Young Love

Chapter 9

Early on Saturday morning, Taylor's cell phone rang. She groaned. She hated being woken up early on the weekend. Well, she hated waking up early in general but especially on weekends. Slightly disoriented and still half asleep the blonde reached for her cell on the nightstand. The moment she saw who was calling at such an ungodly hour, her mood improved exponentially.

"Hi," Taylor answered the phone, her voice cracking slightly. Karlie had once told her that she found Taylor's morning voice adorable. Taylor hadn't believed her one bit. She had just laughed and changed the topic.

"Hey baby, I'm sorry for waking you." Karlie's voice cracked slightly, too. 'Is she crying?' Taylor wondered. There had to be something wrong for Karlie to be calling her before 7am. Karlie wasn't a big fan of waking up early either.

"It's okay, babe. What's up?"

"You feeling better?" Karlie asked quietly, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.

"Yeah, sleep definitely helped," Taylor answered, "Why are you upset?"

"We missed you last night," Karlie said over the phone, ignoring Taylor's question completely.

"Aw really?" She knew there was no point pushing Karlie to talk. Her girlfriend was stubborn like that.

"Of course, it's not the same without you there," Karlie admitted.

"What did you guys watch?" Taylor asked. She hated that she missed their movie night. It had become her favorite part of the week.

"Nothing, we actually talked most of the night."

"That's a first," Taylor observed confused. "Is everything okay?"

"I just needed some advice."

"Babe, what's up? I can hear that you're upset. You can talk to me," Taylor said increasingly worried.

"Coming out to my family is so scary," Karlie finally confessed. Taylor could clearly hear the tears in her girlfriend's voice. It was a heartbreaking sound.

"I know it is, Kar. I know. What can I do to help?"

"Can we meet up?"

"Sure, where are you?" Taylor asked as she got out of her bed to find some clothes.

"I'm still at Lily's," Karlie replied.

"I'm on my way, baby, I lo-" she caught herself just in time. I love you. Those three small words that held so much meaning had been on the tip of her tongue from the moment she had asked Karlie to be her girlfriend. But she felt like it was still too early to say them out loud. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay." Karlie's voice cracked again.

Taylor got ready in a hurry. When she passed by the kitchen on her way out, her mother asked, "Where are you going?"

Taylor was rooted to the spot as she looked at her mom who was sitting at the breakfast table. That was the first time her mom had spoken to her in what felt like forever.

"I-I," Taylor stuttered. "Karlie needs me."

From the look on her mother's face she knew it was exactly the wrong thing to say. But in that moment she didn't care. She had to get to Karlie. She would salvage this burning bridge another time.

Taylor left the house and rode her bike all the way to Lily's house in record time. She arrived a little out of breath and knocked on Lily's front door.

"Taylor, how nice to see you," Mr. Aldridge greeted her as he opened the door, coffee mug in hand. It was still early after all.

"It's nice to see you, too, sir," Taylor politely replied.