It All Started With A Deal

Chapter 8.2

Chapter 8.2
Veronica and I moved at a much quicker pace than Taylor, who was still holding Lilly. We went around the side of the house, that way we wouldn't have to bump into quite as many people. By the time we made it to the car Lilly had cried off all of her mascara. Taylor, being the only fully sober one, took the wheel. Lilly sat in the passenger's seat, still sobbing and holding Taylor's hand. Veronica and I sat in the back. I leaned my head on Veronicas shoulder. She rested her head against mine.

The entire cry ride was completely silent, the only sound being from Lilly as she cried. Taylor's knuckles were turning white from how tight her grip was on the steering wheel. The blood under her nose had dried and was not crusted to her face.

We finally made it to Lilly's house. Lilly jumped out the car immediately running into her house, leaving the three of us behind.

Taylor, Veronica, and I stepped out of the car slowly. Taylor ran a hand through her hair, her breathing ragged. Before we had time to even react a scream escaped her lips as her fist collided with the side of her car door. She pulled her hand back, completely out of breath. Her knuckles bled but she didn't care. Taylor hurried her face in her hands.

I pulled her into a hug, Veronica joining us.

"I can't go in there," Taylor's voice wobbled.

"What happened?" Veronica questioned softly.

Taylor's eyes began to water, "He hurt her," were the only words she managed to get out.

"Who did?" This time I was the one to speak.

"The guy from the party. He hurt her. One second she's dancing right beside me and the next some guy is hitting on her," Taylor pulled away from us, running both hands through her hair as she began to pace around, "She started flirting back and I got mad. It was my fault. I was supposed to watch her. I was supposed to take care of her but I didn't. I was a coward, I left,"

Veronica and I remained silent as we waited for her to continue.

"I was only gone for a few minutes before I came back but-" she paused, "it was too late. She was gone and so was the guy," a tear fell down her cheek, "I looked everywhere for her. I finally started banging on all the doors in the house. You could imagine what I walked in on. I finally got to the last room and, there she was,"

I stopped breathing entirely, my brain automatically assuming the worst.

"By the time I got there he already had her top off and was working at her jeans, even though she was yelling for him to stop.

"I ripped him off of her and punched him but it was too late, the damage had already been done. He hurt her, he hurt my Lilly," her voice cracked as she struggled to keep her emotions within.

I took a deep breath before approaching Taylor. I rested my hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. "That was not your fault,"

Another tear fell down her face, "He hurt her," she whispered.

I wiped the tear away, "I know, and he's a horrible person, but none of that was your fault. It was his. You can't blame yourself for someone else's actions. You and I know how horrible it is to be in a situation like that, you know how horrible it feels. And right now, Lilly needs her best friend," I cupped her face with my hands, brushing away her tears.

"What if she hates me?" Taylor whispered.

"She's Lilly, she could never hate you,"

Taylor nodded softly. I turned her around before giving her a small push. Her figure retreated into the doorway and out of sight from us.