1. shimmer (a taylor swift au)

-chapter eighteen-

Taylor was in the kitchen cooking dinner, when her phone pinged and saw that Gracie Abrams had sent her a text, telling her about how excited she was for the concert tomorrow night. Gracie texted her this every single week, and Taylor never got tired of it.
Taylor grinned, and asked her if she thought that she might be even more excited that Ellie, because Ellie was dancing around the place trying to decide which dresses she would bring with them this time.

Oh, I'm sure that Ellie and I are the same level of excited. Let me guess... she's trying to decide what to wear? Because same. (I think her and I are kindred spirits, Taylor) You'll have to bring her backstage early enough so that I can see herrrrr! I need her little smile in my life rn.

Taylor smiled. Ellie was absolutely her favourite thing to talk about, and she'd never get tired of hearing her friends talk about loving her too. They'd all been so welcoming, they'd all been so excited. It hadn't appeared as though Ellie came out of the blue, it seemed as if her friends had known Ellie forever. She was relieved that they did love her so much, and that they welcomed her into every room.

Taylor took a photo of Ellie spinning around in the purple version of the folklore dress that she had gotten her, grinning as she sent it to Gracie.

You're right, definitely kindred spirits. I'm sure she'd love to hang out with you properly - I know you've met her a couple of times before Mom whisked her away, but she always talks about how much she loves your hair bows and fancy dresses.

"What's for dinner?" Ellie asked her.
"I'm making pasta," Taylor told the little girl, unable to stop herself laughing at the way Ellie was spinning around. Her dress billowed out across the kitchen. "Is that okay?"
"Your pasta is the best in the whole wide world." Ellie sighed, coming over and wrapping her arms around Taylor. "Could I watch some Eloise please?"
Taylor was excited that Ellie loved Eloise as much as she did. "Of course you can. Did you do all of your homework for today?"
"Yup!" Ellie smiled. "I had it all done by three o'clock!"
"That's my girl," Taylor bent down and kissed the top of her head.
"It's on the table for you to mark it for me," Ellie told her. "Taylor?"
"Yes?" Taylor put down the spoon she was holding, and knelt down to the little girl's height.
"Do you think that I'd still get to see you if I had to go home? Would I get to see James?"

Yesterday afternoon the kids had all had a playdate after the disaster of Ellie's phonecall with her parents - and Ellie had been talking for hours about how she'd never had a best friend before.
"Because I know that you said that I had to leave it to you and that you'd figure it all out but I can't stop thinking about it." And just like that, the little girl who had only moments ago, been twirling around the room... had that distant, faraway look in her eyes.

"Eloise." My mother calls my name as I walk through the door. "Where the fuck were you?"
"School." I relunctantly call out to her, and wonder if she'll notice the fact that my schoolbag is ripped and my favourite book is all in pieces.
"Don't fucking leave without telling me."
My mother wasn't even here when I left for school this morning, she was out with Daddy. I don't ever get to find out where they are, all I know is that it means that I won't be eating breakfast and my tummy will be rumbly and sore.
"Did you hear me?" Mommy comes into view, and I feel myself take a few steps back because I can tell from her red eyes that she's had the stuff that makes her hate me even more.
I nod, frantically hoping that she'll leave me alone. I already had to deal with all of the school kids laughing at me today and I just want to crawl into the closet with my book and paper garden.
She grabs my chin with her fingers, forcing me to look up at her. "You got your uniform fucking dirty."
"I'm sorry, it wasn't me, I promise."
"Stop with the lies, princess." Mommy scoffs at me. "Well, I guess you're just gonna have to have a wash."