And with each mile

[teamzaylor]

CHAPTER 1: FREE SPIRIT


Rating: NC-17
Genre: Zaylor / Hancest
Pairing: Zac & Taylor
Credits & many Thanks to: Honor @beyondthethorns
About the story: Zac & Taylor's relationship broke up when they got caught kissing by the press and their career were over in a split of a second. To continue a normal life and to take a break from his brother, Taylor starts to study at a College in London but the long distance between them can't stop their feelings for each other.





I have every intention of updating frequently and continuing along this European journey with Zac and Taylor.

Anyway, I hope I spark some of your interest! :-)


POV Taylor:

I was sitting my dorm room when Zachary arrived. It was the beginning of October. I’d been in London for four weeks and six days. It was just over a month into my semester abroad. I wasn’t expecting him to arrive, but his spontaneous appearance in my dorm room wasn’t surprising because my brother is one of the most unpredictable people you’ll ever meet.

Zac arrived in a black shirt that was just a bit too tight- something I think he did on purpose in an attempt to seduce me. Whether it was a subconscious effort or not, I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that I was turned on... incredibly turned on.

“Hey sexy,” he smirked from the doorway. I had left the door open so that the room wouldn’t be quite so hot, but with Zachary standing there in his enticing black t-shirt, the temperature rose a few more degrees. I’m cheesy, but it did.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard his voice. It was the voice that sent chills down my spin and fogged my mind up whenever I heard it. It was the voice I loved more than any other. I could see him before I even looked at him.

“Zac?!” I gasped and I must have looked like an idiot frowning at him like I didn’t recognize him. “What the fuck are you doing here?!?”

“I brunged you coffee,” he smiled and walked over to me. He held a cup of coffee and a Dr. Pepper in his hands. “You said in an email that you’ve become addicted to coffee since you’ve been here. I figured you could use a cup.”

I've always been a coffee drinker, but I didn't drink that much since I went to the College because I got plenty of sleep at home. In England I was taking 15 credits for my study abroad program and on top of that I was spending hours at night talking to Zac on the phone. When I left Oklahoma we were just brothers, friends, companions. But with an ocean between us, somehow we realized how badly we wanted each other. We’d started talking on the phone every night, usually about everyday things but occasionally about us- about our relationship that we couldn’t quite define. I usually slept an average of three or four hours a night, but I didn’t care. Zachary came before sleep. Zachary came before everything.

I accepted the coffee from him and scrambled off my bed. It took everything in me not to jump into his arms and grasp onto him like a child.

“You flew to London to bring me a cup of coffee?” I cried incredulously.

“Yep,” he smiled. “Are you going to just stand there and look at me or give me a fucking hug?”

I was in his arms in a second. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and let out a sigh of comfort. God, his arms felt strong. He must have started to work out again. His arms were irresistibly muscular- much like they’d been when we were still together three years prior.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I muttered into his shoulder as I squeezed him. “When did you decide to come? How much was your flight? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

He laughed. “Because I wanted to surprise you…” his voice faded off and I realized it was because he was pressing his lips to my cheek lovingly. It felt strange. It had been years since Zac had kissed me, but god, I loved it.

“You’re a fucking maniac,” I shook my head as we separated, neither of us wanting to. We stood there and stared at each other for a moment. When I left Tulsa, everything had been platonic. We were trying to move on and date other people, because it was easier for the family, because it was more normal than dating your brother, because we were scared of each other.

But the night before I left for London for my semester abroad, Zac showed up to my bedroom while I was trying to zip my overly-stuffed suitcase. He said he still loved me. He begged me not to go. He began to tear when I told him that I didn’t know how I felt about him.

It wasn’t until I arrived in London that I realized exactly how I felt about him. I still loved him. I’d always loved him. That’s when the late night conversations started; that’s when the long emails began to be sent.

Now, standing in front of me was the man I’d been talking to every night on the phone… sending romantic emails to. It was strange. I think we both almost felt embarrassed about it all, because neither one of us knew what to say.

“Did you tell Mom you were leaving?” It wasn’t the most inspiring question in the world, but it filled the silent void between us.

My brother was seventeen years old and he already had his own apartment in Tulsa, but still, my mother watched him like a hawk. She’s just a bit over-protective, you might say.

“Let’s see… did I tell Mom I was running after you to England? Not exactly,” he rolled his eyes, and then grinned to show he meant it warmly. He reached out and touched my hand, holding it in his. “Tay, you know me. It was a spontaneous, last minute decision. Three nights ago when we were on the phone you said how much you missed me. So I decided to pack a suitcase and come see you.”

“How long are you staying?”

He shrugged. “I bought a one way flight. However long you want me to.”

That was so Zac of him. Zac didn’t believe in plans or reason. He was what one might call a “free spirit”- just floated through life doing whatever the hell he felt like doing. Most of the time I envied that about him… except for when it fucked him over.

“God, I can’t believe you’re here…” I mumbled, staring at him to force myself to believe he was really standing in front of him. I hadn’t seen him in a month. Usually a month wouldn’t feel that long, but ever since our late night talks my feelings for him had grown frighteningly intense.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into another hug. “Well believe it. Because I’m here and I’m not leaving anytime soon.”

“You know I have classes everyday right… that I don’t have that much free time?”

“You mean you’re actually in Europe to do something productive? You don’t just hit the bars every night and drink yourself silly?” he grinned at me, letting go of me and taking a sip of his Soda. “I know you have classes. I can entertain myself when you’re busy.”

“I can’t believe you’re here…” I repeated, shaking my head in awe. A grin started to spread across my face. This was the kind of stuff that made me love my crazy brother. He was fucking insane and I loved it. I loved that he didn’t worry about life. I loved that he never thought about consequences… usually.

“Are you glad?” he kept grinning. “Because I was a little afraid you’d be pissed…”

“Pissed?”

“I know part of the reason you came to London was…” he glanced down, his grin fading. “You wanted a break from me.”

“What?” I tried to act innocent. He was right; that was part of the reason I left. But since our talks, things had changed so much. Most nights I found myself longing to be back in Tulsa with him but refusing to give up on the adventure I’d started in London. “Zac… I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re here. Where are you staying? Do you have a hotel?”

He shrugged and started walking around my room, looking at the framed photographs on my dresser of our family. I watched as he picked up some papers from one of my classes and skimmed the first few lines of it.

“I don’t know yet. Probably a hotel.”

“You don’t know where you’re staying?” I laughed. God, I adored him.

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Comments

[eleflowerpot.livejournal.com]

Love this! Such an unusual stance to take, so different...it's brilliant! It'd be interesting to know some of the history, exactly how Taylor ended up leaving Tulsa.
Looking forward to reading more!