Skates & Cleats

11

October 5th rolled around, and Travis Kelce's sixteenth birthday arrived like a breath of fresh air after the whirlwind of their sophomore year. Taylor had spent weeks planning the perfect surprise for him. After all, Travis had been her biggest supporter throughout everything—her skating, the competitions, the hours spent apart—and she wanted to make sure his day was unforgettable.

The party was being held at Travis's house, and Taylor had pulled out all the stops. She'd coordinated with Jason, now a junior in high school and as protective of Travis as ever, to set up a backyard bonfire, games, and a surprise visit from some of Travis's closest friends and teammates. His football team, of course, was in on the surprise, and they were all planning to show up after their afternoon practice.

As the sun began to set over Westlake, Ohio, Taylor waited by the fire pit, feeling a little nervous. She had spent the past few days sneaking around with Jason to organize everything, and Travis had no idea what was coming. The flickering flames reflected off the smiles of their friends as they sat around in folding chairs, waiting for the guest of honor.

Travis had spent the day with his family, completely oblivious to the festivities waiting for him. When he arrived back home, he was greeted by shouts of "Surprise!" as everyone jumped out from behind the fence. The look on his face—pure shock—made all the planning worth it.

"Happy birthday!" Taylor ran over to him, laughing as he pulled her into a bear hug. "Did we get you?"

Travis's eyes sparkled as he glanced around at the scene before him. "Tay, this is insane! You did all this?"

"With some help from Jason," she grinned, nodding towards his older brother, who gave a knowing smirk.

The night was filled with laughter, football games in the backyard, and s'mores over the fire. At one point, Travis's friends started a mini tournament, and of course, he dominated, tackling his buddies into the grass with ease. Taylor sat back, watching him in his element, his smile infectious as he laughed with his teammates.

As the night wore on and the party began to wind down, Travis pulled Taylor aside. They sat near the fire pit, the embers glowing softly in the dark.

"I can't believe you did all this," Travis said, his voice quiet and filled with gratitude. "This has been the best birthday ever."

Taylor smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You deserve it, Trav. You've been so amazing through everything, always supporting me. This was the least I could do."

He turned to her, his gaze soft. "I'll always be there for you, Tay. No matter what."

Her heart swelled at his words, and they sat in comfortable silence, watching the last of the flames dance before them.

Time Jump: Taylor's 16th Birthday

By the time December 13th came around, it was Taylor's turn to celebrate her sweet sixteen. After a grueling few months of juggling school, skating, and competitions, she was looking forward to a quiet birthday. But little did she know, her family and friends had something special planned for her as well.

The day began with a low-key breakfast with her family. Her mom made pancakes, and her younger brother Austin was already bouncing off the walls, excited about the day's events. But the real surprise came later that afternoon, when Travis, Abigail, and her skating coach Bethany arrived at her house, holding a beautifully decorated cake and balloons.

"Happy birthday, Taylor!" Abigail sang as she rushed inside, nearly knocking Taylor over with a hug.

Travis was right behind her, grinning from ear to ear. "Sixteen looks good on you, Tay," he said, handing her a small, wrapped box.

Taylor opened it to find a delicate silver bracelet with a small skating charm dangling from it. Her heart melted as she looked up at him, speechless.

"I figured it'd remind you of why you're amazing—on and off the ice," he said softly.

She blinked back tears, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you, Travis. I love it."

As the day went on, the celebration was filled with laughter and cake, but the biggest surprise came just before the evening wrapped up. Bethany, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the day, asked Taylor to sit down for a moment.

"I've been holding off telling you this until today," Bethany said, her face serious but her eyes shining with pride. "Taylor, you've been selected as one of ten skaters to represent the United States in the Winter Olympics."

Taylor's heart stopped. She stared at Bethany, not sure if she'd heard correctly.

"What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You're going to the Olympics, Taylor," Bethany repeated, her smile widening. "You've earned it. The selection committee recognized your talent, and after seeing your performance at Nationals, they made their decision. It's official."

Taylor's world seemed to tilt on its axis. The Olympics? She was only sixteen! But she'd dreamed of this for as long as she could remember, and now that it was happening, it didn't feel real.

"I... I don't even know what to say," Taylor stammered, looking around at her family, Travis, and Abigail, who were all beaming at her with pride.

Travis reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You've worked so hard for this, Tay. You deserve it."

Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of what Bethany had said began to sink in. The Olympics. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and she couldn't believe it was happening to her.

Training for the Olympics

The weeks that followed Taylor's sixteenth birthday were a whirlwind. She began intense training sessions with Bethany, who pushed her harder than ever before. The Olympic training facility was in Lake Placid, and Taylor found herself traveling back and forth between Nashville and the training center, balancing school with her skating career.

It was exhausting, both physically and emotionally, but Taylor was determined. She poured everything she had into her routines, perfecting her jumps, spins, and footwork until they were flawless. Bethany introduced new elements to her choreography, raising the difficulty level and preparing her for the intense competition she would face at the Olympics.

Despite the grueling schedule, Taylor found moments of joy in the process. Abigail sent her supportive texts every day, and Travis called whenever he could, making sure to check in on her even though football season had kicked into high gear. Knowing that she had a solid support system kept her grounded during the most challenging moments of her training.

One late evening after an especially tough practice, Taylor sat in the locker room, sore and exhausted. She pulled out her phone, seeing a text from Travis:

Travis: "Keep pushing, Tay. You've got this. Can't wait to see you on that podium."

She smiled, her heart swelling with determination. She was going to make everyone proud.