A Slayer's Story

Okay, I admit it... yes, I watch "Buffy" and Yes, this was inspired by the show, but it's all it's own... this story is not completed but is currently over 88 pages long. It started one night when I couldn't sleep. I'll post more segments when I have time. Feedback can be sent to stories@iwuvjoey.com. Thank you.

"C'mon Taylor. Can't you just forget about Johnny Baker? After all, you've got Adam Simkins waiting in the wings." Carrie Bryant asked her best friend.

"Like you've forgotten Frankie Malone?" Taylor shot back. Johnny and Taylor had been an item for 18 months when he all of a sudden broke things off with her.

"Low blow, Clarke. Anyway, it's been over a month..."

"Don't you think I have tried to forget him? I finally boxed all of the stuff he ever gave me, his class ring, and his letter jacket last week..." Taylor was interrupted by her older brother, Kyle.

"T. You have to come home. Mom needs to talk to you." he said.

"What for? The only time she wants to talk to me is when I'm in trouble."

"I can't say. We really have to get home."

"I don't want to go home just now."

"T. Don't make me drag you out of here. Let's go." he said sternly.

"Alright. You win." Taylor handed her books to Kyle and got up from the booth.

"Call me later?" Carrie asked Taylor.

"Okay, as long as you promise not to mention Adam anymore." Taylor warned her.

"I swear. See ya, Kyle." Carrie told Taylor and said goodbye to Kyle.

"Later, Carrie." Kyle said.

 

Taylor followed her brother home. She noticed Johnny Baker's father's car in the driveway.

"C'mon, Taylor." Kyle said as he got out of his car. She rolled up her window and left her purse in the car.

"Mom? Kyle said you wanted to...Jason? What are you doing here?" Taylor asked as she entered the living room. "What's wrong?" she asked. Jason had a sad look on his face.

"Honey, come sit down." her mother said as she patted the cushion next to her.

"Something happened to Johnny, Jason? Tell me." Taylor stayed in the doorway.

"Come sit down and we'll talk." Jason stated calmly. Kyle stood beside his sister with his hand on her shoulder. She looked at Kyle.

"Do you know what's going on?" she asked him.

"You're being stubborn, T. Just go sit down and mom and Jason will explain what's going on." Kyle nudged his sister toward the couch. Now she was worried.

"Taylor," Jason began as soon as she sat down, "Taylor, I don't know how to tell you this but...Johnny died last night in the hospital."

"What? I don't think I heard you." Taylor looked at Jason in disbelief. Her mother put her hands on Taylor's hands.

"Johnny passed away last night, sweetie." her mother said as Taylor looked into her mother's eyes. Taylor began to cry. She looked from her mother to Jason to Kyle and back to Jason.

"Why? How? What happened?" Taylor asked. Kyle went over and sat down next to her.

"He was beaten to death at an ATM machine right outside of campus. My mom and dad are on their way home from a business trip." Jason was crying now too.

"Are you sure it was Johnny? Absolutely sure? I mean..."

"I'm sure. I just came from the morgue at the hospital." Jason walked over and knelt down beside her.

"No, Jason. I don't believe you." Taylor ran over to the phone and called Johnny's cellular phone line. It rang in her house. Jason took it out of his pocket to show her.

"The hospital said that the last words he said were that he loved you." Jason said. He began to get up to walk over to her.

"You're lying. It's not true. You're lying. This isn’t happening. You’re all lying. This is some sick joke!" she screamed and ran out of the house. She got into her car and took off.

"Mom, I have to go after her." Kyle said to his mother.

"It's okay, I'll stay with your mom." Jason said. Kyle took off.

"I’m calling your father.” Mrs. Clarke replied.

 

Kyle caught up with Taylor when she turned onto a dead end road.

"Taylor. Come on. Let me in. Open the door." he said. She was crying pretty hard. She unlocked the door for Kyle.

"Oh, Kyle! What am I going to do?" she said and held on to her brother. A car pulled up behind them.

"Is everyone okay?" Kyle heard a familiar voice ask.

"Yeah, Tim. We're fine." Kyle said and looked at his sister, "Everything's gonna be okay." he assured her.

"It’ll never be okay again. Take me home, please?" she asked him.

"Alright. I'll be right back." Kyle said and went to talk to Tim.

"Tim, could you do me a favor?" he asked Tim.

"Sure. What do you need?"

"Drive my car back to my house. I'll explain everything when we get there." Kyle said.

"Fine. I'll get my girlfriend to follow us in my car." Tim ran back to his car and told his girlfriend what was going on.

Once everyone was situated, they began their drive back to the Clarke house. When they got there, Taylor noticed her father's car.

"Daddy's home." Taylor barely whispered.

"Can you walk or shall I carry you?" Kyle asked.

"I can walk. Tell Tim I said thank you." Taylor said and went into the house.

 

"Daddy?" Taylor asked as she closed the door behind her.

"I'm right here pumpkin." Dr. Clarke opened his arms and Taylor ran right into them.

"He's gone daddy, gone." she cried.

"I know, little one. I know." her father comforted her.

"C'mon into the living room, Taylor. Your mom went to get you some water." Jason said.

"I'm so sorry, Jason." she hugged him.

"Thank you. You okay?" he asked as they walked into the living room and sat down.

"No, I can't believe he's gone. What did the police say happened?" All of a sudden, Taylor wanted to know everything Jason knew.

"The police are still piecing everything together. But what they know so far is that Johnny put up a huge struggle. They were going to review camera tapes from last night." The telephone rang, Taylor's father answered it.

"He was alone, then?" she asked.

"Yes, a passerby found him and called 911." Mr. Clarke turned on the tv.

"...Baker was beaten to death early last night right outside the Moreland College campus. Police are pursuing leads and have said that robbery was the motive." a reporter said.

"It's already on the news!" Taylor gasped. The phone started ringing.

"I have to go to the airport and pick up my parents. Why don't you come with me?" Jason asked.

"Mom?" Taylor asked her mother.

"Go on. Daddy and I will handle the phone and the door. We'll explain everything to your friends." her mother said to her.

"What's going on?" Kyle said when he came into the house. "A news truck just pulled up out front." he pointed out.

"Taylor is going with Jason to the airport to pick up his parents. Can you help your father and I manage the phone and the door?" Mrs. Clarke asked her son.

"Sure, ma. I can help." Kyle said.

"Oh, gosh! Daddy! Please call Peter for me. He'd want to know." Taylor said as she hugged her brother.

"I will. You two drive safely and Jason, you and your parents are welcome to stay here tonight." Mr. Clarke announced.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. C. We'll be back soon." Jason said. He and Taylor left for the airport.

Carrie was the first of Taylor's friends to arrive at her house.

"Kyle? Where's Taylor? I just heard about Johnny." she asked when Kyle opened the door to her.

"She with went Jason to pick up his parents. Come on in. My dad's about to call Peter at school. We could really use your help." Kyle let her in.

"How'd Taylor take the news?" Carrie said as Kyle helped her off with her sweater.

"Pretty bad. Now she's just in shock." Kyle said and led her into the living room.

"I can't believe it. We were just talking about Johnny today when you came and got her." Carrie explained.

"Well, you are her best friend and she will be needing your help to get her through this." Mrs. Clarke came into the living room with some sandwiches and sodas.

"Hi, Mrs. C. Kyle was just filling me in on Taylor."

"I'm glad you came, Carrie. I've got some sandwiches and sodas here. Could you help me out in the kitchen. I'm expecting that more of Taylor's and Johnny's friends are going to show up here and I refuse to have anyone pass out because they haven't eaten. Taylor and the Bakers should be back soon." Mrs. C suggested.

Denise Palmato showed up next with the rest of the varsity cheerleaders right behind her.

"Mrs. C...we just heard."

"Come on in. We can all cry together then." Mrs. C said. Kyle and her father had gone to get more chairs from the garage.

 

"Jason? How did you find out?" Taylor asked once they were on the freeway.

"Johnny's roommate, Troy, called and said that there was an incident involving Johnny and that he was in the hospital. By the time I had gotten to the hospital, I was too late. He died within 5 minutes of arrival at the hospital. They were rushing him into OR. He had too much internal bleeding."

"You said that his last words were that he loved me?"

"It's true. A nurse came up to me and handed me his things and told me that Johnny told her that she was to tell Taylor that he was sorry and that he loved her." Jason told her everything the nurse said to him. "Let's save the rest for my parents. I don't think I can handle telling everything twice."

"Okay." Taylor agreed and looked out the passenger window.

 

30 minutes later Jason couldn't take the silence any longer.

"He was very much in love with you, you know." he told her.

"Then why did he break up with me? Did he tell you how he did it? He sent me a dear Jane letter. Why'd he do it?" Taylor tried not to start crying again.

"He told me everything, but you knew that."

"Then tell me why he broke up with me." she stated.

"He felt that you should be able to have fun your senior year with someone who could enjoy stuff like the football games and dances and your prom."

"None of that mattered to me because my senior year was with him last year. He knew that. He also knew that it only takes an hour by car to get to him. He could have come home at anytime. I would have gone and picked him up. Kyle would have, too. None of this makes any sense." Taylor shook her head as she remembered the conversation she and Johnny had a few weeks before he had to go away to college.

Jason had gotten off the freeway and was about to turn into the airport.

"Hey, Taylor. We're here." Jason nudged her softly.

"Huh?...Oh...sorry."

"Where were you just now?"

"Remembering last summer and how Johnny and I vowed that college wouldn't break us up. Boy! That seems like just yesterday." Taylor unzipped her sweater. "Wow, we're here."

"Yeah, just gotta find a parking spot." Jason explained.

"Let me park the car and you go greet your parents. You need a few minutes alone with them." Taylor suggested.

"Good idea. We'll meet you at the baggage claim for USAIR." Jason pulled the car over "Thanks, T." Jason said and ran into the terminal.

 

"Mom! Dad!" Jason shouted to his parents through a crowd of reporters. Reporters were waiving mics in his face. He swatted them away to get to his parents.

"Jason. Son, we're so sorry you had to go alone." Mr. Baker said as he embraced his son.

"It's alright, dad. I did what had to be done. The Clarkes have been great." he embraced his mom.

"How's Taylor?" Mrs. Baker asked.

"Very moody, upset. In shock. C'mon, let's go get the luggage. Taylor is meeting us in baggage claim. Her parents have said that we are welcome to stay there tonight." Jason told them.

"Mr. Baker? Will you be bringing charges against the college?" a reporter shouted from the crowd.

"Do you mind? My family just found out that my younger brother is dead. When we are ready to speak to the press, we will do so. Until then, just leave us alone." Jason said as he shoved another mic out of his face.

"I'm assuming that this mess is at our house, too?" Mr. Baker asked his son.

"I know that the answering machine is full of calls from the media. And I'm pretty sure that the press has begun surrounding the Clarkes house." Jason and his parents made their way to baggage claim. Taylor was sitting with her head down, wiping tears from her face. Mrs. Baker went right to her.

"Taylor?"

"Oh, Mrs. B. I'm so sorry." she hugged Mrs. Baker.

"It's alright, sweetie. He's with God now." Mrs. Baker tried to comfort her.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked.

"We're going to get justice for Johnny." Mr. Baker said. He and Taylor hugged.

"Well, dad. Mom, let's get back. We've got alot to do." Jason said.

Taylor and the Bakers drove back to Taylor's house. Many of Taylor's and Johnny's friends had gathered to lend their support. Carrie had greeted her at the door.

"Aw, Taylor. This is just awful. Johnny's roommate is here. He wants to see you." Carrie explained.

"Carrie, I'm really grateful that everyone has come here, but I can't deal with everyone right now. I can't. I just want to be alone." Taylor started crying again. Tony came over to Taylor.

"You must be Taylor. I'm Tony." Tony extended his hand, "I'm really sorry about Johnny."

"Um, Tony. I'm sorry, but I'm not thinking straight right now. Can we talk later?" Taylor asked.

"That's fine. I just wanted to give this to you. I think you should read it's contents as soon as you feel up to it." Tony handed Taylor a thick business envelope.

"What's this?" Taylor asked.

"You'll see. I'm going to head back to school. My phone number is on the back of the envelope if you want to talk later. Otherwise, I'll call you tomorrow. Okay?" he asked.

"Sure." Taylor replied. Tony went over and talked with the Bakers for a few minutes before leaving. Kyle went over to his sister.

"How ya doin, kiddo?" he asked.

"Cover for me?" she asked.

"Where you going?" he asked.

"The tree house."

"Okay. For a little while." Kyle said. Taylor hugged her brother.

"Thanks." she said. She grabbed a few sodas from the fridge and left by way of the back door. Carrie had begun to get their friends to leave for the evening. 

My dear Taylor,

My only love, I wish I could get you back in my life. I need you so much. I know you need a better explanation than what I gave you and I'm ready to explain. See, college hasn't been all that great. I couldn't concentrate on anything so I began taking drugs to forget you. It didn't work. Tony made me realize the drugs were wrong, I needed to get you back. I am so sorry I put you through all that pain. I was so wrong, baby, so very, very wrong. I broke things off because I wanted you to have a fun senior year and I wanted to see other people, no matter how much I loved you and how much I knew you loved me. I never did see other people. I always talked about you with everyone I met. So many times this week, I've picked up the phone to call you only to hang up before the first ring. I called Jaybo to come get me but he wasn't home. I called Peter for his advice and I've made plans to come home and beg you to take me back. If you'll still have me. If I can get you back, I know I can get my life back to normal. You're the only girl for me. I know we're young, but we're so right for each other. I love you! I hope you can forgive me and we can begin again. I love you. I miss you. I need you. Please, please give me another chance.           Johnny

Taylor cried as she read the letters Johnny wrote her and never sent. All the poems he wrote, his journal, and the other papers that were in the envelope. She saw a sealed envelope addressed to Peter in there as well. She set that aside to give to Peter. Johnny's class ring was in there. She put it back on the rope chain around her neck.

Kyle came out to the tree house an hour later. She was still crying.

"You can come in now. Nearly everyone has gone home." he told his sister.

"Thanks. Even Carrie?"

"No, Carrie and the Bakers are staying over tonight. Is that okay with you? Mom suggested that she stay." Kyle explained.

"It's fine. Let's go in. I'm hungry." Taylor handed Kyle the envelope.

"What's this?"

"Some stuff Johnny wrote for me." Taylor said. She climbed out of the tree house.

 

Carrie was helping Mrs. Clarke in the den. Kyle was going to sleep in there. The Bakers and her father were in the family room with their pastor.

"Peter wants you to call him, T." Kyle said as she sat down at the island in the kitchen. Kyle poured them both a glass of milk.

"Is he at home now?"

"Try his car phone. He was coming straight here from school. He might be on the interstate by now." Kyle suggested as he took some sandwiches out of the refrigerator.

"Where's the portable." Taylor said as she looked for the phone. It was in Kyle's back pocket.

"Oops, sorry." Kyle said and handed her the phone. Taylor dialed Peter's car phone. A message came on stating that the customer was out of the area. "He's not in the area yet." Taylor explained to her brother, "I'm going to go help mom and Carrie." Taylor said and took the sandwich he offered her with her.

 

"Taylor! Peter's here." Mrs. Clarke knocked on her daughter's bedroom door an hour later. Taylor ran down from her room.

"Peter!" Taylor cried when she saw him. She fled into his arms. Peter was Johnny's best friend.

"C'mon, T. Let's go somewhere where we can be alone?" Peter suggested. Taylor led him to the family room. She closed the door behind her.

"Oh, Pete. He's gone." Taylor cried. They stood there, holding onto one another, and cried.

"Jason said he was beaten to death?" Peter said once they both calmed down.

"Yeah. His roommate Tony dropped off some stuff for me and this letter is for you." Taylor handed him a small envelope that was addressed to him. He read the letter.

"Oh, T. I'm sorry. I didn't know he broke things off with you. You gotta believe me."

"Did he pull away from you, too?" she asked

"Yeah. We were suppose to go to the Def Leppard concert a few weeks ago and he cancelled last minute. He hadn't returned any of my calls since then." Peter explained.

"That's when things went sour for us too." Taylor whispered, "Oh, god. I can't believe this." she put her head in her hands, "He was getting money to come home this weekend to see me so we could talk."

"What do the police know?" Peter asked.

"I don't know. I haven't really talked about this. I've been ignoring everything since I read the letters Johnny wrote to me."

"What does Jason know?" Peter asked.

"I'm not sure on all that. He went up to the hospital but got there too late. I think Johnny's roommate had called Jason. The nurse told Jason that Johnny's last words were to tell me he loved me and that he was sorry."

"Okay, okay. I won't make you talk about this anymore. There's just so many questions I have that need answers." Peter said. Jason interrupted just then.

"We all have the same questions." Jason commented. "Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for the answers."

"Jason. I thought you'd gone to bed." Taylor said.

"Couldn't sleep. I'm glad you came Peter. We all are."

"I had to be here. Well, I should go home and check in with my family. They're gonna wanna know what's going on." Peter gave Taylor a hug, "I'll be over as soon as I can in the morning." he told her.

"Okay, give my best to your parents." Taylor said. "Jason, I'm going to go to bed. I'm really tired. You okay?" Taylor asked.

"I'll be fine. You go ahead. I'm just gonna relax and try to sleep." Jason assured her.

I love you with all my heart and soul, Taylor. You are the only girl for me. I promise we'll be together forever."

"Did I hear you right?" Taylor asked Johnny.

"I love you, I love you, I love you." Johnny kissed her.

Taylor dreamt, remembering the first time Johnny told her he loved her. She woke after that dream, crying. She new she couldn't go back to sleep so she grabbed her robe and afghan and made her way to the patio. She laid on a lounger chair and stared up at the stars until she finally drifted off to sleep, praying to God that Johnny was now safe and in God's care.

 

"T...T..." Kyle softly, gently tried to wake his sister. "C'mon T...you okay?"

"Johnny?" Taylor asked as she awoke.

"C'mon, I'll carry you up to your room." Kyle scooped up his sister and carried her to her room.

"Where was she?" Carrie asked Kyle.

"Out on the patio. I'm going for a jog. Do you want to come with?" Kyle asked.

"Give me fifteen minutes, then I'll be down." Carrie said.

"Mom? Where's Jason and his parents?" Taylor asked when she came down several hours later.

"They went home before going up to the college. Tony called for you."

"Okay, mom. Thanks." Taylor turned to leave.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" her mother asked.

"I'm not hungry. Maybe later." Taylor replied. She grabbed her keys and left the house. Her mom went running after her.

"Taylor? Where are you going?" she asked.

"I'm late for work. I gotta go, mom." Taylor said. She acted as if nothing happened yesterday.

 

"Carrie? Is Kyle still there?" Mrs. Clarke asked when Carrie answered the phone at her house.

"What's wrong, Mrs. C?"

"It's Taylor. She went to work. She's acting as if yesterday never happened." Mrs. Clarke cried.

"It's okay, Mrs. C. Kyle and I will go talk to her." Carrie said and hung up the phone. She grabbed her suitcase and went downstairs. "Kyle, we gotta go to the mall. Taylor's gone off the deep end. She's pretending that yesterday didn't happen."

"Shit!" Kyle said and took Carrie's suitcase.

"Ma! Ma!" Carrie went looking for her mom.

"Yes dear."

"I'll be over Taylor's. I'll call later tonight, okay?" Carrie gave her mom a hug.

"Okay, take care of yourself. We love you."

"Thanks ma." Carrie followed Kyle out to the car.

"Did my mom say anything else?" Kyle asked her.

"No." Carrie said. Kyle put the suitcase in the car.

"C'mon, it's gonna take both of us to get thru to her." Kyle said. He opened her door for her.

 

"Hi, Dawn. Where's Taylor?" Carrie asked once she and Kyle entered the Fashion Boutique a half hour later.

"I sent her home. She's a wreck. Her friend, Peter was here and drove her home." Dawn, the manager, replied.

"Thanks. Can I use the phone?" Carrie asked. Dawn nodded yes and walked off to help a customer.

"What are you doing?" Kyle asked.

"Calling your house. Peter and Taylor should be there by now." Carrie handed him the phone.

"Hello?" Kyle's mom answered the phone.

"Mom? I'm at the mall. T's boss said Peter drove her home." he explained.

"They just got here. She's not in a good mood." Mrs. Clarke said.

"Carrie and I will be home in fifteen minutes. We'll take her out." Kyle suggested.

"Okay." Mrs. Clarke hung up the phone.

"Taylor, you've got to let everything go. You can't pretend Johnny didn't exist in your life." Peter said as they came into the house. Taylor walked through the house to the back yard. “Are you going to talk to me or don't I exist either." Peter said to her.

"Shut up, Peter. I don't want to deal with it. I just want to forget all of it." she said and kept walking. Peter blocked her from going out the gate.

"Don't do this Taylor. Don't shut me out. Don't shut anyone out. We all loved him, too." he continued, "Going around pretending nothing's wrong isn't right. I'm your friend and I'm worried about you." Peter grabbed hold of her and turned her around to face him. "Please" he begged.

"I can't, Pete. I have to do this to stay sane." she said, "I'm sorry." she said and kneed him so that she could get past him and out the gate.

"Peter! Are you alright?" Mrs. Clarke asked as she ran out of the house.

"I'm fine. I've got to go after her." Peter said as he got up, "Call my house and tell my brother what happened. Tell him to meet me at the pond. I'm pretty sure that's where she's going." Peter explained.

"Kyle and Carrie will be here any minute." Mrs. Clarke said.

"Carrie knows where it is. Send them too." Peter said. He ran around front and got into Taylor's car and left to find her.

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