Adopted by Taylor Swift

Chapter 32: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

12/31/2018 - 1/1/2019
Astrid's POV

Today is New Year's Eve and I'm helping mom prepare for tonight's party. The party's going to go from 7 - 11:30, then mom has to be at Times Square because she's going to be doing a performance. Mom decided her setlist is going to be; Welcome to New York, 22, followed by Shake It Off, Don't Blame Me, and ending with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together mashed up with This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things.

The party is going to be small with only some close friends including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Gigi Hadid, Timothée, and Abigail. Taylor is also talking to Selena about whether she's coming. Either way, the party seems like it's going to be a lot of fun.

"Is everything almost ready?" Taylor asked me.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure everything's good for tonight." I said, before quickly checking and reconfirming.
"Ok, that's good." Taylor replied, before thanking me for helping her with decor and setting up the party.

After helping Taylor, I go to find Elijah. I started by quickly checking the main floor, before going upstairs to the bedroom, where Elijah is.

"You awake sleepyhead?" I teasingly ask him.
"Yeah, I'm awake Astrid." He replied, while sitting down with a book in his hand.
"I'm assuming you were reading?" I say to him.
"I was reading while you were setting up the decor with mom." Elijah replied, before putting the book down.
"Just so you know, mom wants to make sure everything is ready for tonight's party, so you might want to let her know that you're ready for tonight's party." I said to him, telling him Taylor's plans.
"Ok, thanks for letting me know sis." Elijah says, before ruffling my head, which caused me to jokingly roll my eyes.

After a few minutes, we decide to play some video games and just enjoy the afternoon. "I'm going to beat you in Mario Kart." I boldly declared, challenging Elijah.
"You're on sis." Elijah replied accepting the challenge.
"Don't think I'm going to take it easy on you." I told him.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Elijah confidently replied.

We quickly chose a grand prix, and our racers and cart customizations, before starting the grand prix. Just before the first race started, Taylor joined us and watched the races. After a brief countdown, the first race started.

We competitively raced through the course, trying to not let each other pass one another. Taylor watched on excitedly, knowing that it was going to be very close.
"I'm going to beat you." I confidently bragged.
"Oh, really?" Elijah sarcastically said, obviously believing that he's going to win.
"Yes, really. I'm going to beat you Elijah." I replied while racing through the course.
"We'll see sis." Elijah challenged.

On the last lap of the first course, Elijah was trying to pass me. He was obviously hoping for the dreaded blue shell. Despite all his hopes, the blue shell never came.

My kart drifted around the corners, gaining speed and trying to increase my lead. Elijah tried to throw the red shell, but I had a shell behind me that took the impact instead.
After a few more intense minutes, I ended up winning the first race, with Elijah in second.

We played through the rest of the courses, as Taylor eagerly watched on. By the end of the prix, the scores were so close. I had 54 points and Elijah had 52 points.
"Ha, I beat you." I sassily taunted him.
"Shut up." He said annoyed that I beat him.

After 12:45, Taylor made us all lunch, which was some Kraft Dinner, which everyone loves. Once the mac & cheese was done, Taylor brought it over to the kitchen island.
"Lunch is ready!" Taylor yelled, making sure we heard her.
Me and Elijah walked to the kitchen, before sitting down at the kitchen island.
"Thanks for lunch, mom." I said thanking her for making us lunch.

As the clock got closer to 4:30 pm, Taylor started making dinner because family and friends were on their way. I occasionally kept an eye on the door, awaiting the arrival of our family and close friends. At 5:15 pm, there was a knock on the door.
"Do you want me to get it?" I asked Taylor.
"I've got it Astrid." Taylor replied before quickly going to the door.

"Hi guys!" Taylor excitedly exclaimed when she saw everyone standing there. After their greetings, Taylor led them to the kitchen. Everyone started getting some dinner, before sitting at the dining room table. Once everyone started eating dinner, they immediately began praising Taylor's cooking. For the better part of forty minutes, we all talked and celebrated New Year's around the elegant, oak, dinning room table.

After dinner was done, Taylor's friends ended up having some champagne to start the early celebration. Taylor decided to wait until after her performance to have anything, she probably will have white wine. We all enjoyed each other's company for hours, talking about resolutions, favorite things of this year, etc.

When it was 10 pm, we all left the confines of the Tribeca duplex, and headed towards Times Square. Mom still has an hour until her performance, but we left at 10 pm incase of bad traffic and to be a little bit early. Fortunately for us, traffic wasn't a complete nightmare, only a partial one, and we got there with twenty five minutes extra.

"Are you excited?" I asked Mom.
"How could I not?" Taylor started, "This Is the first time in years I've performed in Times Square on New Year's." She added.

When it was close to showtime, Taylor started getting prepared. As I looked around, I could've sworn I saw my dad's face, 'Come on Astrid, what's the odds he's actually here?'  I watched as Ryan Seacrest introduced Taylor. Taylor's set began with 'Welcome To New York'. As Taylor's set continued, I felt someone's hands on me.

I turned around and was met with the face of my biological dad and my face dropped drastically. He grabbed my by the wrists and pulled me away from the stage. 'I really hope Elijah notices.' 'Or anyone.' 
"What do you want from me?" I spat heavily annoyed that he had to ruin the perfect evening.
"For you to come with me." He simply stated, before dragging me further and further from the stage, and further from Taylor.

Fortunately, I saw Elijah looking for me, and he was accomplished by Timothée.
"Over here!" I yelled before my biological dad muffled my mouth. But it was too late, and they heard me.
Elijah and Timothée saw me and ran towards me. "Who the fuck is he?" Timothée said confused by my biological dad who was  forcefully trying to drag me.
"That's her biological dad. He's disgusting and despicable." Elijah said before telling Timothée everything.

I saw Timothée calmly try to get my dad to hand me over....but it didn't work. Meanwhile Taylor had no idea of my disappearance as she was performing 'Don't Blame Me'. Timothée was trying to deal with my dad and Elijah quickly went to get help.
Soon after, Elijah returned with Blake and Ryan, and also a police officer.

Timothée managed to get me away from my father and he soothingly stroked my hair helping me calm down after the traumatic event. Elijah, Timothée and I told the police officer what happened and the officer handcuffed my biological dad. We all went back to catch the end of mom's performance, and shortly afterwards she ran over to us.

Taylor was shocked to see a police officer standing beside us.
"What's going on?" A confused Taylor asked.
"Ma'am your daughter here almost got taken away by some guy who claims he's her dad."  The officer stated, "Fortunately these two," the officer said pointing to Timothée and Elijah, "were able to get help from one of my colleagues and dealt with the man." The officer finished.
Taylor looked at Timothée and Elijah gratefully.

We all went back to my biological dad, and Taylor was informed of what happened. We all decided to press charges for attempted assault. We set a court date for three weeks from now. After our conversation with the officers ended, we went back to Times Square and there was only a minute until New Year's Day.

We all stood close together, all of us (family and friends) like one big united family. With thirteen seconds left, we started counting down.
"13! 12! 11! 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!" All of Times Square yelled loudly before celebrating the beginning of a new year, the beginning of 2019.

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Chapter 32 is done. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Number of words: 1463