Elizabeth waited by in her apartment, waiting for Taylor to call. She paced around the living room attempting to distract herself. Her phone rang and she immediately answered. "Hey." She smiled and stared down at her feet as she slowly walked around the room. "Hey, sorry it took me a while I was busy with rehearsals and we barely wrapped up." Taylor apologized.
"It's fine I was occupied with errands anyways." Elizabeth replied. "So nothing fun?" Taylor asked. "It's basically like work around the clock even when it isn't always work work, you know?" Elizabeth sat down on the couch and curled up with her phone pressed against her ear. "Then why don't you take a break to have some fun?" Taylor asked. "And do what?" Elizabeth asked.
"Come out to my show." Taylor replied. "What? Where?" She asked. "I have a show out in Nashville tomorrow and I'd love you to come out and see it." Taylor replied. "I don't know." Elizabeth hesitated. How was she going to explain a random spontaneous trip to Alex? What about her dad? It didn't seem worth the risk. "It's just a few days I promise. You'll be back home before you know it so you don't worry too much about being gone." Taylor said, picking up on Elizabeth's hesitation. Elizabeth sighed, "Okay."
"Alright, I'll see you then?" Taylor replied. "Tomorrow it is." Elizabeth confirmed. "Can't wait, I'll see you when you get here." Taylor replied. "Night." Elizabeth replied as Taylor hung up.
--
Elizabeth was packing a suitcase for her trip tomorrow. Alex arrived from work and entered their bedroom to see her packing her things. He looked around confused and concerned at the sight, "Were you planning on leaving me while I was gone?" He asked. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and packed the last items she needed. "I have a quick trip I'm making to visit a friend, but I'll be back in a few days." She replied. "Same friend as last time?" He asked as he loosened his tie and began to change out of his work attire.
"Yeah, she invited me out to visit. I figured I could use the break." She sighed and set aside her suitcase. "Who exactly is this friend?" He asked as she got settled into their bed. "I told you I can't say." Elizabeth replied. "Not even an idea at all?" He asked. "She's just a childhood friend of mine but I just want to respect her privacy." Elizabeth shrugged.
"You act like she's some top-secret government spy." Alex laughed.
"Alex...I don't want to talk about this anymore." Elizabeth sighed.
"Fine. But how long do you plan on being out...wherever it is you're going?" He asked.
"Nashville. It's just for 2 days or so, I can't afford to be gone too long."
He nodded, "Really? Nashville?" He asked.
"She invited me out there and said it would be fun so I'm trusting her I guess." She shrugged.
"Too bad I'm working, I would've come along." He replied.
"Too bad you also weren't invited." She joked.
"Fair enough." He chuckled.
--
Elizabeth landed in Nashville and was making her way out of the airport. Taylor had sent her security to go and pick Elizabeth up and safely bring her to the Venue where Taylor was getting ready for the show. They arrived at the staff entrance and security led her backstage and toward Taylor's dressing room.
Elizabeth knocked on the dressing room door and waited for a response. "Come in!" Taylor shouted from inside the room. She opened the door and made her way in. Andrea was sitting in the room with her. "Betty!" Taylor smiled. She rushed over and wrapped Elizabeth in a tight hug. Elizabeth smiled and returned the embrace.
Andrea smiled and watched the two. She stood up and walked over to give Elizabeth a brief hug. "I didn't know you were making it over here for the show?" Andrea said slightly surprised. Elizabeth softly laughed, "Well Taylor invited me and I haven't had the chance to see her perform and she kinda annoyed me about it so I said why not." She half-joked. "You still showed." Taylor laughed. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Elizabeth asked. Taylor faintly smiled.
Andrea's eyes shifted between the two as they fell silent. "I'll leave you to catch up and I'll meet you at the VIP tent." Andrea smiled and dismissed herself before leaving the room.
"I almost forgot." Taylor said reaching to grab the pass she was saving for Elizabeth. "What is that?" Elizabeth asked. "It's a pass so you can have access," Taylor said slipping it onto Elizabeth. Her hands remained on the lanyard. They stared at one another in silence. Taylor fought the urge to pull her in and kiss her. She had the opportunity to do it but she just didn't have the courage to.
"So I'll see you out on stage?" Elizabeth asked in a soft yet nervous tone. Taylor let go of the lanyard and nodded, "Yeah, I'll see you out there." She replied and watched Elizabeth leave.
---
Elizabeth was able to enjoy the show, everyone was clueless on who she was and didn't think much of it. Taylor's eyes would easily find their way to wherever Elizabeth was in the room. She couldn't hide the smile on her face whenever she was performing. She finally had Elizabeth around again and everything felt right.
--
"That show was insane!" Elizabeth laughed. Taylor and Elizabeth sat around in her living room drinking wine and talking about the night. "Insane bad? Or insane good?" Taylor asked.
"Insane like...I'm impressed. Seeing photos is one thing, but being there to see it all is crazy." Elizabeth replied. "Well I'm glad you finally got to see me do a show." Taylor laughed and sipped her wine.
"Who knew my curly little tater tot would actually make it this big." Elizabeth teased.
Taylor playfully rolled her eyes,"Not the nickname again."
"Why do you hate it so much?" Elizabeth laughed.
Taylor's cheeks flushed red, "I didn't say I hated it..." she mumbled against her glass of wine.
"Then what's the problem?" Elizabeth questioned.
"I don't have a problem." Taylor defensively replied.
"Oh really?" Elizabeth smirked.
Taylor grew nervous as the two stared at one another in silence. Taylor's eyes shifted from Elizabeth's eyes to her lips. It's been years since she last kissed her. It's been years since she last felt that spark from her first kiss with her. No one after her ever made her feel that again.
Their faces slowly inched closer. The two both eager yet hesitant to act. The air between them seemed to grow thinner. Taylor's hand cautiously and barely grazed Elizabeth's thigh.
BZZZT.
Elizabeth's phone sounded interrupting their moment and snapping them out of acting further.
NO WAY. -Alex
Elizabeth stared down at the message confused. Taylor silently watched and noticed her confusion. "What is it?" She asked. "It's my...boyfriend." Elizabeth sighed and typed in a message.
What happened?
Taylor stared at her in shock. She had a boyfriend? And she never mentioned it until now?!
YOUR FRIEND IS THE FUCKING TAYLOR SWIFT? -Alex
What??
There's a photo of you at the concert with her mom or something that Damien sent me asking if it was you or someone who looked like you. - Alex
Elizabeth stared down at the phone not knowing what to respond. Well now he knew who her friend was.
Babe??? -Alex
Why does it matter?
I'm just surprised you didn't tell me, it all makes sense now. -Alex
What does?
Why you were so secretive. I get it. - Alex
"I didn't...know you had a boyfriend. Why didn't you tell me?" Taylor asked trying to sound supportive and surprised while masking her disappointment. "It never got brought up so I never mentioned it." Elizabeth replied. Taylor faintly smiled, "I'm happy for you...what's he like?"
Elizabeth faintly smiled, "He's nice. We met at work, we started off friends, and he asked me out one day. We hit it off and everything has been going pretty strong." She nodded.
"So how long have you guys been together?" Taylor asked. "About 4 years now." Elizabeth replied. "Oh...that's nice." Taylor forced a smile. She felt her heart breaking at the news. Elizabeth didn't owe her anything, it's been 20 years, she had the right to move on after what happened.
But it was hard when Taylor was never able to move on after her. It hurt to think that for Betty it wasn't the same.
But Betty missed her too, she just didn't understand why it hurt so much to lose her.