Chapter 26

To Joey's surprise, Taylor slowly mingles her arms around Joey's left arm. He could feel Taylor's grip on his arm, making him turn his drunk vision to her. With the effect from the alcohol still spinning in his head, Joey felt like the world suddenly moves slower with his heart beating faster. Looking at Taylor's face now in a drunk state, he felt a warm feeling in his heart due to her present. As he continue to get lost in her hazel eyes, Taylor's arms releases his arm, yet she suddenly hugs him, making him even more surprised.

"I'm here for you, Joe," Taylor says. Her is filled with sorrow, which was obvious to Joey. He always knew Taylor has always been a caring person, but seeing her tonight embracing him tightly touched his heart deeply.

Hearing how sad his best friend sounded, Joey wraps his arms around Taylor's body, hugging her back in a warm embrace. The warmth of their embrace brought him a bit comforting feeling, despite his heavy heartache. Having his best friend in his arms right now reminded him of all the times they've spent together, opening the yearning in his heart which he tried to hold back for a while. Tonight, at his weakest state, he is grateful to have Taylor by his side, comforting him through the night.

Slowly, Taylor releases the hug and stares into Joey's eyes. Those shinning eyes which she had missed for a while. The eyes which gave her butterflies just by a small gaze. The eyes she had always been familiar of since childhood, and fell in love with when their lips touched by accident. The eyes she knew she could never stay angry for too long, knowing that she had fallen in love with them.

Taylor sighs. She hated the sight of Joey looking all desperate and drunk. She didn't want him to be sad for too long, even though she knew that it was impossible for him to go back to be happy again in a blink of an eye after what happened between him and his dad. Despite wanting to spend the whole night by his side, she had to take him home for his own good. Other than that, she would also have to go home before her parents starts to worry about her.

"Let'a get you home first, Joe," Taylor says in a soft tone.

"Ugh, I don't want to see that jerk, Tay," Joey whines in a childish-like manner due to the effect of the alcohol.

"We can't possibly stay here all night, Joe," Taylor states, trying to be patient with his condition.

"Ugh, seeing him would only cause more trouble," Joey states. "I swear I'm gonna punch his face the next time I see him."

"Look, Joe. I understand that you're upset with him, but staying here all night won't change your problems. You have to face them sooner or later," Taylor states.

"Then I'll choose to face them later." Joey grabs the huge mug of beer and drinks it, making Taylor sigh. He is starting to get in her patience.

"Listen to me, Joey. Running away from reality won't change anything. It's time to grow up and learn to face them," Taylor says. "Starting with going home, now!"

"Ugh, fine. But at least give me some time to not look at that jerk for a few days," Joey states. "Just take me to another place."

Taylor raises her right eyebrow. What sort of place could she take him to at this hour? She couldn't possibly take him to her house as much as she wanted. She didn't want to confuse her parents, and Eleanor would ask too much questions. She didn't want to answer any questions at the moment.

"Where?" Taylor asks.

Joey's drunk eyes starts to shut upon getting more drunk. His body felt weak as he slouch down on the table. He let out a small voice, stating a name, which Taylor didn't wish to hear at this moment. Other than that, she was more annoyed knowing that she had to take him to that place where the person is.

25 minutes later...

After minutes of attempting to find a taxi while dragging a drunk teemager, Taylor eventually found a taxi who would drive them to Joey's requested destination. The taxi finally stops in front of a modern-style white house. From the windows they could see that the lights are already off. It wasn't a surprise since it was quite late, but Joey still insisted on staying there.

"Is Tim even still awake at this hour?" Taylor asks as she drags Joey out of the taxi.

"I don't know," Joey states in a drunk tone.

Out of annoyance,  Taylor walks up to the front door of the house while dragging Joey. She then presses the bell, with hopes that the man inside the house is still awake.

For the first time, I actually hope that he's awake. Taylor thought.

It didn't took long for the front door to open, revealing a tall guy with blonde hair standing with a smirk on his face. Taylor swear she wondered how did that guy manage to have an annoying smirk on his face everytime. Well, she didn't have to be too surprised, since he is Tim Anderson.

"Oh my, if it isn't our little Tay-"

"Shut up and just get Joey to bed, Tim," Taylor states in a feisty tone.

"Woah, Taylor. And for a second I thought you were Eli with that attitude," Tim says as he approaches the two teenagers.

Taylor rolled her eyes out of annoyance that Tim actually thought she was Eleanor. Well, she couldn't really blame him since she did gave him such an attitude similar to Eleanor. Usually, Taylor had always been the one who is more patient. But well, what can she say. They are twins for crying out loud. Surely they share some similar traits other than just their look.

"Eleanor? Is she here?" Joey asks suddenly in a very drunk tone. Seems like the alcohol really affected him.

"No," Taylor states in a flat tone. An uncomfortable feeling suddenly surface upon hearing that Joey asked about Eleanor. Yet, Taylor brushes off the feelings quickly she didn't want to let herself sink back into sadness. Besides, Joey is badly drunk and furious about his dad's behaviour, so adding her jealousy into the drama won't really be necessary.

"Alright, come here, Baby Brother," Tim says as he drags Joey to enter his house, in which Taylor follows from behind with an irritated look at Tim. The last place she expected to be at this hour is his house. If it wasn't for Joey's sake, she wouldn't bother to even knock at Tim's door.

To be continue...