2

The next day, Taylor walks in the cafeteria. Her nose scrunching in disgust at the mixed smell of grease and hormonal teenage boys. She lines up to get an apple then proceeds to leave for the bleachers on the field. She liked the outdoors. Her chances of seeing Romee were better when she was there. Once again, if she was lucky anyway.

It's been years since this whole cat and mouse game. Could it even count as one if one wasn't aware there's a game to begin with?

Taylor guesses she's lucky today. There she is. Wavy blonde hair draped on toned sun-kissed shoulders were on full display from the baby blue sleeveless top she wore. Her legs in her skinny seemed to be going on for days. Taylor's breath caught in her throat. How was someone this beautiful, she didn't know. It was unfair how she was put into this earth with all the other mediocre beings. The brunette truly believed no one would ever look decent stood next to her. She was it.

Taylor felt a smile grow on her face watching Romee converse with her friends animatedly. The blonde titled her head in confusion as Davis High's head cheerleader, Jasmin, leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Taylor wishes she could be one of the blonde's friends but that seemed very unlikely. The brunette was too shy and the other girl was so out of her league.

If the stars align one day, just maybe so, Romee would actually know who she is.

She turns her head away and squeezes her eyes tightly when she sees Laurens come into view and lean in for a kiss on her darling face. Wow, that stung. Really stung.

She sighs and throws the apple in a nearby can before standing up and forcing her feet to move her away from the field. Even though she hated leaving knowing Romee was still around, she liked having the courage to deny her — not that the blonde would notice but still it was nice knowing she still had some control.

When class ended, Taylor hurriedly pedaled her way home. Today was a very important day...for her parents anyway. The annual year end party at the country club was tonight, Taylor's mom was hosting it and she insisted all of her children be there. The brunette wasn't a very big fan of having to come to any of her parents' parties. She didn't like having to be forced to wear dresses or have makeup applied on her face. It made her very uncomfortable. She couldn't say the same for her younger siblings. They truly loved being in the spotlight and having to show off whatever was going on in their lives.

"Taylor, honey!" Jen, Taylor's mom, yelled from the kitchen.

Taylor backed away from the stairs where she was heading and made a beeline for the kitchen. Jen's auburn hair was put up in a very neat bun, the teenager noticed her mother was still wearing her silk robe from this morning. "Why don't you get up and ready? Hair and makeup will be here in a few, you look like a mess dear!"

"I was on my to, mother." She thought in her head.

Taylor faked a smile and went upstairs without protest. She loves her mother, she really does but sometimes she can't help but feel they don't connect. It wasn't like how they were before when Taylor was younger, she used to tell her mom everything. The weird encounters when she went to the bookshop with her dad, the curious thoughts that would wander in her head. Now that she's older and realize their personalities aren't alike, she can't help but feel so far away from her.

Exactly half an hour later, some of Jen's closer friends from the club as well as the hired glam team arrived. Taylor didn't mind her mother's friends. They didn't meddle with Taylor's life, or comment about her lack of. The older women were much alike, married to successful husbands who liked to play golf during their past time.

"You have really thick hair," the woman said behind her, looking very distressed as she tried to comb through her indeed very thick hair. Taylor's cheeks turned bright pink. She hated when people pointed that out, she always felt very self-conscious. Just one more thing that she should start disliking about herself.

It took another 30 minutes for her hair to be tamed. The next thing she knew, her glasses were discarded on the side and her face was being prodded and dabbed by brushes and sponges. The entire time Taylor refused to look up. She was then ordered to change into the strapless white dress her mother picked out for her. It ended right above her knees and it didn't feel weird against her skin so Taylor was thankful for that.

"Oh my god, Tay! You look like an actual person today!" She hears her younger sister, Mackinley say playfully behind her.

"Leave her alone Mackinley. We know you're just jealous Taylor will always be the star," the youngest Monroe came into view clad in a very neat looking bottom up and black slacks.

Taylor teasingly ruffled Chase's hair and began to help him fold the sleeves up to his forearm. Her brother was sometimes very arrogant, but she knew he truly was a good person. Both her younger siblings were easily swayed by the luxurious lifestyle their parents offered them so unlike Taylor, they failed to appreciate the smaller things.

"Piss off Chasey boy, you don't want to test these claws."

"Sis, Mackinely is so not getting on my good side today."

"Lucky for you," Taylor adjusts the tie around his neck. "You're just as competitive. Let's go."

—-

Taylor swirled the glass of water in her hand, slowly, and then gradually picked up the pace. She felt a nudge on her shin and saw her mother's hard glare.

Sorry. She mouthed sheepishly.

She was so bored. Everybody had someone to converse something about to. Her siblings had found their way in the crowd and mingled with the other children while she sat in the same place she's been at for the past hour and a half listening to her mother and Mrs. King gossip.

Taylor felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned around. To her surprise, it was Laurens. He too wore the similar clothing to her brother but he'd seemed to unbutton some of his shirt down.

"Hi, thought it might be you," Laurens waves a little and takes a seat beside her.

"Hi, Laurens. It's nice to see you," She greets and softly glares at her mother who's eyeing the two of them with a grin.

"Having a good time? I sure can tell your siblings are," He gestures to the two throwing their heads back in laughter. "So anyway, a couple of us are heading to mine. It's just in the country club so there's nothing to worry about, also your siblings are going."

"Uhm, I don't know Laurens..." Taylor lets out. Unsurprisingly, she's not the party type. Plus making friends with the love of her life's boyfriend really doesn't seem right.

"Oh, she'll go. Don't bring her back until she's actually had a good time." Her mother, who apparently has been eavesdropping, interrupts.

"But Mom-"

"No buts Taylor Marie."

Taylor sighs dejectedly and then nods towards Laurens who grins and offers his hand. Together they walk towards her siblings who look like they've drowned at least three shots already.

"Oh my god is that Taylor? Tay is that you?" Mackinley stumbles inside the car and giggles. "Wow, you guys this is a memorable moment! Tay's going to her first party ever!"

"Mackinley!" Taylor hisses in embarrassment and clamps her hand around her sister's mouth who even then doesn't stop her mouth's movements and continues to go on about the many things her older sister has yet to do.

"No shit, really?" Laurens asks from the driver's seat and pulls out from the driveway.

"Really," Taylor breathes out. Her first party ever and she's nearly 19 now. It's not like she feels she's been missing out a lot. She likes thinking about it as delaying things. She'll tell herself not to worry, she'd eventually do the things teenagers usually do.

Or maybe not.

Soon, they pulled up at Laurens' incredibly beautiful household. She could already hear the thumping of the music from where they were and she grew very nervous. She didn't know what she was most scared of, having to interact with other people or not having anyone to talk to at all.

They entered the house together and once Laurens pushed the two-door entrance open, Taylor's eyes widened in surprise. She was expecting a few of the kids from the club, not a few of the kids from the club and many other students from school.

"If any of you need anything, I'll be by the pool," Laurens announces before dispersing in the crowd.

She inspects the room quickly and finds familiar faces, none that she knew would think the same about her. She really was a nobody. Probably her fault, the brunette didn't give much effort in letting herself stand out. She didn't like making friends.

Deciding she felt hot and icky from the amount of body heat radiating from the room. She pushes against the crowd and finds a room where she can breathe in. That room happened to be the kitchen. Food, great!

She finds a whole pack of tostitos chips on the counter and begins enjoying them for herself. This was fun. Eating chips by herself is fun. Maybe she can go back and tell her mom that now.

"Ah the chips, they're very delicious. Yes?"

Taylor turns to find a man who looked a couple of years older. He was a tall blonde and had strong muscular arms. She realizes he looks familiar, he looks a lot like Laurens. "Are you Laurens' friend?"

"Uhm, ye-yes. Sure, friend. I'm Taylor." She wasn't even sure if they were friends. Maybe they weren't. Laurens generally got along with everyone because he was polite.

"I see. Very nice to meet you. The name's Noe, Laurens much better looking brother," he jokes and pours himself a drink. "Would you want some?"

Taylor shakes her head no and looks around once again, suddenly feeling very overdressed and formal.

"I like your dress," Noe says and sees the younger girl put her arms around her waist timidly. He smiles a little and chuckles.

"What?" Taylor asks feeling more bashful than ever. "I didn't know there was gonna be a lot of people."

"No, you're all good." Noe takes a step forward and leans in the opposite counter to where Taylor was.

"So are you from here?" She attempts conversation. "You don't seem like you are, I mean. The accent and all."

"Ah, ja. Laurens and I were born and raised in Netherlands. My younger brother went here for middle school but I stayed behind with my grandfather."

"Oh, that's nice. I guess." She removes the heals and feels her feet relax on the cold hard floor.

The entire night the two got to know each other more. Taylor was surprised someone even bothered to take an interest in her life. With every word that she uttered, Noe listened intently. The brunette thought maybe it was all an act, maybe he just felt sorry for her and was being a good host.

Noe on the other hand found Taylor very interesting. She was also very attractive and he picked up on her lack of self-confidence which he didn't understand.

Taylor was a very beautiful woman. Tall, slender, and brunette. Her eyes as green as clover, the most beautiful shade. Noe was determined to make her realize her worth. It wasn't a secret, he's taken a fancy on her and has tried countless times to flirt with her but it seemed she didn't notice. Taylor's heart was only set on one person.

"Let's go, I'll introduce you to a couple of my friends." Noe says and leads her outside. Taylor complies, it's not like she has something better to do and he doesn't give her the creeps.

Noe leads her to a small group of people nearby the pool. She sees one of them is Laurens and in front of him sits a familiar figure. Her back is towards her but Taylor knew that frame all too well, the same rich blonde hair draping down slender frame.

Taylor's heart picks up in realization. She feels her body begin to warm, her cheeks flushing and hands trembling. Maybe she should really go. She takes a foot back to make a dash for it but just in time, Noe pulls her towards the group and she immediately looks away.

"Hey everyone, meet my friend Taylor!" Noe announces and places an arm around the small of her back. Taylor doesn't seem to notice, her eyes too on the seemingly very interesting grass. He takes this as invitation and moves his hand to rest on her hip.

"Taylor, how unfortunate you've met my brother and I wasn't there. Was he behave?" Laurens snickers and raises his eyebrow at the hand on the brunette.

"I was a gentleman, little brother." Noe winks and gestures for Taylor to sit down on one of the lounger chairs just adjacent to the ones Laurens' at.

Taylor keeps her head down but can't help but stare at really smooth legs near Laurens. She scratches her arms roughly in nervousness and prays someone would just vanish her away from her. But of course, the world is always against her said and her luck is complete shit because a few seconds after she settles down a soft sultry voice calls out her name that cause goosebumps to form on her skin.

"Hi, Taylor. It's very nice to meet you," the brunette looks up, heart racing all the way. Baby blue eyes are already trained on hers, oh god. Taylor thinks she might actually vomit her nervousness.

Romee. She was...wow. Taylor thought she was more beautiful up close than she ever dreamed. Her heart rams against her chest and ignores the fact that Romee doesn't remember that they've met before, that proves Taylor's belief that all this time that she spent thinking about the blonde not once has she thought about her.

"H-hi," Taylor wanted to scream and cursed the gods internally. Her voice fucking cracked. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Boys! It's beer pong time!" She hears Chase yell at them and almost instantly, Noe, Laurens, and the rest of the boys left.

"God they are such competitive losers," she hears on of the girls say. "Hi, I'm Jasmine."

Jasmine was one of Romee's closest friends, she was also a very beautiful girl. She had dark hair and her chocolate skin glistening under the moon's light, she could pass for someone straight out of a magazine.

"And I'm Josephine! I love your dress, such a babe."

Taylor blushes and smiles in the girl's direction. She exhales deeply and feels her skin light up on fire when Romee stands up to take the seat right beside her, their skin brushing in the process.

"Are you a senior as well?" The blonde asks and flips her hair to the other side allowing Taylor's eyes to linger on the smooth skin between her neck and collarbone.

"Yeah, I'm a senior." Taylor lets out after a while. Good, no stuttering. She couldn't believe they were actually talking. That she was this close to her. In some way, she felt like she was meeting her favorite celebrity for the first time.

"How come I haven't seen you around? I literally always see your siblings. I never knew there was another Monroe." Romee grins, her pearly whites coming into view. Taylor feels herself melt at the sight. That darn smile with each dimples on her cheek.

"Surprise, I guess," Taylor grins and mirrors the blonde's million dollar smile.

"Noe seems pretty fond of you," Romee wiggles her eyebrows teasingly and Taylor wants to laugh in her face.

God, if you only knew.

••••

Author's Note:

Hey guys! First story, please bear with me. English isn't my first language but I'm trying my absolute best.