Taylor called out to the person behind the door that she'd be there in just another moment and as she paused at the door, she turned around to look at Summer once more. Her friend's eyes were heavy with anxiety and Taylor thought Summer might bolt for the bathroom and hide. She did not however and Taylor opened the door for Cordelia as the blonde was about to knock again.
"Cord" Before she could even finish the sentence the blonde threw her arms around Taylor and hugged her tightly. She sobbed into her shoulder and Taylor could only mutter an "Oh God" to herself. Taylor held Cordelia tightly and let her cry for a moment or two.
"Se" Cordelia began to speak but as she pulled away from Taylor to talk to her, her eyes widened in sudden surprise. "What's she doing here?" Cordelia had seen Summer and now those eyes, which had just been lit up in surprise, expressed confusion and rage.
"She just came over to talk." Cordelia stood away from Taylor and looked at both her and Summer.
"You knew?"
"I just found out." Cordelia began walking towards Summer and Taylor reached out to stop her.
"Cordelia please." Summer, seeing the blonde threat coming her way, stood up and gathered up her purse.
"It's probably best I leave—like right now."
"You bitch." Cordelia spat out and began to make a rush for Summer; Taylor however was able to catch her by the arm and she held on for dear life as Summer breezed out the apartment.
"Let her go."
"Taylor!" Cordelia's blue eyes looked extremely hurt and confused and as Taylor looked at her friend, she knew that she had to tell Cordelia the truth. She knew she was going to lose a friend but she had to be honest to Cordelia, she owed her that at least.
"It's not worth it—let it go."
"I loved him." Cordelia was crying now, tears filling her pretty eyes.
"I know." It broke Taylor's heart having to be here and as she watched her friend's heart shatter into a million pieces, Taylor felt a giant anger at Summer and Seth well inside her heart. "He doesn't deserve you."
"No." Cordelia shook her head and sat down on the couch; Taylor took a seat next to her and put her arm around her shoulder. "I knew something was going on with them but you didn't believe me; why didn't you?"
"I" If there was ever going to be a moment to open up and be honest about Taylor's roll in all this, it was this moment. Cordelia seemed to see the hesitation on Taylor's face and as it appeared to dawn on Cordelia that Taylor had known more then she had let on, resentment and anger formed in her blue eyes.
"You knew?" Taylor looked at her friend and then nodded; yes, she had known. "I can't believe it." Cordelia was standing up now and she looked like she was about to explode.
"I was so confused."
"Confused about what?" Cordelia laughed; "The answer should have been simple, you should have told me."
"I know and"
"You lied to me—all this time you've been lying to me about things."
"I wasn't sure how things were but I never lied to you."
"You knew this morning that Seth had slept with Summer and you told me that there was nothing going on" She laughed again and it was not a pleasant laugh. "You said he loved me."
"I thought maybe there was something there but I didn't know, not until this afternoon."
"And your phone wasn't working, or you weren't able to leave your apartment or write me an email?" Taylor remained silent. Whatever abuse she was going to get, she certainly deserved it. "I see—and what did you do between then and Summer coming over?"
"It doesn't ma"
"It does matter—it matters very much to me—what did you do Taylor? You had all the time in the world to tell me the truth but you didn't and I want to know what you were doing with yourself all afternoon."
"I made a mistake."
"You did. I thought we were friends but that's obviously not true."
"No Cordelia—we are friends, I want us very much to be."
"Well that's your problem." Suddenly the anger and rage drained from her face and it was replaced by a deep sadness. Taylor too felt that same sadness. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I don't know." Maybe it was because time and experience had created such a strong bond between Summer and Taylor; maybe it was because she was a coward; maybe she was just an awful person. "I hated it though."
"You don't have my pity." Cordelia looked weary and pained. Not only had her boyfriend cheated on her and dumped her, her good friend had known what was going on and had stood silently on the sidelines.
"Cordelia." Her voice had been so cruel and Taylor too felt she was about to cry. "Please."
"You guys deserve one another." She looked down at Taylor for one or two moments and then told her she hated her. Without another word Cordelia walked out of the apartment. In the deep silence of the evening, Taylor cried.