{HIATUS} Rewind | Kaylor

VIII

You wake up in Taylor's bed. There's the normal split second of panic when you wake up in a bed that isn't your own, but then you notice Meredith curled up next to you and the memories from last night come rushing back. You smile, running a hand through your hair, as you remember the last stragglers leaving at around two in the morning, and Taylor shyly asking you if you wanted to stay over. In her room. In her bed.

You were both a little drunk, and you were laughing way more than was necessary when she pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms with cats on them. "I'm changing, turn around and don't look," she said, gripping the bottom of her shirt. You obliged, but the alcohol in your system made you daring enough to peek.

Your immediate thought was that Taylor had a really nice back. You weren't quite certain of the criteria for a nice back, but you were confident that Taylor's would meet all of it. You quickly turned back after that, simultaneously ashamed and happy that you'd looked. Taylor is just your friend, after all, but she unarguably hot. You're sure everyone else must agree.

You get out of bed carefully so as not to wake up Meredith, and make your way into the tiny kitchen. "Mornin' Karlie," Ed says, stifling a yawn. He's nursing a cup of coffee. You take a look at the clock. It's 11:30.

Taylor walks into the room. "Hey, Karlie. Did you sleep okay?"

You nod. "Yeah, like a rock. Meredith was keeping me company this morning."

"Yeah, she's secretly a cuddler, but don't tell anyone or you'll ruin her reputation," Taylor replies with a grin. "I woke up about an hour and half ago, and she was sitting on your back purring. That never happens."

"I must be some sort of animal whisperer, then," you say.

Then, after your stomach makes an embarrassingly loud noise, Taylor asks, "Do you want breakfast? I was just about to make some eggs and toast."

"Sure," you say gratefully.

She busies herself by sticking some bread in the toaster. "Ed can't cook to save his life," she divulges, "So I'm always the one cooking around here. I like it though."

"Yeah, and at least she's good at it. My mom had a phase where she tried all these experimental recipes and I had to lie and pretend they were all delicious," Ed contributes.

You laugh. You have to agree with him though, after breakfast is served: Taylor is a damn good cook. Ed practically inhales his toast, and saunters out of the room, leaving the two of you alone, which, for some reason, you're hyper-aware of. "That was one hell of a birthday party, Swift," you say playfully.

"Glad you enjoyed yourself, Kloss," she flirts back, but you can see her cheeks turn pink.

You both finish your meal in silence, mostly because you're starving, but also because neither of you can quite figure out to say. When you finish, you offer to help do the dishes.

"Oh, you really don't have to help me," Taylor assures you, "I'll do them later." You give her a look and she relents. So the two of you get started on the large pile that has accumulated in the sink, mostly from the party because Taylor refused to use paper plates.

"That's so tacky," she said, as she wrinkled her nose when you asked her.

"I really don't think they mind," you replied, gesturing to the living room where a very drunk Cara attempted to stand up, almost tripped over Olivia, and then fell onto Selena's lap.

Back in the kitchen, she washes and you dry. As you continue to exchange playful banter, you have an epiphanic thought that this feels strangely familiar. It's as if washing dishes with Taylor in her kitchen is a daily occurrence. It feels like you've just uncovered a puzzle piece that completes a picture you've already thought was finished. It just fits.

She just...fits.

The revelation kind of scares you.

You're suddenly brought out of your thoughts by a gentle hand on your cheek. "You okay?" Taylor asks, "You kind of spaced out for a second."

You feel yourself blush, and all you can think about is how soft Taylor's hand is. "I-I'm fine, I was just thinking," you manage to force out.

Taylor giggles, "Seems like that's all you're doing in that pretty little head of yours." She turns so she's completely facing you, and takes a small step forward.

"What...what do you mean?" You ask, suddenly breathless.

"I-I don't know, you're just smart, and you're always going on about that coding thing."

You chuckle, "Well, 'that coding thing' is actually the language of our future. It's creating countless job opportunities and--"

"Karlie?" Taylor asks, shaking her head.

"Yeah?"

"I really don't care."

And then she steps even closer and your faces are getting closer and you've never really noticed how blue her eyes are and--

"Hey guys, what do you think about going out for lunch?" Ed asks as he walked into the room.

You and Taylor jump apart. Your heart is pounding and you're kind of in shock.

"Woah, did I interrupt something?" Ed smirks, his eyebrows raised.

"No, we were just washing dishes," you manage to say. Taylor is silent.

"Alright, whatever you say," he says, raising his hands in surrender and walking out of the room. "I'm going out to window shop, and if you gal pals tag along I'll pay for lunch."

You look over at Taylor, who's staring at the ground and biting her lips to hold back a smile. You realize your own face is sporting a sort of dopey grin, and you immediately set it back into a neutral expression.

"So, are you up for joining Ed and I, or are you tired of us?" Taylor asks, finally meeting your eyes again.

You shoot her a grin, because you can't keep a straight face when she's looking at you, and say, "Of course I'm not tired of you. Let's go!"

A/N: Well, here's the last of it.  I hate to admit defeat, but that's life sometimes.  On a completely unrelated note, I've been thinking about something Dodie and Hazel Hayes talked about in one of her recent videos: why are so many creative people mentally ill?  Are they creative because of their mental illness, or mentally ill because they create?  I'm not really looking for an answer (though if you have one pls let me know), but I just think it's an interesting thing to ponder.

Anyways, I've gotta go film my VEDA now. 

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