Broken Records | Tayley

Chapter 17: Mississippi Bound

Taylor's POV

The sun had barely risen, casting a pale golden light over the sleepy neighborhood, as I loaded the last of the bags into the trunk of the car. The early morning air was crisp, a reminder that summer was still clinging on, though fall was just around the corner. Alf was already settled in the backseat, his head resting on the armrest between Zac and Hayley's bags.

"Okay, I think that's everything," I said, closing the trunk with a satisfying thud.

Hayley emerged from the house, a travel mug in each hand and a pair of sunglasses perched on her nose. She was dressed casually in a band tee and jeans, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. "Ready to hit the road?"

"Born ready," I grinned, taking one of the mugs from her. "You've got the playlist, right?"

She patted her tote bag. "Never leave home without it."

Zac walked out of the house a moment later, carrying a small cooler. "Got the snacks," he announced, sliding it into the backseat next to Alf. "And yes, I brought the beef jerky."

"You know me so well," Hayley laughed, climbing into the passenger seat.

I slipped into the driver's seat, adjusting the mirrors before starting the engine. Zac settled in the back with Alf, who immediately nudged his head under Zac's hand, seeking attention.

The drive started off with a comfortable silence, the kind that comes easily between friends who know each other as well as we did. Hayley adjusted the playlist, starting off with some classic rock that had us all nodding along.

"Who's got road trip stories?" Zac asked, leaning back in his seat, already looking relaxed.

"I do," Hayley piped up, turning to face us with a mischievous smile. "Remember that time we drove to New York for that last-minute show? Taylor got us lost for three hours in Jersey."

I groaned, shaking my head. "In my defense, Jersey is a labyrinth. No GPS would have saved us."

Zac laughed. "You just wanted to prolong the journey. More time to spend with us."

"Guilty as charged," I admitted, smiling as I kept my eyes on the road. "But hey, that trip ended up being one of the best we've ever had."

As the miles rolled by, the conversation flowed easily between us, touching on everything from music to old memories. It felt like we were teenagers again, driving around aimlessly, enjoying the freedom of the open road. There was something about road trips that made the world feel simpler, like the only things that mattered were the people in the car and the destination on the horizon.

At some point, Hayley turned on the radio, flipping through stations until she landed on a familiar tune. The opening chords of "In a Sweater Poorly Knit" by mewithoutYou filled the car, and I couldn't help but grin.

"Taylor's favorite band!" Hayley exclaimed, her voice teasing as she turned up the volume.

"Don't even pretend you're not a fan too," I shot back, but my grin gave me away.

"Oh, I am," she admitted, leaning back in her seat. "But not as much as you."

As the song played, I couldn't help but sing along, my voice blending with the melody. Hayley watched me with an amused smile, and when I reached the chorus, she couldn't resist joining in, our voices harmonizing in the most natural way.

Zac chimed in from the back, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Look at you two, a couple of fanboys."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't stop smiling. "Says the guy who knows every single drum fill in every single song."

"I'm just a dedicated musician," Zac quipped, a grin spreading across his face.

As the song faded out, Hayley nudged me with her elbow. "You know, you're kinda cute when you fanboy out."

I felt a warmth spread through me at her words, though I tried to play it cool. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment. Especially coming from you."

Hayley just smiled, her eyes soft as she looked out at the passing scenery. "This is nice, you know? Us, just... being us."

I nodded, feeling the same sense of contentment. "Yeah, it is."

The drive continued, the landscape gradually shifting from the familiar green hills of Tennessee to the flat expanses of Mississippi. We made a few pit stops along the way—grabbing coffee, stretching our legs, letting Alf run around a bit. Each stop was filled with laughter and the kind of banter that only years of friendship could bring.

By the time we crossed into Mississippi, the sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. I could see the change in Hayley as we got closer to her dad's place—a mix of excitement and nerves that she tried to hide but couldn't quite mask.

"You okay?" I asked her quietly as we pulled off the highway onto a smaller road that would take us the rest of the way.

"Yeah," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I'm just... it's been a while, you know? I'm excited, but... nervous too."

I reached over and squeezed her hand, offering silent support. She squeezed back, a small, grateful smile on her lips.

We turned down a long, tree-lined driveway that led to a modest house, the kind of place that felt like home the moment you saw it. As we pulled up, I could see Hayley's dad waiting on the porch, a smile on his face as he waved us over.

"Welcome to Mississippi," Hayley said, her voice lighter now, as if a weight had been lifted.

"Glad to be here," I replied, feeling a sense of warmth settle over me. This trip was exactly what we all needed—a chance to reconnect, to remember what really mattered.