Neverending Peace

Burned the Disco Down

"Lauryn? What's wrong?"

"Joe!" She wiped her nose. "Oh, it's nothing."

Joe waited beside her. After a few minutes Lauryn started to talk.

"I want things to go back to how they were! When we would always be together even if we were just fuck buddies. It's not fair that this stupid cancer is changing everything."

"I know," Joe said. "I know."

She scooted closer to him turning to look into his eyes. " Why did you leave me all alone?" She said with tears brimming.

" I didn't mean to. You know I care about you. Things just... changed. I'm sor-"

Lauryn rotated towards him completely softly placing her hand on top of his.

" She's probably not going to last much anyways stop being stupid. Don't get attached." She said through gritted teeth slightly squeezing his hand.

Joe didn't want to make her angry. He knew how defensive she could get and he really didn't have the energy for that tonight. He didn't feel like leaving with yet another bruise.

" I'm sorry Lauryn. I'll try to be better." He cast his eyes downward admiring the wooden floor.

She didn't like this. She wanted the attention. She needed it. Quickly she grabbed his chin and pushed it upwards locking their ayes. Then with the most innocent smile she whimpered.

"So when she's finally gone we can come back right? Just us happy, together. No distractions." She bared her teeth at the last sentence.

Joe was stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Sure people had told him about Lauryn's questionable behavior before, but he's just brushed them of. She had him wrapped around her finger and now he could see it fully.

"Right Baby" She exclaimed once more getting slightly annoyed at his silence.

He pulled his hands out from under her grasp and stood up swinging his legs over the bench and towards the door. His anger was bubbling he couldn't believe she was talking about Taylor like that. As if she were just some thing to be disposed of. This was the final straw.

" I'm not your baby. I'm not you're boyfriend. Never have been and never will. What happened between us was a one time thing." He spat out. She opened her mouth but her cut her off before she could get any sound out.

" And don't you dare talk about Taylor like that. She's my girlfriend whether you figured that out by now or not. She's not going to die and I'm definitely not going to leave her." He turned to storm out but was stopped by the sudden shriek of her all too familiar voice.

"She's just going to leave you for some other desperate lowlife just like she always does. I don't now what you could possibly see in her." She scoffed rolling her eyes.

He knew there was no point in fighting her, but he had to end it for Taylor.

" Because I love her. That's why."

And with that he turned around and slammed shut the door walking away like he should have all those fights ago.

Lauryn was left sitting on the bench head thrown back in exasperation. " Shit, I was sure that would work." She mumbled under her breath as the sun cam down over the town.

The next couple of months became less and less manageable.

Taylor had stopped attending meetings altogether. Her days were spent between the hospital a few towns over and her own home. It seemed the staff were accepting her wishes to live her last couple of months as normally as possible. Her treatment was changed significantly to accommodate for that. They were still going through with the trial as the numbers had increased  tremendously from 15% to 25% survival rate.

Joe, meanwhile, was drowning in work and extra practices for the new interns. At least they didn't have to train for the Grammy's. That bittersweet thought remained with him each day.

She was still making music and sporadically attending practices. She didnt't want to give up. She couldn't. The fans had started to notice so she worked extra hard to make each appearance her best. She was going to perform at the Grammy's even if its the last thing she ever does.

Almost all their communication was done through text messages. They usually consisted of Joe sending Taylor various pictures on his way to and from work. The majority of them were photos from the team, who insisted on meeting whenever they could. Selena and Gigi would ask about how Taylor was doing every day, much to Joe's amusement.

Yet as autumn came to a close and the winter wind picked up, it became so painfully apparent what Taylor really meant when she said she wasn't getting better. She would occasionally visit colleagues, friends, and the team. Her physical condition was something only Joe would see.

Taylor had lost a considerable amount of weight. She could barely keep food down and lived off of rice gruel, protein shakes, canned fruit, and her medication. Most days she spent staring off into space. Getting answers from her past a few grunts of sentences was bad half the time. She was weak and obviously on her last leg.

Yet her smile never changed. Always bright and genuine and comforting and there. Each team member made sure to spend time just sitting with her, talking about anything and everything. Joe would watch from the sidelines as each person talked, knowing what everyone was thinking each time.

This could be the last conversation I have with her.

---------------------

If you have any ideas for future chapters let me know. I'm not sure what to write next so I want to know what you guys would like to read. :)

As always have a great day and enjoy LY!!💖💘💕