The next few days settled into an awkward rhythm. The house buzzed with life—meals shared at the long dining table, lazy afternoons by the lake, and evenings filled with board games or movies that spilled over with laughter.
Taylor, 15 and stuck in that strange space between childhood and something more, found herself watching Travis differently. He was 17, tall, and confident in a way that sometimes made her feel small and unsure. He wasn't loud all the time, but he had this energy that filled every room he entered, an ease with people that she envied.
She kept her distance when she could, but their paths seemed to cross no matter how hard she tried.
---
It was late one evening when the family decided to make s'mores by the firepit. Taylor sat on the edge of the circle, holding a perfectly toasted marshmallow on her stick, her legs tucked beneath her. Travis was sprawled on a nearby log, tossing twigs into the flames.
"Taylor," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the low murmur of conversation.
She looked up, startled. "What?"
"Remember that summer when you tried to climb the dock railing and fell straight into the lake?" His grin was wide, his tone teasing.
Her cheeks flushed instantly. "I was seven. That doesn't count."
"Oh, it counts," he replied, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "You had this whole speech about how you didn't need help. And then—splash."
Laughter rippled through the group, and Taylor's embarrassment deepened. "I'd like to see you do better at seven," she muttered, trying to glare at him.
Travis just laughed, the sound warm and easy. "Relax, Swift. It's a compliment—you were fearless back then."
Taylor blinked, caught off guard. The teasing edge in his voice had softened, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
"Still am," she said finally, tilting her chin up.
He smirked, tossing another twig into the fire. "We'll see about that."
---
Later that night, the fire had burned low, and most of the family had wandered back inside. Taylor stayed behind, staring into the embers. She liked the quiet, the way the night felt so much bigger than her.
She didn't notice Travis until he sat down beside her, his presence unsettling in its closeness.
"Still fearless, huh?" he said, his tone playful but quieter now.
She glanced at him, unsure of what to say. "What do you want, Travis?"
"Nothing," he said, leaning back on his hands. "Just thought you could use some company. You're always sneaking off by yourself."
"I like being alone," she replied quickly, though the words felt less convincing when she said them.
"Yeah, I've noticed," he said, looking at her with an unreadable expression. "Why is that?"
She frowned, annoyed by his question. "Why do you care?"
He shrugged, but there was something sincere in his voice when he spoke again. "I don't know. Maybe because you're Austin's sister. Maybe because you're not as fearless as you pretend to be."
The words hit harder than she expected, and she turned to glare at him. "You don't know anything about me."
He met her gaze, steady and unflinching. "Maybe not. But I'd like to."
YOU ARE READING
Sunsets and Second chances (a short Tayvis Story)
Fiksi Penggemar**Summary:** Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have known each other their entire lives. Travis, Austin's best friend and Taylor's older brother, spent much of his childhood at their house, playing football in their backyard and raiding their fridge wit...
