TNT Short Fics

Our Favorite Spot in Town

Fall

The house is beautiful. All light and windows. Open spaces waiting to be filled with furniture and dreams and life. As she and Travis walk through the rooms, they pointedly don't voice all the ways they are both imagining how they might fit together here. Because it's too early for that, isn't it? Too early to let herself hope after years of disappointment.

Taylor pulls him by the hand out through the patio doors—acity girl drawn outside by autumn's colors. They walk past the covered pool, toward the bright orange and red trees framing the property. Their boots crunch over the fallen leaves, brittle and fragrant, releasing that earthy scent that only comes this time of year. The crisp October air feels like possibility. Feels exactly the way she has these past few months every time she looks at the man beside her.

As they round a corner, a small seating area comes into view, tucked back away from prying eyes. An arching wrought-iron gazebo rises from brick pavers, surrounded by lush ferns and newly planted bushes. Large stone planters stand waiting for spring.

"Oh man, this is so sweet. Think of it if it had trailing flowers over it, Trav," she says, pointing excitedly at the gazebo.

"I could definitely see you out here with a guitar," he replies, nudging her shoulder with his. "We'll... I'll have to get some seating for it."

She can see it so clearly as well. Sitting in this spot, in this house that he's bought for her. Bought to keep her safe, though they're both pretending that is not the case. Just like they're both pretending this isn't the most serious they've ever been about anything in their lives. That they both didn't go home from their first date feeling like they'd known each other forever. She knows he's holding back for her sake, letting her set the pace after her heartbreaking year.

But standing here in this space, looking back at a house filled with so much hope, she sees what she once begged for on her knees one lonely summer night. She sees bonfires and family dinners. Him throwing her into the pool, her throwing him birthday parties. Cinnamon roll Saturdays and naps on the couch with hockey on in the background. She sees a life. More than that—she sees him. The man who came out of nowhere and turned everything she knew about love on its head.

She tugs him closer by their clasped hands and rests her head on his arm.

"I think this is going to be a great house, Trav."

He presses a kiss to the top of her head, warm against the brisk October air. "Sure enough, girl. I think you're right."

Spring

The cool April air carries just a hint of warmth as she settles into the cushions of the bench. Tuning her guitar, she takes in the evidence of spring emerging around her. Green buds on the trees and the daffodils they've had planted here are beginning to bloom. Soon, it's going to be gorgeous out here.

And she's about to miss it all.

Taylor has grown to adore this house over the last six months. The warmth of its walls. The happiness she's felt here. She and Travis have taken what they began to grow here throughout the fall and winter with them to L.A. It's followed her through tour rehearsals and black-and-white sad songs and her plans for bright, colorful mashups. But being back here, even just for two days, reminds her of all they've built in such a short span of time.

Contemplating this, she starts to play. The upbeat melody that has been following her the past few days emerges once again. It's infectious and bright and has her beginning to dream about an idea for something that stretches beyond just this one song. She wonders...

A flash of red catches her attention, and she sees Travis, in his bright practice shirt, making his way across the yard from the house. Her heart flips at the sight of him, as it always does. However, there is just the faintest pang as well. Soon she won't have him in her sights as much. And she's not sure if she's ready to leave their bubble, even if she's itching to get back to the tour.