Part of Me

Chapter 44- A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Leon Bridges- Twistin' and Groovin'

Leon Bridges- Better Man

Leon Bridges- Pull Away

Taylor studied the photo, music still could be heard from the other room. It's upbeat tempo so ironically contrasted with Taylor's sinking heart. She checked the date the photo had been taken. It was recent and if Taylor was correct, it was the night Karlie had gone to the fashion event. She hadn't mentioned that Cara would be going. Maybe she didn't know. Taylor thought. But then again, she should have told me. In the past, Taylor would have analyzed it secretly for the next few days before brining it up in an argument that would inevitably take place. Taylor clenched her jaw. She shouldn't be the one fretting about this, Karlie should be the worried one.

Karlie must have noticed the shift in her girlfriend's mood.

"You find one?" she asked with caution in her voice.

Taylor unclenched her jaw, not answering but biting the inside of her cheek, eyes never leaving the screen.

"You ok?"

Taylor clenched her jaw again, this time her eyes darted up and she turned the phone around and extended her arm.

Karlie's eyes darted around the photo before looking up into cold blue ones.

"I..."

Taylor scoffed and dropped the phone on table, standing up to leave the room.

"Wait!" Karlie said reaching out an arm.

Taylor turned, waiting for an explanation.

"It's not what it looks like..." Karlie replied, knowing immediately she should have said something else.

"Really? Because from my personal experience almost every time someone says, 'it's not what it looks like' it's almost exactly what it looks like," Taylor said eyes narrowing.

Karlie stood, walking towards her girlfriend. "Tell me what you think that is and I'll prove you wrong."

"I think that's the first time you saw your ex girlfriend since we started dating and you didn't tell me you saw her or that you hung out alone in a bathroom at some glamorous event."

Karlie opened her mouth to repudiate what she expected Taylor to say but found herself stunned and speechless when there was nothing she could deny.

"That's what I thought," Taylor said turning and leaving the room.

Karlie's heart started to thump. She needed to explain this better but for some reason it all just seemed to be slipping though her hands the way the sand does on a hot summer day at the beach.

"Taylor..." Karlie said following the blonde and taking her hand to stop her from wherever her intended destination may have been.

Taylor spun around without a word but her piercing, intense, blue eyes said it all.

"Nothing happened. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't know she was going to be there and I was scared you'd be upset... which you obviously are," Karlie said, quiet with her last remark.

"You don't get it do you? I'm not upset that you saw her. I'm upset that you didn't tell me. How am I supposed to trust you if you never tell me anything," Taylor asked pulling away her hand.

"I didn't know I had to tell you every time I hug out with a friend," Karlie snapped immediately regretting letting her defensiveness get the best of her.