Call It What You Want - a Taylor Swift Story

Part 12

Taylor POV:

I drove back to my house, the weight of my conversation with Lila's mom lingering in the air like a heavy fog. My heart raced, and I could feel a mix of relief and apprehension bubbling inside me. I knew I had made some progress, but the road ahead was still steep.

As I pulled into the driveway, I spotted Lila sitting on the porch, her legs swinging as she doodled in her sketchbook. The sight of her brought a smile to my face. She looked so at peace, and it reminded me why I had stepped into this whirlwind in the first place.

"Hey, Lila!" I called, hopping out of the car. She looked up, her face lighting up with a smile that melted my heart.

"Did you talk to my mommy?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"I did," I said, walking over and sitting beside her on the steps. "It was... interesting."

"Interesting how?" she pressed, her little brow furrowing.

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Your mom loves you a lot, Lila. But sometimes, it's hard for parents to see what their kids really need, especially when they're feeling overwhelmed."

Lila nodded, her gaze drifting to the ground. "Do you think she'll let me stay with you more?"

"I hope so," I said, brushing my fingers through her hair. "I want to help you, and I want your mom to feel comfortable with that too. We'll make it work together, okay?"

She looked up at me, her expression earnest. "Okay. I really like it here. It feels safe."

My heart swelled. "I'm so glad to hear that. And I want to keep building that safe space for you."

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, I decided it was time for a little distraction. "How about we have a movie night? Just us two! We can pick a movie and order pizza."

"Yay! Can we get pepperoni?" she asked, her excitement bubbling over.

"Of course! I'll even throw in some extra cheese," I replied with a grin.

We rushed inside to grab the remote and search for the perfect movie. I loved these moments with her, where it felt like we were just two people enjoying life, free from the chaos of the outside world. I ordered the pizza and set everything up, my heart feeling light.

Once the pizza arrived, we settled on the couch, a pile of blankets draped over us. As the movie played, I glanced over at Lila, who was completely engrossed. She giggled at the funny parts and gasped during the exciting scenes. It was a simple moment, but it was everything I had hoped for.

After the movie ended, I turned to her. "Lila, I know this whole situation is a little strange, but I want you to know you can talk to me about anything."

She looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Will my mom really let me stay more often? Like, for good?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted, my heart aching a little. "But I'm going to do everything I can to help make that happen. I want you to feel safe and happy."

Lila nodded slowly, her brow furrowing as if she were weighing my words. "Can we do something special tomorrow? Like go to the park again?"

"That sounds perfect!" I replied, thrilled by her enthusiasm. "Maybe we can invite some of your new friends from the music video too!"

Her eyes brightened. "Yes! That would be so much fun!"

As we talked about our plans, I felt a surge of determination. I wanted to show Lila that she wasn't alone in this. I knew I had to take action, not just for her but for all the kids who might be going through similar struggles.