Karlie always says that she's a night owl trapped inside a morning person's body. There's something unfathomably special about the atmosphere during the earliest hours of the morning, when the sun has yet to rise and the entire world seems to be asleep.
Unfortunately for Karlie, she has always been the first one asleep at sleepovers, the one to fall asleep on the couch in the middle of a party. When she does manage to stay awake past midnight, she soaks it in as long as possible, so enthralled with the brilliance of night that she often forgets to fall asleep altogether.
Tonight however, the model is finding her inability to sleep less indulgent and more of a nuisance. She envies Taylor, who has been asleep for hours, unaware that her best friend has been pacing the kitchen anxiously for so long she's developed blisters. She can't seem to place what's bothering her which frustrates her even more.
She can't describe the sensation that's come over her, all she knows is that she is afraid.
Of what, she can't say.
She knows she has no reason to feel this way, with her career doing so well and her personal life the most secure it's been in years. Still, she can't flush out the feeling that her entire world is about to fall apart and there's nothing she'll be able to do to stop it.
Chest tight, the model decides that the best way to distract herself is some baking, which she knows Taylor will appreciate in the morning. She moves as quietly through the spacious kitchen as possible, cringing when the floor creaks too loudly underneath her, afraid to wake the sleeping singer upstairs.
Karlie gets as far as mixing together the dry ingredients of her cupcakes when she hears soft footsteps descending the stairs, followed by a sniffle.
She turns to see Taylor, glasses askew, blonde hair in a tiny ponytail at the back of her head, body wrapped in Karlie's softest blanket. Her bare feet are almost hidden by her pajama pants.
"I went to your room but you weren't there," Taylor mutters, her eyelashes brushing her cheeks as she searches the floor absently.
"What's wrong baby?"Karlie immediately forgets her own anxieties, forgetting the whisk in her hand and pulling the shorter blonde into a tight hug.
"Bad dream," she whimpers, pressing her forehead into the model's chest.
Pulling away, Taylor looks at Karlie and her eyebrows pinch together.
"Karlie, why are you awake? Have you slept yet? It's past three in the morning!" Taylor swipes at her tears furiously, concerned about her friend and angry at herself for being so selfish.
"I'm fine, just couldn't sleep that's all." When she sees Taylor's pout and questioning gaze she sighs. "Really, T. I was feeling restless and I didn't want to keep you up with my pacing, so I came down here."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Taylor looks up at the girl sadly, her blue eyes magnified by her glasses and slowly filling with tears.
"I'm sure. Do you want to talk about it?"
The singer shakes her head no, pulling the pale pink blanket closer to her chest and shuddering a little.
"Tay, you're shaking. Are you sure?" Karlie's own frown deepens, and she feels a rush of guilt makes its way through her gut.
Your best friend was all alone, terrified, and you were downstairs baking? Nice one, Kloss.
When Taylor doesn't respond, Karlie inhales again.
"I'm so, so sorry I wasn't there to help you right away. I should've stayed in bed, in case you needed me." It's the model's turn to stare intensely at the floor.
"Karlie, no. I'm being stupid, it was just a bad dream. I promise, I'll be okay. Are those cupcakes?" The blonde is now making googly eyes at the cupcake tins and ingredients splashed around the kitchen, and she turns to Karlie with her bottom lip stuck out in a feigned pout. "Do I get any?"
Karlie rolls her eyes.
"Well duh, idiot. Last time I checked you're not the one who has to watch everything she eats." Taylor giggles and reaches for Karlie's hand, giving it a loving squeeze.
With Taylor by her side the model feels a lot better, the racing anxieties that had been messing with her for hours have finally started to fade. She's still worried about her friend, but she's okay. They're both okay.
By the time the cupcakes make it to the oven the singer's face is covered in cake batter that Karlie thinks looks too funny to wipe off. When she finally notices, Taylor lets out a jokingly exasperated "Karlie!" and tries, but sadly fails, to wipe some chocolate onto the model.
Karlie can tell that Taylor is getting tired, her head bobbing up and down every few minutes from the couch. The next time she looks over the girl is fast asleep on the couch, looking incredibly small and fragile. The model positions her blanket as gently as she can, running her fingers softly through the lose pieces of Taylor's hair.
Now that she is once again alone, Karlie recognizes the familiar heat rising in her chest.
Green eyes wandering to the couch, she feels her heart sink. The only person she wants right now is Tayor, but she's asleep. Karlie doesn't want to disturb her, knowing how little sleep the girl generally gets.
Taylor stirs in her sleep and one of her legs hangs precariously off the side of the couch, her toes barely grazing the hardwood floor. Karlie can't help but noticed how cute the older girl looks, a small smile painted on her lips as she sleeps.
Heart skipping a beat, Karlie tries to look away.
She's your best friend, Karlie. You don't want to go down this road.
Giving the sleeping girl one last sad look, Karlie places one more blanket beside her and delivers a soft kiss onto her forehead.
"Goodnight, Tay. Sleep well," she whispers, turning off the last light in the apartment and wiping a single tear off her cheek.
YOU ARE READING
Lucid (Kaylor)
Fanfiction"All I want is to see her again," she whispered, "but I'm not even sure if she's real." in which a girl is haunted by the memories of another she's never met.
