Blurred lines in a forbidden fairytale [Taylor x OC]

{57} doc, I think she's crashing out

Taylor's POV:

The sunlight filters through the blinds as I sit at the kitchen counter, scrolling absentmindedly on my phone. Notifications stack up—comments, likes, DMs from strangers who've stumbled across my music. The album's release is still fresh, and I should feel excited. I should feel proud. But instead, I'm bracing myself against the knot of unease sitting heavy in my chest.

And then I see it.

@AuroraElise started following you.

I freeze, the notification glaring up at me like it's alive, like it knows exactly how to ruin my day. My thumb hovers over the screen for a beat too long before I swipe it away, pretending I didn't see it. I take a sip of coffee, but it's lukewarm now, bitter in a way that has nothing to do with how I made it.

"Mom! Can you help me pack my gift?" Felicia's voice snaps me out of it, cutting through my spiraling thoughts.

I push the phone face down on the counter, the screen dark. "Be right there!"

Felicia's already by the dining table, carefully wrapping a bright pink box with a bow that refuses to cooperate. Her hands are small and quick, and it hits me again how much older she looks these days. She's growing up so fast.

"Here," I say, stepping in to fix the bow. "You almost had it, sweetie."
Her grin lights up the room, and for a moment, the ache in my chest dulls.

Felicia's been talking about this birthday party all week. She insisted she had to go, even though I barely know the parents hosting it. I glance at the invitation stuck to the fridge: pink balloons, glittery text, and "Hannah's 11th Birthday Bash!" in bold. It's a relief, really, that Felicia's so eager. She deserves to just be a kid.

Joe shuffles into the kitchen, still in his pajamas, his hair sticking up in every direction. He's always slow to wake up on the weekends, a contrast to Felicia's boundless energy.
"Good morning, my favorite two ladies. Are you ready for that party, Feli?" he says giving me a quick kiss and gently ruffling through Felicia's blonde locks.

"Of course I am. It's gonna be amazing," she squeals while jumping from one foot to the other.

I demandingly point to the bowl of cereal I just set down in front of her. "We're not going anywhere until you've eaten some breakfast."
I lean against the counter, arms crossed, watching as she tears into her cereal like she's starving, the milk splashing a little too close to the edge of her bowl.

"Slow down, Feli," I say, stifling a small laugh. "It's a party, not the last meal you'll ever eat."

Felicia swallows a spoonful, grinning up at me. "But Hannah said there's going to be a bounce house, and I want to be the first one in it!"

Joe chuckles from his spot at the table, sipping his coffee, one hand skimming through his phone. "The bounce house can wait, Felicia. It's not going anywhere." He looks up at her and winks. "Unless you bounce so hard you pop it."

Felicia gasps dramatically. "I would never do that!"

"Oh, I don't know," I tease, nudging her playfully as I grab her backpack and double-check she has everything she needs. "With all that energy, you might just send the thing flying into space."

Joe stands, stretching with a satisfied groan before walking over to refill his coffee mug. He wraps an arm loosely around my waist as he passes, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "You're going to have your hands full dropping her off," he says, smirking. "Bet she's already planned out her entrance."

"I have!" Felicia exclaims proudly, like it's the most important fact in the world. "I'm going to run in and yell 'The fun has arrived!'"

Joe snorts into his coffee, and I can't help but laugh too. "Alright, superstar," I say, trying to hold back my grin, "how about you finish getting ready first? Brush your hair, check your shoes—you know, basic human things?"