You Belong with Me

Chapter 4

"Okay so. You're only dating tom... to piss off joe, who you don't even know if he likes you?" Austin asks while sitting in Taylors car munching on his breakfast.

"Essentially, yeah that's pretty much it." She responds.
"But you love Tom?"
"Yeah I think so?" She states but it comes out more as a question.

"Ooh that sucks sis. You're probably going to have to pick."
"I'd pick Joe. Every time."
"Taylor you've known him for like three days."
"Okay but he's different."
"He's new. You've always been like that. You need constant change."
"No but I don't think I would need change if I had joe."
"Did you think you would with Tom?"
"Honestly? Yeah. I knew I would."
"Woah Tay... maybe you should break up with him."

"You so aren't helpful." She groans
"I so am helpful." He mocks.
"Go to class."
"Was about to asshole." He opens the car door.
"Bye shitface." She says.
"Bye. Love you." He gets out of the car.
"Love you."
Taylor watches as her little brother walks into the school.

Was he right? Should she break up with him? It wouldn't be good to lead him on. But she doesn't want to break his heart. She loves him. But she lost feelings and she thinks he feels the same way. Maybe that's how she could start a fight so they break up.

She gets on her phone. She texts her boyfriend.
Tay: we need to talk.
Tom: okay? Lunch?
Tay: no. Come over tonight.
Read 7:42

She turns off her car and gets out. She gets her bag out from the back seat, and walks to first period.

Taylor sees Joe at Kim's table and Lilli back at hers. Shit. Are they fucking dating? She walks to and sits at her usual seat staring at the floor.

She texts Selena.
Tay: I'm breaking up with Tom.
Sel: Oh thank God. Now you can date Joe.
Tay: I think him and Kim are dating.
Sel: WTF 😳
Tay: I know. I'm about to have an anxiety attack.
Sel: Wait fr?
Tay: yeah I forgot to take my meds.
Sel: Okay breathe.
Tay: I can't. Help me.
Sel: can you go to the bathroom?
Tay: No. The teacher.

She puts her phone down. There is a stabbing pain in her chest. Her throat starts to close up. She slightly hyperventilates but quietly enough to where no one could hear her. A tear slips down her check.

Joe stands up.
"Move Lilli."
"What?" She says with a bratty tone.
"Please get up."
She does. Joe sits beside Taylor.

She didn't here the conversation that Joe had with Lilli. She didn't hear what was said. She could barely see anything.

"Taylor." He took her hand.
"Tay. Look at me." She didn't respond or look at him.

"Hey." He puts his finger under her chin and moves her face to look at him.

She sees him. Her vision is still blurry.

"Taylor. Breathe. Breathe with me"
She hears him. She tries to breathe.

"Good girl. Keep breathing. You're okay, I'm right here."

That snapped her out of it. She could see, hear, and breathe almost properly. But the tears didn't stop.

"Shh. Tay, you're okay."
"Thank you."
"Of course. Now dry your eyes, you're okay."
"How did you know."
"Selena texted me."
Taylor nodded. What an asshole. I fucking love her.

"Are you okay?"
Taylor nods.
"What happened?"
"I- uh- nothing."
"You sure?"
She nods.

"Okay." He let's go of her hand.
"Okay." She whispers.

________________________

"Do you hate me?" Taylor asks Joe as they walk down the hallway on their way to English.

"Yep. I despise you." He says with the sexiest little grin on his face.

"Hey asshole. I don't need the sarcasm."
"No, T. I don't hate you."
"Good. Are you dating Kim?"
"We're talking."
Oh god.
"Oh."
"Why?"
"No reason."
He nodded his head. There was definitely a reason, they both knew it.

"Tay!" Tom calls from behind his girlfriend. She turns around to see him.
"Hey." Joe speeds up and walks ahead of them, listening in on their conversation.
"Hey. Can you at least tell me what we're talking about tonight?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Just because. Thomas."
"Fine. Damn."
He reaches for her hand. She jerks away.

"Taylor?"
"What?"
"Are we okay?"
She didn't respond.
"Fuck." He mumbles.

They walk to class.

Taylor was silent the entire class period, understandably. She put her AirPods in and listened to a mix of James Taylor, Shania Twain, and The Dixie Chicks. That's what she did when she got too anxious. It helped even out the worry.

She hates the fact that the man she wants most wants the girl who bullied her. She hates that the man that she loved at one point is the one that she fell out of love with.

Taylor knows that Joe belongs with her. She felt like writing a song about it. Sobbing in her bedroom, alone. Actually maybe with Austin. Their relationship is getting much stronger. She loves that. She really loves her brother.

________________________

"Tom. I don't think you get it."
"Get what Tay."
"I'm done with us..."
"Taylor, stop. We can work it out. We can be us again."
"No, no we can't. I'm sorry tom. I really do love you."
"THEN STAY WITH ME DAMN IT!" She flinches as he suddenly moves closer to her.

"I love you Taylor."
"I love you too Tom. But it's not gonna work. I'm sorry." She feels a tear roll down her cheek. She looks in his eyes, "I'm sorry Tom." She starts to cry uncontrollably.

He pulls her into him.
"Shhh. It's okay. It's okay." A tear falls from his eye down to her hair.
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I really wish we could've worked out." He kisses her forehead.
Taylor nods and let's out another sob from her lips. He pulls her tighter. "I love you."
She whimpered. "I love you."

"I'm gonna leave now. You gonna be okay?" He asks her. She nods.

"Okay. I'll see you at school tomorrow." He says wiping the tear from his cheek.

They let go of the hug and she watches her first love walk out of her room.

She hears the front door close and she stumbles down the stairs.
"Mommy!" She cries.
"Mom!"
"Oh Taylor." Her mother stands in the kitchen and puts the life she was cutting the vegetables with down.
"Mommy..."
"Come here baby." She hushes as she brings her daughter in for a hug.

Austin walks in from his room.
"God. Tay? Are you Okay?"
She shook her head no. He places a hand on her back. She turns into her brothers shoulder. Standing at 6 foot, Austin barely had her in the height department.

"Taylor..."
She looks at her brother.
"It was for the best."
She nods.
"You're still an asshole." She jokes as she sniffles.
"You're still a dipshit."
"HEY LANGUAGE! BOTH OF YOU!" Andrea calls from the living room.

Ngl I cried when they broke up. Like literal tears. That could be bc me and my bf just broke up. But it's okay... 🙂

Anyways, Austin= #1 lil bro foreva. Also, fuck Joe for dating Kim. He's literally so fucking oblivious. This is why I hate men. 🙄

As always don't forget to vote and comment and give feedback!

-with all love, sadness, and tears, agj 🥰😢❤️