Here & Now // T. Hall Sequel

Chapter 4

"Why is she still here?" Jess's annoying voice interrupted my day dream of being on the beach somewhere far, far from here.

"I was just going." I said through clenched teeth. I grabbed my bag and started out the door.

"Good. No one wants you around anyway."

"Jesus fucking Christ. What is your problem with me?" I snapped, turning on my heels. "You don't even know me. I have no problem with you, I'm just trying to figure my shit out."

"Then why are you staying with Taylor?" She crossed her arms, moving all her weight to one leg.

"Because I had nowhere else to go."

"He doesn't want you. Who would? I mean look at your-"

"My hair? I like it. But you know what? I'll leave and get a hotel room. I'm in no mood to deal with this right now." I shouldered past Jess, trying to get to my suitcase. "Don't want to disrupt your night. Probably not the best time to mention those two blondes from the other night." I shrugged as Jess stared down the hockey player instead of me.

"Belly." Taylor tried stopping me as I walked to his room.

"No. Do not fucking 'Belly' me. You're letting her treat me like shit and I thought that maybe, just maybe, you would stick up for me after everything we have been through together but I guess not."

I tossed everything into my suitcase and left the apartment. I started crying in the elevator, realizing this was a bad idea. I was almost out the door when I ran into Sadie and Jordan.

"What's wrong? Where are you going?"

"Jess doesn't want me in the apartment so I'm going to get a hotel room and stay away from Taylor."

"And he just let you leave?"

"Yep. Well, he tried to stop me but it was a pathetic attempt. But enough about me. Did you find a house?"

"Yeah we did, but you should stay at my apartment." Sadie told me.

"Thanks for the offer, but I just kind of want to be alone for a while."

"Okay, me and some of the girls are going out tonight. I'll text you later to see if you're up to it."

I caught a cab and had them go to a hotel. I didn't care which one, I just wanted a comfy bed and I'm sure the ones downtown were decent. Usually the most expensive hotels had the nicest beds. Good thing I could afford a few nights.

"Annabelle we need to talk." Taylor said as soon as I picked up the phone.

"Piss off." I hung up, trying to get into my new room. I didn't know how long I'd be here, but i didn't exactly want to stay if I wasn't wanted.

I kicked off my converse and crawled into the king bed that was calling my name. It was almost 5 and probably not a good time for a nap but I didn't care. I turned off my phone and slept until the next morning.

From: Taylor Hall

You can come back whenever you want. I told Jess she had to leave.

I didn't return to his apartment for a couple of days. It was pretty obvious he had at least one girl over while I was gone. You would think he would be smart enough not to leave condom wrappers on his bedside table. I should be the first to tell him you can't fuck feelings away.

"You can't keep bringing over girls." Sadie told Taylor. None of them had noticed I was standing in the doorway just yet and I didn't mind. I wanted to see where this conversation went.