Tayvis one shots

Almost caught part 2

As Jason reluctantly turned toward the kitchen, Travis finally exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. His heart was still racing, and he could feel the sweat forming on his brow. He needed to get Taylor out of the house before something worse happened, but with his family now in the kitchen, blocking the back door, there was no easy escape.

Meanwhile, Taylor was still huddled in the closet, trying to keep Rambo quiet. The dog, now fully awake and sensing Taylor's anxiety, started to whimper softly, nudging her with his nose. She stroked his head, hoping to soothe him, but every little sound felt like it was amplified in the otherwise silent house. Taylor could hear the muffled voices of Travis's family in the kitchen, and every now and then, the clinking of dishes reminded her just how close she was to being discovered.

The minutes felt like hours as she waited, her mind racing with the consequences if she were caught. Would they understand? Would they think less of Travis? Would this ruin everything before it even began? The thought of their budding relationship being exposed to the world, especially in such an awkward way, filled her with dread. This wasn't how she wanted to meet his family for the first time—hiding in a closet, like some shameful secret.

Back in the kitchen, Travis was doing his best to keep his family distracted. His mother was already setting the table, pulling out plates and silverware, while Jason was eyeing him suspiciously from across the counter. Travis's father, usually quieter and more observant, had also picked up on his son's strange behavior.

"You sure everything's okay, Trav?" his father asked, his tone carrying a note of concern.

"Yeah, Dad, everything's fine," Travis replied, but his voice betrayed him. He was too tense, too jumpy, and he knew it. His mind was spinning, trying to think of a way to get his family out of the house without raising more suspicion.

Just when he thought he might be able to convince them to leave after dessert, his niece, a sharp and inquisitive ten-year-old, bounded into the kitchen with something clutched in her hand.

"Uncle Trav, why is there lipstick on the napkin by the couch?" she asked, holding up the evidence for everyone to see. The bright red stain was unmistakable—a shade Taylor had been wearing earlier that evening.

Travis felt his blood run cold. His mother turned to look at him, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Lipstick? Travis, is there something you're not telling us?"

Jason, who had been suspicious from the start, now had a grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh, so that's why you're acting so weird! Who is she, Trav?"

Travis knew he was cornered. There was no way he could talk his way out of this, but admitting the truth would lead to a whole different kind of chaos. His family loved to gossip, and if they found out Taylor Swift was hiding in his house, it would only be a matter of time before the whole world knew.

"Uh, it's nothing, just a... friend stopped by earlier," Travis stammered, trying to sound casual. But his mother wasn't buying it. She gave him a knowing look, the kind that only a mother can give, which said, You can't fool me.

"Well, it's not nothing if there's lipstick involved," his mother said, her tone light but probing. "Why don't you invite her out here? We'd love to meet this 'friend' of yours."

Travis's mind was racing. He couldn't let this happen. Not like this. "Actually, she's, um, not here anymore," he said quickly, but even as the words left his mouth, he knew how weak they sounded. His father raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"Then what's the rush, son? We've got all night," his father said, leaning back in his chair with a casual, expectant air.

Travis felt like he was suffocating under the pressure. He needed to get his family out of the house, but every excuse he tried to think of sounded more ridiculous than the last. Just as he was about to make another desperate attempt, Rambo's barking resumed, louder and more insistent this time. The dog, frustrated by the confined space and sensing Taylor's anxiety, was making a racket that would be impossible to ignore.

Jason, who had been itching to investigate the noise since he arrived, saw his chance and moved quickly toward the hallway. "I'm checking this out," he announced, more determined than ever.

Travis lunged forward, trying to stop him, but his mother caught him by the arm. "Travis, let him go," she said, her tone firmer now. "If there's nothing to worry about, then let him see for himself."

Travis was trapped. Jason was already halfway down the hall, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. The closet door was just ahead, and there was no way Taylor could escape without being seen.

Inside the closet, Taylor heard the approaching footsteps and felt her heart plummet. This was it. She was going to be caught. There was no escape, no hiding anymore. She quickly pulled out her phone, desperately texting Travis: I'm so sorry, I think this is it.

Just as Jason reached for the doorknob, Travis shouted, "Wait! Okay, okay, just... let me explain!"

Jason froze, his hand hovering over the knob as he turned back to look at his brother. "Explain what, Trav?" he asked, clearly enjoying the tension but also genuinely curious.

Travis took a deep breath, knowing that whatever he said next could either diffuse the situation or make it much worse. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, his father's phone buzzed on the table, loudly breaking the tense silence.

His father glanced at the screen, then frowned. "It's your coach," he said to Travis, his voice suddenly serious. "Something about a schedule change for tomorrow's practice."

For a brief, blessed moment, everyone's attention shifted away from the closet and toward the phone. Seizing the opportunity, Travis blurted out, "Actually, I just remembered, I need to head back to the facility tonight. They're making us come in early tomorrow for film review."

Jason gave him a skeptical look. "At this hour? On a Friday night?"

"Yeah," Travis lied, his mind scrambling for anything to keep them distracted. "It's, uh, a new thing the coach is trying to get us more focused."

His mother frowned, clearly not thrilled by the idea of late-night practices. "That's ridiculous. You need your rest."

"I know, but you know how it is," Travis said, trying to sound resigned but inwardly praying they'd buy the excuse. "They're cracking down on us with the playoffs coming up."

Finally, his mother sighed, shaking her head. "Alright, but don't think you're off the hook. I expect to meet this mystery girl of yours soon."

Travis forced a smile. "Promise. Soon."

Jason, though still suspicious, seemed to let it go. "Alright, but next time, you're not getting away with this," he said with a grin, though his tone carried a hint of warning.

As his family began to gather their things, Travis felt a wave of relief wash over him. He quickly walked them to the door, his heart still pounding as he said his goodbyes. His mother gave him a long, searching look before finally stepping outside.

"We'll talk more tomorrow, Trav," she said, her tone softer now. "And take care of yourself, okay?"

"Will do, Mom," Travis said, his voice still tight with tension.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Travis bolted back to the hallway, flinging the closet door open. Taylor was still crouched inside, her face pale, but she managed a shaky smile as she looked up at him.

"That was way too close," she whispered, standing up and stepping out into the hallway. "I thought for sure they were going to find me."

Travis ran a hand through his hair, still trying to calm his racing heart. "Me too," he admitted, pulling her into a tight hug. "But you were amazing. I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

Taylor clung to him, feeling the tension slowly melt away as she buried her face in his chest. "It's not your fault. I guess this is just... part of the territory."

They stood there for a long moment, just holding each other, the adrenaline finally beginning to fade. But even as they tried to laugh it off, they both knew things were getting more complicated. Their relationship was becoming harder to hide, and with their worlds so public, close calls like this were bound to happen again.

But for now, they had survived. And as they pulled back to look at each other, the unspoken understanding passed between them: they'd face whatever came next together, no matter how challenging or dramatic it might be.