Pitch Perfect Harmony

One Last Time

It was time. Taylor woke up around noon. It was the last time she would get ready for a show and she dreaded this day as much as she anticipated it. Breakfast with some of her crew was the same as the past months and still felt different. There was something in the air. Taylor tried to talk to as many people as possible. She didn't know when she'd see them again. Andrea was doing a similar thing while checking in with her daughter every now and then.

On the way to the stadium, everyone was looking out the window and taking in the colorful city and happy people. "You got another bouquet from your man", Tree later entered the dressing room with her. "I wouldn't have noticed", Taylor joked looking at the huge bouquet. Travis had sent her flowers a lot while she was away. But she didn't take it for granted. Every time, she took the little card, sat down, and read his words carefully. It was particularly long today because he had so much to say about what this tour meant to him. She almost teared up and immediately texted him afterward. He didn't have time for a call now but she needed to say thank you. And he was right: Without this tour, they might never have met. She smiled thinking about that show in Kansas City. At the time, no one but him and one of the security people got to know that he even wanted to meet her. Just a few hours before that show, she had posted this ridiculous 4th of July post on Instagram "from the Independent Girlies". Now, he was writing her sweet letters and he'd probably watch a live stream of the show later whenever he could.

One thing Taylor didn't have to worry about were the outfits. She'd picked those for all of the shows in this stadium on the first day here because there were cameras around again and they wanted to be able to cut together footage of different days. She still had to practice the surprise songs again and then it didn't take long until it was time to get ready. She put on the lover body suit for the last time and sighed. This thing looked incredible. Even after all the shows she'd played in it. Maybe it would find its spot in a museum at some point. That always felt crazy to think about.

"Ready?", Tree asked later. "I am. I don't want to cry on stage", Taylor answered following her to walk to the stage. "Noone would mind, Tay. And everyone else will cry anyway", her publicist said. Taylor was always determined to give everyone the best possible experience and put everything behind that. Tree didn't always agree with how much Taylor pushed her own emotions back for that goal but she couldn't do much about it and was past the point of arguing. "I just want this to be a happy place", Taylor told her. "We know. And it will be. Just have fun", Tree finally said, and then it was time.

The last hello, the last quick changes, the last 22 hat, the last reputation intro, the last champagne problems cheer, the last surprise songs, the last dive under the stage, the last chair dance, the last "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs", and then the big exit through the orange door. It all passed by so fast. They were all laughing and hugging each other but had tears in their eyes. Taylor took a bow for her dancers and then she quickly went back to the car. "Hotel?", Andrea asked already waiting in the backseat. "Where else?" Taylor asked chuckling. It was routine by now. Hop into the car, drive to the hotel, take a bath, try to get her mind off of the past show by signing CDs or something and then finally going to be.

"Airport?", Andrea smiled. "What do you mean? I thought we were leaving tomorrow?", Taylor asked confused. "It's your plane, honey. We thought you might want to go home fast. Everyone's on hold for your call", her mom explained. She hesitated but then: „I... Yeah, I wanna go home", Taylor agreed, her voice soft. Was it a good idea not to take a bath and do the whole after-show routine? Maybe not. But it was the last show day. It didn't matter. She could just go home and sleep the whole next day.

Getting ready and waiting for takeoff, Taylor quickly called Travis. He congratulated her on finishing the final show and was audibly happy that she'd come home as quickly as possible. When they ended the call because the plane was about to start, Travis began preparing for her coming home. He got her favorite foods ready and some wine. Then, he scattered some candles around the place, not yet lighting them, and last but not least, he prepared the bathroom with some bathing salts and the softest towel. Waiting for her, he realized how much he missed her and how excited he was for her to be here more now. But he didn't want to come at her with too many emotions later. She was probably dealing with her own right now.

He wasn't wrong with that. Taylor cried for a while on the flight back and she wasn't even sure why. It was just so insane that this tour was over. It had been two years. And now it was... Just... over. Landing in Kansas City, she was starting to get tired but also impatient to just hug Travis and feel at home. To her luck, he was actually there with security to pick her up at the airport. She didn't say a word and just fell into his chest arms around his neck. He held her tight and kissed her head a few times. "Welcome home, Sweetie. I'm so proud of you", he whispered. They stayed like that for a moment. "Ready to head home?", he then asked. Taylor nodded and so they left for his place.