Call It What You Want - a Taylor Swift Story

Part 14

Taylo'r POV:
A week had passed since I last saw Lila, and it felt like an eternity. Each day blurred into the next, filled with rehearsals and meetings, but my mind was consumed by thoughts of her. I replayed our last conversation over and over, wishing I could see her smile or hear her laughter again.

I sat in my living room, surrounded by empty coffee cups and half-finished lyrics. The soft glow of the afternoon sun barely cut through the heaviness weighing on my chest. I needed to do something—anything—but I felt utterly helpless.

Just then, Tree walked in, her expression a mix of concern and playful sarcasm. "You're still here? I thought you'd be out saving the world by now," she teased, arms crossed.

"Real funny," I replied, still focused on my phone.

"You can't just stay locked in here, you know." Tree replied.

I finally looked up, my frustration bubbling over. "What do you want me to do, Tree? Just sit back and relax while I wait for Lila to magically reappear? It's been a week! A week of silence. What if something's wrong?"

"Okay, let's unpack that," she said, her tone shifting slightly. "You're jumping to conclusions. Just because she hasn't been in touch doesn't mean she's in danger. Maybe she's just... living her life."

"Right, because kids just take vacations and forget about their lives," I snapped. "You're telling me I should just chill while she's probably stuck in that awful house, feeling alone and scared?"

"Or maybe she's actually with her grandmother, learning how to bake cookies or something," Tree countered, her voice laced with sarcasm. "You ever think about that?"

I crossed my arms, feeling my irritation simmer. "Great. I hope she's having the time of her life while I'm here, ready to implode."

Tree sighed, pushing off the doorframe and coming closer. "Look, I get it. You care about her. But spiraling like this isn't going to help anyone, least of all Lila. You're not her savior, Taylor."

"Thanks for the reminder," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I forgot that I'm just a pop star who shouldn't care about a kid's well-being. Silly me."

"I'm not saying that!" she exclaimed, exasperation finally creeping into her tone. "What I'm saying is you can't control everything. You can't just swoop in and fix it all, no matter how much you want to. Sometimes, the best thing to do is wait."

"Wait? Just sit here and hope for the best? That sounds like a winning strategy," I retorted, my emotions boiling over. "What if waiting means I lose her? What if I'm too late?"

Tree's expression softened, and she leaned in, her voice more serious. "You won't lose her, Taylor. You care about her, and that matters. Just because she isn't around doesn't mean she doesn't feel your support. Kids remember that stuff."

I shook my head, my thoughts racing. "But I can't help her if I can't be there. It's driving me crazy!"

"Then maybe it's time to focus on something else," she suggested, her tone gentler now. "Channel that energy into your music, or into some kind of outreach for kids. Be proactive instead of reactive."

"Outreach? Like, start a charity for neglected children?" I scoffed, though part of me found the idea appealing. "What am I supposed to do, put on a glittery cape and become 'Super Taylor'?"

"Why not? If it helps you feel better and gives kids a safe space, I think it's a fabulous idea," Tree replied, a teasing smile on her face. "Besides, you'd look great in a cape."

I couldn't help but chuckle, the tension breaking just a little. "Okay, maybe I'd rock a cape. But seriously, what if she needs me now? I can't just sit around like some damsel in distress waiting for the prince to come rescue her."