Help Me Push Aside All the Things I've Left Behind (Tayley)

10: I'm Using You, Abusing You, My Little Decoy

Chapter 10:

Taylor's POV:

"Taylor, please come home soon." I could hear Hayley's voice crack meaning that she was crying. I sighed wiping the tears off my eyes as well. I hated myself for making her cry. I hated myself for leaving. I hated myself for not being able to put my pride aside and apologize.

I looked at myself in the mirror before splashing water in my face. I couldn't show weakness, not now anyways. I looked at my phone once again as it beeped.

"Good night. Miss you. Love you" - Hayley.

I picked up the phone staring at the words in front of me. A large part of me wanted to call her back and spill my heart out to her. Tell her that I missed her and that I was sorry for not being there to hold her. That's all I wanted right at this moment, her arms around my body as her hot breath hit my skin.

Tears threating to leave my eyes when a knock on the door interrupted my train of thought. I slid my phone into my pocket as soon as the door slightly opened.

"Hey dude, you alright?" Justin asked as he poked his head into the bathroom where I had been hiding for the past twenty minutes just replaying the voicemail Hayley had left. Right now it was the only thing keeping me from going insane. It's crazy how the one that caused me pain is the only one that can make me feel whole again.

I sighed looking at Justin through the reflection of the mirror. "No." I said simply. "But I will be." He gave me a sad smile followed by an understanding nod. "Should we go now?" I asked referring to the bar we had been in for the past few hours.

"Well, that's what I was going to tell you." He stepped into the bathroom closing the door behind him. "Zac just showed up and asked about you." I felt my stomach become knots at the words that were coming out of Justin's mouth. Such a small world this was.

"What did you tell him?" I could feel my palms become sweating.

"I told him that you were in the bathroom, but that I wasn't sure if you'd actually talk to him."

I nodded understanding my brother. "Well I guess I knew this day was coming." I walked past him to the door.

"Hey Taylor." Justin said walking into the small hall behind me. "If you don't feel you're in the right mind set, you can always just tell him that you can give him a call when you're actually ready to talk." He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. I smiled at my brother's concern for me.

"I'm fine man. Besides it's now or never." He nodded letting his grasp on me go. I took a deep breath puffing my chest out and walked to the table that Zac and his party were sitting at. Everyone at the table was engaged at the conversation until I walked up to Zac.

The laughing and chit chat stopped and all eyes were on us. "Hey Zac." I managed to get out through a raspy voice.

"Taylor." His eyes lit up. He stood from his chair and walked up to me bringing me into a hug. At first it was awkward. But then I remembered everything that we have gone through as kids and then some that I couldn't resist. I hugged him back feeling a knot form in my throat.

"Oh man you have no idea how much I've missed you." He pulled away patting my back softly followed by a nervous chuckle.

"Same bro." I scratched the back of my neck nervously as he introduced me to everyone.

"Hi." I waved to everyone but one in particular caught my eyes. A small woman with pale skin, much like Hayley's, black colored hair, unlike her's, and bright haunting blue eyes. This girl was beautiful. That kind of beauty that you just can't seem to look away from.