Jake and Taylor: A Love Story

Chapter 16: Jake

-Jake's Point of View-

Taylor smiles up at my as soon as she sees my hair. Her face always lights up when she sees me, but something is different today. Her hair and body are the same but her eyes are filled with guilt and sadness. Not a normal expression for Taylor.

Grayson's words still fill my ears, "Ask her about the Trevor thing." She said it was nothing but it was definitely something. She never hides anything from me and yet this. It makes no sense to me.

Shaking it off I smile again, trying to make it genuine. She reaches out and places her hands on my waist, running them up and down my sides, "Hello cutie." She says grinning and looking up at me with sparkly brown eyes.

"Damn it Tay, why am I always cutie? Why can't I be 'Jake: the sexy beast'?" I ask sarcastically spreading out my arm superman style.

"Because you are already cocky as it is." She says before leaning up to kiss me on the lips gently, she pulls away and walks to the counter to pay Maddy for the haircut.

At that moment I decided to drop the Trevor thing the best I can, maybe it isn't important and she would tell me if it was. She comes back over and grabs my hand as we walk out the door, "So what about going into the city for dinner?" I ask smiling over at her, trying to lighten the mood.

"I was kind of craving Ray's pizza today." She says taking her hand away so she can get back into my car. Before doing so she wipes the wet leaves off the bottom of her shoes. I love that girl. Smiling to myself I get into my own seat and start driving towards New York City.

Taylor and I go to NYC quite a bit. Most of the time for nice dinners with my colleagues or to visit my dad. Sometimes just to see old friends. For a while before we started dating we would go on friend dates to Ray's Pizza. I always secretly hoped that they would turn into a real date but they never did.

"So what are you doing with your mom and Carol?" Taylor asks pulling one foot up and tucking it under her other leg.

"They have some store they need to go to, my sister's birthday is next week."

"So they are coming for 3 days and going to one shop?" She asks smiling at me.

"OK we might do other stuff too." I say chuckling a little. She smiles at me but yet again it's not her normal smile. Instead it's the smile of someone who has seen death but wants to be part of the real world.

"So I'm thinking about taking that job." Taylor says after a long pause and deep breath.

About 2 months ago Taylor was driving to see her parents when she saw a high school along the way. Outside was a bill board that said they were looking for a math teacher. Which just so happened to be her degree. So anyways she called them and they chatted. She visited the school, then visited again, then decided not to take the job. A week ago they called her again saying they were still looking for a teacher and they really wanted her to be that teacher.

We had been talking about it for awhile. The school was only a half an hour away from our apartment and t was a fairly well paying job. The fact that she didn't take it baffled me. it was her dream job.

"I definitely think you should take the job." I say smiling looking ahead at the road, almost completely forgetting about the Trevor and Grayson issue for the first time that day.

"Really?" She asks, biting her lip. She sometimes does that when she is nervous.

"Yes! That's a huge opportunity!" I glance over at her taking my eyes off the road for a split second. "Call them right now!"

"Jake! They won't even be there right now, it's Saturday." She says giggling and shaking her head.

"Call 'em anyways!"

She takes out her phone out of the grey purse that lays on the floor next to her feet. She dials the number and puts it up gingerly to her ear, as if the Principal might jump out and bite her. After a few rings she clears her throat to speak.

"Hello, This is Taylor Loyn. I'm calling back about the math teacher position. If it's still available I will take it. Um if not, sorry for wasting you time. Have a nice day!" She hangs up and lets out a sigh of relief.

I reach over and pat her gently on the thigh, "It will be fine."

"Shit! What if I do get the job? What about Carl!" She runs her hands through her curls.

"It will be fine Tay, I'm sure he can find a new night worker. Plus you deserve this." She leans her head back against the seat and looks out the window.

Not wanting to lose her attention I start the radio. Flipping through the stations I finally get to on with the new teen music on it. Stuff Taylor listens to.

That stupid 'Want You Back' song is on and I turn it up. The lyrics to this song are pretty simple so it's not difficult to start singing along, at the top of my lungs of course.

She looks over at me and laughs uncontrollably before chiming in and bobbing her head everywhere with the rhythm. We do this the rest of the way to the city. We take the expressway in and find a spot to park next to the building my college roommate, Jack, lives in currently.

We walk hand in hand the rest of the way to Times Square. A wave of people stands in front of us. The sound of yelling, singing, footsteps, and taxis comes from all directions. We make our way to Ray's Pizza.

When we get inside it's not that crowded except for a family of 3 and a group of high school aged girls standing with an older looking male. Probably one of their dads. One of the girls, with blue braces and fluffy brown hair, nudges the girl next to her. They both turn to look at me before quickly whispering to the rest of the girls and giggling hysterically. I pull Taylor closer to me, kissing her softly on the head just above the ear. Not going to lie, high school girls scare me.

Taylor orders a slice of pepperoni pizza and I order just plain cheese, taking out my wallet.

"Jake." She hisses, opening her purse.

"Tay, it's our first real date. Let me be the gentleman." I say as I take a few bills out of my wallet, slipping it back into my pocket.

"Fine, but I get to buy dinner one night when Carol and your mom are here."

"Deal." I reply with a slight grin. I pick up my plate and make my way to one of the back tables. Far away from the high school girls. Taylor follows me and sits down on the chair across from me, with her back against the wall.

We eat our pizza in silence then head outside to people watch before making our way back to my car. Taylor falls asleep on the way back. When we get back to our building I unbuckle her and carry her up the stairs. Tucking her into bed I take her shoes off and plug her phone in next to the bed. Then I walk across the hall and take Rex out of the hands of a very drunk Rachel. I give her a classic Jake smile as I close my door and lock it several times.

I walk back into Taylor's room and pull off my shirt and jeans as I lay down beside her. Sinking into the lilac sheets, I think about what adventures tomorrow might hold with my mom and what truths I might get out of Taylor.

But I'm not going to push my luck, I'd rather be with Taylor and not know who Trevor is than lose Taylor and know everything.

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Hello everyone thanks for reading!!!! :) So yeah some stuff is about to happen, this chapter was kind of just a space filler.. Sorry if it was super boring!

Remember please COMMENT/ VOTE/ FAN/ LIKE/ TWEET/ FACEBOOK or whatever you do when you read stories you like (I'm assuming you like this story if you made it this far)

OK that's all! -Hannah