Behind the Mask (Taylor Swift/1D FanFic)

Taylor, No

Teagan smiled up at me as we walked out the door of my house. I got in my car, strapping Teagan in her carseat. We drove up to the Café, our favorite coffee shop in town. Paparazzi were everywhere. I grabbed Teagan's hand, and we attempted to walk through the crowd. Keeping our heads down, we somehow made it through, and into the restaurant, which didn't' allow paps. I smiled as I saw Liam, Harry, and Niall.

"Hey, guys!" I said, and hugged each of them.

"Hey, Taylor!" Harry and Liam said.

"You can't forget Teag!" Niall smiled, and gave her an even bigger hug.

"So where's Louis and Zayn?" I asked, confused.

"Oh, they're out doing something." Harry answered. Liam looked shyly at me, smiling.

"Oh cool. So how's everything going for you guys?" I asked.

We continued small talk, and kept talking until the boys all exchanged nervous glances for a few minutes.

"You have to tell her, Li." Niall said, staring at him. Liam looked up at me, sadly.

"Management is making me date someone." He spit out. I felt like someone stabbed me in the chest, but pretended like I didn't.

"Oh. That's- great." I said, trying to mask my disappointment, and putting on a smile.

"Tay, don't lie to me. I don't have to if it makes you uncom-" He started, but I interrupted him.

"You know, it's fine, okay? I'm fine, you're fine, everyone's fine. It's okay." I sighed, and realized how harsh I'd probably just sounded.

"They're making me date Selena." He spit out again, and instantly looked away, ashamed.

"What?!" I practically screeched, and I felt the flames and pain all at the same time, "When was this discussed?! When did Selena find out?!"

"They just discussed it two days ago. She found out that night." Harry answered for Liam, who almost had tears in his eyes.

I was mad, and sad, and tired, and soon tears were falling down my cheeks. How could she not have told me? How could Liam not refused?

"H-have a nice lunch." I sputtered out, and grabbed Teagan's hand, and despite her protests, we walked out the door, and I asked the valet to bring my car, sliding on my Ray Bans to hide my tears. Teagan stood quietly, knowing not to bring attention.

The car came just as paparazzi arrived. They only got a few pictures, hopefully none with tears, and I got in the car before driving away.

At the apartment, I turned on the TV in Teagan's room before dialing Selena's number.

"Hi, you've reached the phone of Selena Gomez! Please leave your name and number after the beep!" Her voicemail. Great, just great.

"Selena, w-we need to talk, c-call me asap." I said into the phone, hoping she'd take it seriously. I ended the call, and went into my bathroom, dragging the blade deeper and deeper, not even feeling the pain. I dabbed the blood again, and ignored the dizziness I felt.

I sat on my bed, and cried while watching Law and Order SVU for the next six hours. Teagan eventually came and joined me. She gave me hug, and I hugged her back, crying into her little shoulder. She fell asleep eventually, and I started to get ready for bed at 9:30, way earlier than usual.

There was a knock on my door, a sharp rap, three times. I looked out the little peephole I'd put in, and saw Selena. She looked sad, and tired, as if she'd been stressing over what to say. I opened the door, and bit back the tears wanting to spill out.

"How could you?" I asked, barely a whisper, but harsh enough that she started crying.

"I'm so sorry Tay! Management said I had to- and I-I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry!" She wailed.

"Does he like you more?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

"Tay, you know he doesn't like me, and I don't like him like that!" She wailed, still crying bawling actually.

"I'm sorry, so sorry Tay. I love you like a sister, and you're my longest lasting friend, other than Demi. Please, please forg-give me!" I blinked my tears away, and gave her a hug.

"It's okay, Sel. I forgive you." I smiled, and pulled away. She saw my wrist and gasped. I hid my wrists from her.

"What is this, Tay?" She gasped, horrified. 

"N-nothing! What are you talking about?" I said.

"Taylor, please don't make me go through this with a friend again. I love you so mucha nd so does everyone. Eat, stop cutting, please, please! Do it for me, do it for yourself. If you can't, do it for Teag. Stop, Tay, or I will send you to a facility. Please stop Tay, I love you, so does everyone." She said, giving me a hug, and holding me there.

"Okay." I lied, looking at the floor.

"Tay, please." She said, looking at me sadly.

"I will."

"Promise?" She asked.

"I promise." I lied, again, and she hugged me.

"I gotta go. I love you Tay." She said, and smiled at me before walking out. I showered, and went to bed next to Teagan. I actually fell asleep, for the first time in weeks, without a problem.

In the morning, I started to make breakfast, and I heard another knock on my door. This time when I opened, it was Demi, tearstained and all, with Selena and Liam.

"Taylor, we need to talk." Liam said, and wiped a tear from his face.

I bit my lip, and let them in.

"Okay."