Searching for Home
by Chelle & Nikki

~ Chapter 18 ~

Brianna yawned as she and Taylor walked into her apartment. It was quiet and dark inside. Brianna flipped the switch and light filled the room. 'Home'. She thought to herself... or at least what she knew as home. Although she did feel a little bit out of place. It wasn't the apartment or being away from her hometown, it was Tulsa altogether. She just didn't feel like she belonged. "Well, I guess I should get home." Taylor said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Brianna crossed her arms and nodded. They were both exhausted. "Okay. Well, if you're gonna be alright, I'll just call a cab." Taylor said as he walked over to the small end table and picked up the phone. While he called for a cab, Brianna carried her bag into the bedroom. She slowly pulled out the box Gary had given her and sit it on the bed. Then she picked up the dress that Anita had given her that had been her mother's. She sat down on the bed and held the dress close to her. Feeling tears in her eyes she pulled off her shoes and laid down sideways on the bed. She reached over and took a picture of her mother out of the box. She slowly ran her fingers over her mother's face. A tear fell and ran down into her hair. She curled up, still clutching the dress, and within just a couple of minutes, she had silently cried herself to sleep.
Taylor had sat on the couch for a few minutes. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply. He didn't know what to say or do. He knew deep down there was nothing he could say or do. Brianna still hadn't come out of the bedroom. Thinking that maybe she was sitting in there crying, he slowly walked to the door. Peering in, he could only see her feet on the bed. He knocked... no answer. "Brianna?" He called quietly. "Brianna?" He knocked again and then slowly pushed the door open. He walked over and stood above her. He almost couldn't handle the sight. She was so beautiful to him. A slight smile appeared at the corners of his lips. Then he noticed that her face was a bit wet from her tears and his heart ached. She was still, her arm holding that dress close to her and her other arm stretched out with her hand on a picture of her mother. Taylor couldn't bear to wake her. He knew that everything that she had been through and the trip itself had just worn her out. He reached over and got a small blanket that lay on the chair in the corner. He gently laid it over Brianna and then brushed a stray piece of her dark hair off of her face. He walked out and turned to look at her once more before reaching inside and turning the light off. He pulled the door partly shut and went back to the living room. He took a pad and pencil that lay beside the phone and wrote Brianna a short note:
Brianna,
Call me when you wake up, okay? I'll be at home.
Talk to you soon.
Taylor.
Taylor left the note on the refrigerator and then placed the pad and pencil back on the table. He glanced out of the window and saw the cab pull into the parking lot. He walked outside into the brisk air, turning the lock and shutting the door.

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The bright early morning sunlight filled the room. Brianna opened her eyes and immediately put her hand in front of them. She turned over and started to stretch. She was surprised to find herself still holding her mother's dress and have blanket draped over her. As she sat up she stretched again and sighed. Oh gosh, Taylor! she thought. She quickly got up and walked into the living room. Seeing that he wasn't there she slowly walked into the kitchen and saw his note. Brianna smiled. She sat the note on the counter and got a coke out of the fridge. She walked back to her room and looked at the stuff on her bed. She sighed again as she walked into her bathroom. She splashed her face with cold water and then dried off with the hand towel. Turning out the light she walked back into her bedroom and opened her coke. She took a couple of sips and then put it on her dresser. She sighed as she picked up the dress off of her bed. Brianna carried it to her closet and pulled out a garment bag. She carefully put the dress inside, zipped up the bag and hung it at the back of her closet. She looked at the clock. "7:30, probably too early to call Taylor." She said to herself. Brianna sighed and took another sip of her coke. She started to unpack her clothes and put them into a laundry basket. She put her other things away and then put her bag into the closet on the floor. Brianna pulled a small box down from her closet. She sat it on the bed and opened it. She found a small silver frame and took it out. She put the box back on the closet shelf and walked back over to the bed. Brianna smiled as she picked up the picture of her mother. She put it in the frame and placed it on the night table. She turned it slightly to face the bed. She then closed the lid on the box that she had gotten from Gary and sat it on the floor under the night table. She folded the blanket Taylor had laid over her and put it back on the chair. Brianna stretched again and then glanced at the clock. 8:00. "I wonder if he's awake." Brianna thought out loud. She picked up her coke and the basket of laundry and walked down the hallway to the living room. She thought back to the trip she'd had with Taylor and decided to wait about calling so he could sleep. He's still exhausted I know, she thought. She decided to get her laundry done and then call him. She slipped on her shoes and picked up the laundry basket. She tossed in a small container of laundry detergent. Then she picked up the small jar of spare change that she kept by the front door. She walked outside, noticing that the air was chilly. She breathed in deeply and walked slowly to the laundry room. No one was there... thankfully. Brianna tossed the clothes into a washing machine, put in the money and detergent, closed the lid and started the cycle. She walked over and sat in one of the chairs. She was tired but so glad to be back home. She would take that day off and get back to work tomorrow. Hopefully things wouldn't be too busy and she could get back into the swing of the things slowly. She started to flip through some magazines.
Brianna stood up and walked to the washing machine hearing it finish it's final spin. She took the clothes out and tossed them into the dryer. After turning it on, Brianna walked over to the window. She watched the office and wondered if Lynn or Tom and Sheila were there. Honestly though, she wasn't ready to talk to them yet. She would though, soon.

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As Brianna carried her laundry back to her apartment, she glanced towards the office again. No one seemed to be around. She walked to her door and opened it. She sat the basket down, put the jar of change back on the table and glanced at the clock. "Well, he should be awake by now." She said out loud to herself as she closed the door. It was almost 9:00. She slipped off her shoes as she picked up the phone. She dialed Taylor's number, surprising herself that she had memorized it, and walked into the kitchen. After three rings she heard Taylor's voice. "Hello?" He said. "Hey." Brianna replied, unwrapping a energy bar. "Well, hi there." Taylor said. "How are you doing?" He asked. Brianna sighed, "I'm alright. She answered. Did you get any sleep?"
"Uh-huh. I actually just woke up about 15 minutes ago. I was afraid that I'd missed your call."
"No. I knew you'd be tired so I did my laundry before calling you."
"Mmm. So you're sure you're okay?"
"Yes Taylor, I'm alright. I'm going to take today off and then come back to work tomorrow."
"No Brianna, you don't have to."
"Yes, Taylor, I do."
"No you don't. Just take your time. You need some time to re-adjust after all that has happened."
"No I think it'd be best for everyone if things got back to normal as soon as possible. I'm okay so I'm gonna come back to work tomorrow."
"Brianna..."
"Taylor, I am coming to work tomorrow alright? Believe me, it'll be best."
Taylor sighed and then said "Alright, if you feel it's best." He knew that it was pointless to argue with her.
"I do feel it's best. Now, I'm gonna get into the shower and then I need to go to the grocery store."
"You take that shower. I'm taking today off anyway so I'll take you to the store okay?"
"Taylor, I can drive myself. There's no need for you to take me."
"I want to. I have nothing to do and I don't want to sit at home today. I'll be there in a little while, okay."
"Alright." Brianna said smiling. "See you in a little while."
"Fine." Taylor said, a smile on his face. He could tell Brianna was smiling too and he couldn't help but be happy knowing that he was going to see her again. "Bye."
"Bye" Brianna hung up the phone and shook her head. "Jeeze." she whispered to herself. Standing up she walked into the bathroom, undressed and stepped into the shower. She washed up and rinsed off, trying to hurry. She wanted to make herself somewhat presentable before going out. And a little bit for Taylor, although he'd seen her at her worst. She turned off the water and wrapped a towel around herself. She wiped her hand across the mirror and quickly brushed her teeth and hair. Then she finished drying off and walked out of the bathroom and into her closet. Pulling out a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt, she walked over to her bed and let the towel slide off onto the floor. She slipped on the under garments she'd laid out, and then pulled on the jeans and t-shirt. She sat on the side of the bed and pulled on her socks. Sighing heavily, she stood up and walked back into her bathroom. She reached into the drawer and pulled out a hair clip. Brushing some of her hair back, she heard a knock on the door. She felt surprised to see a wide smile come onto her face. She quickly placed the clip into her hair and walking to the door, she used her fingers to pull her bangs down. "Hi." She said when she opened the door. "Hey." Taylor said stepping inside. "Um, make yourself at home and I'll be right back." Brianna said as she closed the door. Taylor nodded. Brianna walked back to her bedroom. She hurriedly wiped some foundation powder on her face, glossed her lips and then added a bit of eye shadow. She grabbed her shoes and her purse and walked back to the living room. Taylor was sitting on the couch. "Did you get unpacked?" he asked Brianna as she sat down. "Uh huh." She replied nodding and pulling on her shoes. "Did you?" She asked. Taylor glared at her as he stood up, raising his eyebrows as if Brianna was crazy for thinking that was a possibility. Brianna laughed, making Taylor grin. They walked out and she locked the door. As they walked toward Taylor's car, he asked, "Did you see or talk to Lynn at all since you've been home?" Brianna answered, "No but I will soon. I put my mother's picture in a frame beside my bed. It'll be a little strange having it there." Taylor opened the car door and Brianna climbed in. He shut the door and walked over to the driver side and got in. "Well, at least you have something now." Brianna nodded. "It's getting cold."
"Yes it is." Taylor agreed. He started the car and backed out. "I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you have done. And for you being so understanding about all of this." Brianna said. "You are very welcome Bri." Taylor said as he pulled out onto the road. The smile that was on his face wasn't nearly as big as the tug at his heart. He always felt that when he knew that something, anything, he'd done or said had made Brianna happy or appreciative. He knew that in the next couple of days, he'd have to find the nerve to tell her how he felt about her... and about the dream he'd had while on their trip. What he didn't know is that Brianna was thinking the same thing about the way she was starting to feel about him.

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