Pitch Perfect Harmony

Birthday Preparations

A few days passed by with Travis and Taylor working and enjoying the mornings and evenings together. She had planned to leave for Rhode Island soon because she wanted to throw a birthday party there. Travis couldn't come but she would be back in New York soon after and then he would visit her there. What Taylor didn't know was that he had given a small package to her security. He wanted her to get her present in time. On the plane she already missed him. Sometimes she still couldn't believe how in love she was. When she only thought of him her lips formed a smile she couldn't fight.

Arriving at her "holiday house", Taylor walked through her living space letting the silence sink in. She hadn't been here in a while. Before she started preparing things for her party, Taylor took her phone to text Travis that she reached her home safely. Since their conversation about their security, Travis had gotten a little more stubborn about assuring her safety. He wasn't controlling, just worried but she was sure he would get used to it a little, and knowing about each other's safety wasn't bad anyway. He did the same and told her when he left for work and got home. With Joe, they had always shared their location via the phone. But she found that they had stopped texting because they could just look up where the other one was. She had explained that to Travis and he agreed. Maybe, when there was a reason to do so, they would share their locations for a while but not constantly.

When she now texted him about her arrival, he seemed to not have much time but he sent a heart back making her smile. Now it was time for her to start baking and cooking. She loved it to prepare food for a party. That's why she rarely ordered anything unless it was a really big group of people. And she also had some time left today before she had to go to bed. After texting for a while about dates her friends had agreed to celebrate her birthday on the day itself and not into the thirteenth. She was still very much concentrated on cooking when her phone started ringing. Reading Travis' name she picked up instantly while placing the phone so he could see her. "Hey Baby", he smiled making her grin at the camera.

"Hey, how are you? How was practice?", she asked continuing to cut her vegetables. "Great actually. Are you making dinner? I just had the rest of our pasta from yesterday", he explained. "Oh, I'm preparing for tomorrow. Maybe I should eat something now too", she mumbled just realizing how late it already was. He chuckled a bit. "Take care of yourself, hm?", he said. "I just forgot the time. I'll eat in a second. Just... this has to go into the oven", she told him. "I'm not going to bed until you had dinner", he persisted making her shake her head. "Trav, I'll eat. But you can stay on the phone and make sure", she winked not wanting to say goodbye too soon. "I will", he agreed more seriously that she had meant it.

They stayed on the phone until they both lay in bed smiling at each other through the camera. "I'd love to kiss you goodnight", he told her making her blush. She sighed missing his arms around her already. "I love you", she said. "I love to too. Sleep tight and have a good party tomorrow okay? I want pictures and I insist on a call tomorrow", he answered. "When do you have time? I can call you in the morning or before the party", she suggested. "I don't have practice, just other stuff. So, I'd love to do both but I'm leaving early so maybe before the party?", he asked. "Sure. You can text me when you get up. If I'm already up, we can talk", she had another idea. "Sound good", he agreed. So they had a plan but continued to talk and fell asleep still having their call open.

Travis was up really early the next day and after watching Taylor sleep for a minute, he decided to not wake her on her birthday. Instead, he ended their call and texted her: "Good morning my birthday girl! I couldn't bring myself to wake you up but I hope you'll have a great day. Don't work too much until later and have a happy, happy birthday. I love you." He was a bit nervous about the present he had let her security place for her. After their conversation about surprise gifts on her bed, he had decided to go with their rule of blue wrapping paper and a white bow even if she wouldn't find it on her bed. He didn't want to freak her out.

Taylor found his message before the present and she smiled sending him a quick answer before getting up for breakfast. On her kitchen table, she spotted a package. Blue with a white bow. Taylor shook her head about him but she grinned. He couldn't wait a few days to give her a present. For a moment she thought about opening it later when she could call him but she was too impatient for that. Carefully, she opened the bow and then the paper. It was a jewelry box again which made her chuckle a little. Maybe she should start to hint at stuff if she wanted to make it easier for him because he probably wasn't sure what to get her. She knew that it could be a bit intimidating to give someone a present who could just get themself everything. She had had the same problem finding presents for friends and partners throughout her life. Finding a Christmas present for Travis would be quite a challenge too.

But when she opened the box, her grin just grew wider. It was a necklace again but not a normal necklace. You could put a guitar pick into the pendant of the necklace which would then be surrounded by a golden frame. He had put a few cheap different colored picks into the box too. Taylor decided to put it aside for now and wear it later for the party. After her breakfast, she had to continue cooking and baking though. Just like the day before, Taylor completely lost track of time until Travis called her. "What time is it?!", she immediately asked. "Like seven p.m. why?", he laughed. "Fuck!", she mumbled quickly getting the last bowl done and then running to her wardrobe with the phone in her hand. "Tay, don't rush, you'll hurt yourself", Travis continued to laugh only hearing her quick steps. "What do I wear?", she asked ignoring his words completely.

Travis then helped her pick an outfit after switching to face time still waiting to find time to congratulate her. "Oh, the necklace", she remembered rushing downstairs again because she had left it there. "I love it by the way! That's such a cute idea!", she told him while putting it on with a color-wise fitting pick in the pendant. "I thought it would be fun. Maybe you have some special ones that are just memories or something and even if not, the different colors could fit so many outfits", he told her. "Thanks, Trav", she finally found time to look at him. "I love you", he just answered making her smile even wider. Before anyone could say more, the doorbell rang. "Oh, guests are coming", she let him know. "Have fun tonight! I'd love to be there. Text me in the morning?", he asked quickly. She nodded. "I will! Love you! Bye!", she quickly said before they ended the call and she ran to open the door.