Keep your eyes open

t w o

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Also thanks for the engagement on the last chapter 🙂

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, "I'll never let you go"

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I hadn't slept all night, I'd expected that though. My heart ached for the pain Taylor had to go through and I wish I could have saved her. I so badly want to go to that house and make Matty regret his existence but I couldn't bring myself to leave Taylor here alone.

I got up and walked into the kitchen, making coffee for myself and a black one for Taylor. I knew she liked it straight black for some disgusting reason, but personally I cannot stand it.

I walked into the dim light of my room to find my sheets vacant. I looked around in confusion, but then I heard the faintest sobs coming from a creak in the ensuite. I knocked on the door to warn her I was coming in, setting the coffee down before entering.

Taylor was sitting in the empty bathtub with her knees up to her chest and face buried in between them.

'Hey, are you ok? I knelt down beside her, lifting a hand to rub her back, but to my surprise she jumped at the sudden touch. I quickly pulled my hand back, immediately understanding what caused her reaction. 'Oh tay,' My heart broke for her.

'I'm sorry,' she stuttered embarrassed. She lifted her head up from her knees to reveal the bruises on her beautiful face.

'No, it's not your fault. Is it ok if I touch you?' I gently inquired.

She hesitantly nodded, and I reached my hands out to help her out of the tub. She wobbled slightly but regained balance as I walked her to my bed.

As we sat, I turned to face her in preparation of what I was about to say.

'Taylor, please know I don't need any explanation, just take it easy and tell me when you're ready.'

'No, you deserve to know, it might take a while though.' She said while looking into her lap and fiddling with her fingers. I simply nodded, hoping she knew that I would understand if she couldn't tell me. 'I think it will be better to just get it off my chest.'

She took a deep breath before starting. 'So, yesterday Matty came home in the morning, alone.' She paused. 'And, I heard a crash.' Tears were already reforming in her eyes. ' I went downstairs to check if he was alright and then h-he.' She fell onto my lap, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks

I held tightly onto her embrace, rubbing circles in her back. 'You're ok, I'll protect you'. I assured not only Taylor but also to myself. We sat in silence for a few minutes, waiting for her cries to subside.

When Taylor was ready, she readjusted in my arms and took a deep breath.

'He hit me and then he, um,' she looked down.

'Oh.' I hugged tightly onto her, suddenly feeling a need to murder that monster. My mind was flooded with all sorts of feelings of rage and anger. How dare he walk into her safe place and scar her like that. I had suddenly snapped back into reality and changed my motives back to Taylor and supported her through this, but vengeance still lingered in the back of my mind.

'Travis, please don't make me go back.' Her helpless blue eyes looked into mine for the first time that day, conveying her desperation for me.

'Don't worry buttercup, I could never do that to you.'

Taylor attempted a smile but the sorrow she was experiencing was still written all over her face, rightfully so.

'Why don't you go have a shower and clean up. I can have a change of clothes ready for you when you're out?' I suggested

'Ok, that would be nice.' She hopped off my lap and reentered the bathroom.

I went to my drawers and found an oversized t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants I would usually wear to the gym. I got the little cat slippers she had left in my living room last time she was here and left them on my bed.

I got to the kitchen and remade her coffee, since it was cold after sitting for so long. I heard the water stop running and a few minutes later she came out wearing my clothes, the t-shirt reaching to her knees. Taylor seemed to look a bit more relaxed than before which calmed my nerves a little.

'Hey, thanks for the clothes, is it okay if I borrow your phone to call my mom?' She asked timidly.

'Yeah sure,' I knew that her mother and her had a very close relationship so it would be important for her family to know she was safe, especially because of what was coming. I handed her my phone and she unlocked it, already knowing my password. She smiled at me with a 'seriously' look because the code was 1312- representing her birth date.

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Taking a deep breath, I dialled her number. I know for fact she is probably worried about me because we have a routine to call every morning at 9, and currently the time is 3. After 2 rings she picked up.

'Oh my god, Taylor I was worried sick about you all morning, I called 6 times!' She sounded so relieved, even though we talked just yesterday.

'Hey mom.' I sighed. 'Sorry I missed your call. Everything has just been so hectic with what happened yester-' I paused. Fuck, I couldn't tell her yet, I can't - it's too soon. Not after I broke down in front of Trav. It's too hard.

'What happened yesterday, honey?' her voice asked over the receiver.

Not yet. Not yet, 'It's uh. . . it's nothing mom - I'll tell you later' My voice was shaky over the phone.

'Taylor what's wrong, I know something is wrong. Tell me now.' Andrea demanded with an anxious tone.

'Really mom it's nothing, uh just some problems with work.' I lied.

'Taylor, how many times have I told you I don't like you working at that bar!' She exclaimed. Many times she had expressed her disapproval for the job I work, well the one that actually pays. Since I was 16 I had been attempting to make a breakthrough in the music industry, but all my songs hadn't done well. When I moved out I was in need of a real job to provide while so I took one, at a bar a few minutes from my house in Philadelphia.

'You don't need to worry, ok? Trav is taking care of me.' I assured, knowing she probably wasn't going to let this go.

'Ok, just be safe sweetie.' She said with a sigh. 'Also where is Matty, shouldn't he be with you?'

'Um, I gotta go now. Love you mom.' She probably knew I was trying to avoid talking about it with the manner I said goodbye in. Right now I just need Travis to hold me and say everything is ok, I always feel better after that.

I walked back into the kitchen and handed the phone back to Travis. I shot him a thank you smile, feeling a little more confident than before.

'Hey, are you hungry for anything?' Travis gestured to the pasta he had made, my favourite, linguini.

'Yeah, that would be nice actually.' I walked up to him and gave him a hug. 'Thank you for everything,' I mumbled into his chest as his arms pulled tighter around me. 'I don't know what I'd do without you.'

'I love you.' He whispered into my hair

'I love you too Trav' I pulled back and gazed into his eyes. Suddenly I felt something. Something I had never felt before. My heart was beating faster than normal and something about the way his eyes looked into mine, said that we were more than friends.

'I-I, I'm sorry' I pulled back and sat at the table in front of my bowl. He sat across from me and we ate in silence, tension heavy in the air.

Can we thank my friends for not judging me and fixing my grammar in this chapter 👏

Also too hot to handle is very fun to watch while writing.