Castles crumbling (Taylor Swift's little sister)

Took a deep breath in the mirror (part 2) (final)

You needed to reposition, but the sobs were easing so you pulled away from Taylor a bit. You stood up and got some toilet paper to blow your nose. Taylor was shocked at the view of your ribs on your back but stood up too and accepted gratefully the paper you offered and blew her nose too.

- "I'll get dressed" you said softly, a signal for Taylor to get out and let you alone.

- "I'll just stand backwards to you; I'll look to the wall" she said and turned around.

You groaned and quickly grabbed your underwear first. You got dressed as fast as you could.

- "Ready" you whispered and waited for Taylor to open the door. She did and she let you walk first, you walked out the bathroom, through your mom's bedroom and then down the hallway towards your bedroom. Taylor was following you and when you threw yourself in your bed, she sat at your bed too.

- "What are we doing going to do?" She insisted.

- "Maybe we don't need to do anything, Tay. I feel perfectly fine, you know?" You said.

Taylor frowned but, in that moment, the front door sounded, your mom arrived.

- "I'm home girls! I brought lunch" she shouted.

You quickly stood up: - "We better go downstairs and help her. Eat before it gets cold" you said and walked out of your bedroom.

Taylor wanted to scream furiously, she hated when you were so cynical. She bit her lip, closed her eyes and breathed deep, regained calmness and stood up to follow you. When you were both downstairs Andrea knew that you had been crying.

- "What happened?" She asked worried.

You were helping her get the food out of the paper bags: - "Nothing. Did you get soy sauce for this?" She brought chicken Thai rice. You were trying to act normal.

- "Yes. It's in the other bag" she answered and looked at Taylor: - "What happened?"

- "Lizzie needs to tell you something" Taylor said, her tone flat, she appeared to be mad.

- "Let's just eat and not talk about it right now, please" you said more vulnerable. Taylor shrugged and Andrea doubtfully nodded. You all got everything ready and sat to eat. It took everything in you to eat everything and not show how anxious you were. When you were almost done, Taylor's phone buzzed with a notification. Taylor lifted and rolled her eyes.

- "What is it, darling?" Andrea asked.

- "Nothing. I forgot that Tree was coming, we need to work on a statement we were writing. She just texted me saying she was late"

- "When is she getting here?" You asked before putting another bite in your mouth.

- "10 minutes ago, she said she was going to be here in five" Taylor answered.

You nodded, relived because with Tree there, there was a distraction to avoid talking with your mom. Five minutes later she arrived, and you were 3 bites away from finishing your lunch. She greeted you and was absolutely shocked when she saw you, her jaw dropped, but immediately faked a soft smile.

You were done and asked Andrea if you could read outside, she agreed, and you both went to the backyard to read a bit. Taylor and Tree sat to work but Tree immediately questioned Taylor

- "How are you?"

- "Fine, and you?" The blonde answered.

- "I'm great, worried. Worried about you" Tree said.

- "Why? I'm fine"

- "1. You've been crying, I can tell. 2. Something's happening here, everything is so tense" Tree didn't say anything about you, she wanted to focus on Taylor right now.