Old Flames Die Hard

Chapter Four

I find myself just staring at him in disbelief. How is he here? Why is he here? What is he doing here? Did he know I was here? Would have he come if he knew I was here?

My last question is answered when our eyes meet and he winks at me.

He knew I was here.

Mailie says, "What luck! Thomas would have been the last to draw, looks like Taylor has her Seven Minutes in Heaven partner!"

My heart literally stops.

I feel the blood stop going to my limbs and my heart beat pick up excessively. I think I'm gonna pass out. Or die. Dying would be merciful at this moment in my life.

"Now that we have the correct number of boy players, we should just go through again." I suggest.

Mailie laughs, "Don't be silly. The papers have chosen."

Suddenly, the basement is filled with the sound of the timer.

It's my turn. It's THOMAS and I's turn.

I'm terrified when I see him right in front of me, offering his hand.

"Shall we?" he asks.

Davis is staring at Thomas in awe.

I know he's handsome Davis, but don't make me feel worse about this!

I slowly take his hand and am filled with familiar feelings I wished to forget. Mailie shouts for Hunter and Chloe to come back and when they come out, they're both smiling. They are for sure now a couple.

Will Thomas and I leave this closet as a couple?

He holds the door for me and smiles at me.

I walk in and as he shuts the door, the realization that I'm stuck with him for 7 minutes settles in.

He turns away from the door, with his charming smile, "Taylor, I'm so happy to see you."

I fold my arms, "Wish I could say the same. What are you doing here?"

He shrugs as he gets closer, "I transferred schools. Our school's engineering program is being shut down and the one here is amazing."

He is going to my school!? Can this night get any worse!?

He starts to walk over to me and I stick my hand straight out, "You kiss me you die."

He laughs, "I forgot how stubborn you are. I've missed that."

"Shut up, don't pretend like what happened didn't happen."

Thomas sighs and rakes a hand through his gorgeously thick hair, "Tay, I'm not trying to pretend like what happened didn't happen. I just want to mend things."

"Sorry, but I don't know if you can. You literally broke my heart."

"I know and I'm sorry."

"I gave you everything and you promised you would never throw it away and you didn't throw it away, you burned it. You changed overnight."

I didn't realize but when I was talking, he was moving closer. He wraps his arms around my waist and keeps me from pulling away.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" he asks.

Before I can say, he pulls me in for a kiss. While we kiss, he takes my elastic out of my hair and grabs fistfuls of my hair as it falls to my shoulders. I know why I liked kissing him so much. He fills every kiss with so much passion and heart it warms every part of me. This feeling is all too familiar for comfort anymore.

I push myself away from him, in shock. So much was said by that one kiss. I could feel his love for me boiling strong once again. I could feel the urgency of what he wants me to understand; that he has changed. I almost believe those feelings and messages he was sending through our lips. It's all a trick. He's done the same thing before. I'm not falling for the same trap again.

"You didn't kiss me back." Thomas says, not giving up.

I scoff, "You think a broken heart can be healed just like that? I'm not some old toy for you to play with until you're bored, leave, then years later play with again only to repeat the cycle. It took years to mend the stab marks you left on my heart and I'm not going to let you re-open those wounds."

He groans, "Tay, you think I liked breaking up with you? I hated it. Every second of it."

I look down at the floor, not knowing what to say.

"I hated breaking up with you. I hate the younger version of me for letting you go. I think it was the version of me knowing you were out of my league and not wanting to be the one who gets rejected. Please, can you find it in your heart to let us start where we left off?"

I realize he's close again when he cups my face and lifts it from looking at the ground. I look into his eyes. The eyes I would get lost looking in when we were together. The eyes that brought me peace and comfort during the hard times. I put my hand over his that is cupping my face and grab it softly. He smiles at me and moves his eyes to my lips. He leans in and I dodge him. He backs away to look at me, confusion filling his eyes. I set his hand down by his side.

"I'm sorry, I just can't."

Like the timing was made in heaven, they start to call us back in.

The look on Thomas's face makes me actually regret not kissing him. So, I quickly leave the room as fast as I can.

When I re-join the party, Davis is the first to greet me.

"Tay! How was your time in there?" he asks as he picks me up and spins me around like an older brother does to his little sister. I fight back tears and he sets me down.

He grabs my hair, "Your hair is out of its ponytail, either your making out got really intense or you were teaching him how to braid."

"I wasn't teaching how to braid," I reply, shaking my head, "I was teaching him a lesson though, that's for sure."