Kaylor Family One-Shots

July 2017

July 2017

Karlie's P.O.V

I've seen Taylor play her guitar many times during our friendship but never while she was sitting in my living room with the sun streaming through the windows. It's July 1 almost time for her to make her way to Rhode Island but instead she's here in my apartment. It's really good to see her but at the same time I'm extremely confused as to why she's here in New York. The last time I heard she was in Nashville with Joe Alwyn and they were sipping coffee on her balcony but now I'm not sure. I've tried to keep in touch with texts trying to minimize the contact we have verbally after she told me to 'fuck off' when her and Adam broke up. I was only trying to help her but she was intent on destroying herself with Grey Goose. I couldn't bear to see her throw her life away to alcohol so I took her works and literally left her.

Now she's back and her arrival at my door completely out of the blue but I still let her in. She wanted to stay the night and I agreed her comment about her apartment still being remodeled seemed true so I allowed her to stay. Now as I watch her blonde hair now her signature wavy locks as they cascade down over her shoulders, her plump red lips are present as she lip syncs along to the noises her guitar makes as she plays it like the professional that she is. But for the first time I'm noticing the small things, the way that Taylor holds her guitar like it's the last thing she has on earth, to the way that she puts herself fully into her playing not playing gentle nor hard but enough to make sure the noises break the sound barrier and create a sweet melody. I've always imagined Taylor's callused hands holding something better than a guitar maybe something as sweet as her own child. Although I imagine that her plans on children have changed. Four years ago when I met her she wanted a large family but after Adam she declared she was never marrying and never having children.

When I step closer to Taylor I manage to catch the hushed words that are flowing from her mouth, they are low and sweet and barely make any sense but then I notice the notebook near her and her phone. There are scribbles on her page and then I realize that Taylor's writing a new song. In my apartment, but as I stand there I realize that I may get caught and then Taylor would rush off in a hurry so instead I move along the side of the wall and step around it to go up the small set of stairs to my kitchen trying to be inconspicuous but failing miserably as I notice her raise her head and look at me. "Karlie," she murmurs as I smile but continue towards the kettle to boil it for morning coffee for Taylor and tea for myself. I look at Taylor who has returned to her song but within ten minutes she is packing up her guitar and songwriting book and making moves towards the kitchen.

As I sit sipping my tea at the table and she gathers her coffee that I made her, black like the enjoys it and joins me the conversation gets strained. I attempt small talk about her upcoming 4th of July party but she's vague about it so without wasting much time I ask her when she is leaving for Rhode Island. She looks at me like she's confused by my question but then a sad look crosses her face. "I'm not going to Rhode Island this year Karlie, there is no party this year." Then I'm the one who is confused as I say, "what. Why not? It's a tradition." Taylor simply shrugs at me and then says, "Joe isn't American so it wouldn't make sense to have one when he's not you know familiar..." She states but it sounds awkward and unlike her. "Oh so because you're now dating another British man you suddenly realize that they are not American. You do realize how stupid that sounds?" Taylor looks at me shocked beyond a doubt at my outbreak. "What the hell Karlie? What do you mean?" I roll my eyes and say, "god Taylor, Adam was Scottish and it didn't matter, Tom was British and it didn't matter they both still came over and partied it up at Rhode Island. You know that's not an excuse. Even some of your guests over the years have been British so you need to come up with a better excuse." Taylor looks down as I finish talking and she nods and then she mutters something but I don't say anything more.

I only stand and walk towards the bedroom intending to put on my make-up and that's when Taylor stands and grabs her purse. The noise makes me stop and stare at her and she looks at me and says, "thanks for the hospitality Karlie. I appreciate it. You certainly still know how to host and how to talk sense into me." I pause as she walks towards me and hugs me close. "Thank you Karlie." Before I can even react she has withdrawn herself and is walking out of the apartment, the door slamming shut behind her shutting our friendship off at the same time.