Sweet Tea and Gods Graces

5

That Friday, the Swifts' came over for dinner, like normal, but Taylor was not with them, Annie had also declined dinner, she had spent a majority of her time trying to wrap her head around what happened. Should she continue to try to talk to Taylor? Does Taylor hate her now?

It was a strange feeling, because while she was absolutely devastated by Taylor's reaction. She was also relieved. She had told the truth, she didn't really have to hide it anymore. Annie had a little bit of hope that Taylor felt the same way, she hadn't expected for Taylor to just walk out if she didn't though.

The Swifts came and went and Annie hadn't moved from her bed. She wondered growing up, if what she felt with Taylor was love. By the time she realized that it was love, she had realized how bad being in love with Taylor was. As kids, with just a silly crush, Annabelle was just happy to be in Taylor's company, the older she got, the more her heartbreak slowly broke because she couldn't be with Taylor. Just when she had enough courage to try, only to be let down, she's never felt pain like that before.

And so she spent the weekend in her bed, her mother occasionally bringing her food, trying to talk to her, but she had no interest. By Monday, she fully expected to skip school and stay in bed, unfortunately her father made her go and convinced her it would be a good day.

Unbeknownst to Annie, Taylor was just as miserable. She missed Annie, but she couldn't be with her, it was too late and too risky.

Homeroom, the one time during school the girls had to see each other, was starting in about 5 minutes. There was absolutely no way she could face Annie right now, so instead she heads toward her spot under the bleachers.

"What are you doing here?" Annie asked, she must have had the same idea about hiding under the bleachers until homeroom was done.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd be out here, I thought you'd be in class." Taylor said.

"So you're avoiding me?" Annie sadly scoffed.

"Is that not what you're doing?" Taylor retorted. "You're out here too."

"I'm not avoiding you, Tay. I tried calling. You hurt me, you just left." Annie explained.

"I'm sorry Belle-."

"I'm gonna go, I'll see you later." Annie began gathering her things.

"We should talk." Taylor tried.

"You didn't want to talk Friday, you wanna talk now?" Annie began to walk away.

Taylor decided it'd be best to let her leave, to give her space. "Meet me at the pond after school?" She tried, Annie didn't respond, but she did show up. Both girls went straight to the pond after school.

The girls were sat on the grass, in the same place they'd had their picnic all that time ago.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, I never want to hurt you." Taylor started.

"Well you did, you know how hard it was to tell you? The very least you could've done was tell me you don't feel the same."

"I do feel the same Belle. I just..."

"Taylor, it's fine. I get it, I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's not that. I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember." Taylor admitted.

"Why did you leave then?" That's what hurt Annie the most, she'd like to assume that she would've handled rejection better. But she hates when people leave her.

"I didn't know what to say, I-" Taylor just had to tell her but she couldn't get the words out.

"You could've said anything Tay."

Taylor didn't say anything and Annie was honestly tired of being upset with her, so she placed a gentle hand on Taylor's cheek, and she kissed her. Just as she was about to pull away, Taylor had kissed her back.

Taylor had never imagined a simple kiss would make her feel the way that kiss did. She doubts any drug could top this. Annie's lips were soft, they fit perfectly in between Taylor's, there was a hint of mint from the brunettes gum. Annie could kiss Taylor forever, if she'd let her. It was electrifying. But it quick ended when the blonde pulled away.

Taylor sat for a few seconds, staring at the grass beneath her. "I'm moving." She whispered.

"What?"

"I'm moving. In a week."

Annie was lost for words in the moment, her eyes on Taylor, Taylor's remained on the grass.

"To..." Annie spoke.

"To Nashville, I'm gonna try and pursue my music."

"What about California?" Annie was wrong. This was the most pain she's ever been in. "We're supposed to go to California, after you graduate."

"We still can Belle, in 2 years we can go and if I sign a record deal, I can help you get one too. We can still do music together." Taylor tried.

"Taylor." Annabelle tried not to cry.

"And my parents are keeping the house here so we can come to visit." Taylor tried again. Desperately hoping Annabelle would see this as a good thing, and be happy for her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

Annie didn't see it that way, she was heartbroken and pissed off. "I'm sorry, can we talk about this tomorrow? I can't do this right now." The pianist got up. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

--

The next day Annabelle didn't feel any better about Taylor's news, in fact the more she thought about it the more upset she got. But she didn't want Taylor to leave on bad terms, no matter how upset she was, so she decided to go find Taylor at lunch.

"So when did you become gay?" Annie heard Brent say as she was walking up behind Taylor.

"What?" Taylor asked defensively.

"When did you become a dyke?" Brent asked again.

"I'm not gay."

"That's not what it looked like at the pond yesterday." Annie was about to intervene as she got closer, but she stopped and listened when she had heard Taylor's voice.

"Oh that? No that's not what it looked like."

"It looked like you making out with a girl." Brent egged on.

"Ew, no, that's disgusting, no. She's just my neighbor, she's been obsessed with me for years no. She kissed me, I'm not gay." Taylor said. Annie heard enough, she walked away, refusing to make eye contact when Taylor had noticed her.

--

The following week, her and Taylor didn't speak, Taylor tried. She'd go to Annie's house, she'd call, she's trying to speak to her during homeroom. Annie simply pretended Taylor didn't exist, except for when she cried over her.

Annabelle hadn't realized how quickly the days went by, until a week later, she watched through her bedroom window as Taylor, Austin and Andrea drove away followed by Scott in a U-Haul.

That was the last time she'd see Taylor in person in 9 years.