Adore me- the fourth novel

Chapter 16 - its always my fault

Taylor's POV

We left the Scott's place in the morning for university. Nothing felt more surreal than leaving a mansion to travel to uni. That's not a norm for many people.

Jay has been protective of me all day, in a way that I'm very much enjoying. In how he held onto my hand closely whilst we walked through the corridors, in how he's been watching me closely. It's lunch time now and we're sitting with the others.

Platinum is here again with Josh. She eyed me as I sat down and I shot her my best smile. Jay has his arms around me and I'm snuggled into him. Rach rolls her eyes and smiles, Ross is picking at his food. I glance at him and notice that his arms have bulked again. He has surely been working on them.

Matthew arrives and sits opposite us, to my surprise Jay nods to him. He smiles back and glances at me briefly taking in my proximity to Jay and finally looking away.

"So what are the thoughts on this last dance" Rach blurts out hammering the silence away.

"It's usually good" Jay comments looking at me smiling. Jay has been here a year longer than us. I briefly wonder who he took to the dance last year before deciding that I do not want to know.

"Will you take me" Rach asks Nate, out loud in front of everybody.

"Sure" he sighs and then hugs her.

Platinum pouts and eyes Joshua expectantly. He looks away, stands up and leaves a slight slump to his shoulders as he goes. Jay stands removing his arms from me and telling me that he will be right back. He follows in pursuit of Josh.

I pick at my food and count in my head, since Josh left the atmosphere is tense and I do not want to add to it. In fact I very much want to ignore it. Entirely.

"It's your fault" platinum spits looking up at me.

"How is..." I begin but she cuts me off.

"You came along and was all like Josh let's play pool and things are all different" she smiles.

I look at her abashed.

"You're a bitch you stole Jay from Jane, now you want Josh too?" She almost shouts.

"I did not..." I begin weakly.

"Shut up Kat" Rach says eyeing platinum.

"You what?" Kat replies. I look at her and notice her tight jeans and black leather top. The way her hair is always bolt straight and pale, her green eyes lined with makeup.

"I said shut up or leave" Rach says.

Ross reaches for me and I surrender letting him touch me. Feeling his warm hand on my arm is a comfort. We were supposed to be keeping our boundaries. We break them all the time.

Kat huffs and leaves our group, her heels clinking on the floor conspicuously.

"What an annoying bitch" Rach sighs and I laugh shakily.

"Thanks Rach" I say and I start to blubber a little.

"Hey" Ross says sighing and pulling me into his now very bulky chest. I cry and he rubs my back. Just lightly.

"Psychology next" he whispers

"Cigarette, catch up on the way?" He smirks. I laugh slightly retrieve my belongings and after saying goodbye to everybody including Matthew, who is watching me like a hawk we leave.

The air hits me in my face when we leave, my tears sting against my now cold cheeks. I sigh and take a cigarette from Ross. The guy that even when I'm engaged to his friend, still saves me from situations that I cannot handle. Hugs me when I cry and lights up my cigarette when my hands are shaking.

"What's that another jealous girl" he laughs and I turn to him in his white tank and can't help but laugh. He rewards me with a smile that says it was his objective to make me laugh and he's happy that he has succeeded.

"What's wrong with me" I say.

"They all hate me, I don't mean anything by asking him to play pool" I stutter.

"This isn't a reflection of your bad qualities, you have none, this is pure jealousy. Hey she's just annoyed he'd rather look at other girls" Ross says.
He turns to me and grasps my hand.

"It's why I don't date. Whatever poor girl I find would feel hurt because well she can't be you" he says softly.

I glance up to him quickly and then resolutely stare ahead.

"It's okay" he says and rubs my hand between his.

We walk quietly and I refuse to address the problem any longer, it will just open another conversation that I don't wish to have right this moment.

"I got you a book" I whisper finally and I feel his body respond to mine. His hand grasping into mine slightly tighter.

"I'll bring it in for you" I say looking up into his true blue eyes.

"What is it" he says and his eyes glisten.

"A surprise of course" I say and smile.

We enter the building and I walk in front of him to the lecture hall. Once we're seated in our normal seats I begin to wonder where Jay has gotten too. The lecture begins and Jay eventually shuffles in next to me. He strokes my thigh and gives me a smile.

"All okay" I ask softly and he pulls me to rest on his chest.

"Later" he smiles stroking my hair.