You walked over to them, leaving Taylor looking really sad.
“Hey Stace, where’ve you been lately?” Adrian asked.
“In the hospital,” you answer. “Really, well that was stupid trying to smoke five joints at one time,” Celia said.
“Yeah, you know me always doin’ stupid stuff.”
“Doin’ stupid stuff, like that Hanson kid,” Mark joked.
“SHUT UP! Don’t ever make fun of Taylor,” you yelled at him.
“OK, sorry.”
Taylor was still standing by himself, shocked that you went over. He was getting bored. He crossed his arms and faced the street, watching the cars go by. When he turned around, he was shocked to see what lay before him. You were sitting by Jennifer and had a joint in your mouth.
“Oh that’s sweet,” you said.
“Stacey…” he whispered. He ran over to you. “Stacey what are you doing?!”
“Chill Taylor, it’s just a little pot,” you say.
“Yeah, and soon it will be more and more and you’ll end up in the hospital like before. I love you more than the world, I thought you loved me but obviously you care more about drugs!” he yelled.
“Taylor, I do love you, it’s just this once.”
He walked off in the direction of your apartment.
“Where are you going?”
“Well obviously you don’t want to get help so I’m going to pack and then I’m scheduling a flight back to Tulsa.” He took off running.
You watched in horror as he ran down the street. You threw down the joint and ran after him.
When you found him, he was sitting in front of your apartment door, crying hard. “Taylor…” you whispered. He looked up. You knelt down by him. When his sobs quieted down, you said, “I’m so sorry,” your eyes full of tears.
“Don’t, just don’t say anything,” he whispered.
You stood up, and unlocked the door. You put out your hand for him. He got up, ignoring your extended hand. He threw himself onto the couch.
“Taylor, listen to me,” you start.
“I’m listening.”
You sit down by him but not too close. “I was so weak, I couldn’t control myself. I’m so sorry, I tried not to give in.” You start crying. You cry and cry and after a while Taylor pulls you into his arms and you cry together.
“Stacey, I just love you so much and I don’t know why you would risk your life again.”
“I’m sorry,” was all you could say.
Taylor kissed the top of your head. You looked up at him. His lips found yours. You kissed for a while.
“I love you,” you whisper.
“I love you too,” he says.
You get up and walk to your room. After a while, Taylor follows you and finds you crying on your bed. He sits down next to you and rubs your back. “Shh, Stacey, it’s OK, everything is going to be alright.”
“Taylor, I’m just so scared, it’s so scary that I could have given in so easily, what’s going to happen when you leave? And I was so mean to you earlier, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry Taylor,” you say, crying harder at the end.
“Stacey, I won’t leave you until you’re sure you don’t need me anymore. You’ll go to school, and get good grades and I’ll be waiting here for you when you get back,” he tells you. “Taylor, I don’t want you to leave the band, it’s not fair to either one of us. But I don’t think I can make it without you, I don’t know what I want.” “Hey, maybe you can live with us, it will get you away from these people and all the temptations and my mom can home school you so you get caught up, and we will be together, it will be great.”
You give him a weak smile, “Your mom won’t want me around after what I did,” you whisper.
His face falls, “Don’t talk like that.”
You roll over and feel the bed spring back into place from where he had been sitting.
A few minutes later, he comes back with a big smile on his face. “Stacey,” he says, sitting down by you again and kissing your hand.
“Hmmm?” you mumble.
“I just called my mom and she said you could live with us for a while.”
Your eyes fill with tears and you say, “You are too good to me, what did I do to deserve you?”
“Nothing, I’m the lucky one,” he says.
You sit up and wrap your arms around him. “I love you so much!”
“I love you too,” he says, kissing your mouth.
You kiss him back and lean backwards with him on top of you. A few minutes later, the phone rings. You push him off you.
“Come on,” he says, still kissing you, “Let the machine get it,” he says again.
“No, it might be my mom or dad, if I don’t answer they’ll worry,” you say.
He sighs, “OK fine.” He gets up and lets you answer the phone.
“Hello?” you ask.
He wraps his arms around you and kisses your neck while you try to carry on a conversation with you mom. “Yeah mom, I’m, I’m fine,” you say, gasping it out.
“Stacey, it sounds like you’re having trouble breathing, are you sure you don’t want me to come home?”
“Yeah I’m sure mom, I was just laughing at what Taylor was doing. He trying to make me laugh.”
“OK if you’re sure. I’ll see you later tonite.”
“OK luv ya bye.” Before you could put the phone back in it’s cradle, Taylor took it out of your hand and set it down. He laid himself on top of you and started kissing you again.
When the phone started making that annoying beeping noise, Taylor got up and put it back in it’s cradle. He sat down next to you and pulled you to him. He burried his face in your hair and kissed your neck.. You grabbed sections of his hair and bunched it up in your hands. You let go and started kissing the top of his head.
You broke apart and stared at each other, “Thank you,” you said.
“Don’t thank me, I am happy that I get to spend time with you for a while,” he replied, kissing your forehead. A few minues later, the front door slammed shut.
“Jenna! I’m home! Jenna, Taylor!” your mom called.
“I’m right here!” you call to her, walking into the living room, with Taylor at your heels.
“Oh good, how was your day?”
You and Taylor looked at each other, “Fine!” You answer quickly.
“That’s good, I had a long day, I’m exhausted,” your mom said, flopping onto the couch.