the gang filed into Jack and Taylor’s car and stopped outside Ellie and Cody’s house: “Th-thanks Jack”. Cody said as he unbuckled a half asleep Ellie and helped her out of the car: “Come on babe” “Mmm CoCo, hot CoCo”…. “Yes yes come on Els”. Cody answered: “Do you want a hand mate”? “No, no I’m fine mate it’s only across the road”. “Come on babe”. Cody answered, continuing to help Ellie: “Mmm”. Ellie croaked out sleepily as they make their way out of the car: “See ya Tay, thanks for a great evening”. “Yeah you too”. “See you round mate”. “Nice seeing you again Jack”. Cody closed the door and helped Ellie to their door. A tense silence filled the car as Jack resumed driving home: “Ar-are youu setup with me”? Taylor asked, attempting to break the silence but still feeling the alcohol a little: “I’m just confused, I thought we were concentrating on us for a while”. “Jack it was one night, I told you it was unex- erm”… She rolled her eyes at herself: “You know unexthingy”. She laughed a bit at that: “So what they just manhandled you there did they”? “Baisic-thingy yeah”! “Why are you getting so het up”? “It was one night, it’s your fault we even have that stupid ag-thingy in the first place”: “I told you things were getting better between us, that we didn’t have to keep doing it anymore I even said you could meet up with Ellie if that’s what you both wanted, you were the one who said you didn’t need anyone else, that you wanted it to be just us”. “Yeah and I still feel like that but you can’t get mad at me for axa-thingillily going out one time when it’s you that has the problem, why should I have to give up my friends it should only be you”! Taylor jabbed a finger into his arm: “I offered to give mine up too coz I was trying to be fair, silly me huh”? “You said you didn’t even like them that much anyway”! “Well I lied to you Jack ok”? “Assume I am always lying to you, look at you, I was having such a good night and you spoiled it you pathetic piece of shit”. “I didn’t have to answer your call you know, I could’ve just left you wondering where I was like you do when you come home late, huh, would you have liked that Jack”? “A taste of your own med- medi- Ahhh”! She shouted, bumping herself against the back of her chair: “You only answered because you wanted someone to drive you home”. “Ellie said that not me”! Taylor yelled again, pointing to herself: “I answered because I acta-thingy wanted you there with me, quala-thingy time we said remember”? Her voice broke a little as she said that: “More fool me”. She sat back in her seat, looking out of the window. Jack swallowed a lump in his throat: “I’m sorry Tay I-I just thought-“ “Thought what”? Taylor cut him off, leaning toward him again: “Go on, speak up, thought what”? Jack kept his mouth shut: “That’s what I thought”. Taylor settled back into her seat and resumed staring blankly out of the window.

The rest of the drive home passed by in silence until they stopped at their house, Jack shut off the engine before turning to Taylor: “Need a hand”? Taylor whirled around to face him: “Obvious-thingy Jack, I’m still tipsy aren’t I”? “What you only got half a brain cell in that fat head of yours”? Jack got out of his side of the car, opened the passenger door and helped Taylor out of the car, he locked the car up and they hobbled awkwardly to their front door. Once inside, Jack helped Taylor into their room, he took off her shoes and she flopped back onto the covers. Jack went into the bathroom and retrieved a bucket, bringing it out and placing it on the floor in front of Taylor: “Just in case”. “I’m sorry about before Tay”. “I’ll sleep outside if you want”. “Do what you want Jack I don’t care anymore”. Jack stood up, rounded the bed, took his own shoes off and tentatively laid down next to Taylor, slowly moving closer and putting his arm around her. The second she felt how close he was she kicked him hard in the leg, he hissed in pain: “Get away from me”. He shifted so he was as far away as he could be without falling off the bed and turned his back to her, a hush fell over the room which made Taylor suspicious: “You’d better not be crying either, if I hear so much as a sniffle from you I’ll hit you so hard you won’t be able to see straight for a month, then you really will have something to cry about got it”? Jack swallowed: “yeah”. He whispered, biting the pad of his thumb to stop his sobs coming through, when he was sure Taylor had drifted off he allowed the tears to fall slowly down his face being careful not to make a sound.

Jack woke up to the sound of Taylor throwing up the next morning, instinctively he sat up, held her hair back and rubbed her back in soothing circles: “That’s it Tay let it out”. Once she finished he got off the bed, took the bucket from her and whipped her mouth with one of the tissues in the box on the side table: “Thanks babe”. He gave her a small grateful smile: “How you feeling”? “Ugh like I’ve been run over by a truck”. Taylor replied sagging, Jack laughed: “Let me get rid of this then I’ll get you some pain killers”. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head then made his way to the bathroom to dispose of the tissue and vomit: “Thanks Jack”. He heard her call groggily from the bedroom. Having disposed of the sick and the tissue, Jack returned to Taylor with the tablets and water, he handed it to her: “Thanks”. She took the tablets, swallowing them down with water then putting the glass on the side table beside her: “Sorry about last night”. “Me too”. Jack sat beside her on the bed: “You sure you don’t wanna re think this whole no friends thing”? Taylor sighed: “Jack it was one night, I fully intended on coming home straight after work but Ellie and Cody forced my hand, literally”! “If you wanna be mad at someone be mad at them”! “I’m not mad I’m just saying this isn’t easy on either of us, maybe we’re ready to be a bit more lenient with each other now”. “Clearly we’re not if last night was anything to go by”. “Us being social isn’t the issue it’s”- Jack stopped suddenly as Taylor glared at him: “What”? “What’s the issue Jack”? “Coz it sure as hell isn’t me, we haven’t had any issues in ages before last night”. “Yeah because I was surprised not because you went out”. “You really miss your friends so much that you’re willing to jeopardise our marriage over them”? “Of course not I’m just saying it’s not their fault things get out of hand sometimes”. “K well I think it is, or doesn’t what I think matter”? “You know it does Tay, I’m just tired of trying to come up with excuses as to why we can’t hang out or why I’ve suddenly stopped messaging and I know you are too, maybe there’s some sort of compromise we can make, we shouldn’t have to cut everyone else off just to prove we’re each other’s priorities you know”? “Well they can’t miss you that much can they”? “I don’t see anyone dragging you out to have fun against your will, but you know what Jack fine, you want your friends back so much have em”. Taylor stood in frustration: “But don’t complain if things get bad between us again yeah”? Taylor walked out of the room before Jack could say anything further.

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