Jays POV
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Matthew’s staring at her again and I'm about to jump ship pull him under and drown him. We're actually in the canteen at university, it feels pointless to me. But we can't really just leave university altogether, Taylor insists. She is right. The coffee machine is whirring, the chatter of students fills my ears and I just yearn for us to be alone.
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I've clocked him three times. First was her lips, then her eyes. And this time it's her chest. The coffee machine stops making that inherently annoying noise and I shoot him a warning glare.
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"How was the hiking" Ross is asking her eagerly, and he's next. Next on my list.
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"It was really nice we stayed on the mountain, camping" she says and looks at me knowingly.
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"Then we climbed to the top" she explains.
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He's still watching her, his dark eyes just feasting on her. I don't think, moving my arm lightly I cup her waist before resting it on her thigh.
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"So what's new with you lot" I say confidently, arms around my girl. She's wearing a white cotton top and denim skirt and she looks phenomenal. I've matched her today in a white t-shirt and light khaki trousers. We're matching, we're together. Who knew I could be one of these guys, yet here I am. I push my blonde hair back, the girls around the room look but I don't care anymore. They no longer interest me.
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"I'm off to London" Matty says, I knew he would. He wants to know if I know and consequently if she's told me. He is trying to gauge my reaction, looking at my eyes. I stare down into his brown eyes and he looks away, eventually.
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"When are you going?" Rach asks tentatively, interesting clearly she did not know. She's nervous, I can see from that she has edged away from Nate. Rachel is upset, almost beside herself. Put out. Weird. I hadn’t realised her feelings for him were quite so strong.
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Taylor looks up at me, a welcome distraction from analysing and reading my friends. Her soft lips lock with mine. And then she pulls away smiling.
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"After the dance thing, couple weeks. It's for the whole term" he says watching Taylor.
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The urge I get to stand up and tell him that's she's mine and that she's having my child overpowers me but I squash it. Instead I count in my head, up to ten.
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"Why?" Rach demands. Nate looks at her in shock and I'm just happy to see this drama unfolding.
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"He has a scholarship" Ross interjects, forever the peacekeeper.
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"An arts one." Matty chimes in.
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"I'm gonna visit him for a little bit" Ross says. So they're chums again. Great.
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Taylor looks over to Ross, he eyes her. He wants her still. He wants to take her to London with him to visit Matthew. I know that.
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"When's all this happening then" Rach says breaking the moment between Ross and Taylor.
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"We haven't planned yet. It's just something that I think would be fun. You know? What better time to visit England than when you can share with your mate for free" Ross laughs. He's bulked up his arms, his dirty blonde hair has grown out. If I had a younger brother he would look like Ross.
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Taylor looks away and carefully packs up our trash. Eating is a thing at the moment, she's really hungry. And the morning sickness has hit her, harshly. She's assured me that she can handle it. I'm thinking a trip to Forester is in order.
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Taylor stands and my whole being wants to shield the space around her. She places everything in the bin and I watch her walk back to me.
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"So you guys stayed camping for all that time on a mountain or did you stay in a hotel" Rach asks clearly bored of the Matty, London situation.
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"Well" I say looking at Taylor.
She smiles.
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"We ugh. Kind of bought a lodge" I say.
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"You bought a lodge? Man that's awesome" Josh says. My guy. He is genuinely happy for me, jealous of Taylor of course as he sits there with blondie. I've forgotten her name, I don't think I ever learnt it in the first place. But he likes wealth, he likes that I can buy things. Sentimental guy isn't he?
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"We had an incident" Taylor interrupts. Quick to make people understand why we bought the lodge. I would have bought her a lodge anyways. Incident or not, she deserves a lodge.
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"We were targeted at home, both held at gunpoint by burglars. Jay" she says looking up at me.
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"Jay managed to get us away unscathed. But we kind of wanted to get away" Taylor says. I'm worried she may cry. Her emotions are something else. This morning we had run out of milk, she had filled her cereal with the last of it and balled her eyes out when there was none left for me. Of course I assured her that it was fine even as she proceeded to cook bagels instead.
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"My god" Joshua says.
"Fuck me. That's intense" he adds quickly.
"Sorry Taylor" he says empathetically, his empathy is a farce. And where's my sorry?
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"Taylor are you okay?" Matty asks leaning forward. Ugh. Just what I need. Fully unleashing his green eyes on my girl.
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"Yes we both just needed some time away from the house. Doesn't matter we are moving anyways" she explains.
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"You guys are moving too?" Rach says over dramatically.
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"We are" I say looking Matty square in the eyes. It's like playing chess, he presents his game and I just own him every time.
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"Not too London" I add and chuckle. I'm pushing it.
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"Yes we got the letter yesterday" Taylor adds smiling up at me.
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"The deed to our home" I add just rubbing it in.
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Rach rolls her eyes, and Matty sits back in his chair.
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"Congrats both of you" Ross says.
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"Thanks man" I say to him and he smiles genuinely at Taylor.
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"Yeah where is it then your new home" Rach asks.
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"California, Palm Springs” I say and Joshua whistles smiling.
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"Where's the invite then" Joshua says clapping his hands together.
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"Well for my birthday we were thinking of having a bit of a mashup house warming/birthday party" Taylor says clearly amused at Joshua.
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"Nice" Joshua adds straightening up his football jersey.
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"Yes actually would be nice as like a send off for you two too" Taylor says looking between Ross and Matty.
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That's right good-bye Matthew. I do star jumps in my head.
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"So you'll come" she says to Ross. I can tell she is dying to hug him, her emotions being heightened. She will always care for him. That's just something I have to accept. But ultimately she is mine.
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"Wouldn't miss it" he says to her. He finds her irresistible.
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"What about New York?" Rach asks confused.
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"Oh yeah the dance company. Well we have a dance studio. And I haven't really thought about it all yet, but I'll work it out" Taylor says and Matty looks away.
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"You have a dance studio?" Ross smiles.
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"At the back of our home" Taylor smiles.
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"That's some property" Joshua says.
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Promptly as I'm eyeing up Matthew the bell sounds telling us we all have to go to our next lecture. I'm sure that he is aware that London is incomparable to our future together. Successful lunch I think to myself. Taylor stands and I hold her hand walking towards the door.
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