Wildest Dreams - A Taylor Swift Adoption Fanfiction

Chapter 28: The Tree House

Author's note: You guys get an extra chapter today becaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaause... I finished it. Actually wrote the words THE END. 2 more chapters to go and we're done ;) I've had this whole story in my brain for MONTHS and multiple versions ready haha and now it feels surreal that it's almost overrrr ;( 

ALSO I completed NaNoWriMo early because this is officially a 50k word book hehe <3 

I wake up with Taylor holding me, immediately sensing something's wrong. She must've moved me when I was knocked out because we're in the guest room. The house feels tense, voices carrying from downstairs despite obvious attempts to be quiet.

"Absolutely not," I hear Tree snap. "Delete every copy. Now. Or I swear to god-"

"Already handled," Blake's voice, tight with anger. "Selena's team is-"

"Not good enough. I want it buried so deep-"

Taylor's arms tighten around me as I stir. "Morning, baby."

"What's happening?" I ask, already feeling panic rise. "What did he..."

"Nothing for you to worry about," she says too quickly. "How about breakfast? Mom's making your favorite-"

"Taylor." My voice shakes. "Please don't... don't lie to me. He did the interview, didn't he?"

Before she can answer, Andrea bursts in with forced cheerfulness. "Who wants pancakes? I've got chocolate chip, blueberry, even those fancy French ones you like-"

"Grandma," I cut her off. "Just... tell me."

"Tell you what, sweetheart? That I finally perfected my crepe recipe? Or maybe you'd like to hear about-"

"GUYS!" Sabrina's voice booms from downstairs. "CODE RED. IT'S TRENDING ON-"

Several people shush her at once.

"Real subtle," I mutter, but my hands are shaking. "Just... just tell me how bad..."

"Nope!" Tree appears in the doorway, looking suspiciously well-put-together for what's clearly been a crisis morning. "No news, no social media, no-"

"Tree.."

"Actually," she continues loudly, "I was thinking we could all go have a walk somewhere nice?"

"Or shopping!" Blake adds, appearing behind Tree. "Retail therapy is totally valid-"

"Or we could-" Andrea starts.

"STOP." My voice cracks. "Just... please stop pretending everything's okay when it's obviously not."

Taylor pulls me closer as I start to shake. "Baby..."

"He did it, didn't he?" I whisper. "The interview. He... he told them that I'm a thief. That I was trouble at the orphanage."

The silence is answer enough.

"Everyone knows," I choke out.

"No," Taylor says fiercely. "Look at me."

I look up, finding her eyes fierce through her tears.

"You are not trouble," she says. "You are brave and strong and perfect and-"

"And currently trending on Twitter," Austin calls from downstairs, followed by the distinct sound of someone - probably Scott - hitting him.

"Not helping!" several voices shout.

"Actually," I manage a weak smile, "Austin's the only one being honest right now."

"Hey!" Tree protests. "I'm honest! I'm just... selectively informative."

The protective chaos only escalates as the day goes on. Every time I move, someone's there - hovering, watching, trying to distract me.