The Way We Once Were

thirteen

tw: abuse

Taylor's POV

The next morning, Travis left, leaving me in the house by myself, in my bedroom. Joe had told me to get dressed into something nice, because when he got home, he was taking me out somewhere as a surprise. I rummaged through my wardrobe, my fingers landing on a pale blue dress. It was lightweight, and perfect for a last minute 'date' outfit. Not too dressed up, but still, something I wouldn't wear every day.

Slipping it off the hanger, I got changed, choosing out a pair of white heels to go with it. I checked myself over in the mirror. As I admired the dress, my thoughts wandered to Travis. Just thinking about him made me feel lighter, hearing his laughter in my ears, feeling his hands on my skin.

I sighed, closing my eyes. Joe. I shouldn't be thinking about this now. I checked my phone. 9:28. Joe would be home any second now. I felt the slightest bit of guilt for letting my mind wander so easily, but I brushed it away. I had made the right choice. Joe was not the right person for me.

I adjusted the straps on my dress, swiping on some red lipstick before heading downstairs to wait for Joe. The moment I got downstairs, the door opened, and Joe poked his head into the house. "You ready?" He asked me, in a voice that sounded too cheerful for his miserable self.

"Yeah." I said, my voice barely hiding my reluctance. He smiled and led me to his car. I sat down, buckling up as he started the engine. "So...where are we going?" I asked him, keeping my eyes focused on the road ahead of us. "It's a surprise." Joe chuckled. I frowned. Why was he so happy. He was never this happy.

Eventually, we pulled up in front of a small café. "I'm taking you out to brunch!" Joe said cheerfully getting out of the car. "Oh, okay." I said, following him out dispiritedly. As we walked into the brunch spot, the sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the cheerful tables. The smell of coffee and baked goods filled the air, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Joe was never this nice.

We settled into our seats, and Joe picked up the menu, glancing up at me with a smile that didn't even feel forced. "I'm glad we could do this," he said, his voice a little too bright. "I thought it would be nice to have a relaxed morning together."

The server brought us coffee, and I stirred my cup absentmindedly, my thoughts slipping back to last night with Travis. I couldn't help but think of how different it felt with him, how easy it was. Every word we shared, every look, felt like a conversation in itself, as if we understood each other in a way I'd forgotten was possible. I found myself glancing out the window, wondering what he was doing now, wondering if he was thinking of me, too.

Joe cleared his throat, pulling me back to the present, and I caught his gaze, noticing the tension lines around his mouth as he glanced at his phone. He seemed to be checking the time, watching the moments tick by with a nervous energy that made me uneasy.

The server arrived with our plates, and Joe clinked his water glass, a sound that seemed almost deafening in the quiet room. "Hey, everyone, can I have your attention for just a moment?" he called out, his voice a mix of excitement and nerves. My heart skipped a beat, a knot of dread forming in my stomach as the clinking sound died down, and the other patrons fell into a curious silence.

"Taylor," he began, his tone serious and deliberate. He looked at me with a practiced smile, his eyes lacking the warmth I'd once thought was there. "You mean the world to me. And... I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

My heart was pounding now, and I froze, barely able to breathe as he continued. I watched him reach into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small, velvet box, and my mind went blank with shock. He couldn't be serious. This was happening—here, now, with everyone watching, and my thoughts somewhere else entirely.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, lowering himself onto one knee.

The entire restaurant seemed to be watching, and I could feel everyone's eyes on me, a crowd of strangers waiting for me to say yes. But as I looked at Joe, I felt nothing but a heavy, aching emptiness. The reality I wanted was far from this one, and the person filling my mind wasn't him.

I couldn't say yes. I just couldn't.

My voice was barely a whisper as I looked down, my gaze shifting from Joe to the ring in his hand. "Joe... I'm really sorry, but... I can't."

The silence was deafening, punctuated only by a few surprised gasps from nearby tables. His expression shifted from hope to anger, but it was quickly covered by a smile. "Oh, I see. How about we go home then." Joe plastered a fake smile on his face, but I could see the anger rising in his eyes.

We drove home silently, but the moment we closed the front door to my house, Joe turned on me. "Are you serious?" he asked, his voice thick with disbelief. "You'd humiliate me like this? In front of everyone?" He was seething, and I could feel his anger washing over me, hot and sharp, prickling at my skin.

"I didn't mean to," I stammered, feeling the shame wash over me. I looked down, knowing how awful this must feel, how painful it must be to have made a public declaration only to be turned down. But the guilt was matched by something else, a certainty, one that told me this was the right choice. I didn't want this, not with him. Not when my heart was so clearly elsewhere.

His eyes narrowed, his voice low and strained, almost a growl. "You could've at least had the decency to say yes now and break up with me later. But no, you had to make a spectacle, make me look like a fool."

"You want to explain why?" he continued, crossing his arms and looking at me with narrowed eyes. "I've done everything for you. I've put up with every single one of your little moods, your career focus, whatever it is you need to feel like you're 'important.' I've stood by you when you've barely even acknowledged me. And here I am, pouring my heart out, and you don't even care."

"Joe...I" I stammered, unable to meet his eyes. "I know you're mad about this but-"

"Shut up!" Joe's fist flew towards my face and a flash of pain spread across my face. I lifted a hand to my cheek as I looked at Joe, my eyes wide. He'd fucking punched me.

"What the fuck?" I whispered. He threw the ring box at me, and I caught it, my eyes still wide. "You can keep this," he sneered, his tone filled with disgust. "I'm done trying to convince you to love me. Figure yourself out, Taylor. You've wasted enough of my time."