When Worlds Collide

Stares and Speculations

Taylor:

The next morning, when I woke up, Travis was nowhere to be seen. A hint of disappointment crept over me. We usually woke up together, and I'd grown used to seeing his warm smile first thing. Slowly, I stretched and let myself slide out of bed. Somehow, I felt unmotivated to truly start the day. Without thinking much, I reached into his closet, pulled out one of his T-shirts, and slipped into my underwear. 

I wandered toward the kitchen, still half-asleep, and suddenly there he was. Travis, standing there shirtless, preparing breakfast. His back was to me, and just seeing him there brought a warm smile to my face. This moment felt like a little spell, one that instantly brightened my morning. Quietly, on tiptoes, I snuck up behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaned my head on his shoulder, and murmured a soft, "Good morning." For a moment, he jumped in surprise, and I had to fight back the urge to burst out laughing. But then he gently placed his hands over mine, unwrapped them from his body, and turned me so that I was facing him, pressed lightly against the kitchen counter.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said, his eyes sparkling with a playful glint. "Did you sleep well?" His voice was calm but filled with warmth. I nodded, stood on my tiptoes, and softly pressed my lips against his. His kiss was warm and tender. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me effortlessly onto the counter, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands settled on my waist, firm yet gentle. After a while, he broke the kiss and gave me a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.

We had breakfast together, laughing, talking, and just savoring those small, quiet moments between us. Afterwards, we got ready for the day. I had told my driver he didn't need to pick me up today. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary stress, and my time with Travis felt far too precious to let it slip away.

When we finally arrived at the teachers parking lot, Travis turned off the engine and looked over at me. 

"Tay, I have a question," he began. I turned to him, giving him my full attention, curious about what he had to say. "I'm not sure if you've heard, but the upperclassmen are going on a trip next Monday to watch a tennis match. I'll be going, along with a few other teachers... though I can't quite say who yet." His hand rested gently on my thigh, making my heartbeat quicken just a little. "Anyway, I'll get to the point. I was just wondering if you'd like to come along too. I think I could really use your support." His voice was soft with a hint of mischief, sending a tingle through my stomach.

I hesitated for a moment. After all, I'm still Taylor Swift, and a public event meant all eyes could be on us. Still, the thought of being there with Travis felt so right. So I nodded and agreed, my cheeks turning a light shade of pink from the excitement. Travis smiled, leaned in, and gave me a quick, sweet kiss. "Thank you," he whispered softly. Then we both got out of the car, ready for the day.

Everything seemed as usual. Travis and I walked into school together, heading to the classroom. But as soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by soft whispers and curious, sparkling eyes. It was as if every single gaze was fixed on us. Feeling slightly unnerved, I went over to my desk, placed my bag down, and leaned in close to Travis, whispering, "Why is everyone staring at us?" My voice was barely audible, but I couldn't hide the nervousness in my tone. Travis shrugged, looking just as clueless as I felt, and whispered back, "I have no idea what's going on."

Suddenly, the principal's voice echoed through the speakers: "Mr. Kelce and Miss Swift, please report to the principal's office!" The announcement rang through the classroom, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Travis and I exchanged shocked glances, and immediately, giggles spread across the room, as if our classmates already knew what was coming.

Travis acted quickly and addressed the class with a calm voice: "Alright, everyone, please be patient. Miss Swift and I will be back shortly. Please behave while we're gone." He was always composed, but I could see the tension in his gaze as we left the classroom and headed down the hallway toward the principal's office.

With a racing heart, I followed him through the corridors until we finally reached the office door. Travis knocked politely, and we were invited inside. Principal Parker was waiting for us, and he greeted us with a brief nod. "Good morning, please have a seat," he said, motioning to two chairs in front of his desk. We took our seats, both of us waiting anxiously to hear what he had to say.

"To begin with, I'm glad you're both here," Mr. Parker began, with a friendly yet serious expression. "Miss Swift, how is the project coming along? Are you making good progress?" His question caught me a bit off guard, and I tried to respond calmly.

"Very well, thank you. We've already started writing the lyrics," I replied with a small smile, feeling a hint of pride in our progress.

Mr. Parker nodded approvingly and continued, "That's good to hear. I imagine you're both wondering why I asked you to come here. I'll get straight to the point." He picked up his phone, opened a file, and turned the screen to face us.

"This picture was sent to me this morning," he said, his gaze steady.

Travis and I leaned forward, and it felt as if the world around us froze.