All We Know Is Falling - A Tayley Fanfiction

Chapter 12: Forgiveness

When we finally make it back to Taylor's place, the sun is beginning to rise over the houses. I sigh and look at him, pushing myself back into my seat.

"Ummmm...what are we going to do about..." I ask, just as he says the same thing. We both break out into giggles.

"JINX!"

"JINX AGAIN!"

When the laughter eventually subsides, he turns to look at me.

"So...do you want to split from him? If you don't that's ok, I don't want to pressure you into anything, but..."

"Yeah," I reply, "I think...I think...if you think that's ok..."

"Yep."

"So...ummm...we need to go talk to him. I mean, I can't divorce him without asking him first, right?"

He takes my hand gently and together we walk across town to Chad's...I mean my house. There's no guarantee that he will be there, but something tells me that he will. Although that said...he never was there for me when I needed him, so I can't expect that he'll be here now.

However, when we knock on the door (together, tentatively), we hear a muffled grunt from inside. Knowing him, he was probably sprawled lazily across the sofa watching the football. I always hated that. After a minute or so, which he probably took to dress himself well enough to come to the door, he answers us.

Standing at the door, he looks haggard and tired. Dark rings surround his eyes, like he hasn't slept in days. Clearly, he's put on a couple of pounds - stress eating? - and his Tennessee Titans shirt is stretched over his stomach. I begin to regret my decision to move this quickly, but Taylor squeezes my hand, like he knows what I'm thinking - he always does, it's almost magical - and I know what I have to do.

"Chad...I'm so sorry..." I begin, "but I feel like...things haven't worked out for us. And...I loved you, I still do, but...since we married things just haven't been the same, and...I'm not sure I can do this anymore."

He looks at me, forlorn. "What...what are you suggesting?"

"Chad...Chad...my darling...I want...a divorce..."

"Seriously?"

"I'll always care about you...we've spent 10 years of our lives together, but I want a new life with...someone else..."

His face darkens and for a minute I think he's about to cry, but then he lunges at me. Of course, Taylor moves instinctively to protect me.

"Chad, I swear, I've loved Hayley for as long as I've known her, but I've never made a move until now. Please...she's so fragile...don't hurt her, I beg you."

I pick up as he trails off. "I love Taylor now. Please, if you love me, let me go."

He looks down, dejected. "Okay...but just know that you're breaking my heart."

"I'm sorry, but this is what I have to do," I reply, and together, Taylor and I walk away from the place I used to call home  to Taylor's house and...well, I guess it's mine now too.

The next few days pass like a blur - talking to lawyers, signing contracts, moving furniture. There's one condition that he has: that we wait a few months for the decision to settle in before we announce it to the world. And I agree. If we spring this on them now, then the papers will jump to conclusions and above all, we don't want that.