It has been months since Taylor and Harry last spoke.
After Harry left that day, Taylor laid in bed the rest of the night, crying and trying to figure out why she acted the way she did. She laid in bed all the next morning wondering what life could've been like if she and Harry had dated right then. The drive to school was slow and cold, blurry and rainy, perfect weather for Taylor and the way she's feeling. The entire day she would walk past Harry and not look at him. Days after that she would go separate routes just to avoid seeing him. She felt sick when she saw him and his girlfriend walking together hand-in-hand and being in love. Then came fall break. She didn't have to see him at all. The only bad part was when her mom would talk about inviting them for desert after thanksgiving dinner. She would nod once and smile, not saying yes or no. She dreaded waking up on thanksgiving day and seeing her dad and his wife and her kids. She hated this holiday.
"Taylor," Andrea called from the kitchen, "can you please get the table set up?" She asked.
Taylor was laying upside down on the couch, flipping through channels. "I'm busy mom," she said without any feeling.
Andrea knew Taylor wasn't doing anything. She mumbled profanities under her breath and wiped her hands on her apron. She walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, raising her eyebrows at Taylor.
"Taylor Alison!" Andrea yelled.
"What!" Taylor yelled back, flipping right side up.
"Please! Please! Cooperate today. I know, I know your feelings about this holiday. I know your feelings toward your father. But please, make it through dinner and we can go wherever you want." Andrea begged.
"Why do they even have to come here? Why can't they go to Alaska and celebrate with her family?"
"Her family is from California."
"They still should go away."
Just as Taylor finished speaking, the doorbell rang.
"Please?" Andrea begged once more. Taylor didn't like disappointing her mother so, she set aside her feelings and painted on a plastic smile and opened the door.
"Taylor!" Scott, Taylor's dad, smiled wide and barged through the door, suffocating Taylor into his arms. "I missed you so much!" He kissed her forehead and stepped back. "Laura, this is my daughter Taylor. Taylor, this is Laura, her two sons Chris and Mack, and her daughter Kayla."
"Hi," Taylor smiled at them and waved her hand. "Um, this is my mom, Andrea." Taylor introduced her mom, still perfecting her fake smile.
"Welcome! I'm so glad you could make it. Please, come inside and sit. I've made some hot cocoa..." Andrea disappeared with the crowd into the kitchen. Taylor stayed by the door, seeing the house across the street. She noticed Anne standing at the sinking that faced into the street, holding a large knife and a plump orange carrot.
Anne turned around and looked as if she was yelling something to someone. She looked forward with a smile on her face, then Harry came into view. He was laughing and set down a bag of something brown.
Taylor looked away, quickly, before she was seen by anyone. "Mom!" Taylor yelled to the kitchen, keeping eyes on the front door of the house across the street.
"What, Taylor?"
"Do we have any basil?" She asked.
"No, Taylor. What do we need basil for?" Andrea asked, wondering what Taylor's intentions were.
"I need basil for the potatoes. I'll be back."
"Taylor, you will not leave this house-" Andrea was cut off by the front door shutting.
Taylor ran across the street, avoiding the rain as best as she could. She felt a little adrenaline rush through her entire body. Adrenaline mixed with excitement, mixed with anxiety, mixed with fear, mixed with so many other emotions. She was smiling as she rang the doorbell.
Up until the door opened and Harry was in the doorway. "Taylor?" Harry asked, feeling pleased and confused that Taylor was at his doorstep.
"Hi." Taylor smiled nervously. She couldn't stop playing with her fingers.
"Hi."
"Yeah." Taylor nodded, still shocked he hasn't slammed the door in her face.
"Um, does your mom have any basil?" She asked, remembering why she disobeyed her mother and left.
"Basil?" He asked, a small smile on his face. "Mom?" He called inside his house. While they waited for Anne to respond, Harry stared at Taylor while Taylor looked at him. Even though he hasn't changed, Taylor sees something that she has never seen before.
"So, how are you?" Taylor asked.
"Good. I'm getting married next week, my second child on the way." Harry said with a smile.
"What?" Taylor asked, a look of horror on her face.
"I'm kidding." Harry laughed. Taylor took a breath of relief and began laughing as well.
"You suck." She laughed and nudged his shoulder.
||happy thanksgiving!! Hope you like this chapter! Kind of long aha||
