Fearless

Chapter 14- Cried The Whole Way Home

January 6th

Taylor

It felt like hours. I know it wasn't, but it felt like it was with him on top of me as tears spilled from my eyes. I wait until he's asleep and then I gather my stuff and leave, silently crying to myself as I slip out of the room and walk along the hallway to the elevator. I need to get out of here, I can't be in the same state as him, never mind the same hotel.

I fall back against the elevator wall as I try to calm my shaking body, but I can't, I can barely breathe through the tears streaming down my face and a sob catches in my throat as I cover my face with my hands. "Are you okay, honey?" I hadn't even noticed the elevator doors open as it reaches the third floor and I just nod, trying to force a smile as I leave her behind, knowing that if I speak, I won't be able to stop myself from crying.

With fumbling hands, I try to open my room door, but it doesn't work. "Taylor? What happened?" Abigail must've heard the noise because she looks like she's just awake as she opens the door and I immediately fall into her arms, finding comfort in a face that has never been a threat to me. She leads me inside to the sofa and sits me down, sitting in front of me as she tries to get me to speak.

"Honey, I can't help you if you don't speak to me." She shakes her head and I just stare off into the distance as I try and keep myself calm. "I need to get out of here, I need to go home, I can't be here anymore," I ramble on and Abigail nods, clearly sensing that something isn't right, "let me get Paula, okay? She can get us home tonight." I have no idea what time it is anymore, but I know it's late. My dress feels like it's clinging to my body and I feel like I'm suffocating so I get up and got to my room to change.

Violet is asleep in here so I stay quiet, grabbing sweats and Karlie's sweatshirt from my bag, but more importantly, clean underwear. I change quickly, needing the scent of his cologne to leave my body. When I walk back out, I curl up in the corner of the sofa and wait for Abigail to come back with Paula, trying to comfort myself with Karlie's scent on her sweatshirt.

"What's going on?" The two come back into the room moments after and Paula immediately notes the tear tracks lining my cheeks and my shaking body. "I need to go home, I can't be here anymore," I shake my head, not able to meet my publicist to look in her eyes. "You're meant to be having breakfast with John, you can't-" she tries to do her job but I just shake my head, fear coursing through my veins at even the though of being in the same room as him again, "no."

I just shake my head, looking up at her for the first time and the woman gets a sympathetic look in her eyes, "what happened, Taylor?" I shake my head, "nothing, I just need to go home." I know that they know I'm lying, but I can't tell them, not without telling Tree everything. "Okay, let me go and call the pilot to fuel up the plane, we can leave in thirty minutes." I nod, biting my lips as I try not to freak out.

---

It was two thirty when we got to the tarmac, and I still haven't said a word. I packed my stuff and got Violet into her car seat and even now I'm curled up in a seat on the other end of the plane. I can still feel his hands on my skin and I can't breathe because every time I do, I think of the way he held my throat.

"We're nearly back, Taylor." I hear Abigail's soft voice behind me and nod as I stare out of the window, watching the city pass underneath us. It's nearly 4am in Nashville. Violet is sleeping in my arms as we touchdown in Nashville again and I watch her soft features as her binky moves in rhythmic patterns. What would she think of me if she knew what happened? What will Karlie think of me?

Karlie

It was 4am when my phone started ringing and woke me up from my sleep. I was surprised to be hearing from Abigail so late at night but the second she told me that something is going on with Taylor, I promised I would be there as soon as I could.