Promises to Keep

"Here, let's get you home" Tyler told Tayla, helping to stand her back up on her feet. Tyler wasn't sure where she lived, but he wouldn't mind finding out; especially if it meant making sure she made it home safely.

Tayla simply nodded meekly, earning a sympathetic smile from both Katie and Jamie.

"Are you sure you're okay to take her home?" Jamie asked Tyler, knowing he would want to do this by himself. Tyler nodded, a little on edge about the whole situation. Though it was a chilly night in Dallas, Tyler felt like he was sweating bullets.

"I'll get her home, you guys get home too" Tyler told them, and they nodded once more. Katie was in a state of shock; she couldn't believe someone would try to do that to Tayla. "I hope you're okay too, Katie" Tyler added, as if sensing the fear in her.

"Just shaken up" she confirmed his suspicions, and Jamie wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. "Let's get home. Tay, call me in the morning" she spoke up, and Tayla nodded. "And Ty, text one of us when you're home. I know it's only a few minutes away-"

"I will" Tyler cut her off. "Night guys" he waved turning in the direction of Tayla's condo. "I'm not sure where you live- you'll have to lead the way if that's okay" Tyler told her softly. "Or you can come stay with me tonight- whatever will make you feel safer"

Tayla thought about it for a moment. In truth, she didn't feel comfortable with either returning home, or going to Tyler's. There were too many memories in that house, she wasn't sure she would be able to handle walking in without having a full mental breakdown.

"It's just up the street from here" Tayla pointed in the direction of the street. "It's only a few minute walk" she added, finally releasing herself from Tyler's grip and beginning to walk. She walked close to him, feeling safer the closer she was to him.

"It's nice you live so close to everything" Tyler commented, trying to make small talk.

"Yeah. It's a nice place" Tayla replied, going along with the small talk. Regardless of what they were talking about, Tyler was just happy to have Tayla speaking to him. As much as he wanted to bring up their future, he knew he needed to listen to what she had said three months earlier; she still needed some time. Tyler wasn't entirely sure how long that would be, but he was willing to wait as long as it took.

They walked the rest of the short distance in a comfortable silence. Tayla still felt herself dizzy from the alcohol, and her heart rate was finally beginning to slow down from the events that had transpired. Never in her life had she had a situation similar to this, she had no idea how to react. She figured walking anywhere at night was now not an option, destroying any opportunity she had to go for late night walks that she had become so fond of over the last three months. Anytime she was missing Tyler, she would go for a walk, listen to music, sometimes cry it out, and move on.

"This is the place" Tayla pointed to the building at the end of a dead end street. Tyler had to admit the places were nice, though he wouldn't expect Tayla to live in a dumpy apartment by any means.

"Do you want me to walk you up?" Tyler asked, once she explained she lived on the second floor. She nodded, as the pair walked into the lobby. Though she typically took the stairs, this time she took the elevator.

"Here's the place..." Tayla trailed off, biting her lip. Dare she ask...? "Can I ask you something?" she blurted out before she had the chance to stop it.

"Sure, of course" Tyler eyed her, concerned.

"Can you- can you stay? I know you have an afternoon skate tomorrow, and if you already had plans I totally understand-"

"Yes, Tay I'll stay" Tyler interrupted her rambling. "You know I'd do anything for you" he told her softly, wanting nothing more than to kiss her. He resisted the urge, and simply smiled instead.

"Are you sure?" Tayla asked, and Tyler nodded.

"Of course Tay" he confirmed, and Tayla smiled. She took her keys out of her pocket and slid it in the door, gaining entry.

"Excuse the mess, I haven't done a ton of unpacking since I moved in" she found herself saying, kicking a few empty boxes to the side as she turned on the light in the hall. Walking down a small hall was a beautiful open concept living space. On the right there was a good sized kitchen, with stainless steel appliances, a beautiful backsplash and a kitchen island, where papers were scattered across messily.

The living room was next, a small rocking chair and leather recliner sat across from the 50' TV. The coffee table was full of books and more papers, and next to the couch was a side table, with a lamp and a picture Tyler couldn't help but smile at.

"You still have this picture?" he asked, picking it up and turning to her.

"Yeah, I do" she replied, having taken it from her parent's house when she was home. It was the picture of the two of them in high school she adored so much.

"I remember this night" Tyler commented softly, glad that she had the picture up in her condo. Though it was obvious she still had a lot of unpacking to do, she did manage to display and hang a few pictures on the walls and on the tables. Tyler couldn't help but notice in a lot of the pictures, he was there.

"Me too" Tayla replied softly, with a weak smile. "Do you want something to drink? Or eat? I know you usually like to eat after a night out" Tayla asked him quietly. "I have the pizza you like, if you want"

"You do? But you hate pineapple on pizza" Tyler told her, a little confused why she even had it in her house. Why would she buy a pizza she didn't have intentions of eating?

"Because it's a crime to pizza!" Tayla defended, as she did every time the topic of pineapple on pizza came up. She was embarrassed to admit she bought the pizza hoping Tyler would come over some night. She craved a sense of normalcy, and Tyler was it.

"It's not! You just haven't given it a decent chance" Tyler laughed.

"You know I have, and remember I threw up after?" Tayla reminded him, and Tyler continued to laugh.

"Because you were drinking when you tried it!" Tyler reminded her, and Tayla shook her head.

"It's just gross, that's all there is to it" Tayla found herself genuinely smiling and laughing for the first time in months. And as much as she wanted to, she couldn't bring herself to step any closer to him. Flashes from the night Jason had talked to her kept playing on repeat in the back of her mind, driving her to the brink of insanity.

"You're entitled to your wrong opinion" Tyler mused.

"That's my line!" Tayla scoffed, mocking offence.

"Sorry I beat you to it" Tyler shrugged, enjoying their banter. "But I'd actually love if you did make that pizza..." Tyler trailed off, not wanting to make her cook for him, but feeling very hungry simply at its mention.

"Coming right up!" Tayla trilled, turning and pre heating the oven. She turned to the freezer, grabbing the pizza out and setting it on the counter. "Drink?" she offered some water, and Tyler accepted, taking a seat at the kitchen island.

"Let me clean these papers up" Tayla told Tyler, hurriedly trying to pick up all the articles she had written, and some articles she was reading up on.

"You don't need to worry about it" Tyler assured her.

"I know. But I don't want your gross pizza near it" she smirked, and Tyler couldn't help but smile. If only things could be like this all the time.

"Oh my god" Tyler laughed, shaking his head.

"I wanna say thanks, Ty" Tayla suddenly turned serious. "I really appreciate you staying, and walking me home" she smiled. "It really means a lot"

"I'm always here for you, you know that" Tyler reminded her, and she nodded. Sometimes, she forgot all the positive things Tyler had done for her over the years because of the whole situation. It would be silly of her to throw away someone as amazing as Tyler over one silly mistake, right?
But it wasn't silly. The revelation destroyed her. It kept her up at night, it made her question everything that had happened over the last few years of her life. Would they have ended up together if he hadn't broken her and her boyfriends up? Or would she be married to one of them? She could say in all honesty none of them made her as happy as Tyler did; so why couldn't she find it in her to forgive him?

"You're the best. Even though your taste in pizza sucks" Tayla teased, trying to get her mind off of the situation that she found plaguing her mind.

"That'll always be up for debate" Tyler smirked, enjoying every moment.