Out Of The Woods - A Taylor Swift Adoption Story

Chapter 1: The Bus Ride

Madison was perched uneasily on the worn bus seat, her nervous fingers fumbling with the sleeves of her oversized sweater. She gazed out of the window, trying to steady her racing heart as she watched more people board the bus.

"This is it. Deep breaths, Mads," she whispered to herself, her voice a shaky reassurance. She desperately attempted to mask her apprehension, but the truth was, everyone around her shared the same uneasy tension.

The group that had gathered here was an eclectic mix of around thirty individuals, their ages spanning from the tender 11 to the hopeful 22. They had all been summoned to board this nondescript bus, bound for a destination known only to the organizers. Well, people had a hunch, but didn't really know what was truly happening. Madison, with her vibrant curls of fiery orange hair, was the youngest amongst them, an anomaly in the midst of the diverse group.

When the stern-looking woman in charge had inquired about her guardians, Madison had mustered the courage to hand over a note with a signature she had skillfully forged. The hastily concocted note explained that her mother would be picking her up once the event concluded. The lady had barely glanced at it before shrugging her indifference and granting Madison passage onto the bus.

As the engine rumbled to life and the vehicle finally pulled away from the curb, a chorus of jubilant cheers erupted from the passengers. The atmosphere inside the bus became charged with electric excitement, a palpable anticipation that was shared by all on board. They all knew they were here for one singular purpose.

Just as Madison began to resign herself to the solitude of her journey, a friendly voice disrupted her thoughts. An older girl, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and her warm brown eyes filled with kindness, tapped Madison gently on the shoulder.

"Oh hey!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "You're Maddie, right?! I watch your TikToks, you're adorable!"

Madison's lips curved into a grateful smile. "Thank you!" Over the years, Madison has created quite a following for her love for Taylor Swift. Her TikToks were full of exciting content, from speculating on music releases to just fun videos, appreciating Taylor for her music.

The girl's genuine interest and friendly demeanor put Madison at ease. "Are you here alone?" she inquired, concern lacing her words.

Madison nodded, her gaze dropping with a hint of embarrassment.

"Don't worry," the older girl reassured her with a comforting grin. "We can stick together. My name's Nicole, by the way. I just turned 18 recently."

A sense of relief washed over Madison as she looked up to meet Nicole's warm gaze. She allowed her fingers to finally release the hold on her sweater sleeves and extended her hand to shake Nicole's.

"Nice to meet you," Madison replied.

"Do you guys think we're going to the Secret Sessions?" The girl with a chic bob cut swiveled in her seat to face Madison and Nicole, her eyes filled with a blend of excitement and nervousness. "I think I'm going to be sick if I really meet Taylor Swift! I'm Charlotte, by the way, Charlie for short."

Madison couldn't help but giggle. "I think so. 'Karma' is most definitely being released soon," she chimed in.

Nicole's eyes sparkled with exhilaration as she nodded in agreement. "I can't believe this is actually happening!"

Charlie's gaze landed on Madison, and she couldn't suppress her curiosity. "Aren't you a little young for this?"

Before Madison could respond, Nicole intervened with enthusiasm. "She's 11! And kids always go to Secret Sessions, too. I'm surprised you haven't seen her TikToks. Maddie's amazing!"

Charlie's eyes widened with intrigue. "Ooh, I'll have to check you out! What's your username?"

Madison beamed with pride. "MaddieSwift." It had been her cherished username ever since she joined TikTok a few years back.

"You should check out the videos she made with her mom a few years back!" Nicole chimed in, her voice filled with admiration. "They are considered the ultimate mother-daughter Swiftie duo."

A sudden pang of sadness gripped Madison's heart at the mention of her mom. It had been a year since they recorded their final lip-sync video together. Little did she know that just a day after that recording, she would receive the devastating news of her mom's passing in a horrific car accident. Since then, Madison had been living at a local orphanage, her world forever altered. With no dad and immediate family in the picture, Madison was given to the care of the system.

When she had received the cryptic DM from Taylor Nation about a secret rendezvous point in New York City, she had made a deliberate choice to keep it to herself. She had slipped out on the appointed day, carefully fabricating a forged permission slip signature, and boarded the bus to this enigmatic destination.

"Aw man, you're so lucky you have parents like that!" Charlie continued to chatter, blissfully unaware of the turmoil Madison concealed beneath her exterior. Madison's knuckles were white from clenching her fists, her heart heavy with the unspoken truth that her cherished family moments were now forever locked in the past.

"Mine couldn't care what I do or where I am now that I'm 17."

Madison decided to tune out for the remainder of that conversation. All that she focused on was that in just a few hours, she'll met the one and only Taylor Swift. As the bus rumbled through the streets, each bump and turn seemed to echo Madison's own turbulent emotions. She gazed out the window, lost in thought, as the cityscape blurred past. The chatter around her faded into a distant hum, her mind replaying memories of her and her mother, their laughter filling their small living room as they danced and sang along to their favorite Taylor Swift songs.

Nicole, noticing Madison's sudden quietness, leaned over. "Hey, are you okay?" Her voice was soft.

Madison forced a smile, not wanting to dampen the mood. "Yeah, just thinking about the songs we might hear tonight."

Charlie, still buzzing with excitement, chimed in. "I hope she plays some oldies, too!"

The girls continued to speculate about the songs, the potential surprises, and the magic that awaited them. Madison listened, occasionally nodding or smiling, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

As the bus finally pulled up to the designated spot, the girls joined a small crowd of other excited fans, all buzzing with anticipation.

"We're at her house!" people around Madison whispered. Out of excitement, and probably also nerves, Nicole grabbed Madison's hand.

"This is it, girl, we're going to meet Taylor Swift!!"