Protecting Taylor

Chapter 21

"Alex, come here!" Taylor said as I was playing with Meredith and Olivia on the floor after breakfast.
"Yeah?" I asked.
She patted the spot beside her on the couch and angled the laptop resting in her lap towards me.
"It's finished!" She said excitedly.
"The Bad Blood Music video! Lets watch it!"
She hit the play button and it showed a city at night before zooming in on Taylor in a building kicking ass. Then, Selena was kicking ass too. After all the bad guys were taken down Selena blew powder into Taylor's face and kicked her out a window. The glass shattered around her as she fell and landed on a car below. Then, she began to sing the familiar lyrics to Bad Blood that I heard at her shows. I liked that song.
Then, a guy started rapping. Well, that was different! A bunch of Taylor's friends were it. Taylor looked pretty cool throughout the whole video. When it was over she turned to me.
"Well, what do you think?" She asked.
"I'm thinking what am I doing here when you can go all Catastrophe on people! That was pretty cool. I liked it!"
She laughed and threw an arm over my shoulders to hug me. I've grown more used to the fact that Taylor's a hugger since I got here.
"It's going to be released to the public on the 18th, at the Billboard Music Awards. Which is why we need to go somewhere today because we need to get you something to wear to the awards."
"Oh, you don't have to do that."
"Please, the squad is going with me! And Adam is coming too."
"I don't know."
"You won't have to walk the red carpet with me. I mean, you will, but you won't have to get your picture taken. You do have to go for security though."
"Well, yeah."
"And then you'll sit with us at the show."
"Alright, but nothing too expensive."
"Don't worry about the cost." She said.
"It's hard not to when my entire life has been spent looking for the cheapest options."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that when you're with me. You should go get ready so we can go. I set up an appointment with my stylist at noon."
"Your stylist?"
"Only the best for my best body guard."
"Don't let the others hear you say that. It'll break their hearts."
"Wouldn't dream of it." She laughed.
I went to my room and picked out an outfit to wear for the day, put on a little makeup, and straitened my hair a bit.
"You look cute today." Taylor said coming out of her room.
"Thank you."
"Well, you look cute everyday of course!"
"I wouldn't go that far." I laughed.
"No, I'm serious! You're a pretty girl, Alex."
"Well, thanks."
She smiled and we walked out to the car. Taylor waved at a few people who shouted out her name. Some people took pictures on their phones. I got her into the car safely and we headed off to meet up with Taylor's stylist.

We meet Taylor's stylist at a studio. All the clothes were covered that hung on the wracks.
"It's nice to meet you my name is Joseph!" An older man with dark hair and glasses greeted me.
"I'm Alex."
"You are stunning!" He said.
"Thank you."
Taylor smiled at me.
"So what kind of look are you going for?"
"Something subtle." I said.
"This is her first time doing something like this."
"Would you like something floor length or short?"
"Short, easier to move in." I said.
"I think you would look gorgeous in black! Let me grab some measurements and we can go from there." He said.
I let him measure me although it made me uncomfortable.
"You're very little, but I think I could made some adjustment if need to be." He said.
"My mind keeps picturing you in this." He said pulling a covered dress off the wrack. Under the cover was a short, strapless, black dress.
"Okay, why don't you go in there and try it on." He said directing me into a fitting room.
I quickly changed into the dress. There was a mirror hanging on the wall and I found myself starting at my own self. I've never seen myself like this before. I actually found myself admiring how I looked in the dress. Snap out of it, Alex. You're not a model, you're a NAPA agent. I'm not supposed to feel or think these things.
I opened the door and stepped out.
"Oh my god, look at you!" Taylor squealed.
"Honey, you look ravishing." Joseph said.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"I do. It's very nice."
"I'm going to make a few adjustments so it fits better. I think these shoes would look amazing with your dress."
He handed me a pair of black boots with a heel. When I put them on they were the right size, so Taylor must have told him what size of shoe I wore.
The boots did accent the dress nicely.
"When you get all done up they'll be taking your picture just because." He said.
"I doubt that, but thank you."
"Alright, let me pin this for you and it will be ready the night of the awards." He said before pinning a few places on the dress. I was sad to take it off, but knew I'd be wearing it again soon.

"We are going to meet Adam for dinner tonight. He's got a meeting tomorrow in New York so he'll be spending the night." She said.
"Do you want me to go somewhere else?" I asked.
"No way! You'll be fine!" She said.
"Are you sure? I don't want to be in the way."
"You won't be in the way. Trust me, I don't think you're ever in the way."
"Alright, but I'll probably just chill in my room and read so you guys can have alone time."
"That's fine if that's what you want to do."
"Thank you for the dress, Taylor. I really like it."
"Aww, you're welcome baby. It looks beautiful on you." She smiled.
"Thanks."
"And it matches your cast!" She laughed.
"True!" I laughed too.
"We will leave at around five so we've got time to catch a few shows."
"Sounds good to me."
"I wish your cast wasn't black because then everybody could sign it and you would have the coolest cast ever."
"I'm not allowed to have writing on it or else I would suggest a white marker, but my cast is black for a reason. Helps me stay in stealth mode I suppose."
"You shouldn't be doing stealth mode anything with your arm like that." Taylor said.
"Relax, I'm not going anywhere and as long as the mobs on the street stay back there's shouldn't be a problem."
"Last time we went out with Adam it ended not so well. Hopefully, no violence this time."
I hope so too. Taylor picked out an outfit for me to wear to dinner. It was a skirt and crop top. I wasn't particularly comfortable with exposing so much skin. Not because I was conservative, but because of all the scars. Some from missions, others from before I was an agent, and some from punishments.
"Oh, come on! You'll look fine, I mean you're defiantly thin enough." Taylor encouraged.
"I don't know..."
"Try it on and if you don't like the way it looks then we can pick out something different." She said.
I agreed hesitantly. She's going to flip out, I know she will.
I changed into the top and skirt combo and stepped out before her.
"That looks so good on you!" She said.
I looked down at the outfit. It was a nice outfit and I did feel good in it, but the other foot hasn't dropped yet.
"Oh my god." Taylor gasped.
My eyes darted towards her quickly. She was starring at me with a shocked expression.
"Come here." She said.
My feet were heavy as I walked closer to her. She pushed my top up a little.
"Is that a bullet wound?" She asked.
"Yeah. It's not a big deal."
"Yes it it! Someone shot you and that's not okay!" She said exasperated.
"Relax, Taylor. I came out fine. It wasn't even fatal."
"A bullet was inside of you." She said still in shock.
"Taylor please don't make a big deal of it. It was a long time ago when I was still young and dumb."
"You're fifteen. How old were you?"
"I was like 12."
"How did it happen? Who shot you?"
"I messed up on a mission and a guy shot me. It was my fault, really."
"Don't you dare think that. No way could that be your fault. I mean you were 12!"
"I knew I shouldn't have done something and I did it anyways. Don't worry, it's fine."
"I can't believe you were shot."
"It's just part of the job."
"12 year olds shouldn't be shot at."
"I'm not your average girl. It's okay with me and it should be okay with you too."
"Well it's not. How did you get this job anyways?" Taylor asked.
"NAPA saved me. I owe it to them."
"Why do you owe it to them? How did they save your life?"
"They picked me up off the street." I said shortly.
"Why were you on the streets? How old were you then?"
"I was nine."
I really didn't want to tell her why I was on the streets. I supposed I could tell her I ran away, but then she would ask from what.
She didn't push it and I think she knew it was a sensitive subject.
"You know, if you want to talk about it, I'm alway here." She gave me a small smile.
I nodded and we decided to pick something different. We picked out a blue dress for me to wear. I felt better now the scars were covered. Now, I just had to hope for a peaceful evening for everyone.