Lady in RED || Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

Calm Down

They pulled into the driveway, the weight of their argument still heavy between them. As soon as Travis put the car in park, Taylor unclicked her seatbelt and got out, not saying a word. She walked quickly her heels clicking against the garage floor, eyes fixed straight ahead. Travis followed a few steps behind, he normally would open the door for her, but he held back, letting her go first.

Taylor pushed open the door, pausing just long enough to drop her purse on the entryway table before heading upstairs without a backward glance. She needed space, needed the hot water of a shower to drown out the noise in her head and wash away the tension that had built up between them. The sound of her footsteps echoed down the hallway as she disappeared into their bedroom.

Travis stayed in the foyer for a moment, running a hand through his hair, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. Part of him wanted to follow her, to try and make things right, but he also knew how stubborn she could be, just as stubborn as him. He sighed deeply, the frustration still simmering beneath his skin. He hated this feeling, the silence and distance that seemed to be growing wider between them within minutes.

He wandered into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water, but his thoughts kept drifting back to their fight. He felt hurt too, stung by how she had shut him down, by how she wouldn't let him in on her fears. But at the same time, he had been too rigid, too quick to dismiss what she was going through. He knew he should go up, but he hesitated, letting the minutes slip by. When he finally heard the water shut off, he waited a bit longer, giving her time to dry off and change into something comfortable before he made his way up.

As he reached the bedroom, he paused in the doorway. Taylor was already under the covers, a book open in her hands. Her hair was damp and curly, and he noticed the way she held herself, tense, as if bracing for another argument. He crossed the room quietly, slipping into their walk-in closet to change. He considered not sleeping in their bed tonight but he quickly dismissed it. He didn't want to dig in deeper, didn't want to give up any chance of making things right between them tonight.

When he emerged, he noticed her still reading, though her eyes seemed unfocused, like she was somewhere else entirely. He cleared his throat softly. "Do you want me to turn the light lower for you?" he offered, trying to sound casual, even though his heart was racing with unease.

Taylor barely glanced up from her book, her voice clipped but quiet. "Yes, I have a headache." She hated how cold her words came out, but the exhaustion from their fight had sucked her of any warmth. She didn't want to snap at him, didn't want to keep this tension alive, but she also couldn't seem to let down her guard.

Travis nodded, turning the light down, and then got under the covers beside her, leaving just enough space between them. He laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling fan, wondering how everything between them had gotten so complicated. The silence stretched on, heavy and uncomfortable, like a wall neither of them knew how to break down.

Taylor tried to focus on her book, but after a few minutes, she gave up, setting it aside with a sigh. She turned onto her side, facing away from Travis, but found no comfort there. She shifted again, rolling onto her other side, the ache in her head only getting worse. She hated how aware she was of the empty space between them, a space that never used to exist. Her head throbbed, and every time she managed to settle into a somewhat comfortable position, another wave of unease washed over her, forcing her back awake. Eventually, she gave in to the restless feeling, slipping out of bed to make her way to the bathroom. The cool tile against her feet offered a small distraction, but even that wasn't enough to settle the spinning thoughts. She splashed water on her face and took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. It didn't help much. She made her way back to bed, hoping the exhaustion would finally win, but sleep still felt like a distant possibility.