Part 9

Holy. Shnikes. I haven't posted in literally FOREVER. I'm so sorry everyone!I really liked writing this chapter, so I hope y'all like reading it! Again, I'm so sorry I haven't posted in ages. I just can't find the time to write this as I've started my GCSE courses and we're all getting loaded with homework. I won't abandon you though! I'm still going to keep on writing this whenever I have free time ❤️

Hayley's P.O.V.

"Thank you. For everything.""You don't have to thank me," replies Taylor softly.I hesitate, wondering if I should tell him about the feeling of being followed. I open my mouth."T... I'm scared.""Hey, Chad's not gonna hurt you. I won't let him.""No. Not of Chad," I say quietly. Taylor's smile turns into a worried frown."What are you scared of, then?Whatever it is, I'll protect you. I promise.""Um... when I came back here, I think... well... it felt like I was being followed, T." I whisper.He lets go of me and gets to his feet. I look up at him."Stay here, Taylor. Please. Don't leave me here," I beg, on the verge of tears again. He pulls me to my feet, and tucks a strand of orangey-pink hair behind my ear."I won't," he says gently."Do you promise?""I promise I'll always be here to keep you safe."

Taylor pulls me into a warm embrace. I wrap my arms around him and we stand there for a while, forgetting all our worries while the moment lasts.

PRESENT DAY

Taylor's P.O.V.

I told her I'd protect her. I promised to keep her safe. And now, she's lying in a hospital bed because I broke that promise. This is all my fault. My head spins. I rise from my chair, and, holding my head, quickly walk to the hospital's double doors, feeling a wave of nausea."Taylor, are you ok, honey?" asks Cristi. I turn to face her and Erica, concern flooding their expressions."Yeah... I-I'm fine..." I lie, pushing open the doors.

I have no idea how long we've been sitting in the waiting room but it must've been a while because it's starting to get light outside.

I stagger round the side of the building and throw up until there's nothing left in my stomach. I press my clammy forehead against the cold wall and shut my eyes, trying to focus on controlling my breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

"Taylor? Are you ok? What're you doing out here?"Jeremy's voice makes me snap back to reality. I wipe my mouth on my hoodie and grimace."I... I just needed to get out of there. I can't take it anymore. Not knowing if she's gonna be ok or not. What if she-she... doesn't make it? I just can't imagine life without her.""Hey. She's gonna make it. Our Hayley isn't gonna give up without a fight," says Jeremy with a small smile, putting his hand on my shoulder, and then wincing as the bandage rubs against his wound. I pull away with a sigh."This is all my fault. I promised Hayley that I'd protect her, keep her safe. But now, here she is, in this goddamn hospital, fighting to stay alive. And all because I can't keep a FUCKING PROMISE!" The last two words rip through my throat, disturbing the quiet of dawn."You never could've known this was gonna happen. You can't blame yourself," says Jeremy quietly, shaken by my sudden outburst."But that's the thing! I did know! I never told you, but after what happened with Chad," Jeremy's face gets a look of disgust when I say his name, "when you left, Hayley told me that she thought someone was following her. And when we went into those woods, I let my guard down. And now look what's happened. What if there was somebody following her? Could the man who... did this to her have been the same person following her?""I dunno, T. It's definitely a possibility. I suppose this man wanted Hayley on her own so nobody would know who took her."I turn away from him and think for a moment. Then I face him again."Jeremy, we know what this man looks like. We have to tell somebody."

Just then, I hear the hospital doors burst open and me and Jeremy run back round to see who it is. Erica is standing there panting. Jeremy goes over to her."Is everything ok? Has something happened to Hayley? Please tell me it's nothing bad. She shakes her head."It's not bad," gasps Erica, "she's awake!"