Going Back to Get Away After Everything Has Changed

Ch 8: Where I'm Going is Everyone's Story

Author's note: I had this story concept a few years back, and wrote down a portion of it. When I stumbled upon the work a couple months ago, this is actually where the story started. Actually it was going to be about Hayley, but I decided that it would be ten times better if it was about Josh. I decided to take in a challenge for myself and write it from others' perspective, rather than Hayley's. I was committed to doing this because I felt that Hayley would have been too biased and it would stay that way throughout the entire story. For a while I was writing the chapters from everybody else POVS except Hayley's, but towards the end I realized that it had too much of an outside view, and in order to gain full depth of thought processes in these situations it was imperative to inlcude Hayley's emotions(why there was a long gap between chapters I had to rewrite this). Don't get me wrong, this story IS about Josh. But for the upcoming chapters, Hayley needs to be here.

PART 2: All We Know Is Falling

Hayley William's POV

Home sweet home. Home to my comfortable bed with my snuggly husband, a decent shower, some coconut ice cream in the fridge, dusty books that I swore I was going to read while away but ended up never bringing them(shoot I can get started today if I want!), and my beautiful girl that most likely fell asleep to music playing again.

I stood in some awe in front of my house even though it was barely visible in the early morning dark.

I spun around to see Taylor behind me, handing me my glasses that I forgot in the car.

"I keep forgetting these, darn." I said as I grabbed them from Taylor.

"Looks like you're good to go." he replied. I think he was grinning but you couldn't tell in the dark.

"Get home safe, okay bud?" I said, lightly tapping him in the arm.

"I will, don't worry. I'll text you when I'm home." Taylor answered, returning a tap on my arm.

I let out a sigh of relief. "This is it huh? We only can look forward to our next creation. We're done."

"Hey, let's just go home and relax first. We'll talk in a few days if any of us have plans for the future." Taylor chuckled out.

"Okay, okay. Bye Tay, talk to you soon." I said giving him a quick firm hug.

He squeezed me a bit. "You too, Hayles."

With that, he left back to the taxi. I waved him off, and then made the way into my house.

As I reached the front door, I fished for my house keys in my purse but then the door opened quickly seeing my Chad smiling wide like the goofball he is.

He forgets that his size is empowering.

"Ahh!" I screamed, jumping back, almost losing my balance.

"Sorry babe. Didn't mean to scare ya." Chad said apologetically, yet with a hint of amusement.

I reached forward and smacked him in the arm, and he laughed his adorable laugh. He pulled me closer and we embraced in a hug.

"You're so warm." I said, squeezing him.

"Perks of being in a warm bed while waiting for my Hayley." Chad dreamily replied.

He kissed the top of my head, semi pulled apart from me, grabbing my luggage with one hand and holding my hand with his other.

"Home has awaited you, my good lady." he voiced in an English gentleman manner.

"Ahh yes, quite delightful." I mirrored, leaving a little giggle at the end.

We entered our house, and he parted from me shortly to set my luggage down near the living room table. He rushed back to me, grabbed my waist and boosted me up to his face, sloppily pressing his lips against mine. He laughed and let me drop to the floor. I laughed too, pinching his widened cheeks in my hands.

"Sometimes I forget I'm over 50." he laughed off. "I'm getting weak!"

"You're still a hunk in my eyes." I gleamed.

Our eyes locked in that way every teenage girl dreamed of. And I lived that dream everyday.

I reached up and kissed his nose.

"Nothing's more manlier than recieving a kiss on the nose." he responded.

I laughed and playfully pushed him away.

"I'm beat." I said walking to the kitchen to pour me some almond milk. "I'm thinking should I unpack now or after I sleep?" I asked as I opened the fridge.

Chad came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

He whispered into my ear, "Are you sure you're exhausted?"

Those rush of butterflies just don't go away with time.

I giggled and squirmed out of his grip and went to pour myself the milk.

"Eh save it for later. You got all the time now." he added with a chuckle.

"Yeah.. I do huh?"

It hit me about how old I was getting. Chad is over 50, my girl is already looking at colleges to apply to. I might not even know it, but that might just be the last of anything me and the guys would do. Chad retired years ago.

Was it now my time to?

I could barely go through one show and carry at least 1/4th of the energy I had 20 years ago. The constant tours depleted me and the severe whiplash was not as rewarding as it used to be. Unknowingly to me, I was aging so much.

"Hey." Chad said breaking the silence (which I wasn't sure of how long it lasted), coming forward to embrace me in a soft hug.

"I know how it feels. But that's part of growing up. You're still young at heart, you've got a number of years in you." he added.

I buried my face into his chest.

"I'm not ready to stop. There's still so much more I want to express."

"Then don't stop. Express more." he replied encouragingly.

I looked up into his eyes, and he returned a grin. I lightly kissed him, and turned my attention back to my milk.

"You know Taylor told me that we give each other a call to talk about any future plans. I guess that's some hope for it still going on right?" I said after taking a swig.

"And after all this time," Chad softly sung, "Tay has more to do in Paramore."

I spit out a laugh that transformed itself into tears that mirrored the immense feeling of relief when the Farros left the band. The Farros. Zac and Josh. The two haven't crossed my mind in a while. Moving on. Yes, to better things. That's what it is now, moving on to better things. Another stage in my life.

"Even if we don't officially put out anything, we can still create music for ourselves right?"

Chad shrugged. "Maybe, but one thing is for sure, you guys will still be involved in each other's lives. Me and the guys still are. Musical bonds are too strong to be broken."

I nodded, gave a thankful smile, and washed my glass.

I felt somewhat satisfied with his answer. In most part, it wasn't true. I had such a great musical bond with Zac, especially Josh. Yet that was severed quicker and deeper than anything in the world. I was personally betrayed. You think I would let go by now, but some part of me seems to linger onto the negativity that was deep down, hanging on for its dear life. I assume it's God's test, or a temptation to become corrupted within. There are some things you learn to live through, but not always peacefully.

As I finished drying the glass cup, I looked up at Chad, who was watching me the whole time. Now that, that is my tranquility to live through everything. I outstretched my hand, and he grabbed it caringly. We then walked to our bedroom, and sure enough on the way over there, a faint sound of music was coming from Christi's room.

The two most important people in my life living under the same roof to bring joy and adventure to my life. This was home.