Taylor's POV
Rachel Bevan just likes to have a laugh and a good time. I get the feeling that her normal day to day life bores her and so she likes to spice up her evenings, every single night. Rachel is unapologetically herself at all times, she doesn't ever see a problem with shotting three vodka sours and then smoking to her hearts content. I begin to wonder if I've yet seen her sober, and refuse to dwell on the fact that I never have.
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I notice as I head over to the bar that Jay is only encouraging her with the shots and decide to shoot him my best glare. He raises his hands in the air and offers me one next. Eyeing him seriously I take the shot.
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"Blender" I say to Rachel as she stares at me briefly.
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"We need a blender" I say directing my attention to her solely. Rachel and too much alcohol equates to bad decisions. And Jay Gilbert Scott I've decided is just one bad decision away from causing her a whole load of mess.
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Deciding that I'm not playing his games he takes a back seat and lounges over the bar. Rachel returns with a blender and facing away from him I prep the strawberries.
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"Where did you learn this" she slurs at me.
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"What how to cut strawberries" I laugh and she giggles.
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"I'm joking my mom, we used to make cocktails. We baked too you know" I say to her and she smiles at me genuinely.
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"Now what do we do" she laughs over at me and I look at the blender knowingly.
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"Hey do you want a slushy one" I smirk and she claps her hands.
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"That's a yes" she smiles as I place the strawberries in the blender and pulse them.
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When I instruct her she riffles through the cupboards to find me a sieve which I explain to her looks like a small bowl with holes in it.
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"Got it" she smirks holding it up.
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"Okay pour the strawberries into it over the sink" I instruct. She slops them through and I gather the ice and sugar syrup. Passing Jay briefly to get the rum. Phillipa joins us giving me a smile.
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We blend the rest of the ingredients together, I refuse to let Rachel touch the blender in her state.
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"Hey Phillipa do you have martini glasses" I ask her softly and she looks at me confused.
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"These ones" Jay says pulling four off of the side of the bar. Phillipa rolls her eyes at him and Rachel grabs at the glasses excited.
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"Thanks Jay" Rachel says to him and once she's steadied the glasses on the side I pour the mixture equally into them.
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"Ahh wait" I say before Rach devours hers.
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I slice into the remaining strawberries and stick them on the rim on the glasses. She chuckles telling me I'm posh and I argue telling her I just like to do things right. Munching into the strawberry she then takes a sip.
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"Mmm rum" she laughs and I chuckle.
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"Rum indeed" I laugh and she collapses into laughter again dancing around the kitchen with Phillipa. I sip my own glass and smile slightly remembering my mother and how she would appreciate a nicely made cocktail. Placing it on the countertop, I dissemble the blender and wash it out.
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A hand brushes my back briefly, just minimal discreet contact. I turn around, expecting Rachel but knowing better. Jay looks down at me, cocktail in hand and smiles.
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Registering the shock on my face he raises both hands in the air in mock protest. I glance up at Rachel who is very much showing off her moves to Ryan and Phillipa. Jay leans on the side next to me sipping the strawberry cocktail, watching me continue to clean up. The plan is to make another cocktail and I will not be put off by him.
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"More dancing tonight, yeah?" Rach asks over her shoulder briefly eyeing Jay suggestively. She is my kind of girl.
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"Definitely" I smile over at her.
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"Taylor you're a dancer right? Matthew has been so cagey with you" he mutters sipping the drink again.
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"I guess Matthew realises that I can talk for myself and doesn't feel the need to tell everybody about me" I snark and he laughs openly. It annoys me but I keep my composure, after all the blender is almost clean.
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"You'll have to show me how to dance" he suggests not at all phased by my snarky comment.
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"I mean it I'm shocking, I'm a politics major. I'm all talk" he smiles down at me.
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"All talk and no action right" I tell him smirking to myself. He laughs, I thought he would at least try to defend himself. But I'm quickly learning that's not his way.
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"You got that right" he smiles.
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"So what do you say deal? Help a guy out?" He laughs his body language opening up to me. I grab the brandy from the side and a cocktail shaker noticing how his eyes watch me the entire time.
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"What do I get back" I laugh measuring out Brandy, vermouth and syrup.
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"If it's a deal we're making I'm not about to do it out of the kindness of my heart" I tell him giving him a wry smile. He folds his arms over his chest, and I'm positive he always gets what he wants easily with girls, he bites his lip smiling.
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"Oh Taylor what could you possibly want? You've got at least two guys already" he says hitting a bit of a nerve, I don't react. Not at all.
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"No don't deflect, what are you offering" I ask him shaking up the cocktail. It's a killer on my arms but I will not back down in front of him. He eyes me smiling. Grasps another glass and sets it down in front of me. I pour the mixture into the glass and hand it to him.
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"Thank you for my metropolitan" he whispers taking the glass. I place a lime on the side before he takes a sip and he eyes me fascinated.
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After glancing up at the others he leans into me and whispers in my ear.
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"Whatever you want, you can tell me. I can and will give it to you" he says.
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Jay Gilbert Scott takes his suit jacket off and drapes it over the bar, smiling as he leans back again. I sigh and roll my eyes.
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"Why did you pick the metropolitan" he asks sipping it. I almost tell him that it is bitter just like him but I bite my tongue.
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"Because you're not a strawberry daiquiri kind of guy" I laugh and his eyes search mine briefly.
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"How do you know that" he smirks and I laugh again.
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"Oh I know, Jay" I smile.
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"That's not an answer. Just like when you didn't tell me what you want in return for teaching me how to dance" he smoulders back.
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"Because I've already got what I want in my life"
I say to him, smiling up through my lashes.
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Jay bites his lip as I hold his stare, enthralled by my grande statement. He continues to sip my cocktail, just thinking and watching me. I should walk away, One foot in front of another I tell myself.
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"I'm sorry to tell you babe, but you have not already got everything in that one." He whispers leaning into my ear. He chuckles sipping the drink again and if I liked him I would think he had a nice laugh.
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"I taught him everything he knows. So I'm going to ask you again" he levels with me. Setting the drink down on the side he leans in again, and I do my best not to flinch or react in anyway. He places one hand on my side, from afar it would just look like he's trying to make himself heard over the music.
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"Between you and me, I think you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. It's all I can do not to hit on you. So tell me between us, not Matty, what would you want from me?" He says and I gulp.
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"If you're not hitting on me what is your goal here?" I say to him. I pat myself on the back for not falling over myself around him and I take one whole step away, putting some distance between us.
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Leaning back on the counter again he grins from ear to ear.
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"Ah you got me, Babe I'm hitting on you." He laughs and I give him my best sly grin. As I stand in front of him about to make my great escape his eyes take in my legs in my heels and stockings.
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"I mean it Taylor, ask me and I'm yours" he sighs as I lean over and grab the jug with the remainder of the brandy cocktail, that I made for him. Instead of replying I eye him seriously and go to leave.
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"Oh and Taylor" he says sensing my next move.
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"Nice Fendi dress, would look amazing on my floor" he smiles. I shoot him a sarcastic grin and walk away.
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As I walk back into the kitchen, cocktail jug in my hand I feel like a waitress. Everybody has moved and I sigh wondering where Matthew has gotten to and all of the other guests. I gaze briefly at the open fire, hearing its crackle.
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"The parlour" he says behind me and I jump. Southern drawl is back.
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"They call it the parlour" he laughs nodding and guiding me away from the kitchen.
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"Rich people start off in the kitchen or the dining room and then retire to the parlour" he says looking down at me. He grasps the jug from my hands and I glance up at him confused as to why he's talking to me normally, and not playing games.
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"Luckily for you Taylor I’m here to show you where the parlour is” he smiles and I laugh.
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"You know Jay" I begin.
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"I would just head in the direction of the thumping music, and the loud voices" I smile up at him.
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"I'm not totally crazy" I laugh and he smirks.
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"Well you had me fooled staring into the fire like a mad woman" he sighs.
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"Guys" Ryan says behind us and I glance up at him. Rachel grabs Jays arm and I smile over at her.
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"This is the best birthday” Ryan says grinning at me.
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"Why” I laugh and Jay eyes me.
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"Because of the cocktails and the presents” he smiles and I laugh. Jay opens up a set of cream double doors.
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The guys, including Jay, step back to allow myself and Rachel into a large double height room with two chandeliers.The flatscreen is on, and it is the source of the loud dance music. The lights are dimmed and seated around four chocolate brown leather sofas are Ross and Matthew, a few girls I don’t know and of course Jen. She sits proudly next to Matthew with her arm draped around the back of the sofa. Casually leaning around him as she talks to Ross. They’re facing the opposite direction and I swallow my pride.
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“I say we keep the jug of metropolitan and head back to the bar” Jay whispers and I eye him curiously. Rachel tugs at him complaining that she wants to dance.
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The room is vast and to my left are a set of leather upholstered chairs beside a pool table; Malachi and Rhea are playing pool and I decide to third wheel with them for the time being. If Matthew wants to sit with his ex girlfriend, then I will peruse the book shelf I’ve spotted by the pool table and wait for him to realise he’s an idiot.
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I pull out a few classics as Rhea takes a shot at a red ball and pots it. Jay takes a seat on the largest leather chair, winking at me, before Rachel climbs in his lap.
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“Who’s winning” I ask Rhea and she smiles.
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“You can play whoever wins” Malachi stands next to me, resting his chin on this cue.
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I turn back to the books and glance quickly over at the sofas wondering what he could be so occupied by, to not even notice me. Facing the books so as not to look conspicuous, I sweep my eyes over the oak coffee table. A few packets of tobacco and a little tin, I catch Ross’ eye briefly as he smokes a long cigarette.
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“Taylor you’re on” Rhea smiles.
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“Who am I playing” I ask her and she winks.
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“Me of course” she laughs and Malachi sighs taking a seat next to Jay and rolling up.
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“You’re on bestie” I smile up at her pulling my dress down and smoothing it out as she sets up the table.
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