Operation Haylor

Chapter 8 (Written by Josh)

I had been waiting for almost a half hour.

Taylor wasn't late. I had just been so excited that I decided to arrive forty-five minutes early for our coffee date. My phone buzzed. It was from Taylor. Almost there.

A shiver ran down my spine. What was I going to do? Should I hug her? And what were we going to talk about?

Before I had time to answer any of these questions, the door opened. "Hey Mr. Joshua!"

I got to my feet. "Hey Taylor!"

She immediately answered my first question by giving me a big hug. I squeezed her back. She smelled wonderful, like a six-foot tall flower. I didn't want to let her go, but we eventually separated and sat down. "What's new?" I asked, hoping it would spark a conversation. Maybe I should have asked if she wanted coffee first.

She didn't answer my question. She just looked at me for a moment, then: "I...I heard your song."

"My song?"

"The one you did at the studio." She stared down at the table. "I called Jim, the studio manager, and asked him to email me the song you guys worked on after I left. I wasn't trying to be nosy, honest! I just thought I might be able to help get you guys hooked up with a radio promoter."

"Well...thanks! Don't feel sorry, I appreciate that!"

She laid a finger on the back of my hand. "You see, I...I've liked a lot of guys since I became famous. A lot of people think I'm some kind of man-monster." I shook my head, ready to interrupt her, but she continued. "Really, I'm not. I just...I just thought I could make all my childhood dreams come true, now that I was a big celebrity. I wanted to date every cute guy I had ever liked, just because I could!"

Her hand was not gripping my wrist. "But I've learned something, something that could have saved me from years of heartache." Her eyes were locked on mine. I couldn't have spoken right then if my life depended on it. "Joshua, I've learned that there's more to a relationship than good looks and charm. It takes something far more than that."

What Taylor? What?

"It takes True Love." She smiled wide. "That's the name of your song isn't it?"

I couldn't speak. I could only nod my head.

Both of her hands were now resting on mine. Quietly, barely above a whisper, Taylor began singing the words of my song. "When will I learn? It takes more than this. It takes more than lip service to win me. To catch me. To hold me and wrap me in your arms. I don't want your words. When will I learn? It takes more than this. It takes more than an angel's kiss to possess me. It takes something else, something you don't know, something that starts from nothing and grows. When will I learn?"

I finally found my voice, and we sang the last line together. "It takes true love to truly win my heart."

Later that night, I could do nothing but lay in bed and think about Taylor. How? How could she fall for someone like me? She's a big star, a supermodel, and I'm just a budding musician with a currently unknown band. How could this be happening? Before I knew it, I was once again singing the words to my own song. "It takes true love...to truly win my heart."

I rolled over and buried my face in my pillow. I wanted to shout with happiness. I wanted to call every friend I had ever known and tell them what was happening.

But I was too tired. And I had another date tomorrow. I smiled and pulled the blankets tighter around my body.

I needed rest if I was going to record a duet with Taylor Swift the next day.