Fearless

Chapter 22- All You Are Is Mean

May 5th

Taylor

Karlie eventually agreed to coming back on the road with us until she's healed enough to go back to work, and I have to admit that getting to wake up to her beside me every day definitely makes touring a lot less stressful. The people who are travelling with us were all made aware of our relationship, and they're all like family to me so there was nothing but support from Karlie and I.

"Good morning, you," I hum as I peer up, waking up in Karlie's arms, a tired smile on my face. "I really don't understand how you get any sleep in these things," the model chuckles as she presses a light kiss to my forehead and I shrug, "performing is so exhausting, I could sleep just about anywhere." When we're driving we sleep on the bus, but usually we're in hotels, so it's not all bad.

"That's my cue," I laugh as I hear Violet starting to wake up, her travel crib in the bunk underneath us. "Let me grab her," Karlie smiles, kissing my cheek before climbing out of the bunk. "Hello there, pretty girl," I sit up as Karlie lifts Vi into her arms, and I smile at the pair as she sways with the baby. "How is my baby nearly a whole year old?" I pout as I reach out to stroke the little one's cheek, and she just clings to Karlie in her groggy, barely awake state.

"You're getting so big, princess," my girlfriend laughs as she kisses my baby and my heart leaps just at the sight of the two. "Taylor, we have a problem," Tree comes walking into the back of the bus and I groan as I look over to her, "already? I just woke up, what could I possibly have done wrong already?" Liz opens the bunk opposite me and climbs down, smirking as she looks up to me, "you always find a way."

I swat her but she ducks into bed with Caitlin, startling the fiddlist awake. "You two, this isn't the time," Tree gives them a warning glare and Liz throws her hands up in defence. "Can I borrow you both for a minute? We need to talk this out before we get to the hotel," I frown as I nod, she never pulls me into anything unless its important, so I don't even wanna imagine what this is about.

"Are you hungry, babe, come here?" I take Violet from Karlie as I climb down and I take the model's hand as we follow Tree to the front of the bus. We sit down and I let Vi latch on to keep her happy for now, and Karlie takes my hand. "So, you're going to see this a lot today, but Bob Lefsetz has taken a swing at you." I shrug as I look between her and Karlie, "it's not the first time?" I've had my fair share of bad critics over the last couple of years, but this guy really has it in for me. "Except this time he went personal. He isn't just attacking your music now, he's trying to claim that you're a bad influence to your young fans since you're a teen mom and he's trying to draw attention to your sexuality."

I sigh as I look to Kar, we knew this was going to happen, we just didn't think that it was going to be so soon. "How do we tackle it?" Karlie speaks first and we both look over to Tree, "well, there's two options, you can either make a statement and defend yourself by denying all the rumours, or you can say nothing and let it blow over." I knew this was going to come eventually, but I didn't ever think that it would be this soon. "Although, I will warn you that denying that there is anything going on between you may just bring more attention to your relationship and may also upset fans in the future if you do ever come out officially." 

Tree has a good point and I just sigh as I look to Karlie, both of us knowing what we need to do. "Thank you for telling us, Tree, but I think our only option here is to stay quiet," she nods as I adjust Violet, I want to go public with Karlie, but this is not the circumstances that either of us want to do that under. I guess I just have to hope that this blows over soon.

Karlie

Ever since this morning, Taylor has been really anxious and upset. She's scared and I understand completely, but I just wish that there was something I could do to make this better for her. We arrived at the hotel a little while ago and everyone else has gone inside, liz and caitlin taking Violet, but Taylor and I still haven't left the bus because there are so many cameras and Tay just really isn't in the right place to face them.

"We can't stay here forever, love," Taylor is curled up in my arms on the sofa. "I know, I just don't want them to see that I've been crying," I sigh, smoothing out her blonde curls as I stroke gentle soothing patterns on her back, the singer keeping her face hidden in my shoulder.

"You know, it really doesn't matter what he says about you, right?" I coo quietly in her ear, but Taylor stays silent, "he's just pathetic and mean but you are so far from anything he says about you. You're the best mommy to Violet; you're the only one who knows just how she needs to be held when she's cranky and you always make sure to kiss her goodnight, even if she's asleep already. That doesn't make you a bad influence on your fans, and neither does having feelings for a woman instead of a man, Teff. You are strong and you are brave, and I have seen you overcome much bigger demons than Bob lefsetz, and that's why you're going to achieve your wildest dreams and he is going to stay a small time critic with a temper and a big mouth."

I get a small chuckle out of Taylor with the last part and I press a butterfly kiss to her forehead, "I know the idea of your secret being revealed to the world is scary, but rumours are just rumours, Teff. Nobody knows what's going on in our personal life except us, and Bob Lefsetz certainly doesn't know."

Taylor shifts in my embrace and lifts her head from its hiding place, "I hate it when you're right," she mumbles the words against my lips before connecting them in a kiss. "You love it really," I hum, pulling her closer to me, getting lost in the feeling of her lips against mine.

"You always know how to make me feel better, that's one of the many reasons I love you, Karlie Kloss," her words make my heart leap and I grin as I pull her into another kiss, "I love you too, Taylor Swift."