Beneath Your Beautfiul

Chapter 9 - Stand Up

~Taylor Winters~

I went straight home after school.

I didn't even stop for a Jamba Juice, I just needed to get back to my "home" and pack my things. I was so done with this city, with these people, with my whole high school life.

Maybe I could just go to college early or something.

I wasn't a terrible student I mean I got decent grades and I had some extra-curriculars.

Well, up until last year at least.

Quitting the cheer squad probably killed my college application.

Ugh.

I was so disgusted at that point in time. I mean yeah, I had only known the guy for a few days but I thought he was.. different.

I guess I shouldn't have set my expectations so high.

No ones perfect, I know that, he had just seemed so perfect to ME.

Maybe he had an explanation for being a pothead? Nick's an athlete and he seemed like an all around good guy so maybe there's more to the story.

I didn't really want to hear it though.

I pulled into the stupidly long driveway for, what I hoped was, the last time in a long time. I doubted anyone was home, my dad works non-stop and Jennifer is usually hanging out with her creepy boyfriend after school so I was really hoping Julie was out getting a pedicure or something because a daughter-and-wannabe-mom-pep-talk would be just about the worst thing that could happen.

Like life likes to do to me, it looked like that was exactly what was about to happen.

"Taylor? Is that you?" Julie said as I carefully attempted but failed to tip-toe past her room.

"Yeah, and I really don't have time to talk." I said, avoiding a 'hello, how's your day been?' situation.

"Well then you can just listen," Julie said, standing in my doorway while I  was frantically throwing things in my bag that I somewhat valued. "Your father loves you very much you know."

"He has a funny way of showing it." I said through gritted teeth.

"He's been going through a rough patch lately, Taylor, he didn't mean to hurt you."

"Even if he didn't mean to he still did and he needs to learn from his actions." I said sounding way more motherly than Julie.

"That's true, but Taylor can you please give him another chance? It's okay to stay at Kira's but we would really enjoy your company for dinner later this week?" Julie said.

"Fine, i'll think about it." I told her and scooted past her unnaturally skinny body to the door.

"Have a good time at Kira's!" She called out.

"When the hell did I ever say I was going to Kira's?" I mumbled under my breath and slammed the door on my way out.

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I was headed back to Nick's house to pick up my stuff before he got home from football practice. I didn't really want to explain why I didn't want to stay for another night. The gossip needed to stop and so did whatever was going on with us, if there was anything at all.

I walked into Nick's room, messy and full of car posters, sport trophys, and an xbox with GTA5 sitting on the top. So basically how it was last night. I found my Chanel designer bag and put my sweats and tank top inside, then I went to the bathroom and packed up my make-up and brush.