NOT EDITED

A/N: This chapter is quite long  and soft, dark Taylor is resting in my mind right now, she'll be back soon though and some major feels towards the end of the chapter. 

Do you guys want me to make a playlist for this book ? 

Happy reading!

Things have been a little bumpy between Harry and Lillian, they were arguing over small things. Lillian blamed Taylor for it. Ever since Harry called Ron he's been distant towards Lillian.

"Do you even want to get married ?" Lillian asked Harry as they sat opposite to each other, eating dinner.

"Yes, why would you even ask me that ?" Harry's jaw tightened as he glared at Lillian.

"You've been acting weird lately and I want to know why. If you are having any doubts, tell me. I don't want you to have cold feet on the day of our wedding, I don't want to be that woman who got left at the alter, do you understand ?" Lillian's voice raised with every word she said.

Harry dropped the fork and knife he was holding and the chair screeched as he got onto his feet and slammed his hands down harshly on the dining table, causing the two glasses of wine to clatter against each other. Lillian let out a shaky breath as Harry glared down at her.

"It's taking everything in me to not tell you to leave this house with all of your belongings, Lillian. You've been testing my patience since the day I've asked you to marry me and I wasn't regretting it before but I sure as hell am regretting it now." Harry's voice boomed causing Lillian to close her eyes tightly, her hands clutched against her chest as if she was physically hurt.

"Tomorrow is our engagement party, Harry." Lillian said in a shaky voice, her lower lip trembling.

"Yes, it is and yet here you are accusing me of not wanting to get married to you. Are you sure that you want to get married to me ?" Harry sneered as he straightened his back and stalked out of the dining room with Lillian hot on his heels.

"Harry you don't understand I-"

"I'll be back in the morning."

"I saw you, okay ?! I saw you staring at her picture like a love sick puppy!" Lillian yelled, tears spilling out of her eyes, her mascara ruined. She wiped the tears away with the back of her left hand, harshly.

Harry's body went rigid, he stood their like a statue. "Do you love her, Harry ?" Lillian asked as a whimper escaped her mouth.

"What ?" Harry said and turned around to face her. A frown on his face.

"It's not too late to back out now but it will be when we get married so just tell me the truth." Lillian said, her arms crossed against her chest, her palms rubbing her arms as if she was cold.

"You don't trust me at all, do you ?" Harry turned the tables on her, changing the subject skilfully.

"Frankly ? After all these years of trusting you I don't even trust myself anymore." Lillian whispered. Harry ran a hand through his hair and looked everywhere but Lillian.

"Yes, I love her but as a friend and nothing more. Lillian, you have to understand that she was there for me in the darkest of times, she-that girl you probably hate made me happy when I was sad, that girl wiped my tears away when I fell on my knees when I was learning how to ride a bicycle, she cried on my shoulder when she thought I was going to die because I sprained my leg. S-she stayed when I rejected her love for me." Harry's voice trembled as he continued to talk.

"But I don't love her more than a friend loves another friend, never will and never have. You're it for me, Lillian. I love you not anyone else, not Taylor, not my parent's neighbour's daughter." Harry chuckled as he said the last part causing Lillian to let out a small giggle.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said those things, I shouldn't have doubted you." Lillian said quietly.

"Don't apologise, I won't too because I know that we both are getting the wedding jitters, that's what mom calls them. Everything's okay, we're okay." Harry said and pulled Lillian in for a tight hug and kissed her head.

But who was he trying to convince ? Lillian or himself ? 

[]

Taylor sat in the cab with her eyes focused on the trees passing by. The sun was bright and John Lenon's voice played in the background. 

"New to Albany ?" The driver asked as he chewed a piece of gum rather loudly.

"No, just visiting after two years." Taylor said with a fake smile on her face. She found herself doing that a lot lately. Faking smiles. 

"Missed it ?" The driver asked but before Taylor could answer the cab stopped in the driveway of Harry's parent's house. Taylor looked out of the cab's window as she saw guests dressed in glamorous dresses and tuxes everywhere. Taylor looked down at her attire, dark skinny jeans and a tube top with her hair up in a bun. She wasn't dressed for the occasion but did she care ? No. Why ? Because darkness assured her that everything will be fine. Everything will be just fine.

"No, I didn't miss it 'cause you only miss the things that aren't their but this place, Albany is always in my heart." I replied with a genuine smile and handed the driver some few crisp dollars. "Well said, sweetheart." The driver said with a soft smile on his lips. I nodded and opened the cab's door and got out with my small luggage bag. I wasn't going to stay here for long.

I took in a deep breath as I stared at the beautiful house. The guests were mingling with each other, children were running around. The party was supposed to start at five in the evening, I was an hour early.

But Darkness wanted to arrive early in order to put her plan in action. and who was I to tell her no ?

"Taylor, is that you ?" I heard a squeal, I looked over my shoulder and smiled widely as I saw Harry's mother, Mrs. Raine, walk towards me with her arms wide open. I ran towards her and hugged her tightly, tears glistened in my eyes as I took in the motherly hug.

"It's been so long since I've seen you, look at you!" Raine gushed over Taylor as she held her by her shoulders at an arms length and looked her up and down.

"I've missed you, Mrs. Raine." Taylor chuckled and and Raine smiled widely.

"Lets go inside, my son has been going crazy since this morning, yelling at people and brooding in the corner at times. He's like a woman on her period right now." Raine laughed a full on belly laugh making Taylor giggle.

She missed this.

Taylor walked inside the house that was filled with people of all ages. "I'll be right back," Raine said and walked over to a man who looked to be in his sixties.

Taylor looked everywhere, trying to find the person she was here for.

Taylor finally spotted him. He was standing next to a forty something woman, yelling at a boy who looked no more older than eighteen.

Taylor walked over to them with a soft smile on her face.

"Man, you really are on your period huh ?" Taylor said with a teasing smirk on her face, her arms crossed against her chest as she stood behind Harry.

Harry quickly turned around with his eyes wide open. "T-Taylor ?" He whispered and Taylor let out a watery laugh. Her throat felt dry, her eyes shined bright with tears. Harry's own eyes had tears in them. 

Harry, without thinking of the consequences, pulled Taylor in for a tight hug, his arms wrapped around her waist, Taylor gasped and hugged him back just as tight. Her arms wrapped around his neck. She inhaled a sharp breath, taking in his scent. "I missed you!" They both whispered at the same time and laughed out loud.

Taylor felt at peace. Everything felt just the same as it was before Lillian came in their life. Just like old times. Just them, Taylor and Harry, Harry and Taylor.

But soon reality came knocking on Taylor's door as Lillian's voice pulled them both from the little bubble they were in.

"Taylor, you came!" Lillian's voice for the first time in her life was genuinely sweet. Harry was the first one to pull back from the hug much to Taylor's disappointment.

Taylor looked at Lillian with a fake smile and nodded. "I did," She said and looked at Harry's arm that was now wrapped around Lillian's waist. Lillian looked up at Harry with loving eyes, Harry was staring at Taylor with a bright smile plastered on his face. 

"I hope the journey was good and safe. Are you tired ? You can just freshen up in the guest room or even take a nap if you like." Lillian said with genuine concern laced in her voice.

Why was she being so nice ? She was supposed to hate her!

Oh she hates you alright, she's acting all nice towards you because of Harry. She's showing off her place in Harry's life. If you don't put your plans to action you'll lose Harry again, you coward. Darkness hissed in Taylor's ear as she suddenly stood just next to her. Taylor's head snapped to her left as she stared at Darkness' dark eyes, her hair was up in a tight ponytail, she was wearing a navy blue dress, a dress Taylor couldn't buy last week because it was too expensive. Taylor wanted that dress so badly. Taylor truly envied Darkness, she was everything Taylor ever wanted to be.

"No, I'm okay. The journey was just fine. I'll go get myself a drink." Taylor dismissed herself quickly and walked away with Darkness hot on her heels.

"You're going to lose Harry." She said as a matter of fact. Taylor ignored her. She was not in the mood to play games. She for once wanted to be normal.

 "Can you just go away for a day or maybe even a few minutes!" Taylor murmured and Darkness smirked, "Careful what you wish for." Darkness whispered and sauntered away. How did anyone not see her ? 

Taylor picked up a glass of champagne and took a huge gulp of the wonderful drink.

She leaned against the table and looked over at where Lillian and Harry stood talking to an older couple.

It was graduation day all over again.

"What are you doing here ?" Ron hissed loudly in Taylor's ear as he stood next to her. 

"I'm here to enjoy my best friend's wedding." Taylor said in a no nonsense voice and took another sip of the delicious Champagne.

"You shouldn't have come. How could you after what you did to mom ?" Ron glared at the side of her head.

"I have a party to get ready for, little brother. I'll see you later....Or not." Taylor mock saluted him and walked away quickly. Walking away from conversations was Taylor's favourite hobby. 

Taylor slammed the guest room's door behind her back as she let out a sob she was holding in. Taylor wished that she didn't push her mother down the stairs but it wasn't her who did it, it was Darkness. Why couldn't they all see it, her ?

A knock on the guest room's door pulled Taylor out of her thoughts. She wiped away the tears and opened the door with a fake smile on her face.

There he stood, the man she loved so much.

"You forgot your bag downstairs." He said a with boyish grin on his face.

"Oh, thank you for bringing it up." Taylor said and quickly took her bag from Harry and just as she was about to close the door Harry walked in as if he owned the place. He did. Not him but his parents certainly did.

"So, who's gonna be your date tonight ?" Was the first thing that Harry asked as he casually walked over to the bed. He sat on the bed with his shoes on. Taylor looked at him with a 'what the hell ?' look.

"What is this ? Prom night ?" Taylor rolled her eyes and sat on the couch that was opposite to the bed.

"It's my engagement party, Miss. smart pants." Harry chuckled and Taylor yet again rolled her eyes.

"So.... How's life ?" Harry asked in a soft voice. This was so not what Harry expected they're meeting to be like. He expected them to be just how they used to be, he wanted Taylor to be the goofball she was. He wanted her to start babbling about her university, the people she met, the food she ate.

"Its good, what about you ? Wait! Don't answer that. I know how your life is. Its pretty good huh ? Engaged to a beautiful woman, getting married in a few days, maybe couple of kids in a year or so and lets not forget your dad's firm that you now practically own. Its good for you." Taylor rambled.

Harry looked down at the bedspread and smiled sadly. He looked back up at Taylor and nodded. "I'm happy, I am." He nodded and then looked away, staring at the floral patterned curtains that prevented the sunlight to shine through properly.

Taylor and Harry stared at each other for what felt like eternity but was only a few seconds before Harry pulled at the sleeve of his shirt and broke they're staring contest.

"I should go, Lillian wanted me to go get the cake, the delivery men delivered the wrong cake." Harry said, hurriedly getting up from the bed and walking to the door. Just as he was about to twist his wrist to turn the knob on the door Taylor's voice stopped him. "Let me guess, banana cake with cream cheese frosting ?" Taylor had a wide grin on her face as she said this but her fingers were crossed behind her back. She wondered if he still liked that flavour. She remembered how she had spat it out the first time she had tried it but she also remembered Harry's hopeful eyes as he saw her taking a bite of the awful tasting cake on his sixteen birthday.

As the years passed by Taylor forced herself into liking that cake just because Harry loved it.

"Coffee cake with kahlua chocolate ganache, actually." Harry said as he twisted the door knob and without looking back at her walked out of the door.

"Oh," Taylor whispered as the fingers she were crossing behind her back untangled and her hand fell by her sides.