Make Love, Make War (Tayley) |

COMMUNIATION

(props to brokenbeans for ideas. love you)

After ditching the lake party, Taylor took Hayley to a diner that was a town over. Looking at the menu, Hayley saw she couldn't really get anything she could eat or drink, so she ordered a smoothie and split fries with him. She appreciated the sentiment of Taylor though, who ordered a chocolate malt.

Neither of them were sure what they were
doing at all, but they seemed adamant on continuing it.

After awkward minutes of silence after ordering, Taylor finally spoke up. "I took you here because this is my safe haven. I came here for the first time when my parents were divorcing, I've been coming ever since I started feeling overwhelmed or anxious."

Hayley blushed, slightly pulling on her fingernails. "I'm so sorry, Taylor."

"Don't be. I've lost my ability to think love is real a long time ago, and I have yet to find someone who has changed my mind."

That hit Hayley close to home, and she once again tried to stroke her left ring finger, feeling empty when there was nothing on it. "So then, why would you bring me? We just met recently."

Taylor noticed, grabbing her hands. "You're going through something," He stage-whispered, "And it's not my business to ask what, but you're dealing with something bad and I want to let you know that you have support."

She could feel her heart beating out her chest, she silently cursed when the waitress came back, making Taylor pull away.

When she left, Taylor awkwardly looked up at Hayley. "Too intense?" He asked, fake happy.

"No. Just the right amount of intense."

They sipped their drinks for a bit before Hayley started a new conversation.

"This is dark. Can we change the mood a little?"

Taylor nodded, "Definitely. Let's be cliché, 21 questions?"

"Sounds great. I'll start. So, Taylor York, when's your birthday?"

They continued on for a while, until question 19, where Hayley asked, "Have any phobias?"

"Acrophobia," Taylor looked down to the ground, slightly smiling, "I'm terrified of heights."

"You're joking, right?" Hayley jumped. "You know how to deal with phobias, right?"

"What? No! If you're gonna force me on a ladder or something..."

"Of course not! Come on!" Hayley stood up, slapping $3 on the table to pay for their meal without Taylor's protests, pulling him out of the restaurant.

She grabbed his hand and started running excitedly, yelling behind her, "I've always wanted to spontaneously do this before, but I've never had a reason to!"

Finally, she pulled him up to a carnival with a huge ferris wheel. Taylor pulled back, chickening out immediately. "No. No. Hayley, I can't do this. Please."

"Please, Taylor. I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you. We're becoming friends, aren't we?"

"Fine. Just for you."

Hayley paid the fee again, against Taylor's wishes, pulling him onto a car, both nervously laughing.

It slowly rose, and Taylor squeezed Hayley's hand hard. "It's okay, I promise you," She said.

They finally reached the top, and Taylor had his eyes squeezed shut.

Hayley coaxed him to open his eyes, and he shook nervously, Hayley softly hugging him. "Don't look down, look straight ahead. Or up. You can see a lot more clearly, can't you?"

They held onto each other in silence before they reached the bottom. Taylor shakily stepped off, buying cotton candy for both of them. "Question 20: What are you afraid of?"

"Clowns."

"Oh, how convenient!"

Taylor scanned the area, seeing a painted clown with some children across a corner. He gently led Hayley there with her arm, her trying to pull back but figuring she deserves it.

"Hayley, hug the clown."

The clown smiled with yellow teeth, honking a horn. Hayley jumped back, but shakily and nervously walked forward, head high. She handed her wallet to Taylor, afraid of being hugged, closed her eyes and leaned in, wrapping her arms around the clown.

She stayed for a second, pulling back nearly in tears. "Thank you, Taylor."

"It's what friends are for, I guess. Are we friends now?"

"Yeah, of course."