Tayvis One-Shots

intruder

Taylor's POV

The sound of laughter echoed through my living room, the kind of lighthearted giggles that only come when you're surrounded by people who know you better than anyone else. Karlie and Selena were sprawled across the sectional, tossing popcorn into each other's mouths, while Blake scrolled through a playlist on her phone, trying to convince us we needed a dance party.

"Taylor, your turn!" Karlie called, holding up the popcorn bowl.

I grinned, standing up to take the challenge. "Prepare to be amazed," I said, squinting in mock concentration as I tossed a piece of popcorn in the air.

It landed on the couch instead of my mouth, and the room erupted in laughter.

"You're a better songwriter than an athlete," Selena teased, throwing a pillow at me.

I rolled my eyes, flopping back onto the couch. "Good thing I'm not trying to get into the Olympics."

The sound of breaking glass shattered through the air, jolting me out of the lighthearted moment we were having. I froze, the laughter dying in my throat as my gaze darted to the living room window.

"Was that...?" Karlie started, her voice steady but low, her model-like posture stiffening in alertness.

Blake stood quickly, clutching a heavy candleholder from the coffee table like a weapon. "Stay here," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Selena grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Taylor, what kind of security is on tonight?"

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears. "It's supposed to be full coverage," I whispered. "There's no way-"

A loud crash from the back of the house cut me off.

Karlie, taller and braver than any of us, motioned for Blake to follow her as she tiptoed toward the hallway. "Don't move," she mouthed at Selena and me, her long strides taking her out of the room before I could even protest.

"Don't let them go!" I hissed, but Selena held me in place.

"Taylor, we need to stay put," she said, her voice firm despite the tremble in her hand.

Another crash echoed through the house, followed by muffled voices—then footsteps. Heavy, deliberate footsteps.

A shadow moved outside the living room door, and the air seemed to freeze.

Selena's grip tightened. "Oh my God," she whispered.

The door burst open before we could react.

And there he was. Joe.

His eyes, once warm and familiar, were wild, dark, and unrecognizable. He was sweating, his hair disheveled, his lips curling into a twisted sneer.

"Taylor," he said, his voice low and venomous. "We need to talk."

I couldn't move. Couldn't speak.

Blake rushed back into the room, candleholder raised. "Get out!" she shouted, her voice shaking but resolute.

Joe didn't even flinch. "This doesn't concern you," he growled, taking a step toward me.

Karlie came in behind Blake, a fireplace poker in hand. "Oh, it concerns us," she snapped, positioning herself between me and Joe. "You need to leave. Now."

But Joe was faster. He lunged toward me before anyone could stop him, grabbing my arm in a bruising grip.

"Let me go!" I screamed, trying to twist free, but his fingers dug into my skin, sending a sharp pain up my arm.