Taylor: Part II

With nothing to do, Taylor wandered aimlessly though the hallways, lost in his thoughts. Benson's words made sense, yet he couldn't shake the nagging feeling someone lied to him. Dad was set in his ways, but hadn't ever really lied to him. Monica and Rivera's concerns couldn't be dismissed either. They gave that man a wide berth for a reason. Jayson had hated him. But the pain in Benson's eyes had reflected a reality no one could feign.

He'd definitely lost someone, regardless of relation. Grief like that gripped its claws deep in the soul and always found a way to shine through the strongest facade. In that much, he'd been honest about. But what about everything else?

The question was how much he'd said was truth verses lies.

No one he knew roamed the facility—everyone was either on duty or enjoying a rare day off. Diego was wherever Dad went, attached to the hip for reasons he didn't understand, and Monica was... that was a good question. She seemed to work nonstop lately. As far as he knew, that woman didn't take breaks or time off, dedicated to finding answers.

Puffing out his cheeks, he held his breath for a moment before expelling it. Taylor wasn't on shift today, and he didn't have anywhere to be. He could try to decode that flash drive, but Benson's warning stopped him. Not because Taylor was worried about being caught; rather, he didn't want to know what he'd find.

Knowledge was power, and power was dangerous.

Entering the promenade, Taylor scanned the area. Some people mingled, but the space was quiet this time of the morning. Taking advantage of his personal space, Taylor walked past stands designated for supply and other essentials, but stopped short at the gym and peered through the glass.

A few people lifted weights or cycled on bikes, but what caught his attention was Ashley, leading a small yoga session with only two or three people, but guiding them with grace as she assumed different positions. Her form was perfect, and he couldn't help but watch in awe, just like he'd done all those years ago when they attended school together.

Unlike the last few times he'd seen her, his chest didn't tighten in anxiety, and his stomach didn't curdle at old pain she'd inadvertently caused. For the first time in eleven years, he only felt indifference and curiosity. Not good. Not bad. Just... calm.

Perhaps it was time to let go of the past.

Pulling the door to the entrance, he walked inside, inhaling the familiar scent of gym equipment and cleaning solution. The normalcy transported him to an old world that no longer existed, and for a moment, he imagined the apocalypse never happened. He almost believed he was here because he wanted to be instead of by necessity.

Finding an empty wall near the yoga session, he sat cross legged on the floor and watched the session, mesmerized by the seamless transitions from one pose to the next. At one point, Ashley's eyes met his, and she wobbled as recognition set in, but smiled as he lifted his hand to wave before resuming her workout.

After a few minutes, Ashley stood and ended the session before grabbing a towel and wiping her glistening skin and draping the towel around her neck. Her hair sat in its usual messy ponytail with loose strands plastered to her forehead and neck. But when she smiled, she lit up the room as if she were a Hollywood star.

She took a tentative step toward him and paused, resting a hand on her hip. "Hey. I didn't expect to see you here."

Taylor chewed his bottom lip, suddenly at a loss for words. She'd had that effect on him in college too, but this time, his shyness came from the passage of time instead of attraction. He hadn't had a real conversation with her in years. They'd both changed; now he didn't know what to say.

With a small shrug, he tilted his mouth in half a grin. "I thought it might be time for me to get over myself. You busy?"

Curiosity glittered behind her crystalline eyes—light blue instead of dark like his. Like an ice princess. Removing the towel and wringing it through her hands, she tilted her head to one side. "I don't have another session until this evening. What's up?"

"Just felt like catching up." Actually, he didn't know what he wanted. Maybe a positive conversation that didn't end with violence or shouting. Part of that was on him though; he'd been pushing a lot of people away lately.

When Ashley didn't immediately respond, he said, "I'm sorry for running the first time I saw you, and for taking my anger out on you. I was hoping we could hang out for old time's sake like we used to." Before the world went to hell or when they were two teenagers with common interests and no labels to distinguish them.

She swallowed once and nodded, extending her hand toward him. "Okay," she whispered. Clearing her throat, she said a little louder, "Have— would you like an official tour?" Smile twitching, she added, "You know, see the whole place from a friend's perspective instead of an official?"

Taylor chuckled at her nervousness and took her hand, tucking it into the crook of his good elbow. He wasn't sure how Diego would react, praying he wasn't the jealous type. Given his reaction to Monica, it was hard to say, and he didn't want that drama. He shoved the idea away though, instead focusing on what he realized he needed: a friend.

"I'm so sweaty," she said with a laugh as they moved toward the exit, where she tossed her towel in a hamper. "I should probably shower."

He shrugged and tugged her toward the promenade. "Shower later, and don't use the generic soap."

Ashley tossed her head back and laughed. "Oh, my god, I forgot about that. You were so obsessed with it back in college. You got mad if anyone touched your good stuff."

Still obsessed, but she didn't need to know that. In retrospect, at least Taylor could say he told everyone not to use the cheap stuff.

"At least I'm not a Soapie?"

She halted, regarding him with twitching lips as if she were trying to contain a giggle. "A what?"

He met her humored expression with a raised brow that said 'duh.' "You know, zombies, but way cooler since I coined the term, and oh yeah, soapie virus."

Unlinking their hands, she slipped her arm around his waist and hugged him, snickering into his shoulder. And she was right; she did stink like sweat.

"I've missed this," she said, urging him forward again. "It's like we never stopped being friends."

She didn't mention the part where they dated and gone through a horrible breakup. The unspoken statement hung between them though, and Taylor couldn't put that part of their past off forever. His heart raced at the idea of bringing it up, but the only way he'd receive closure would be to face it head on. Sucking in a deep breath and holding it, he waited until he had to release it and said, "Ash... I kind of wanted to talk about that."

"Oh." Her cheer melted, taking all the world's joy with it. Like she expected the worst.

Now it was his turn to slide an arm around her waist. He would have faced her, except he wasn't ready to see her crestfallen expression while knowing he'd broken her heart as much as she'd broken his. "It's not like that," he promised, squeezing her so she couldn't run. "Honest to God, I just want to talk and make things right. I just want to be clear it's as friends because I'm with someone."

His face burned at the admission. The very real possibility of her running in tears wrenched his heartstrings, but he needed to be upfront if there was any hope for reconciliation. He couldn't let her believe there was a chance for a romantic relationship again. "I'm sorry," he rasped, choking on emotions that refuses to stay buried. "I just had to—"

Offering him a watery smile, she shook her head. "It's okay. Honestly, I wasn't expecting you to ever speak to me again. Much as I care about you, I respect your boundaries. We're different people, and we've grown in different ways. If friendship is what you're willing to offer, I'll gladly accept it."

"What about—"

She cut him off again, refusing to meet his face as they moved through an unfamiliar corridor. "I've known for years we'd never happen again. I'd rather have you in my life as a friend than nothing at all. I was too immature and hopeful to realize it when we broke up."

This time, Taylor did stop to face her before bringing her into his chest for a tight embrace. "For what it's worth, you made a huge impact on my life. I didn't know how to handle the idea of being labeled as different or wrong."

"You were never wrong," she whispered in his ear, cupping the back of his head with one hand and squeezing the other around his waist. Sniffling, she continued, "I wish I could take it all back. You were perfect, but at the time, no one had a name for all the conditions we do today. The smallest thing upset you, and there were other things that made me think there could be accommodations to make things easier. I never meant to make you feel bad about yourself."

They swayed in place, locked in each other's arms and freely sharing their real feelings. In hindsight, he'd been unfair to her—blaming her for treating him like a project when he should have heard her side before snapping and cutting ties. In his childhood, autism meant being a freak. Only the most severe cases were diagnosed. The nuances psychologists looked for now didn't exist back then. "I know. It's my fault too. I just wish you'd said something before you went to my mom."

Ashley trembled in his arms, still unwilling to let him go as they stood in the center of the promenade for everyone to see. "I should have talked to you. Maybe we can both say we were young and inexperienced in how to communicate. I'm just happy you're here now."

That sounded nice. Taylor allowed himself to melt into her hug. He tried to ignore the fact she smelled weird or the urge to beg her to shower. That would be random and a smidge inappropriate since she'd offered, and he'd stupidly said no. And she might be offended.

"Can we start over as friends?" he asked in an attempt to redirect his stray thoughts.

She nodded before releasing him and taking his hand again, entwining her fingers through his. "Okay. I know just the thing. Come on."

He followed her through the hallways until they reached the greenhouse, an area connected to the facility, yet wrapping around the northeast wall with doors leading in and outside the building. According to Ashley, the outer door remained locked, but when activated in emergencies, could allow those inside to escape. The front was locked too, granting access to those with clearance to work the gardens. Anyone wanting to go inside needed a code, or, in Ashley's case, a naughty side with a set of breasts.

Taylor had almost choked on his tongue as heat burst across his cheeks. He'd seen her... feminine anatomy a very long time ago. And if those parts were as nice now as they were then... well... good luck to that poor sod.

"Um, I'm afraid to ask what you use those for," he stammered, averting his gaze. Where was the innocent girl he'd dated? When had they grown up? Why couldn't they go back to that, and why did she tell him this?

She giggled as she pressed a button on a panel, announcing her presence with a buzz. "I think you'll find I've changed as much as you have. And even when the world falls apart, these bad babies are as valuable as any currency." She pointed to her chest as she spoke, laughing again when Taylor stared at the ground in mortification. "Relax. This is how I get extra rations. You'd be amazed by how easy it is to get things just by flashing your goodies. No contact needed; everyone is happy."

"What are you buying?" he asked in a high-pitched voice.

She grinned like a cat caught in the cream. Leaning closer, she whispered conspiratorially, "No one is allowed to know, but they secretly grow cannabis here. Not a lot, and it's meant for terminal illness, but I can occasionally charm someone into giving me some."

"By flashing them?"

She shrugged and pressed the button again, leaving Taylor feeling as dumbfounded as a schoolboy with his first crush.

Taylor cleared his throat as someone moved inside, approaching the door. Plants in every size and shape grew inside, reminding him of Jurassic Park and the dinosaurs lurking within, waiting to eat unsuspecting humans.

"When did you become a stoner?" he blurted, unable to reconcile this, this... new person with the girl who never uttered a swear word in her life.

She giggled and shushed him as the door opened, and Oliver of all freaking people cast eyes on them. He was thinner than Taylor remembered, and his face bore lines of heavy loss. He'd suffered as much as everyone else, losing his fiancé and future mother-in-law in less than a day.

His eyes widened in appreciation, and his mouth curved into a half-heated smile. The pain remained in his features not quite touched by his smile, but his attraction to Ashley was apparent, nonetheless. "Oh, hey. I wasn't expecting you today." Then he looked at Taylor, and his demeanor changed, drawing a genuine gleam of happiness to his pale features. "Whitaker! Oh, my god, I haven't seen it since we arrived. How are you?"

Uh... okay, nice to know Oliver remembered him from just one meeting. Must have been a lawyer thing. Maybe they were secretly elephants who remembered everything to the last detail.

"I'm all right," Taylor murmured. He wasn't really; he'd rather have Jayson with him, but guys weren't like girls where they discussed feelings. They internalized and kept conversation relevant and minimal. Unless it was to talk about dumb stuff like gorillas and their insane strength. Or superheroes. Or soap.

Looking between the pair, Oliver asked, "How do you two know each other?"

"We went to UCLA together," Ashley said, not mentioning anything else.

Taylor would have hugged her for not mentioning their past, but kept his hands to himself in case these two were an object. He didn't know much about Oliver except he was acquainted with Jeannie, and that not nearly enough time had passed for him to move on, but who was Taylor to judge? The apocalypse didn't leave much time for grieving, and no one's life was guaranteed. And if having Ashley flash him was the best part of this man's day, he deserved whatever bit of happiness he could find.

Oliver nodded as if an entire history didn't go unsaid. Whatever he thought, he kept to himself. To Ashley, he said, "Give me a minute. I know just what you need."

He left them at the threshold before allowing the door to close with a swish. Once he was out of sight, Taylor smirked. "Oliver, huh?"

Folding her arms across her chest, she blushed. "How do you know him?"

"He was in my party when we arrived from Phoenix," Taylor said, rubbing the back of his neck. Afraid to know the answer or shatter any illusions Ashley might have about the man, Taylor turned his head and coughed. "Um, I'm not sure what you two know about each other..."

Taking his good hand into both of hers, she cut him off. "I know about his fiancé, if that's what you mean. We have sex; nothing more. He wants to forget, and I want weed. It's not like I have a lot of prospects here, and we have an arrangement to leave any emotions and our past at the door."

Oh. That was direct. And too much information. But great. Wonderful. And Ashley still reeked of sweat.

They stood in awkward silence until Oliver returned with a small canvas bag, similar to those one would find at a gift shop for a deck or cards or gaming dice. Handing them to Ashley, he drew her close and said something in her ear. Then she responded in kind, taking it a step further by grabbing his hand and placing it to her breast.

"Oh, ew, get a room!" Taylor squeaked, spinning around.

The pair laughed as Oliver mumbled a sheepish apology and Ashley promised to see him later. Stuffing the small bag into Taylor's cargo shorts pocket, she said, "No one really cares if we smoke, but I don't want to share. So keep it to yourself until we get to the track."

"We have a track?" What else did this facility have? A magic unicorn?

She nodded. "Yeah. It's better than using exercise machines, especially in case we ever lose power. The raiding teams train with it they can forage for supplies, but anyone is free to use it."

Apparently, he and Ashley were free to use it for marijuana. But this provided an excellent opportunity not just for them to unwind and catch up, but also for Taylor to question her about the facility, and most importantly, the people running it.

Sweeping his arm out with dramatic flair and adding a little bow, he said, "Lead the way."

Hiiii!

I didn't forget about ZS. I sort of took a detour with this chapter, but I CAN BE NICE TO TAYLOR! Sometimes. But also, I wanted him to resolve part of his past, and I do believe it's important to forgive. They were both young and made mistakes, but just once, I wanted Taylor to have something nice.

For those wondering, weed is legal in 39 states here, including Arizona and Nevada for recreational and medical use. It doesn't quite carry the same stigma as other countries. Still illegal on a federal level, so no government jobs will allow it, and I don't recommend national parks for its use, but everywhere else is fair game.

What did you think of their moment together?

What did you think of Oliver's comeback?

I'll be posting a third part for Taylor before I start tying loose ends and working toward that finale! Thanks so much for reading!