CAROLINE'S POV
October was one of my favorite times of year. It wasn't too cold yet but the heat of summer was long gone. Asher walked me through the October air, into my apartment building, and onto the elevator that night. It was the kind of elevator with mirrors all around it, so I could see the scars on my skin. Although Taylor was always quick to point out how nicely they're fading, I always noticed them in this elevator. I was relieved when the doors slid open in front of us as we arrived at my floor.
"Okay, I love you, see you in a few weeks." I told Asher outside the door to the apartment.
"If you're not leaving until tomorrow we could still go do something tonight, it's only 10:00." He said, stopping me from going in.
"You have to take the ACT tomorrow morning." I laughed, glad I would be on a plane to Europe as Asher took a 4 hour test that would determine his future. He said he didn't really want to go to college, but I think it would be good for him.
"Okay fine, you got me there." Asher laughed, but then suddenly turned serious.
"You know, it's hardly fair that you get to leave for 2 weeks while all of us are back here." He said.
"Who is 'all of us'?" I asked, not knowing if he was kidding or not.
"Me, your friends. Honestly, I mean, you're always with Taylor." He said, being serious.
"That's because she's my mom." I half laughed at how strange this was.
"Well, not your actual mom but.." He said, smirking at the end so I couldn't get mad. I just rolled my eyes before getting lost in his.
"But really, doesn't it kind of bother you that your always being pulled out of school for Taylor's career?" Asher asked.
"No," I said. "It's fun to travel, but I guess you wouldn't know because you've never been out of the south." I joked.
"Okay really you need to go home and go to bed now." I told him after we had talked for 5 more minutes.
"Okay, fine." He said with a smile before kissing my goodnight and saying bye.
"Good luck on the test!" I said as he got into the elevator and I opened the door to the apartment.
I walked in the door and saw Taylor doing last minute packing, which was unusual. The Europe leg of her 1989 tour started in a few days. I was excited to go, some people weren't as excited for me to go.
I had all my packing done since our plane would leave early tomorrow morning.
"Hey Care are you done with those bottles of pills yet?" Taylor asked while folding clothes and stuffing them in her suitcase.
"No." I said, opening the refrigerator to see what we had.
"Well you need to put them in your suitcase and bring them so you can finish them." Taylor told me.
"I don't even have any pain anymore I don't think I need them." I said, grabbing the grape juice and pouring myself a glass.
"Just finish them, okay?" She said, exasperated and now searching for something in her suitcase.
I took a sip out of my glass and went to sit down at the table. Taylor had her suitcase open on the table and half of its contents in various chairs.
I went upstairs to my room that night and fell asleep easily, knowing that I'd be spending the next few weeks in Europe.
TAYLOR'S POV
I was watching a movie and Caroline was sleeping as my jet flew over the Atlantic Ocean. I think it was a relief for Caroline to get out of school for a while and take a break from 'real life'. Ever since the car crash she'd been all kind of stressed out about everything. She had been stressed because she missed a week of school, she had been stressed because of Asher, and she hasn't been driving. I've driven her everywhere ever since the crash.
We bought another used car for her since hers was totaled but she had never driven it, it's just been sitting in the apartment parking lot. I told her she needs to at least start driving with me in the car with her sometime, it's not like I can drive her around forever.
But for now I will.
Caroline woke up beside me soon and readjusted herself on the seat.
"Morning." I said as I shared some of my blanket with her. She yawned as I pushed some hair out of her face, this revealed a scar she had on her neck from the crash. My eyes must've lingered in it too long because Caroline quickly turned her face to the side and pulled for more of my blanket.
I sighed and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to me. I held her body to my chest in a hug and kissed her face.
"Love you." I said to her softly.
I loosened my arm around her and let it just hang there as she found a comfortable spot on my shoulder to rest her head.
We finished watching my movie for the rest of the flight and when we landed we headed straight for the hotel.
It was 11:30 at night London time when we got to our hotel but I ordered room service for Caroline and I since it felt like supper time to us.
A big box of cheese pizza arrived at our room 15 minutes later. Caroline had already taken a shower and was in her pajamas on our bed when I got up to go to the door. I paid for the pizza and brought it back to the bed. I got out a piece for Caroline and handed it to her, taking one for me next.
The pizza was a little over halfway gone when we decided we were full. I put the rest of it in the refrigerator and crawled into bed next to Caroline.
"We have to get up kind of early to go to the arena tomorrow, okay?" I said before turning off the bedside lamp.
"Okay." She said into the darkness. Her body curled into mine but we both knew she wouldn't be getting to sleep soon. Caroline had never been good at jet lag, if we were in a strange city and her body thought it was 6pm she wouldn't be able to get to sleep.
I was awake there with her because her body was pressed up next to mine. Usually I wouldn't have a problem with this, but tonight her body was tense and awake instead of limp and asleep.
It was a few hours before either of us got to sleep, and my alarm went off just when I was sleeping good.
I had to stay awake through meet and greets, sound checks, and more throughout the day. But from what I heard Caroline took a nap in my dressing room. The only bad thing about tour was that I didn't get to see her much, I was either on stage, preparing for the show, meeting fans, or sound checking. Nighttime was when I got to spend most time with Caroline.
I did see her in the sound booth when I was on stage in London that night, and I knew I'd see her right there again tomorrow night, and the next, and the next. So for now, this whole touring with a daughter thing was working out.
