Affinity

Just Kids

At some point of suffocation and being absolutely done with the media, you stop caring about risks. Every risk, actually. That's how I feel today. I'm sick of pathetic rumors that have no truth in them, I'm sick of them digging into my life and overanalyzing things, and I'm sick of trying to live my life making sure they don't have a say in it.

I told Tree that, almost verbatim. She didn't exactly say I was wrong, but said that it could lead to bad publicity. But i frankly didn't care, I was already getting bad publicity. That's going to be a constant. There's always going to be people talking about my relationships rather than my music, and I'm just done with that sort of thing. That, simply, disgusts me.

That's why I dragged Adam out with me today. It wasn't to anywhere big and flashy, to simply spark up a story. We headed to the woods where we've been hiking for what seems like hours now. Climbing, taking pictures of each other on mountains, getting pictures together, and just talking. Nothing out of the ordinary, we were just messing around.

"Are you joking? That is not safe at all." I shout to Adam, who's scaling a tree. No surprise, really. He has just been a handful today. "What are you doing?"

"Showing off for you," He shouts down to me, and even from down here I can catch his wink. Cute, i think to myself.

"If you really wanted to impress me you'd get down from there unhurt," I sigh, unable to stop my grin as he smirks around the tree trunk. He's at least 20 feet up, messing around like a little kid. He drops down from a branch, hanging by his arms easily, swinging calmly.

My heart almost jumps out of my chest. "Adam! Stop! Oh my god."

Adam grins deviously at me and safely pulls himself to the limb a level lower. My phone rings and I press it to my ear, turning my back of Adam and his way of making me lose my nerves.

"Hello?"

"Taylor, hey. I was wondering what time you were coming over?" Ed asks and I automatically groan. I completely forgot about the writing session I was suppose to do with Ed today.

"Oh my God, Ed, I am so sorry. I completely forgot. Adam and I are just hiking and.."

"No, it's totally cool," He says. Two hands close around my waist and pinch my ribs. A short scream bursts from my throat. When I spin around, Adam is magically there, cackling, doubled over in laughter. I shoot a death glare at him and pick up my phone from the pine needles and brush it off.

Ed's just-a-talkin'. "Taylor? Taylor, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Adam's just a jerk." I say, still glaring at him. He now leans against his conquered tree, a shoulder pressed to the tree, his feet crossed cooly. As he watches me, the corner of his mouth lifts ever so slightly. Looking down, I realize mine had done the same. "But if you want to tomorrow, I'm completely free."

"Sounds great. 5?" He asks and i hum. "I'll see you then." And the line drums dead.

"You're going to get it," I start towards Adam, dropping the phone in my back pocket. He holds his hands up defensively, moving quickly to back up.

"Whoa whoa," He captures my wrists in his hands and pulls me into his chest, kissing the top of my head. "I don't tolerate fighting."

"You had it coming though," I laugh, struggling to wiggle from his grasp. He finally lets go and i push him playfully. "Jerk."

"Hey! I thought I was dating America's sweetheart," He grins, teasing me with the nickname I had picked up when I was younger. It hadn't been as frequent lately. I must have aged out.

"Please," I hit his shoulder, starting to walk away before spinning on my heel. "I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."

"You know you need to rest when you start quoting your own song,"