On the way home. (#Wattys2015)

• 13 •

Zayn and I are chilling in his place. A beer in one hand and our eyes set into the soccer game being played on the tv.

''Commercials!'' Zayn says, clapping his hands together.

''Want another one?'' I stand up, as I point at the empty beer placed on the coffee table.

''Neh, I'm good,'' He took a sip and shrugs. I nod and head to the kitchen, to get one myself. ''You know who I saw yesterday at Grace's birthday party?'' Grace is Zayn's new girlfriend, he has the desire to settle down and he went for Grace. She is totally awesome and good for him, they make the perfect balance.

''Who?'' I pace toward the couch, making myself comfortable.

''Jane.'' A chuckle escapes my lips.

''How is she?''

''Good, I guess,'' Zayn shrugs. ''I still can't believe how you let her go.''

''That was 2 years ago,'' I roll my eyes at him. ''I just hope she is good, she deserves it.'' I take a sip of my beer.

''And...'' He looks at me, not sure of what to say. ''Taylor?''

''I don't know.''

''Did she get married?'' He asks, again.

''I don't know.'' Not lying.

"You should ask her or something." He suggests. A crazy suggestion.

"That's insane, I bet she is married and living somewhere else."

"Whatever man, I bet her life isn't how you think it is."

"Whatever, there, you said it," I look at him. "Whatever." I say again, making sure he understands how little I care, even though deep down I care more than he will ever know. I was just trying to play the role of a strong one. He rolls his eyes, as we went back to focusing on our soccer game.

• • •

I am driving around town, trying to really think through the possibility of actually going to see how Taylor's life is. I am too far away from my place and even far away from hers, so the city lights and the busy streets are helping me decide what is the right thing to do. As I stop at a red light I notice a few raindrops falling on my wind shield, and a grin appears on my face, for some weird reason I like the fact it is about to rain. Unexpected. Totally unexpected. Green light. I drive the car and decide to stop at a Starbucks, rain plus coffee...perfect match. I don't hesitate at all. I enter and notice there is a fair amount of people seated, taking sips of their coffee between small talk and changing topics.

"Capuccino please," I say. "Small." I complete the order. I never understand how they manage their sizes, so I always say small.

"Harry?" A familiar voice says, as I turn around to see who was calling out my name, I see the pair of the bluest eyes I've ever seen and I'm back to where I started.

"Taylor?" She nods, smiling. "Your hair is shorter."

"Yeah," She blushes. "I decided it was time for a change."

"You look beautiful." I blur out, not hesitating my words.

"Your coffee," She points out. I turn around and grab the coffee from the barista's hands. I offer her a smile and I go back to Taylor. "Thanks."

"No problem."

"Care to join me? I have an empty table and I'd love to catch up."

"Uh," I look around, nervous. "Sure, why not?" She nods and I follow her to the table waiting for us. She sits down first and then I do. I notice paper, pencils and various scribbles napkins are scattered around the table.

"I was writing, planning on publishing a book." Her lips are pressed together, as she glances at me.

"A book?" My eyed wide open. "That's insane! What is it about?"

"My life post the accident and everything I went through."

"Nice, am I in the book?" I ask, joking. I chuckle nervously. "Oh my God no, bad joke."

She laughs. "You are."

"Really?" She nods. "What are you going to write about me?"

"I was actually planning to meet up with you, so you could tell me everything about us and for you to lend me the journals, you know?" She looks down at a napkin, blushing. "And it was so unexpected to see you here so I had to take the shot."

"Unexpected," I pause. "Like the rain today."

"Like the rain." She agrees, smiling at me.

"Where should I start?" She scratches her temple and I notice there is no ring on her finger. "No ring?"

She looks at me, surprised by the question. "Uh, he cheated on me. I realized that until the day before the wedding. I just don't get why I rushed into it."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"No you are not." She chuckles.

I smile. "You are right, I am not."

"I really regret the day I closed the door on your face. My guts were screaming 'go with him Taylor, he loves you' but I was too afraid to believe that was the right path to follow."

"Why didn't you leave him that day?"

"Because you were such a blurry past, a past I knew nothing about. And you spoke such beautiful words and I had none to give back, but after you left, seconds," She pauses. I notice tears start to form in her eyes, I watch her carefully. Too focused on her words. "I opened the door and you were gone," She starts to sob, I start to feel weak inside. "And I took that as a sign. I wanted to call you a day after the wedding, but how in hell did I have the right to do so?"

"Come with me." I grab her hand, taking her by surprise. I walk with her toward the car, rain falling on us, but we didn't mind.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Home," I look at her. "If you are going to write a book, you better write it at home." She gazes at my lips and then I dare to kiss her and this time she follows the kiss, no hesitation at all.

She stops and then says, "Take me home."