Ours - Taylor Swift WLW Romance Fanfiction

Chapter 10: Scared

The days blurred together as Taylor wallowed in her post-breakup depression. She ignored the concerned calls from friends and family, letting their messages pile up unheard. She couldn't bear the thought of talking about it, of rehashing the painful details of the breakup.

But Ava's messages were harder to ignore. They started off casual, just checking in. But as Taylor's silence stretched on, the worry in Ava's tone became palpable.

Ava: Tay, are you okay? Haven't heard from you in a few days.

Ava: Just checking in again. Starting to get a little concerned. Let me know you're alright?

Ava: Hey, we are worried about you. You haven't been to the studio. Call me when you get this, okay? I'm here for you.

Each message was like a tug on Taylor's heart, a reminder of the caring, compassionate woman she'd grown so close to. But still, she couldn't bring herself to respond, couldn't bring herself to reach out.

Because calling Ava, talking to her, would make it all too real. It would mean acknowledging that Joe's accusation held a kernel of truth - that her feelings for Ava ran deeper than mere friendship or creative partnership.

It would mean admitting, if only to herself, that Ava had become a crucial part of her life, a source of joy and inspiration and comfort. And that losing her, pushing her away, would be just as devastating as the end of her relationship with Joe.

So Taylor stayed silent, even as Ava's messages grew more frequent, more concerned. She buried herself in her heartache, in the familiarity of her own misery, because facing the alternative - facing the truth of her feelings for Ava - was simply too terrifying to contemplate.

Days turned into a week, and still, Taylor couldn't find the strength to reach out, to bridge the growing distance between her and Ava. She knew she was being unfair, knew she was hurting Ava with her silence.

But the fear of what she might say, of what she might admit, kept her paralyzed. And so she remained, locked in a prison of her own making, while the world - and the woman who had come to mean so much to her - moved on without her.

Taylor stared at the unanswered messages, a single tear rolling down her cheek. She knew she couldn't hide forever, knew she would have to face Ava eventually.

But for now, in the depth of her heartache and confusion, all she could do was hold on to the fragile, fractured pieces of herself, and pray that when the time came, she would have the courage to put them back together again.

Even if the picture they formed was entirely different from the one she'd always imagined.

A loud, persistent knocking jolted Taylor from her melancholy reverie. She'd been sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the wall, lost in thought and memory. The knocking came again, more insistent this time.

With a heavy sigh, Taylor dragged herself to her feet and shuffled to the door. She barely had it open before Selena Gomez and Blake Lively burst in, concern etched on their faces.

"Taylor, we've been trying to reach you for days," Selena said, her tone a mix of worry and gentle chastisement. "What's going on?"

Taylor couldn't meet their eyes, couldn't bear to see the pity or judgment she feared she'd find there. "I'm fine," she mumbled, moving back into the living room. "Just been busy."

Blake followed, her keen gaze taking in Taylor's disheveled appearance, the dark circles under her eyes. "Tay, you're not fine. Ryan told me about Joe."

At the mention of her ex's name, Taylor flinched, the pain still raw and fresh. "He told you?"

Selena nodded, her expression softening. "We're so sorry, honey. Breakups are never easy, especially after so long together."

Taylor sank back onto the couch, her friends settling on either side of her. For a moment, she just breathed, trying to gather the scattered pieces of herself.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Blake asked gently, her hand coming to rest on Taylor's knee.

Taylor shook her head, not trusting her voice. But Blake's next words shattered her fragile composure.

"Joe mentioned something else to Ryan. Something about a girl named Ava?"

At the sound of Ava's name, Taylor broke. A sob tore from her throat, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. Selena immediately gathered her into a hug, murmuring soothing words as Taylor cried.

"Oh, Tay," Blake breathed, her own eyes glistening with sympathy. "Is that what this is about? This Ava person?"

Through her tears, Taylor managed a nod. "She's my producer," she said, her voice thick and wet. "We've been working together and... and I developed feelings for her."

Saying it out loud, admitting it to her friends, felt like a dam breaking, a flood of emotion pouring out of her.

"Joe accused me of leaving him for her," Taylor continued, the words coming in a rush now. "And the worst part is, he's not entirely wrong. My feelings for Ava... they made me realize how unhappy I was, how much Joe and I had drifted apart."

Selena rubbed soothing circles on Taylor's back. "Oh, honey. I'm so sorry you've been dealing with this alone."

Blake nodded, squeezing Taylor's hand. "You know we're here for you, right? No matter what. If you have feelings for this woman, if she makes you happy... we support you."

Fresh tears spilled over at her friends' unconditional acceptance. "I'm just so confused," Taylor confessed, her voice small. "I care about Ava, so much. But I'm terrified. Terrified of what it means, of how people will react. And I'm scared I've ruined everything by pushing her away."

"It's okay to be scared," Selena said softly. "Matters of the heart are always scary. But Taylor, you're one of the bravest people I know. If anyone can handle this, it's you."

Blake nodded in fervent agreement. "And if Ava cares about you the way it sounds like she does, she'll understand. She'll be there when you're ready."

Taylor drew in a shuddering breath, the weight on her chest easing just a fraction. "I don't know what I did to deserve you two," she said, a watery smile touching her lips.

"You deserve the world, Tay," Selena said fiercely. "And we're going to help you get through this. One day at a time."

As her best friends enveloped her in another hug, their love and support a tangible force, Taylor felt a flicker of hope amidst the pain and confusion.

She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Knew there would be challenges and fears and difficult conversations to navigate. But with Selena and Blake by her side, and with the promise of Ava's understanding, Taylor felt for the first time that maybe, just maybe, she could face it all.

And come out the other side stronger, truer, and more herself than ever before.