A Path to Find You(Taylor Swift x Male Reader)

Fractured Reflections

(A/n: the first chapter, hope you enjoy!)

Third-Person POV:

Y/N leaned against the wall of his dimly lit apartment, the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. The remnants of a life he once cherished echoed in the silence. He had just come home from a dreary day of filming, his heart still aching from the end of his relationship with Emily Vancamp. She had been his muse, his confidante, but now she was just a ghost haunting the corners of his mind.

With a heavy sigh, he sank onto the couch, the cushions barely cradling him as he pulled out his phone. Scrolling through his social media feed felt like torturing himself; yet, there was a morbid curiosity that kept him glued to the screen. And there it was—Emily's latest post. She was smiling, radiating joy as she posed with her new boyfriend, the sunlight catching her hair in a halo. They looked perfect together.

Y/N's heart twisted painfully. It was as if the universe conspired to remind him how easily she had moved on, leaving him in ruins. A lump formed in his throat as he stared at the picture, the laughter frozen in time, a stark contrast to the emptiness he felt. Tears brimmed in his eyes, blurring the edges of the screen, and he couldn't hold back anymore. With a choked sob, he buried his face in his hands, wishing he could turn back time and rewrite their story.

Just then, his phone rang, shattering the suffocating silence. It was Scarlett Johansson. He hesitated, but something urged him to answer.

"Hey, Y/N. Are you okay?" Scarlett's voice came through the line, laced with concern.

He forced a laugh, trying to mask his vulnerability. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Doesn't sound like it," she pressed, and he could almost hear the frown on her face. "I can come over if you need to talk."

Y/N closed his eyes, grateful yet weary. "It's just...Emily. She looks so happy. I don't know why I'm still stuck."

Silence stretched between them, and Y/N could feel Scarlett's gaze piercing through the phone. "I don't get it," she finally said. "How could she just walk away from someone like you?"

He shrugged, unable to articulate the turmoil swirling inside. "Maybe I wasn't enough. Maybe I never was."

Scarlett's voice softened. "You are enough, Y/N. You're an amazing person, and it's her loss. Just because she moved on doesn't mean you have to be okay with it right away."

As he listened to her, he felt a flicker of warmth in the cold void left by Emily. Her words were like a balm, soothing his raw emotions. Yet, beneath that comfort lay an unspoken tension, a realization that Scarlett had always seen him differently. She cared in a way that stirred something deep within him, something he was reluctant to explore.

"Thanks, Scarlett," he murmured, feeling both grateful and guilty for the comfort he sought in her presence. "I really appreciate it."

"Just let me come over," she insisted. "You shouldn't be alone right now. I'll bring snacks."

He couldn't help but smile at that. "Okay, come over."

As he ended the call, a mix of hope and despair washed over him. Perhaps tonight, amidst the chaos of his heartache, he would find a glimmer of solace in Scarlett's company. But beneath it all lingered the uncomfortable truth: moving on was never going to be easy, especially when memories of Emily haunted every corner of his heart.

Y/N stood up and paced the small living room, trying to shake off the heaviness that clung to him. The walls seemed to close in, filled with memories of laughter and whispered secrets that felt like a lifetime ago. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—a ghost of the man he used to be, with tired eyes and unkempt hair that reflected his internal struggle.

After a quick shower, he changed into a comfortable T-shirt and jeans, trying to push aside thoughts of Emily. As he moved around the apartment, he tidied up in a half-hearted attempt to create a welcoming atmosphere. He didn't want Scarlett to see him completely broken, though he knew it would be futile to hide the truth from someone who had known him so well.

The doorbell rang, and his heart skipped a beat. He opened the door to find Scarlett standing there, a bright smile lighting up her face and two bags of snacks in her hands. She was effortlessly beautiful, her golden hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders, and her warm brown eyes sparkled with genuine concern.

"Hey!" she greeted, stepping inside and placing the bags on the kitchen counter. "I brought your favorites."

"Thanks," he replied, unable to suppress a smile. "You really didn't have to."

"I know, but I wanted to," she said, her voice softening as she took in the sight of him. "You don't look so good, Y/N. You okay?"

He shrugged, not ready to dive deeper. "Just tired, I guess."

"Let's eat and watch something funny," she suggested, pulling out a bag of popcorn and tossing it into the microwave. "We could use some laughs tonight."

As the microwave hummed, he settled on the couch, feeling a mix of comfort and unease at her presence. Scarlett joined him, sitting close enough that he could feel her warmth. For a moment, they sat in silence, the tension between them palpable yet unspoken.

When the popcorn was ready, Scarlett poured it into a bowl and placed it between them. "So, tell me what's really going on," she urged, her gaze steady on him. "You can't keep hiding behind 'I'm fine.'"

Y/N took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't keep his guard up forever. "It's just...I didn't think it would hurt this much. Seeing Emily happy with someone else—it's like I'm invisible."

Scarlett's expression shifted from concern to determination. "You're not invisible, Y/N. You're a remarkable person. If she can just move on like that, it says more about her than it does about you."

"I know," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it doesn't change the way I feel. I loved her, Scarlett."

Her eyes softened, and for a brief moment, he saw something flicker within them—an emotion that felt almost like longing. "And I hate to see you hurt," she confessed. "You deserve better than that."

Y/N met her gaze, searching for any hint of what she might be feeling. "You really think so?"

"I know so," she said firmly. "You have so much to offer. Just because one person didn't see that doesn't mean no one will."

He wanted to believe her, to feel the flicker of hope she was trying to ignite within him. But the shadow of Emily's laughter lingered in his mind, a cruel reminder of the love that had slipped through his fingers. "I just wish I could have done something differently."

Scarlett reached over and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "You can't change the past, Y/N. All you can do is look to the future. And who knows? Maybe there's someone out there who will appreciate you for everything you are."

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, Y/N felt a rush of emotions—comfort, warmth, and something deeper that he had been too afraid to acknowledge. He was drawn to Scarlett, but guilt washed over him at the thought of even considering moving on so soon after Emily.

"Thanks, Scarlett," he said, trying to shake off the tension. "Really."

"Anytime," she replied, her voice softer now. "I'm here for you."

As they settled into a movie, he couldn't help but feel the weight of her words. Perhaps he didn't need to rush into forgetting Emily completely. Maybe tonight was a step—a small moment of healing amidst the chaos of his heartache. And maybe, just maybe, Scarlett could be part of that journey, whether he was ready to admit it or not.