So High School | T. Swift x OC

five

Eliot practically floated through the lobby of his hotel, his thoughts a whirlwind of excitement and disbelief. The polished marble floors and ornate chandeliers seemed to shine brighter than usual, reflecting his elated mood. As he reached the elevator, he could hardly contain his joy. The short ride to his floor felt like an eternity, and when the doors finally opened, he bolted down the hallway to his room.

Bursting through the door, Eliot was greeted by the sight of his cousins, Izzie and Noah, lounging on the couch, engrossed in a late-night talk show. They looked up in surprise as Eliot entered, his energy practically vibrating off him. He paused for a moment, a huge grin spreading across his face, and then he let out a squeal that could only be compared to that of an overexcited middle schooler.

He jumped up and down in his spot, unable to contain himself. Izzie and Noah exchanged amused glances before turning their full attention to their cousin.

"Whoa, calm down, Eliot!" Izzie said, laughing. "What happened? Tell us everything!"

Eliot, still bouncing on the balls of his feet, struggled to catch his breath. "You guys... oh my God... it was amazing!" He finally managed to say, his words tumbling out in a rush. "She called me cute! She, like, actually said I was cute! And handsome."

Noah smirked, crossing his arms. "Oh yeah? What else did she say? We need details, man."

Eliot took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He flopped onto the couch next to Izzie, who immediately handed him a bottle of water. He took a long drink, his mind racing with the evening's events.

"So, we ordered drinks," he began, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "She got an Old Fashioned, and I had a cocktail. And then... oh, and then she said I was taller than she expected! She said even with her heels on, I was taller!"

Izzie grinned, nudging him. "Sounds like she was impressed."

Eliot nodded fervently. "Yeah! And we just talked and laughed. It was so easy, you know? Like, all my nerves just disappeared after a while. And she was so... genuine. Not like how you'd expect a celebrity to be."

Noah leaned in, clearly enjoying the story. "And I'm guessing you told her about your parents being models? Narcissist."

Eliot chuckled. "Yeah, I did. She mentioned my height, and I blamed it on my genes. And she laughed! She has this amazing laugh, you guys. It's infectious."

Izzie leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face. "Sounds like you made quite the impression. Did you get her number?"

Eliot's grin widened. "Better. I gave her the bracelet with my number on it. And she took it! She said she'd treasure it forever." He pulled out his phone, showing them the message he'd received just before getting into the elevator. "And look! She texted me already."

Noah whistled low. "Wow, dude. This is huge. You must've really charmed her."

Eliot beamed, feeling a rush of pride. "I hope so. I mean, it felt like we really connected. I'm still kind of in shock that it all happened. It feels like a dream."

Izzie wrapped an arm around Eliot's shoulders, giving him a supportive squeeze. "Well, dream or not, it sounds like you had an incredible night. And who knows? Maybe this is just the beginning of something even better."

Eliot nodded, his heart full of hope and anticipation. "Yeah. Maybe it is."

The three of them sat there for a while longer, Eliot recounting every detail of the evening. He told them about how Taylor had reached out to touch his hand across the table, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and how comfortable he had felt talking to her about his life and experiences. His cousins listened intently, occasionally teasing him but mostly just basking in his happiness.