again | taylor swift au

chapter 7

It isn't long before outfits are changed, subway cards are swiped, IDs are checked, and the group is in the bar. Taylor is glad to find out that it isn't so much a bar, but more of a brew pub. Though they're not letting under 21's in right now, since it's pretty late, they do have a food menu and function as a restaurant before 9:00. There's a live band playing and some people are up dancing while others are sitting down at tables. It seems like a fun vibe- much more Taylor's speed.

Everyone sits down at a big table, then the couples start to go up to the bar together, each boy wanting to buy his date a drink. Taylor can't help but laugh a little at the demographic, but the boys are being gentlemanly, so she can't complain. It's just her and Casey left at the table after they all leave. It's for the best that they stay behind anyway, to reserve the table and watch everyone's stuff.

He looks at her. "I'll buy you a drink," he says. "Once they all come back."

Taylor's face flushes. "No, no, you don't have to do that. Really, it's fine."

"No, no, I insist," Casey tells her. "I can't let you be the only girl paying up tonight."

"I'll get the second round then. For both of us."

"No, that defeats the purpose," he laughs, pushing his hair back. "I'm covering you tonight, no debating it."

She smiles at him, figuring it isn't worth the fight. "Okay, okay." Plus, she secretly doesn't hate the idea of it all. Whether he's flirting or not, it's nice to have somebody buy you a drink.

After the others start to trickle back, plastic cups in hand, Taylor and Casey head up to the bar.

"What's sounding good?" he asks her.

"I like ciders," she shrugs. "I'll do that one." She points to the cider on tap.

"Sounds like a plan." Casey orders and pays, then they head back with the rest of the group. Everyone's chatting already, and Taylor sits back down beside Gracie, with Casey across the table from her. She sits there silently for a little bit, trying to figure out a good way to insert herself into the conversation that's going on. However, after a few minutes, she sees Jayden grab Gracie's hand.

"Come on, you wanna go dance?"

"Let's do it," Gracie says, standing up with her boyfriend and heading away from the table.

Taylor sighs. There goes the only two people who she knew here... well, short of Casey. And she wouldn't exactly say that she knows Casey. But he does look at her and smile. "How's your cider?" She can tell that he doesn't know exactly what to say, but he is trying to make conversation, which she really appreciates. Even if he does know the other guys here, they seem to be occupied with their girlfriends, another couple following in Gracie and Jayden's footsteps and getting up to dance. That leaves Taylor and Casey on one end of the table and a couple on the other. Taylor doesn't recall either of their names from the brief introduction she had earlier, and given that they're already making out at the other end of the long table, it doesn't seem to matter much, either.

"It's good," she nods. "How's yours?"

"Good, good," Casey says. Then, a silence falls between the two of them again. Eventually, Casey opens his mouth. "So, since it's seeming like tonight's gonna be the two of us pretty much... how about you tell me a little about yourself?"

She looks at him. At his brown eyes and dirty blonde hair. She studies his face for a moment as she tries to find the words to say. "Well... there's not much to know. I'm 22, I'm a songwriter... that's sort of it."

"There's gotta be more to it than that," he tells her. "I know you're more than just writing songs and drinking ciders. Come on, give me something."