tayvis ~ invisible string

first date (part 2)

taylors pov:

I could feel my heart pounding as we walked into the Italian restaurant. Travis had gone out of his way to book the VIP section, so it was just the two of us, candlelight flickering softly on the table, the city lights visible through the windows. I’d been on dates before, sure, but there was something different about this. Something about the way he looked at me, really looked at me, like he wanted to understand the person underneath the fame.

Travis held my chair out, making sure I was settled before sitting across from me. His easy smile was a comfort, and I could feel my nerves easing. As we ordered our food and started talking, I found myself laughing more, opening up in a way I hadn’t expected.

“So,” he said, taking a sip of his water, “you grew up in Pennsylvania, right? What was that like?”

I nodded, smiling at the memory. “Yeah, I did. It was really quiet, lots of woods, hills, small-town life, you know? My brother and I would spend so much time running around in the backyard. My parents were both really supportive. I’d sit in my room with my guitar, just writing songs… for hours.” I looked down, a little embarrassed by the honesty, but Travis seemed genuinely interested.

“That’s cool,” he said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table. “So, is that where the writing really started for you?”

“Yeah,” I replied, surprised he even asked. Most people didn’t care about that, they just wanted to know about my latest album or my tour schedule. But he looked at me like he wanted to know me, not just the pop star.

“What was the first song you ever wrote?” he asked, a boyish grin spreading across his face.

I laughed, covering my face with my hand. “Oh, it was so bad. I was probably twelve, and I think it was something about… well, heartbreak, obviously,” I said, rolling my eyes, “even though I’d never been in love.”

He laughed with me. “Sounds like you were always a romantic. Do you remember how it went?”

“Oh, I don’t think the world is ready for that,” I teased, feeling my cheeks warm. “But, yeah, I was definitely a romantic. Still am, I guess.”

“Good to know,” he replied with a wink that made my heart skip a beat.

There was something so easy about talking to him. He wasn’t afraid to be a little vulnerable himself, and he wasn’t asking questions out of some obligation to keep the conversation going. It felt like he really wanted to know about my life outside of the stage, the tours, the music videos. And that kind of interest, it wasn’t something I’d come across often.

“So, what about the farm?” he asked, smiling. “I heard you had a farm at one point, right?”

“Yeah!” I grinned, surprised that he knew. “My parents bought it to raise me and Austin, my brother. They don't own it anymore but most christmas's i go and visit it. It’s my getaway, you know? There’s this peace you get out there that you don’t find in the city. It’s like I can finally just… breathe. Its nice to go back to where you came from sometimes, a feeling of community and safety you dont feel anywhere else. Sure I've stayed in different places over the years but you never get that sense of community and friendliness anywhere else.”

“That sounds amazing,” he said, nodding thoughtfully. “I get that. I grew up in the Midwest, so I know that feeling, sometimes you just need space and quiet, a break from it all.  I need that sometimes, too. It’s amazing how stepping away from everything brings you back to who you really are, you know?”

Hearing him say that felt like a breath of fresh air. He really got it, in a way not many people did. It was like we’d both found something we could relate to, even though our worlds were so different.