Daylight - TS (ON HOLD)

-9-

Lucia was never the best a reading social situations- but it was obvious to her (and everyone at that party) that Taylor was really fucking upset.

Greg had cleared the crowd except for Blake, Ryan, their kids, and Lucia and Mila. He shoved an NDA into each partygoers hand as they left (even though all of them had already signed one before the party) and wished them a happy fourth.

"I'm gonna go check on her." Lucia stood up from the bench she was resting on. Blake began to speak but Lucia stopped her. "It's pretty much my fault they broke up, so it's my job to help her feel better,"

Blake sighed and waved Lucia off.

Lucia opened the screen door quietly, wincing at the squeaky gears. She shut it gently behind her and began to walk slowly toward Taylor's room. She looked down at the pile of Joe's discarded shit that Taylor had obviously thrown out.

Lucia turned her head abruptly as she heard the front door swing open. "Look- I just need my stuff, okay?"

Lucia crossed her arms, fists clenching with anger. "Hurry up. And don't let her hear you. She's really fucking upset."

Joe scowled at the brunette as he gathered the pile of clothes and assorted personal items on his arms and stormed out the door.

Lucia waited until she heard his car drive off to knock on Taylor's door. "Taylor?" She listened closely at the sniffles coming from the bedroom. "Can I come in?"

"Please," called Taylor weakly.

Lucia turned the doorknob, her heart falling into her stomach at the sight of Taylor. It had only been an hour since the breakup and she was a wreck. Eyes swollen and red from tears, a wet pillow drenched by her emotions, and a broken look on her face.

"Oh, honey," Lucia breathed.

"I knew this was coming, why does it still hurt?" Taylor sobbed.

Lucia wrapped her arm around the blondes shaking frame, her free hand pushing Taylor hair out of her face. "Because, the memory of love lost hurts even if it was already gone."

"I just don't understand how he could do this to me? Or why he told you?" Taylor sniffled, her head finding its way onto Lucia's lap.

"Because he's a coward. He probably planned to skip town and have me tell you so that I could do the heartbreaking for him." Lucia spat.

"You could never break my heart like he just did." Taylor mumbled.

They sat there in silence for a while on Taylor's bed. Taylor's sobs faded into hiccups and then silence as the afternoon sun began to wane to twilight.

"I'm gonna order you some food, what would you like?"

"I'm not hungry." Taylor said blankly.

Lucia sighed heavily, looking down at the pale faced singer. "You haven't eaten since seven. You've been crying all day without anything to eat or drink. The only thing I ask of you is for you to eat a piece of toast and some water."

Taylor nodded absentmindedly. "Okay."

"Do you want me to make it?" Lucia said as she tried to rise.

Taylor hand grabbed her wrist. "Don't go,"

Lucia sat back down immediately. "I'll text Mila. She can make you something."

Taylor relaxed into Lucia's lap a little more. "I wish I'd taken your advice and ripped off the bandaid myself," she whispered.

"The past is the past. You did what you thought was right and that's all that matters," Lucia leaned back into the headboard, a hand on either side of Taylor's head.

Mila entered quietly a few minutes later with a plate of dry wheat toast and a glass of cold water. She sat it on the bedside table, squeezing Taylor's hand with wordless empathy. She left just as silently as she'd entered.

"Eat, please." Lucia picked the plate off the table and offered it to Taylor, who slowly accepted the offering.

She scarfed down the toast in a matter of seconds, the water going soon after. "Thank you."

"Thank Mila." Lucia smiled.

"No. Thank you for being here. For being my friend. You've been so supportive and I've hardly known you a month. I feel like I've known you my whole life, I can't explain it."

"I understand the feeling. But you don't have to thank me. I'd happily be here for you anytime. I will fly across the world for you did you needed me to." Lucia said softly.

Taylor sat up slightly, her eyes finding Lucia's, then flickering down to her lips for a fraction of a second before returning to her eyes. "Stay here tonight? I don't think I can be alone right now,"

"Of course, let me change and get some blankets for the floor."

"You can sleep in the bed. It's a king," Taylor shrugged.

Lucia swallowed hard at the thought, but only nodded. She opened the door to the hallway, careful not to wake the kids. Blake looked up from her glass of wine with a smile. "How is she?"

"Heartbroken. Pissed. Probably still a little drunk," Lucia forced herself to return the smile.

"I'm gonna sleep in there tonight. She doesn't want to be alone,"

"If you need anything Ryan and I are down the next hall." Blake finished her glass, setting it on the sink. "Goodnight, Lucia."

Lucia walked straight for her room, opening her suitcase to find her hoodie. "Looking for something?"

Mila waved the hoodie from the corner of the room. "Thank you," Lucia grinned as Mila tossed the shirt over.

"Are you staying with her tonight?" Mila asked.

"Yeah,"

"Don't do anything you'll regret. Love you," Mila said with a yawn. "And don't wake me up before eleven."

Lucia left with a smile and a comfy hoodie. She opened the door to Taylor's room quietly just in case the blonde was asleep.

"I brushed my teeth and did my skincare back in my room. Ready for bed?" Lucia asked softly.

Taylor nodded, laying down toward the wall. Lucia slipped under the covers awkwardly. She tensed up as Taylor rolled over. "Turn the light off?"

Lucia blushed at the stupid thought that Taylor was gonna kiss her. "Yeah,"

"Goodnight, Lucy." She yawned, her hand reaching for Lucia's.

Lucia fell asleep shortly after, holding Taylor's hand.