The Way We Once Were

four

Taylor's POV

I got in the car after Selena and I finished our drinks, not long after Travis had left. My mind was spinning as I navigated my way home. It must have been some kind of twist of fate that we bumped into each other today. I arrived at home, unlocking the door and turning on the lights. "Joe?" I called out. No response. Where was he? I checked my phone for any messages and spotted one from him.

Joe: I'm going out tonight. I'll be back before 9.

I set my phone down angrily. It was almost 10. I stormed upstairs, throwing on some pyjamas and wiping off my makeup. I lay in bed, getting out my phone. I opened my messages and scrolled until I found Travis's chat. We hadn't talked for almost 8 months, according to our conversations. We had just been so busy with life in general, but now I know, he was probably busy with his girlfriend. Did he still even have a girlfriend, after she cheated?

I stared at our chats, wishing we were still the way we once were. I scrolled through all of them, filled with nostalgia. What did it feel like when I was with Travis, actually being cared for? I felt tears build up in my eyes and put my phone away on my bedside table. I shut my eyes and tried to sleep.

-----------------------------------

I woke to loud bangs in the kitchen. I sat up groggily, staring around the pitch-black room. I tapped my phone, and it lit up with the time. 2:18am. What in the world was going on? The noises from the kitchen didn't cease as I walked down the stairs, if anything, getting louder. I squinted my eyes, trying to adjust to the bright light pouring out of the kitchen. I peered into the room, just to see a very drunk Joe stumbling around the kitchen, trying to find a cup. "Joe!" I ran to him. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, nothing I just need some water." He slurred, trying to kiss me. I pushed him away, disgusted. "Joe, you're drunk." I sighed, grabbing a glass and filling it with water, handing it to him. I rubbed my eyes tiredly. "Why are you home so late? You said you'd be home before 9." I asked him, regretting my words when he turned on me, breathing heavily. "It doesn't matter. It's not your business." He spat. I winced, then stepped back. "Joe, I'm going to help you get to bed, okay?" I said, trying to hide the shake in my voice. He nodded, grabbing onto my arm harshly.

I helped him wash his face and brush his teeth before guiding him to the guest bedroom. "I want to sleep with you." He slurred, his breath still reeking of alcohol. I shook my head, trying not to gag at the smell. "Maybe next time." I walked out of the room, trusting him to fall asleep by himself.

I snuggled into bed again and closed my eyes. A few minutes later I turned around, unable to fall asleep. After almost an hour of lying in bed and restlessly fidgeting, I gave up, reaching for my phone, clicking on Travis's messages. I needed him right now. I needed his comforting voice, his warm smiles and chuckles. I missed him.

I called him. I didn't care that it was 2am and he probably wouldn't even be awake, but I felt more alone than I'd ever felt in my life. To my surprise, I heard him pick up the phone. "Taylor?" He asked, tired and confused. "Travis, can I talk to you for a bit. I'm sorry it's so early." I pleaded with him. "Of course, you can call anytime." He assured me, but I could still hear the grogginess in his voice. "What's on your mind kitten?" He checked. I let out a breath I hadn't realised I was holding. I knew Travis would be here to hear.

"Joe just came home five hours later than he said he would come home. And he's really drunk." I sighed, wiping the tears that were gathering in my eyes. "I'm just so sick of having to deal with him when I should be the one being taken care of. Do you know how many times he's checked in with me since we started dating? Twice. Two times in the span of two years." I sobbed, overcome with grief and exhaustion.

"I'm sorry Taylor. You should be treated so much better. You should be treated as equals, you know that? Why don't you break up with him if you don't like him?" He comforted me. "I can't. You wouldn't understand. Trust me, if I tried to break up with him, I'd never hear the end of him." I cried.

I heard Travis sigh tiredly over the phone. "Please stay on the call Travis." I begged him. "I will, I'm not planning on hanging up kitten." He told me. "Talk to me. Just get my mind off Joe." I sniffled.
"Remember when we were together in college? Everyone would always try and convince us to start dating because we had been friends since middle school. And one day I asked you out at the school excursion to the zoo, right in front of the big cats." He reminisced dreamily.

"Yeah, I remember." I sniffed, starting to smile as I was filled with waves of nostalgia. "And we would always meet outside the school, near that café when school ended so we could walk home or hang out together."

I laughed softly, lost in my own little world with Travis. "Thanks Travis." I said thankfully. "No problem, just call whenever you need to." He said gently. "I better go to sleep now. Talk soon okay?" I said, yawning. "Night kitten." He said, his voice just above a whisper, then he hung up.

I felt myself droop off to sleep, my eyelids heavy. My body relaxed as I remembered Travis's calming voice comforting me as I sobbed. He was always the one to help me feel better, when we were dating. And now, I knew he hadn't changed one bit.