More than Friends

Thirteen

It was a month since Taylor had woken from her coma and whilst she'd improved, the sleepiness of the long rest she'd had hadn't lifted. Taylor and Karlie, when she had the chance, lazed around Taylor's New York apartment, Karlie finding every excuse to get as close to the shorter blonde, even curling up beside her in bed when Taylor woke, soothing her best friend with small promises that meant nothing yet Taylor still held her to.

Taylor had had her fair share of visitors too, her mom appearing weekly whilst her group of close knit friends seemed to rush in and out whoever they passed nearby her apartment, all promising to visit properly, promises which they were all being held to by a, now very bored, Taylor. So it had been arranged that tonight, a gathering, a small party of sorts would be held, giving Taylor a night with all her friends: Cara, Lily Aldridge, Emma Stone, Abigail, Ellie Goulding, Martha Hunt and Gigi Hadid. It was planned to be a quiet night however both girls knew, what with a bunch of crazy supermodels and a pristine sound system, in its own time, the party would get rowdier, maybe transforming to a small dance party.

The bunch of guests had been instructed by a stern Karlie to arrive at Seven O'clock, punctually. Even whilst texting, she knew that Cara would turn up late, maybe already holding wine and escorting a bemused security dude. It had happened before, causing a small ripple of laughter to escape the blondes mouth.

Taylor's POV.

The sun was starting to set as I sat on my bed, trying in vain to convince myself to venture into my closet for something that was slightly more agreeable than the cat pj's that cover me, and have covered me for about 90 percent of the last four weeks. I've barely been out, preferring to lounge around, re watching Law and Order SVU and catching up on Greys Anatomy, the periods of time that I have ventured out being so short I sometimes wondered if I'd dreamed going out. "Taylor." I hear the familiar tone of Karlie summoning me from my thoughts.

"Uh... Yeah," I stumble, finding her gaze sheepishly. She left me about half an hour ago to let me get changed in privacy, promising to help me with my make up, a promise I'm holding her to.

"You aren't dressed." Well- point out the obvious. "C'mon." Taking my hand, she drags me to my closet, opening the door with a flourish and whisking me in, into the world of perfume misted dresses and heels I couldn't imagine walking in right now. Of course, I have normal clothes, that part of my wardrobe not quite taking up half of the space, of which Karlie starts to rummage around, finally holding up a pair of boyfriend style Levi's and throwing them into my half waiting arms. Then a white tee, a seamless fashion statement, is added to my look, apparently deeming me acceptable to see and socialise for an evening with my close friends. "Get dressed," my tall friend instructs.

"Fine," I sulk, "I'm not three years old," I then proceed to mutter under my breath.

"What was that." A smirk riding playfully on her face, Karlie spins dangerously close, our noses almost touching, my breathing becoming laboured at the close contact. Then, before I have a chance to come up with something witty to wipe that adorable smirk of her face, she's gone, the only indication we'd ever been close, the lingering scent of perfume.

I held Karlie to her promise, my lips forming the perfect pout so she could apply gloss. All the while, I tried to converse with her, not whilst she was coating my lips but apart from that, my mouth stringing easy conversation, Karlie's usually casual conversational tone distant, her answer short. 'What've I done?' I think, giving up on the moody younger girl, letting her put the finishing touches on my make up. With no explanation, Karlie leaves, still acting distant and offering no apology, muttering something under her breath.

"Heyyyyyyy." The unnecessarily loud greeting slips out of Cara's mouth as she bounds into the penthouse apartment, late as always, giving me a bear hug and practically picking me up, transporting me to the front room where everyone else is. Having heard her, she's met by the eyes of all my friends, including Karlie, who seems to have warmed up, but still holding that hard shield in front of her for some reason unbeknown to me. "Guysssss, long time, no seeeeeee." Almost dropping me, she spies a small slot in between Gigi and Martha, jumping into it quickly, wriggling her slim frame into a comfortable position, one leg stuck over Gigi who doesn't mind luckily. "Are you drunk already?" I question her. Looking up at me, a small frown on her face,

"The shoot today was awful," she explains, "and anywayyyyyyyy, it's a party." I let a small laugh slip from my mouth, giving Cara approval of her tipsy state, giving up on questioning her and sitting on the floor.

An hour later, sixty minutes filled with chatter, laughs and eventually alcohol, mouths were becoming looser, true feelings speaking out when they wouldn't usually have dared, Karlie now holding most of our attention with a rambling monologue on her manager. All of our attention, apart from Cara, the loose spirit deep in thought whilst she lazed on the crowded couch. "Karlie," she then interrupts, a confused look on her face.

"Cara," my current housemate replies, almost as solemnly, only just hiding the smirk that threatens to take over her face.

"Do you like girls?" As all the other girls explode in laughter, I sit still, frozen by the seriousness of Cara's tone and a blurred memory of soft lips on mine playing in my mind. Who's lips, I think, picturing clearly the way they caressed my lips, breathing softly in time with the love of my heart and settling doubts that aroused when this mysterious person wasn't around. "I think you've had too much to drink," Karlie then says stiffly, her relaxed body language gone. "I'm taking her to my room," she then whispers, passing me with a tired Cara. That girl has a heart of gold, always sunshine in my life.

"I could've sworn you were with..." A clumping noise and the perky British accent is cut off, the only sound being the sound of their feet. All of us listen, the silence just settling before the music is turned up and I'm pulled to my feet that haven't danced in so long, by Lily, who wants to dance.

Soon, all of us, our long bodies moving to the beat, are dancing, Karlie mingling into the throng as she reappears, a small look of worry shifting in her eyes but that supermodel smile on her face, ready to fool us all. But it doesn't take long for her to disappear, prompting me to slip away from the mass of dancing girls, finding her on my balcony, watching the New York in a pensive manner. It's dark out, the only light being the vibrant city ahead of us and a glowing red end in Karlie's hand. "Is that a cigarette?" I demand, grabbing her slim hand and watching carefully for her reaction.

"Yeah." A nonchalant shrug and a subtle move of her hand, the poison stick that has obviously been in Karlie's mouth is out of my reach again.

"C'mon Karlie," I plead, moving closer.

Karlie's POV.

The slender figure that was entwined with me just six weeks ago is edging closer, her voice small as she begs for the stick of crap in my hand to disappear. I shuffle further, sending her a resounding 'no' through my stares, then lifting the thin stick that crumbled at one end to my mouth. Do I want to breathe in this mess? No. Do I want the attention for doing it? Yes. "Karls, please- this isn't you."

"You don't know that," I reply coldly. Taylor's eyes ask me to stop as she moves closer again, this time not for the stick but to hold me from the back, her sculpted arms sliding around my waist, rising in height so she can balance her chin on my shoulder. That's all it takes to stop me, the end of the burning stick of poison diminishing, the small light it gave off fading, making the small balcony darker. 'Kiss me,' I'm demanding inside, my outside not quite able to relax due to the excitement that's coursing through me. "What's wrong Karls?" My blond friend sighs, "you've been acting off ever since my accident."

"I'm sorry," I smile wistfully, flashes of playful evenings spent together darting in a unique pattern around my head, a coherent sentence now being difficult to form. "Something's missing Tay. It's gone and I want it back." To this, I receive no reply, but feel those deep Aqua eyes staring onto New York, her mind not with the traffic but with the skies.

Authors note.
Okay don't kill me, a mini filler that leaves Taylor confused so it can lead onto things. Who's excited, coz I am. And thank you for following me the other day guys, you really helped.
Love Emi.