So High School - Tayvis One Shots

19: The Weight of the World

It had been a typical practice day for the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The crisp, late afternoon air filled with the sounds of clashing pads and distant shouts from the field. Inside the locker room, the mood was light, as usual, as the players wrapped up their day. Travis Kelce, ever the heart of the team, sat on a bench in front of his locker, wiping the sweat from his brow with a towel. He could hear the chatter and laughter from his teammates as they replayed some of the day's most memorable plays.

Travis leaned back, pulling out his phone to send a quick text to Taylor, something small to let her know he was thinking about her, but a hint of worry tugged at his gut. Lately, Taylor had been a bit quieter than normal. She wasn't distant, but something was off. The weight of their public relationship had started to take its toll, and he could feel it. Though she tried to keep it to herself, Travis knew her well enough to see the cracks beneath her normally strong, composed exterior.

As he swiped to open a message, thinking of something cute or funny to send, Coach Andy Reid stepped into the locker room, his usual jovial demeanor tinged with a subtle seriousness. He scanned the room, his eyes landing on the group of sweaty, joking players.

"Everyone decent?" Coach Reid asked, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of urgency that immediately caught Travis's attention.

There was the usual round of locker room banter—guys calling out half-jokes, "More or less!" and "Depends, Coach, are we being graded on decency?"—but Coach Reid didn't laugh, nor did his expression change. His gaze shifted directly to Travis.

"Kelce," Coach said, his tone quieter now, more deliberate. "You've got someone special here waiting for you."

At first, Travis didn't quite understand, and his mind immediately jumped to excitement—Taylor? She was here? A smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth, but Coach Reid's next words stopped him cold.

"It's Taylor, but son... something's wrong."

Travis's heart skipped a beat, and he stood up from the bench, his towel forgotten. "Where is she?" he asked, his voice already laced with concern.

"She's outside," Coach Reid said, glancing toward the entrance of the locker room. "I found her sitting alone by the entrance, and... she's crying. She hasn't said much, just... seems like she's been like that for a while. Quiet."

Travis's chest tightened. Taylor. Crying. He didn't need to hear any more. His entire body was already in motion, moving toward the exit of the locker room.

"Hold up, Kelce," Coach called after him, stepping forward and blocking his path for just a moment. "Let me check the room."

Coach Reid, always protective of his players, gave a quick glance around the locker room, making sure no one was half-dressed or in any state that would be too awkward for Taylor to walk into. The last thing they needed was more media frenzy around an already delicate situation. Satisfied that the room was decent, Coach gave Travis a nod.

"All good," he said, stepping aside. "Go get her."

Travis didn't waste a second. His pulse was racing as he hurried down the hallway, his mind running through every possible scenario. What could have happened? Why hadn't she called? Why was she crying? He could feel the dread rising in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. She needed him right now, and nothing mattered more than being there for her.

As he rounded the corner, he saw her.

Taylor was sitting on a small bench near the entrance, her head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked like a shadow of her usual vibrant self. Her sunglasses were perched loosely on her head, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Her oversized sweater hung loosely on her frame, giving her a vulnerable, almost fragile appearance. The moment Travis saw her, his heart shattered.