Christina opened the door to her apartment, throwing her keys on the kitchen table. Taylor walked in behind her, looking around. No, it hadn't changed without him, like he had feared.

"Taylor, we need to talk." She said quietly.

"I know." he said. "I never did get a chance to explain."

"Well....I'm giving you one." She said, looking up at him.

"Drew and I went to the party...and I got drunk. Then she took me into the bedroom so that I could lay down, and then she made a pass at me." Taylor said. Christina raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"Nothing happened. She made a move on me, and I got out of there. I was drunk as hell, but I knew that I loved you, and that i didn't want to ruin that." He said. "I'm sorry. Please believe me." Be whispered, looking into her eyes intensly.

"Taylor..." She started. "But you lied to me."

"No I didn't." he said. "Nothing happened."

"But the note..." She said.

"Note?" He said, frowning.

"Yes, the note where you lied and told me that you went to David's. " SHe said. She walked over to her desk and rumaged a moment before pulling it out. She handed it to him, and Taylor frowned.

"What?"

"I didn't write this!"

Christina's face went blank. The nights full of insomnia and anger and hurt flooded back to her. "You didn't?"

"No." He said.

"Then what happened?"

"I was coming home from work around nine, and then Drew came out and told me that you were sleeping. She said that you told her to go on to the party and to get a ride from me." Taylor said.

"She told you I was sleeping?"

"Yeah, and that you didn't want to be disturbed."

Christina's mouth dropped open. How could she have been so stupid.

"What?"

"I wasn't asleep, Taylor. I wanted to go, but she convinced me not to. She must have set you up and written the note."

"Oh my god." Taylor said.

"I can't believe this." Christina said.

"I know."

Christina was silent for a moment as the whole thing sunk in. "I feel so stupid."

"So do I."

"I...."

"The only reason I was nice to her was because I thought she was your friend."

Christina looked at Taylor, now knowing that the last five and a half months of misery had been mostly her fault.

"Taylor, I'm so sorry." She said.

"I know." He said. "I am too." He said. They were silent a few moments.

"Um, here, come sit down. I don't know what else to say." She said.

Christina went into the kitchen and got a towel, wetting it with warm water. She motioned for him so sit at the table. He did so, and she took off her jacket, and took his. She returned to the table and picked up her towel. She started to wipe away the blood that was still drizzling down Taylor's eye and lip. He flinched as the warm cloth ran over his already purple cheek bone.

"Sorry." She said quietly, wiping away more blood.

"S' ok." he said, looking up at her.

She wiped away the sweat that was sliding down the sides of his face. She brushed some of his hair away, revealing the silver ring that hung from his upper left ear. She looked at it for a moment.

"You still have yours." She said, gently touching the silver ring.

"Yeah." he said. "Do you?"

"Yeah, I still have it." She said, pulling back her hair, revealing the little diamond in her ear. He smiled, and she looked away quickly.

She opened a tiny band aid that she had in her first aid kit and put it on the cut on his eyebrow. Taylor felt strangely at home again, for the first time in months. It had been a long time; too long. Yes, it definitely had been too long. No words were spoken as they walked in the darkness back to her apartment, the two of them just taking each other in. Christina jumped everytime he walked near her or his hand bumped hers. He smiled at her.

She gently wiped the last of the blood away from his lip, then dried it. Taylor studied her. Her brow was furrowed and her glasses were sliding down her nose as she wiped at his face. He suddenly reached up and caught her hand. He slowly drew it to his mouth and kissed it lightly, letting his lips linger on her hand. His eyes stayed glued to hers as she looked first at him, then her hand, then back at him.

She sighed, then gave him a small smile. He smiled back at her, marvelling at how things sometimes never changed. He slowly stood, pushing the chair back. She looked up at him as he inched closer. She took another step closet until they were just two inches apart. He looked down at her, and she focused on her hands, then his shoulder, then back down at her hands. He tipped her face up, lookign into her eyes for a moment. He felt her relax a little, and he began to lean closer.

Oh my goodness, she thought. This is going to feel so good....

Taylor brought his face as close as he dared to hers, barely half an inch away, tilting it slightly. He lingered there a moment, unsure if this was what she wanted. His eyes gazed into hers, remembering every single feature about her face. He reached up and gently laid a hand on the side of her face, just on her outer cheek. He stroked her face for a moment. Christina inched closer, the kitchen begginging to swirl around her. All she could feel were her lips as Taylor's finally pressed against hers. It was a lingering but sweet kiss, and it lasted for forever to the two of them. He pulled away slightly, looking at her reaction. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his again and again, and Taylor finally lost all control, wrapping his arms around her.

They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, making up for lost time. As they held each other, standing in that kitchen, both of them wordlessly expressed their sadness, regret, happiness, and love. It was, not matter how twisted, their own love story. And it would never end.

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