Protecting Taylor

Chapter 24

Taylor sat on the couch softly strumming her guitar. It was almost midnight and the awards were tomorrow. We went to bed a few hours ago because Taylor said tomorrow would be a busy day. Obviously, Taylor isn't following her own rules. She seemed upset and has been acting strange ever since we had lunch a few days ago.
I decided I should talk to her because I didn't like to see her sad. My bare feet padded down the stairs with Mere at my ankles. I sat down in the arm chair facing the couch. Taylor was so lost in thought it took her a minute to notice me.
"Hey what are you doing up?" She asked.
"I wasn't tired and besides I thought you were going to bed too."
"I couldn't relax. I hope the guitar didn't keep you up."
"No, I kind of like listening to it actually. You're really good at playing."
"Thanks, we should really go to bed."
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Taylor sighed and looked at me.
"I meant what I said the other day about adopting you."
"Is that what's bothering you?"
"I can't stop thinking about it."
"Taylor, that's really nice of you, but it's impossible. I legally belong to NAPA."
"I've got a great lawyer. If it comes to that I could win custody."
"I signed the contract, and besides I'm going to be 18 soon."
"That's three years away, Alex."
"I'm sorry but I signed that contract and there is nothing I can do about it."
"That's so not right. You're a minor!"
"Not according to my badge."
"I'd like to burn that damn thing sometimes." Taylor muttered.
"It's not like I hate what I do either. I'm helping people."
"You're fifteen, Alex. You were what? Nine when you signed? Nine year olds don't make those decisions and they aren't suppose to be trained to become secret agents."
"I know it could have been a mistake, but I can't change it and neither can you or your lawyer and money."
"There's no way that thing you signed could have been completely legal."
"Taylor, we are the law."
"Then they should know that it's unjust."
"Im sorry, but I like my job. Thank you for caring though."
"I'll always care about you no matter where you are." She said.
"And I'll do the same for you."
She smiled sadly and stood up from the couch. She placed the guitar on the stand in the corner of the living room.
"Lets go back to bed." She said and I followed her up the stairs.
"Good night again." I said before entering my room.
"Good night, and sweet dreams."
I wish for sweet dreams too.

I only ended up sleeping for a few hours. Taylor wasn't even up yet and I decided to try and make breakfast this morning. I've seen Taylor do it lots of times. I opened the fridge and took out the carton of eggs; eggs were easy enough to make.
We could have that and toast. I got out the loaf of bread and took out the jam from the fridge. I'll just make the eggs over easy. I took the pan out and cracked the eggs into it. While the eggs cooked I got out two plates and some glasses.
I couldn't tell if the egg was done or not. The whites had whitened up, and it looked how Taylor's did. I slid the eggs onto a plate and cracked two more into a pan. While those eggs cooked I put two slices of bread in the toaster. After the toast popped up I dumped the eggs onto a plate and let the skillet cool on the stove.
I spread the jam on the toast before laying a piece on each plate. Faintly, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She was awake, and just in time. I pulled the pitcher of orange juice out of the fridge and poured two glasses.
"Oh my gosh!" Taylor said.
"It's just eggs and toast, I hope that's okay. I'm not good at cooking."
"No it's okay. Thank you so much!" She said and hugged me.
I sat the plates down at the bar, then put the glasses on the table. Taylor had already got out forks and napkins.
"I hope it taste alright." I said.
She cut into the egg with her fork and took a bit before nodding.
"Good job, sweetie!" Taylor praised.
"Thanks." I said and took a bite of my own.
It tasted a little different than when Taylor makes them, but it wasn't terrible.
"What time did you get up this morning?" She asked.
"I haven't been up much longer than you." I lie.
"Sorry about keeping you up too late last night."
"It's okay, you know I'm a weird sleeper anyways. It didn't bother me."
"We have to be at hair and make up by three and we have our final fitting at two. Do you want to hit the gym this morning?" She asked.
"Sure." I said.
We finished with breakfast and went to the gym. It felt good to release some of my energy. I'm not used to chilling as much as I have while on this mission.
After working out it was almost noon. We showered and Taylor fixed some lunch to eat before heading the the venue.
During the car ride Taylor explained I would be meeting a lot of people. She said she loves seeing everybody. Taylor also said if I feel overwhelmed I should tell her, but I doubt I would have a problem.
Upon entering the venue and searching for Taylor's room a lady approached us.
"Taylor!" She said hugging her.
"Chrissy! How are you?"
"I'm great, I'm ready to start the show."
"You'll be an excellent host."
"Thanks. Are you ready to sweep up all the awards tonight?"
"Lets hope."
"I could put money on it I'm so sure!"
"Thanks for having faith in me."
"Just don't trip walking up the steps."
"I'll try not to. Alex, this I Chrissy Teigen. She's hosting the show tonight. This is my friend and bodyguard, Alex." Taylor said.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you!" Chrissy said.
"You too." I gave her a small smile.
"I heard about you on the news and in magazines."
"Really?" I asked.
"The paparazzi." Taylor reminded me.
"Oh, right."
"Chrissy, Taylor's got to get ready to accept all her awards. What are you doing." A dark skinned man approached Chrissy.
"We were just catching up. We need to go to lunch sometime." Chrissy said.
"It's nice to see you Taylor. And is this the girl you hired to be your body guard?"
"Yeah. This is Alsx." Taylor introduced.
"Hey, I'm John." He said and shook my hand.
"He's a singer. Have you heard his song 'All of Me?'" Taylor asked me.
"It sounds familiar."
"Well he sings it."
"She's Taylor's bodyguard." Chrissy told him.
"Oh right! I think I heard about you."
"She's great at what she does, plus a great house guest." Taylor said.
"She's living with you?"
"Yeah, we're loving every minute of it." She said pulling me into a side hug.
"That's great, Taylor!" Chrissy said.
"We've got to get to hair and makeup. I'll see you guys later." Taylor said.
"Defiantly!" Taylor said.
We went to Taylor's dressing room and a group of five people stood waiting in there.
"Hey guys!" Taylor greeted them each with a hug.
"Not that you need it, but we are going to start with makeup." A lady said.
Taylor laughed and sat down in the chair. I sat down on the leather couch and watched them all go to work on Taylor.
Someone knocked on the door and I asked if I should go see who it was. Taylor said yes and I opened to door to see a red headed man dressed casually. He gave me a strange look, probably because he expected Taylor.
"Alex, right?" He asks.
"Yeah, who are you?"
He laughs and replies, "I'm Ed Sheeran."
"Ed!" Taylor calls excitedly.
I let him in the room and closed the door behind him.
"Am I next?" He asked Taylor.
"Of course, maybe you could use a bit of blush."
"Perhaps mascara too. I'd like the London look you know."
"You'll look so pretty." Taylor said.
He came and sat down next to me on the couch.
"You are Taylor's new bodyguard right?" He asks.
"Yeah."
"You're pretty bad ass then, huh?"
"I suppose."
"What happened to your arm?"
"I broke it on a mission."
"How?"
"I can't really say much, but I was fighting a man in hand to hand combat and he snapped my arm."
"Oh shit." He hisses cringing.
"Not as bad as it sounds." I shrug.
"Oh yeah, no big deal, I just got my arm snapped." He said.
"She's really tough." Taylor said.
"So do you work for like the CIA?"
"No, NAPA."
"What does that stand for?"
"It's classified." I smirk.
"Oh come on I'm good at keeping secrets!"
"She won't tell me either." Taylor says.
"I'm excited for Monday."
"Me too, he's coming to join me on stage." She informs me.
"You sing the song A Team? Right?" I asked just realizing why Ed Sheeran sounded so familiar.
"I do, do you like that one?" He asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"I'm glad."
"The child was deprived Ed. She didn't know any of the music I put on her iPod." Taylor says.
"Did you ever listen to music?"
"No, we couldn't have distractions."
"The girl had never had a cookie or strawberry before."
"What! How?"
"I don't know the option was just never available to me." I shrug.
Someone knocked on the door and I answered it.
"Hey, Alex!" Martha greeted and the brunet beside her gave me a small smile.
"Hi." I said.
"Join the party!" Taylor called.
I allowed the two ladies into the room. "My names Lily." The other woman said.
"I'm Alex."
"It nice to meet you. I've head lots of good things about you!" Lily said.
"Nice to meet you too." I said.
"What time do you have to be in hair and makeup?" Taylor asked them.
"In ten minutes. We just popped in to say hi." Lily said.
Lily's phone went off and she answered.
"When do you have to be in hair and make up?" I teased Ed.
"An hour ago I think." He laughs.
"She wants to talk to you." Lily said handing an excited Taylor the phone.
"Hi Dixie!"
"Thank you!"
"Are you going to watch?"
"Not tonight. I'm sorry. You'll have to come with mommy to see me on tour."
"Bye sweetie!"
Taylor laughed and handed the phone back to Lily.
"We've got to get to hair and make up. We'll see you at the car!"
"Okay, I'll see you in a few."
"Alex, they are ready for you." Taylor said and a lady motioned towards another makeup chair.
I sat down and they went to work.
"I'll see you ladies at the show." Ed announced before he left.
"We are also arriving with Zendaya and Hailee Steinfeld. They are younger, I'm sure you'll like them."
"Are they in the video?"
"Yeah. They are going to help me announce the video on the red carpet tonight."
"Oh that's cool." I said.
Someone knocked on the door and I got up to get it. I just want to make sure nobody it coming with bad intentions. It was Joseph with the dresses and I allowed him to come in.
"We are about done," one of the ladies doing my hair said.
"No hurry." He said.
About fifteen minutes later we were finished and I had big, loose curls in my hair and a dark smokey eye (at least that what they called it). Taylor looked gorgeous as well and told the ladies thank you before they left us to change into the outfits.
I slipped on the black dress and shoes. Joseph handed me the small clutch that I could hold my gun in. Taylor of course didn't know I had a gun on me. I didn't want to scare her.
Taylor got her jump suit on and looked absolutely beautiful.
"You look so beautiful." I told her.
"Aww, not as beautiful as you though." She said hugging me.
Joseph did a few finishing touches before we had to make our way to the car waiting outside for us. Nobody was around outside, but I still made sure to watch out and get her in the car first.
"Hey girl!" A pretty girl with dark skin said.
"Hey Z, hey Hailee!" Taylor said giving them awkward hugs because she had to lean over to hug them in the car.
"This is Alex." Taylor said as I got in and shut the door. I offered a wave and hi.
"Hey nice to meet you, I'm Zendaya." She said.
"I'm Hailee." The other girl said.
"Lets roll I'm excited!" Zendaya said.
"Alright, let go!" Taylor called to the driver.
"You got it!" He called back.
Then, we were off to the first award show I've ever been to.