Taylor's POV
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Snow falling in the dark is oddly peaceful, it flutters and flies down past my face and I let it all fall around me as I crunch through it under foot. Taking in the quiet, only interrupted by the rustling of the trees as a wind rushes through the opening of the field.
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Spotting a figure just ahead, walking towards me, I can't make out the person and I'm sure it's just another student. Perhaps walking from the gym or the sports field. I keep my head low, instead of staring up at the stars and snow.
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As the unknown figure makes their way over to me, I grow more sure that it must be a man. Something in the strides he takes through the cumbersome snow. The self assured movements of a man that has no threat that will out rival him.
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He pulls his coat around him and I realise I know a man that walks like that. Confidently, looking forward with perfect posture. I sigh slightly, knowing that it's fated that we will steal another moment together.
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Jay Gilbert Scott walks straight up to me and instead of opening his mouth or saying anything incredibly stupid he just wraps his arms around me. His embrace feels natural now, as his arms reach around my back I rest my head on his chest. A few stray tears escape my eyes.
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He strokes my hair and down my back, noticing my tears he lifts my head to look at him as he wipes my eyes.
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"We have to stop meeting like this in this field" he smirks.
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"I know, we have to stop all together" I say softly.
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"What did she say" I ask quickly before he protests.
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"Jane, she said she was sorry, thought we had something and could we try again" he sighs frustrated and I instinctively rub his back.
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"That's interesting" I say to him, should he chose to get back with Jane, however plain and boring she might be, I should not have any feelings or opinions on the entire affair.
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"I said no, I'll be honest it didn't mean anything to me at all" he says flippantly.
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"So charming" I laugh and he scoffs.
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"I apologised at least" he says and I smile up at him.
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"And I told her she would find somebody who's actually into her, she almost hit me" he full on laughs and I giggle.
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"Here, let me walk you to dance, I'm sure you have no idea who's lurking in these woods and I'm great at warding people off" he laughs.
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"Thanks Jay" I say taken aback slightly as we walk the rest of the way together. He rubs my hand in his own.
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"Sorry but there's no way you're walking around alone like this in the dark" he says smirking eyeing up my tights and boots.
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"Like what?!" I laugh and he sighs.
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"With a cute little beanie on, your hair flowing down to your ribs. A mini dress and sheer tights. Stylishly sexy" he smirks and I chuckle.
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"What you think somebodies going to rob my clothes" I laugh and he sighs.
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"I think you need a bodyguard Taylor" he says smirking.
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"A bodyguard!? I'll give you an application form" I laugh as we head into the bright lights of the building. My eyes adjust to the light and he follows me into the studio his hand still in mine as he walks slightly behind me. I catch a glance at us in the long floor to ceiling mirrors and see the way we cannot let go of each other, one of his hands on the small of my back as he walks behind me. I giggle and head on over to the props rack.
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"You look good in everything you wear" he says hoarsely eyeing the maroon number, the burlesque costume.
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"So do you Jay" I laugh as I take it off of its hanger, Emily, a dancer in my class, approaches us and he sighs exasperated. She had tried to get his number the other day to no I avail.
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"Never can I just be alone with you" he mutters.
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"Jay how are you doing" she says enthusiastically as I turn around and fiddle with my costume.
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Unzipping the back of my dress, I take the maroon bralet and slip it on quickly. Catching Jay's reflection in the mirror as he watches me whilst talking to Emily who is desperately trying to catch his eye.
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Slipping the matching dance skirt on under my dress, I pull my dress off and walk away from the both of them. I can feel his eyes tracking my movements around the studio as I fiddle with the music.
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Grasping my chair, I press play on the remote and the sultry tones of Peggy Lee singing fever resonates throughout the studio. I go through the choreography, I have it nailed down. Every extension is perfect, every body roll undulates and mesmerises Jay.
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I pretend that Emily is not staring me out, most likely thinking how fucking dare Taylor be so sexy in front of him. Unaware of her jealousy and quite frankly bored of her conversation, Jay pulls up a chair and sits down as if it's a show. He pays me the attention I need. A burlesque number requires a lot of confidence and I figure doing it in front of Jay is the best way to get over the anxiety I feel over the performance.
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I watch myself in the mirror, as I move around the chair, balancing on it occasionally. Making sure that I maintain the character I am playing of a seductress. Finishing in my final position I take a deep breath and hear the silence of the studio, Jay is breathless and Emily is annoyed.
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"You still need to teach me the end" Emily says with a touch of bitterness.
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"Tomorrow" I say to her feeling confident, striding over to the rack and changing back into my dress conspicuously.
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Jay takes my hand as we leave, much to Emily's derision. It's bizarre to me that he's following me around, yet here we are walking back through the snow in what I now call our field. I gaze freely up at the snow, feeling protected by any eventuality just from his mere presence.
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"Taylor that was not fair" he says flatly. Commanding as he is, he pulls me to face him, stopping us in our field.
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"What?" I say all innocence and light.
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"The private show, the outfit. Showing me your.. Jesus" he says sighing and laughing slightly.
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"That was not a private show! If you want one ask. You've seen me naked how can a quick flash affect you, and hey I did face away from you" I say laughing as he smirks watching my eyes. Jay makes me forget the entire world around me.
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"I would do anything for a private show" he says softly. Holding my chin in his hands he locks his lips onto mine, before I can even second guess him. The snow falls around me and I feel his arm holding my body close to his.
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"We have to stop casually kissing like that" I say to him breathlessly.
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"This is a full blown affair Jay" I say freaking out.
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"Okay" he says smiling and brushing my hair back.
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"Okay." I repeat and he laughs.
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"How are you by the way, seeing you cry earlier was really fucking difficult for me" he whispers stroking my face and hair.
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"I'm okay" I explain not wanting to remember the numbness and the pain. The vulnerability and the sorrow.
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"Please can I help you, let's do something later" he suggests, stroking my face and holding onto me. The look of care that falls over his face startles me, I watch on as he shows me yet another side to his character. The carer, sympathiser who wants to just help.
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"What!" He says seeing my shocked expression.
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"I'm not a total monster!" He laughs.
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"Like what?" I laugh.
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"We could go out, eat watch a movie" he says.
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"You can even invite the others" he says putting his hands up and laughing.
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"Okay" I say and smile striding through the snow with him and heading back to the main campus.
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"Let's go and tell everybody" I say to him feeling excited about our evening plans, Yang for once involve partying.
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The atmosphere is different in the refectory in the evenings, the usual food hall is closed and only the bars are open. Students are playing pool under the spotlights and I smile over at our group of friends as Jay walks slightly behind me up to the sofas. Rachel eyes Jay suspiciously like she wants to throw a dagger at him, almost instantly when she sees him with me. I’m sure that it’s no secret that I’m going through a difficult time, the excessive drinking of last night and the extended time off should do that, and really to her I can understand why she would feel as though he is taking advantage of my current state. However Jay is the only person that continues to treat me like a normal human being, without bombarding me with questions. Without looking at me like I may break at any minute.
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"Guys we had an idea, do you all want to go out for a meal and movie tonight" I ask everyone, smiling at Rhea who is seated next to Matthew.
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"El Molinos and then any movie, Rachel you can even choose" Jay says smirking taking a seat on a bar stool that he pulls up. Rachel watches him, her hand on Brads knee. A mixture of confusion and contempt flit over her face, all of which he ignores.
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"I'm in" Matthew smiles up at me as I sit down next to him.
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"Tapas, count me in" Ross agrees.
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"Can I bring Malachi?” Rhea smiles over at me.
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“Of course” I smirk and she eyes me as if to say catch up needed. I haven’t told her about the miscarriage, I also haven’t told her about Jay and his preoccupation with me and my life. It will be a loaded conversation over wine I expect. She adores Matthew, and truly I do too. Yet Gilbert Scott is finding ways of distracting me, which I cannot deny.
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"Rach and I will come" Brad says rubbing her thigh and she smiles distracted by him.
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Agreeing that it would be easier to simply meet in town, I watch Jay check his phone before we all stand up for the final lecture of the day. It’s a twilight session, for psychology we have our final exam as Matthew is filming for his media project. Rhea explains that she has a law exam and I wish her luck. Rachel is styling a makeup look and being graded on it, she details the look to us as we walk out and I smile encouragingly just sure that she will manage it perfectly.
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Rachel eyes Jay walking ahead of us with the guys and then looks at me pointedly, mouthing the words be careful. Rhea smirks and I shrug my shoulders telling them he is my friend. Jay turns to wait for me and I follow him up to psychology with Ross, I half expect him to hold his hand out for me like he usually does when we are alone.
