Secretly Yours - Taylor x Travis AU

02.

Later that evening around 8.00, I decided it would be a good idea to go for a swim. In the backyard, there was an 8 metre pool that became deep at one end (above my head), and each year I had made it my tradition to swim on the first evening.

I changed into a simple triangle bikini: a pale blue one with white flowers dotted around the seam. I had bought it last year at the local swim shop down by the beach, and I cherished it as my favourite bikini of all time.

Slinging my USA patterned towel over my shoulder, I skipped down the stairs 2 at a time. The wall was littered with photos of all of us adults and kids pulling funny faces and smiling throughout the years. One in particular stood out to me though. It was a small painting towards the bottom, and it was me and Travis holding hands as we stood by the beach, our sticky faces covered in vanilla ice cream as we grinned at the camera.

I touched the photo lightly before I continued down the stairs, creeping down gently. Passing the front room I looked in quickly, seeing my
mother and Donna cuddled up on the sofa together watching Grey's Anatomy. I smiled: that was the show we all watched growing up and I loved it endlessly.

I continued down the hall and through the kitchen, stepping through the large glass doors that lead into the garden. The air was cool and it hit my body suddenly, and I shivered slightly from the sudden temperature change.

Walking towards a deck chair, I carefully placed my towel and water down. I fixed my goggles on my face carefully, adjusting them so no water could get in when I swam. Taking a few steps towards the edge, I dived in.

The water was cold. Not freezing, but not warm either. It was quite refreshing actually, and as I began my first length the serenity began to settle inside me. With slow strokes, I front crawled to the first end, taking gentle breaths every three strokes.

It was on about my fifth lap or so when I noticed the muscular legs hanging into the water, causing me to surface suddenly. I took a few breaths, lifting my goggles up and rubbing eyes to secure my vision, and it was Travis.

"You cold down there?" He grinned. I noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt, just a black pair of swimming trunks. He was surprisingly muscular, in a way that made me want to run my hands along his biceps. I wondered if he had any intentions to swim with me, and I wasn't sure whether I liked that I not.

Usually, these swims were for me to relax on the first evening, but I was drawn to him. I almost wanted him to come in with me. But, what was I thinking? This was Travis we were talking about.

"I'm fine." I responded, slightly cooler than I intended. "I'm good." I corrected my tone, giving him a small smile. At my response, he slid into the water, only inches away from me now.

"Mind if I join you?" He murmured, looking at me in a way I couldn't quite decipher. He was only a few inches away from me now, and the tension was electrifying. His muscles seemed even more defined, and his hazel coloured eyes seemed so.. mesmerising.

"Um." I stuttered, and he raised an amused eyebrow at me. "I think I'm just getting out, sorry."

"That's okay." He looked down, "Goodnight Taylor."

"Goodnight."

I hurriedly pulled myself out of the pool, quickly grabbing my towel and wrapping it around me. I hesitated for a moment, before hurrying inside. I wiped my feet on the mat by the door to make sure I didn't leave any wet footprints along the floor, but as soon as I stepped inside I practically ran through the corridor and up the stairs

I had no idea whether Travis was watching or not, but I still ran into my room, shutting the door behind me swiftly. My heart was beating like a drum, and I had to stand there taking deep breaths before I regained my breath.

What had happened out there? There was something different this year, but I couldn't tell whether the sparks I felt were good or bad.

Travis and I.. we were so different. I knew he had been with many girls as he and Austin bragged to each other about all the beautiful girls they had hooked up with that year. But, I was just a virgin. I knew I couldn't live up to Travis' standards, so why would he want me?

I sighed, slowly undressing as I unzipped my suitcase. At the top, was a small kitten plush named Fluffy that Travis had won for me a few years back at the local fair, and I laughed softly as I threw it onto the bed.

I took out a soft pair of silk pajamas, setting them to one side as I took a step towards my shower. I turned the heat up to its max, I loved the feeling of hot water penetrating my back as it helped me think and relax.

Steam billowed up from the bathroom, swirling around me as I stepped under the warm cascade of water. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension of the day melt away with each droplet that hit my skin. The shower was my sanctuary, a place where I could let my thoughts flow freely, unburdened by the demands of the outside world. As I closed my eyes, my mind wandered to Travis, my brother's best friend, who had been occupying my thoughts more than I cared to admit.

Travis was charming and funny, with a smile that seemed to light up any room. He had a way of making me feel butterflies, like he was the only person who mattered. But he was off-limits—my brother had made that clear from the start. Besides, was I just caught up in a fleeting crush? I scrubbed my hair with shampoo, trying to wash away the doubts that clung to my thoughts as stubbornly as the day's grime.

After rinsing off, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a plush towel, savoring the warmth against my skin. I padded into my bedroom, where my favorite pajamas were neatly laid out on the bed alongside Fluffy. The soft, worn fabric of the pajamas was comforting, a reminder of simpler times. I pulled them on and hugged the teddy to my chest, feeling a sense of calm settle over me. It was in these quiet moments that I felt most at peace, yet the thought of Travis continued to linger, teasing me with possibilities I knew I shouldn't entertain.

Climbing into bed, I turned off the light and stared up at the ceiling, the room bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains. I replayed the day's events in my mind, from the playful banter with Travis to the lingering glances that seemed to hold unspoken words. I wanted to believe that something real could blossom between us, but a part of me hesitated, knowing the boundaries set by my brother and the risk of getting hurt. As I snuggled deeper into the covers, I made a promise to myself: tomorrow, I would try to keep my feelings in check and remember that Travis was out of reach. Maybe then, the uncertainty would finally fade, and I could find some clarity in the murky waters of my heart.