Tayvis One-Shots

jumping into a lake

Travis's POV

The night air was warm, the kind of perfect September night that felt like a little gift after a long summer. We'd managed to sneak out to a quiet spot along the lakefront, away from the bustling crowd that seemed to follow Taylor wherever she went. Tonight, it was just the two of us, and for the first time in a while, I could actually hear myself think.

Taylor stood at the edge of the pier, looking out at the water, her hair catching the breeze. She glanced back at me with that familiar spark in her eyes, the kind that told me she was about to say something I probably wasn't ready for.

"Ever jumped in with all your clothes on?" she asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

I raised an eyebrow, my heart giving an unexpected jolt. "You serious?"

She shrugged, still grinning. "Why not? Haven't you ever done something totally spontaneous?"

"Oh, I'm spontaneous," I said, crossing my arms. "But I usually keep my shoes dry in the process."

She laughed, and it was a sound that felt like it filled the whole night. "Where's the fun in that?"

Before I could respond, she was already kicking off her shoes, setting them on the pier beside her with an air of total confidence. She looked back at me, one eyebrow raised as if daring me to stop her. I knew that look all too well.

"Fine, fine," I said, holding my hands up in surrender. "But if you get cold, don't come crying to me."

With a final, playful wink, she took a few quick steps forward and leapt off the edge, disappearing into the dark water below. A splash echoed through the quiet night, followed by a burst of laughter as she surfaced, shaking water from her face.

"Your turn!" she called, her voice bright with laughter. She looked like a kid again, carefree and full of life, and for a moment, I forgot about everything that came with our crazy lives.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, kicking off my shoes and rolling my eyes as I stepped up to the edge. I took a deep breath, and then jumped, the cold shock of the water hitting me as I plunged down beside her. When I surfaced, I was met with her laughter again, and I couldn't help but join in.

"See? Isn't this better than just sitting on the pier?" she teased, splashing a little water in my direction.

"Better?" I asked, splashing her back, grinning. "We could've watched the stars without getting soaked."

"Where's your sense of adventure?" she countered, still laughing. "Life's too short to stay dry."

We drifted a little, treading water, the quiet of the lake surrounding us. The city lights reflected off the water's surface, casting a soft glow over everything, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only people in the world. She was close enough that I could see the water beading along her face, the way her eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and something deeper.

"So, what would you be doing right now if you weren't, you know, you?" I asked, not even sure why the question came out.

She tilted her head, thinking about it, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'd probably be somewhere like this," she said softly, glancing up at the stars. "Writing songs, maybe. Just...somewhere I could breathe."

I nodded, feeling that weight that sometimes came with being in her orbit. She made everything look so effortless, but moments like this reminded me there was so much more going on under the surface.

"What about you?" she asked, her voice softer now. "If you weren't you, what would you be doing?"

I thought about it, looking out over the water. "Probably the same thing. I can't imagine not playing football."

She smiled at that. "It's part of you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, guess it is." I glanced over at her, feeling that familiar rush of warmth I got whenever she looked at me like that—like I was more than just some guy chasing a ball on a field. "But I didn't expect to be here, in this moment, with you. That's something I never saw coming."

She tilted her head, her eyes meeting mine in a way that made everything else fade. "Sometimes the best things are the ones you don't see coming."

We drifted closer, her hand brushing mine under the water. It was a small, simple touch, but it felt like it held a thousand unspoken things. I reached out, catching her hand, and the way her fingers laced through mine felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"I'm glad it's you," I murmured, not even fully sure what I meant. But I knew it was true.

She smiled, her eyes softening, and she squeezed my hand, the silence between us comfortable, peaceful. We floated like that for a while, just holding onto each other, letting the world go on without us.

Eventually, we made our way back to the pier, climbing out and settling on the edge, our clothes dripping onto the weathered wood. She shivered a little, and I put my arm around her, pulling her close.

"See?" I teased, "Told you you'd be cold."

She laughed, leaning into me, her head resting on my shoulder. "Yeah, but it was worth it."

We sat like that for a while, just watching the lights on the water, listening to the quiet sounds of the night. It was one of those moments that felt like it was outside of time, like something we'd look back on years from now, a memory we'd hold onto no matter what came next.

"I could stay here all night," she murmured after a while, her voice soft and content.

"Me too," I replied, meaning every word.

i know this one is short but whatever at least i'm writing yk