Pitch Perfect Harmony

Optimism vs Realism

Taylor woke up to the news of the first paparazzi pictures that had made it out of her Rhode Island home. She put her phone down again and got up with a sigh. Travis had left the bed already and she assumed that they all were already having breakfast downstairs. So she made her way downstairs too after putting on some clothes. "Good morning, sleepy head", Travis smiled when he saw her and immediately got up to kiss her. She smiled against his lips and watched him get her a coffee and pull the chair out for her. "Good morning", she greeted everyone who was already there. "I don't know if you noticed yet but we were paparazzied yesterday and some pictures got published", she explained insecurely taking the cup from Travis. Her friends knew that this happened often here but she still hated it. And Kylie and Jason were here too. She had told Travis to warn them but a warning did not help the actual problem. "They blurred the children. We knew this was likely to happen", Blake said calmly. "It's not great, of course, but it's not your fault", Kylie joined honestly. "And in case you would've wanted to know: That's on me. Taylor told me to warn you and I didn't", Travis explained to Jason and Kylie knowing that Taylor didn't like this. She didn't say anything because they were around people but she didn't understand why he didn't warn his family. She had clearly wanted them to know beforehand. Because it was not unusual for paparazzi to be around her Holiday House and she had wanted for Kylie and Jason to choose if they were okay with it. Especially because of the girls.

"A heads up would've been cool. We would still be here", Jason told his brother and Taylor couldn't help but roll her eyes at Travis. "I'm sorry. I should've told you", he repeated and took Taylor's hand under the table. After breakfast, she used the moment when they were alone in their bathroom to bring it up again. "Why didn't you tell your brother that it was very predictable that they would be photographed by paparazzi here?", she asked. "I didn't think it would actually be this direct", he explained. "I told you to warn them. Not only because of Jason and Kylie. I wanted them to be able to choose because of the girls", Taylor told him putting her toothbrush away and combing her hair now. "I didn't think it would be a problem as long as we stayed on your property", he said.

"I told you that we would get paparazzied", she repeated. "You could've just believed me", Taylor added. "You always say that. I...", he started but she interrupted him. "And was I ever wrong? Travis, I know that you don't care, and I love you for that but you can't expect your brother and Kylie to be on the same page here", she said looking at him through the mirror annoyed. "I'm sorry that I expected your private property to actually be private", he rolled his eyes. That hurt. "Surprise! I usually do that too! But I know that doesn't work here, so I told you to warn them", she repeated throwing the hairbrush into its drawer. "If this is so important to you, why didn't you just text Kylie yourself?", he asked. "Because I expect you to believe me?! Because I for once assumed that you did what I had asked you for?!", she yelled now. She was so pissed off by this. He was the one who fucked up. There was no reason for him to attack her now.

"I won't always do as you say, Taylor. I apologized to Ky and Jason. They aren't even mad. Why are we fighting now?", he asked just as pissed off as she was. There was no point in this. "Because you didn't believe me. Or you didn't care, I don't know. It's not about Kylie and your brother. It's about us", she stated. "You're making a big deal out of nothing right now", he accused her and walked back out into the bedroom. She followed him with quick angry steps. "Maybe because this is a big deal to me!", she answered. Travis sighed not knowing what to add to that anymore. "Urgh!", Taylor let out and stormed onto the balcony of their bedroom. She needed fresh air. "Look out for cameras!", he threw after her passive-aggressively and then went back downstairs immediately getting pulled away by his nieces.

Taylor stayed outside for a while. When she heared the others outside too, she knew that they really didn't seem to care too much. But that wasn't her point. She just wanted to be able to rely on Travis when she asked him something like this. Under no circumstances did she want to pull someone into her unprivate private life without them knowing. But it didn't leave her head. He expected to be private here. Well, of course, he did. It was her house on her ground. They shouldn't have to deal with paparazzi here.

"Where's Tay?", Kylie asked when she noticed that Travis was back but his girlfriend wasn't. "I don't know. Thinking, I guess", he kept it short but failed at trying to hide his frustration. "Did you fight about the paparazzi thing?", she asked silently. "Ky, I don't even know what we are fighting about", he just shrugged and concentrated back on the girls. Kaylie sighed and thought about talking to Taylor. She really wasn't mad at her. The photos weren't a big deal to her. When Taylor still wasn't there a while later, Kylie went upstairs. She met Taylor in the hallway though. "I was going to look for you. Is everything okay?", she asked kindly. She just nodded forcing a smile. "I'm really not mad about the pictures or anything. And Jason isn't either. If Travis forgot to tell us, it's no big deal", Kylie continued. Taylor sighed. "He didn't forget. He just thought it wouldn't be a problem on my property", she explained still hurt and annoyed. Kylie leaned against the wall and Taylor did the same on the opposite side before both slid down to the ground. "I just don't know why he doesn't understand. I just wanted him to tell you, he didn't. If he would've at least told me, then I could've texted you", she explained.

"But then... I mean... I would expect my own private property to be private too. I just know better by now", Taylor mumbled. "He should too. I don't think he wanted to go behind your back or anything. He's just naïve sometimes. Like... he doesn't see the bad side or the worse possibility. Jason and him. These two are some sunny-side optimists. Sometimes they have to learn the hard way", Kylie tried to mediate. "I... I know and I... usually, I love that but it's dangerous. Kids as young as your girls shouldn't have to deal with this", Taylor said. "They don't even know it happened. I don't think they truly understand the weight of their daddy's career and any of that. We start to explain it as childlike as possible but they don't have to worry about any of that yet", Kylie assured her. "It's just complicated and... really I'm just mad that he didn't tell you about my warning", Taylor came back to the first thought again. She had been spiraling like this since he had left her on the balcony.

"And then this thing about expecting my private property to actually be private... that hurt. I don't want to pull you into this but privacy is so hard for me to keep and he knows that. He should know at least. That I'm always trying so hard to keep things private", Taylor rambled on. "I know", Travis suddenly appeared next to them. The women were still sitting on the floor of the hallway leaning against opposite walls. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. This whole fight is stupid. I should've just told Kylie and maybe I was just too optimistic", he admitted making Kylie grin a little. Because of course. Taylor sighed and got up to face him. "I love your optimism but sometimes you just need to be realistic too. You know I'm trying. We're trying. But people invade my privacy all the time. The fence around the property is not where they stop", she said more calmly than earlier but still stubborn. He nodded and gently pulled her closer resting his arms around her waist. "I know we're both trying. I was unfair in saying that and I'm sorry", he apologized again.

"Whoo, happy ending! I'll leave so you can jump each other", Kylie applauded jokingly before jogging downstairs making them both laugh. "Are we good?", Travis wanted to make sure. "We are", Taylor smiled and pulled him down for a kiss. "Never lose your optimism, okay? I really need that sometimes", she told him. "I'll do my best. Now... do we go jump each other or do we go downstairs? The girls were asking for you", he explained making her chuckle. "Can't let them wait, I guess", she grinned and went to lead the way. Travis smiled about her excitement to play with the kids. She was great with them and he could watch her for hours. "You coming?", she asked. "Sure!", he quickly agreed and followed her then.