Misery Business (Sequel to Never Let This Go) *Paramore*

Chapter Sixteen: I'm Glad

Hayley's P.O.V.

"The woman's name was Heather Delaney, and the accused murderer was Chad's father?! That's insane! He's one of the kindest people I've ever met!" I say still shocked after reading the short article regarding the murder.

"Do you think he could've been framed?" Jeremy asks me, as we both sit of the Fall Out Boy couch, Taylor next to me. Pete, Patrick, Andy, and Joe know enough now that we don't have to hide from them, but we don't go running to them either I've got an intense fear that Angela will hurt them in some way, and it's driving me insane, to be honest. They don't deserve to be dragged into this. No one does.

"Maybe, but who would want to frame him?" Taylor asks just as confused as I am.

"I don't even want to think about this right now to be honest," I admit rubbing my eyes with my hands. Who does to be honest? Who would want to be tortured and then go and figure out all of the background information? It hurts to much, and I can't even think straight right now. I bury my face in Taylor's chest, not wanting to ever have to move. He wraps his arm around me and Jeremy sighs.

"I just want it to end," he says looking stressed.

"She isn't going to stop until I'm dead, we all know it," I say quietly. I'm her target now. Sure she wants Chad gone, but I survived her plans. I'm still breathing, and that's something that she wants to change.

"She won't hurt you, I won't let her," Taylor tells me as I'm still in his chest.

"She already has," I whisper. I swear I can hear Taylor's heart stop for a moment once I say that, and I bury my face farther into his chest, leaving Jeremy to sit by and have to watch me break. He's like my brother, I don't want to break in front of him, but I can't help it.

"Is everything okay in here?" Patrick asks walking in awkwardly and sitting across from us. I don't say anything, I just breathe in and back out again.

"This whole Angela business is just getting hard again," Jeremy tells me honestly. "We can only take so much,"

"Find her weakness," Patrick responds simply. "Use it,"

"How do we do that? We know close to nothing about her," Taylor asks Patrick, who is probably ten times smarter than we are.

"Find a way. Look at the mental hospital she's at and find a website. A lot of the time they show the patients. Find out her full name, and search for details later," he explains.

"Thanks. I don't think you should get involved though, we don't want you to get hurt," Jeremy tells him. Patrick just nods, and walks back into the back lounge.

Soon enough I decide that I'm not up to be looking into this right now. I'm really not. I need a little longer to pretend everything is okay, actually. I know very well that pretending won't make anything true, but the temporary relief from it all is nice for however long it may last.

Finally we get our bus back, and Jeremy will be out for a while because a close friend of his lives in the arena and he went to meet him at a coffee shop nearby. It's just Taylor and I for now, which I'm completely okay with.

I have my knees up to my chest, my arms wrapped around them, and Taylor is sitting next to me as we watch some horror movie that happened to be on. I'm not even really sure of what it's called. "I miss Bill," Taylor says randomly, me giggling at him.

"You're so random sometimes," I say with a smile.

"No but really," he responds claiming to be serious.

"I wish I had a small dog..." I say furrowing my eyebrows together and making a frowny face with the corners of my mouth. "I can help you though," I tell Taylor.

"How would you do that?" he asks looking worried of how I may plot my evil plan to take over the world.

"Distractions," I explain pulling him closer to me wearing the biggest smile humanly possible. As we sit kissing in the back lounge, I no longer feel bad about anything. All of the weights that were holding me down are suddenly lifted, and I'm slowly healing as I keep my lips on Taylor's. Why now and not before?

Now I'm sitting on the top of the couch, my hands in Taylor's curls, him holding my lower waist, keeping me from falling off the couch. I pull away for air, and laugh at him. "So it worked?" I ask breathing heavily.

"I think I need more distractions," he responds as he kisses the tip of my nose. I allow myself to let out a small giggle and kiss him passionately again and again. It's funny how we have moments like this, but it doesn't get farther than kissing. I'm not sure why, maybe he knows I'm not ready, or he knows I'm still freshly cut up from rape. Maybe he isn't ready.

Taylor is like that. He never rushes into anything, he just falls really fast. He's honestly one of the most hopeful people I know, as well. He puts everything into people. I don't want to let him down anymore than I already have. I know I have before, but now I'm realizing how fragile he truly can be. He may be fragile at times, but he is also the strongest man I know in other situations. It's hard to explain. "Taylor, can I tell you something?" I ask pulling away from our kiss softly.

"Of course," he replies with a smile, pulling me off the top of the couch and guiding me to sit on the couch properly.

"I never thought I'd say this, but you truly make me glad I'm not dead," I say in almost a whisper, my eyes stinging. Who knew I could take a step so big by kissing the man I love?