Jake and Taylor: A Love Story

Chapter 33: Taylor

-Taylor's Point of View-

"How many siblings do you have?" Scarlett asked as she colored on the spare chalk board in my class room. It was Friday and a half day so I knew that we weren't going to accomplish anything.

I looked over at her and smiled. "One sister."

"What's her name?" Bree asked, leaning forward in her desk. All of my students were so fascinated with my home life. It was quite endearing actually.

"Andie."

"It's that a boy's name?" Someone asked from the back of the room.

"It can be either. My parents named her Andie after my great aunt Andrea."

There were a few 'Oh's'. I nodded and went back to writing.

"Ms. Loyn?" One of the boys asked cautiously.

"Yes?"

"You're dating Jake Barlowe, right? The one that got hit by that car."

"Yes, I am." Over the last two weeks I had began to accept the idea that Jake was in the hospital, not that he might die. That was still a touchy subject.

"So that guy who hit him with the car. Did he know Jake, I mean before he killed Josh?"

I wasn't sure how to respond to this so I just shook my head, no.

Everyone became quiet. They always did at times like this. Some of them looked up at me, while others averted their eyes.

I looked down at the papers I was grading and wrote down the letter grades next to the percents.

Finally the bell rang and all of the students stood up to leave.

"Have a nice weekend!" I called to them as I stood up and stood at the door, Mr. Bekkum asked us to do this to make sure that there wasn't any rough housing in the hallways.

As all of the students left one stayed behind. I looked back at her and she cleared her throat.

"What's wrong, Bree?" I asked looking at her in concern.

"Do you know my aunt? Jennica?" She looked back at me and played nervously with the edge of her book.

"Jennica Lock?"

"Yeah."

"Kind of." I said nodding and taking a step forward. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah everything's fine." She cleared her throat again and then looked at me. "She told me about Grayson."

"What about Grayson?"

"Well, after he killed Josh. He kidnapped her."

"What?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. I admit this was a surprise to me. When I saw them together I thought they were dating.

"Yeah, anyway. He told her about Trevor."

"Oh." I said quietly, leaning back a bit on my heals.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. For everything that you have gone through." She said quietly and then walked towards the door.

"It's alright." I said still looking at the ground. Now everyone would know about the secret I had worked so hard to hide.

She was half way out the door when she turned back and looked at me in the eyes. "I promise I won't tell anyone though. I understand why you wouldn't want anyone to know."

"Thank you, Bree." I smiled at her, and it was almost a genuine smile.

Then she waved goodbye and walked out to her locker.

A few people started to file into the room to get math help before the long weekend, and I did help them. But my mind was still on the fact that Jennica was telling people about Trevor. I made a mental note to talk to her about that.

Once they were all gone I walked out the front door. It was chilly out so I wrapped my scarf tighter around me. There were a few kids standing in the parking lot who waved goodbye to me. I'm not sure who they were, but I think they were probably in one of my classes.

I started my car and Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers played quietly. I smiled to myself as I thought about all the times Jake and I had sung that song at the top of our lungs.

It was a slow drive home, but I didn't mind. I was going to go home and shower and then go to the hospital to see Jake.

                                                                        ~

I walked up the stairs of the apartment building humming and taking out my phone and keys.

I started to send Laurie a message as I unlocked my front door. I stopped in my tracks as the scene in front of me became clear.

Behind the door lay a familiar sight. Almost everything was gone. All of the movies, the coffee table, most of the books, a couple coats, the blankets from the couch, and all of the dishes in the kitchen.

The only thing that was left was a small envelope in the middle of the room with 'Taylor' written on it in neat handwriting.

I walked up the letter and opened it with shaky hands, there was a key inside.

'Dear Taylor, I've stolen all of Jakes's stuff. He's moving to New York. He got the job offer of a life time there. He's very sorry he didn't tell you, but he doesn't know how he feels about the whole Grayson and Trevor thing. He loves you, but he isn't ready to get into that. So until he's ready to see you again, please respect his wishes. The apartment is yours. Good luck teaching, he knows you will do great. Sincerely, Someone who isn't Jake. But this time, he knows.'

As I read the letter I began to cry. Tears hit the paper and my body began to shake.

All I could do was cry and I feel to the ground. Rex came up to me and nuzzled next to my face, trying to comfort me. His wet kisses only mixed in with my tears and I truly didn't feel any better.

That night I ate about a half gallon of ice cream in my pajamas. The tears mixed in with the ice cream and I think I watched a movie or two. I can't remember.

My heart was broken, everything in my hurt. My eyes felt like they were dry from how much I had cried. My chest ached with pain at the thought of losing Jake.

I had spent the last two years hiding my feelings for him. I loved him that whole time, I don't even believe in love at first sight. I worked so hard not to lose him. I hid a major part of my life from him just so that I wouldn't lose him.

Then I finally got him, I finally started to date the guy of my dreams and then I lost him.

I lost him because I hid a major part of my life from him.

I guess that's how Karma works.

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I know, short chapter..

Next one is the epilogue.. :'(