again | taylor swift au

chapter 3

The next morning, Taylor wakes up with a pounding headache. She knows she went too far last night, drank too much just to feel something. But she ended up having a good time in the end. She just isn't sure if it's all going to be worth it today. Even just looking out the window, the bright reflection of the sun on the newly fallen snow makes her squeeze her eyes shut with pain. She just wants to sit in the dark in her bed all day.

But she figures she probably shouldn't do that. So she pops an Advil and heads out to the kitchen, where she finds Gracie sitting at their island on her phone.

"I'm ordering pancakes to be delivered. What do you want?"

Taylor can't help but laugh, knowing her best friend is in the exact same state as she is. "I'll do a French toast."

"You've got it," Gracie says, pushing a few buttons on her phone. "Remind me to never drink that much on an empty stomach again."

"How much did you drink?"

"God, I lost count. I think I had three cocktails, two beers... and I took a shot with Jayden at one point too."

"Ouch," Taylor says. "You've got a shot and a beer on me then, it sounds like. I had three cocktails and one beer... and I still feel absolutely terrible."

"I feel terrible too, but I don't think I'm worse than you are. You might be more of a lightweight," Gracie remarks.

Taylor raises her eyebrows. "If I'm a lightweight... I don't know what that would make you, because you must weigh thirty pounds less than I do." Taylor knows it just as fact, given the height differences between the two of them. It's not something that upsets her in any way- it's just true that Gracie weighs less than she does.

Gracie, however, shrugs. "Whatever."

Taylor doesn't figure it's worth discussing much more. They're both hung over, and that's what matters at the moment.

"So..." Gracie says, changing the subject, "you and Casey last night..." She wiggles her eyebrows at her friend, who in turn, rolls her eyes.

"Please. We were just chatting. He was being kind to the girl in the corner who didn't know anyone there, that's it."

"I don't think that's quite true," Gracie says. "Did you not see how he was looking at you?"

Taylor sighs. "Regardless, it's not going to happen. It's what I told him... I'm just trying to take some time for myself after everything that happened with... with him."

"What?" Gracie asks. "Why were you talking to Casey about that?"

"He just asked why I didn't have a boyfriend to bring to the party to keep me company."

"Oh my god, Taylor!" Gracie exclaims. "How oblivious can you be? Why would he ask you that if he wasn't flirting with you?"

"I'm sure he was, but I just told him I wasn't dating right now."

Gracie lets out a sigh. "Taaayyyllooorrr."

"Gracie... what?"

"It just makes me sad to see you not want to put yourself out there just because of one bad dating experience. You and I both know that not every man is like him."

"It's scary," Taylor admits in a quiet voice. "I'm just not ready to do it yet."

"It is scary..." Gracie admits. "But it's just like you told me last night... it's beautiful too. And I want you to experience that. I think it would help to heal your heart."

Taylor shakes her head. "I can't do that."

Their discussion is interrupted by Taylor's phone ringing. At the same time, Gracie gets the notification that their food is about to be delivered. "You get that. I'll be back." She slips out of the apartment and heads down the stairs to the front steps of their building.