Act Three / Chapter Seventeen

1.1k words
cw: slight mentions of eating disorders and an abusive father

Mikah's never unlocked a door so fast or angrily. She's fucking fuming. She knew her brother wasn't fond of her or Taylor, but she never imagined he'd stoop this low to try and scare off her girlfriend, usually he just jerks off or plays Fortnite too loud next to the wall they share while she's trying to hang out with her girlfriend (why she stopped having girls over.)

"AYDEN!" Mikah shouts, slamming the door, "you little shit!"

Ayden emerges from his bedroom, "Mikah? I can explain-"

"What the fuck do you mean you can explain? It's pretty fucking clear what you did!" She's irrationally angry, "you ran your stupid little mouth to the media in a smear attempt. You always fucking do this, except this time you can do it on a worldwide scale."

"Mikah, you don't understand-"

"I think I understand pretty fucking well! You're just a homophobic asshole who doesn't care about his sister-"

"It was dad! Well, I helped, but it was dad." Ayden cuts her off, "he's evicting you."

"What?"

"He's evicting you! He's cutting you from the rent, he said he's been planning it for a while and just needed a reason!"

"What? Can he even do that?" Mikah feels like she's been punched in the stomach. She knew her father didn't like her, believe her, she knew. But she didn't expect him to literally kick her out of her own home.

"Apparently! I don't fucking know!"

"When do I have to be out by?"

"End of the month."

Mikah gives a silent "okay", before exiting the apartment. She doesn't know what to do with this, she's in shock, probably. She just can't believe her own father would do this.

She doesn't trust herself to drive in this state so she pulls out her phone, taking a deep breath, and calling Taylor, who answers on the second ring, and the second she hears her voice she just breaks down.

"Mikah? Are you okay?"

"I need you to come get me."

"I'm on my way. Are you safe? Do you need me to call someone?"

"No, I- I'll explain later, I just need you."

"Okay, just hang tight, I'll be there soon." Taylor says softly, hanging up.

Mikah's head falls to her hands, she just can't believe this. She knew living with her brother in her father's place wasn't long-term because she was supposed to figure out a living situation with Lucy, but Lucy never pulled her weight in finding a place, and then Taylor came along.

Maybe she should just leave, go back to Oregon with Lucy. Go long distance with Taylor, only ever visit her in New York, she wouldn't survive in Oregon.

Just as she's contemplating ways she could end things with Taylor, her car pulls up. Numbly, she picks herself up off the pavement, giving Taylor a small smile as she gets into the car.

"Hey," Taylor says, rubbing Mikah's thigh gently. She doesn't respond, just focuses on whatever's going on outside the window, "I love you."

"I know," Mikah murmurs into her hand, wiping under her eyes, "I love you, too."

"Are you okay?"

Mikah shakes her head. The rest of the ride home is silent.

All she wants to do is cry, and it's taking everything in her not to, but she knows Taylor will probably crash the car if she does, so that can wait.

Before she knows it, they're at the house and Taylor's leading her out of the car, keeping one hand on her back as they enter the house.

Wordlessly, Mikah goes to sit on the couch, Taylor joins her.

"C'mere," she murmurs, taking her into her arms, pressing a kiss to her head, "talk to me, baby."

Mikah tries to talk, but she can't get anything out, just burrows into Taylor's shoulder.

"Take your time, honey, I've got you," Taylor shifts Mikah into her lap, "I'm here, you're safe."

She starts to cry, silently. Taylor gently running circles over her back, whispering sweet nothings into her ears.

"I'm being evicted," Mikah sobs, winding her arms around her girlfriend.

"What?"

"My dad, he's having me evicted. He had Ayden go to the press and he's fucking kicking me out," She sobs even harder, "I have no home! Ayden doesn't even pay rent!"

Taylor doesn't know what to say, so she just continues to hold her close.

"Here's what we're gonna do," she murmurs, cupping Mikah's face in her hands so she's looking at her, "I'm gonna make us some food, and we can just relax. We'll come up with a plan later."

"I'm not hungry," Mikah murmurs, breaking eye contact.

"I'll make something light. You need to eat."

Mikah just sighs, curling against the arm of the couch as Taylor gets up, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Can you make ramen? Like the shitty microwave kind."

"Of course," Taylor says, kissing the top of Mikah's head. "I love you."

As soon as Taylor leaves, tears start leaking out of her eyes again. She wipes at them vigorously, really not wanting to cry right now.

Benjamin hops up on the couch next to her, carefully sniffing at her leg.

"Hey, kitty," she gently runs her hands over the cats' back, "your dad sucks too, huh?" She pats the spot in front of her, trying to coax him to curl up next to her.

Over the past month, she's slowly grown closer with Taylor's cats. Benjamin really seems to be the only one that really likes her, the girls couldn't care less about her. The cat cautiously jumps over Mikah's legs, curling up, sighing.

She gently strokes him as he falls asleep, listening to Taylor clutter around in the kitchen.

About ten minutes later, Taylor reappears with two bowls, handing one to Mikah.

"Here, sweetheart."

"Thanks," she says flatly, "what did you make for yourself?"

"Oh, I just threw some leftover pasta into the microwave, that ramen upsets my stomach."

"Is there anything that doesn't?"

"Not really."

They eat in silence, neither really having any good conversation topics. Mikah eats slowly, not really having much of an appetite but eating anyway. Taylor will be upset if she doesn't, she can't backslide—neither of them.

"So," Taylor says, setting her plate down on the coffee table, "obviously we have a lot going on right now, but I was thinking, maybe you could just move in with me?"

Mikah stays silent, not really knowing how to respond, or fully processing what Taylor just asked her.

"No pressure, obviously. Sorry, am I being obtuse? It's too soon, isn't it."

Oh, sweet Taylor and her knee-jerk reaction to just panic. Mikah gently lays a hand on her knee, quickly swallowing the rest of the broth in her bowl.

"You're fine, honey, sorry. I'm just really out of it today. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

Taylor nods.

The answer is yes.

The answer will always be yes.

🩶🩶🩶

SO SO SO SOOOO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG next few chapters will probably take a bit too, but school ends in like two months so i'll be free again reeeaaall soon
what's everyone's favorite song from ttpd????? mine is guilty as sin? i think
not proofread
vote, comment, etc love ya