Wildest Dreams - A Taylor Swift Adoption Fanfiction

Chapter 17: (not) Family Friendly

Author's note: I love whenever someone says 'absolutely not' LOL I just realized I write it a lot hahaha

Moments later, we're sitting in the VIP section of the venue. Tree has all exit points mapped out. I should roll my eyes at all her protectiveness but I can't help being completely mesmerized.

The lights dim and my heart rate picks up, but for once it's not from panic. The crowd's energy is electric, building and building until...

Taylor appears on stage and holy shit.

This isn't the woman who stress bakes at 3 AM, trauma dumps with me on her kitchen floor, and lets her cats judge her life choices. This is...

"She's something else, isn't she?" Sabrina whispers, grinning at my probably ridiculous expression.

I can barely nod. Taylor commands the entire arena like she was born for it, her voice filling every corner. The audience moves in unison, thousands of people connected by something I can't quite name.

"This is crazy," I breathe out, unable to look away as she launches into a song about being enchanted to meet someone.

"Just wait," Tree murmurs, looking proud. "She hasn't even started yet."

The lights dance across Taylor's sequined dress as she moves across the stage, each gesture deliberate and powerful. I can't stop staring, can't quite make sense that this is the same woman who trauma bonded with me on her kitchen floor and stress baked cookies.

"Close your mouth, mini me," Sabrina teases, nudging my shoulder.

"Shut up," I mutter, but I can feel my cheeks heating up. "I just... didn't know she could do that."

"What, be a global superstar?" Sabrina grins. "Yeah. She's THE music industry."

Taylor catches my eye from the stage and her whole face lights up, making my chest do something weird and fluttery. She doesn't miss a beat of the song, but her smile gets softer, more private - like we're sharing a secret across the sea of people between us.

"God, you two are disgusting," Sabrina announces, but she's smiling. "Look at her getting all mom soft just from seeing you."

"She is not," I protest automatically, even as Taylor sneaks another glance our way.

"Please." Tree doesn't look up from her phone but her voice is fond. "She's been working this side of the stage extra hard just to keep you in view."

"Has not." But I can't help noticing how Taylor seems to gravitate toward our section, finding excuses to move closer even as she works the whole crowd.

"You know," Sabrina says casually, "the songs she sings... about being enchanted to meet you, never growing up, long live,... those are all chosen for you babe."

Something thick lodges in my throat. "That's... that's just coincidence."

"Sure it is, sparkles." Sabrina bumps my shoulder again. "Just like it's coincidence that she keeps looking over here like she's making sure you're still breathing."

I smirk, "what happens if I pretend to faint right now?"

Tree immediately cuts in, "you are NOT doing that if you actually want to stay alive."

I stick my tongue at her and focus all my attention on Taylor. Deep down, there's something else. Something I've never felt before. Something close to safe.

And as I stare at Taylor, watching her pour everything into this performance, I realize maybe this isn't just her world. Maybe, somehow, it's mine too.

The second the show ends, my anxiety spikes. Taylor's not backstage and suddenly my chest feels tight. Too many people rushing around, too much noise, too much everything.