The Way We Once Were

one

I really can't bother trying to make Joe a nice person so he's going to be a bitch to Taylor throughout this whole story.

Taylor's POV

The front door sprung open, and Joe walked into house, throwing his jacket on the kitchen chair. He pecked my lips quickly before heading to the study. "Joe? You just got home, do you still have to work?" I pleaded with him. He shook his head. "I'm a very busy man Taylor. You need to understand." He walked away. I huffed angrily, turning on my heel and heading to my studio. He was always working. Ever since I started dating him, he would come home every day just to wave me aside and go into the study. I picked up my guitar, absentmindedly strumming chords. I started humming a melody, soon adding lyrics.

In the quiet of the twilight,
Where the shadows softly fade,
You carved your name in the old oak,
In the secrets that we made.
We were young and wild as the rivers,
Chasing dreams through the mist,
Every word a fleeting echo,
In the moments we can't resist.

I growled in frustration. The lyrics weren't coming to me as quickly as they normally did. I set down my guitar and walked into the study. Joe was transfixed on the screen, typing furiously. "Joe?" I asked him timidly. "Do you want me to make dinner?" He swivelled on his chair, turning to look at me. "Yes please." He spoke. His eyes met mine, and a spark flew between us. He looked away quickly. God, Joe seemed to hate romance of any kind, always avoiding any kind of connection between us two. Suddenly, my phone rang, lighting up with my best friend's face.

"Hi!" I greeted Selena happily. "Hey girl!" Selena replied, her voice seeming far away from the phone. "What are you up to?" She asked me. "Not much. I was about to make dinner for me and Joe. Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go out for dinner with me and the others tomorrow night." She offered. I smiled. "Of course! Just text me the address and time and I'll be there." We both agreed on a place to eat before I hung up the phone, dragging myself into the kitchen.

Sure, I loved cooking and all, but it got tiring cooking for one judgemental person 7 nights a week. I rummaged around the cupboards for some kind of ingredients. After a while, I flung myself onto the couch. I really couldn't bother cooking right now. I got out my phone to order some food, knowing that Joe wouldn't notice if it was fast food or homemade food.

A while later, the food arrived, and I set the table. I called out to Joe, pouring some champagne for us both. We had just moved into this house, when we declared ourselves official to our families almost three months ago. We had been dating for almost two years, but no one knew except for us. Joe arrived in the dining room, stretching as he sat down in the chair across from me. "Thanks for making dinner Taylor." He kissed me softly. I smiled, enjoying these little moments we had together.

After dinner, I washed the dishes, my mind wandering. I had given up my music career after my ex-boyfriend Travis had left the country. I was a heartbroken nineteen-year-old, and I wanted more than just writing songs for the world. I wanted true love. So, I had given up writing and performing songs and instead, I found Joe. We met at a bar almost 3 months after I had broken up with Travis, and it was love at first sight. He had taken me home, and we spent the night together. Now, 2 years later, I was still with Joe, just not as happy, and not as much in love.

I brushed my teeth and did my hair in a bun, throwing on a pair of pyjamas. I wiped off my makeup, then hopped into bed, next to Joe. He was already asleep. Of course he was. He argued that since he was a busy man, he needed to sleep a lot more that average people. Bullshit. I felt my eyes droop close, and I let myself drift off.