Pitch Perfect Harmony

Getaway Car

It took Travis a lot of words but Taylor finally agreed on meeting him in a public space. And not just some space. She would come to his next game. He made sure that she really wanted to come and didn't just do it for him but he honestly was just so happy about it. They agreed on not showing any intimacy as long as they were around cameras and other people but they also knew that this would still look like confirming rumors about a relationship. Taylor really was okay with it though. She thought about it a lot, talked to Blake, Andrea, Selina, Travis, and Tree about it but now she was sure. Tree prepared a lot before the game and Taylor's security also planned out every way to go and every place to stay.

On her way to Kansas, Taylor was honestly more scared about meeting so many people who were close to him than what the public would say. He wouldn't even be around most of the time and she only talked to Jason yet. His brother wouldn't be there though, so she literally knew nobody. They had tried to schedule a meeting with his mom before but didn't find a time slot in all of their schedules. "Hi, I'm Taylor", was probably the sentence she said a hundred times that day. Every time she was a little nervous but every time she was met with nothing but warmth. His friends and family welcomed her and even though she came with security, noone treated her strangely. Of course, some people were surprised or almost couldn't believe it but there wasn't one sarcastic or mean comment at her.

On the way to the stadium, Taylor already felt a little like she was a part of the group. As predicted, the people in the audience and especially the paparazzi were going wild when she was spotted but she was able to enjoy the evening anyway. The game was intense and Taylor had a lot of fun up in the booth. Celebrating the win at the end felt like the perfect end of the day even though it wasn't even the end of the day yet. As planned, security brought her down to the hallway in front of the player's locker room. Impatiently she was playing with Travis' bracelet in the pocket of her jacket. She couldn't wear his phone number around her wrist but she could hold it close anyway. "Holy shit!", the first one of the guys noticed her after opening the door. She laughed a bit awkwardly but Travis immediately followed his teammate greeting her happily. He wanted to hug her and kiss her to celebrate but they had cameras pointed at them even back here, so he didn't.

They walked next to each other silently leaving the stadium. Passing all these people looking at them felt strange but Taylor felt safe next to him. Of course, there was security with them too but the big man right next to her gave her a lot. They also didn't rush. Joe always had ran past everyone when he had been with her. She didn't want to compare them but casually walking out felt less stressful in a weird way. It wasn't fun being stared at like that but there was no point in running anyway. "I hope you're in for a ride", he showed her his convertible. Taylor looked at him in disbelief. She hadn't been in a car without bulletproof windows in a long time. It felt strange but her security seemed to know about this surprise. "You don't have to", he added seeing her hesitation. "But I want to", she decided smiling at him. Travis happily opened the door for her.

Leaving the stadium, Taylor felt a strange tingle throughout her whole body. The wind in her hair was something she didn't know she had missed. "Where are we going?", she asked gazing at the night sky even though there wasn't that much to see in a city like this. "To the restaurant, as we planned", he explained. Taylor couldn't stop herself from taking his hand at least for a while. There was nobody around. The security in the car behind them didn't matter. Taylor felt free and loved and happy. She almost couldn't believe it. Travis was smiling just as widely. This was the right decision. She was more than worth it.

At the restaurant, Taylor's security took over again leading the way. But the couple just started talking to the people around them and got some good food. It wasn't the longest night ever but it was one of the best for both of them. At least until they had to leave. There was a group of paparazzi outside and this time, it didn't go by smoothly. "Fucked her already?", someone screamed out of the crowd. Taylor clenched noticeably and even some of the other paparazzi seemed shocked. These things hadn't been thrown at her in a while. There was always someone who wanted to provoke a reaction but the slut shaming had almost stopped while she had been with Joe. Travis didn't hear the guy shouting that. His attention was focused on Taylor and her security so they would make it to that car safely. But he did feel her tense suddenly.

"Are you okay?", he asked in the car. "Mhm", she mumbled facing the window trying to compose herself. Travis took her hand carefully interlocking their fingers. She knew that he didn't hear it. He would've reacted differently if he did. They spent the car ride in silence and it stayed pretty silent between them until they went to bed at Travis' place. "Thank you for coming", he whispered carefully trying to figure out if she would be okay with him holding her. She was so distant that he wasn't sure. But Taylor cuddled up to him hoping she could just forget about what had just happened outside the restaurant. She didn't even know why it hit her like that. "I'm happy to be here", she answered anyway and it wasn't a lie. There was no place she would rather want to be.

But Taylor couldn't forget about it. After all these years, one of her strangest nightmares came back. In the middle of the night, Taylor found herself waking up with a weird fake smile on her face looking around anxiously. "It's just a dream. No one takes pictures of me sleeping", she told herself silently. "You good?", Travis mumbled tiredly reaching for her. "Yeah", she answered lying down again. "Tay, you can talk to me", he mentioned after a few minutes of tense silence. "It's just a dream", she summarized. "A nightmare?", he asked. "I guess", she answered sighing.

"Is it because of what happened earlier? When we left the restaurant?", Travis suspected. "Did you hear it?", she asked confused. She was so sure that he didn't. "No, but I felt you getting uncomfortable. Like... More than before if that makes sense", he explained. "It was just a comment. I guess it triggered old nightmares", she sighed. Travis didn't want to push her, so he stayed silent hugging her. "But it got to you?", he questioned after a few seconds. Taylor nodded embarrassed. "I should be used to it by now but...", she started but Travis cut her off: "No one will get used to something like that." "It's just... I almost forgot about the slut shaming. It wasn't really present the past few years", she finally explained. Travis just got more confused. What did they shout earlier that this was her reaction? "But now it is? Because you're with me?", he wanted to know. Taylor shrugged: "Seems like it", she mumbled. Apparently, when she had been with Matty there had been enough other stuff they could scream at them. The slut shaming was harmless compared to that. But it still hurt.

"Someone shouted if we... if you fucked me already...", Taylor admitted whispering. Travis froze. "What? Just like that?", he asked in disbelief. "I'm sorry", she mumbled. "No, Tay, that's not your fault", he immediately said. She just hid in his arms silently. "I mean it. You can't do anything about it and you didn't ask for it. It's not your fault", he stated again. "I could've dated fewer people", she said. "Oh, c'mon. You haven't done anything wrong. And even if you didn't date anyone ever, they would just find something else", he continued to tell her. "It's just a bit much today maybe", she mumbled sighing tiredly knowing that she could handle it any other day. "I bet. Let's get some sleep then, hm? Close your beautiful eyes and think about something nice", he told her kissing her head. "Thank you, Trav", she said. Smiling about the nickname, he just pulled her closer. She could tell him about the actual dream she had another time. Sadly, she was kinda sure it would come back at some point. But for now, she felt safe again. His arms around her, everything he just said, and his gentleness regarding all of that let her fall asleep quickly.