I turn the sign from 'open' to 'closed' and take a long breath. It had been a long day and I couldn't wait to sit down and have a moment to myself, but with Millie around I knew this wasn't possible.
She drags me over to a table and we both sit. She pulls out her phone and starts to scroll through the images of the red carpet from the premiere a few days ago now. "Ok so now you have made up with him, the first thing you can do is look through these!" She hands me the phone and I begin to scroll. There are hundreds of pictures of Taron and I on the red carpet; our bodies close to one another and his hand in mine. Looking through them makes me miss our intimate contact, and my body aches for his touch once again.
I smile at one of the photos; he must have said something to make us both laugh and the photographer managed to catch us mid laugh. "Y/n you look so beautiful! You need to get that one framed or something!" Millie says, snapping me out of my daze. Taron looked so handsome that night and looking back I don't know how I kept my eyes off of him. I hand Millie back her phone and stand up. I was exhausted and was desperate to head home.
As I step inside my house I open up my phone and click on Taron's number. The phone rings several times before he finally picks up. "Hello?". His breath is heavy and his tone of voice was more aggressive than usual. He also sounded like he was crying.
"Taron? Are you ok?" I ask, closing the door behind me.
"Yeah I'm fine, now isnt a good time y/n. Can I call you back later?" He asks, and my face grows concerned. He definitely didn't sound okay.
"Yeah that's ok. I'll speak to you later" I say as I lower the phone and click 'end call'.
I spend the rest of the evening pacing around the house, checking my phone constantly for something from Taron. Anything from Taron. I was still concerned after hearing his voice a few hours ago. He hardly ever sounded like that, only if he was really angry, which was very rare.
I decided to make myself some dinner while I waited for his call, but as I pull out the ingredients, a notification pops up on my phone. It was a text from Taron. I unlock my phone and read the message.
<< hey, something came up and I won't be able to call you back tonight. Can I call you tomorrow instead? X >>
I sigh at the message. Something was definitely wrong. I also sighed as the desperation to hear his voice grew stronger. Without wanting to interfere further, I sent back a quick message before I continued with dinner.
<< sure, no problem x >>
***
I walk into the cafe the next morning and I am instantly bombarded by a worried looking Millie. She grabs my arm and drags me to a table, disregarding the customers around us. "How are you feeling?" She asks, and I throw her a confused look. "Um... ok?" I say and she rests back in her chair.
"Honestly, I thought you would have been crushed by those articles" she says, and once again she is met with my confused look. "Articles?" I ask and she goes back to sitting on the edge of her chair. "Yes the articles y/n... you have seen them... haven't you?" I shake my head and she hesitantly pulls out her phone.
I sit staring at the screen, reading then endless news articles from just about every magazine I know. I couldn't believe it. It was everywhere. Somehow EVERYONE knew about this but me. Why didn't he tell me?
I grab my things before throwing the phone down and leaving the cafe. I needed air. I needed to talk to him. As I race towards his house I replay the headlines in my head.
"TARON'S NEW LOVER?"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO EMILY?"
"TARON SHOWS OFF NEW LOVER AT PREMIERE!"
How could he not tell me about his GIRLFRIEND?! I also think back to last night and think for a moment. That was probably why he couldn't talk. That's why he sounded like he did. He was probably with her and they were probably arguing. I had caused all of this. How could I have been so stupid! I also think back to how he had been acting towards me for the last few weeks: the flirting, the kiss. I feel sick to my stomach thinking about all of this and how I was in the middle of this mess. I try to push the headlines and my tears to one side as I reach his front door.
I knock three times and stand back. I patiently wait for an answer and soon enough the door opens to reveal a guilty looking Taron. His eyes are red and puffy as if he had been crying. Before he had a chance to say anything, I say three words that break both me and him. "How could you?". He drops his head in shame and looks to the ground. I turn away and begin to walk away before he replies.
"Y/n" he pleads. "Please just let me explain". He rushes after me and grabs my arm, to which I jolt my body away from his grasp.
"No. I don't want you to explain. You have done quite enough already!" I yell, the tears releasing heavily from my body. I had never shouted at him before. We had never had an argument until now. It felt so wrong and I hated every second. I turn away again, and this time I am able to run away, leaving Taron standing outside his house.
I run back home, sobbing to myself. I have lost the best thing in my life.
