Chapter Eighteen

Taylor S's POV 3

November 30th

It had been over two weeks since she had seen Taylor and she was hoping to keep it that way considering the feelings he made overflow inside her every time she DID see him. She shouldn't feel things like that for another guy when she had a boyfriend. Jake. She should be feeling things for him, but no matter how much she tried to shake her feelings for Taylor, she couldnt and she definitely wasn't developing any new ones for Jake. Sweet Jake. He was so good to her. And she always smiled when she saw him but lately it had become more forced than involuntary. She sort of missed the beginning of their relationship but it wasn't his fault that things had changed. It was hers. She had to write that stupid song for Taylor bringing back feelings that she had buried...with a hatchet. That hatchet obviously hadn't done it's job. She was relaxing in Jake's six million dollar New York apartment on his ten thousand dollar smooth leather couch when she glanced down at her caller I.D. as her cellphone began to ring and saw that Miley was calling. She immediately answered. "Miles. What's up?"

"Selena and I are having a sleepover tonight. She's finally getting over her nonstop David fest and I'm going to be on set in a couple days. It's the only time we'll have together for three months so..."

Taylor looked around the empty apartment and felt the loneliness hit her. "I'm so there." She answered interrupting Miley. "Can I bring anything?"

"No. Just yourself. That's the good thing about living in a hotel. The room service is excellent."

Taylor collapsed backward onto Miley's bed alongside of Selena who was already staring at the ceiling. "So Miley, I thought you'd be spending your last nights with your new friend. Nick Jonas." Taylor drew the last letters out.

Selena coughed really loudly and said, "You mean boyfriend?" so only Taylor heard it and she smiled along with Selena.

"Um...no. Nick and I are taking some space."

Selena sat up quickly. "Why? And for how long?"

"Nick has decided he wants to...move forward in our relationship. It's been two weeks since I've seen him but we're going to see Demi tomorrow together and I'm sure we'll talk then."

Taylor looked over at Selena who was still sitting there stunned obviously not knowing what to say. "So..the moving forward thing..have you thought about it?"

Miley slowly nodded. "I've thought about it."

"And...well?" Taylor prodded further.

"I'm not sure." Miley replied.

Taylor glanced over at Selena again but then did a double take just as she was about to look away. Selena looked genuinely hurt. She even had tears in hers eyes as she stared at the floor. Oh no. She didn't still have feelings for Nick, did she? "Sel..." Selena stopped her by holding up a hand.

"You're going to see Demi...with Nick?"She stood up slowly from the bed and Taylor feared she was about to snap. She was definitely hurt but not by Miley dating Nick. This was all about Demi.

"Oh God! I forgot to tell you, Selena. I'm so-"

Selena held up a hand for Miley too and shook her head. "I have to go." She choked out the words before she walked toward the hotel room door with her determined stride not looking back at all.

"Selena-" Miley called and as she was about to rub after her Taylor stopped her clueless as to what was actually going on except knowing this was about Demi.

"I'll go." Taylor said with hand on Miley's forearm. "It's fine. She won't talk to you." Taylor walked out of the room heading towards the elevator which Selena had just entered and she stood beside Selena in the small space quietly as the doors slid shut. They rode the elevator in silence until Taylor spoke up. "Sel."

"I don't want to talk about it, Taylor. You wouldn't understand."

Taylor shrugged and slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "Alright. I think that's sort of rude, considering."

Selena turned to Taylor, her eyes slightly wide. "Cobsidering what, Taylor?" She snapped as the elevator stopped

Taylor turned to Selena too as the doors slid open. "Considering the fact that we tell each other everything and you're holding back on me. Considering we all go through pain and you just assuming I wouldn't understand just because I don't know your precious Demi like you guys do. Considering the fact that you always leave me out when it comes to her." Taylor gritted her teeth. "Forget it." She turned towards the exit to the elevator only to run into a hard chest and be stopped immediately. "Ow." She rubbed her chest.

"My bad." A familiar masculine voice said still hold her arms steady while Taylor felt a VERY familiar tingle shoot through her and knew exactly who the boulder was. Again, of all places, he had to show up here. He nodded to Selena. "Hey."

"Hey."

Taylor finally opened her eyes to stare right across into his chocolate brown orbs. Oh, how she loved them. "Taylor."

He smiled. "Taylor."

She smiled, too. Gosh, she missed how they always joked about that. Especially when he smiled and said her name. "I-uh..."

And whenever he let go she was always a puddle, a mess. Just like now. He stepped back. "You were leaving?"

"Actually, no. I was going back up." She glanced at Selena. "Are you?"

"No. I'm going home. Tell Miley I'll call her."

"Will you?"

Selena stopped then looked back at the two Taylors with something different in her eyes. Comprehension? Maybe she finally understood the pain behind Taylor's words. "Yes, I will."

Selena stepped out of the elevator and Taylor watched the doors close shutting her in and suddenly suffocating her with the need to escape his presence.

"Swift." Gosh. He was the only one who called her that. She slowly looked over at him.

"Yeah?"

"Um, I know that this may seem unusual but...bear with me."

Taylor was confused but she nodded which was all she could do. One syllable words and head gestures. She was so nervous around him.

"When you...when we broke up you did say that we would be friends, right?"

Taylor gave him another nod and waited for him to continue.

"So why didn't you call me or return any of my calls?"

This is where it got complicated for her. She could never lie to him. It was impossible for her. "I- I thought it would be best if we didn't see each other that much."

Taylor watched him slowly turn her way as analyzed that. "And who gave you the right to decide for both of us?"

"I decided for me."

"So what I want doesn't matter anymore...or are you saying that you don't want to be around me anymore?" Taylor glanced over at his expectant gaze and wished the elevator ride would go faster.

"Come on, Taylor. Are we really having this conversation?" She deliberately didn't look over at him again. "We broke up, remember?"

There was silence in the elevator car before he spoke again and he was close. So close she could feel his warm breath on her ear. "I still love you, Taylor." I know, she thought. "Do you still love me?"

She was leaning more into him now that her knees had gone weak and she was struggling to keep her head clear. "I, I, I have a boyfriend."

"Right. Jake." Saying his name didn't Taylor from his goal. "Where's Jake now?"

"Taylor," she pleaded almost as a prayer, "please don't."

"Do you still love me?"

She ignored his question and rounded on him. "You wonder why I don't talk to you anymore it's not that I don't want to, it's just that everything I want to say I can't tell you anymore, so there. I CAN'T talk to you."

"Stuff like?" He pushed on.

"Taylor!"

"Don't Taylor me, Taylor. I'm not going to quit. I need a reason. I love you and I know you love me. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why aren't we together? Why are you pretending we never were? Why are you with another guy? You don't even like him. Why don't you start telling me the truth?"

Taylor took in a deep breath but the elevator doors opened then and she felt a rush of relief. She didn't recognize any of the surroundings when her and Taylor stepped out. "Where am I?"

"My floor. You never pressed the one you wanted to go to."

Taylor let out another deeply frustrated breath before turning back to the elevator but she was too late. It was already closing. "No!" She slapped an open palm against the closed doors then pushed the button for the elevator to come back up. She never turned back towards Taylor.

"Hey." He grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Taylor." She tried to snatch her arm back feeling like her whole world was tilting. "You're hurting me."

He let her go but stood in the same spot, an inch from her body making her very aware of him so close to her. "I,... Would you please join me for dinner?"

The only dinner Taylor wanted was already an inch away from her lips. "I have to...Miley's waiting for me."

"Please, Tay. You can call her. Let her know you'll be late for just a little while." She might as well let her know she wouldn't be coming at all. Especially once he got his hands on her. So tempting.

And she shouldve said no but the only thing she heard from her lips was, "Okay."

He smiled. "Okay?"

"Okay." God, why was she so obsessed over someones smile? The voice inside her head blasted out, Because you love him! God, she did. So much. Unlove you by Ashley Tisdale, not so much a coincidence, started to play in her head as Taylor took hold of her hand and gently pulled him to her room.