ink. (haylor)

vii. calm before the storm

a/n:

yoo

i'm back from a little break and tomorrow, i'll be going back home (!!!)

the comments have been off the hook, and i felt bad for not updating in a while - so here is this chapter that i really enjoyed writing.

i realised you guys might not find out the significance of the title in relation to the story for a while and also if you think haylor is just gonna happen - you might have another thing coming

what even 800 reads - you are amazeballs

love you so much

-kay

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[Taylor's POV]

"Adam, I presume," Harry pulled his hand out of his pocket and briefly shook Adam's, "I'm Harry Styles. Delighted to finally meet you."

Respectful as he always was, Adam regarded him politely, ignoring the smug look on Harry's face.

Pressing my flat palm against his defined chest, I gently pushed Adam out of the room, into the hallway and I glanced back into Harry's room where he gave me thumbs up and an annoyingly fake smile as he went back to staring at whatever was on his laptop.

My attention turned back to Adam and I pushed the hair out of my eyes, breathing slowly. This was not the conversation to be having while sort-of-drunk.

"D'you want some coffee?" I tried to avoid the inevitable.

"Sure," he smiled and followed my wordlessly into the kitchen.

It dawned on me that this was not my kitchen and that Harry had everything in the wrong places and that it would take me far too long just to find the cups. Never in my life had I wished I was sober more than I did in that moment.

"Taylor," Adam whispered and took a hold of my fumbling hands as I opened and closed cupboard doors.

I froze, hoping to feel something - anything for him as he held my hands.

My shoulders fell.

"Look, you're shaking," he pulled out a chair from the island, "sit."

He brushed the bangs out of my eyes like Harry had done earlier today right before I had passed out.

His face contorted, "Are you drunk?"

"Adam, I'm sorry," I choked, not wanting to prolong the inevitable.

"What?"

I was silent.

"Taylor, why are you sorry? And who is Harry Styles?" he imitated his accent as he said Harry's name.

Don't cry I told myself.

Taking a deep breath, I said, "Harry and I are getting together as part of some twisted business deal my dad is making with his dad."

"What? Is that legal?"

"I don't have a choice in this matter, I'm so sorry," I sighed, wanting to sob but not finding the tears.

It was better that way - crying would have made the entire situation a whole lot worse.

"You have to be fucking kidding me right now," he said quietly and his words hung in the deafening silence.

I said nothing.

"And where does that leave us?" he pressed on.

"Adam, I'm sorry," I couldn't look him in the eye at that point, focusing on my hands which were indeed trembling.