So It Goes

The Walk of Shame

It was the dead of winter, and Taylor snuck cautiously out of the house she shared with 3 other girls at midnight. It wasn't like they cared what she was doing, but she just didn't want to have to deal with the inevitable interrogation. Besides...she liked the idea of keeping her situationship with him a secret. There was a certain thrill to keeping all of this between them. She never got the impression it was because he was ashamed to be seen with her, but she suspected that he too didn't want to have to deal with explaining things. They each had a reputation...expectations on who they should be seen with...who they could be with...which parties and cliques they could be at. In their case those two things rarely crossed.

Taylor stood on the front stoop of the house, off to the side in the shadows, her heavy winter coat, gloves, and knit hat keeping her warm. Her legs were getting cold because she had foolishly worn a skirt...a short one at that...with her high top Chuck Taylors. She could see her breath billow out of her mouth as she peered down the street looking.... waiting for him. He'd sent her a text less than 30 minutes ago.

Travis: Saw you today

Taylor looked at her phone as she typed on her MacBBook. A small smile creeping across face. They had briefly made eye contact with each other as she passed by on her way to her Music Theory class. He was standing with a few other football players laughing about something. She hadn't physically seen him in over a two weeks, so seeing him suddenly and without warning made Taylor anxious and nervous in the best possible way. As their eyes locked, a ghost of a smile started to appear on Travis' face. Taylor looked bashfully away, holding her books to her chest a bit tighter, and quickened her pace to get further away. Travis' face fell slightly, as he watched Taylor go, re-engaging in the conversation that was going on around him. He didn't see Taylor glance shyly over her shoulder back at him.

Travis: Come out with me tonight

Taylor: Its late

Travis: Please

Taylor sighed a bit, looked at her art history paper that was due in a week. She had most of it done but she was just putting the finishing touches on the final version.

Taylor: K

Travis: 😊

Travis: pick u up @ midnight

Taylor glanced at the clock...11:25pm. Taylor quickly changed into something she thought Travis would like. Taylor laughs nervously a bit as she touched up her make up from earlier in the day, her anticipation at seeing Travis. She admired the classic red lip she applied like her grandmother had shown her. Her grandmother, Marjorie, was such a classy woman...full of style and grace...Taylor loved spending time with her.

Now here she stood, freezing in the Ohio winter, waiting...she heard the engine come up over the hill at the end of the street.

The 1970 dark purple Chevy Chevelle was as gorgeous as it was loud. But Travis knew how to keep it quiet as he rolled down the street. The snow drifts from the snowplows were piled high on the sides of the street, plus cars lined both sides of the street as Travis rolled along. Travis looked down the street, seeing the white 2-story colonial home where Taylor lived come into clearer view. He took his foot off the gas and coasted along...the engine softly purring as he rolled forward. He reached down and cut off the headlights, but the street lights cast long shadows either way. He didn't see her...he kept searching... then he saw the puff of hot breath from behind the column on the front stoop. He watched as she moved cautiously around the column as the Chevelle crept forward.

Travis Kelce, quarterback of the Bearcats, NFL prospect, was not without she choice of women. He'd recently decided to cut his hair to a short fade and grow an impressive mustache that grew a bit beyond the edges of his mouth. He liked to call the look "El Travedor," but most people liked to call him "Highway Patrol Kelce." Kayla wasn't fan...she liked him clean shaven and his hair longer...but he didn't want to think about her. As his senior year had progressed and he got closer to the NFL draft, Kalya's true intentions became more apparent...and annoying.