Taylor Swift and Tree Paine Oneshots

SPRITE

TW: Mentions of anorexia, ED (ARFID)

Tree had always been concerned about Taylor. In the whirlwind of fame, touring, and public appearances, Taylor's health was something Tree kept an eye on—often more than Taylor seemed to care about herself. Recently, though, Tree couldn't shake the nagging worry that something was wrong.

It had started with the small things. Taylor skipping meals during meetings, brushing off suggestions to grab food with a quick, "I'm not hungry." Tree had never once seen Taylor eat during work hours, and now that she thought about it, she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her eat at all.

One afternoon, Tree finally decided to bring it up while they were sitting in Taylor's living room, going over schedules.

"Taylor," Tree began, trying to keep her tone light, "can I ask you something?"

Taylor looked up from her laptop, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, what's up?"

Tree hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I've noticed you don't really eat much—if at all. I'm worried about you."

Taylor froze for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Tree..."

"I know this isn't an easy thing to talk about," Tree pressed, "but if you're struggling with something like... anorexia, you don't have to go through it alone. We can get you help."

Taylor blinked at her, clearly taken aback. "Anorexia? Tree, no, that's not it."

"Then what is it?" Tree asked, leaning forward. "Because from where I'm sitting, it sure looks like you're not taking care of yourself."

Taylor hesitated again, fidgeting with the hem of her oversized hoodie. "Okay, fine. I do have an eating disorder, but it's not what you think."

Tree's heart sank. The confirmation was worse than she'd expected. "Taylor, this is serious. You need proper nutrition. Your body can't function without it."

Taylor sighed again, standing up and walking toward the kitchen. "Tree, come here. I'll show you."

Confused but curious, Tree followed Taylor into the kitchen. Taylor opened the fridge, and Tree's jaw dropped. The fridge was nearly empty except for one thing: row after row of Sprite bottles, lined up perfectly like soldiers.

"What...?" Tree stared at the sight, baffled. "Why do you have so much Sprite? And nothing else? That makes no sense."

Taylor shrugged, grabbing one of the bottles and twisting off the cap. "Because this is what I live off of."

"Sprite?" Tree repeated, dumbfounded. "That's all you drink?"

Taylor nodded, taking a sip. "Yup. It's my safe food—well, drink."

Tree rubbed her temples. "Taylor, I'm even more confused now. You just admitted you have an eating disorder, and now you're telling me you're living off soda? This doesn't add up."

Taylor leaned against the counter, holding the Sprite loosely in her hand. "I have ARFID. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It's not anorexia, Tree. I'm not avoiding food because I want to lose weight or because I'm scared of gaining weight. I avoid it because most foods are overwhelming—textures, smells, tastes. It's a sensory thing. Sprite is one of the only things that doesn't freak me out."

Tree blinked at her, trying to process this new information. "Wait... so you're not starving yourself?"

Taylor shook her head. "Nope. And before you freak out about nutrition or whatever, I add specialized nutrition packets to my Sprite. It has everything I need—vitamins, minerals, protein, calories, the works. I worked with a dietitian to make sure I'm covered."

Tree glanced back at the fridge, still baffled. "So... you're telling me that you've been surviving off Sprite and powdered nutrients?"

"Pretty much," Taylor said with a small, amused smile. "It works for me. I've been doing this since I was a teenager."

Tree stared at her, utterly at a loss for words. "Taylor, this is the weirdest thing I've ever heard. You're telling me you have an eating disorder, but you're also telling me you're fine?"

Taylor chuckled softly, taking another sip of Sprite. "Pretty much, yeah. I mean, it's not ideal, but it's manageable. I've got it under control."

Tree shook her head, still struggling to wrap her mind around it. "I don't even know what to say."

Taylor grinned. "You could say, 'Wow, Taylor, you're so resourceful. I'm so proud of you for figuring out a way to handle this.'"

Tree shot her a look. "Don't push it, Swift."

Taylor laughed, setting her bottle on the counter. "Seriously, Tree. I appreciate you worrying about me, but I promise, I've got this handled."

Tree sighed, looking at her friend with a mix of exasperation and relief. "Fine. But I'm keeping an eye on you, just in case."

Taylor raised her bottle in a mock toast. "Deal. Now, want one? I've got plenty."

Tree rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Taylor quipped.