No Turning Back
Title: No Turning Back
Author: Diane
Fandom: 90210
Pairing: Taylor/Adrianna
Prompt: Mistake
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: What I would've liked to have seen happen between Adrianna and Taylor. Story contains a little bit of swearing.
Word Count: 1,603
Summary: “I can't do this,” she whispered. “I-it's a mistake.”
Author's Notes: This has been written for Round 3 of Love Bingo.
“I can't do this,” she whispered. “I-it's a mistake.”
Dixon paused and lifted his face from where it had been buried against his girlfriend's neck so he could look into her eyes. Her gaze didn't meet his and he saw what he could only describe as guilt etched upon her pretty features. “Ade? Babe, what are you talking about?”
Adrianna bit her lip. “I just... I can't do this anymore. I, uh...”
Something in the pit of his stomach told him what she couldn't seem to say. “You wanna break up with me?”
She nodded, confirming it for him. “I'm sorry, Dixon.”
As gently as he could, he shifted over onto his side of the bed. “I don't get it. I mean, I know things have been tough for us lately what with the accident and all but—”
“Things weren't great before the accident,” she reminded him.
“Yeah,” he acknowledged, “but we can get through it though, babe.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “We can't.” Her fingers toyed with the hem of her tank top. “I... um, I've been seeing someone else.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “Who is it?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“It matters to me,” he shouted. Pushing back the covers, Dixon reached for his crutches which were propped up against the nightstand.
“Let me help you,” Adrianna said, getting out of bed and walking around to his side.
“I don't need your help.” Once he was upright, he stared at the petite brunette. “So, c'mon, are you going to tell me who it is or do I have to guess? I'm assuming it's just the one person,” he said bitterly.
“He broke up with me so there's nothing to tell. It's over.”
“I guess that makes it all right then, huh?”
Adrianna ran her fingers through her hair. “I'm sorry... hurting you is the last thing I ever wanted to do, Dixon, but... I-I can't help how I feel. It started as a one-off thing and just escalated from there.”
He felt sick. “Do I know him?” The look on her face answered his question. “Who? And don't tell me again that it doesn't matter because it fucking does.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat before forcing herself to say his name. “Taylor.”
Dixon let out an incredulous laugh. “Taylor? The guy I've been confiding in about my relationship problems with you?”
“That's why he broke up with me,” she tried to explain. “He didn't want to hurt you either and he... he felt like I was using him to escape my problems with you. When I told him I hadn't broken up with you he ended things with me.”
“Wow, he's such a stand-up guy. Maybe I should send him a gift,” he said, the sarcasm dripping from his voice. A light-bulb suddenly went off in his head and he asked, “Wait, how long ago was all of this?”
A faint blush coloured Adrianna's cheeks. “He broke up with me a couple of months ago.”
“Around the time that I collapsed?”
Staring at the floor, she slowly nodded.
“I guess that screwed up your plans, huh? What would people say if they learnt you'd broken up with me when I was lying in hospital fighting an infection?”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “That's not why I didn't break up with you. My feelings were all over the place and I... I didn't know how I felt.”
“And now you do?”
“Yes,” she stated simply.
“You know he's a player, right? He turned up at Max and Naomi's party with freakin' porn stars, remember?”
She sighed quietly, trying to ignore the satisfied smirk Dixon wore. “Yeah, I remember.”
“The only reason he was probably with you is 'cause you were with a guy in a wheelchair and deep down he knew you wouldn't end things with me You were a safe bet.”
After what she'd just revealed to him, Adrianna knew she deserved his harsh words. “Yeah, maybe that's all I was to him.”
“Seriously, Ade, what do you think's gonna happen next? You think he'll welcome you with open arms when you turn up on his doorstep. Hell, he's probably got a different girl every damn night of the week.”
Her ears were burning as his hot, angry words penetrated her brain. She wanted to yell at him to shut the hell up but she forced herself to keep quiet. Moving around the room, she grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to change. When she came out several minutes later, she was relieved to find that Dixon was no longer in the bedroom. Opening her closet door, she found a duffel bag and quickly began filling it.
“You're really leaving me for him?”
Adrianna paused and looked over to the doorway where Dixon was standing. “I'm leaving you for me. Staying in this relationship isn't fair on either of us. And yeah, if Taylor wants to start things up again, then great. If not, it doesn't change anything between the two of us, Dixon.”
“God, I'd love to see his reaction when you turn up at his apartment with a bag of your stuff.”
“I'm not going to his place,” she lied. “I just know I can't be your girlfriend anymore.”
“Yeah? Well, now I know what a lying, cheating bitch you are I wouldn't want you even if you begged me.”
Zipping up her bag, she picked it up along with her purse and made her way out of the room. “I'll come back for the rest of my stuff.”
“Just make it soon before I toss it all in the trash.”
Moving past him, she opened the front door but before walking through it, she paused to look back at him as he stood watching her. “I'm sorry, Dixon.”
His response was to turn his back on her.
* * * * *
The knock at the door surprised him. He'd only just arrived back from Las Vegas a couple of hours ago and, as far as he knew, no one knew he was home yet. Setting his bottle of beer down on the coffee table, he got up from the couch and went over to open the door.
Taylor's surprise increased upon seeing who was standing in front of him. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Adrianna said softly. When he didn't say anything else, she asked, “Can I come in?”
“Uh... sure,” he answered, stepping back so she could enter. “Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thanks.” Looking around the apartment, Adrianna noticed how quiet it was and she hoped he was alone. “I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything.”
“You're not,” he told her. “I've actually just gotten back into town so I didn't have anything planned for tonight.”
“Where were you?”
Taylor's lips curved upwards at her question. “Vegas,” he replied, noticing the rosy hue that suddenly infused her cheeks. “Being there definitely brought back a few memories.”
Adrianna's teeth sunk into her bottom lip as she vividly recalled what had taken place between them not long after they had met in the hotel's bar. Her throat felt as dry as sandpaper and walking over to the coffee table, she picked up the bottle of beer she'd spotted and brought it up to her lips.
He stood and watched her for a long moment, taking in her every detail. “So, what are you doing here, Ade?”
Her eyes locked with his. “I made a mistake.”
“Right,” he said, nodding. “Well, you know where the door is.”
“What? No... that's not what I meant.” Setting the bottle she was still holding back onto the table, she crossed over to where he was standing and, somewhat hesitantly, placed her palms on his chest. Sliding her arm up, she cradled his cheek in her palm, liking the way he leaned in to her touch. “The mistake was letting you walk out of my life.”
“Adrianna, I—”
“I broke up with Dixon,” she interrupted him. “I should've done it before but I... I guess I wasn't ready.”
“What makes you think you're ready now?” he asked.
“Because I've missed you and...”
“And what?” he prompted when she didn't finish.
“And being with Dixon felt wrong,” she finally said. “I was staying with him more out of obligation than love and that wasn't fair on either of us.”
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Taylor leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. “How'd he take it?”
“Not good. He said some... things but it's no more than I deserved.”
“What kind of things?”
She shook her head. “It doesn't matter.” Twining her arms around his neck, her fingers idly stroked along his nape as she slanted her head slightly and inched her face closer to his.
“Are you sure you want this?” he asked, “'cause once I kiss you I won't be letting you go.”
Smiling, Adrianna nuzzled her nose against his. “I want this,” she stated, “now kiss me.”
Returning her smile, he seized her lips with his own and kissed her long and slow.
Fin