the alchemy | Taylor Swift x OC

10

Bailee woke up the next morning to an eerie of silence. The side of the bed where Taylor had been was empty, her pillow cold. A sinking feeling settled into Bailee's stomach, but she pushed it aside, assuming Taylor had gone to grab coffee or take a quiet morning walk.

She grabbed her phone, but instead of finding any message from Taylor, she found a cascade of missed calls and texts from Madi, headlines, and notifications. She scrolled barely able to process them all.

@ taylorswiftupdates
Taylor Swift spotted at the Austin Airport leaving Texas.

Bailee's heart skipped a beat, and she dialed Taylor's number, her hands shaking. No answer. She tried again. And again. With every unanswered call, the reality of it set in— Taylor had left without a word. She hadn't even told her.

As the weight of it hit her, memories of the previous night played back in Bailee's mind: Taylor's hand squeezing hers, the reassurance she'd given about facing everything together. She'd believed her. She'd believed Taylor was ready. But now, Taylor was gone, like a ghost that had slipped out before dawn.

Bailee clenched her phone in her hand, breathing heavily as she tried to calm herself down. "She's just scared," Bailee whispered to herself, trying to hold back the sting of hurt. "She wouldn't just... leave."

She opened the app on her phone, hesitated for a second, then tapped it. Taylor had given permission to use her location "in case of emergencies." Bailee could see Taylor in New York. Her heart pounded with resolve.

If Taylor thought she could run away from this—from her— she was wrong.

Bailee booked the first flight she could find. The entire journey felt like a blur of airport gates, coffee cups, and endless waiting. She couldn't shake the gnawing worry in her chest, but as the plane descended into New York, it solidified something stronger. Determination.

After landing, she ordered a car straight to Taylors building. The city buzzed around her as she approached, but Bailee felt a singular focus as she walked up to the security desk, introduced herself, and was buzzed up to Taylor's floor.

Standing in front of Taylor's door, took a deep breath, hoping Taylor would answer. She knocked once, then twice.

The door opened, but instead of Taylor, a man appeared, someone she didn't recognize. He looked her up and down, his face full of surprise and a touch of wariness.

"Uh, can I help you?" he asked.

Bailee's pulse raced. She could feel the words she wanted to say tumbling over each other, but all she managed was, "Is Taylor here?"

The man glanced over his shoulder as if he wasn't sure how to answer, but he nodded. "She's... here, but maybe now's not the best time."

Bailee didn't flinch. "I came a long way to see her. Please."

After a pause, he stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter. Bailee's heart pounded with every step she took, but when she turned the corner and saw Taylor standing in the living room, looking out over the New York skyline, she felt both a  flood of relief and the ache of distance Taylor had tried to put between them.

Taylor turned around in surprise. "Bailee.. you're here."

Bailee took a steadying breath, her voice gentle but firm. "Did you really think I'd let you run away like that?"

Taylor looked away, her jaw clenched. "I thought this would be easier if I just...left. Without making it messier."

Bailee moved closer, searching for her face. "Easier for who? Cause it feels pretty hard to me."

Taylor's shoulders sank. "I didn't want you to get hurt. I thought if I gave you some space you'd move on."

Bailee shook her head, her voice almost a whisper. "You don't get it, do you? I didn't come all this way because I wanted 'space.' I came because I want you. I want us to face this world, like you said we would."

For a long moment, Taylor was silent. The weight of the words hung between them, a fragile, tangible thing.

Finally Taylor took a deep breath. "I was scared, Bailee. When I saw those headlines, I panicked. All I could think about was how the world would tear us apart."

Bailee stepped closer, taking Taylor's hand in hers. "Maybe they will. But we're stronger than that, aren't we?"

Taylor looked down at their hands, then back up at Bailee, her eyes softening. "I hope so."

Bailee smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest as she felt Taylor's grip tighten. "Then let's find out together.

"Taylor, darling are you almost done talking? I want to watch a movie and maybe eat out," the guy who answered the door yelled from the kitchen.

Bailee instantly released her hands from Taylor's. "Taylor, who is that?"

"Bailee, I'm sorry."

-

A/N: Hey everyone!

Sorry for going MIA for 2 weeks, I got busy hahah.

Were you expecting this? cuz I def wasn't i fear it just happened. I WANTED DRAMA.

ANYWAYS HOPE YOU ENJOYED