Part 17

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The sun hung low in the sky as I pulled up to Lila's house, a mix of hope and dread swirling in my stomach. The familiar neighborhood felt different somehow, as if it had absorbed the weight of my worries and transformed into something foreboding.

Tree had dropped me off a few blocks away, wanting to keep the situation discreet. Now, as I stood outside the modest home, I could feel the tension in the air.

Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the door and knocked lightly. The seconds stretched out like hours, and I could feel my heart racing in my chest. Would her mom answer? Would she even let me see Lila?

Finally, the door creaked open, and Lila's mom stood there, her expression a mix of suspicion and annoyance. "What do you want?" she snapped, crossing her arms tightly.

"I came to drop off a little birthday surprise for Lila," I said, forcing a smile. "Is she home?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Lila's busy. You can't just barge in here whenever you feel like it."

"I'm just worried about her," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. "I haven't seen her in a while. I wanted to make sure she's okay."

Lila's mom scoffed, her posture stiffening. "Why do you care? You're just a pop star looking for a new story. You think you can just play savior and sweep her away?"

Before I could respond, I heard a soft voice from behind her. "Taylor?" It was Lila, peeking around her mom's legs, her face lighting up with surprise.

"Lila!" I said, my heart swelling at the sight of her. "I brought you something."

But before I could take a step forward, her mom blocked my path, her expression morphing from defensive to dangerously hostile. "She can't go anywhere with you," she spat, her voice sharp as a knife. "I don't want you filling her head with your nonsense."

"Mom, please," Lila begged, her small voice trembling as she peered around her mother's legs. "I miss her."

"That doesn't matter!" Her mother's tone sliced through the air, venomous and unforgiving. "You have to focus on what's important, Lila!" The harshness of her words made my stomach churn, a knot tightening with every syllable. I could see the fear etched in Lila's wide eyes, and it fueled my determination to break through this wall.

"Listen, I'm not here to take her away," I said, my voice steady but laced with urgency. "I just want to check on her. She deserves to be happy and safe, away from all this."

"You don't know what's best for her!" her mom bellowed, the rage radiating from her like a heatwave. "You're not her parent! You have no right to interfere!"

"No, I'm not," I replied, my heart pounding as I took a cautious step closer, trying to keep my voice low and soothing, despite the tension. "But I care about her. I can't stand by while she's trapped in this nightmare."

Lila looked at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Taylor, please..."

I inhaled deeply, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like a physical force. "Lila, if you want to come with me, I can help you. You don't have to stay here." My voice was firm now, a lifeline thrown into turbulent waters.

Her mother's face contorted with a mix of rage and panic, disbelief etched across her features. "You can't just take her! She's my daughter!"

"Is she happy here?" I challenged, my voice a steady beacon. "You're not giving her the life she deserves. I can provide a safe space for her to be herself, away from all this negativity."

"Mom, please!" Lila cried, tears spilling down her cheeks, the desperate plea breaking my heart. "I want to go with Taylor!"

In that moment, everything hung in the balance, a fragile thread that could snap at any second. I could see the weight of Lila's fear, her longing for freedom, and I knew I couldn't back down. "I'm taking her with me," I said, my voice resolute, echoing with finality.

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