Author's note: And with that I'm back for 2024! Thank you so much for 51K reads, I can't believe that number!!! And congratulations on the announcement of The Tortured Poets Department, hope you enjoy this chapter! (Inspired by a certain 1989 TV vault track...)
In the late summer of 2014, another sleepless night occurred in Taylor's house. Lying on her bed, I was staring up at the ceiling. "Can't you sleep either?" Taylor asked me, and I shook my head before turning it to look at her.
She smiled as my eyes met hers, and sat up. Her short blond hair was curly, and half-asleep she was swinging her feet out of her covers and standing up.
"Would you like to go out into my garden?" She asked me with a sweet smirk on her pink lips, and with the same humorous tired face I also stood up from the bed.
"I would never say no to that." I replied, and with her hand on my waistline we made our exit from the room with swinging light curtains and Meretith lying curled up in a corner.
"Being this young is art." Taylor sighed later, gazing quickly at the polaroids lying spread out over the kitchen table along with the camera and a champagne glass.
"I have thought about telling people about us." She mumbled, fumbling with unlocking the door leading to the back garden.
"Really? You would handle that?"
"Oh, I would handle that. I don't think anyone else would. But, if they call me something bad, I think we both know it would be worth it for one." Taylor shrugged, stepping into the fresh air and blue shade of the night.
"Yes, but-"
Taylor suddenly turned around, lying a blue-painted fingertip on my lips. "What if all I need is you?" She asked, before removing it and lightly kissing my lips.
Nothing about this felt real. I settled upon that fact weeks ago, but sitting by her pool in the moonlight glimmer made it hard to normalize my reality once again. After the first glance at the swimming pool we both agreed to take a bath.
Five minutes later, we descended into the crystal-clear water only seconds after breaking another kiss without hesitation.
As I floated through the liquid darkness, I could hear Taylor's laughter from the surface. It was echoing in the stillness of the night, making me wonder where her security guards were at the moment.
When I swam to the surface gasping for air later, Taylor's gaze met mine. It was a silent exchange of understanding passing between us at that very moment, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Could we maybe do this more often? I mean, sleep is important and all..." My voice faded, and Taylor smiled sweetly at my suggestion.
"Yes, sleep is important, but not very easy to get." She replied, before swimming closer to me.
I could feel her hand wrap around mine in the water as she continued, "And I would love to, darling."