The Start Of An Age - Taylor Swift

chapter 19: lunch

~1989~

I already knew this lunch was going to be chaos. For one, none of us had really spent much time with Travis and we didn't really know anything about him. Then there was the fact that the eleven of us that lived in this house hadn't been out together at the same time more than once or twice and it always ended badly. It was always loud and everyone was talking to everyone at the same time, the poor waitresses had to keep track of so many meals and drinks, and someone always decided they needed to act stupid and get themselves in trouble with either the restaurant or bar we were at, or with actual law enforcement. 

Midnights had her hand on my thigh as she drove to the restaurant we were meeting Mom at. The overlapping voices of Debut, Fearless and Speak Now in the back were giving me a headache already. 

"What do you guys think about Travis?" asked Speak Now and leaned forwards towards me and Mids. I turned to look at her and she smiled kindly at me. "I like him, he seems cool."

"I'm not sure what I think about him," I said and looked at Midnights. 

"Me neither," she answered and shook her head. "I mean he's nice and everything, but really he just seems too good to be true.." she continued as she made a right turn.

"I heard he cheated on like two people before," said Debut from behind me. "What if he does the same with Mom?" 

Speak Now shook her head and sat back against her seat. "I don't think so, I mean have you seen them? She goes to pretty much all his games, no matter where in the world she is, and he flies out to a bunch of her concerts! And they just look so happy together!" she said excitedly. She looked more in love with them than they did themselves.

"I think she could do better than some guy on a football team," said Fearless and crossed her arms.

"Oh, you're just mad your little football crush didn't ask you out yet," Debut said teasingly. 

"No!" answered Fearless quickly and rolled her eyes. 

When we got to the restaurant everyone else was already waiting for us. We walked to the door quickly and everyone did their awkward and exaggerated  Hi's before we walked in. 

"Could you look any more miserable?" whispered Midnights jokingly into my ear as we sat down at the long table. I just flashed her an annoyed look in reply.

"So how are all of you?" said Mom with a smile. She was sat on a small couch at the end of the table, Travis next to her. 

"Oh we're all great, Mother," answered folklore, returning a smile. Hers didn't look happy though, it looked more forced. I was sort of glad folklore had taken on the role of speaking for all of us, since I didn't really want to say anything. 

"Is there a reason we're here?" asked reputation and stared down the table at Taylor. 

"Oh well.. I guess you could see it as an early birthday celebration for all of you whose birthday is next month," she answered, "Or just a fun lunch because I missed you guys."

"Alright, but you missed both Lover and folklore's birthdays if we're gonna celebrate anyone," continued reputation, gesturing to the two girls sat next to each other on her right. "And nothing about all of us going out is 'fun' cause it always ends with a disaster. Although I guess it is kind of funny you haven't even introduced us to your new boyfriend before, but you thought this was a good way to do it."

The table fell silent for a second, everyone turning from reputation to our Mom, who looked disappointed more than anything. 

"If you don't want to be here you can walk out that door right now, reputation, but we both know you're not going to," she finally answered and all eyes were on rep again. She didn't say or do anything, except for smile, like she knew she'd already done enough to make this twice as chaotic for everyone. 

"I'm going to a party tomorrow!" said Debut suddenly and looked at Mom. She didn't get a reply though, instead everyone started quietly talking with each other like nothing had happened.

"Well that was bold," said Midnights to reputation, who was sitting at one of the ends, one person between her and Mids.

"It was fun," she answered and scrunched her nose as she shrugged.

I looked around the table, listening in on everyones conversations. Midnights squeezed my thigh gently as she talked to reputation and Lover. 

"So are you guys ready to order?" asked a young waitress loudly, clapping her hands together to get everyone's attention.

"Yes," said folklore and looked up at her, smiling. As folklore went through everyone's food and drinks I read through the menu one more time to make sure I knew what I wanted to get. "And 1989?" she asked after a minute and both her and the waitress looked at me. 

"I'll have some garlic bread and a coke please," I said with a small smile. 

"Miss, the garlic bread is just a side, there's nothing with that. Don't you want a meal?" asked the lady taking our orders and chuckled once. I shook my head slightly and she gave me a confused look. It seemed like she was going to say something but she shook it off and continued by taking Midnights' order. 

When everyone was done telling her what they wanted the quiet sorl started again, everyone talking to each other happily. 

"Hey Nine," said Red from across the table and I looked up at her. "Are you okay?" she asked and smiled. I nodded quickly and looked back down. "So um.." Red started before leaning over the table to me. Her face was right by mine as she whispered. "I heard Karma's still at the house and she's the one stealin'.." 

My heart skipped a beat and my mouth dropped open. "What?" I whispered harshly. Red just shrugged and sat back down on the opposite side of the large table. 

I heard a low squeak from Debut, who was sat on my left. When I looked at her she quickly turned around to Fearless and whispered something in her ear. I grabbed Debut's shoulder and pulled her backwards, closer to me. 

"What do you know, Debs," I whispered in her ear. She just shook her head and sat up again. "Uh, I need to go to the bathroom, I don't really want to go alone tho.. could you come with me Debs?" I said loudly and smiled innocently at her. 

"Why can't your girlfriend go with you?" she said back and raised her eyebrows. 

"But she looks busy, just please come? I'll be super quick," I said, still smiling. 

"Debut, just go with her," said Mom and Debut sighed loudly. She eyed me angrily as she stood up with me and walked towards the toilets.

A/N: Guys i'm inlove with the picture i've chosen for this chapter 😭 i'm so excited to see her at more games this yearrrrr

i'm also writing this at school so i feel very sneaky cause imagine the rumours that would start about me if anyone knows i write wattpad stories 😳