(Kaylor) This Love

Friends

"Hey, Taylor!" Ed says, and hugs her. He can tell that something is wrong with her but knows that she is doing the best she can to hide it.
"Hi!"
"I see that you have met Adam."
"I have. He's tall, like me." Taylor gives a light laugh.
Ed pulls her into the his room and and shuts the door.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." Taylor says. The response is automatic, something she has been taught to say whenever someone asks her how she is.
"Taylor, I think that you forget that we can feel the emotions of other people. I know that you are upset about something."
Taylor sits down on the bed and puts her head in her hands.
"Austin came here. To earth." She says slowly.
"You're kidding."
"I wish that I was." Taylor stands up. "He came here to tell me that everyone back at home thinks that I can't help Karlie! That I'm not strong enough. They think that Karlie can't be fixed. But I don't believe it. It's not true." She has raised her voice considerably, and hears Adam, knocking on the door.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes," Taylor says, "but thank you."
She hears Adam slowly walk away, and Ed sighs.
"If anyone can help Karlie, Taylor, it's you."
"Now everyone is angry with me. Austin said that I should expect a visit from her soon! She's going to be so disappointed. But they can't just give up on someone."
"I know that you are angry, but-"
"So you knew that happens too? And no one thought to tell me? Did you think I was weak too?" Taylor snaps, but instantly regrets her words. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry."
"I know you didn't. Back at home, you didn't feel frustration, Taylor. But it is normal to feel like that." Ed says, trying to comfort her.
"It's not a very nice feeling." Taylor mutters.
"Yeah. People make stupid decisions because of it." Ed pauses. "I would never think that you weren't strong enough, Taylor. You're my best friend and I would never, ever think for a second that you couldn't do it. You should know that."
Taylor can feel how hurt Ed is by her earlier comment. She sighs.
"I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
Ed smiles. "Let's go and do something."
"Like What? Ed, I don't have money and also, if you haven't noticed, it is pouring with rain."
"So? We Don't have to get wet."
"It's so obvious though."
"Maybe Adam could drive us somewhere?" Ed suggests.
"He sounds funny." Taylor whispers.
Ed laughs. "That's because he comes from another country. Everyone has different accents."
Taylor laughs. "So where's he from?"
"A place called Scotland." Ed says. He stands up. "I'll go and ask him. I think I know what we can do."

Karlie can't take her mind off the girl in the blue dress. She hopes that she got home Okay. She hopes that Taylor isn't mad at her for leaving. But at the end of the day, Karlie decided long ago that work had to come first. You can't get hurt by your work, and it can distract you from what you're feeling.
She can't remember her life without her.
"Miss Kloss?" She is roused from her thoughts by one of her staff. "I... I was just wondering if I would be able to take tomorrow off. My sister is going to have her baby and I want to be there."
"Sorry What was your name again?" Karlie says, only just realising how tired she is.
"Camilla."
"Yes. Yes of course."
Karlie wishes that she was still in contact with her family, that they would reach out and want to meet up with her. Karlie knows that it was all her fault, but wishes that her family would understand.
Karlie is in her office long after the meeting has finished, and the sky has been splattered with the stars.
She forgot to eat lunch, and afternoon tea, and dinner.
This is a usual occurrence, and by the time Karlie walks out the door her stomach is rumbling.

"So." Adam says, "Taylor. I hear that you are from the same place as Ed."
"Yes." Taylor answers from the back seat.
She can't help but see Adam glancing at her occasionally in the mirror.
"Should we go to dinner?" He asks, looking over at Ed.
"It's up to you." He replies.

Adam takes them into a restaurant on the other side of the city.
"Taylor." Adam says quietly as Ed goes to find a table. "You are a very beautiful woman."
Taylor feels her cheeks go crimson red.
"Thank you."
"So What brings you here?"
"I'm... um..." Taylor starts, but Ed cuts her off.
"She's here because she is helping a friend." Ed nudges her gently, right in a spot where she is ticklish. She bursts out laughing, but quickly covers her mouth.
This causes the rest of  the group to burst out laughing as Ed walks them to the table allocated to them.
"So you guys grew up together?" Adam asks, as a waitress brings the menus.
"Yeah." Taylor smiles at Ed. "We've been best friends since... I can't even remember."
"Since you first came into school. You were different from anybody else because you, like me-" Ed has to cut himself off sharply because he was about to say too much. Were wearing blue. And you had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. And you actually talked to me. And your laugh sounded so perfect. And your powers were strong. And you were so, so nice. Of course, he could never, ever say this to her, because he knew that she didn't feel the same way. That she only wanted to be friends.
"Were good at... erm... English?" Ed says quickly, trying to cover up his mistake.

The meal goes by quickly, and before long the sun has set and the sky has turned dark.
"Would you like me to drive you home?" Adam offers Taylor.
"No, it's okay. I can walk." She says politely.
"Are you sure? It's still raining."
"Yeah, I don't mind getting wet."
"Oh... well... I guess that I'll see you again sometime." Adam says, getting into his car.
Ed waits to talk to Taylor alone.
"How was it?" He asks quietly.
"He seems nice. You must be doing an excellent job."
"Why thank you." Ed smiles, pulling her in for a hug. Her hair smells the exact same as it did when she was five. Like summer. Like the beach and berries and warm summer nights.
"Bye, Taylor. Remember, you can send a message to me whenever and I will come to you. I Don't care what time it is, okay?"
"Same goes to you, Ed." Taylor smiles.
The rain is softer now, only a soft mist.
"See you soon." She adds.
Ed smiles, and watches the silhouette of the girl that he has always loved but never told, fade away into the bustling streets of the city of dreams.