Shadows Lurking | Taylor Swift Fanfic

34: t h e a r c h e r

Cause they see right through me
They see right through me
They see right through
Can you see right through me?
They see right through
They see right through me
I see right through me
I see right through me
All the king's horses, all the king's men
Couldn't put me together again

——————————————————————

August 2019

Amerie was 11, it was her first day of Middle School. She was attending a private school in Nashville, during the summer they had decided to live back in Nashville, it was a much more comfortable environment for Amerie.

"My baby all grown up, first day of middle school" Taylor cried.

"I'm a big girl now, and it's okay!" Amerie said, the cuteness in her voice was always heartwarming.

"I know" Taylor said.

They were at the gates of Amerie's new school, she was in her uniform which was incredibly itchy.

Amerie was greeted by her teacher and taken into school.

Miss Hutchins was a teacher Amerie did not like at all, she didn't understand Amerie.

Amerie was a content child most of her childhood, but that one teacher shaped her personality for the rest of her life. Not to mention the students who would look at her weirdly and point out the things that made her different. Those people were the reason Amerie began to mask, she changed everything about herself.

Girls rolled their skirt up at the ages of 11, Amerie began that too. The girls all had specific hairstyles, it had to be trendy and cute. Her curls wasn't like the other girls, she began to straighten it, something her Mom did not agree on. She would practice facial expressions in the mirror every morning before school to find the perfect smile that made her likeable.

Miss Hutchins would shout at Amerie, it's the reason she became more sensitive to noise. She would shout when Amerie didn't understand the work, she would shout when Amerie wrote slower than others, she would shout when Amerie got distracted, she would shout at Amerie for everything she did.

Present

Amerie stood in the mirror practicing the perfect smile, but no matter how much she tried her facial expressions were flat, she looked miserable, she was indeed miserable, but nobody even knew.

"Amerie we're going to be late" Taylor said walking into Amerie's room.

"You look stunning" Taylor said cupping Amerie's shoulders.

"Thank you" Amerie mumbled.

"Something wrong?" Taylor asked.

"Nope!" Amerie said rushing out of her bedroom to the car.

Taylor paused for a second feeling a slight touch of worry for her daughter.

"Okay then.." Taylor sighed.

Taylor shook her thoughts off, maybe Amerie was just excited to see her grandparents.

The plane to Nashville was a smooth journey, Amerie stayed quiet reading her book for the journey.

The car journey to Andrea Swift's home was also quiet, Amerie stayed tucked into her book.

"We're here" Taylor said stepping out of the car holding Amerie's hand.

Amerie put her book in her bag and walked up to the front door with her Mom.

Kitty came bursting through the door as soon as Andrea opened it, Amerie's anxiety started to kick in. She didn't like how dogs were always so jumpy and how they barked, cats were much calmer and quieter.