When Worlds Collide

Welcome To New York

Travis:

Taylor had been working with the students for weeks on this project, helping them write a song during their sessions at the school. Now, we were flying to New York to record it in a professional studio. Watching her passion for this project had been incredible.

The car ride to the airport was quiet at first, just the two of us in the back seat while her chauffeur drove. Taylor had her notebook open, skimming over the lyrics. Her lips moved silently, as if she were rehearsing the words. I couldn't help but smile.

"You've read that a hundred times, haven't you?" I teased.

She glanced at me, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Maybe. I just want it to be perfect."

"It already is," I said. "You've taught them something most people don't get to experience, how to turn their emotions into music. That's huge, Tay."

She sighed, closing the notebook and leaning back against the seat. "I hope so. They've worked so hard on this. They deserve it to be special."

"It will be," I assured her. Then, with a grin, I added, "Especially if you keep that stress level down. I mean, I'm here to help if you need a distraction."

She laughed, and for a moment, the tension melted away. She reached over, her hand brushing mine. "You're already doing that. Thank you for coming."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," I said sincerely, and for a moment, it was just us, the hum of the car, and the quiet anticipation of what lay ahead.

When we pulled up to the private terminal, the energy shifted instantly. The students were already gathered, buzzing with excitement. Tory, spotted us first and waved enthusiastically.

"Miss Swift! Mr. Kelce!" she called out, practically bouncing on her toes.

"Hey, everyone!" Taylor said, stepping out of the car with a warm smile. "How's everyone feeling? Ready for New York?"

"YES!" came the unanimous response, a mix of cheers and laughter.

I followed Taylor, giving the kids a casual wave. "Alright. Who's ready to make some music history?"

Tory's hand shot up. "We are!" she said confidently, earning laughs from her friends.

Taylor walked over to the group, her presence instantly grounding their excited chatter.

 "Okay, this is a big day," she said, her tone kind but serious. "You've all worked so hard on this song, and today is about celebrating that. But more importantly, it's about having fun. The studio is a place to explore, experiment, and bring your ideas to life. Got it?"

They nodded eagerly.

As we moved inside the terminal to wait for the plane, I hung back a little, watching her interact with them. She had a way of making everyone feel seen, and I could tell how much this project meant to her.

"Hey, Mr. Kelce," Tory said, sidling up beside me. "Do you think the studio will be as cool as it looks in the photos?"

"Better," I replied, grinning. "You'll see. It's like stepping into a whole new world."

Her eyes widened. "Whoa. That sounds awesome."

"It is. And you're going to crush it," I said, giving her a playful nudge.

Once the jet was ready, we boarded. Taylor and I took seats next to each other near the front, while the kids settled into a row behind us. The jet was sleek and comfortable, with soft leather seats and windows that offered breathtaking views of the sky.