What About Now

Chapter 44 - Not Giving Up

Taylor's P.O.V.
"I'm not talking to him!" I cried, startling both Kaya and Dylan, "You said it yourself didn't you, that he was the one who first took me into my bedroom? If what happened did happen, then it's his fault!" Dylan opened his mouth to protest, but Kaya spoke up first.

"But Taylor, don't you want to hear what he has to say about this whole situation? After all, he might have a different take on it?"

"A different take? How is there another take on this?" I blurted, laughing sarcastically, "Ben said he saw us together, Kaya! He actually saw us! A) How do you think that makes me feel, thinking that he saw me cheat on him? and B) Why on earth would I want to talk to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place? Thomas has literally just ruined any future I could have had with Ben, and I've no way to make it up now!"

"Yeah, but Taylor, Thomas is your friend," Dylan continued, "I'm sure he has his own take on it all."

"Oh my God, you guys don't get it do you?" I was really getting wound up now, "I can't call Thomas a friend if this is what happens! Ben hates me now, and it's all Thomas' fault. I'm pretty sure I didn't want to go in the bedroom! You told me it was Thomas' idea, right?" Dylan and Kaya exchanged looks.

"Yeah," Dylan replied slowly, "You had hurt your ankle and although you told him you were fine, Thomas had insisted..."

"She does have a good point," Kaya said reassuringly, "It was Thomas who practically carried you to your room. But it just doesn't seem like something Thomas would do. Or you for that matter, Tay!"

"So you're not going to talk to Thomas at all?" Dylan asked shyly. He was probably worried that I was going to bite his head off again.

"No. As far as I'm concerned, any friendship that I had with that jerk is officially over!" I could feel the tears of anger pooling in my eyes, and it pained me to say it. But it was true. Thomas cheated on me and now he's made me do the same thing. I hate him. I officially and truly hate him. I snatched my phone from the table and jumped down from my stool.

"Whoa, where are you going?" Kaya asked after me as I headed towards my bedroom.

"I'm going over to Ben's hotel. I've got to try and clear this bloody mess up!"

An hour later...

I leapt out of the taxi as it pulled up alongside the road opposite Ben's hotel. I must have shocked the guy when I did, because he instantly shouted out a loud 'Whoa!' when I did.

"Sorry," I sighed breathlessly at his window, pulling my bag open and searching in its depths for my purse. I could feel the driver's eyes watching me closely, giving me the sense that he wanted me to hurry up, and that only made me more flustered.

"Are you alright miss?" He asked in a soft tone, "You seem a little on edge?"

"Uh urm, y-yeah I'm fine," I smiled, hurriedly handing him the money, "Sorry about that! Things are all a bit up in the air at the minute." The man smiled kindly at me before retrieving my change. His eyes were crinkled slightly when he smiled, and the way his brown hair was slowly turning grey at the roots reminded me of my father. He had had streaks of white in his hair, and I always used to play with them and say how they made him look like Jack Frost. A small sense of happiness tried to warm my broken heart, but even that story brought back sad memories.

"There ya go, miss," The man's voice interrupted my thoughts, "Twenty pounds change."

"But I gave you twenty pounds," I frowned, looking from the money to the man.

"Yes, and here is your change," He reached out of the window and pressed the money into my hand. I realised what the guy was doing, and instantly protested.

"Oh no, please take the money?" I pleaded, trying to hand him the money again. There was no way I couldn't pay for my taxi ride. But he refused.

"No, no I insist," He smiled kindly, pressing the money firmly into my hand once more, "It's not every day that I get to make a troubled young girl's day better." A smile formed on my face, and I slowly brought my hand back.

"Thank you, sir," I said in a barely audible whisper.

"You are more than welcome, miss!" He grinned, before speaking to me in a low whisper, "Remember, although the sun may not be shining down on us at this moment, it's still there and waiting to come back to us." With that, he waved goodbye to me and started up the engine. I distantly watched him drive off down the road, and his words circled around in my mind. Although the sun may not be shining down on us at this moment, it's still there and waiting to come back to us. Just a small line like that, and there was already a tingle of hope inside of me that things might turn out okay. With some feeling of hope now inside me, I turned on the spot and rushed for the stairs.

Only the gods knew what I looked like as I came to a quick halt at the receptionist's desk. I had literally pulled on the first thing that I could find in my wardrobe, and I hadn't showered or anything. My make-up must have been all over the place and I hadn't even looked at a hair brush all morning. The receptionist jumped slightly at my sudden appearance and looked at me rather sharply.

"What do you want?" She spat harshly, as if each word tasted terrible in her mouth.

"I'm sorry," I gasped for air, pulling a piece of hair out of my face, "But is it at all possible that you could give me the number to my partner's hotel room? This is extremely important!"

"No, I am not allowed to give strangers any information regarding the room numbers of those staying at this hotel," The rude lady nodded curtly at me, "So goodbye."

"No no, wait please!" I begged, pressing my hands down on the desk, "Please? I really need to see him."

"Miss, I really must protest!" The lady hissed, narrowing her eyes at me, "You do not have any right to know the room numbers of any of our guests, so I insist that you leave now!" At this point I knew I was beginning to make a scene, and I could feel the eyes of about every single person in the lobby burn into my back.

"Look," I said bluntly, becoming extremely infuriated with this woman's tone, "Can I call my partner and get him to tell you that I'm not some freak but actually his fiancé?"

"Do what you like, but there's no way I will be able to help you." Grinding my teeth together at her response, I turned away from Countess Dracula, and dug around in my bag for my phone. I quickly dialled Ben's number and stood there tapping my foot as I listened to the dialling tone. Of course, it went to voicemail.

"Okay, you win," I sighed, looking back at the receptionist, who looked sickeningly pleased with herself, "But would it at all be possible to use your bathroom?"

"Uh, fine!" She rolled her eyes, "Down that hall and on your right." I didn't even wait to hear her directions, but instead sped off in the direction of the hall she had pointed to. I knew that I'd probably wound her up by not thanking her for all her 'help' but I didn't care. Once I was out of sight of Countess Dracula and anybody else who had been watching me in the lobby, I turned in my tracks and headed for the lift. If that woman wasn't going to give me the number to Ben's room, then I would have to find it for myself.