The Singer's Girl

Chapter 19

CAROLINE'S POV

I woke up taking a deep breath, my heart was still pounding, but I knew it was only a dream. I checked the clock and it was 5am, I was still in Taylor's old bed with her lying in the spot next to me. It was a miracle, I thought, that I'd fallen asleep so quickly last night and that I'd slept until now. And I still felt like I might be able to fall back asleep.

Images from my dream kept replaying in my mind so I rolled over onto my side, trying to think of anything else.

"You okay?" Taylor said tiredly. I was surprised she was awake, I didn't think I was that loud.

"Yeah." I said and my voice was just as weak as hers. I felt Taylor's arm pull me closer to her through the darkness. My eyes felt heavy as I rested my head on Taylor's chest. I'd forgotten about my nightmare and now there wasn't anything clogging my mind as I tried to go back to sleep. I was out before I knew it, lulled to sleep by the sound of Taylor's rythmic breathing and the rise and fall of her chest.

The next thing I remember was opening my eyes to sunlight pouring into the room. I propped myself up on my elbow and looked to my left seeing that Taylor wasn't in bed anymore. Squinting through the bright light I saw Taylor changing in the corner of the room.

"Good morning." Taylor said when she saw me, I mumbled a good morning and laid back down. After she finished changing she came and sat down beside me on the bed. I starred off into space as she sat there running her fingers through my tangly hair. The only sounds I could hear were faint noises of breakfast being made downstairs.

Out of nowhere I felt a burst of love for Taylor, she brought me into this family and she's never given up on me. She could sit here with me, simply touching my hair, and everything in my world would be okay. Finally I sat up with her and leaned in so I could give her a hug, letting my head lean against her chest, she kept her hand on the back of my head playing with my hair and her other arm rested across my lower back.

We were both silent but I could hear her heart beating, I never wanted to let go, I was so peaceful there. I stayed there and let her hold onto my body, feeling how good it felt to be loved by someone. I think Taylor mistook my need for affection as sleepiness because she told me that I could go back to bed if I wanted. I took this as a signal to let go, I laid back down on the bed as she started to get up.

"Don't go." I said and my voice came out sounding more tired than I felt.

"It's okay, you just rest and I'll be downstairs when you wake up." She said heading for the door.

"Please don't leave." I told her, sounding desperate.

"Why? What do you need?" She asked looking back at me. I felt helpless all of the sudden, I didn't know why I woke up feeling so needy this morning, i just needed her but I didn't know how to tell her.

"Just stay in here with me if I go back to sleep." I said, waiting for her reaction. She gave me a sympathetic sigh and raised her eyebrows a little.

"Care, you can sleep alone for a while, it'll be okay." Taylor said as she walked back over to the bed. She leaned over the bed to cover me in blankets and kiss my head. She left the room and after I heard the door click shut behind her I decided to just go with her downstairs. I hopped out of bed and caught up to her in the hallway.

"What's wrong?" Taylor asked all worried.

"Nothing." I said following her down the stairs. I made sure to sit right beside her at the table once we got down to the kitchen. Andrea told us good morning and had breakfast already ready for us.

It had been hitting me lately that Taylor won't always be here. In 3 years I'd be in college, a long ways away from Taylor. I felt like I hadn't known her long at all and before I knew it I wouldn't be living with her anymore. The only time I get with her is my high school years, of course she'll still be around when I'm a grown up, but not like it is now.