Livre: One Shots

[57] the rumors are terrible

Taylor was just coming down the stairs to start making breakfast when her girlfriend walked up beside her, nudging her sharply in the arm.

"Hey, babe," Karlie said with a smirk. "I want a word with you."

Taylor rolled her eyes expecting some argument about how the kitchen cabinets and drawers were laid out again, but followed Karlie down the side hallway that connected to their kitchen.

Karlie led her to the small alcove in the window where they were able to peer out onto the street below them. Karlie stood watching the people on the street mill about freely hidden from the sight of anyone passing by stories below. Taylor raised an eyebrow.

"So... what's the problem, Karlie?"

Karlie grinned. "The problem is," she said, "I hear that you've put me under the classic Taylor Swift love spell or so I'm told."

"Oh really?" Taylor laughed. "Because I heard that you called me to convince me to perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show while I was sipping my morning cup of coffee."

Karlie turns to face Taylor in the window opening. The two of them squared off against each other for a moment, shoulders tense and faces stony. Then Taylor's mouth twitches into a smile, and both of them bust out laughing.

"They really don't think much of us, do they?" Taylor asked as she wrapped an arm around her girlfriend and pulled herself closer to Karlie.

"Or they think a lot of us," Karlie argued. "I mean putting me under your love spell isn't exactly easy. I heard you whisked me away on a romantic colorado camping trip last week. Pretty incredible views from the so-called resort suite you booked me."

Taylor chuckled and took Karlie's hand, twining their fingers together. "But where would I find the time?" she asked. "Since apparently I've been making out with you during your most recent Vogue trip, when you were supposed to be changing for your different outfits. Oh and not to forget in the Milkbar's pantry as I helped you and Christina during the last baking session for your kookies."

"Is that all?" Karlie leant forward to whisper in her ear. "I heard that your beard Joe caught us stark naked during our last Rhode Island trip with several bottles of whiskey."

"You'd think we would be in trouble for that."

"Ah, but you forget," Karlie said. "We have Joe in a strict, strict contract, so we forced him to keep it quiet. Or you'd blackmail him apparently. You're ruthless."

"How silly of me, I should have known." Taylor grinned. "And yet the word got out anyway. Somehow."

"Funny the way that happens." Karlie bantered.

Taylor sighed. "You know, with all these adventures, it's no wonder I'm so tired."

"Did you wake up in the middle of the night writing again?" Karlie frowned. "You need a break. Maybe you should take the day off with me..."

Her smile sent a jolt through Taylor's stomach, but she forced herself to think logically.

"We shouldn't," she said. Karlie pouted. "Hey! Don't give me that look! I know you've got work to do too."

"But I would be working," Karlie told her. "Haven't you heard? I'm plotting to turn you into my runway partner so consider it practice."

Her arm twined around Taylor's waist, pulling her away from the window and towards the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"Oh no!" Taylor smiled. "I thought I was winning you over with the power of my Taylor Swift charm. That on the very same call for the VSFS, I convinced you to create a fashion line with me to promote my upcoming album."

Taylor leant her forehead against Karlie, so close that she felt rather than saw Karlie's smile.

"It's a good thing they don't know the truth about us," Karlie murmured.

"You mean that you're not as douchey as you pretend you are while being married to Jerk?"

"Only around you," Karlie told her. "And you're not as much of a good girl as you seem to let the public believe."

"Only for you," Taylor whispered back, pulling Karlie close for a long-overdue kiss.

As Karlie buried her hands in Taylor's hair and kissed her back, Taylor felt her stress and exhaustion fading away. Nothing could make her melt like Karlie could– make her want to leave her songs unwritten and sneak around the city and country just like the rumour mill said they did, caring for nothing but each other's company. After only a couple of minutes she was weak at the knees, and her resolve was faltering too.

Karlie knew all too well the effect she had on Taylor, and when she pulled back for air, it was with a knowing smirk that she asked Taylor: "Are you sure you don't want to take the day off?"

Taylor sighed. "You can join me in the studio today if you'd like."

"Again?" Karlie asked, only half teasingly. "Can't you think of a better place?"

"Well, that Rhode Island idea wasn't half bad..."

Taylor was gratified to see a lustful look pass over Karlie's face.

"I don't suppose you actually do have blackmail material on Joe?" she asked, slightly breathless.

"I'm afraid not, just NDA's." Taylor said. "The studio will have to do. And when we're done..."

"When we're done?" Karlie prompted hopefully.

Taylor smirked. "You'll have to wait and see."

"Tease," Karlie complained. "Fine. I'll see you in the studio. I'll go up and shower. By the way, I already made you some breakfast, you'll just have to warm it up again or something."

She leaned in for a goodbye kiss, which turned into another, and another...

"Or," Karlie murmured, "we could just stay here."

"Don't you have a workout," Taylor reminded her.

"If I left now I would already be late. I could -"

They heard Taylor's phone ring from the other and they sprung apart, Taylor went to grab her phone. It was Tree calling. "So apparently there's a photo circulating of you and Karlie online that some Pap got from below the window. There's a heavy glare from the sun but will you two please be careful?" Tree sounded slightly frustrated.

Taylor could hardly blame her – they were a mess with all of the rumors that surrounded them. She could only imagine how different the phone call would have been if they had been pictured with the state their hair was in now. Karlie was bright red, and even Taylor's dark cheeks were showing a faint flush.

Karlie didn't even hesitate. She turned to Taylor with a confident smirk, the kind she never used when they were alone together.

"Nice talking to you, Taylor," she said. "Don't go forgetting our plans after the studio, now."

Then she turned and walked away, hips swaying and long strides showing off her legs – the kind of walk you couldn't help but stare after. "Sorry Tree. We'll do better!" She quickly hung up the phone and it took Taylor a few seconds to regain her composure.

Sooner or later, the Hollywood gossips would get tired of talking about the two of them – the Grammy golden girl and the world famous model. The reality wasn't nearly as scandalous as most people imagined it to be or really nearly as interesting as the tabloids painted them out to be.

But for today, Taylor was pretty sure they had just started a whole new round of rumours especially with her plan to surprise Karlie with a lunch date after her time in the studio.

Fin.

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Thanks for reading! :) Happy weekend. New Image chapter up tomorrow so review if you need to... Let me know what you think.