taylor swift + joe alwyn: story of us

He Hates Me

For the next few days, Taylor and Joe successfully avoided each other. Luckily for them, they were rehearsing songs in drama that didn't require them to work together.

"Look at her, how does Joe not see through that fake act?" Taylor looked over in disgust at Hailey and Joe.

Abigail and Selena exchanged glances. Taylor kept constantly saying how she just wanted to erase Joe from her life, yet she couldn't seem to stop talking about him. "Taylor if you really want to forget about him, just don't pay attention to him," Selena suggested.

Taylor glared at her, "I'm not paying attention to him."

Deciding not to start yet another argument about Joe, Selena didn't reply, continuing to eat her sandwich. "Well, we're doing scene work today, so it'll be impossible to avoid him."

Taylor groaned, "Seriously?"

"It's alright Taylor, it's not like Joe's a terrible person. You just had a misunderstanding, and personally I think you should talk to him about it," Abigail shrugged.

Rolling her eyes, Taylor made a stealthy glance at Joe. Her friends were constantly trying to convince her to go talk to him, but she always refused. "Anyway," Taylor said, ignoring Abigail's comment, "Do you guys want to go the cafe after school?"

"I wish I could, but my brother's visiting from college," Abigail said.

"I have a swim meet after school, but maybe tomorrow," Selena offered. "Or you could just go with Joe."

Taylor gave her the death glare, and before she could respond the bell rang. Taylor stood up, grabbing her books, "I'll see you guys later."

Arriving at drama, Mrs. Snyder approached her, "We're going to be doing scene work today, why don't you go find Joe."

"I'm right here," Joe said from behind Taylor. "Actually I have a question Mrs. Snyder, don't you think we should work with the understudy's too?"

Mrs. Snyder seemed to consider this for a moment, "Alright, why don't you each go work with the understudy's, it is good to mix things up."

Joe smiled, satisfied as he walked over to Hailey. Taylor was feeling an immense amount of hurt weighing down on her, like she was carrying a boulder on her back as she walked over to Tom. "Hi," she mumbled, "I'm supposed to work with you."

Tom grinned, he had a plan to get Taylor back, and it was the newest gossip that Taylor and Joe had a falling out so it was the perfect time. "Hi! Why don't we get to work."

Throughout the entire class period, Tom tried to be the kindest, gentlest, person he had ever been. But Taylor couldn't help but continue glancing back at Joe and Hailey, who seemed to be having the time of their lives, laughing and goofing around. Soon she couldn't take it anymore, "I'm not feeling so well Tom, I'm going to see if Mrs. Snyder will let me go to the nurse."

Taylor walked over to the teacher, Tom trailing behind. "I'm not feeling great, could I go to the nurse?"

"Of course honey," Mrs. Snyder grabbed a pass for her. "Feel better soon."

Taylor smiled gratefully, taking the pass. "Do you want me to walk you down there?" Tom asked.

"I'm fine," Taylor replied. As she walked out the doors, she took one glance back. Joe didn't even care. But that's fine. Why would I care if he cared? I don't care either.

When she got to the nurse, she managed to get herself excused for the day. After she sent a quick text to Abigail and Selena, explaining where she was, she got in her car and drove to the cafe. It was still three hours until school was supposed to be out, so the cafe was practically empty. Sighing, Taylor put her books down on a table, trying to find her homework. Might as well get an early start.