Taylor's POV
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We're filling up the mini with gas on our way to the hospital. Gas stations in Palm Springs are as fancy as everything else is, and I stay strapped in the car waiting for him to finish up. Jay and I are really close at the moment, I've barely been able to let go of him physically since we got into bed last night.
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We showered together, in our epic rain shower, he cooked breakfast with my arms wrapped around his waist. And he's just been driving with his hand on my knee. Filling up the car however is very much an independent activity.
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He pays and returns to the drivers seat, I watch him sit down, push his hair back and start up the car. Once we're out of the garage his hand resumes its place on my thigh and I sit back in my seat, relaxed.
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Looking out at the highway I think about Matthew, imagining him going to London and being alone there. And I worry all over again. I worry so much that something will happen and none of us will be there to save the day. What could happen should he be left to his own devices in London worries me and I begin to wonder about the whole thing.
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Jay pulls the handbrake up and it makes me jump as I look out at the hospital parking lot. He swoops around to open my door and smiles as he helps me and bump out of the car.
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"Whatever did I do to deserve you" I say looking up into his eyes.
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"I think the same about you around 50 million times a day" he laughs.
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As a couple, expecting our first baby, we head into the hospital. Jay holds me into him and shields me from every single passer-by. Despite the Ross incident I know that we are okay. After what feels like the first time in days; we're holding hands and I'm not clinging on for dear life. I'm holding his hands, just like normal.
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Matthew’s new suite, outside the ICU is less daunting. There are less monitors and wires and more views outside through small windows. There’s even a flatscreen which is switched onto the game as we walk in.
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Ross is still here and I begin to wonder if he has even been home. He smiles at me and I return the expression. See normal. We're friends who just smile at each other. And only smile at each other.
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I pull up the leather chair next to the bed eyeing Matthew who is fast asleep. Jay pulls up a chair next to me. Sits down and rests his hand on my thigh.
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"How long has he been asleep" I ask Kim quietly as she looks up from her magazine.
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"Hour or so" she says to me placing the magazine down.
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"He may be discharged today" she comments softly so as not to wake up her brother.
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I nod slowly looking over at him, worry and anxiety grips me again. Whilst he's in hospital there's no chance of him doing anything further to himself. I gaze at him, his brunette hair and olive skin. He's changed into a white T-shirt and grey joggers, I recognise them from when we lived together. He looks so much better, much more like himself.
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"I'll stay with him for a few weeks" Ross says reading the apprehension and worry on my face. I smile at him, thankful for his forethought.
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The room goes quiet again, but not uncomfortably so. We all just wait. Wait for something to happen, wait for Matty to wake up or for a doctor to appear. I watch the clock not even taking in the time. The lead striker scores in the game, but nobody is watching it. It's just background noise.
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After an immeasurable amount of time Rachel pushes through the door breaking our silence in her fluffy pink coat.
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"Matthew" she says, Kim looks up disapprovingly but says nothing. Matty's eyes peel open slowly and I stifle a laugh at his annoyed expression. He strokes his forehead and shields his eyes from the faint light.
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"Well are you feeling better" she asks looking at his bewildered expression.
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"I am, thanks for the wake up call" he says and she huffs. Bustling through the room and pulling a chair up.
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Jay rubs my leg and I turn to him smiling. I kiss his lips softly and he smiles. Everybody is still chatting but I'm distracted by him. Everything feels much more like normal and I like it. I didn't realise how much I needed to be around my friends and for them to just be chatting happily.
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"I love you" Jay whispers in my ear.
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"Me too, I love you" I say and I chuckle.
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"Taylor" Rach huffs and I practically wince.
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"Yes" I say extricating myself from Jays lips.
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"The dance what are you wearing!?" She says sitting down and removing the fluffy pink coat.
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"Oh I ugh" I say softly unsure, Kim sits up distracted and eyes me.
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"It's this weekend silly, two days!" she says shrill.
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"Oh my god" I say genuinely alarmed as I go through the gowns I own. Of course they are still in cases as we haven’t managed to un-pack everything yet.
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"Don't worry it's all white you've got white dresses right" she says sifting through her purse for her phone. I notice her purse is the same shade of pink and I stop myself from laughing. I do love her, and her confidence.
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"No need to worry I bought that dress, remember. White one, high neck we got it in town" Jay says and I relax having forgot everything from before the move and indeed Matthew’s attempt at his life.
Before we travelled on our trip to maroon bells we had gone dress shopping. It seems like a lifetime ago. I mentally note that I should try that dress on just to be sure that it works with bump, and in fact that it still does actually fit.
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"Sorted, Matty you'll be out by then won't you" Rachel asks.
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"Here's my dress" she remarks before he even responds. Handing me her phone I check it out. Matty gives her a thumbs up.
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It's a short affair, just as I had expected. Low cut too. All over white lace with spaghetti straps.
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"You will rock it" I say smiling at her.
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"Well come on then" she remarks as I stand and hand her the phone back. I stretch out, hands above my head, my back tends to hurt after sitting too long. Even though my bump is indiscernible as of yet. I arch my back slightly to release the tension, noticing Ross quickly dart his eyes away from me.
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I can't even stand in front of him without causing a problem. I head to my bag and grab my phone.
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"I haven't got a picture of what I'm wearing" I say unlocking my phone.
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"But I've got photographic evidence of Jays suit" I say laughing.
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I hand it to Rach and her eyes bug.
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"Wow, Jay you look practically dashing" she says as she hands me my phone back.
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"Adorable" Jay says as I eye him and kiss his lips.
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"So should we all go together" Rach cuts in exasperated.
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"Well actually I was thinking, let's all get together at ours and then we can all travel together to the prom" I say eyeing Jay, I’m positive that he will be okay with my ideas.
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He smiles slowly to reassure me.
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"We can get a limo" Rach says practically clapping her hands.
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"Or we can just go in two cars" I say eyeing Matty and his apprehensive expression.
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"Ohh Taylor this is prom" Rach says refusing to be reined in.
"White limo" she smiles.
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"I think we can get a limousine" Jay looks at me smiling.
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"Okay then, that's a plan" I say eyeing Ross. I reflect on how it's nice of Rach to suggest that we all go together. Being that you're traditionally supposed to take a date to prom, and Matty and Ross would sort of be going together rather than taking a girl with them.
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"Oh Kat is coming too" she adds and looks at me tentatively as I eye her shocked. It’s news to me that Kat is in our group, I feel like a preschooler and having a tantrum before I rein myself in.
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"With us ?" I comment.
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"Yes she’s going with Ross" Rach adds then looks down at her phone unaware that she very much just dropped some tea. What a turn of events, I hide my expression of shock.
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"Shes not with Josh?" I ask softly refusing to look at Ross.
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"Joshua Morelli" Rach says gleefully, gossip is her thing.
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"Ended things with her a few weeks back" she chuckles and Kim moves just a fraction trying to hide her annoyance. I roll my eyes and Kim smiles at me.
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"Okay so that means Kat has to come inside my house" I say slightly uppity. I chastise myself but I'm allowed to be annoyed. I dislike her so much. She was rude to me, in front of all of my friends. In fact I believe she called me a bitch, blaming me for her impending break up with Joshua because I played pool with him, once.
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"Don't worry her dress is pure trash" Rachel laughs.
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"Bygones be bygones" I say laughing looking at Rach.
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"Shes welcome to come" I add staring Ross straight in the eyes.
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"We're not together" he comments looking at Rach.
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"Oh really" she sighs rolling her eyes. A huge scoff as she looks at him appalled.
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"Every party Taylor. Every party." She laughs.
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"Oh shh" he says pulling out his phone and eyeing the display wishing he wasn’t in the room with us.
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"Okay so it's you two, me and Nate, Ross and bitch face and Matty" Rach laughs. Could have been more tactful. Still I laugh slightly.
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"Okay it's a date" I say just hoping that Matthew is well enough for prom.
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