Jump Then Fall

<SFTC: Jump Then Fall by Taylor Swift>

Chapter 21

"T, what's the plan for today?" I ask him, pulling my white and blue keds out of the suitcase and dropping then to the ground. We landed in LA a few hours ago and were still in the process of a slow unpacking. With distractions from both Scott, the ads broadcasting the new episode of Greys' tonight, and Tanner whining to kiss him every few minutes, it went slow. Tanner was unpacked, as any guy would be, back at his apartment, though. I didn't I'd be but I am disappointed that he will be going back to his own room and not be there when I wake up or hold me during my nightmares.

He comes behind me, both arms connecting at my waist. "I am going to teach you how to surf."

"Oh," I laugh. "I am a pretty experienced surfer myself."

"What, from the TCA surfboard thing?" He teases, eyebrows raised. I tilt my head back onto his shoulder and giggle.

"I see you've been doing your research,"

"Maybe. Either way, forget what you've learned because I am going to teach you again," He says, reaching over and closing the empty suitcase and pushing it to the ground. I turn to face him, toying with his hair around my finger.

"Persistent, aren't we?" I smirk.

"Very," He dips his lips to meet mine, backing me up until he falls back onto the bed on top of me. After awhile of letting the kiss drag on, I pull my lips off his, smiling slightly.

"Enough for now. Later, I promise," He sighs and rolls off of me, both of us glaring up at the speckled ceiling. Surfing had indeed never been an area of success for me but I have attempted it before when we took a family trip to Hawaii one time. I managed to stand for a time of 3 seconds, according to our teacher, and I was very proud of that time. Austin had loved that trip. He took pictures of everything and he was good enough to surf a huge wave all the way to the breaking point. I remember I was jealous of him on that trip. •The struggle to find a bikini that will be reliable enough to not come off in the waves was a struggle in itself. I finally decided on a blue and white striped strapless bikini that I tied extra tight. The last thing I need is a slipup at a public beach where there is also children.

"Taylor!" A distressed voice shouts at the door, my phone dinging about 8 times in a row almost at the same time. They're all from Hailee even though the voice from the door barely sounds the same. I hurry over to it and pull it open, a messy version of Hailee standing in the doorway.

Her mascara is smudged and runs paths down her face. She looks so un-Hailee-like. She's usually so kept together but I have to remind myself periodically that she is only a teenager. 16, at that.

"Sweetheart, what happened?" It feels like my age just doubled in the second. I'm called someone sweetheart, wow, how old am I. She lets out another sob and rushes into my arms, growing louder by the second.

"H-he came back, Taylor. He came back and said he loved me.. A-and I think I love h-him too.." She stutters. Her on-again-off-again relationship with this Dylan guy had been consistently failing for her for the past couple months and she had broke it off the last time we talked. He was apparently a jerk from what she had described, even though she'd never blame him. She'd blame herself or ask herself why instead of thinking the situation through.

I lead her over to the couch and face her. "Okay, what kind of an I love you was it?" I ask, hoping she'd get what I was asking.

She drags a palm across her eyes. "Well, he-he showed up at my door and asked if we could talk so I let him in and he kinda.. um, he started kissing me and it got kind've.. you know. And he said he loved me."

"For one, I'm pretty sure he just wanted sex." I state, sighing.

"Well, I mean if your boyfriend told you that he loved you, wouldn't you do the same?" Tears still shine across her eyes. She quickly looks back down at her hands. I was reluctant to tell her that Tanner and I had never even done so but I continue.

"Honestly, Hailee, no. In that situation, and if I truly loved that guy, he wouldn't just be saying it just then when he's about to fill his needs. If he just randomly came back and said the words that you'd been waiting him to say for a long time just before he feels you up?"

She hangs her head.

"I didn't let him-" She swallows. "I told him to leave but still. I feel like should've-"

"No, you did the right thing. That could end up the wrong way so easily. Hai, you've said before he's a jerk, he's never treated you good and you know it,"

"I know, I know." She sighs.

"Babe, where's my board shorts? I think they ended up in your suitcase," Tanner asks, walking into the room without looking. I make a motion to him to get out but he doesn't notice it until he turns.

"So you're telling me that you wouldn't let him if he said he loved you?" Hailee leans over to whisper. I hide my laugh behind my hand as he glances from me to Hailee suspiciously.

"Hey, you're Hailee Steinfield." He noticed blantantly, pointing at her. I roll my eyes.

"That I am," She laughs, running a hand through her mangled hair.

"So, what's the situation.. or should I leave? Girl stuff?" he starts to leave, thankfully. Not that I don't want him in here, it's just I don't want any follow up question to if we've had sex, which we havent. These days, you're almost looked down upon if you havent yet with your boyfriend. Especially if he's Tanner's caliber and Hailee's one of those thatd take a second look at me if she found out that we havent.

"no no, it's okay. I was just going," She stands suddenly, swinging her bag back over her shoulder.

"No, you don't have to-"

"I should probably be going anyway. You were right about Dylan, I'll think about it, thanks again, Tay. I see y'all have plans anyway so have fun!"

"Okay, but call me if you need me anytime. I'm here, alright?" •"What's wrong with Hailee?" Tanner asks as we walk down the pier-row. It was a perfect day, at least, 80 degrees out and not a cloud in the sky. He has a sunset tanktop on over white swim shorts with blue birds around it. He looked extremely good today, so good that he's actually getting more looks than I am. Which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. A good thing in terms of I'm not getting mobbed or recognized as much but a bad thing in terms that even though I am not extremely jealous, girls are gawking at him.

"Boy problems," I state quickly, straightening my glasses on my head.

"What about? Maybe I can help," He swings out intertwined hands back and forth between us, more once he sees me stare longer at the girls staring.

"I don't think so, I mean her 'boyfriend' came back and basically told her that he loved her just to get in her pants but she told him to go. She was just indifferent about it, I think." I explain as we follow the pier stairs down onto the sand. I flinch at the heat and half-jump between steps.

"Then he doesn't love her.. not really, at least." I set my bag down on top of Tanner's extra blanket held down by our flip flops on each edge. Tanner goes onto the process of removing his shirt, to which I obviously notice the excess of girls turned in our direction. I tug down my white shorts over my bathingsuit and my own tanktop.

I sigh, "Yeah, I know."

"Enough sad. Lets get this lesson in progress!" He says, pulling me closer to him by my waist.

"It depends on which lesson we're talking about," I grin, leaning up on my tiptoes to look at him. Our noses barely brush.

"What lesson do you want to be talking about.." He smirks, pressing his hand into the small of my back to press his lips into mine. It's a short, passionate kiss. Not one to lure much attention but one to set the record to people around us that we were dating.

"Okay, lets do this surfing thing before paparazzi show up," Even though I know they're already here in the parking lot, crouched behind bushes, taking pictures of us.

"Then give them a show," He leans down again, pecking into my lips a little longer this time before I spread my hand across his chest and I push him back gently.

"Right. Surfing. Sorry." He laughs, nodding quickly to himself before grabbing his rented board and handing me mine. "Lets do this, then."