Issues

Issues - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"Babe, I love you but I got to work on this project," Taylor said brushing his fingertips along my jaw line after school on Thursday. The week had passed by in a blissful blur. Our fight was behind us and everyone seemed to accept that - some unwilling.

I nodded trying to mask my disappointment, but of course Taylor knew my face too well to take that as truth. "Kaya, I need to pass this."

"No go! I understand," I laughed. I really did, I knew he needed this to get done.

"I know you hate being alone and I feel bad. I would invite you to come but I would never get anything done with you there," he smiled. He was absolutely right; we never even attempted homework together because we knew it was a lost cause.

"It's okay. I'll go running or something. Don't worry about it school's important." I kissed him quickly before getting into my car and driving off. I didn't have the patience to keep up the fake-happiness any longer. It didn't help knowing that he could see right through it either.

I originally had no intentions of actually going running, but once I got to the empty house I changed my mind. Normally running was a release for me when I was angry, stressed or sad. Seeing as how I was neither, it was strange to me, but I went anyway.

Once back from my run around the neighborhood, I took a shower and collapsed on my bed ready to tackle my homework. I worked through it slowly and then finally finished deciding to give Taylor a call.

I waited patiently as the phone continued to ring. No one picked up. Taylor always answered his phone, especially when he was it was me on caller ID. I hung up and tried again only to get his voice mail recording.

I frowned and let out a disappointed sigh. Deciding to call Nikki instead to keep myself busy.

"Hello?" she answered.

"It's Kaya."

"Oh hey! What's up?"

"Nothing, bored and lonely," I laughed lightly.

"Aw, no Taylor?"

"No, he had to work on a project today. He's not even answering his phone." I tried to play it off but I was truly unnerved for some reason.

"Who's he working on it with?" Nikki asked.

"I actually have no clue."

"Don't worry, he's probably just working hard and his phone is on silent or something. You guys don't have to be together twenty-four seven, you know?" Nikki laughed.

"I know, but..."

"But you love him. I understand, first love. I wonder what it's like, I know for sure I haven't had it yet," Nikki mused.

I blushed glad that she couldn't see it through the phone. "It's amazing."

"I know, but hun, don't you think you and Taylor are taking it a little extreme."

I was stunned by the suddenness of her accusation. I scrambled for words not sure what to say back. "Uh, is it bothering you?" I asked still puzzled.

"Not really. It's just you guys are so close that you go crazy when you're apart. Like right now, he's working on a project and you're panicking because he didn't call you back. You guys need some time apart," Nikki said slowly. I could tell she had been wanting to breach this topic for a while but not knowing how to bring it up.

I hesitated at a complete loss for words. "Time apart?" The concept was foreign to me, Taylor was such a solid part of my life that it hurt to think of my daily routine without him. "Do you want us to break up? Is this because I don't spend as much time with you and the girls as much? Because I still spend a lot of time with you and we can make it more if you want. Don't feel deserted I'm always here for you."