When Worlds Collide

When the Lights Go Dark

We arrived at the same time as the school bus, and I could already see all the people waiting outside. I felt a wave of nerves wash over me. Our driver opened the door for both of us, and as I stepped out, the cameras immediately turned toward me. The crowd started to murmur in amazement, but when they saw Travis step out behind me, some began to scream with excitement.

Travis took my hand and gave me a warm smile. I felt a sense of calm knowing he was by my side his presence was grounding, making me feel less anxious. Together, we walked up to the suite reserved by the school, and soon enough, some of the students started to make their way up to our section as well. Fans lined the edges of the suite, calling out to me, asking for photos. I politely agreed, posing for each one, until I finally took a seat. The game would begin shortly.

"And today, we have the honor of being visited by none other than the global superstar Taylor Swift!" the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium.

 My face appeared on the big screen, and the entire stadium erupted in applause. The crowd was cheering wildly as I smiled and gave a small wave to the camera.

"Taylor, could we get an interview with you?" a young woman from the suite next to ours asked me eagerly.

"Of course, come on over!" I replied, nodding with a smile. It didn't take long for her and a cameraman to make their way over to us. The cameraman adjusted the lens on me, and once again, I was up on the big screen for everyone to see.

"Taylor, what brings you here today?" she asked, holding the microphone up to me.

"I'm here with Greenfield High School," I explained, glancing at the students nearby. "This is the school where I'm currently working on a music project."

"Wonderful! Some sources told us that the project was originally only supposed to last a week but has since been extended. Is that true?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

I nodded. "Yes, that's true."

"Can you tell us why?" she pressed, leaning forward slightly.

"No,  I'm keeping that part a surprise," I teased, smiling playfully into the camera. "Keep your eyes open, and you might find out sooner than you think."

"Ooh, Taylor, you're keeping us all on our toes!" she laughed. "Tell us, do you think your students enjoy working with you?"

"I certainly hope so!" I chuckled. "So far, no complaints at least none that I've heard of! We're all having a great time together."

"Good to hear!" she responded with a grin. "And may I ask, who's the handsome gentleman sitting here beside you?" She gestured to Travis, and the camera shifted over to him.

I looked at Travis, who gave me a small nod, signaling that I could share our relationship with everyone.

"This handsome man right here is Travis," I said, my voice a bit softer. "He's my... boyfriend."

The crowd erupted in applause again, a warm wave of excitement and acceptance spreading through the stadium. It was heartwarming to see him welcomed by my fans so openly.

"Oh, how wonderful to hear! Well, I hope you both enjoy the game!" she said, beaming at us.

I smiled back and thanked her, and then they moved back to the other suite. Travis wrapped his arm around my waist and leaned in to whisper in my ear, "Now the whole world finally knows who you belong to."

I giggled softly, feeling a mix of excitement and warmth. He lifted his head, our eyes meeting, and I felt myself drawn to him. I closed the small space between us, and we shared a gentle, loving kiss. It wasn't long or intense we were still in public, after all, with hundreds of cameras and so many students around us. But it was perfect a sweet, quiet moment in the midst of all the noise.

The  match had started, and the crowd was fully immersed in the game. I'd never watched or been involved with tennis before, so I had no clue about the rules. But Travis explained them to me bit by bit throughout the match, his voice calm and patient.

 It was thrilling to watch the game unfold, feeling the energy of the crowd as they erupted with excitement each time a player scored a point. The atmosphere was electric, each cheer like a wave of adrenaline sweeping through the stadium.

Tory stood close by, occasionally chatting with us between plays. She'd already found a place in my heart I'd grown so fond of her in such a short time. Teachers always say they don't have favorite students, but now I know that's a little white lie. I've found my favorite student, and she's right here.

 At some point, Tory excused herself, mentioning that she needed to go to the restroom. She gave us a quick smile before slipping through the crowd, leaving Travis and me alone for a moment. 

 After a while, I started to feel thirsty.

"Babe, I'm just going to grab a drink," I whispered to Travis. He nodded, giving me a warm smile, and I made my way over to the bar in our suite. It was convenient having a private bar here, allowing me to grab a drink without the noise and chaos outside. I asked the bartender for water, and he stepped away to fetch it for me.

Suddenly, I felt a strong, unyielding grip close around my neck, cutting off my air. My skin tightened under the pressure, as if a vise had clamped down around my throat. The fingers dug in, sharp and unrelenting, and I could barely inhale it was as if an invisible force trapped my breath deep in my chest. A dull, pounding ache spread through my head, and my vision began to blur, dark shadows dancing before my eyes.

"You manipulated him... you took him from me! Everything was perfect, and then you came along!" A familiar voice hissed close to my ear.

My vision grew more distorted, each second making it harder to see as the air dwindled from my lungs. I recognized that voice.

Sophie.

 Her words, bitter and filled with anger, pierced through the fog of pain. Her grip tightened as she spoke, her fingers like steel cutting into my skin. She cursed me, furious, accusing me of stealing Travis, of ruining what she thought was perfect.

Just when I thought I couldn't hold on any longer, her hand suddenly released me. I collapsed onto the ground, my vision almost entirely black, my body weak and drained. The last thing I heard before slipping into darkness was a panicked voice calling my name

"Miss Swift!" Tory's voice echoed, filled with alarm.

And then, everything went silent.....

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I HATE SOPHIE!! 

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'm just as excited as you are to see where the story goes next. Apologies for the longer wait between updates—I appreciate your patience! See u in the next chapter!