Tayvis one-shots (3)

Misunderstood Messages

Taylor sat in her dressing room, surrounded by a flurry of stylists, makeup artists, and assistants, all working to get her ready for another night of the Eras Tour. Her phone buzzed incessantly on the table beside her, and though she tried to focus on the whirlwind of preparations, her eyes kept drifting toward it.

"Are you okay, babe?" one of her closest friends and stylist, Andrea, asked, noticing her distraction.

Taylor forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Andrea nodded sympathetically and went back to touching up Taylor's makeup. But Taylor wasn't just tired—she was uneasy. For the past few days, she had noticed something different about Travis. He had been more distant, a little distracted, and always seemed to be on his phone.

As Andrea moved on to another part of Taylor's look, Taylor seized the moment to check her phone. There was a new message from Travis.

"Miss you. Can't wait to see you tonight."

She smiled at the sweet message but couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her gut. Travis had always been open with her, but lately, there had been moments where he seemed to be hiding something. He was often caught texting someone, and when she asked who it was, he would simply say it was "nothing important."

Her mind started to race. What if it wasn't nothing? What if it was someone else? She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts. Travis loved her, she knew that. But the fear lingered.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Five minutes, Taylor," a stagehand called out.

"Thanks," she replied, her voice tinged with a nervous edge.

She set her phone down and stood up, taking a deep breath. She had to put on a show for thousands of fans; she couldn't let her personal life get in the way. But as she made her way to the stage, the doubts continued to gnaw at her.

The performance that night was electrifying, as always, but Taylor felt like she was on autopilot. She sang the songs, danced, and smiled, but her mind was elsewhere. It wasn't until the encore, when she sang "Love Story," that she finally managed to push the worries aside. The crowd's energy was infectious, and for a few moments, she felt like herself again.

After the show, she was exhausted but relieved. She made her way back to her dressing room, eager to unwind. When she got there, she found Travis waiting for her, his tall frame leaning casually against the door.

"Hey, superstar," he greeted her with a grin, his eyes lighting up as she approached.

"Hey," she replied, smiling back, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

He pulled her into a tight hug, and for a moment, the unease melted away. She breathed in his familiar scent, feeling his strong arms around her, and thought that maybe she was just overreacting. But as they pulled apart, she caught a glimpse of his phone screen, and her heart dropped.

A message from an unknown number flashed briefly on the screen: "Can't wait to see you tomorrow. XX."

Taylor's stomach churned. Who was this? Why were they sending kisses to her boyfriend? The doubts that had been simmering all day boiled over.

"Who's that?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Travis glanced at his phone and shrugged. "Just someone from work."

"Someone from work?" Taylor repeated, her voice rising despite herself. "And they're sending you kisses?"

Travis frowned, confused. "What are you talking about, Tay? It's just a colleague. We're planning some stuff for the charity event next week."

"With kisses?" she snapped, unable to hide the hurt and anger in her voice.

He looked at her, realization dawning. "Tay, it's not what you think—"

"Then what is it, Travis? Because from where I'm standing, it looks pretty suspicious!" she interrupted, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing, babe. Really. It's just... how some people communicate. It doesn't mean anything."

But the explanation didn't soothe her. "You've been distant lately, always on your phone. And now this? I'm supposed to just believe it's nothing?"

Travis stepped closer, trying to take her hand, but she pulled away. "Taylor, I promise you, there's nothing going on. I would never do anything to hurt you."

She wanted to believe him, she really did, but the doubts wouldn't let go. "Then why didn't you tell me about her? Why did you keep it a secret?"

"I didn't keep it a secret," he insisted, his voice growing firmer. "I didn't think it was important because it isn't. You're the one I love, the one I'm here for."

"But why didn't you say something sooner?" she pressed, tears stinging her eyes. "I shouldn't be finding out like this."

Travis's face softened as he saw the hurt in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Tay. I didn't mean to make you feel this way. I didn't realize it would upset you."

"But it does, Travis," she said, her voice breaking. "It does upset me. I don't want to feel like I can't trust you."

He reached out again, this time gently taking her hands in his. "You can trust me, Taylor. I'm here with you because I love you. That's never going to change."

She looked up at him, her emotions warring inside her. She knew he was sincere, but the fear of being hurt was hard to shake. "I just... I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," he said softly, pulling her into his arms. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I should have been more open with you."

Taylor let herself relax into his embrace, the tension slowly draining from her body. She wanted to believe him, and deep down, she did. But the fear still lingered, like a shadow that wouldn't quite go away.

"I'm sorry, too," she murmured, her voice muffled against his chest. "I didn't mean to accuse you like that. I just... I got scared."

He kissed the top of her head, holding her close. "I understand. And I'll make sure you never have to feel that way again."

They stood there for a long time, just holding each other, the intensity of the argument fading as they found comfort in each other's presence. Eventually, Taylor pulled back slightly, looking up at him.

"I believe you," she said quietly, searching his eyes.

Travis smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Good. Because you're the only one I want, Tay."

She smiled back, finally feeling the weight lift from her shoulders. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied, leaning down to kiss her softly.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Taylor felt a sense of peace settle over her. They would have their ups and downs, but she knew that as long as they communicated and trusted each other, they could get through anything.

And as she rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, she knew that this was where she belonged—right here, with him.