You Belong with Me

Chapter 7

"Okay. You ready?" She asks her brother anxiously.
"No." He says staring at his mother through the glass window of the door.
"I'm scared." She whispers.
"Me too."

She pushed the wooden door open to see her mom asleep, lying on the hospital bed with tubes and wires attached to her.

Taylor feels a tear run down her face as she remembers what happened the first time. Austin was so young, he didn't understand, but now he does. Now she looks at her brother who is holding back tears.

"Dad." She whispers as she sees her father asleep in the chair beside the bed.

Scott opens his eyes to see his children standing in front of him.

"Dad. How bad is it?" She whispers hugging him.

"Not good tay. She might be okay. But I don't know."

Taylor takes her mothers hand, squeezing it tight, praying to a god that she hasn't talked to in years, and hoping that maybe her desperation would make some god make her mother better.

She held the tears back that consistently threatened to fall. She kisses Andreas hand and lies her head down on the bed.

"Dad, my friend is going to make Austin and Me dinner tonight."
"Oh, oh. That's so kind of them. Please tell them, thank you."
Taylor nods.

After about an hour of sitting with her mother, Taylor gets a text.
*ding!*
Taylor looks at her phone.
Joe: Hey, the food will be ready in like 30 minutes. Do you want me to bring it to you?
Tay: I'll come to you. I need out of here.
Joe: Okay. I'll send you my address.
*sends address*
Tay: K. See you then.

Taylor puts her phone down.
"Austin, the food is ready, wanna ride with me?"
He shook his head no.
"Okay. I'll be back soon"
She walks out of the hospital and gets in her car. On the verge of tears, she puts his address in her phone.
—

When she pulls up, he is standing outside. God he's so fine. She thinks to herself. She tries to wipe away her tears and hide the fact that she clearly cried on the way over.

"Hey T."
She takes a smile as she approaches him. As she does, he sees her bloodshot eyes.
"Can I hug you? You look like you need it." He says.
"Ouch Joseph." She walks close to him and allows him to wrap his arms around her.
"I'm so sorry that this is happening. If you need anything at all please call me." He says into her hair.
"Thank you."

Taylor's POV

"Joe. Is that Taylor?" I hear a British voice call from inside the house.
"Yes mum." He calls back. "Come inside." He says in my ear. We walk in the house and his mother is standing in the kitchen.

"Hello Miss Taylor, I've heard so much about you."
"Hi, Mrs. Alwyn, it's nice to meet you." I say softly.
"No no. Call me Elizabeth." She says smiling, "sit while I get your dinner together."

I sit on their couch with Joe sitting beside me. I notice is phone that is lying on the couch beside me.

"Here." I say handing it to him. As I give it to him the screen lights up and I see a text message from
"My love❤️"

I start to get a little light headed but try to act normal. Joe definitely knows I'm upset. I just hope he doesn't know the second why.

"Hey. You okay?" He asks.
"I mean, as good as I can be."
"Mmkay." He whispers and he takes my hand and squeezes it as tight as he did in the lunchroom. It feels wrong this time. I don't want to hold his hand if he's holding someone else's.

I let go and place my hand on my lap. He looks at me and he looks hurt. Like really hurt. But whoever his love is would probably be hurt to.

"What did I do?" He mumbles.
"Uh you should check your phone."
He looks at it.
"That's uh- here just look." He says and opens his phone then hands it to me.

I feel a sense of happiness through my veins when I see our text screen. His love. Woah. A smile creeps on my face. I slip my hand back into his.

"I'm your love?"
"Don't say it like a question." He says.
"I'm your love." I say with a confident tone.
"Yes you are." He says looking into my eyes. I can tell he wants to kiss me. His eyes are begging for me to make the move. I let go of his hand and move mine his neck and pull him closer.

"JOE WHERE IS MY IPAD!?" I flinch as I hear a voice scream from up the stairs.

Joe gives an ironic laugh.
"That's my brother." He whispers. I smile at him.
"It's down here bud!" Joe calls to him sitting back my hand slides to his chest and i move it to his hand.

"Who are you?!?" The kid says looking at me.
"Patrick! Don't be rude!" Elizabeth calls from the kitchen.
"Sorry." He mumbles.
"My name is Taylor." I say to him. He looks just like Joe. I mean of course younger, but just like him.

"Is that you're girlfriend Joe?" I immediately look at Joe to see what his answer is. When he gives me a "what do I say?" look I smile.
"Yes. She is." He says.
"Gross." He says sticking his tongue out and snatches his iPad off of the recliner beside us then runs upstairs.

I get a text.
       Austin-
A: Doc says mom is gonna be okay. She's having a small surgery. She's gonna be fine Tay.
T: oh thank god. Is she awake.
A: Yeah.
T: Tell her I love her. I'll be there soon.
A: hurry, I'm hungry.

"It's Austin. Mom is okay." I say to him.
"That's good T," he says and wraps his arms around me. I put my head into his chest. This is good. This is what I love.

"So, boyfriend," I say, "you wanna come with me?"
"Do you want me to come?"
"Of course i do."
"I'll ask." He kisses my forehead and stands up. With all respect, Joes forehead kisses are better than Toms.

He smiles at me and walks into the kitchen.
When he comes back he's holding the Tupperware with the food in it.

"Ready?" He asks.
I nod.
"Bye bye Taylor! I hope to see you soon!" I hear his mom call from the kitchen.
"Bye Mrs. Alwyn! Thank you so much for this."
"It's Elizabeth, and it was my pleasure." She says walking us to the door.
"Bye mom."
"Be safe Joseph. Be back by 11." She says.
"Will do." He opens the door for me and i walk through. Elizabeth shuts the door behind us.

We walk to my car and he gets in on the passenger side. That's when I see Karlies text.

        Karlie:
K: I miss you T.

I roll my eyes and sit down in the car and turn it on. I feel Joes hand under my chin. Oh god. He's gonna kiss me. He's gonna kiss me.

He does and Holy fucking shit it was the best kiss I've ever had.

"God Tay." He whispers to me.
"Holy shit." I put my forehead against his.
"We should probably go."
"Austins hungry." I mumble.