It’s been several days since the discovery of Karlie’s pregnancy, and after hours of tears and explanation she finally got Karlie to calm down and go back to sleep.
“The past several months he’d been so...nice,” Karlie had said, “I thought he was legitimately changing for the better because he could see that I didn’t actually want to be with him and he was trying to make it right. I was wrong.”
“That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Taylor replied, and wholeheartedly believed it.
And now she’s sitting, guitar in her lap, but no music can be heard from the guitar or in her head. It’s downright frustrating. So rather than actually think of a melody, she plays chords mirroring how she feels. They’re short, loud sounds. Anyone walking by would probably say it sounded like anger and helplessness all at once.
Of course she’s going to help Karlie, but what exactly is she going to do? Her best friend is pregnant, and she probably doesn’t want to be. What is she supposed to do about that? She’ll support whatever decision Karlie makes about it, but what’s she supposed to say to that?
Frankly she wants to kill Josh. She wants to kill him for tricking Karlie, for deceiving her, for hitting her. Basically she just wants him dead. She’s a superstar millionaire. She should be able to hire an assassin, right?
The guitar strumming isn’t helping her mood.
BAM!
The noise makes her jump out of her skin, but the noise that worries her more are the short breaths and clattering heels along the floor, back and forth, back and forth.
“Karlie?” she walks into the main room. The model’s fingers are digging into her scalp, and she can just make out the whispers beneath her breath. Karlie hasn’t noticed her.
She walks in front of the model’s path, and Karlie crashes into her. Arms wrap around her. Nails dig into her back.
“He’s here,” the warm breath tickles her ear.
“Josh?”
“I saw him,” Karlie breaks away from her, moving to pace in the living room space. “I was walking down the street and we made eye contact and…”
She waits.
“He looked so angry, Taylor,” Karlie finally stops her pacing. Taylor can see the tears running down her cheeks. “I’ve never seen anyone look that angry. I came straight back here after I saw him and I don’t know what to do I just needed to come back to you because you make me feel safe and-”
“We’ll leave tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Karlie, he’s here. I don’t know how but he found you. Maybe some tabloid back in the US reported on us being here together. I don’t know. I don’t care. He’s here and you don’t feel safe. We’ll leave tomorrow.”
She walks into the bedroom, grabs the biggest suitcase from her closet and throws it on the bed.
“No, Taylor, I don’t want you to have wasted the money you used to bring us here.”
“Karlie how many times do I have to tell you I don’t care about the money!”
She sees the model flinch. She was too loud, too explosive. Karlie doesn’t need that right now. How could she be so stupid? She takes a breath to calm herself down, reminds herself that it’s not Karlie she’s mad at. She’s mad at Josh. She’s mad at herself. She should’ve known something like this could happen, should’ve hired more security to keep her safe.
“I’m sorry, I-,” she hates the look in Karlie’s eyes, hates that she caused the fear she sees in them. “I’m not mad at you. I didn’t mean to shout I just…”
Why won’t her hands stop shaking? Why did Josh have to come here? Why couldn’t she keep Karlie safe? Why can’t she get the damn zipper open?
Hands slowly cover hers and pull them away. She can’t look Karlie in the eye, not now, not when she’s failed so miserably.
“Tay, this isn’t your fault.”
“But it’s not your fault either, and I just want you to see that.”
“I do,” lips press to the top of her head. “I know this isn’t my fault. Doesn’t make it much easier to deal with, but I know. And I have you to thank for that.”
She nods, a tear escaping her eye. Arms pull her closer. She rests her head on Karlie’s shoulder as the model rocks her back and forth.
“Did you mean it?” she asks without moving, “When you said I make you feel safe?”
“Yeah,” she feels a little laugh from Karlie’s chest, “I did. You do.”
“You do too… make me feel safe, I mean.”
“That’s good. Because I’ve always got your back, you know.”
“And I’ve always got yours.”
They pack their suitcases shortly after, and she catches an occasional glance from Karlie. Sometimes the model stares a little too long, and when she gets caught those green eyes race to the floor and a blush blossoms on her cheeks.
When they finish they sit on the balcony, chairs close together, Karlie’s hand on top of her own. She remembers the times she’s had her heart broken, the times her heart fell to the ground and shattered into pieces. And when she looks at Karlie she sees it in her too. She supposes she could see it in everyone if she looked hard enough.
Green eyes meet hers, and the moonlight catches them just right. Her heart skips a beat. Her chest holds a single breath lined with three words she doesn’t dare say now, not when everything’s so messed up.
“You okay, Tay?”
She intertwines their fingers.
“Perfect.”
Her heart’s cracked, and maybe Karlie’s is too, but there’s no regret, no doubts, no fears.
They’re two broken hearts, and something between them is falling into place.
YOU ARE READING
Life Makes Love Look Hard (Kaylor)
Fanfiction"Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes are uncertain. People are irrational." -Hugh Mackay Slight trigger warning: mentions/references to an abusive relationship
