D A R K O ' S P.O.V

"I dedicate this song to Darko Ulyanov"

At the sound of my name, my hand clenched tighter around my drinking glass. Scanning the room, I saw half of the crowd turn to me, while the other half stared at Owen and Taylor on stage.

Dedicated to me?

I looked at Owen on stage, who was grinning widely at me. He turned to Taylor, who was taking in the reaction of the audience. As they all quietened down, Taylor turned to me with the faintest glint in his eyes.

"It's called 'I got you'. Darko... I love you." Taylor said, never leaving my gaze. I felt my cheeks burn up at his words.

He loves me. He fucking loves me.

Taylor tapped his mic and began playing on the piano. His fingers delicately tapped the keys, sending beautiful clicks of sound throughout the gymnasium. After a few moments, he began singing.

I am tired of living a lie,

I am sick of keeping a straight face.

I look at the fake me and I cry,

Then I met you in a real place.

If I knew what I know now,

I wouldn't think twice to kiss you.

These piano keys told me somehow,

Home is when I'm with you.

Damn you emotions for betraying me.

I felt my eyes water at the sound of his voice. The tears fell when I listened to the lyrics. Taylor feels the same. This time, I didn't hear a rumour or have to decipher some body language to figure it out. Taylor admitted it to me and meant it.

As the lyrics rolled off of Taylor's tongue, Owen joined in, his soft acoustics complementing Taylor's piano. I felt light-headed as Taylor began to sing again.

Who knew I'd end up loving you,

like the way that you loved me?

All this time I've been so blue,

but now I got you, baby.

And you got me.

I was getting a myriad of looks around me. Some people were grimacing - those people being Trent and Duncan - while others were swooning over the entire situation. A group of girls kept alternating their attention between Taylor and I, clapping, grinning, and squealing at my reactions and Taylor's vocals.

Then I made eye contact with Bella.

She tried to crush you,

she tried to break us apart.

She tried destroying

what I felt for you from the start.

It took me forever to know

the part of you I failed to see.

The closet was so dark and cold,

the open door lead you to me.

I folded my arms, smirking at her. I pulled out my phone and waved it at her, taunting her. Come on, Bella. Do something!

What's stopping you?

I shot her a text. 'Why aren't you exposing me?'

Her face flipped like a switch. Her panicked expression disappeared and in its place was a devilish smirk. She began texting.

'I will, when Nicole gets Owen's phone.'

Oh lord. Why does she need his phone?

Who knew I'd end up loving you

like the way that you love me?

All this time, I've been so blue,

but now I got you baby,

and you got me.

'Its got blackmail on there about me. If I destroy the phone, I'll be free to out you to your parents.'

I looked up and her, catching a wink she sent my way before focusing back on stage.

All I want to feel is happiness. Everything I ever wanted from Taylor is happening - he's coming out, confessing how he feels and shutting Bella down - but I can't. Bella has a plan, and when Bella makes a plan against me, it happens no matter fucking what.

I saw Nicole slip backstage out of the corner of my eye. Owen's phone is on the floor of the stage, about a foot from the stool he's sitting on. As long as he picks it up when he's done performing, Bella won't get her satisfaction.

And I'll be safe.

I need to stop thinking about them and focus on Taylor. If everything goes wrong after this song ends, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't let myself enjoy this song.

He stopped playing the piano - instead, he unhooked his microphone and stepped towards the very front of the stage, looking straight at me, a soft smile spreading on his lips. A spotlight lowered on him, and Owen began delicately plucking his guitar strings, a beautiful melody emanating from it.

Taylor's crying. Happy tears, of course. I hope.

Hush now, you're safe with me.

I've been waiting to kiss you

waiting to hold you

but now we're free

He carried that last word for a few moments, his falsetto making my heart pound against my rib-cage. He rushed back to the piano and began playing the chorus again, his energy amplified by Owen's enthusiasm.

Who knew i'd end up loving you

like the way that you love me?

All this time I've been so blue,

He looked at me, wiping a tear from his cheek. The music stopped for a split second, before Taylor played a short melody as an outro.

But now I got you, Darko.

And you got me.

He played the final chord on the piano. He looked out towards the crowd, who was dead silent. A few moments passed, the air tense. Sweat beads trickled down my head as faces flipped from Taylor to me. He just smiled at me, puffing out of breath. I smiled back.

Suddenly, one person started clapping. Slow clapping.

A spotlight revealed that person to be Ana, a mess of tears. She hollered at Taylor and I, smiling as much as a crying person could.

Another set of hands began clapping. This time, it was Miss Lauriana.

Stefan and Lyra stood up, the former applauding me and the latter clapping for Taylor. Soon, more and more people stood up, and soon, almost all of the audience began cheering.

Taylor gestured for me to join him on stage. I went to, but then I noticed Nicole sneaking behind Owen.

Shit!

Nicole lunged forward, snatching up Owen's phone in her dainty fingers. Owen, bewildered, paled in realisation when she saw him with his phone.

"Don't, please, don't! I won't be able to talk to my grandma without it!"

Nicole smirked. With a deadpan expression, she dropped Owen's phone onto the stage, before stomping on it several times. Her heel dug into the machine, shattering the LCD, smashing the glass and bashing the insides. The audience gasped.

My heart dropped. I stared straight at Bella, who already had her phone up to her ear. She sardonically grinned at me before she started talking into it.

I shook my head. Taylor's observed the entire thing. I felt my face heat up, my shoulders grew heavy, my stomach felt like it was being mixed with a whisk.

"Bella. Don't you dare."

Everyone snapped their attention to Taylor on stage, Bella included. She lowered her phone when she saw the rage on Taylor's face.

"I already know. Owen knew that you were going to try and pull a stunt, even with the blackmail he had against you. I know everything - all the bullshit you've put Darko through. All to just to get on my good side. Bella, you're a monster. Put that phone away, or I'm never going anywhere near you again."

Bella hesitated for a moment. She went to put it away, but she steeled herself, staring Taylor straight in the eyes. "No. Taylor, you don't understand, I can't lose you-"

"Too fucking late for that. This isn't about you liking me, Bella. You could have done this all civilly. You didn't need to go through all this! Put the phone away. Last chance."

She shook her head. Glancing around to see bewildered students switching attention from me to her, she began crying. "Taylor..."

She clutched her phone and stared straight at me. For the first time in the five years I've known her, I saw fear in her eyes. Pure, irrational, genuine fear. Her usually cool, cold and collected self was gone.

She stood up. Her phone fell into her purse. She hung her head low, defeated, before sprinting out of the gymnasium. More confused shouting erupted from the other students.

I looked back towards the stage. Sometime during the chaos, Miss Lauriana appeared on stage. She gestured for Taylor and Owen to go backstage. She began saying something, but I was too preoccupied with what Taylor was mouthing to me. He was at the exit door, beckoning to me.

"Come here."

I stood up, ignoring what Miss Lauriana was saying on-stage, and walked towards the door.

~

I walked out of the school exit, peering out into the darkness. Taylor was facing out towards the school oval, his back to me. I caught myself grinning as I walked slowly toward him.

"Well," I began, making him crane his head slightly toward me, "That was a surprise."

Taylor chuckled before turning around to fully face me, his smile making my heart race. "A good surprise, I hope."

I walked closer to him, a tiny gap between forming between us. The air was electric, our eyes unwavering from each other. "It was an amazing surprise. The best surprise I've ever experienced."

"Are you ready for another surprise?" He asked, flicking his eyes towards my lips. I cocked an eyebrow.

"I have a feeling I know what this surprise is."

"Good."

Taylor cupped my cheek in his hand, before leaning forward, kissing me. His lips were so warm. They moved over mine with the softest touch, nothing I could have ever imagined - and I've done a lot of imagining.

I tasted tentatively with my tongue. Taylor opened his mouth slightly, letting out a low moan. Worried about what I'd do if I continued, I broke away from him, my eyes hodded. Ecstasy filled my entire being as I smirked at Taylor.

Breaking into a grin, Taylor looked up at me, his eyes nearly sparkling under the streetlight. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that."

I smirked. "Likewise."

He looked back towards the gym. He squinted through the wide-open doors, the students still audibly confused. "I think I caused a hellstorm in there."

He glanced back at me, flashing that beautiful smile again. "Did you like the song?"

"Eh, it was all right. Not your best..." I said sarcastically. He giggled, feigning offence.

"Well, if you dislike it, I'll never write you a song ever again..."

"Like that's never stopped you before."

He let out a short laugh. The way his eyes crinkled and the way he snorted made me love him that tiny bit more.

He stopped, and once again, we found ourselves in that calm silence, eyes unwavering from each other. After a few more moments, Taylor seemed to snap out of our gaze faster than I did, because he stepped closer to me and flicked his eyes between mine and my lips again.

Before I could react, he softly weaved his hand into my hair and pulled me into another kiss, this one more passionate. Shutting my eyes, I cupped one hand over his jaw, eventually allowing it to make its way across the back of his neck. The other hand found its way to his ass. He let out a small moan in my mouth as I squeezed. His free hand travelled to my back, sliding up and down my spine.

'Fuck, it feels so good to grab it.' I thought to myself.

After what felt like ages, Taylor eventually pulled away, eyes still shut, grinning from ear to ear. He let out a short giggle before exhaling. I let go of a breath I didn't realise I was holding.

"What do we do now?" I asked. As if to answer my question, A loud cry erupted from around the corner. Taylor and I looked at each other quizzically before walking towards the source. We stopped behind a wall and peered around the corner.

My eyes widened. Out in the cold by a dumpster was a teary Bella, on her phone, completely broken down.

"I think she's on the phone with your parents." He said grimly. We looked at each other.

"I think it's time we all had a talk. Together." I said to Taylor. After a few moments, we both stepped away from the wall and walked towards Bella. Noticing us, she hastily wiped away at her face before standing up, brushing her dress down.

"Bella, we need to talk," Taylor began. After a few moments, she nodded. Stifling back a sob, she leaned against a wall, slipping her phone back into her purse.

"Before you ask, no, that wasn't your parents, Darko. I called a cab."

I sighed in relief. "Why didn't you call them?"

She scoffed. "Can you please just leave me alone?"

I shook my head. "No, not until we get some answers-"

Taylor lifted his hand up, gesturing for me to stop. I did. Taylor walked away from Bella and towards me, a worried expression on his face.

"Is it okay if I talk to her by myself?" He asked. Flicking my attention from Taylor to Bella, I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"Why?"

He let out a sigh. "This is going to sound fucked up, but I still see her as a friend."

Involuntarily, my face screwed up in disgust. "Seriously? After everything she's put us both through?"

He nodded. "Yes. Darko. Please, just trust me."

I hesitated. A part of me wants to pick Bella up and drop-kick her into the dumpster next to her. Another part of me wants to just walk away and to never speak to her again. But a part of me wants Taylor to make sure Bella doesn't do this again. Maybe a genuine talk with Taylor will finally put Bella at ease.

"I'll be around the corner. Come find me when you're done."

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AHHHHH MY BABIES FINALLY FUCKING KISSED HOLY SHIT I'VE BEEN WAITING TO WRITE THAT SCENE SINCE I WROTE THE SECOND CHAPTER FOR THIS BOOK AAAHHH-

*clears throat* Uhm. I should probably stop fangirling over my characters.

A special shout out to karriebloomer, merfairy, and mrgreyarea for helping me write out lyrics for the song! A more detailed thank you will be waiting for all of you when you read the "Acknowledgements" chapter of this book.

QOTC: What's your preferred ship name? #Daylor, #Tarko, #Darklor, or #Tayko?

AOTC: It's gotta be #Tayko for me. It just sounds so cute. #Tarko sounds too much like taco and #Darklor sounds like dark lord XD

Please do not forget to vote/comment/share! It'll mean the world to me!

- Much love, Tyler. xx