I Looked Across and Fell In Love

chapter 5

    [Taylor's POV]

    I wake up in Ed's house. I sit straight up and my head pounds, the memories from last night pouring into my head. I hold my head and massage my temples.  Ed walks in and hands me a glass of water and what looks to be Tylenol or ibuprofen. I take it without thinking and whisper a "thank you" to Ed.

     "Is there anything else you would like? Coffee?" He asks me sweetly,  I can't help but smile.

       "I think I will just go home and shower." I reply, standing up.

        "Oh. Okay. You know, I have a shower too if you would rather. Driving may not be so great right now, with you feeling the way you do." Ed says with a chuckle.  I can tell he is embarrassed about what he was saying, but he is trying to help me and that makes me happy.

         "Yeah. That would be nice thank you," I start walking towards the bathroom and then stop in my tracks.

         "What's wrong?" Ed asks, very concerned.

          "Oh it's nothing really, but, uh, I just remembered I have nothing to wear."

          "Oh! Umm... maybe you have left something here?" Ed says walking past me and into the guest room, referring to the many drunken overnights,  as well as late night musical jams, playing each other our new music, and plenty tv and movie marathons. Ed looks through the dresser and pulls out one of my older yoga pants that I'd thought I had lost.

      "I thought I lost those!"I exclaim and my head harshly reminding me of my hangover. He hands the pants over and go's through more drawers.  He pulls out a t shirt that I had never seen either of us wearing,  and then it hits me.

        "This was--is, Athina's..." He tosses it on the bed and runs his hands over his eyes and up into his hair. Im not sure if it was because of the migraine or of him trying to hide his emotions from me.

       "Im sorry..." I tell him, not sure what else to say.

      "Why?" He says, not looking at me whatsoever and opening the top drawer and pulling out of his shirts, and I dont mean one of his personal t-shirts, I mean an "Ed Sheeran" t-shirt.  A picture of him with his name under the photo, I assume it was a tour shirt. I chuckle and so does he.

         "Would you like this?" He asks.

         "Duh! I am a huge sheerio!" I say and he laughs adorably and tosses it to me.

          "Its yours, love."

         "Why do you even have this?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

          "Yeah, I got a whole bunch that I gave away. I just kept this one just in case. Something like this, you know. Plus its hilarious to see people wearing it." I roll my eyes at him and walk into the bathroom with the outfit. 

                         *     *      *

     I walk into the kitchen wearing my yoga pants and Ed's shirt. He laughs at me, nearly spilling his coffee. I stick my tongue out at him and he hands me a coffee. We sit at the kitchen table, looking at our phones and taking sips of coffee ever so often.  After my second cup, I'm feeling a lot better. I put my phone down and watch him still scrolling through, I assume, his twitter feed. I tap my fingers on the table, nervous about what I'm about say. He looks over at me, "Everything alright, love?"

          "Well,"I sigh, "no. Are..... we.... gonna... talk about....last night?" I say, nervousness written all over my face. He thinks for a minute.  Did he forget?

            "I do have feelings for you... strong feelings...but I just got out of a relationship-"

          "And I know that!" I interrupt, "but, to be honest, I have had these feelings for a very long time and I would really like this to happen!" I say a bit too loudly. He looks at me in shock, as if in disbelief. He opens his mouth, I'm worried what he will say but he doesnt say anything for a while. So I stand up and get us each a glass of water. I hand him the glass and he takes a drink, me still standing next to him.

          "Ok," he finally says and I don't move. I dont think I can, I'm so nervous.  "But I would like to wait a bit. I feel like I need to get over Athina first..."

         The bit of excitement drains out of my face and I'm sad. "Oh. Sure. Makes since... Uh, I think I'm gonna go home for a while. Im sure Mer and Olivia need my attention.  I'll, uh, call you or something later." I start walking away towards my shoes. Ed stands up and steps towards me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

         "Taylor?" He asks. Im ready to lie about how I feel right now, I know he's going to ask if I'm okay.

         "Hmm?" Is all I say, not turning to face him, tears forming in my eyes.

         "I lied," he says spinning me around and pulling me into a kiss. Its not gentle, nor is it hard. Its perfect. It last a few seconds, or maybe a few minutes.  I dont even know. I just know that however long it was, I loved it. When we pull away I catch my breath.  And then I slapped his arm a bit.

        "Ouch," He says, holding his arm, "what was that for?" He says, the hurt in his voice completely fake.

      "You scared the shit out of me! I was so upset, one moment I thought I had you for my own and the next you had slipped through my fingers." I said, tears once again in my eyes.  He pulls me in for tight hug.

        "Don't worry. You'll be mine, and I'll be yours." He quotes "Everything Has Changed" I laugh,  wiping the tears from my eyes.

         "So we're, a thing now?"I ask, a little worried for the answer.

         "I'd say so," he says. I'm so unbelievably happy right now. I finally have everything I have wanted for so long. Him. Ed. My best friend, now mine. All mine.