After the End

Chapter 2 - Somewhere Public

              "Taylor..."

She stepped forwards, her blonde hair swept across her face from the outburst of wind that had snuck through the trees surrounding Tom's home. She looked lost; out of place, like she didn't belong there. And she knew very well that she didn't.

"Allegra –"

"Stay away from me," Allegra said firmly, dropping her keys as her hands began to shake with anger.

"Please –"

"I'm calling the police," Allegra announced, leaving her keys on the floor and pulling her phone out from her pocket. She began to unlock the screen and Taylor stepped forwards again, this time more desperately.

"No! Please, wait," she begged.

Although Allegra could not understand why, she obeyed, but kept her phone in her hand, her finger poised and ready to dial 999 at any moment. She looked at Taylor, her blue eyes burning.

"Just let me talk. Please," Taylor continued, her voice shaking. "Just hear what I have to say and then if you still want to call the police afterwards you can."

Allegra studied her nemesis; her hair was messy, her makeup looked like it had been applied the day before, and her clothes were baggy and did not flatter her appearance. Every nerve in Allegra's body was telling her not to listen to Taylor; not to trust her, but for some reason, she ignored them. She was interested in what Taylor had to say.

"Fine."

A moment of silence passed them, the wind the only sound to be heard as it picked up its speed and built its strength. A frown planted itself on Allegra's pretty face as she waited to hear Taylor's speech.

"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" Taylor asked.

"Not a chance," Allegra scoffed, surprisingly shocked at Taylor's nerve.

"Fair enough," Taylor said quietly, secretly understanding. "Well, can we go somewhere then? Have a coffee or something."

"A coffee?" Allegra repeated with a laugh. "You want me to have a coffee with you?"

"Just so that we can sit somewhere warm," Taylor said, shivering and holding her bare arms as the wind picked up again. "And public," she added, knowing that Allegra would agree to that.

Another moment passed with the two women staring at each other, hatred scorching the distance between them, and Allegra slowly bent down to pick up her keys. She shoved them uncaringly into her pocket; a subtle attempt to emanate strength and domination and looked up at Taylor again.

"Fine," she told her with a raise of a single brow.