Unconditional

Chapter 10

After the ball is over we go to his hotel room. It's different from the one he stayed at last time and I call my parents to let them know where I am. They don't mind me staying out especially since I'm eighteen and all. We go by my house first so I can grab pjs and clothes for tomorrow since I'm still in my dress. I get back in his car and we drive over to his hotel room. When opening up his door to the room, it's a lot better than the last one he stayed at, it actually has color. I take off my dress and get into my pjs, and Taylor does the same. I sit on the bed and move myself back against the headboard. Taylor sits next to me and puts his arm around me.

"Thank you for coming," I tell him kissing his shoulder.

 I then rest my head on his shoulder and he says "you're welcome."

It's after one in the morning before we fall asleep. The dance lasted until eleven and we talked for two hours before I fell asleep.

The nightmares didn't come tonight, I dreamt of only good things reliving the moment I saw Taylor standing apart from the crowd of teenagers at the dance. It's Sunday the next day and I wake up at around eight. Taylor was already up but he was barely moving. His arm was around me and I felt warm in his embrace.

"Morning," I say rotating to see his face.

"Good morning," he whispers.

 I get out of bed and realize that today was Sunday and that I have to go to church. Taylor notices my haste and asks "what's all the hurry?"

"I totally forgot I have church today," I told him.

Taylor knew I went to church here in town. I am Catholic and Taylor is a Roman Catholic, so almost the same thing. "I can go with you," he says getting out of bed too.

I look at him and say "really?"

 "Yeah, it'll be fun," he kisses my forehead and we get ready for church at ten-thirty.

My parents and sister weren't at church so it was awkward standing there with Taylor not having my family there. I look around and find a lot of people staring at us, I even see my pastor staring at us for a brief second. Long enough for me to see it, though. I grab Taylor's hand and he squeezes it and rubs his thumb in soothing circles around the outside of my hand. It worked, it ended up soothing me.

After church on our way to the car Taylor asks "what was wrong with you in there?"

I breathe and say "I couldn't take everyone staring at me. Not one person was looking away."

He shakes his head "Carmen, people are going to stare, it's natural."

 It's not natural for people, in church of all places, to glue their eyes to you like you're a moving target.

"It doesn't feel like it," I tell him getting in the passenger side.

"When do you leave," I ask changing the subject.

 "Tomorrow night, if all my flight plans work out," he tells me pushing the gas pedal.

I nod, I had school tomorrow, and since I'm a senior I get to do half days.

 "Ok, I have to get to school early tomorrow but I'll be back by one," I tell him.

At least we'd have from one till he leaves to be together.

"No rush, don't forget you're coming to see me in a week."

In a week was the break I had for Valentine's Day but I got off the day before Taylor's birthday, February 11.

 I nod, "what are we doing special for your birthday?"

 "I don't know, we can think on it and decide later," he tells me.

 Taylor's 24 going to be 25 so I wanted to make it special. We had a significant age difference between us but that never really bothers us.