Renegade - A Taylor Swift Adoption Story

Chapter 11: A Coffee Shop Date

Author's note: I'm experimenting with Gilmore Girls-style dialogue haha

CHLOE

Taylor and I were sipping on our drinks at the coffee shop - coffee for her, decaf for me. She didn't allow me to have caffeine cause apparently it spikes your anxiety and I have enough of it already. Yeah yeah, she's right. We were doing the whole Gilmore Girls mother-daughter vibes thing after binge-watching the show for the past week. We're kind of like Lorelai and Rory anyway. Except I haven't called her mom since it slipped out that night in the hospital. I did think of her as my mom, but the word just didn't come out easily - it's hard to do that when you didn't really have a mom growing up.

"How do you do this on a regular basis?" I brought up the subject that had been bugging me since we stepped foot into the coffee shop. People were constantly gazing toward us even though we were in the back of the coffee shop and away from the windows. The security made sure no one had access to the area, allowing us to have some time to bond in public. Semi-normal because, let's face it, it'll never be normal.

"You get used to it," Taylor shrugged and sipped her coffee, "you kinda just end up tuning out the noise and focus on what you're truly there for."

No wonder she was staring at me so intently this entire time. I was starting to think I had a smudge on my face.

"What's on your mind, lovebug?"

Now it was my turn to shrug. "If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?"

Without missing a beat, Taylor replied, "Easy, William Shakespeare. I mean, imagine the sonnets we could write together!"

I smirked, "Ah, a poet and a pop princess, what a duo! I'd pick Cleopatra – imagine the eyeliner tips I'd get!"

Taylor laughed, "True, but imagine Shakespeare's reaction to 'Shake it Off'!"

I chuckled, "A tale of star-crossed lovers, it is not. Speaking of stars, if you could be any constellation, which one?"

"Cassiopeia, a queen literally in the stars!" Taylor declared, taking a sip of her latte.

I mused, "Fit for a pop queen. I'd be Orion – always hunting for something, and hey, he's got a cool belt."

Taylor raised an eyebrow, "Hunting for what? New music genres to conquer?"

I winked, "Or maybe just hunting for the best coffee in town. Which brings us to—"

"—Rating this coffee!" Taylor finished my sentence, "I'd say a solid 8."

I pondered, "An 8? Generous. I was thinking 7.5, the foam art was a tad abstract."

Taylor pretended to be offended, "Abstract is a form of art, Chloe!"

I shrugged, "Art, shm-art. It's all about the taste. Ever considered becoming a barista?"

Taylor feigned shock, "Trade the stage for steaming milk? Only if they let me perform my hits during coffee breaks!"

I grinned, "A café concert, now that's a concept! I'd be front row every day."

Taylor laughed, "you are front row every day, silly!"

That was true. I attended several concerts over the past few months and they were all fantastic. It reminded me of the first time I saw her and how magical it was - the magic never went away.

"So, I wanted to talk to you about something," Taylor took a sip of her coffee.

"Aha, true intentions of this outing are finally revealed," I joked, knowing she'd bring this up anyway.

Taylor let out a small chuckle but her expression turned serious again quickly. "I didn't want to surprise you or make you uncomfortable, so I thought it's best to talk about it now."

I leaned forward, intrigued yet cautious. "Spill, what's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, Taylor said, "I've started seeing someone, Matty Healy from The 1975."

I felt a swirl of emotions inside me—shock, confusion, and a sting of pain. "Wow, that was quick," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Taylor reached across the table to hold my hand. "I know, it seems sudden, but Joe and I were drifting apart for a long time. Matty and I, we just clicked, but I want to make sure you're okay with this."

I looked down, grappling with the mix of feelings inside me. I knew Taylor deserved happiness, but the shift was jarring. "It's just... I didn't expect you to move on so fast."

"I understand," Taylor said gently. "I don't want you to feel like you're being thrust into anything. If you're not ready to meet him, that's completely okay."

I took a deep breath, considering her words. "No, it's fine. I want you to be happy. It's just... a lot."

Taylor squeezed my hand reassuringly. "I know, Chloe. We'll take it slow, I promise. And I'm here for you, always."

I nodded, trying to smile. "Okay. Let's see how it goes."

"Alright, quiz time!" I declared, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "Taylor Swift, tell me, what's Mr. 1975's favorite color?"

Taylor laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Black, like his soul. Just kidding, it's actually green."

"Green, huh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Classic musician move. Okay, next. Does he prefer coffee or tea?"

"Tea, definitely," Taylor replied without hesitation. "He's British, after all."

I snorted, "Of course, should've seen that coming. Favorite movie?"

Taylor paused for a moment, thinking. "Fight Club. He likes the anarchy.

"Anarchy and tea, quite the combination," I chuckled. "Alright, last one. Has he written a song about you yet?"

Taylor blushed a little but was grinning. "Maybe... It's in the works."

I laughed, feeling the tension in the air dissipate a bit. "Can't wait to hear a love song with a mix of anarchy and British charm!"

Taylor joined in the laughter, "It's going to be a hit for sure!"

I shook my head playfully, "Alright, Taylor, you've passed the quiz for now. But I've got my eyes on Mr. Healy."

She winked at me, "Understood. Operation 'Win Chloe's Approval' is underway."