𝑫𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 - 𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒕

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛

Taylor's grip on Zoe's hand tightened, tears welling up in her eyes.

"The others...always leave. They don't stay...why would you?"

Zoe's heart clenched at the vulnerability in Taylor's voice. She swallowed, the raw pain in those few words hitting her harder than she expected. She gently lifted the singer's chin, meeting her teary gaze.

"I'm not like the others, Taylor. I'm not going to leave you."

Taylor searched Zoe's eyes, looking for any trace of lie or falsehood. But all she found was honesty and care, no hint of deceit.

"you smell good"

Zoe chuckled, the tension easing a bit. Drunk Taylor was clingy and unfiltered, but it was still kind of cute.

"And you smell like alcohol, darling."

Taylor giggled, nuzzling her face against Zoe's shoulder like an overly affectionate kitten. She inhaled deeply, her arms wrapped around Zoe's waist now.

Zoe rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. Dealing with drunk Taylor was like dealing with a clingy child. But there was a certain charm to it. Her arm wrapped around the singer's waist to help balance her.

Exhausted and feeling a bit frustrated, Zoe had no choice but to bring Taylor back to her own penthouse apartment for the night. It was closer, and searching for Taylor's car in her current state seemed like a hopeless task.

Navigating the tipsy singer through the building's lobby was a bit of a challenge, but they eventually made it to the penthouse without incident.

The penthouse was a stark contrast to the lively party they had left behind. Everything was still and quiet, the only sounds were their footsteps and Taylor's soft, intoxicated murmurs.

Zoe managed to maneuver through the living room and into the guest bedroom. Once they were inside, she gently deposited Taylor onto the bed, the singer collapsing onto the covers with a content sigh.

Zoe took a moment to examine the now half-asleep Taylor. She was sprawled on the bed like a starfish, her limbs flung out randomly, her hair a tangled mess across the pillow. She looked like a child - a drunk and beautiful child.Suppressing a sigh, Zoe perched on the edge of the bed, considering what to do next.

She knew she should probably get up and leave, let Taylor sleep off the alcohol on her own. But there was something about the sight of the vulnerable singer lying in her bed that made her stay.

Zoe watched silently, her thoughts a tangle of contradictions. Her logical mind said to walk away, to maintain her distance. But her heart - the part she usually ignored - tugged at her, telling her to stay. To take care of Taylor.

The singer reached out a hand, her movements clumsy, and latched onto Zoe's sleeve. Her grip was surprisingly strong, her voice slurring again.

"Don't...don't leave, please."

Zoe's heart skipped a beat at the plea. The soft, vulnerable tone tugged at her more than she wanted to admit. She gently unclasped Taylor's fingers from her sleeve, but didn't move away.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just... making sure you're okay."

Taylor mumbled something unintelligible, her eyes closing again. She rolled onto her side, her body curling into a ball.

Then she muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "stay closer".

Against every logical thought, Zoe found herself moving closer to the drunk singer, sitting down beside her on the bed.