Chapter 3:
Taylor and Ray talked into the early hours of the morning. Finally 2 hours and 3 cups of coffee later they parted ways with each others phone numbers in hand.
Raya went home to get some much needed sleep, but it didn't last long enough.
She was rudely awaken around 11 by her curtains being flung open and the mean sun glaring in on her.
“Lindsay,” Rayna groaned knowing exactly who was in her room.
“So someone had a late night,” Lindsay said flopping down on Raya's bed.
“Yes I did so why on earth are you waking me up?” Raya asked without even opening her eyes.
“Because I have to go to that shoot I was telling you about and I want the scoop. I got home last night around 4:30 and your car still wasn't in your driveway.”
Lindsay and Raya ended up buying houses next door to each other once they saved up enough money. They considered just buying a house together, but figured it was a good investment to get their own.
“What's your point?” Raya asked.
“Who is he? How was he?” Lindsay asked nudging Raya.
“Who says there was a guy?”
“Oh please, I know you. Who is he?”
Raya groaned knowing Lindsay wasn't going to leave her alone until she got some answers. So she reluctantly opened her eyes and sat up.
“It's not what you think,” Raya said rubbing her eyes, “I didn't hook up with anyone.”
“Then what on earth were you doing?”
“I ran into an old friend of mine from Tulsa.”
Lindsay made a face, “Ew, country folk.”
Raya laughed, “Shut up! If Tulsa is country folk then that means I am too.”
“Yes, but you've become a city girl, so it's okay.”
“Whatever, he's not country. Trust me.”
“What's his name?”
“Taylor Hanson.”
“Wait where do I know that name from?” Lindsay asked.
“From the band Hanson.”
“Oh yeah! The hot one! How do you know him? You never told me you know famous people!”
Raya shrugged, “I can hardly say that I know him anymore. We grew up together on the same street, but we haven't talked since we were 16.”
“So what did you guys do?”
“We just got coffee and talked.”
“That's boring...”
Raya laughed, “It's not all about hooking up with guys Linds.”
“Since when?” she asked in disbelief.
“That would just be weird. We've known each other since we were like babies.”
“Well are you guys gonna get together again? If so I want to come.”
“I don't know,” Raya shrugged, “It's weird. I was a completely different person back then. The Raya he knew is not who I am anymore and so it's like awkward for me because I think he expects me to be something I'm not.”
“Yeah, but you haven't given him the chance either. Afterall, could the old and new yous really be that different?”
“Oh you have no idea.”
“Well I think you should at least get to know him again, but that's just my opinion. I gotta go though, so you can go back to sleep,” Lindsay said standing up.
“Thank god!” Raya laid back down.
“See ya.”
“Curtains!” Raya called out from under her blankets. Lindsay laughed and closed the curtains before leaving.
Raya thought about what Lindsay had said, 'Could the old and new yous really be that different?' She really had no idea. Raya closed her eyes and remembered an encounter she and Taylor had when they were about 14.
Taylor had been out on their first tour for a few months and they came home for a little break. He had turned into this huge star and everything seemed to be changing. It was hard for a 14 year old not to get a semi-inflated ego with a whole bunch of girls throwing themselves at his feet. Raya was of course not one of those girls. She was the one who would bring him back down to reality.
They had went out for a walk one Saturday afternoon like they often had before he became famous. He had to wear a baseball cap and sunglasses to kind of disguise himself, but a few girls still recognized him yelling things out their car windows as they slowly rode by like 'I love you Taylor'.
“I love you Taylor!” Raya mimicked after about the 3rd girl yelled that out to him.
“Don't be jealous,” he said slinging an arm around her shoulders.
“Ew, jealous of what?” she said ducking out of his arm.
“The fact that all these girls want me,” he said confidently.
“Oh please. Why on earth would I be jealous of that?” Raya laughed.
“Because now you have competition.”
“Like I ever wanted you to begin with.”
“How could you not?”
Raya rolled her eyes. “You've changed.”
“Aw come on Ray you know you want to see what it's like to kiss me.”
“Absolutely not. That's stupid. Why would I kiss someone I wasn't even dating?”
“Because it's fun.”
“Ew, that's gross. I don't want random guy's tongues in my mouth.”
“It's not a random guy, it's me.”
“No way. I'm not kissing anyone I'm not dating and I'm not allowed to date until I'm 16. So I guess if you want to kiss me you're gonna have to ask me out in 2 years.”
“Do you always follow the rules?”
“Yes and you used to too until you got a big ego.”