Renegade Revival

Chapter 20: Say it Again and Mean it

Taylor's POV

"Wouldn't this look cute with those black shoes I got last week?" Veronica asked as we passed by a store I wasn't looking at. I snapped out of my daze, feeling empty after I had left it.

"Huh?" I asked, giving Veronica a vacuous look. She let out a grown as she tossed my hand out of her grasp.

"Taylor, I expect you to be paying attention," she whined. I rolled my eyes with a sigh.

"Fine, fine," I grumbled. She huffed as we began walking again.

"As I was saying..." I zoned out again, Hayley flooding my thoughts as we strolled through the mall. As Veronica looked one way, I looked the other, tuning out her annoying voice.

I hated myself for leaving Hayley at my house after what we had shared the night before. I remembered the time she had a panic attack because she thougth I had left her like the others she's been with. Today, I became one of those guys; and I felt disgusted with myself.

"Taylor? Taylor!" Veronica scolded.

"Wha'?" I asked, turning back to her again.

"You're not paying attention," she growled as she glared at me. "Is there something on your mind that's more important than me?" I wanted to say yes, because it was the truth. Hayley was on my mind; Hayley was more important than Veronica... though I never did prove it to Hayley yet. My stomach twisted in knots with guilt.

"No," I lied, shaking my head.

"Act like it," she hissed.

"I don't like how you're talking to me, Veronica," I stated. She stopped walking, then turned to me again.

"Excuse me?" she snarled.

"I don't like how you're talking to me," I repeated. "And with that, I don't like how you're treating me, either."

"And how is that? How am I doing that?" she quizzed. I looked around the mall, searching for words in my head to answer her questions.

I caught a glimpse of Hayley walking on the other side; my eyes locked on her. She looked over to me, her eyes meeting mine. Hayley glared at me, her hazel eyes showing anger and sadness. I gave her an apologetic stare; she shook her head at me, as if she refused my apology I wished to send to her telepathically, and disappeared into a store.

"Taylor, what has gotten into you!" Veronica complained.

"Nothing," I said, still staring where Hayley once was. "Nothin'..." I walked away from Veronica, blocking out the rest of her nagging as I went into the store Hayley went into. I looked around and eventually found hazel eyes glaring at me through the spaces between the clothes on the rack she was looking through.

"Hey," I whispered as I walked up to her.

"How would I look in this dress?" she asked, immitating Veronica's voice. Acid was dripping from her words. "Would they look good with the shoes I bought last week?"

"I don't care--"

"You never listen, Taylor," she whined, still mocking Veronica. Hayley walked off to another rack. I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Listen to me, Hayles," I begged. Hayley looked back at me, then at my hand, then me again.

"I dunno, York," she said. "After I found out that you had left me for that brat, I don't think I can listen to you."

"Hayley, please," I begged, my voice still remaining stern.

"Fine," she huffed as she turned to me. "I'm listening. What?"

"I'm sorry," I said. Hayley rolled her eyes and continued to look through the clothes. "Honestly, I am."

"Prove it."

"I'll do whatever you want me to do. Say it, I'll do it."

"Alright," she hummed. She looked up at me again, her eyes full of pain and betrayal. "Leave Veronica."

"Hayley--"

"Leave. Veronica," she repeated. "I don't want to be with you if it involves me being a second choice."

"I never said that," I argued.

"I know. But you show it." Hayley walked out of the store, leaving me with her words. I ran after her and grabbed her hand.

"I'll do it," I said. Hayley snickered a little and turned to me.

"You said that before, Taylor. Promise me and really mean it."

"I promise and mean it," I vowed.

"I trust you, York. I only trust you. Keep that in mind." Hayley slipped her hand out of my grasp with a forced smile. "Keep your distance, stiff. Wouldn't want your girlfriend bitching again, would ya?" And Hayley left again.

"So," Veronica huffed as she walked up to me. "Chasing girls at malls is the new thing now, huh?"

"Shut up," I sighed as I closed my eyes, wishing her voice would go away along with the newly created headache.

"I have every right to speak about this."

"I'm going home," I stated and walked out of the mall and to my car, leaving Veronica alone... and leaving Hayley hurt.