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Holy shit .
It is the only thing running through Taylor’s mind while she’s trying her hardest not to piss her pants. Any other day, she would love New York. Cherish it with her entire heart as she walks through Central Park and tries to write some song lyrics in the green grass, but now she despises it with every part of her body, especially her bladder. She’s tried McDonald’s, the Apple Store, even the shitty weed store right next to the M&M store (an incredible business tactic, actually), and now her only hope is this rural coffee shop she saw from the corner of her eye.
The bell at the top of the door rings as she steps inside and approaches one of the baristas behind the counter, pressing her thighs together like she’s trying to keep the Atlantic Ocean from spilling out of her vagina. The indie-alt girl stares at her with a piqued expression. Taylor prepares herself for the worst.
“Hi, um, where are your bathrooms?”
“They are for customers only.”
Fucking bitch.
“Shit- Uh..” Taylor reaches for her purse only to pull out a nail file, her ID, and a cat figurine Austin had bought her as a gift for her birthday last year. “I don’t have any cash or anything on me right now. Can’t you just help me out and let me go real quick?”
The girl shrugs and looks back down to the blender she’s cleaning. “It’s store policy.”
“Your policy is bullshit,” she snaps, and the girl’s head shoots up with an angry expression, “Sorry, I just mean that, according to the state law, if you have more than 19 seats in your restaurant, which you do, then a bathroom must be provided to the public.”
“And it’s provided to the public who buy an item. Now either wait in line or find somewhere else.”
The blonde hisses to herself at the shitty worker who is obviously not a girls-girls. Now she’s got to find herself either somewhere on the street to piss or find another place that maybe accepts something like Venm-
“Hey, honey, did you want your regular?”
It’s a shout in Taylor's direction. She glances behind her first, but there is no one there. Then she looks at the source of the sound. At the front of the counter, there's a tall, blonde, ridiculously attractive woman who’s wearing these sexy black dress pants and collared shirt buttoned down enough she could see her collarbone, and omigod Taylor’s gonna have a heart attack. She’s talking to her, no doubt about it. The eye contact, the subtle pointing with her finger in her direction. Holy shit her fingers—“Did you want a latte? Or maybe a refresher? I mean, you haven’t been getting all the water intake you need, wouldn’t want you getting dehydrated.”
She’s
helping
her. She must have overheard or something, granted maybe everyone did, but not only that but she’s also buying her something? Or maybe Taylor will have to pay her back. That seems smarter.
Oh right, she has to speak.
“Oh, uh, yeah
my love . I think I’d love an iced tea for my- uh-
dehydration .”
“Great! You heard the lady,” The woman spoke to the barista taking her order, “Oh, and can we get that bathroom pass please?”
The barista begrudgingly hands the key over to the woman, who then hands it to Taylor.
“Your tea will be ready shortly.”
“Thank you, so much. You are unbelievable,” She praises before glancing down at the purse in her hand, “Do you mind holding this while..”
“Not at all. Take your time.”

Don’t look at her boobs. Don’t look at her boobs.

She manages to hand over the purse without looking below the woman’s neck and successfully makes it to the bathroom without pissing her pants. She does her business, pulling out her phone to call Selena while finishing up.
“Oh my god Sel you aren’t gonna believe this.”
“Tay, if it’s another stupid cat fact you saw on the internet I’m going to block your number.”
“It’s not! And I only did that yesterday… But listen! I was trying to find someone to pee, and you know how New York is—“
“Violating all human rights?”
“Yes! So, I went to this cafe and tried to use my lawyer skills on them but it didn’t work very well, and then this girl just started pretending to be like my wife and she’s buying me tea and holding my purse as I use the bathroom right now. And oh my god Sel, she is so fucking hot.”
“You are calling me while you are taking a piss?”
“Well, I’m finished now. I just have to wash my hands. That isn’t the point, Sel. I didn’t want her to walk away so I gave her my purse to hold… But oh god what if she just stole my purse.”
She presses her phone to her ear using her shoulder, turning the faucet on to wash her hands.
“But like, what if she asks me out or something? What if I come off weird, or as a loser, or
something ?”
“I think that you should tell her that you cannot go out next week because you promised you would go out with me. Also, what about Dianna?”
Fuck
she sort of forgot she had a girlfriend, technically. It’s sort of artificial.
“Sel, you know Di and I have been on and off for months now.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Okay, I’ve got to go. I’ll update you. I don’t want her to think I’m taking too long. Love you, Sel!””Love you too, Tay.”
Taylor finishes drying off her hands and shoves her phone back in her pocket, exiting the bathroom and handing the key back to one of the workers before heading straight towards the sexy giraffe in the middle of the coffee shop holding two cups.
“Thank you again, you are a lifesaver.”
“No problem, I’d want someone to do the same for me if It came down to it... Oh, and here’s your tea.”
Taylor holds the iced drink in her hands, glancing the girl up in down. God, she’s so pretty. She could be a model if she wanted to.
“You could have just ordered yourself two drinks.”
“It’s fine. If I had two, I’d be in the same position you were in just minutes ago.”
There was a small laugh shared between them and Taylor waited patiently, for anything, any chance that maybe this girl would like to ask her out. She’d have to take the first shot it seemed.
“So...”
“Oh right! Your purse. Here, sorry I totally forgot I had it.”
“...Right. Thank you.”
“Of course.”
No use. This girl is oblivious.
“Guess I’ll just head out now… bye.”
Taylor turns her back and mentally curses herself for her stupidity in not asking herself because maybe she should wear the pants for once, but she’s an idiot and just walks away which is why she’ll probably be tethered to Dianna the rest of her life. Sweet, Supple, Simple Dianna...
“Hey, wait-“
The shorter blonde turns with a grin. “Are you going to ask me out?”
The other girl’s green eyes seemed shocked at first but then relaxed with a charming smile as she nodded. “Absolutely. I’m Karlie.”
“I’m Taylor.” She grins like a stupid teenager.
She doesn’t even notice the unzipped fly of her jeans revealing her cat-patterned underwear until they are in the cab to get gelato from a few blocks down.

<3

“You’ve
never
been to the Statue of Liberty?” Taylor’s jaw dropped, staring at Karlie as they ate their gelato on the restaurant’s outdoor patio. It's beautiful weather in New York right now. The sun beating down upon their backs and giving this glow to Karlie's face that makes her seem like an angel. It could change quickly though. There could be thunderclouds over them in a matter of seconds.
“Well, I’ve seen it, just never been. It’s much smaller than I expected it to be.”
“And you don’t take pleasure in small things?”Karlie raises one brow at the comment and red pigment floods her cheeks of embarrassment.
“I didn’t-“
“I do take plenty of pleasure in small things if you couldn’t tell by me asking you out.”
“I sort of asked you out, or pressured you into it,” She says hopelessly until she realizes just exactly what Karlie was implying, “Hey, wait, I’m not small! I’m 5’11”
“And I’m a woman who’s 6’2, everything is small to me,” The blonde smiles and shoves another scoop of ice into her mouth. So perfect. She’s so perfect.
“You should be a model,” Taylor blurts, but too caught in the perfectness of how Karlie’s fingers tap along the table to defend herself.
“I am, actually.”
Taylor stares at her in disbelief. “You’re lying.”
Karlie shakes her head with a smile and leans back in her chair, “Nope, It’s just a side job, but I have been featured in a few magazines.”
“That’s amazing!”
“It’s fun, but just an occasional quick buck. I don’t think I could do more than that.” Karlie’s perfect bone structure and arched brows make it hard to believe that she could be anything
but
a model, or maybe an Oscar-winning actress. “I’d much rather focus on computer science. Maybe teach young girls how to code, that’s always been a dream of mine.”
“That’s really sweet.” Taylor has always pictured coding as nerdy, but when Karlie talks about it, it seems like the sexiest thing on the planet.
“Yeah, one day maybe. But I do feel like I’ve talked a lot about myself, and I couldn’t help but remember you tried to use some sort of law tactic in the coffee shop earlier?”
Taylor rolls her eyes playfully and nods, “Yeah, I’m enrolled to do a law program at NYU.”
“Hey, that’s awesome! NYU is a great school.”
“It is! I’m just not sure if being a lawyer or what I really want to do.” Taylor speaks faintly, afraid to even admit that. “I just feel pressured into to by my parents, or growing up watching Legally Blonde thinking I could be
Elle Woods . But real Law School isn’t like that.” She doesn’t even know why she is telling Karlie all of this. They haven’t even known each other for more than a few hours, but something about her just feels safe in a way. Like she folds right into her. Nothing like Dianna. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”
“Don’t worry about it. Is there something you’d rather be doing instead?” Karlie pries, but so gently that Taylor just wants to tell her every life secret she’s ever had.
“It’s been my dream since I was a kid to be a singer. I like writing songs and playing them for family, but it’s stupid.” The guitar in her apartment is currently collecting dust on her wall, and calloused fingers becoming soft again. She still writes, just never plays.
“It’s not stupid if you love it,” The taller blonde encourages, “Would you rather live the rest of your life with a shitty job and lots of money or the best job in the world and barely getting by?”
“I am in a load of student debt now so I might just have to go with a shitty job.”
Karlie chuckles, “Well the point
was
for you to say best job, but I can’t argue with your reasoning.”
There is a small buzzing right above them and Taylor glances up to notice a small blue dragonfly, pointing to it with a grin, “Oh look! I didn’t even think they came around here. They are so pretty.”
Karlie’s green eyes shift up but then immediately go wide as she slides her chair away, “Are you crazy?”
It catches her off guard and Taylor looks to the other girl, “What? It’s just a Dragonfly-“
“I
hate
bugs.”
The thought of it made her stifle a laugh. “Even the cute ones?”
“If you call
any
of those
cute , you are insane. Their beady eyes want to
kill me .”
“But you are so much bigger than them!” She tries to hold back her laughter, watching the dragonfly buzz away to the next table.”Doesn’t matter. They are my worst enemy.”
“And if we were on an island with swarms of bugs?”
“You would be dead,” Karlie says plain and simple, making her repress another laugh.
“And you would be too?”
“Nope, see I would survive because I am super strong.” Karlie flexes her muscles to make a statement, and Taylor swears she can feel her ovulation cycle spike just looking at them.
“You are going to sacrifice me to the bugs? That’s mean!”
“Survival of the fittest,” Karlie shrugs but then shakes her head, “No, you're right, that’s awful, I don’t think I could do that. I’d just use my super strong muscles to push us both through it.”
“At least I’m not bug food now.” Taylor compromises, shoving another spoonful of gelato into her mouth.“That is solely between me and you though now. My irrational fear of bugs.”
Taylor hums, “Good to know I at least have some sort of blackmail on you now.”
She doesn’t even know how their conversation flows so easily and why they just seem to match each other effortlessly, it’s something Taylor has only dreamed of and now she’s living in it. She doesn’t want it to end either.
“So do you want me to show you the Statue of Liberty?”

<3

The ferry trip is a tight fit and Taylor is pressed against Karlie so closely that she feels like she might explode. The humidity of the seawater is already making her hair frizz up, something she didn’t exactly plan for, and she’s consistently patting her hair down to make sure it doesn’t look like a mess. Karlie just seems to be admiring the views though, pointing at several different landmarks she can see along the way like a kid on their first trip to Las Vegas. It made her feel warm though, happily listening as Karlie tells her all about a tech company’s building that isn’t that far from the shoreline.
“Sorry, I don’t know why I’m rambling,” Karlie says sheepishly, but Taylor couldn’t care less. She’s just happy to be in her company.
“You could ramble and talk all day and I wouldn’t complain one bit.”
The comforting and trusting smile that Karlie gives her is enough to know that she could be tied to this girl for the rest of her life and she wouldn’t complain a single bit. She’d just be happy to be close to her. It’s such an odd thing that she’s never felt before. With Dianna, it was always so straightforward. She didn’t have to think about what she was doing, she was just doing it because Dianna was happy so she should be happy too. She didn’t have to fight with Dianna or debate about where they should eat for dinner, it was so easy. She liked the flare she got from Karlie.
The bell on the ferry is loud enough to alert them that they’ve made it to the island, everyone stands up almost at once and attempts to file out, which spikes her anxiety almost immediately. She feels Karlie lace their fingers together though, maybe in an ‘I really want to hold your hand’ type way or an ‘I don’t want to get separated from my tour guide’ type way, and either she’s just happy she gets to feel her warm soft hands.
They make it off safely and reconvene to straighten themselves out before they both take a look at the statue just from where they are standing in the small plaza.
Karlie tilts her head to one side, “It’s still pretty small, but bigger when you’re close to it. We get to go climb it right?”
Taylor nods, keeping their hands clasped as they make their way further into the small island. There is a small education center to the left and the statue to the right. The gift shop is right next to the education center along with a place to eat, but she is still filled with her gelato to care much about food right now.“Do you want to go and climb the statue or do you want to learn about it first?”“Climb.” And Karlie’s already dragging Taylor to the door underneath the statue to climb up to the ledge around the oxidized copper. There are a few giggles that stumble out of her mouth as they make it a race to get up the quickest, pausing only just before the opening to step out onto the parapet. She can see Karlie’s gaze locked on the glazing waves not far from the statue.
“Did you change your mind?” Taylor asks, almost wondering if it might be better to let go of her hand. Maybe it was a bit too fast?
“No, I want to see it, just a bit afraid of heights,” Karlie mumbles, approaching closer and peering over the edge.
“You don’t have to go higher than this. We didn’t get the special pass for the highest point.”
“I’ll be okay, I’m strong. Remember?”
Taylor smirks at her as they walk along the parapet and gaze up at the statue from a rather unflattering angle.
Karlie nudges her softly, “She’s a lot bigger now, though it does feel like I’m getting her bad side.”
“If anyone ever makes a statue of me, I hope they never let them see me from this angle.” Taylor would actually kill everyone on this planet.
“I think you’d look flawless from every angle.”
“You’re a big bullshitter.”
“And you’re rather mouthy for a lawyer.” Karlie’s devious expression is so stupid but hilarious. She wants to comment on it but just stares for a second before being rudely interrupted by a droplet of water.
“Oh no.” Taylor glances up to the sky and notices the looming dark clouds of a New York disaster.
“It’s just a sprinkle, Taylor, I don’t think it’s that bad-“”It’s literally about to pour on us.”
“Please, we used to get these clouds in St. Louis all the time, it’s just a little shower we can just take cover-“ Karlie reasons but everyone else on the parapet parades past them in an effort to get to one of the main buildings as quick as possible.
“New York is very different from St. Louis. Come on!” Taylor takes ahold of Karlie’s hand and leads her down the stairs quickly, hearing the sound of water pattering outside. It’s a quick sprint from the tower to the gift shop, and despite the shower of rain coming down she bites a bullet and leads them to the cover, rustling in with lightly damp clothing.
“Wow! I don’t think I’ve seen it rain that hard in ages.” Karlie watches through one of the windows and then begins looking through the gift shop. It’s like an oxidized green wonderland as they wander through the isles of overpriced souvenirs. “Hey look at these!” Karlie holds up two Statue of Liberty ponchos with a grin, and Taylor bites her lip to avoid showing how much she enjoys the giddy expression.
“Karlie, the stuff here is so expensive I don’t think I could even afford a
key chain.”
“Okay, then I’ll buy them.” Karlie shrugs it off like it’s nothing, folding them over her arm and making her way to the register.
“What? No! You can’t do that! You’ve bought like everything today, just because I didn’t bring any money to buy a stupid coffee to go pee-“ She fumbles her words, trying to grab onto Karlie’s button-up to stop her but then realizing how close her boobs are and flushing again.
“Seriously don’t worry about it, I’m happy to spoil you a bit. Plus these are like so cute and I might die if my clothes get any more wet.”
Taylor concedes reluctantly and lets the taller blonde purchase the ponchos and slip them on one another, matching in the odd color of green. It makes her laugh just how ridiculous they look. Like newlyweds on their honeymoon. Karlie watches the pattern of rain slowly deplete in the sky’s short show of emotion, and Taylor begins to notice how perfectly the green of the poncho matches the girl’s eyes.
“As much as I did want to go to the education center, I think we should go to my place for dinner,” Karlie says so smoothly and she feels her legs turn to Jell-O.
“Your place?”
“I promise you it’s clean. And I’m quite the chef.” She’s not worried about one of those things. She’s just terrified about what will happen if she can’t control herself getting closer and closer to this woman.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
She feels like she’s blacking out the rest of the way there.

<3
The ponchos are discarded in Karlie’s small mud room at the entrance of her flat. It’s an immaculate flat, and living in New York she knows this cannot be cheap. Karlie also hasn’t been living here super long, obvious by her childlike behavior when they were on the ferry. Taylor herself hasn’t been living here long either, though. Only for about half a year, but her apartment is nothing like this. It’s small and a bit sketchy, but she only has to live here for a few years before she can return to Nashville with her mom, dad, and brother.
Her hair has a small curl to it now, from the rain and the humidity of being so close to the sea. The humidity is already a nightmare here, to begin with, but she’s adapted to it since moving here. It’s just during rain storms or being close to the shore that it likes to act out. A real pain in the ass sometimes.
Karlie leads her to the kitchen, and she lets her eyes wander over the appliances and cabinets. Her wallet hurts looking at it. Maybe it’s just her anxiety acting up or something. She’s always had a weird thing with money.
“Okay… Well, I haven’t gone shopping in a while so let’s see what I have…” The tall blonde ventures through the cabinets and the fridge, pulling out a few contrasting items that could mean several varying dishes. “How about a simple, homebody meal, like chicken alfredo?”
She couldn’t wish for anything better. “That’s perfect.”
She watches Karlie prepare everything and get started by herself until it becomes a bit too painful to watch. It is clear that it has been a while since this girl has even attempted to cook in the kitchen, almost burning the garlic in the pan.
“You have to keep it on low to simmer so it doesn’t burn, then we can add the sauce,” Taylor instructs, reaching over Karlie to turn the knob down.
“Maybe you’re the real chef here,” Karlie jokes, nudging her softly with her hip.
“Just trying to help you have a good meal and not burn your house down.”
Karlie lets her help with the rest of the meal until the taller girl gets demoted with the only task of stirring until everything is done. The savory aroma fills the air, and it feels intensely domestic with how close they are and how perfectly they match each other. However, it’s becoming exceedingly clear that Karlie can be a bit of a spitfire when she starts giving her a bit of an attitude over her taking over her kitchen.
“Should I just give you the keys to my apartment?” Karlie says in a mocking tone as she stirs the sauce. Taylor is at the sink, draining the noodles.
“I think you should just hire me as your personal chef so you don’t have to rely on your Doordash membership.”
“Hey! How’d you know about that?”
Taylor adds the noodles to the mixture, topping it with a small flake of herbs, and then finally lets Karlie help by dishing them both a plate and showing her where the forks are.
They sit next to each other at the barstools, but their stools are faced towards one another’s, only their food off to the side. Karlie’s smile says a million words. “Bone appetite!”
Taylor offered to help set the table so they could eat there instead, but the other girl insisted that the table was far too formal for them and that they should eat at her kitchen counter instead. She shoves a fork full of noodles into her mouth, but almost immediately regrets it at the hot sensation.
“Holy shit that’s hot!”
“Well, yeah, didn’t you see the steam coming off of it?” She kicks Karlie lightly in the shin for the comment.
“Yes, I did, smartass. I just didn’t think it was going to be that hot!”
“Yeah, I don’t know if a lawyer is a good idea for you, you barely understand bits of common sense.”
“Yep, definitely not my field. Which is all my parents have ever wanted but maybe they’ll just get a disappointment instead.” Between her and Austin, she was always the more praised and respected because of her studies and grades. Part of her felt bad since Austin was getting the short end of the stick, but she’s slowly realizing maybe she and Austin are about to switch places. “I don’t know why I keep telling you about all my issues.”
Karlie shrugs, “We all have them. Just need the right people to talk about them with.”
“Anyways, want to tell me what that is all about?” She asks, pointing to the large shelf full to the brim of vinyl records.
“Oh- That. It’s just collecting dust right now. My mom gave them to me. She used to collect them for years but didn’t have any use for them after a while. She did tell me that she liked records because they are so delicate, matriculate, and great for appearances, but it’s the music that comes from them that makes them worthwhile. It’s metaphorical, and I don’t even know if I live up to it. I mean, I hardly play them to begin with.” Karlie paused and stared off before shaking her head and returning to her stare, “I don’t know why I was telling you about my mom. That’s probably so awkward.”
“It’s fine,” Taylor offers a genuine smile, “Maybe we could play some of that music tonight?”
“That actually sounds… Nice. You can go pick one out if you’d like, I’ll get us some wine.”
Karlie cleans their dinner up as well, leaving Taylor to wander to the shelf and lick a bit of the dust off with her fingers. She finds an Eagles vinyl somewhere in a mix and takes it out delicately, slipping the record from its casing and setting it on the record player. She’s always adored how detailed these small contraptions can be with their methodical buttons, speeds, and accuracy. Taylor turns a knob to flick it on, watching the record spin. She raises the small needle above the barely noticeable groves and lowers it slowly till the sound of music fills the room. Karlie is on the couch, two glasses of wine on the coffee table. Taylor pads her way over and lets her hips sway with the music.“I can’t even tell you the last time I played something from that shelf,” Karlie mutters, taking a sip from her glass as Taylor situates herself right next to her.
“Don’t think about it too much, just enjoy the music. Do you like the Eagles?”
“The team or the band?”
“The band of course, since that’s what’s playing, but now I’m curious about your team preference.” Taylor’s dad is from Philadelphia, and that’s where she was born, so naturally that’s where her loyalties lie.
“The band? Phenomenal. The team? Debatable.”
“I’ll have to leave right now if you don’t explain yourself.””I’m more of a baseball fan. Cardinals till I die.”
Taylor hums with approval since she can’t argue much about a baseball team when she barely knows what an inning is. “I don’t even know much about football, so I’m at a total loss for baseball.”
“You need me to take you out to a ball game?”
Taylor’s blue eyes narrow onto green ones in disappointment. “You did not just quote a child song to me after having such a romantic day.”
“Romantic day, eh? You like pretending to be my wife?”
This wine was going to make her swallow herself whole.
“I like getting stuff for free.”
“Ah, so she’s a gold digger,” Karlie smirks and leans over to take Taylor’s half-drunk wine glass from her hand and sets it on the table with her own. “And you liked seeing my fit body in wet clothes?” Her hands slide up just barely under her shirt to brush against her skin, sending chills down her spine.
“I like showing you places you’ve never seen.”
“Healing my inner child?” Karlie asks, guiding her closer to her with the grip of her perfect hands, her thumbs nestled just under her ribs, until she’s straddling her. She has to be careful before she starts acting like a cat in heat. “I had a great day with you too.”
“You didn’t think I was overbearing?”
“No, but maybe I’m just being nice to you because you hold my deepest secret.”
Taylor raises a brow, “That you have a phobia of heights?”
“ That,
and my fear of-“
“Cute little bugs?”
“They are
not
cute.”
“You’re gonna have to get used to it if you live here in New York. Cockroaches are everywhere.”
Karlie rolls her eyes, “I’ll get an exterminator to make sure they don’t come back.”
“That’s what lots of people say, but then they develop an immunity.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Maybe just a little bit,” She whispers, close to Karlie’s ear.
Despite their situation, they don’t go much farther than the brushing of skin on skin and the warmth of just being next to each other. Taylor partially wishes they had gone further, but then again her brain might have a small shutdown if that did happen. They talked for what seemed like hours, and maybe it was. All she remembers is a bottle of wine gone and playful conversations until they couldn’t move much farther than the couch and fell asleep cuddled next to each other where Taylor could smell the expensive but delicious perfume on Karlie’s neck.

<3

The next morning Taylor's awoken by sunlight shining in her eyes, perfectly seeping through the blinds. She’s on her side on the couch, and Karlie’s arms are wrapped around her stomach. They are so perfect, and she can even see the brief sight of a tattoo on one of her forearms. She hasn’t had this good of a sleep in a ridiculously long time, and it’s saying a lot since it was literally on a couch. Maybe it was also all the wine she drank, giving her a bit of a headache, but it’s nothing that a little Advil can’t fix. Very carefully, she pries the arm that is on top of her off to the side and rolls skillfully till she’s got her feet on the floor and has successfully removed herself from a very hot blonde’s grasp without waking her up. She’s gotten surprisingly good at that. Maybe it’s all the one-night stands she’s had between her and Di’s breakups. Which makes her think about how much she probably should schedule an appointment with her therapist again. If she had the money to.
Taylor picks up her purse and slips on her shoes, almost debating on if she should wake the girl before she leaves, but she really wants to call Selena on her way back to her apartment before her friend has to go to work. She swiftly makes it out the door and shuts the door behind her maybe a bit too loud, not even realizing that she woke up Karlie.
She pulls her phone from her purse and clicks on Selena’s icon, pressing call and then listening to the ringing of the line till she hears her pick up.
“Hey, Sel! You won’t believe what happened.”
“Something tells me I truly won’t.” She can hear a yawn from the other line, assuming she might have woken her up.
“You know that girl I talked about yesterday who was literally my lifesaver?”
“The one who pretended to be your wife?”
“Yes!” She says almost too enthusiastically. “Well, um, she did ask me out, and we hung out the whole day and just talked and… Wow, she is amazing. Her name is Karlie.”
“Is she in the room with you right now? Do I need to talk to her to give me verbal consent that you guys can kiss?” Her friend jokes and then pauses, “Unless you guys already did that. Filthy little-“
“No! We didn’t. And I can’t really give the phone to her because I already left.”
“You didn’t want another day of fun? Or did you already plan your next date?”
“I mean, it would be nice, but I have things to do. And I couldn’t even really talk about it because I left before she could wake up.”
She hears Selena choke on the other line. “I’m sorry, what? Did you leave her like, a note?”
“No-“
“Your number?”
“No-“
“Well then how the hell are you supposed to talk again, Tay?”
She pauses her step down the street. She hadn’t exactly thought about that. “I guess I wasn’t thinking. I don’t know why I left. Oh god, I’m such an idiot! It’s a forced habit. I’ll call you back Selena.”
She hangs up the line and pivots on her heel, a bit of anxiety and excitement flooding her chest as she makes her way back to the girl’s flat.

<3

Karlie wakes up to the sound of someone slipping on their shoes and shuffling their way out of her flat. She sits up when she hears the door shut. No Taylor, just a room full of nothing but empty wine classes and their untidy dinner plates. She hates to admit how much her heart hurts from it, that she just up and left without so much as a note. Karlie has always been a deep sleeper, but it does take much to nudge her awake.
She can’t think about it. It’s stupid to think about it too hard. Maybe she should be more upset that she just blew a bunch of cash on the girl in the hopes of maybe getting a second date. That was fucking wrong. So wrong.
She drives her fist into the couch and decides to get changed into something more comfortable than her dress clothes from yesterday. Her flat seems so dull without the warm laughter of an aspiring singer.
Don’t think about it. Just slip on your coding shirt and Nike shorts and move on with your day, Karlie.
When she comes back to the main room, she notices the needle still on the Eagles' vinyl. It automatically stops, but she must’ve forgotten to put it away before she went to bed. She picks up the needle when the door opens again, but this time left wide open. She almost hopes that it’s Taylor coming to say she forgot something, but it’s not. She’s met with a cocky British asshole she calls her best friend.
“Hey, Kaddy! Get it? Cause I mixed Karlie with Daddy? So, that hot babe of yours still around or— Hey, wait, you got your vinyls out? I thought you weren’t ever gonna touch those things after what happened with your mom.” Cara bounds up the stairs and takes a glance at the kitchen as well. “Did you cook something, Kar?” She swipes her finger along the sauce on the plates. “No fuckin’ way! This is amazing. Always thought you were more of a baker...”
Karlie doesn’t respond, just tucks away the record and sits down in her chair, her eyes following Cara as she makes her way back to her.
“She taking a shower or?”
“She left.”
Cara renders the situation quickly and lets out a sigh. “Oh damn, mate. But you know, she seems really good to you. I mean, she must’ve gotten you to open up about your mom, right? Or else you wouldn’t let anyone touch those records .”
Karlie shakes her head, twisting herself around in the chair. “No, I mean
fuck
her. I don’t think I could’ve gotten her out of her faster. She’s like, a complete mess. She’s a damn good cook, but it’s like I’m a one-night stand fail.”
Cara looks at her sympathetically and lays her hand on her shoulder. “Those are like the worst types of girls. Ripping into your heart but just leaving the second you think you have something real going on. Now, the chick I’m seeing right now isn’t like that, but I’m
totally
praying for you, Kar. Just a little sad I can’t call you Kaddy or Kardaddy now.”
“Yeah, whatever, Cara.”
She didn’t mean everything that she said. She was mad, but she didn’t hate her that bad for doing what she did. Maybe she didn’t know the whole story. She was acting on built-up emotions and said some things she really shouldn’t have said.
Especially when Taylor was standing in the doorway the entire time.

<3

It’s been two weeks since Taylor heard everything that Karlie had to say about her in her New York flat. God, it felt like she was going through a breakup, and she didn’t even kiss her. It was just the thought that someone thought of her as pathetic and a disaster. Someone who she thought genuinely admired her. It was sickening to even think about, honestly. It led her down the spiral of seeing Dianna again and finally accepting her proposal after three times of rejecting her. Maybe it was a bit of a manic episode, but now she’s engaged with a ring on her finger, curling her hair for a fun night out with Selena and her new girlfriend who she’s been terrified to tell her about. Apparently, Selena thought she would attack her for testing something out when she didn’t even know if she was gay or not. Like Taylor hadn’t done that a billion times.
Dianna didn’t want to come. She was too busy working with her agent to schedule new auditions for her acting career. That was fine with Taylor. She was hoping to use something associated with Dianna as an excuse to get out early tonight so she could actually make it to her class tomorrow. She’s been doing decent in law school, it has always come easy to her, it’s just trying to find enjoyment in it that’s hard. She’d rather be curled up with her guitar and a notebook. And she has had plenty of inspiration since all the shit that happened with Karlie. It makes her sick just how much she continues to think about her, about how maybe she was the one that fucked everything up, but then again Karlie was the one that said all the shitty things about her. Taylor was just trying to go back and redeem herself for her actions.

Fuck!

She burnt her neck with her curling iron, setting the tool aside to press a cold towel to the redding skin. She’s just hoping that this girl’s night out will help her relax a bit and have some fun. The last time she felt like she was having fun was wearing stupid green ponchos in the rain.
“Hey, Tay, you almost ready?” Selena calls from the hallway.
She sets the towel aside and looks at herself in the mirror, rubbing away a bit of unblended makeup. “Yeah! I’ll be out in like, five.”
She hears Selena’s steps fade away and Taylor finishes curling the last strands of hair, spraying them with a bit of hairspray and brushing them through with her hands. In the mirror, she admires the casual club fit she picked out. A purple corset-like top with a black jean skirt and leather jacket. It would work for a brief outing before complaining that her heels were hurting her feet or something so she could come back home. Anything to just satisfy Selena in making her weekly outing.
She takes a breather and exits the bathroom, double checking to make sure the curling iron is off, and to the front of Selena’s apartment.
Selena turns at the sound of her, smiling and reaching out her hands to clutch her own, “Ready to go?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” The blonde says reluctantly, letting her brunette friend lead her out the door. They’ve been friends since they were teens, and her mom and dad practically treat Selena like their other daughter. She moved away from Nashville when her parents enrolled her at a school in New York and they’ve kept in touch, but they are even closer now that they live in the same town again. Taylor was sad to say goodbye to her other best friend, Abigail, who still lives in Nashville with her parents.
They are picked up by an Uber to take them to the club. Selena rambles endlessly about how much Taylor's going to love her partner and how well they work together, and how she has amazing friends that she will get along with, though Taylor might disagree. It’s hard for her to get along with new people these days. She blames it on her chronic anxiety.
They flash their IDs to the bouncer, allowing them in, and Taylor offers to get their drinks while Selena finds her girlfriend. Just off to the distance, she can see Selena find their group while she’s waiting for their drinks, and just briefly hear their conversations.
“Oh, Cara, I’ve missed you so much!” Selena shouts, there are a few other girls' voices in the mix.
“Where’s your plus one, babe? Get lost in the crowd?” She can hear the British accent from a mile away, and it pipes her interest. She never thought Selena would be into a Brit.
The bartender hands her the drinks and she navigates her way through the crowd till she finds Selena again, handing her a fruity drink to keep her sober for at least a little bit. “Here you go, Sel.”
“Oh, I love you, Tay! Now you can meet everyone!”
The Brit starts first, her arm around Selena’s waist. “Hi, I’m Cara, Selena’s girlfriend.”
Selena glances over a bit shocked. “Are we doing labels now?”
“Oh, uh, unless you’re uncomfortable with that.”
“I mean, I’m fine with it! I’m fine with you, and anything you do is great, and you can label me all you want!” Selena laughs nervously and Taylor feels rather embarrassed by the situation on Selena’s behalf. “That was, incredibly awkward.”
Taylor laughs and nods to Cara, “It’s nice to me you, I’m Taylor.”
There’s a blonde girl next to Cara who looks almost similar to Karlie, but she’s got a bit of a different facial structure, “I’m Gigi.”
Cara looks around as if she’s searching for someone else and curses under her breath. “Goddamn Kloss is flirting with girls already. I’ll go corral her so she can meet you. She’s my best friend after all.”
Kloss sounds a bit familiar, but she shakes it off, deciding to take the time to display her ring to Gigi instead, who seemed to catch her eye on it rather early. The time to gush about her romances doesn’t stay much longer as Cara wrings back the worst person she could possibly see right now. Karlie.
“Alright! And this is Karlie-“
“Yeah.” She says simply, cold and bitter as she stares into green eyes she once enjoyed very much.
Cara looks rather shocked as she stares between the two, raising her brow. “You already know each other-?”
Karlie glares back with the same amount of coolness, brushing her hair back. “Yes. It’s nice to see you again, Taylor. Though, how much of you will I be seeing? I’d like to make a plan for when you decide to run off again.”
“Well, I am an absolute mess, aren’t I?”
The tension between them was quickly sent to the rest of the group who backed away to let them sort out their feud without feeding into it. Selena gently grazed her arm for reassurance that she could just walk away, but Taylor felt a little bit too fed up and maybe a bit of spark from her mojito to care.
“I see you're engaged now. Sure you aren’t gonna run out on your wedding?”
“Perhaps I’ll stop by your house in my wedding dress, just so I can make you a good meal like a perfect wife!”
“I think a perfect wife would have some stability in her life to purchase her own things.”
“And I think you should grow a dick before you parade bitches around like they’re a prize.”
“I think you only need one finger to fill your satisfaction, sweetheart.”
Selena grabs her arm before she can say another fighting word, spilling a bit of her drink on the floor in the process. “Is that Karlie? As in the girl who said those awful things about you?”
“Yes, and I can’t believe you’re dating her best friend.””I didn’t know! There are a lot of tall blondes in New York. I mean, you’re one of them.”
Taylor doesn’t even think and just downs the rest of her drink, setting the empty glass on the table and trying to make her way to the bar to get another but Selena drags her back again. “Uh uh, sister. We both know you’ve got a shitty alcohol tolerance. Look, Di probably misses her beautiful, stunning fiancée and I
really
want to enjoy my night with Cara. Do you want to just take a cab home and I’ll text you when I get home?What Taylor would like to do is take this glass and shove it down the model’s throat, but she sighs and shakes her head. “I can contain myself, Sel. I don’t want to ruin your night.”
Selena looks relieved and hugs her briefly. “Great! It looks like Karlie went to flirt with other girls anyway. You can hang with me, Cara, and Gigi.”
The blonde nods and follows along, resisting the urge to watch Karlie tuck a strand of hair behind a girl’s ear and whisper something so delicately. Like that, she’s gorgeous or something. And she hates just how much she still partially wishes it was her.

<3

‘You’re invited!

To the happy union between Cara and Selena on the beaches of Hawaii!

Pack your swimsuit and join us for the time of our lives!’

Taylor folds the invitation back into her pocket after reading it for what seems like the 50th time. Cara and Selena have been together for a little over a year now, and luckily they have planned lots of their dates around not having Karlie and Taylor interact at all, which she’s very grateful for. She doesn’t expect much with this wedding, sitting in an airport bar waiting for her flight to call for boarding, praying that she can get through this week with a bunch of drinks and her anxiety medication.
She finished the rest of her drink, debating on asking for another, but her flight would be called soon enough so there wasn’t a point in wasting a drink. She couldn’t afford first class, or anything like it, so she would have to deal with a diet Coke or Pepsi the rest of her way there. She drags her cat print carry-on behind her, hearing the boarding call over the intercom just in time for her to follow everyone else as they get in line.
A younger kid bumps into her and she’s shoved by a lovey-dovey newlywed couple, but she makes it to the front safely and hands the flight attendant her pass.
“Oh, looks like you are in G41, near the back of the plane,” The woman smiles, but Taylor grits her teeth, already not looking forward to this. She ventures till she gets to her seat, a middle-row seat in the middle, the worst combo. She rolls her eyes slightly and hoists her bag into the upper storage space. Well, she tries, but she forgets that she packs like a mother who assumes everything in the world is going to go wrong so her arms fumble trying to push it up farther and farther, until someone so graciously helps her push it the rest of the way.
“Oh, thank you-“ But she turns and it’s not anyone she’d be happy to see.
“How funny, you must be going to the wedding too! I heard that you are Selena’s maid of honor,” Karlie says in an overly cheery tone that makes her want to rip out her vocal cords. She might have recognized Karlie sooner, but instead of her hair being blonde like it was last time, now it’s a deep Brunette. “Hey is your fiancé traveling with you? Or wait, I remember, you dumped her! I mean, always the maid of honor, never the bride, right? Did you call off your engagement so you didn’t steal the attention from your best friend, or was it that you couldn’t face the commitment?”
Oh . Well, that hurt. Clutching her fists tightly where she used to feel the securement of a diamond ring, but now it’s pale and empty, just like how her relationship felt with Dianna. Karlie had no right to dive into that side of her life. As if she could just walk in here, take her same flight, and help her out of the ‘kindness of her heart’.
“Well, there aren’t a whole lot of flights going to Hawaii daily.”
“There are, actually. Quite a few. There’s southwest, american, Jetblue. I mean I only picked Delta because they have some of the best first class. Just came back here because the bathroom was full.”
“Whatever.” The faster this bitch goes away, the faster she can try to sleep the rest of this flight away.
“And I mean their cookies are
undoubtedly amazing
as well. Have you had one? I can’t remember if they are only for first-class or not, you know, it’s been a bit since I’ve even been back here. I can
smell
the Walmart clothing.”
“Don’t you have literally anywhere else you could rather be?”
Karlie shrugs, “My seat, I guess, but if we are going to the wedding together we should be civil shouldn’t we? Best woman and maid of honor?”
This time Taylor doesn’t even respond and sits in her seat, and she’s terrified that Karlie might try to say something else, but an older gentleman sits right next to her, securing her in with the nursing mother to her left. This was going to be a hell of a flight.
“I guess I’ll see you when we land, Swift.” Karlie throws up two fingers like she’s the pilot herself, then makes her way back to more of the front of the plane where first class was. It made her sick to her stomach just knowing that Karlie was somewhere on this plane. Like she planned this just to fuck with her or something.
Luckily the drink from earlier calmed her down a bit, or else she might have said some choice words herself. The best time to pass time on this plane was to sleep it through, listening to the flight instructions until she was finally given a chance to do as she pleased, tightening the neck pillow she had in her bag and resting her head against the seat. Letting her eyes shift close and fall asleep to the rumble of turbulence.
She’s awoken by a chime of the plane, but not by one signally of them getting any closer. A brief look on her tablet informed her that they are about 5 hours away from Hawaii since the flight from JFK to Honolulu takes ages. She rests her head back, unlatching the neck pillow and deciding that while everyone else is asleep it might be a good break to go to the bathroom. Of course, she has to climb over an elderly person to achieve her goal, but she’s willing to make that sacrifice if it means not having to hold it in for the rest of the flight.
She narrowly avoids accidentally kicking the guy and travels her way farther back until she reaches the bathroom at the end of the plane, but she looks close enough to see that it’s flipped to occupied with a disgusting groan coming from the other side. Taylor travels down the other way instead, hoping none of the workers are awake to instruct her to wait for the bathroom instead of using the one in first class, but she isn’t left with many options.
The blonde presses the blue velvet curtain aside gently and breezes her way through the aisle when she pauses to look back just for a second. She spots Karlie resting peacefully in her seat with headphones over her ears and a sleep mask like she’s a princess. It makes her chuckle a bit. If she wasn’t such a dick, maybe she would be cute. Bathroom first, though.
After washing her hands, she stops and pauses to look at the brunette again, noticing that there is that cookie she oh so raved about sitting on the arm of her chair. Taylor gets a rather devious idea and leans over to pick the cookie up, taking a large bite out of it and simply placing it right back. As she leans to put it back, she hears just briefly the music coming from Karlie’s headphones.
The Eagles.
It almost catches her in a cold sweat just thinking about it as she hears the same guitar riffs and singing coming from the brunette’s ears. It’s weird to say that she has some sort of pull on a heartstring that makes her want to just sit and listen like this for the rest of the flight.
But that’s stupid, and ridiculous because this girl said she was going to be nothing better than a wife for the rest of her life, so fuck her and fuck the Eagles.
Taylor makes it back to her seat without any other mishaps but finds herself thinking rudely about a green-eyed model on this very flight till she passes out again and is only awoken to the sound of the intercom informing that they have almost arrived and notices a fresh first-class cookie on the arm of her chair.
<3

Karlie pushes back her freshly brunette-dyed hair as she takes her bags with her down the escalator where Derek is waiting for them at the bottom. He’s been her childhood friend for as long as she could remember and is who owns the house for the venue this week. He holds out his arms as she takes her final steps off and hugs him tightly, taking in his familiar cologne before pulling away to get a good look at him.
“Man, I missed you! How’s Honolulu?”
“Perfect for a wedding! Super stoked I get to host for some of the best people I know.” Derek slings one of her bags over his shoulder as he talks. “I mean Selena is fun to be around, she just lights up the room, and you can see how much Cara adores her. It’s been super awesome to make so many new friends because of their relationship.”
Karlie nods her head, pulling out her sunglasses from one of her bags. “I’m just happy Cara didn’t run to join the circus and doesn't have to get herself tested for any more STDs. Selena’s been good for her.” The model grasps the handle of one of her suitcases so she can drag it on their way, beginning to walk, but she’s stopped suddenly by Derek’s arm.
“Hey, just wait a minute, I’m picking up someone else too.” Karlie is confused till she looks to see Taylor coming fresh off the Escalator, pacing her way toward Derek and getting a hug from him as well. “There’s blondie!”
The brunette’s eyes are widened as she watches the interaction. She’s never seen the two even talk for maybe a second, and now they are like this? “I was blonde once too, you know.”
“Oh, you went back to your roots, Kloss. Taylor here is a real true blonde.”
Taylor’s blue eyes pierce into her like small daggers as she eyes her down. Maybe it’s rightfully so, but Taylor was the one that took a bite out of her delicious cookie. She could tell from the red lipstick mark.
“Derek had a class with my brother a semester and they got close if you were wondering,” The blonde says, but in the way that Karlie could tell that she knew exactly what she was thinking and could sense the distaste in the face. Derek seemed to easily sense the tension between the two and moved past them to guide them to the entrance, swinging his keys from his pocket.
“Alright, well, now that you’ve leveled the waters let’s get moving! I’m super excited to show the both of you around once we get there.”
Taylor pipes ahead, dragging her cat print suitcase and carrying it on with her. Karlie has to suppress a snicker at the interesting choice of attire. “There? As in like the hotel right?”
Derek turns around. “You see, we didn’t exactly want to tell you about the whole sharing an entire house thing because everyone is pretty sure you guys hate each other,” he says glancing between the two of them.
Karlie already knew they were staying in Derek’s house, but she assumed that was just for Cara’s party and Selena, not all of them. “What? Totally not.”
“Yep. No hatred.”
“Just civil adults who buried the hatchet.”
“No maps to find them.”
“Good friends.”
“Friends.”
“Yep.”
Derek eyes the both of them and turns back around, “Right… Okay well, I can help you guys load the baggage into the back of the car and we can get out of here!” He leads them down rows upon rows of parked cars till they reach a white Jeep Wrangler, a small beep coming from it as he unlocks it and opens the trunk. Karlie places her’s in first since it’s larger, and Derek helps with Taylor’s, organizing the collection like a Jenga tower. “Okay gang, load up!”
Karlie sets her hand on the passenger seat door till there’s Derek’s voice again, ”Tay is passenger princess, Kar, sorry. I think Selena and Cara will kill me if I don’t treat her like it.”
Karlie scoffs away from the door, letting Taylor brush past her, enough to feel their bodies slide together briefly to send a shock through her body. It’s weird, the feeling she gets from touching Taylor, but it’s probably just agony. She settles herself in the back and listens as Derek talks with Taylor about her brother Austin and how he has been doing since he last saw him and on and on and on. It is during this conversation though that she learns that Taylor’s parents are here as well, since they consider Selena like a daughter to them and Selena’s parents weren’t going to be able to make it because of their trip to Greece or something like that. She wasn’t listening in detail. Or at least, she didn’t want to admit that she was.It takes about a 30-minute drive to get to the house, parking in the front and letting them sprawl out to stretch and bask in the warmth. Karlie flicks down her sunglasses, hearing the crash of waves from the beach right next to the porch. Coming from the porch swing are Cara and Selena, who separate to hug each of their counterparts.
“Oh, I’m so happy you’re here Kar! It’s gonna be a blast, you’re gonna love it. I’ve even got a great plan for our ‘bachelor party’.”
“I’m sure you do, Car.” She smirks, helping Derek with some of their bags.
Derek waves her off, “Don’t worry about it Kloss, I got this. Go down to the beach and get some sand on your big feet. Sel and Tay are already headed down that way.”
She looks to see the two girls running down the small wooden path to the beach, Cara just shaking her head with a smile. “You ready to marry her?”
“Oh absolutely. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I can tell,” Karlie says genuinely, though her tone has been a bit misleading recently.
“Come on, I’ll lead you down to the shore. There’s someone there I think you wanna see too.” Cara winks, dragging her along. Cara either has the best surprises or the complete other worst, and it seems to be falling on the latter this time. She only needs to see the tan back lying on the towel in the middle of the sand to see her.
Toni.
“I hope you don’t mind, she was already down here with Derek and I know that you guys ended on the not greatest of terms but I’m sure you’ll be able to work it out.”
Karlie swallows hard. “Yeah, for sure.”
Her voice awakes the sleeping babe because she arises from her tanning position and has this smile on her face that she just wants to kiss again and again like nothing happened but at the same time punch until it bleeds. But she does neither, and just waves at her briefly. She must have taken that as an invitation—it wasn’t one—because she starts jogging her way to them, her boobs threatening to fall out of her swimsuit at any second.
“Oh, Karlie, it’s so great to see you. How have you been?”
“I’ve been pretty good. You look good. I mean- not like that, just you know.”
“Oh don’t worry about it! I’m just happy you’re here. There isn’t any bad blood between us, right? I miss being your friend Kar Kar.”
Fuck that stupid nickname. “You are my friend, and there is nothing negative between us. None at all.”
“Great because I’d totally like to introduce you to someone as well!” Toni turns around and waves her arm to a man who is drifting on the side of the beach, till he sees her arm and runs over in his trunks. “Karlie, this is my boyfriend, Alex.”
Her heart drops to her stomach. But Alex is holding out her hand and she can’t seem rude, or anything even remotely close to it, as some shitty ex, so she takes it and shakes it. “It’s so nice to meet you, Alex. I’m Karlie.”
“I’ve heard some great things about you! It’s nice to put a name to a face, right babe?” He asks Toni.
She nods enthusiastically, “Absolutely.” And they kiss. It feels like a million years, but in reality, it probably only took 3 seconds. Long enough for her to want to jump into the ocean and drink the water till she throws up all over them.
Between Taylor and now Toni, this wedding was going to serve as a funeral as well.

<3

Taylor stripped her t-shirt from her body, tossing it into the sand and sliding out of her shorts. Selena is just ahead of her, already in her swimsuit and sinking her ankles into the clear ocean water with a squeal. She’s quick behind her, feeling the salt water prick at her skin as a wave crashes into them, water jumping up her thighs towards her yellow bikini. A laugh echoes between them as Selena pulls her in for a hug and dances among the water.

“It’s beautiful here, Sel! I’m so happy for you.”
Taylor is insanely grateful that she gets to stay here, too. She was completely prepared to spend the week in a hotel and visit them when she could. Even from just looking on the outside, Taylor can tell the house is massive. She can only imagine what the inside looks like.

Selena grins and presses her hands to Taylor’s cheeks. “I’m so excited to marry this girl, Tay. I’m glad you got over your silly adult drama to be here.” The blonde rolls her eyes at the mention of what happened between her and Karlie. “Which feels like a bad time to tell you, you

do

have to share a room with her.”

Her blood runs ice cold, the sun feeling like the moon on her skin as she stares grimly at Selena.

“And there is only one bed.”

“Selena I swear to God-“

Selena can’t hold her straight face any longer and bursts out laughing, holding onto her tightly. “Oh, I’m just kidding Taylor! I wouldn’t do that to you, I gave you one of the best rooms. Of course, your parents are the super best, because they are amazing, but I do love you if you can’t tell.”

She is going to fucking kill Selena for that joke. She would deal with it if that was real, but it would make this vacation a million times worse. Between Dianna, Law school, and questioning her entire identity, she has needed this break so desperately. To bask in the sun, sleep in, and cherish time with her parents and best friend, not worry about another failed relationship. If you could even call it that. It was closer to a one-night stand, but just without, you know, sex. A one-night stand with feelings. And no sex.

“How are they settling in? They came in yesterday, right?”

Selena nods and walks along the wet sand before another wave crashes to wash away her footsteps behind her. “They are good! Andrea loves the place, and Derek has been more than happy to show her all around. Scott has been, well, you know, Scott.” Taylor chuckles, shaking her head at the way her father could be. “I can tell he’s been studying up for this vacation for weeks with all his facts and knowledge.”

Taylor shakes her head, following closely behind Selena. “That’s my dad for you.”

“It is kind of weird, though.”

“What?”

“Just, I think that between you and me, everyone thought you were going to get married first. You always liked to write those songs about love, I mean there was Mary’s Song about how you planned your whole imaginary life with this guy to marry! It just never felt like I was going to be the first.”

Selena wasn’t wrong. It always just seemed like love was her thing. Drew, John, Jake… All were extremely complicated with their fair share of both love songs and breakup songs. Dianna when she realized she liked women. She hadn’t been officially with anyone since Dianna, and that was since her Junior year of high school. “Some of those songs were duets," Taylor reminded Selena, nudging into her as they walked. She could feel the seashells and rocks under her feet, maybe placing a few cuts, but she couldn't care less.

”Maybe, but I just thought I’d be the one catching the bouquet, and now everything is like… switched.”

The singer takes the soon-to-be bride’s hands into her own, looking at her beautiful dark eyes. “Sel, I love you with all my heart. You can be mean and sarcastic, but you are my best friend and like a sister to me. My life is great right now. I’m figuring stuff out. You got to do that before me while I was trying to fight for law school, so you just got a head start.” She winks, and Selena shoves her playfully into the next wave. She crashes into the water with a splash, pushing back her blonde locks to pull Selena down with her, sitting with their backs to the ocean.

From here she can see Karlie talking with someone on the beach in the distance, narrowing her eyes to try to see. The girl seems just about as fit as Karlie but has much darker skin and hair, perfectly fitting the Hawaiian vibe of the beach. “Who is that?”

Selena tilts her head, “Toni. She’s friends with Cara and Derek and usually comes down here at this time of year anyway. I told Car it was fine, but I did hear that she and Karlie used to date.”

“Add another one to the tally,” she mumbles, getting a shove from Selena.

”Thought you said you worked it out?”

“We did! I’m still allowed to dislike her.”

“If you make it an issue I don’t have any problem kicking you out of here,” Selena waved a finger at her as a warning. Taylor splashes salt water at her in annoyance.

“I can be a good girl, Sel.”

The brunette sighs deeply, “So I’ve heard.”

There is a florid flush to the older girl’s face, standing up and shaking off the seawater. “Well! This beach experience has been great, Sel, but maybe I should head inside!”

“Oh, come on, Tay, I hear about your sex life so much! Remember when we lived together and Di-“

“Shut up!” She says defensively, putting her hand over her best friend’s mouth, who then proceeds to draw the alphabet on her hand with her tongue. “Ew, Sel! Disgusting!”

“Just giving a demonstration-“

“Yep! I’ll be heading inside!”

<3

Taylor dries her hair with a towel, sitting on the couch of the lounge closest to her room. She had come to find out that this house was very big, much bigger than she’d ever been in before, and enjoying the luxury was difficult when she was picking out every part that was wrong with her own life by comparison. She grew up in upper middle class, so it’s not like she had a bad life, it just comes easier when she’s a struggling college student now just trying to get through the days with a fresh coat of makeup and a package of ramen.

She sets the towel to the side once her hair is dry enough to not soak her t-shirt, opening her laptop to do her daily routine of checking social media and her emails. Mainly to check to see how Dianna is doing really. Who doesn’t check their ex’s page regularly? Maybe normal people. However, unfortunately, Dianna hasn’t updated anything in a week. Either that or she has her blocked. It’s hard to tell. After that, she moves to her emails, where she can see the one she is waiting for is right at the top. She swallows, but it’s dry and makes her more anxious.

NYU.

She’s terrified to open it, but persists and clicks gently to confirm what she knew was already in there.

‘This is Your Confirmation Email of your Withdrawl From NYU Law. It Will be Effective Next Semester.’

Her hands are shaking above the keys, even though this was entirely her own decision. Taylor couldn't take it anymore. She didn't want to be a Lawyer, she didn't want to go to NYU. If she had to play in cafes for the rest of her life just to get by, she'd be okay with that. Footsteps are approaching the room and she slams the screen shut, tossing it to the couch like she was caught watching porn or something. Her parents enter through the archway with their bright smiles and flower-patterned shirts. Tayor gets up to greet them with a plastered smile.

“Oh, there’s my girl!” Her mom squeals, pulling her in close. It feels so safe and warm to be reunited with one of her other best friends in the entire world. “How has New York been treating you? All in one piece?”

“Yes,” Taylor says cheerily as her mother looks her over, “New York has been… New York. Busy and loud, but pretty.” She pulls away from her mother to hug her dad. “Nice to see you too, Dad.”

“Did the airport gift you a lei when you landed as well? I didn’t know they did that!” Taylor laughs, just nodding along to his excitement.

“It has been a known thing for a bit.”

“Well, I am not native-“

“I know that, dad. Was the flight good?” She asks the both of them, sitting back down on the couch.

Her mom nods approvingly, “Yes, it was very nice. We even got upgraded to first class!”

“Oh, how sweet of them.”

“Mhm! Very nice.” Her mom sits down next to her and takes her hands. “And how has school been? We love telling everyone about our future lawyer!” Her dad nods in agreement off to the side.

“It’s been… Good. It is nice to take a break for a bit now, though.” A very. Very. Long break.

“We are just so proud of you! We are proud of Austin, of course, as well, but it isn’t every day your daughter is accepted into NYU law!” And she couldn’t take it, but her parents didn’t have to know that yet. She would have to make up an excuse for it somehow.

“I am sad that Austin couldn’t come to celebrate Selena this weekend,” she states, hoping to change the subject.

“He’s been busy with his classes, among other things... You know how your brother is.”

Her dad chimes in after a bit, “I think he might’ve came if Di was here. He always enjoyed her company.”

Well, that was a stake through the heart.

Her mom nudges him and then looks back at her. “We didn’t want to bring her up because we know how sensitive it is. Have you been doing okay, honey?”

The blonde nods, biting her lip. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m celebrating my best friend’s wedding! I couldn’t be happier.”

“Oh, but it could've been you, sweetheart. We just feel so terrible about that.” Her mom rests her hand on her shoulder and it feels like fire.

“It doesn’t mean that much to me. I’m just happy to be here with Selena.”

“This used to be your dream!” Her dad adds. “I know you insist that you are happy, but you were happy with Di. I even remember when you were little... Making up all those songs about getting married and even memorizing how to play the wedding intro on your guitar for yourself... It just seems so odd to be here for Selena and not you.”

“And Dianna has been a big part of all of our lives for so long. I remember her being like a daughter to me throughout your guy's middle school and high school years. And for a second, she almost was.”

Perhaps the real people who needed to get over her breakup were her parents.

Taylor was getting frustrated by now, “I know what I’m doing. I just needed time to focus on myself and my studies. Law school is very hard. I couldn’t balance a relationship with it.”

Her mom nods in understandment. “Perhaps when you are graduated. Or when you

can

balance everything?”

They really needed to get it through their head that maybe she and Dianna weren’t meant to be.

“Yes! Maybe it was just the wrong person, right time? Or however that goes.” Her father states.

“That was used incorrectly, Scott.”

He brushes her mom off and Taylor just wishes they could get it. That she doesn’t feel a connection with Dianna anymore. It’s just a safe place. There isn’t a spark that ignites in her when they kiss, or when they brush against each other, or when Dianna calls her baby. It's just bland. Taylor can break up with her as many times as she wants, and Dianna is always there to take her back with open arms. And she hates that. She hates that Dianna can take it. Dianna is so perfect in every way, and Taylor wants there to be a reason to hate her, but there isn’t. It’s just her own fucked up head that makes them so dysfunctional.

“Maybe. I just need some time away for now. This will be good for me, and for everyone. And you know, have you guys tried out the tennis court yet? I remember Dad saying how he is a pro at tennis.”

Her dad gleams with pride. “Yes, I am! I’d love to show you my skills.”

“Then you guys go play, and I’m gonna find Derek to… Show me around. Okay?”

Her mom seems hesitant, but her dad is already on his way down the hallway, shouting something about requesting rackets. Taylor can sense that something is brewing between her parents, and she hates that she doesn’t know what it is. Especially with how much they’ve been talking about Dianna. She would suspect they love her more than they love their real daughter at this point.

And she wouldn’t be exactly surprised.

<3

After a quick scream and cry session in the bathroom, Taylor wipes her face and stares herself in the mirror. Her eyes are a bit puffy and red, but it should fade by the time she has to see everyone else again. She is having a great time here, she just wishes that people wouldn’t be on her back all the time. From Selena and Cara worried about her and Karlie, and her parents wanting her to get back with Dianna, It’s all a lot. And now she’s got to deal with the burden of hiding that she just quit law school because it was too much for her. How pathetic is that?

There’s a knock on the door that startles her, wiping her face again to make sure there is no obvious evidence of her small panic attack, “Just a minute!”

“It’s okay, just seeing if you are still good for dinner at 7.” It’s Cara, she can tell from the British voice.

“Perfect. I’ll be down then.”

“Great, see you then, Tay.”

Taylor hears Cara walk away and she picks up her phone from the counter to see the time. She has about 30 minutes till dinner, so she’ll have to use some concealer and cold water to have a good enough face to be considered approachable. Selena said she was a pretty crier, but Selena also dated a boy who wore his hair over his eyes and acted like his dick was god and called him cute, so really could she trust her?

She applies a fresh coat of mascara and blush and retreats from the bathroom to find an outfit for dinner. A casual dress so that she doesn’t distract the attention away from Cara and Selena but will still be formal enough for the first dinner. Taylor spontaneously chucks clothes upon clothes onto her bed till she finds the dress she’d been looking for.

It’s nothing particularly crazy or unusual, a black dress that goes to her knees, the top tight enough to accent her boobs suitable enough for modesty and to show she’s confident. The humidity has been doing... Unfortunate things to her hair. Much like it did when she went to the Statue of Liberty with Karlie. It has a soft wave to it that she can’t be bothered to fix right now, just leaving it over her shoulders and lightly touching up her bangs. She applies lipgloss and wears black heels to match the dress, looking at her phone and seeing the time again. About 5 minutes till. Always early.

Underneath the time though, she sees an unread text from Dianna. Asking how she is. It makes her sick to her stomach quickly, and she sets it on the nightstand, heading out of the room quickly to just forget about it. Taylor can hear the chatter down the hall that reassures her she won’t be the only one there early as ever. 5 minutes early is late for her. As she’s on her way, another door in the hallway opens and the person bumps into her, knocking her just slightly.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” It’s a sarcastic tone. She doesn’t have to look to know whose it is.

“Didn’t find a chick on the beach to bang while everyone else is at dinner?” Taylor asks, looking to Karlie who is wearing this black blouse buttoned low enough that she can see the outline of her boobs and it’s perfectly tucked into these long dress pants that should

not

make her mouth water the way it does. But then she reminds herself of the day she heard her verbally harass her skills and reduce down to a wife who just cooks and it fades pretty easily.

“I’m surprised you haven’t hopped on the first plane home.”

“You know, Cara would be

really

upset to know we are having this conversation.”

“And I think Selena would be disappointed that

you

started it.” Karlie leans forward with this smirk that curls her insides, just walking away towards the dining room.

“I did not start it! You didn’t even mean that sorry!”

“Oh, I am so sincere, Taylor, can’t you tell?” The brunette holds her hands to her heart and pleads to her like she’s doing an exaggerated Shakespearean monologue.

Taylor opens her mouth to say something else but catches herself and pushes past her to walk faster into the room.

Karlie doesn’t say anything in pursuit, lucky for her, and they walk with the taller woman just barely behind her, turning into the dining room to greet their different sides of the family. She gets a weird glance from Selena but doesn’t acknowledge it, just grabbing herself a glass of white wine and sitting down at the table next to her parents.

Her mom smiles at her sweetly, “So what classes are you enjoying the most? I’m sure they offer tons at NYU.”

A sweat breaks on her neck, gliding her finger across the edge of the glass, “Oh, um, well I enjoy

all

of them really. It’s a nice mix.”
She'll have to get pretty good at lying to keep this up.

“Oh, that’s good! It’s nice to have a balance. Good lawyers always know how to balance.”

Her father nods in agreement, “Yes, it’s good practice for when you’ll have to balance a relationship with your work.”

It’s painful how obvious it is that they just want to talk about Dianna. To bring her up and try to weave her back into their lives. They never could get it, could they?

Derek holds his glass and rings a toast among the table, lucky for her. Alex raises his glass as well to tap along with a grin, but Toni gestures his arm down, seemingly embarrassed. The rest of the table quiets and listens for the announcement.

“It is amazing to have you all here for the celebration of Cara and Selena. I’ve been friends with Cara since the 7th grade when she moved here from her home country and became my best friend’s other best friend. Karlie and Cara are some of the greatest friends I know, and I couldn’t be happier handing Cara off to the wonderful beautiful Selena. Now I just need to figure out how to get rid of the other one.” Everyone laughs as he elbows Karlie, who smiles and briefly makes eye contact with her. It’s chilling. “But I’m happy to get to know Selena, as she is one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve met. And through her, I met Taylor and her brilliant mind. And now to offer the hospitality to her parents, Andrea and Scott, it’s wonderful to welcome you to this makeshift family.”

Andrea brushes him off and raises her glass, “We are just so happy to see everyone and get to enjoy the sights. This beautiful house of yours is a perfect place to see someone I consider my daughter to be handed off.” She holds Selena’s hands for a moment and then looks back to Derek.

“Well, I won’t bore you guys with my speech any longer. Drink your wine, enjoy the food, and have a wonderful night!”

Everyone clanks their glasses, and Taylor takes a long sip out of hers before Selena stops her and degrades her quietly. It’s like she’s being babysat as an adult.

“I can handle my alcohol, Selena.”

It’s quickly proven wrong when she’s 4 glasses down and they are on the patio outside after dinner playing charades. Selena is up, trying to demonstrate an action and all that comes out of her mouth is nonsense. Plenty more fun for everyone else than the actual game.

“Book Pedophile.”

Selena slaps her hands down on the table and glares at her, “What the hell even is that?”

Taylor shrugs her shoulders with a cheesy laugh. Derek wraps his arm around her shoulders. “I think someone has had enough to drink tonight.”

Karlie pipes in this time, coming from inside with a few shot glasses and a bottle of tequila. “Surely not enough for a few rounds of Never Have I Ever, right?”

Taylor’s eyes widen, and it’s either from the bottle of liquor or the way she can’t take her eyes away from this stupid woman’s breasts.
She's far too drunk to think rationally at this point.

“Kar, I don’t know how great of an idea-“

“Oh, come on, Cara! It’s almost your wedding day, have some fun!” Karlie nudges her best friend, sitting beside her on the patio furniture. “Look I’ll even go first.

Never Have I Ever

called off my engagement.”

Taylor gulps and begrudgingly leans forward to take a shot glass and fill it with tequila. Selena’s hand stops her. “Hey! I’m playing the game, Sel.”

“That’s not what it is, Tay. She’s just trying to get under your skin. I thought you two got over everything and started acting like adults?”

Karlie frowns and arches her brow. “It was a spontaneous question that just happened to align with what’s happened to Taylor.”

Selena doesn’t seem to buy it, shoving the alcohol away from the blonde and sitting on the couch next to Cara. “

I’ll

go first. Never Have I Ever read a book in one night.”

“Boo!! That’s so boring Sel, I’ll show you how it’s done,” Taylor offers and clears her throat, “Never Have I Ever handcuffed someone to the bed for - “

“Absolutely not! Time for bed!” Selena helps her up and leads her inside.

“But-“

Derek helps Selena taking her arm around his shoulder to help her down the hallway. “Come on,

drunklor

, you’ll have more fun tomorrow when we go on our journey.”

Taylor playfully asks about this said journey the rest of the way. She doesn’t see Karlie take a shot in response to the Never Have I Ever question, or else she would have been thinking about it all night.

<3

“They are going to ruin our wedding,” Cara says bluntly, holding Selena in her arms in the living room with Derek in one of the armchairs, tapping his fingers along the fabric. Everyone else is asleep, just the three of them keeping the peace of the night. This is really how it should’ve been. Calm, peaceful, relaxing. Not constantly trying to keep two specific individuals from biting at each other’s throats.

Selena leans into her fiancé, “I’m sure it will work out, babe. They both just have a lot of emotions.” Too many. It was like watching a scene from

Twilight

. Hell, the two went on one date and it’s like they have a war between them. It’s worse than every single time Taylor and Dianna have broken up.

“A lot of emotions that are gonna ruin every plan we have! How are we supposed to enjoy ourselves if they keep acting like children?”

“Taylor is my best friend-“

“And Karlie is mine. We are on the same boat here, Sel.”

Derek sits up. “They have too much spite against each other, with their troubling history. Maybe they need something to make them like each other.”

Cara tilts her head at him, “Like what? It seems like they just throw insults at each other left and right.”

“Well, give them a reason to not want to do that.”

Selena raises her brows, “You're not being very clear.”

“You know, trick them into having another shot. Another chance to be together. You said they hit it off great at first, right? If we...

persuade them

... into getting along then everyone will be happy.”

“So, tricking them into liking each other?”

“It doesn’t have to be like that. Think of it more like helping them out with their sexual tension. I can’t be the only one who saw Taylor’s eyes stuck on Karlie’s boobs.”

Cara raises her hand, “I did see that.”

Selena shakes her head, “Well how do we

persuade

them to fall for each other?” It wasn’t like a walk in the park. Ever since the meeting with the two at the bar, it was extremely clear that the feeling of hatred was pretty mutual. And while Taylor had insisted that she settled everything that was burning, it was clear that the fire wasn’t out. But perhaps Derek was right, and there was a way. Using the embers to light a fire of love instead of spite.

“It’s pretty simple, just try not to fuck it up.”

<3

The flimsy Polaroid picture falls from her hand, and she hesitates to even pick it up. Karlie made the heinous mistake of looking back at old photos of her and Toni when they were together. Toni was one of the first friends she made in the modeling world, which is also where she met people like Gigi, Lily, and Martha. Gigi flew in this morning to be here for the wedding, but Lily and Martha still had fashion walks so they weren’t available.

It was pretty much love at first sight between her and Toni. She couldn’t stop thinking about her and always wanted to hang out with her, and then eventually they kissed and it was like fireworks. It made her jealous to see her with someone like Alex. He didn’t seem like much more than any other typical guy. He didn’t have layers like she did. And she hates to admit how much she wants to be Toni. To heal that wound in her heart that longs for something like that again. She wasn’t all just one-night stands.

The brunette clicks her tongue and decides that sitting in her room looking at pictures will do nothing to benefit her, but maybe a quick run and workout session would help. Her trainer wasn’t here, obviously, so she’d have to put in the work to keep herself active. Putting on a sports bra and shorts seemed fitting enough as she went to the beach by the house. She starts with a few laps along the coast. Definitely

not

thinking about Toni’s lips. Then she does a few push-ups.

Not

thinking about Toni’s boobs. A lot of sit-ups.

Feel the burn, not the burn in your chest, Karlie.

Run Again. More pushups, more abs, push it to the limits. The salty ocean breeze relaxes her as she keeps going over and over, the sand deep into her toes by the time her lungs feel like they are about to give out on her.

When she’s a sweaty mess and disaster she shakes off the feeling of desperation and moves along the wooden path back to the patio. She passes by the tennis court on the way, watching Toni play with her Boyfriend. He has his shirt off, and it’s relevant now that he is just as muscular, if not more than she is. He throws the tennis ball into the air with his big biceps and hurls the racket hard enough that the ball smacks into Toni’s side twice before she has the time to react. The way he hugs her after he wins and just basks in his glory. It makes her sick to just

look

at them like they are happy. Maybe they were, but she didn’t want to believe that.

She tosses her sweat towel over her shoulder as she walks by the pool, noticing Cara and Gigi. They seem to spot her and hide away a bit, which leaves her curious. Karlie suspects it might just be a joke and shakes it off, turning on the outdoor shower just briefly so she can wash her face.

“Oh, yes! I heard that Taylor didn’t want to admit that she’s been in love with Karlie since the first day!” It’s Cara’s voice, in a very fake, obviously lying, and clearly knowing that she can hear their voice. Even if she’s just trying to play it off as casual.

Gigi responds in the same tone. “Right! I remember Taylor telling me that she doesn’t want to come off weird telling her now because she fears it’s too late!”

“And she

deeply

regrets leaving early that morning.” Oh, Taylor

definitely

did. It's totally not like she’s been empathizing with how glad she is that she left for every interaction they have!

“Why, if I was her, I would talk to Karlie right now!”

Karlie hears the soft voice whispering from Cara, “That is way too obvious Gi!”

“Well, I don’t know what you want me to do! You told me I was doing this the second I put my shit down!”

“Just play along but act

normal

.”

Like Cara was a pro at it

.

“Oh, yes! I agree! But she is far too scared. I think it needs to be Karlie to answer her pleas.”

“But how will she know about it? It’s not like she can hear us!”

“Perhaps some bird will travel it to her and help her along her way, using her big muscular abs to seduce Selena’s dear friend!”

“Oh, one can hope!”

There was another hushed whisper this time from Gigi, “Was that good? That was good right?”

“Yeah, yeah, that will work great! She’ll have to do something now!”

And it was clear to Karlie what was happening. Her only suspicion is that somewhere else, Taylor was getting familiar treatment. She wipes her face and takes to one of the porches, letting herself inside with a stride as she hears Cara and Gigi High-five behind her.

<3

Taylor is in the kitchen, helping Selena lay out the dishes for lunch when her friend excuses herself to take a phone call. She’s a bit suspicious of it since it seemed rather spontaneous and Taylor didn’t even hear her phone go off, but she just continues setting out the plates. Selena doesn’t close the door when she steps outside, so Taylor can hear the entire conversation. Again, not something Selena would do.

The blonde plucks a grape from one of the plates and eats it, glancing over the array of different foods to make sure it looks nice. She’d been helping Selena since the early hours of the morning to prepare it, with all the different foods. She really was going all out for the wedding, and she admired it. Perhaps in another universe, it was her--in her parent’s favorite universe--but she was fine with this if it meant her best friend was happy.

“Oh, Karlie? Yeah, I know, she’s still

totally

in love with Taylor, but she won’t admit it. It’s just her fragile attempt at seeming masculine.” It’s a fake tone from Selena. She knows how Selena acts, a perk from growing up with her, and it was painfully obvious what she was trying to pull. “And I’m sure Taylor loves her too, but you know how she is! She’s so anxious and scared about everything.” Okay. That was just rude.

Taylor turns and presses her back to the kitchen counter, taking a slice of cheese from the charcuterie board, listening as Selena continues to make up the story.
She never quite expected Selena to ever do something like this, and she can't help but question the oddity of it.

“And I know Taylor totally regrets leaving that day, but she was so used to sleeping around that it was like an impulse.” Was it a scheme to try to try to force them together or was it a ploy to make her feel bad about the shitty things she’s done?

“But Karlie can show her true love I know it!”

Taylor scoffs and rolls her eyes, and just then there’s a knock on the other door into the kitchen. Since it was a beach house, it had a lot of entrances and exits. There, as if on cue, was Karlie in all her brunette shitty attitude glory. She cleared her throat and stepped inside, pressing her hand onto the counter beside her and leaning forward just enough to show off her abs underneath her crop top. How had she just noticed this girl had rock-hard abs?

“Hey, stranger.”

Taylor looks at her with an annoyed expression and shakes her head. “Did they get to you too?”

“Uh, who?” Karlie says gracefully, as if she has no idea whatsoever.

“Oh, so Selena is just outside that door talking ominously loudly about how you are in love with me because it’s true?”

“No, it wasn’t Selena.”

“Really?” She raises an eyebrow.

The model slumps in defeat, “It was Cara and Gigi.”

“I knew it! They are trying to set us up because they think we are ruining their wedding.” Taylor was trying to enjoy herself here and support Selena, she just couldn’t help herself when Karlie said something or did something so unbelievably stupid she just had to say something about it.

Karlie fades away to watch Selena run down to Cara and Gigi and give each other hugs and high-fives. “I don’t blame them. We sort of are.”

“I haven’t-“

“Bullshit, Taylor. Don’t act like we haven’t been giving each other snarky remarks this whole trip.”

Taylor is admittedly a bit shocked by this response, her mouth hanging slightly agape before she laughs, “Oh my god, are you admitting that you did something wrong?”

Karlie narrows her green eyes at her, “Okay, don’t be like that. You’ve been doing the same thing. I’m just saying maybe we should be laying off and stop being assholes to let them enjoy themselves.”

Taylor scoffs, “You are the asshole! I mean all you’ve done is shame me-“

Derek enters the room from the open door Selena left and looks between them. Taylor shuts her mouth and Karlie gives her complete attention to him. It’s not like they are going to openly be rude to each other in front of the man who’s sort of giving them a place to stay in Hawaii. Even if Karlie was his best friend.

“Hey, uh, if you two aren’t busy, do you mind helping me with something?”

Taylor nods along with Karlie as they both speak simultaneously.

“Yes!”

“Of course.”

He smiles and leads them out the door, “Okay, perfect, just this way.”

<3

Karlie’s worst enemy is staring before her. Well, there is one standing beside her and one right in front of her. The waves of the ocean peaked and fell smoothly. It wasn’t a rough current by any means, she was just not a good swimmer. She spent her life playing basketball, volleyball, and soccer. She never even thought about learning how to

genuinely

swim.

“There’s a key on the boat out there. It’s anchored, but I must’ve left the key on when I swam back. It’s sort of like controls the water heater so if you guys want hot showers, I suggest you start swimming.” Derek smirks at them before pivoting on his foot and making his way back up the beach to the house. Of course, he was in on this too.

Taylor groans and starts making her way to the water. “Damn it, why does it have to be all of them.” She only takes a few more steps before the blonde dives into the water like she’s been a fish for half of her life.

Karlie stares in amazement for a moment before realizing that she needs to prove how strong she is too, doing the same but less graceful and more of a pathetic jump instead of diving into the water. It’s fairly shallow most of the way, but there is a large deep drop closer to the boat. Taylor is just a bit ahead of her when Karlie starts struggling to keep herself up. What was that shit about treading water again?

Taylor seems to hear the splashing because she turns around and suppresses a laugh. “Holy shit. You can’t swim can you?”

Karlie flushes with embarrassment trying to push herself up farther to make herself seem strong. “Yes, I can! I just had a really tough workout before this.” Her head slips just barely under the water but a hand catches her and helps her up, swinging her arm around her shoulder.

“Come on, stranger, I don’t want your death on my hands. Or have to give you CPR.”

The shorter woman helps swim them the rest of the way there, Karlie taking the moment to just breathe and notice the very sweet scent Taylor has to her. It’s lovely to breathe in. They approach the boat’s bottom and she latches onto the ladder, helping herself up as the blonde follows closely behind. She holds out a hand to help her to the deck, but Taylor denies it and just helps herself up. She blows out a smooth whistle and Taylor grabs the key left far too perfectly on one of the boat’s tables. She swings it around her finger to display it.

“Yeah, definitely ‘accidentally’ left.” Taylor mocks, slipping it into the top of her bikini.

Karlie brushes water from her face and nods. “Yeah. An accident. But you know, totally could’ve swum here myself.”

Taylor raises her brows at her and is about to say something when there’s a voice from the beach. Karlie glances over to see Taylor’s parents coming down with someone next to them. She doesn’t recognize them, a blonde woman with a bright smile.

“Taylor! Oh, look who came!” Andrea shouts from the shore.

“Oh, you’re fucking kidding me.” The language catches the brunette off guard, looking over at her.

“Who is it?”

Taylor licks her lips, “That’s Dianna. My ex.”

“What the hell is she doing here?”

“My parents have desperately been trying to get us back together because they adore her and it seems they are now willing to take it to the next level.”

Karlie stares at the blonde girl on the beach, who waves to Taylor and says something like, ‘It’s great to see you!’ but she can’t quite make it out. “That is a very big move on their behalf.”

“They think I’m ruining my life and Dianna was the only stability I had.” Taylor’s parents wave to them again before telling them that they are going to get Dianna situated for now. Karlie glances back over to the other girl on the boat who seems to be thinking but also deeply upset about everything. “What if we did it?”

Karlie almost chokes. “

Excuse me

?”

“No, not like

that

you pervert! Like, what if we pretended we were dating? Then my problem would be solved with Dianna being here.”

“Yeah? And what in it for me?”

Taylor shrugs but then points to the beach where Toni and Alex are playing volleyball, Alex’s muscles on full display. “You could solve that problem there. Make Toni jealous, then she’s yours again.”

“And who said I wanted to be with Toni again?”

“That stupid look that you were giving her at dinner yesterday. It’s not hard to tell.”

“It won’t work. Toni isn’t the type to get jealous.”

Taylor lowers her head and sets a gentle hand on Karlie’s shoulder. “Trust me, every girl is.”

She rolls her eyes and stands towards the end of the boat. “Even then, there is no way we can convince anyone that we ever like each other.”

Taylor sighs and sits down on one of the small benches beside her. “Yeah. You’re right.”

Karlie hums in approval of finally being right.

“I still have the poncho, you know,” Taylor admits, looking towards her.

“You do? From our day?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh shut up, you are such a liar.”

“No! I’m not. I just like to keep it as a memory. I mean, it was pretty hurtful afterward, but I still had a great time. And pretending to be together...” Taylor inches closer to her, she’s still sitting on the bench but she’s close enough that she just barely runs her fingers on the edges of her abs. “Here. With a wedding. Surrounded by a bunch of people we like. There are tons of things that could happen.”

Taylor’s hand grazes just a bit lower. Karlie feels her heartbeat quicken until the blonde’s hand shoves her overboard and straight into the water. She’s surrounded by the coolness and breaks for the surface using what little strength she has left. She wipes painful salt water from her eyes to stare up at Taylor who’s leering over the edge.

“Convincing enough?” Is all Taylor asks and Karlie bites her lip in annoyance.

“You know what. Let’s do it.”

Taylor smiles and runs to jump in the water with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Tennis shoes? Check. Water bottle? Check. Deodorant? Check. Hair pulled up? Check. Cute workout fit? Check.

Taylor sized herself up in the mirror of her room, looking over the outfit she picked out for herself, a blue two-piece set that paired nicely with her white Nike shoes. Today was the first day she and Karlie were pretending to be a couple, and their first hard launch would be on this hiking trip Cara planned. Apparently, Hawaii had more things to offer than tropical beaches and coconut margaritas.

Ever since her parents brought Dianna, she’s been distracting herself the best she can with drinking and pool time. Now it would be a million more times awkward since she’d be ‘dating’ Karlie now. This was mainly to get her parents off her back. Taylor has been giving them a bit of a cold shoulder recently because of their drastic move. They’ve been more devastated and depressed that she broke up with Dianna than
she
was. Maybe Dianna is just everything they wanted her to be like. Perfect, successful, responsible. Taylor is on that path and will get there eventually. Well, she
was
on that path till she withdrew from school. That was not going to be a fun conversation. And would happen after this vacation is over.

She spritzed herself with one quick layer of perfume and exited the bright sunlit room. Karlie was leaning against the wall not far from her door, also in her workout clothes. Taylor's eyes drifted just very briefly to her abs and then launched back up. She hated this woman with every part of her body, but damn did she have a good physique. Surprising, for someone who couldn't swim to save her life.

Karlie pushed herself off the wall and approached her cautiously. “Ready to make our debut?”

Taylor sighed and held out her hand, “As I’ll ever be.”

The brunette took it into her own, clasping them together as intimately as they could without making skin crawl. They turned down the hallway to where everyone was running a muck. Selena was at the center, attempting to herd everyone. It didn't seem to be going well.

“Hey! Hey! Someone help me load this shit into the Jeep so we can get a move on! Cara, I’m looking at you, stop fucking around with the drone!” Selena looks extremely stressed with everything, a bead of sweat dripping down her forehead and they haven’t even started hiking.

Taylor took it as an opportunity to bite the first bullet, nudging Karlie with her hip and placing her hand on one of her biceps. “Oh, Kar is
super
strong! I’m sure she’d be happy to help you Sel, right
babe
?”

Karlie’s eyes look panicked at first before picking up on the cue and nodding. “Oh, yeah, of course,
babe
. I’d be happy to help your best friend.”

Selena stares at them in confusion for a moment, but then a bright smile lines her face, and tosses a few collections of things in her ‘girlfriend’s’ arms, following her outside.

Taylor glances back to Cara and Derek who are flying a drone, at least, until she looks at them. Then it drops to the ground with a big crash. Cara slightly cusses herself out and sets it on the coffee table, both Derek and Cara running up to her with grins.

“Holy shit, Karaddy strikes again!” Cara laughs, punching Taylor's arm lightly.

“How long has that been going on for?” Derek asks as if he doesn’t know, which it’s painfully obvious he does by the look on your face.

“Oh, we’ve just been biting tension for so long, we decided to try it out, you know?”

Cara nods in acceptance, “Well, I think it’s awesome! She needed something more than sex in her life!”

Taylor nods and agrees in a sort of awkward way that she thinks plays off enough, though she isn’t entirely acting now. It is a bit weird to think about Karlie as a sex maniac, or whatever.

She’s placing her water bottle on the counter when her parents walk in with Dianna, greeting all of them. Di approaches her and outstretches her arms for a hug, which Taylor accepts reluctantly. It does feel strangely familiar and comforting, though.

“Hey, Tay. It’s so great to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Dianna. I didn’t know you were coming.”

The shorter blonde takes a step back and licks her lips with annoyance, looking back briefly to Andrea and Scott, then back to Taylor. “Damn it. See, I was worried about this thing happening. The first thing I asked them when they invited me was, ‘Does Taylor know?’ They said you did and- God, I’m so sorry, Taylor.”

Taylor bites her bottom lip and shakes her head. “It’s okay, Di. I figured it was something like that.”

“It’s still nice to see you again.”

“Yeah, you too.” It’s genuine.

Karlie comes back in with Selena, who grabs the last pack to load up while the taller brunette comes and wraps her arm around her shoulders. “Hey, almost ready to go?”

She nods and looks up at Karlie. She can see Dianna and her parents gazing at them, holding the girl’s arm to keep her there. “Oh, uh, Karlie, this is Dianna.”

Karlie smiles and holds out her hand, which Dianna takes reluctantly. “Nice to meet you. Taylor’s
friend
, right?”

“Yeah.” The awkward tension in the room is enough to kill somebody.

“I’m Taylor’s friend too. And you know,
more
.” She winks and holds up two fingers to her mouth, which Taylor is very quick to shut down when she notices her parents watching them closely.

Cara comes beside them with Selena, Gigi, Derek, Alex and Toni. Selena pushes forward and brings Dianna in for a hug. “Oh, wow! It’s great to see you again, Di. It’s been so long.”

The blonde smiles at the familiar face, “Yeah! It has. Also, congrats Sel. I’m super happy for you.”

“Aw, thanks, it’s super awesome to have you here.”

“I wish it felt that way,” She mumbles, batting her eyes back to her and Karlie.

Cara clears her throat, “Well, we are loading up for a hike, so if you want to come, now’s your chance.”

“No, it’s okay. I think I’ll hang back for today. Still settling in and stuff..” The lie is shit when Taylor can tell that Dianna is already comparing herself to Karlie. Taylor wished she didn’t. Dianna and Karlie were separate people with their different personalities and attributes. She wasn’t even really
with
Karlie.

“Okay, well, let’s get a move on then! Come on, load up!” Cara leads everyone out to the cars, Karlie and Taylor following behind with their arms still wrapped around each other.

“We really need a plan,” She mumbles to the taller girl.

“I agree, you are super bad at this.”

Taylor rolls her pale eyes at the irony of her statement. Karlie detaches herself from her as she runs to help Toni in the car, leaving her with her parents on the front steps of the house.

Her mom starts first, taking her hands. “I hope you aren’t mad at us, sweetheart. It just didn’t feel the same without her.”

“I totally get it! I mean, Selena loves Di, and we all used to be friends before anything happened.”

“Oh, we are so glad you think that!” Her mom hugs her, “Maybe you can use this as an opportunity to get some alone time again? I think it would serve both you and Dianna well! Maybe see if there is a spark still there if you know what I mean.”

Her dad nods behind her, making the rage and annoyance in her chest only build up greater. “Oh! I forgot to tell you guys. I’m actually seeing Karlie now.”

All of them looked over to where Karlie was now, waiting for her patiently by one of the Jeep doors, her arms crossed over her chest, dark hair blowing in the warm wind pulled so perfectly into a tight ponytail.

“Honey-“

“Well, I think they are all waiting for me! See you later, yeah?”

They stand there awestruck for a moment. Taylor connects again with Karlie, taking her hand and helping Taylor into the passenger seat.

“You tell them?”

“Yeah, their faces look like I just told them I’m pregnant.”

Karlie snorts and shuts the door, getting into the driver’s seat and turning on the engine. The other Jeep, containing Cara, Selena, Gigi, and Derek, starts on the trail in front of them, and they follow them close behind. Taylor takes the time to admire the scenery of the jungle around them. There was so much land around here it was mind-boggling. More so that she couldn’t believe someone could afford to live around here. Alex and Toni are engaged in a conversation behind them, making it a great time to start on some of the moves. She looks to Karlie and grabs one of her hands from the steering wheel, placing it on her thigh.

It rocks them around a bit, but Karlie adjusts to it quickly, looking over at her. Neither Alex nor Toni seems to notice, so she tries to encourage their driver to make a bigger move, but she just glances over at her.

“Go up higher,” Taylor whispers.

“Like this?” Her hand slides right up to her vagina. The blonde flushes with shock and the odd butterflies in her stomach.

“No, you fucking idiot! Stop
groping
me and just put your hand on my thigh.”

”I
was
, and you told me it was too low.”

“You didn’t even do it, I forced you.”

“Whatever,” Karlie brings her hand back down, “Better?”

“Do something, you know, to get their attention,” She gestures to the back seat. Toni has been taking glances, but nothing larger than that. Taylor wants her to be
staring
.

“Like this?” Karlie squeezes her thigh so hard she has to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming.

“No! That hurt like a bitch! Have you done any sort of romance, like,
ever
?”

“It’s been a while, okay? I don’t need to do this shit when I’m asking someone for a hook-up!”

Karlie squeezes her thigh again, this time a lot more gentle and romantic, catching the brief attention of Toni, who seems to fade away from her conversation with Alex.

“It’s working,” Taylor mumbles.

“Good. We’re almost there.”

The Jeeps pull into a small clearing surrounded by large trees and shrubbery. Taylor watches Cara and Selena get out of their car followed by Derek and Gigi. Toni is the first to get out of their car, and Karlie insists on helping Taylor out as a romantic gesture of love. It’s cringey as hell, but smart. Once they are out and stretching their legs, she can feel the stare of Toni on her. Just what she wants. It’s the first sign of Jealousy. Comparison.

They grab their packs and water bottles, Derek leading them down the trail since he knows it best. Even though this is supposed to be her big break in getting everyone to know that she and Karlie are most definitely together, she still takes the time to admire the scenery. Her hand is tightly engulfed with the brunette, almost painfully so. She tries to loosen the grip but Karlie doesn’t seem to let go. She looks at her in confusion.

“You are overplaying it.”

“It’s the bugs.”

She arches a brow at her before it becomes clear again. The Dragonfly that first day together reminds her of their conversation. She looks around to notice the large amount of small flies and other insects flying in the air, as well as the jumbled collections of them on the trees and rocks and quite possibly everywhere. The painful grip now makes a great deal of sense.

They stop quite a few times to see small landmarks or creatures, but they finally reach the final destination of the hike, a cliff looking over a beautiful waterfall that fills the air with a steam of moisture. Annoying for her hair, she can feel it already trying to bunch up into curls. Her straightener has been working overtime this week.

”Wow.” Gigi admires using her phone to take a selfie and post it somewhere, most likely on Instagram.

Toni sighs in disbelief, looking over to Karlie. “It’s unbelievable.”

The brunette nods in agreement, still holding Taylor’s hand but slowly releasing her grip. “Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

They take a few more minutes to admire the landmark, the ripples of the waters falling into the body of water below. It's the perfect time to play their part. Taylor hip-bumps Karlie slightly in an attempt to get her attention.

“What?”

“Did you see how Toni looked at you? She’s so jealous.”

“Yeah. I did.”

“We’ve still got to play hard into it, follow my lead.” Taylor steps forward closer to the edge and extends her arms over her head. “Wow, this is so gorgeous!”

“Yeah! Perfect for any people, but you know, especially people that are in love. In a casual way. Of course.”

“Just admiring the view. Being loving.” Taylor looks to Karlie and whispers, “Okay now be affectionate.”

“What?”

“Like be touchy.”

“Okay...” She reaches her hand over and pulls her close over her shoulder, still admiring the view.

“Too repetitive. It’s giving first date, not we’ve been into each other for a while now.”

“Fine, okay, um. Can I put my hand on your
gluteus maximus
?”

“What?” She stares at her in confusion.

“You know your uh-“ She gestures, making Taylor want to burst out laughing.

“My ass? You want to put a hand on my ass?”

“Yes…”

“You have permission.”

Karlie reaches down and hovers her hand over one of her cheeks.

“Well, I don’t know why I even gave you permission because you’re not even touching it.”

“I’m scared.”

“Grow some balls,
Karaddy
, and place your hand on my ass.”

Karlie’s eyes widen, “Oh my god, Cara brought that up again?”

“Just squeeze my ass!”

“Okay!”

She does and it’s like she’s been pinched for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. “Holy shit, woman! What’s with you and squeezing so hard?”

“I dunno, my hook-ups usually like it.”

“That’s
sex
, Karlie. This is us seeing each other casually. Now, just hold my ass like a normal person.”

She does as Taylor instructs. Her hand sits there frozen.

“Well, you can
do
something with it.”

She moves her hand between each cheek, like a hot potato.

“Keep your hand on one. Or if you alternate make it look normal.”

And now she’s doing circles.

“Okay, stop! let me show you how it’s done.” Taylor takes her hand and loops it around Karlie’s waist, pressing the palm of her hand on the woman’s butt and giving it a soft squeeze. If there is anything to even squeeze, to begin with. “God, do you just have skin and bone here?”

“Do not shame me for my boney butt! I’m sensitive about it.”

“Okay, okay!”

They sit there just like that for a moment, but Taylor still isn’t hearing anything from the others. Making her think they aren’t doing enough. It’s not like them to stay quiet, especially when their ‘It’ couple is holding each other’s asses.

“Go down my pants.”

“What?”

“You heard me! Take your hand and go under my shorts.”

“That feels like a violation.”

“I won’t take you to court.”

Karlie is still a bit unsure but does as instructed, sliding her hand into her thin tight shorts. Taking hold of her ass again now skin to skin. It makes a shiver run down the length of her spine.

Still nothing.

“Okay, my turn.”

She slides into Karlie’s shorts as well, letting it sit there for a moment. But there was still just silence. Freakishly quiet silence. She glances behind them and groans in annoyance when she sees all of them, every single one of them, hurled around a tree watching some sort of brightly colored parrot in a tree. “God damnit.”

“What?” Karlie looks behind them as well, “Seriously? Were they not watching that entire time?”

“Apparently.”

She takes her hand out of Karlie’s shorts and she does the same, wiping her hand like she might’ve had some disease.

“Weird enough, I think your hand on my ass made my leg fall asleep,” Karlie mentions in a concerned tone.

“I didn’t think I was squeezing that hard-“

“Yeah, me either, but I dunno it just sort of feels like pins and needles-“ She glances down at her leg to see the horrific discovery of a bunch of ants crawling on her right foot and up her leg. “Oh my god!”

“Holy shit!” Taylor stares in almost complete shock before bending down in an attempt to get them off Karlie’s leg. However, she’s only met with a shoe to her nose when the brunette flings it off and shakes her leg like a madman to get them all off. The shoe bounces off her nose hard. Hard enough to give her a bloody nose and let it start leaking on the ground, as well as ricocheting off her face and right off the cliff into the water.

Karlie finishes shaking off the rest of the ants, stepping far enough away that the small colony can’t get to her anymore, while Taylor attempts to stop the bleeding of her nose with the leaf of a nearby tree.

“Oh my god, I think some of them bit me!” Karlie cries, looking at her leg in fright. She looks back at her, still bent over and bleeding on the ground.

“Really? Are you sure? Or is it the blood from your kicking me in the face?” Taylor snaps, blood running down her hands.

Karlie’s eyes widen a bit at the sight of blood and she comes to help her, taking the sock off her foot and holding it to her nose.

“Ew no! What the fuck? I don’t want to smell your feet!”

“It’s better than a leaf!” Karlie argues, but when Taylor still refuses she takes off her bag and reaches in, pulling out a tampon and shoving it right up her nose, letting more than half of it hang out along with the string. “Compact cotton.”

Taylor stares in amazement for a moment, before looking at the mess they made. Karlie’s shoe was long gone by now and there was a bloody mess everywhere. “Well-“

And yet the rest of their group was still distracted by the
stupid fucking parrot
.

”Here take my shoe.”

The blonde takes the shoe from her right foot, letting Karlie slip it on as they walk back to the others, who have slowly come out of their parrot haze. Taylor has a tampon still hanging from her nose slowly filling with blood.

Karlie holds up her hand to greet everyone, wearing two different shoes, one too small than the other, and her hands on her hips with pride.

“Hey, what’d we miss?”

<3

There’s the smack of a tennis ball hitting the floor and then bouncing back up, the swing of a racket, but just another bounce. Miss.

It pips Karlie’s interest just a bit. They got back from the hike not long ago, now with a new matching pair of shoes. She’s always fancied Tennis, it was something that came easy to her because her mom was good at it. Back at their house in St. Louis, they had a tennis court attached outside that let them practice whenever they liked. She didn’t play much now, since it brought too many memories, but it did rekindle from time to time.

As she peaks around the edge, she recognizes it as Taylor’s parents. Scott serves again and sends it to Andrea’s side. She’s a bit bleated and hits too slow again, Scott cheering in victory as Andrea tosses it over again. Karlie watches in interest for a moment before stepping onto the court and approaching Andrea’s side.

“You should try letting your body react instead of your mind,” She says, picking up a racket from the side bin and standing next to her, “Just a little trick my mom taught me. She used to have a kick for stuff like this.”

Andrea looks at her questionably but after a reassuring look from her husband, she tries again. Scott serves again, and she misses it but gets a bit closer.

“Hey, I think that sort of worked!” Taylor’s dad mentions, scratching the back of his head. “Maybe ask a question to distract her more, you know?”

Karlie nods and lightly hits the ball back over, nodding to the woman on her side of the court.

“Ask a question about the Pioneer Woman!” Scott shouts, getting ready to serve.

“Uh, right okay,” Karlie reels through her memory of every time she’s watched the show to get a new recipe. Scott serves the ball over and she asks quickly, “How many hound dogs does she have?”

“Three!” She shouts, swinging her racket and narrowly nicking the ball, sending it off the court, but she still hits it.

“Hey, that was much better!” The brunette encourages. Retrieving the ball and tossing it over again. “And to be honest I could’ve sworn it was four.”

“It was until poor Walter passed away last year. Poor thing.”

“
Right
, well, here let me try to help you this time. Maybe we’ll get some technique too.”

Andrea nods and Karlie sets her racket aside, coming up next to her and helping her hold her racket. Scott serves the ball and she helps her swing just perfectly so that she’s able to send it right back over. Taylor’s mom cheers with pride and Scott sends another hit, which Andrea receives beautifully.

“There you go! You’re a natural and you had no idea.”

It’s sweet to watch them this way, as she stands off to the side to watch them complete the rest of their game. Andrea wins, but she can’t exactly tell if that’s because Scott lets her or something in Andrea’s brain finally clicks, completing the game for her.

“Well, you’ll have to tell your mom she’s a genius for making it click like that! “ Andrea means it happily, but Karlie can’t help but be soddened at it quite a bit, licking her lips.

”Oh, she passed away a while ago.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I sincerely apologize-“

“Don’t worry about it, I do get my best skills from her though,” She smiles in an attempt to lighten the mood which seems to work.

Taylor enters the court, exchanging her workout clothes from earlier for a bright summer dress that matches her eyes. “Hey, guys. Teaching my mom all your wonderful talents, babe?”

Karlie offers her hand and loops her in beside her, Taylor takes it as an invite to wrap her arms around her waist. “Sure am, though I think it might just be me helping shine your Mom’s hidden talents. She’s a natural.”

Taylor laughs, both of her parents approaching them in a bit of an odd manner like they are seeing something in the wild for the first time.

“So, are you guys-“ Andrea starts.

“Yes, Mom, we are seeing each other.”

”In a totally respectful and safe way,” Karlie adds for reassurance.

“Just two people figuring out what it means to enjoy each other’s company.”

“In a very soft and easygoing way.”

“But not too easygoing, just steady.”

“Not quite advanced-“

“Just learning all about each other and-“

“And finding that perfect medium-“

“Where we can figure out what we want.”

“Whether that be more or less, but I’m assuming it’s perfect with how perfect your daughter is-“

There is a kick to her shin in an attempt to shut her up, and she does, just smiling and looking between her ‘Girlfriend’s parents.

“That’s why I was concerned when you brought Dianna here. I didn’t want things to be awkward.”

“Which they are not!” Karlie adds.

“Definitely.”

“Not awkward whatsoever.”

“Mhm.”

There is an odd look shared between Andrea and Scott, and Taylor takes her hand swinging her up and leading her out of the tennis court.

“Well, I’m gonna take Kar to get some lunch. Enjoy your game!” Taylor drags her out and around the corner before dropping her hand and wiping it against her dress, like she was disgusting. Or she had really sweaty palms. Which was true.

“Did I make things weird or-“

“That’s why you had all your mom’s vinyls?”

Oh. She overheard that.

“I didn’t know you were listening.”

“I kinda thought it was bullshit, you know. Something you use on your bitches to get them in bed with you.”

Karlie’s mouth is agape for a moment, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, for not telling you that night.”

“It’s okay. It’s not like you had to. This is me apologizing more than anything.” She arches a brow in surprise, and Taylor just walks past her, brushing her arm against hers. “Selena and Cara were watching. Everyone is buying our little act. Maybe you should try to find Toni.” Taylor pivots her step but then looks back again. “And, uh, thanks for being so nice to my mom.”

Karlie lets out a hum of agreement and appreciation, watching Taylor leave. She was right. She really should find Toni. She exits the small pathway they were down and gazes down to the pool, where Alex is doing laps seemingly without his girlfriend.

A
fucking miracle
.

<3

“Hey, are you up for a game?”

Taylor was on her way back to her room when she was called upon by a familiar blonde who she once wore a ring for. Dianna is in the bright green yard with a small frisbee in her hand, calling to her like she didn’t just call off their engagement a few months ago. Nonetheless, it feels almost wrong to deny her, and maybe it will bring her a sense of closure to finally talk to her again.

“I’m a pro at Frisbee golf if you don’t remember.”

“I do remember you almost knocking several people’s teeth out. You know you’re supposed to aim for the thing with chains right?” Dianna smiles cheerfully as she approaches, taking a collection of frisbees from the tin.

“I know that now. You didn’t give me a whole lot of instructions when we were on your little business trip.”

Dianna laughs, throwing her first frisbee just a few feet from the bin. “So, how’ve you been?”

“Oh, you know, just surviving. I’m really sorry about my parents. I don’t think they have boundaries sometimes.”

The blonde shrugs and watches as Taylor tosses her Frisbee, landing just a few feet behind hers. “It’s fine, I should’ve asked you to be sure. Wasn’t sure if you’d really want to be hearing from me though.”

Debatable. There were several times Dianna had texted her since they broke up, but it was just simple ‘hey, how are you?’ sort of texts, which she ghosted most oftentimes. It’s not that she intended to leave her unanswered, it was just easier than thinking about what to say. “It’s fine. You are here now, we just have to deal with it, you know?”

Dianna’s frisbee lands in the bin this time. “And how’s school been? Still on the fence about it?”

“I think I’ve fallen off the fence several times by now.”

”Law school isn’t easy, no school is really easy. Even acting school.”

She used to give Dianna shit about her theater school all the time. Saying how it must be a breeze. It wasn't until she saw the dances and the singing along with the dances that she quickly realized she was proven wrong.

“Yeah. But I think my parents would be a bit disappointed in me that I’ve dropped from doing Law at NYU to switching to something like Music.”

“It’s always been your passion. I never got why you didn’t pursue it.”

Taylor shrugs, throwing her last frisbee and watching it just narrowly miss the bin. “Have the chance at getting good money or a guaranteed good money job?”

“Yeah, okay, I guess you got me there,” Di grins and walks to the bin with her, taking out their frisbees so they can continue with the next one. “I would be lying if I said I haven’t missed you, Tay.”

“I have to. I miss my cabinets being freakishly organized.”

“I see, you were using me for your benefit the whole time!”

Taylor chuckles, “Maybe. It came in handy a lot of the time.”

There’s a small pause between them, Dianna chucking another frisbee dead into the bin. “So, Karlie. You are seeing her?”

“Yeah. You know. Just casually. It sort of just happened here.”

“She never really stuck me as your type. But I guess I wasn’t in the end either.”

“Di- I dunno. It wasn’t like that. Karlie is just safe to fall into.”

“Let’s not worry about that too much, yeah? I know I brought it up, but, I’d just like to enjoy the time in Hawaii, even if it was just your parents that wanted me here.”

“They’ve always liked you more than me.”

“They’ve just spent less time with me. I think they’d come to find out we are very similar, and they might hate me more than you.”

Taylor rolls her eyes playfully and chucks her frisbee, landing it in the bin. She can’t remember the last time she genuinely did that.

“Oh my god! Wait, Di, did you see that?”

“Hell yeah, I did! Look who finally got better at frisbee golf!” She holds her hand up and Taylor high-fives her happily, their fingers fitting like gloves.

She just barely catches a glimpse of Karlie in the window of the house watching them from afar.

“Next bin?”

<3

Karlie ventures through the house in search of a tanned-skin brunette, remembering the fond memories she has here. It was sort of like a yearly trip that they would come down here and enjoy the beach and just hang out. It was where Karlie and Cara would take all their model friends and drink till dawn, and it’s ultimately where she hit it off with Toni as well. The late night on the patio where they were both the most sober of the group, sharing an intimate moment while the rest of the party cheered and danced inside. How soft Toni’s lips were when she leaned close enough to touch her.

She rounds the corner and discovers the girl tucked away in the kitchen with a handful of exotic fruits in front of her, and a knife in her hand. She’s humming along to herself as Karlie makes her presence known, knocking lightly on the door frame and stepping into the domain.

“Hey, Karlie, want some fruit?”

Karlie gives her a small smile and sits herself at one of the bar stools, looking over the arrangement. There was star fruit, papaya, dragon fruit… All seemingly perfectly ripe. “Sure, I don’t think it will hurt.”

“Always conscious of your diet,” Toni says, shaking her head and cutting her up a small bowl full of fruits. “A model to your core.”

“It’s just a side job still,” She says with a shrug, taking a bite of one of the pieces of star fruit. “Damn, this is good.”

“Hawaii has some of the best fucking fruit I’ve ever known,” Toni agrees, taking a bite of her own. “Just a side job? Even after you were offered a spot as a Victoria's Secret Angel?”

That was a few months ago, after one of the feature magazines. It was an amazing opportunity to become well-known, but she loved doing her coding job so much more. Would she rather build her legacy or be known as a slut most of her life? “It’s never been my crowd, I think I was just faltered by the request as a teen.”

“You and your coding. You’ve really got your heart set on that don’t you?”

“One day Kode with Klossy will be a female inspiration to everyone.”

Toni laughs, “I don’t doubt you. You have a way with your craft.” She takes a piece of fruit and shoves it into Karlie’s mouth. “I still remember you nerding out to me at my place. Talking about HTML like it’s a hot ancient language.”

“HTML is extremely hot.”

“Whatever you say, Kloss.” Toni’s eyes keep glancing down to her lips and she can’t just not notice it. It’s like painful. It’s painful how badly she wants to reach over and kiss her. “Why did we ever break up?”

Karlie shrugs, leaning back in the chair. “I think you called me a nerdy playboy with a thick coating of Billie Eilish No. 2.”

Toni chuckles with a shake of her head, leaning forward just close enough to smell the scent of her pullover. “I think you’re wearing a better scent now. And you’ve got a new look.”

“I’ve been picking up on some trends.” She has, truly. She’s evolved from the simple sports bra and grey sweats to good style, as she’s been told by Cara and Martha. It at least allowed her to get more girls in public rather than just in the club under the bright lights.

“Taylor is a lucky girl. I’m glad she’s with you.”

Well. That isn’t exactly what she wanted to hear. “Yeah, uh, she is very sweet.”

“You guys look really good together.” That is
definitely
not what they want. They don’t want to look good together. Well they do, but they don’t. They need to look not together enough that Toni feels like she could swoop in and steal her back.

“And how long have you been with Alex?”

“A few weeks or so. We are just kinda having fun. I don’t think I’ll stay with him, I need someone more romantic, you know? Intimate.”

“Yeah, yeah I totally get that.”

“And you and Taylor?”

Karlie blushes for a moment, “Oh, just like, a week or so now. Still in the nice early stages. Getting to know each other.”

“Well you know, if you feel like it later, I’m gonna go for a run. You can come with me if you’d like.”

Karlie nods but then bites her lip, “I’m actually gonna go see some sites with Taylor later. Show here the attractions here in the area-“
Oh my fucking god Karlie what the hell are you doing.

“Oh, that’s okay. Wouldn’t want to get in your way.” Toni takes a bite of her fruit and then tosses the rest of it into the bin, seeming to lose her appetite. “I should go get ready for the rehearsal dinner.”

The taller brunette nods awkwardly as she watches the girl leave the room, cursing herself before stepping from the barstool and making her way straight to Taylor’s room, knocking just once before barging inside, the blonde sitting in her bed with a book. It’s a reminder of how she saw Dianna and Taylor interacting earlier, and it was weird to say how odd she felt watching them.

“Taylor, we need to talk.”

“Well, hello to you too.” Taylor sets her book aside and sits up, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. Karlie takes a moment to admire the room that Taylor has. It is considerably larger than hers, which Karlie feels rather envious of.

“Why do you get a bigger room than me? I’m literally Derek’s like best friend!” The brunette complains, looking out the window to the perfect view of the beach. “And this view, oh my god!”

Taylor stares at her in confusion, “So did you come here just to rave about my room or-?”

“Right! Fuck, so we need to make it clear that we aren’t in a relationship.”

“Excuse me? The whole point of this is to make it look like we are.”

“Well like, in a relationship, but just sort of in a relationship that is not functionally defined so that Toni could you know, break the girl code and swoop in.”

Taylor stands up and folds her arms across her chest, “So what brought this about?”

“Toni thinks we are like a perfect couple.”

“Really? Damn, and I thought you were fucking it up for us.”

“Well, the point is we need to make it look like we aren’t. So tonight, at the rehearsal dinner, we need to make that clear. Okay?”

“What do you want to do, make out with me on the boat?”

“No! No, we need to make it look like I’m into you, but you aren’t into me, or that you're into me but I’m not into you or maybe both or-“ She’s interrupted by a small slap to her face. “What the hell was that for?”

“For you to get yourself together, girl. I’ve got a few ideas to sell the deal, just be cautious.”

“Good, good, okay.” Karlie puts her hands in her pockets and glances around. “Well, I’ll see you then, and I’m
definitely
going to have a word with Derek about this room thing.”

“You do that.” Taylor watches her leave, rolling her eyes and approaching the closet to pick out the perfect outfit to sell their work.

<3

She’s 90% sure her mom might kill her after seeing her in this dress. It’s skin tight, a shimmery deep blue color to match her eyes, the straps crisscross down her back to display a bit more skin, and theirs a slit in the length of it so her leg can poke through. Taylor matched it with white sparkly heels and silver jewelry. Selena raved about it the second she picked it out at the dress store, saying how perfect it is for the rehearsal dinner when upstaging them isn’t an issue since it’s just rehearsal. Taylor tried to convince her that she’d wear it to another event instead, not wanting to bring too much attention to herself, but Selena found a dress later that was just as eye-catching for the night as well. To make sure they matched, Taylor only gave Karlie the brief implication of what color the dress was since she did want to see everyone’s reaction to it once she stepped out.

She and Selena were the last ones in the house trying to scramble for their stuff. She’d been helping the bride curl her hair for the night and then it ended with them getting sidetracked talking about the recent drama and remembering old times that they didn’t realize the time till Selena checked the clock on her phone.

It led to a rupture of trying to get the finishing touches done as fast as they could, which they made in record time, with five minutes still to spare. They made their way down the stone path to the entrance where the cars were lined up. The rehearsal dinner was taking place on a small yacht that had a bar, music, and staff all on board for them. It was perfect for a relaxed night of not having to worry about the wedding tomorrow and just having fun with everyone. As she makes the steps down with Selena beside her, everyone turns to look at them, and that’s when Taylor catches Karlie’s eyes.

Karlie is wearing this white dress that is cut out around her abdomen in a diamond pattern and has two slits along her thighs. The way her six-pack pokes through in all its glory is hard to ignore, and she can’t help but notice that Karlie can’t take her eyes off her either. She approaches her and gives her a reassuring smile. Karlie is wearing Sapphire jewelry that matches Taylor’s dress.

“Nice dress,” The brunette compliments, opening the door for her. She brushes her off and moves past her, gesturing for Toni to take her spot instead.

“I’m going to ride with Selena. I’ll meet you there though?”

Karlie nodded and lifted Toni by the hips to help her inside the car, Alex taking the driver's side and Karlie still getting to sit by her tanned brunette, since it was one of those Land Rover jeeps that could fit three people in the front.

Taylor walks back to the truck that has the rest of the party aside from her parents who are taking a car with Dianna. Derek helps her into the back and she’s strapped in by a seatbelt, listening to Cara and Selena’s lovey-dovey discussion when Derek starts the truck. Gigi is next to her, responding to some emails before looking up and starting a conversation with the girls in the front. Oddly enough, it seemed weird with Karlie not right next to her, but she knew this was the right move if she wanted Toni extra jealous of them.

They kick off down the road, kicking up dirt as they travel through the jungle before hitting the paved ground. The place where the boat was was a small lagoon-type area, big enough for a few boats to fit in and cruise but not much more than that. The water is bright teal blue with this perfect tropical steam that makes her never want to leave, a small opening to the beach to watch the sky and waves meet. The sun would be dipping soon enough, just barely saving the first few rounds of drinks before the sunset.

The truck parks, and Derek helps Gigi, out of the car while Cara helps Selena. She watches Karlie from a few feet away as she helps Toni out, the lingering touch between the two hard to ignore. After, the brunette makes her way towards her, holding out her hand. Taylor takes it warmly, and the girl wraps her other arm around her waist, twirling her down like she’s a princess. It’s extremely attractive and seems to catch the eyes of a certain brunette who’s making her way down the dock to the boat.

“Good touch,” Taylor compliments, taking Karlie’s arm and leading her down the ramp as the collection of crew follows behind them. They board the boat carefully, and Taylor would be lying if she said that one of her biggest fears wasn’t falling off a boat. She can swim, but god that would be terrifying. Just left behind in the current.

The second they are on the deck, she and Karlie detach to their separate groups and start up a conversation. The point of the night is to still make it clear that they were together to ease Cara and Selena, but not so together that Toni doesn’t want to get close to Karlie. Easy said then done. She makes her first order of business by talking to her parents.

“Hi mom, hi dad, enjoying the boat?” Taylor starts, approaching them just as Dianna fades away to get a drink. She didn’t want them trying to get them alone again just yet. She needed alcohol in her system.

Her mom nods, eyeing her dress a bit, “Oh, yes, it’s very nice. Don’t you think that outfit of yours isn’t the best for a trip like this? You never know if you might need to jump off and swim like in the Titanic.”

“Your mother is right, Taylor. It doesn’t seem very easy to access,” Her dad agrees.

“It’s fine, It’s not like I plan on going swimming, and I don’t see any icebergs. Selena is the one that helped me pick this out.”

“That’s not surprising,” her mom mumbles, her eyes fading to where her best friend was in a similar dress.

“Selena and I are both adults, we aren’t restricted to nunnery clothing. It’s simply the style now.” Taylor attempts to argue in reassurance, though she knows it’s very unlikely for it to work.

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

There’s a hand wrapped around her mid-drift, and she recognizes from the sapphire bracelet that it’s Karlie, looking back at her suspiciously.

“Hey, babe, do you want a drink? Not sure what you like..”

Maybe the brunette just recognized it as an awkward situation, and she is very grateful for the getaway if so. “Sure, babe, take me to the bar. I’ll talk to you guys later, okay?”

Her parents give an odd nod of approval, still iffy about her fake girlfriend. Karlie leads her to the bar where Toni and Derek are, apparently getting drinks as well. Karlie takes her spot next to Toni, Taylor’s next to Derek.

“Mm, Karlie, what’s a good rehearsal drink?” Toni asks, deciding to bite the waters even with her just a few feet away.

“For you? Have a Piña colada. You can only handle fruity drinks.”

“Ah, so you remember I hate the taste of liquor?”

“My bank account still hurts after I bought you all those drinks just to find out you’d been taking them to the bathroom to dump the whole night.” Karlie jokes, leaning against the bar and ordering a whiskey neat for herself and a mojito for Taylor. A weirdly perfect choice, she must have remembered it from that night at the bar.

“Oh, whatever! I am a changed woman, Kar Kar.”

Taylor zones out of their conversation after that, instead turning herself to Derek who’s nursing a glass of champagne with a smirk on his face. “So, Tay, how’s it feel to be caught in some weird love triangle?” He glances over to Dianna who’s at the edge of the boat with her parents.

“I think it might be more of a square by now, Derek,” There is a smile on her face, even despite the fact she just openly admitted that she can tell the attraction between Toni and Karlie is still there.

“Don’t worry about them, T. You are like the prom queen here. Embrace it!”

She shakes her head at his enthusiasm and takes her drink from the bartender, moving her way over to talk with Dianna. The sun is setting behind the hills, casting a perfect dark glow on the water that her ex is taking pictures of while her parents make light conversation.

“Hey, Di.”

The shorter blonde is surprised, and her parents catch onto the interaction rather quickly. Her mom drags her dad by the arm to the other end of the ship, mumbling something about how she can see a creature on the beach just out yonder.

“They didn’t make that subtle, did they?” Dianna asks, leaning against the metal railing. Taylor shakes her head and takes a sip from her drink.

“No, I think they need to take some acting notes from you.”

Dianna bites her lip and looks to the sunset again, she’s dressed in this two-piece set that is practically mouth-watering. The deep red fabric matched the shade on her lips. “This sort of reminds me of homecoming, you know?”

“The time we snuck in freshmen year or senior year when we were officially dating?” Taylor jokes, leaning next to her.

“I was actually thinking of Junior year, but you did remind me of those very fond memories.”

“Ah, the one where Joe spiked the punch for everyone?”

“And then got suspended for a week after Mr. Roberts heard about it.”

The laughter between them is so comforting and warm that she hates it. Almost wishing for the cold awkwardness that Karlie brought with her. She can feel her parents watching them, but also the eyes of Karlie and Toni, who are hanging around the bar still. She gives the taller brunette a smile to imply that things are going well. Derek moves from the bar to the small music station on the second floor a beat echoing through the speakers as people start dancing. Everyone moves to their select partners, and instead of asking to dance with her ex-fiancé, she goes towards the bar, where Karlie doesn’t seem to move either, just watching Toni enjoy her time with her boyfriend, Cara with Selena, her mom and dad together.

“Any luck?” She asks as she gets closer, setting her drink on the table.

“She wants to, I’ve just got that bimbo in the way.” Green eyes stare deep into Alex’s shoulders, and Taylor laughs briefly.

”Maybe you’ve got to take it to the next step, to show her what she really can’t have if I’m right here.”

Karlie looks at her with widened eyes that then turn to a smirk as she holds her hand out. “Alright then.”

“Wait, I didn’t mean it like that. Karlie, can you even dance?” Taylor asks, taking Karlie’s hand as she leads her to the middle of the deck.

“Of course I can, I’m a professional club lesbian. The question is, can you keep up?”

Karlie takes her and leads her in a passionate dance, Taylor following along with the movement of her feet and the movement of her arms. She’s spun, dipped, and pressed against her body so she can feel the packs of muscle pressed into her stomach. She can see Dianna’s eyes on them, however her back is to where Toni and Alex are. “Is Toni watching?”

Karlie dips her again, her nose pressed deep into the blonde’s neck before coming up again. “There’s a few glances, but I don’t think she can even see us behind that boulder.”

“Karlie, at least try to be nice.”

“Aren’t you the one who’s been accusing me of sleeping around the entire time you’ve been here?”

Well, she does have her there.

A clink of a glass several times interrupts their dance as everyone stops to give attention to Derek who is at the very top of the boat with Gigi, raising their glasses full of champagne. “Toast on top everyone!”

Karlie grabs her hand and starts walking toward the stairs to get up but Taylor stops her. “No, follow me.”

There’s a look of confusion on her face, but she follows along obediently as she takes her a level lower instead. The yacht they were on had three levels, the middle being the main but the bottom had the perfect thing she needed to seal all of this together with a bow.

“Where are we going?”

“To do the most embarrassing thing you might ever do.”

“What?”

Taylor takes her hand and leads her to the front of the ship where there’s a perfect ledge for one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history. She bends down to take her heels off and then climbs the railing enough to where she can hint at where she’s going with this. She hears Karlie groan behind her.

“You’re not fucking serious, Tay, are you?”

“Titanic me, Karlie Kloss.” She holds out her arms as she hears the cheering from the top deck. They would notice they were absent pretty soon so they had to make this quick.

“Nobody would do this. It’s so lame.”

“The only people who do it are the ones in the early stages of their relationship, if you want to sell it, this is how.”

“I hate this so much.” Karlie takes her shoes off and steps onto the rails just behind her, holding onto her over the small bar pressed to her stomach. “We look ridiculous.”

“Alright, now spread my arms.”

“I’ve watched the movie. Rose’s tits were like my gay awakening.”

Taylor snorts, feeling Karlie outstretch her arms and hold them together by clasping their hands. She can hear the ‘awe’ from behind them, signaling that the crowd has bought their act. It feels good for once to not have everyone embarrassed by her. Now it seems like they notice her as a cool person again. Against better judgment. “They are watching right?”

Karlie glances back and hums, “Yep, buying every second of it.”

“Good. This was like my last plan.”

She hears the taller woman snort and rests her head on her shoulder, watching the waves of the lagoon crash against the ship. “You gonna say the line?”

“‘I’m flying, Karlie!’” She mocks, earning a deep chuckle from the woman behind her.

“Okay, yep, that’s enough of that.”

They stand there for just a bit longer, and when she asks Karlie to check back again she says that they’re gone, relieving just a bit of stress from her stomach and letting her arms fall back to her side. Karlie steps away from the railing.

“Great shows over and-“

Taylor steps to the left to press herself off the rail but the metal is covered in water from a wave splash, making her slip and fall backward into the lagoon. She screams in surprise and fear and is then met with the oddly warm water as she sinks into the current. Her lungs immediately plead with panic and she pushes herself up towards the surface, wiping the salt-filled water from her eyes only to see the yacht already moving quickly away.

“Taylor!”

She hears the yell from Karlie very briefly and then the splash of water. Karlie’s head peaks over the waves as she begins to swim towards her. “Karlie, what the hell are you doing?”

“I’m saving you!” She calls, swimming closer.

“But you can’t swim!”

“I can swim very well, thank you very much!”

It takes the great effort of a doggy paddle but Karlie does make it over to her as she hears the screams from the ship. The rest of their friends seemed to have heard the splashes, thank god. “Holy shit, what if we die out here?” Taylor panics, glancing around them.

“We can’t die out here, it’s a lagoon-“

“What about hypothermia?”

“This water is like 90 degrees-“

“What about piranhas?”

That seems to scare Karlie enough, frantically looking for a place for them to get ashore. Taylor is trying to wipe water from her face, but her dress is getting heavy from the water, feeling like she really
was
acting out the rest of Titanic for the crowd.

“There! We have to swim there!” Karlie points to the small spot of land that is in the center of the lagoon that barely has enough room for a coconut tree but is better than trying to keep herself up for the next few minutes till the Coast Guard can help them.

She takes Karlie’s arm to help her and they swim to the island, if you could call it that. Water is collecting more and more in her mouth with the fresh taste of salt till she can feel the sand under her feet and use it as an aid in getting them ashore. Taylor is completely out of breath when they break out of the water, washing herself up on the sand like a beached whale.

“Are you alright?” Karlie asks, wiping water from her eyes as she continues to catch her breath.

“Yeah, yeah, just a bit out of breath and-“ Taylor starts laughing softly, looking to the boat that has now stopped in place, “I mean if that whole thing didn’t make Toni jealous, god I don’t know what will.”

Karlie smiles and chuckles lightly, leaning up against her as the current splashes against their feet. “Well, neither she nor Dianna jumped in to come save us. I think we locked it in for both.”

“Oh, you know, I think Di would have. She’s just got you know, slow reaction time.”

“Why do you keep defending her? I mean you had to have broken up with her and called off the engagement for a reason. It’s not like she’s doing everything to make it up to you.”

She didn’t entirely expect that from Karlie, especially since their number one unspoken rule has been don’t let each other’s guard down, but maybe it’s just the saltwater ingestion.

“I... It’s so stupid. Really.”

“What? The reason you broke up with her? Surely it can the that stupid.”

“I broke up with Dianna because loving her was
easy
. It wasn’t crying in the rain or pounding on her door to take me back or arguing about why it’s wrong to love each other… I just knew that loving her wasn’t going to be the way I wanted to love someone. She’s just perfect, at everything. I don’t want someone that’s perfect, I want someone who matches me. But my parents
love
someone who’s perfect, so they just adore Dianna.” Her mouth is just moving, speaking out all the feelings she’s had for months piled up.

“I think that they would prefer her as a daughter over me. I can’t tell any of them I quit Law school, because they’ll just target me as a disappointment. And- God I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. I guess if I’m getting eaten alive by piranhas someone had to know.” Taylor leans back into the sand, choosing to admire the stars instead of the small tiny faces of her family and friends.

“I can’t believe you did it.”

“What?”

“You know, uh, quitting law school. Are you gonna pursue music now? You mentioned that-“

“Oh my god, you remember that?”

“That night was hard to forget. I still have my poncho hanging in the front.” Karlie licked her lips and brought one of her knees to her chest, “It was a great day, you know until you just up and left.” Karlie pauses, shaking her head. “Why did you do that?”

“I..” Taylor bites her bottom lip, looking over at Karlie with her blue eyes that put the lagoon to shame, “I got scared. Being there with you was so nice… and different. Maybe I was acting out of impulse, I’m so used to just leaving after being with a hot girl for a day, but I regretted it as soon as I walked out those doors. I’ve never felt something like that. Like, real sparks. I got so scared I had to put them out.”

Karlie stares at her for a moment, “I know what that feels like. It really hurt after you left, it just felt like another one-night stand. Like it meant more than that, so when Cara came I said all those terrible things about you and I… I didn’t mean them.”

Taylor sets a reassuring hand on top of her own, staring back out to the lagoon. “Well, look at us. Two people with champagne problems shipwrecked on barely an island.”

“I think it would be prettier during the day.”

“If we make it out alive will you take me back here and enjoy it in the daylight? I want to see the blue water and the people with their families and the newlyweds and proposals… Hawaii is like the American’s version of Paris in a way, I’ve always wanted to just admire all of it.”

The brunette dips her head with a smile so wide it might be brighter than the stars above them. “Okay. I’ll take you back here, only if we can reenact the scene from Mama Mia.”

“Oh my god, Lay All Your Love On Me?”

“That’s the one.”

“And you called me lame for doing the Titanic thing!”

“Whatever. You, me, and this lagoon. It’s a date.”

Taylor leans her head against her shoulder, both of them just enjoying the silence of the moment. There’s the pick-up of wind and the sound of the blades of a helicopter behind them. She looks up as her hair is pressed into her face, the loud sound of the helicopter’s speakers echoing around them.

“LAGOON BEACH WATCH. LOWERING SAFETY EQUIPMENT.”

She takes hold of Karlie’s hand as the small life vest-type things are lowered down to them. She loops hers around her arms and Karlie does the same, giving the crew a small thumbs up in their bright spotlight as they are reeled upward.

They are about halfway up to the helicopter, Taylor takes this time to admire the view more than anything when she sees Karlie tense up looking at the ground.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just, afraid of heights. Remember.”

The Statue of Liberty.

“But you were fine on the plane! How’s this any different?”

“First of all, I
knew
it was you who took that bite out of my cookie! And second, I distract myself. Music, eye mask, anything to take me away.”

Taylor has to repress the urge to laugh but then remembers the song playing in Karlie’s headphones when she had leaned over to take a bite out of the first class amazing cookie.

“
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair

Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

I had to stop for the night “

Karlie stares at her as if she’s crazy at first. “How do you know my comfort song?”

“Just sing it with me!”

They are pulled up farther, and Taylor decides to skip to the chorus to make it a bit easier for Karlie to calm down.

“
I thought I heard them say..
“

Karlie joins in this time, her eyes sealed shut.

“ ‘
Welcome to the Hotel California.

Such a lovely place.

Such a lovely face.

Plenty of room at the Hotel California

Any time of year

You can find it here!’”

Before they can get to the next part they are lifted by the coastal crew into the helicopter and settled into their seats, still gripping each other’s hands tightly. Karlie watches them fly from the water, and Taylor nudges her softly.

“Don’t look down. Just look at me instead.”

Karlie nods, staring into her eyes. “Do you think everyone is gonna be upset at us?”

“We did just sort of ruin their rehearsal dinner. I’ll let you take that guess.”

<3

They are loaded into the back of one of the police vehicles at the shore to escort them back to the house. Taylor wraps the small towel they gave her around her shoulders and she glances over at Karlie who seems to be doing the same, but the towel is much more small in comparison to her height. Karlie gives the directions since she knows it better than she does obviously, and soon enough they are back on the dark streets of Honolulu.

“I wish I wasn’t soaked while seeing all of this. It’s really pretty,” Taylor admires, looking out the backseat window. Sightseeing is one of her favorite hobbies aside from music and writing, and you don’t just see places like this every day.

“It is really beautiful. Consider this as me taking you around town like I said I was going to tonight,” Karlie comments, recalling the conversation she had with Toni earlier. She had the opportunity to go with her ex and do something, maybe start up what she ruined, but instead she just naturally went with Taylor.

“In the back of a police car. How truly romantic,” Taylor mocks, leaning her shoulder against hers. “It’s freezing.”

“We were in a huge bowl of water not too long ago.”

“I know, it justifies why I am cold.”

“Well, when we get back to the house the others will probably still be out… So we can make something to eat and then you can have a nice warm shower.”

Blue eyes light up brighter than any star in the sky, “Can we make cookies?”

“I was thinking something a bit more savory, but I am better at baking.”

“You won’t make me do all of it?”

“No, no I won’t.” Karlie smiles and gives a final last direction to the police officer, pulling into the driveway the circles around a hedge-type display. It’s dark, barely any lights on in the house since everyone was supposed to be gone, but they got themselves stuck in the lagoon so changes had to be made. The brunette helps her out of the car, both of them still in their dresses, though now they are rather odd-smelling and bunched in weird places.

They thank the cop, who simply tells them to be careful next time. Unlocked door, tossed free towels, flicking the light of the kitchen on. Taylor glances through cabinets in her attempt to find ingredients, though Karlie is obviously more familiar, collecting a pan, bowl, flour, and other basic essentials they need for their task. Taylor is left in charge of turning on the oven.

“Is it 400?”

“Only if you want burnt cookies. Set it to 350.”

Taylor does as she’s told and lingers next to the taller girl, watching her perfect long fingers crack an egg so delicately it makes her stomach tingle.

“Can I stir?” Taylor asks, and Karlie seems reluctant but lets her. Using the small spatula she was given she mixes the ingredients, a perfect mix of raw egg deliciousness. The dough gets thicker and thicker, till her arm is practically giving out on her, trying to mix again but a small bit of batter flies to her face instead. “Whelp.”

Karlie laughs at her, setting aside the pan she just sprayed with canola oil and approaching her, wiping it off with the swipe of her finger. “Are you always so messy?”

“My parents think I’m a mess, so maybe.” Finding out that she quit law school might actually kill them.

Karlie gives her a sympathetic smile and licks the batter from her hand, “Your parents seem to care more about Dianna than you.”

“I— Well— Yeah. Yeah, they do. They see her as everything I’m not, and I think it’s clouded their vision.”

“Well for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty great.” The brunette hands her a scooper. “And let’s see if you make pretty great cookies too.”

“You did more than me this time. But we’ll see.” They begin scooping small balls onto the oil-lined sheet as the oven goes off, letting them know it has finished preheating. More balls, a full sheet, and another pan full. They place the first one in, Karlie setting a timer for 8 minutes on the microwave.

“Do you think you’ll pick up music again?” Karlie questions, leaning against the counter as their clock ticks down.

“Yeah, I want to. Everyone might hate me for it, but I like it. It brings me closure to write about my emotions.”

“I think we have a guitar and piano somewhere around the house if you are ever curious. I can’t guarantee they are tuned but, you know, if you ever want to show your skills…”

“Yes, Karlie, I’ll play you a song.”

She clenches her fist with a quiet ‘yes’ that is ridiculously adorable.

“And you’ll go back to your world of.. what is it? Coding?”

“Yeah. I think it’s pretty cool, but everyone thinks it’s lame. They think I should pursue modeling instead.”

Taylor’s eyes glance down to her abs again, shining with the perfect coat of lagoon water. She has to remind herself to flick them back up to continue the conversation. “Yeah- I mean you have the…
body
…for it, but I think coding is just as hot.”

“You don’t have to lie, Taylor, coding isn’t like walking around in my underwear.”

“Maybe I think that Java is very attractive. You know with its little coffee cup..”

Karlie stares at her intently in question.

“And you know, porn couldn’t run without code,” Taylor adds, pursing her lips.

“And you are the type of person to watch porn?”

“What? Do I not fit your profile?” The blonde asks accusingly, stepping forward with her best pouty face and big eyes. “Please help me step sis I’m so ho-“

Karlie shoves a ball of cookie dough into her mouth, “Okay, fine! Maybe I just misjudged you.”

“Putting balls in my mouth doesn’t help your narrative.”

There’s a roll of green eyes, the small beeper sounding behind them telling that the cookies are done. Karlie fetches them, pulling them out carefully and setting them on the top of the stove to cool down.

“Okay, perfect. One dozen cookies, one to go-“

Taylor takes one of them off the pan and shoves it straight in her mouth. “Oh, holy shit that’s hot!”

“Oh my god, you idiot! When will you learn? There was steam!”

The blonde eats the rest of her cookie but sticks her tongue out to cool it down. “That was- a really good chocolate chip cookie, but damn-“

“Do you want me to kiss it better?” Karlie asks, taking a step forward.

Wrong choice of words with their faces this close. Taylor laughs, but upon realizing just how close they were she puts her tongue back in her mouth, looking up to green eyes.

She’s forgotten how pretty Karlie is.

She’s a model after all. Her perfectly carved face and sharp eyebrows and thin but so kissable lips.

Maybe Karlie is thinking the same. The red stain of her smudged lipstick and wavy blonde hair still drying past the straps of her blue dress. Her eyes seem to be saying she is.

A flick from eyes to lips. Lips to eyes. Back down again. Back up. Karlie leans forward, but hesitates, biting the perfect plump skin that Taylor can’t take her eyes away from.

And Taylor decides to take the leap for them, pressing their lips together with a jolt of electricity.

- PLEASE SKIP THIS IF U DON’T WANT SMUT. JUST JUMP TO THE NEXT LITTLE BREAK -

And thank god it’s returned because after that step-sis joke from earlier, she could’ve been misreading the scene. Karlie takes her hands and places them on her hips, then slides up her sides, until they’re on her face, deepening the connection. It’s poetic and sensational, the bite of such delicate teeth, so caught in the moment she doesn’t realize she’s being pressed to the counter, their hips meeting in an intimate dance that Taylor feels she might die from.

So smoothly, the brunette turns off the oven in a move so quick it amazes her how fast her hands are back on her body. Taylor, in her shameful high-on intimacy brain, reaches to finally touch the six-pack she’s been staring at for days. Practically moaning at the feeling of it.

Karlie breaks just barely to press soft delicate kisses to her neck and jawline. “I think one dozen is enough. Ready for a shower?”

She feels her insides liquefy and nods so intensely it’s practically shameful. Karlie takes her by her hips and lifts her into her arms as Taylor wraps her legs around her waist, kissing the brunette’s face as she walks, taking them to the bathroom adjacent to Karlie’s room.

“God, you’re so strong,” The singer compliments, pressing her hand onto her bicep.

“I’ll show you why.” Karlie winks setting her down gently to catch her feet on the bathroom floor. Karlie turns the water too hot, lets the steam flood the room, and her lips are back on Taylor’s. The taller woman reaches to her back and pulls the strings to loosen her dress, the straps falling to her upper arms till she guides the rest off, leaving Taylor in just her black thong. The way Karlie’s eyes never leave, just wander and take it all in with such passionate intensity, it makes her feel so beautiful.

Hands trace from her bare side to her breasts, her chest rising and falling as she breaths in the water vapor, long fingers tracing the dusty pink buds that perk from the cool air.

“You are so beautiful.” It’s low, quiet, husky. Taylor has to bite her lip to stop herself from groaning loudly.

It was Karlie’s turn though, and drawing her hands away from her abs was a difficult challenge but Taylor succeeded, peeling the white fabric from the model’s body to reveal the similar look she was sporting now. Every part of Karlie’s body was toned in such a perfect way it made her mouth water. Her chest, her stomach, the arch of her collarbones. It took her breath away.

“Wow.”

Karlie kisses her skin to skin, her back pressed to the cool bathroom counter that makes chills run up her spine. A harder and harder, tongue is introduced now, in a breathtaking way that makes Taylor wonder what else Karlie can do with that perfect tongue.

Then there’s a hand massaging her breast and the other is playing with the thin part of her thong. The shower is for standing only, no tub, so she doesn’t have to worry as Karlie leads her in backward, just taking a careful step till her back is against the wall again. Water runs over her face, between their lips. It almost feels like they’re drowning.

Karlie’s finger is playing with the strap again. “Can I-?”

“Yes.”

It’s gone, Karlie’s follows not long after. The hot water beats against them, washing the salty water from their skin, but Taylor could hardly worry about that right now. The lips against her neck are hard to ignore as they drift farther and farther till they reach one of the pink buds on her breasts, circling it so gently and slowly she can’t stop the forbidden sound from exiting her mouth. Karlie’s fingers fade to the other, sending her into a stream of pleasure building so deeply just a bit further. It’s killing her. The tension she’s had to endure since their first meeting and having it just get larger and larger over the past week.

Her hands are in brunette hair, so dark and perfect. There wasn’t anything about this girl that wasn’t perfect. How her hands are perfect on her hips, massaging the soft skin, the occasional glance and smirk back up at her. She feels like she’s dying.

Karlie leans back up to Taylor and kisses her again, fading her hand to the shorter girl’s thighs and stroking the skin like a fragile petal.

“Touch me.”

Karlie chuckles and leans closer to her, “What was that?”

“Touch me please.”

“Can you say my name, pretty girl?”

“Karlie, please for the love of god touch me before I pass out on this wall.”

Karlie kisses her once and presses her fingers right where she wants her, stroking so gently. “I’m going try to make you pass out for other reasons tonight.”

Between the nicknames, the touches, and the kisses, Taylor is positive she’ll make that come true. She presses her nose deep into her neck, breathing in deeply and massaging the water deep into the model’s back as she strokes her once, twice, a third time before seemingly collecting just enough liquid to take one finger inside.

“Oh fuck, Karlie!” She moans so helplessly into her neck that it’s almost embarrassing. It feels so good when she rocks her hips just barely, but Karlie takes her hand and halts her movement, letting her stay in control. She builds a pace that makes her see stars. And then she adds another finger, stretching her so well. It’s been so long since she’s had sex like this. The feeling of pure adoration that makes her melt to the touch.

“I love your voice, baby, keep singing.” And she does, her fingers pressing harder and harder into her. Faster. She even adds a third that makes her press her head into the wall. Karlie presses another kiss to her lips, her vocals pouring down her throat. The brunette’s thumb presses against her sensitive bud and rotates in circles. Her body shakes in pleasure.

“Karlie, I’m so close.” It’s desperate, quick, maybe all one word with how it slurred out of her mouth. The taller girl only takes it as motivation to go faster, harder, pressing spots inside her that send her to a blissful state she didn’t think was possible.

“Go on, Taylor. Let it go.”

Her body rattles, pleasure flooding her senses, digging her nails into Karlie’s back makes the girl hiss in pain but reassures her it’s alright with a kiss to her collarbone. Taylor rides out her high, Karlie slipping her fingers out and licking them thoroughly with a pleasant moan and then leads her back under the water, careful to make sure her legs don’t give out under her.

“Let’s get you clean.”

“Don’t you want me to—?” Taylor asks hesitantly, taking her hands to Karlie’s sides.

“We have time for that out of the shower, don’t worry baby.” Karlie takes her bottle of shampoo and lathers it into blonde hair. Taylor follows the action and does the same for Karlie, looking into her eyes in a bit of a haze but with admiration nonetheless. A dunk of water for rinse with their bodies pressed against each other, the shower big enough for them to each have their own space but simply choose to be next to one another. Conditioner, the minty scent relaxing as it’s brushed through her locks.

“Is your hair naturally curly?”

She gives a hum of confirmation, leaning into the gentle fingers that oddly enough were inside of her not long ago. It’s fine, Karlie was clean.

“It’s pretty.”

“Yes, pretty annoying.”

Karlie shakes her head with a genuine laugh and brings her under the water again. “When was the last time you wore them naturally?”

“Probably not since high school, aside from the occasional time I’m too lazy to straighten my hair after washing it. That was during law school a lot of the time.”

A soaked lofa runs across her sensitive but now relaxed body, Karlie being cautious of where she takes it in her delicate patterns. Then it’s Taylor’s turn to lather Karlie, taking her time to admire all the different parts of her and how perfectly they match together to form someone as beautiful as the tall woman.

“There’s plenty of time for lingering eyes, Tay.”

She swallows and nods, continuing her journey, “Right.”

Rinse, clean and soft. She turns the faucet off and Karlie hands her a towel. Dry and moisturized skin falls onto cold cotton sheets, lips meeting again like they never left.

“What was the point of a shower if you’re eager for more?” Taylor asks, Karlie guiding her to sit straddled in her lap.

“I think the idea of Lagoon water was turning me off.”

She smiles into the kiss, and it feels so right. That fire, that spark, the one she tried to put out so quickly, she was letting it burn and it felt amazing. Karlie guides her to lie on her back, head against the pillows. She kisses her neck, collarbone, sternum, stomach, inner thighs, and—

Oh
.

Taylor reaches for the backboard, her mouth agape and returning to the noises she was making just minutes ago under running water. They weren’t as muffled now.

The brunette gets more passionate, her hands drifting up her sides to her breasts and then back down to spread her legs just a bit wider. She pays attention to her already sensitive bud and then fades back to ravaging farther inside. It’s erotic, attractive, all the adjectives. Karlie’s eyes meet hers and Taylor feels like she should feel embarrassed but she feels so beautiful at the moment. Everything feels beautiful.

She takes one hand from the headboard and runs it through damp hair. Karlie takes it as motivation and moves faster, and efficiently, and it’s so breathtaking. The noises from her mouth fade like lyrics of a song, taking her remaining hand from the headboard to attempt to silence herself but the model takes it instead, linking their fingers and pressing it into the mattress.

“Karlie..”

Karlie hums and the vibration makes her throw her head onto the pillows and bite her lip so hard it bleeds.

“Please.”

“I need words, gorgeous.”

“Please let me come,” Taylor begs, something she’s never had to do before. It was passionate but rather tame with Dianna.

Taylor takes it as permission when there’s a tightening to their handhold and she moves even quicker, using the hand to perfectly rub her house of pleasure, raising her hips but Karlie pushes them down, spreading her wider to get the best angle and it
definitely
was, because her eyes roll back and she falls into the mattress with a wave of pleasure and a deep satisfaction.

Karlie wipes her mouth and licks her lips, crawling back up to the top of the bed with her and wrapping her arms gently around her waist, pressing a soft and sweet kiss to her lips.

“You okay?”

“How the hell do you do that?”

Karlie shrugs and burrows her face in her neck, “Just picked it up, but you have a beautiful perfect body to accommodate it.”

Taylor kisses her temple and then rolls them over so Karlie is beneath her now. “I love your body too.”

“Do you?” Karlie asks with a raised brow and a smirk on her face.

“Yes, I really like your slender neck.” Kiss. “Your toned collarbones.” Kiss. “Your soft breasts.” Kiss. Kiss. “Your abs might be my favorite.” Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. “And your long legs..” Kiss.

“Tay, you don’t have to—“

“I want to. Please?”

“You are so cute.” Karlie tangles her fingers in her wet hair and Taylor repeats the action Karlie performed not that long ago, picking up some skills on the way. The heavenly sound that comes from the taller woman’s mouth makes this all worth it. Every part of it. It’s perhaps the best sound she’s ever heard and she’s now determined to make it all she can hear.

She keeps it simple, narrowly focusing on her bud, but then she falls deeper and lets her tongue guide the way, letting her hands wander in the process. First to played with pink nipples that were hard to ignore, circling and massaging them, getting rougher when it seemed like Karlie liked it. Taylor picks up the pace with her mouthwork, and she can hear Karlie from above her, encouraging her to keep going.

“Look at me, baby. Let me see those beautiful eyes.”

Taylor’s lips pull into a smile, bringing her hands to Karlie’s abs, scratching her nails against them. Blue eyes meeting green.

“Oh, fuck, Taylor.”

It’s exactly what she wants to hear. She starts slow, then faster, and faster. Her tongue flicks and her lips kiss the throbbing sensation. The more Karlie moans, the faster she goes.

Karlie has both hands in her hair, pressing her down further. She quickens her pace, not sure how much oxygen she even has left to keep this up. She can feel her getting close, the way her body tenses and relaxes, the soft shivers. When the taller girl finally collapses, Taylor laps it up with a bright expression, staring into Karlie’s eyes.

—END SMUT —

She’s welcomed back into loving arms, both bodies resolving the frustration that’s been building for over a year. It’s weird to think they’ve known each other for that long and it took them this long to finally settle their feud.

“Thank you,” Taylor mumbles into the woman’s bare neck.

“I should be thanking you. That was amazing.”

“Yeah.” Taylor agrees.

“We are pretty good at faking it, you know?” Karlie jokes lightly.

The blonde laughs and curls into the comforter as Karlie pulls it up. Skin to skin in the most perfect way.

“It’s hard to tell what is real anymore. It all feels wrong sometimes.”

Taylor doesn’t even think about what she said in her sleepy haze because she’s out seconds later. Karlie tightens her grip and stares at her face as she drifts into a world of possibilities in the form of dreams.

When Taylor wakes up, Karlie is gone and the bed is cold.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Karlie didn’t want to leave. She did leave with intention, but she didn’t want to leave. Taylor’s words had struck a part in her heart that she hadn’t expected to be hurt. She’d laid staring at the bare ceiling for a while, hearing the blonde’s soft snores beside her. It was everything she wanted it to be and more. They fit well together, worked amazingly, and it just felt right. Well, for Karlie it did. Apparently, for Taylor, it must’ve just been something casual.

Karlie slipped away carefully, making sure Taylor still had plenty of blanket over her. Karlie would probably need another shower, but she could worry about that in the morning. She quietly slipped on fresh clothes and exited the room. She’d sleep somewhere else tonight. The others weren’t back just yet, which left her time to clean up the mess they made. Wipe the kitchen counters, toss the aired-out cookie dough, and plate the cookies. She was finishing washing the dishes when the group returned, greeting her in unison, though they seemed upset with a mix of worry.

“Hey, Karlie. Tay still awake?” Derek asks, coming up next to her with caution. Selena gives her a bit of a side glance, but she doesn’t think about it too much. It was sort of her fault for just leaving Taylor to get down on her own from the boat railing instead of helping her like a nice, real girlfriend would.

But she wasn't. A fake girlfriend probably wouldn't have jumped into the lagoon to save her, but she did. It was so incredibly complicated, and what happened tonight only made it more of a mess.

Karlie shakes her head, drying the last spoon and organizing it away. “No, she’s asleep, but we did make cookies as an apology.”

She picks up the plate from the center of the kitchen counter and offers the plate. Derek takes one, and so does Taylor’s parents. Cara tries, but Selena bats her away.

Selena looks at her in great detail, making Karlie think everything they’ve built up to this point has been tarnished. “As upset as I am from your little mishap… I accept your apology and am very grateful that Taylor has someone like you. You did jump in to save her after all.” Selena’s cold expression is exchanged for a small smile. Progress, which she will take.

Karlie sighs and sets the plate aside. She wishes that Taylor would see her as more than someone to play around with. She hates to admit just how much this night had affected her. But she does understand that it wasn’t supposed to go this way. They weren’t supposed to kiss each other or have sex with each other, even with how amazing it was. It was just the sweet, humble truth that most of it was pretend, and the sex was just from the tension.

Karlie wishes she could believe it.

She wishes she could believe that she hadn't been noticing how kissable Taylor's lips were since the moment they met. It hadn't gone away after their feud, despite how much she insisted it did. Taylor was perfect in every way she wasn't, and she loved it.

Taylor’s parents have already left for their rooms. Dianna gives her a brief stare from top to bottom that is either jealousy or disgust, perhaps a mix of both. Toni is led away by Alex, but she does glance back at her with a small smile. She’s appreciative of it.

“I’m super sorry again, but I am just so happy that my best friend is getting married tomorrow and that you guys get to spend the rest of your lives together. And on that note, you guys should get your rest for the big day tomorrow.” Karlie looks between the two of them. Cara charges her with a hug, giving her a peck right on the lips. It was a Cara thing.

“Thanks, Kar, and hey, your lips are really plump this evening.”

Selena grabs her girlfriend’s arm to lead her off, “Kissing different girls before our wedding?”

“Maybe I like to keep my options open.”

There’s a stream of drunk giggles with the conversation as the brides make it to their room, just leaving her with Derek. He pats a hand on her arm, leaning back to follow the rest of the group.

“We are in charge of getting flowers tomorrow, FYI, so just be ready, okay?”

Karlie nods, making sure everyone leaves before she stumbles about the living room till she finds enough blankets for the night on the couch. It would've felt weird sleeping in Taylor’s room, but it also didn’t feel right going back to sleep in her bed with a naked Taylor, so a couch seemed like the best option. She usually wakes up early enough that it won’t be a problem either. Only that she won’t get a very good rest for one of the most stressful days tomorrow.

It’s 5:30 am when she wakes up, the perfect time for her to pick up her mess and head for the beach for a workout. Folded blankets, fluffed couch, warm coffee. Her sleep clothes are good enough to work as workout clothes, and she’d made sure yesterday to bring a sports bra with her from her room because there was no way she was getting out of shape because of a faulty one-nighter.

It was awful to think of Taylor that way, but it seemed she thought of it as nothing more than that either, so what was the point? Karlie exits the house with a water bottle, watching the sun just barely peak over the edge of the water. Karlie starts her routine, running laps along the water, stopping herself every time she thinks of a certain pretty blonde to take 20 pushups. Slowly she reduces that to 10 because it’s becoming too frequent.

The sweat she builds up peels down her back. Karlie needed another shower already because of last night, but this just gave her an excuse to do so. It would be embarrassing to admit that she had to shower twice in 24 hours. Karlie splashes her face with salt water and drops to give 10 more push-ups. Thinking about Taylor only makes this whole thing worse. They’d be flying out soon not long after the wedding, it wasn’t like Taylor was going to be sticking around New York if she quit law school. She needed to get over it.

Pace her way back inside and flick on the shower in the hallway bathroom instead, she didn’t need to run into Taylor right now. It would add to the awkwardness that Karlie sort of just did what Taylor did that first night. It might’ve been a bad move now that she thinks about it.
Well, she knew it was an awful move, but she did it anyway. It was emotions in the moment, rage, spite, and jealousy. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't jealous of Dianna at times.

The water reminds Karlie of the shower from last night. The noises Taylor made, how perfect she felt —

She flicks the water to cold and lets it run down her back. It stings on the scratch marks Taylor left. Thank god she was wearing a suit for the wedding and not a dress.

Karlie steps from the shower and collects herself in a towel, wiping off the mirror to stare at herself for a moment. Maybe she was horrible for doing what she did to Taylor. Karlie was acting on impulse. That’s what Taylor did that first day, and she blamed her for it. Karlie knew how it felt now. She felt the fire, the spark, and maybe Taylor said that one sentence, but did she even know what she was saying? Karlie just put out the fire before there was a chance to work anything out.

The towel is wrapped tight around her as she breaks for her room, opening the door and opening her mouth to speak, but Taylor isn’t there. The bed is empty. It’s made, in fact. Her clothes are gone. The room is clean. And even then it still smells like her.

There was a big chance she wouldn’t be able to smell it again after they flew home.

Karlie groans in the annoyance of herself. There’s a knock on the door before it opens. It’s Derek peeking his head in.

“Oh god, I didn’t interrupt

something

, right?”

“No, Derek, you didn’t. Sorry, I’ll be out in a bit.”

Derek glances over her, “I hope to god you scrubbed well because I don’t want to know what was in that Lagoon.”

“I actually showered yesterday —“

Derek’s eyebrows raise, “Well, okay, extra clean for the wedding, I like it. Anyways, we have to leave in like five. Tay and Toni went to get the cake.”

So that’s where she was.

Karlie nods in agreement, briskly getting herself dressed, blow drying her hair, slapping on a small sheet of makeup, and heading to the door. No doubt Taylor is probably furious with her, but she does have to worry about her best friend’s wedding today instead.

Derek drives them to town, collecting the arrangements and the bouquet for Selena to walk down with. It’s gorgeous. Karlie can tell Taylor helped with it. There was just something about the colors that seemed Taylor-like.
Why did she know that?

“You’ve got yourself quite in a knot, huh?” Derek asks as they are making their way back to the car. Karlie looks at him oddly at the sudden statement. “You know, choosing between Taylor and Toni. I know you and Toni have history, but you and Taylor definitely have bigger chemistry.”

Karlie shakes her head, “It isn’t like that.”

“Oh… So you feel a bigger connection with Toni and don’t know how to let it down with Taylor?”

“No - “

“Oh! It’s the opposite!”

“No!”

“Okay, you’re stumping me, Karls. We are going to have to get more specific - “

“We are faking it.”

It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off her chest. She sets the box of flowers into the back of the car, looking back to Derek who seems both confused and surprised.

“Me and Taylor. We aren’t together. We knew you guys were trying to get us together so we just went along with it.” Karlie bites her lip, but it doesn’t stop her from spilling more. “But now Taylor has just been messing with everything I thought was real. She... I don’t know. She quit law school, she’s got Dianna here and is parading her around like she’s this amazing person, and I don’t even know what I want with Toni anymore, and - I’m just so stressed.”

It takes Derek by surprise, setting down his box. “Was it Cara’s acting that gave it away? She’s awful.”

“It was you, too. You guys aren’t subtle, but I just - I don’t know what the

hell

to do anymore, Derek.”

He sets a hand on her arm and hugs her. She really needed it.

“Just be you, Kar. Go with your gut. You always make the right decision somehow.”

“Sometimes I wish it felt that way.”

Because the decision she made this morning definitely was not the right one.

<3

Taylor should have expected it. Every arrow pointed in the direction, every mention of Karlie, everything she had picked up from her first encounter has been proven true. It was just sex. Now, she was the one getting left alone with nothing but a cold bed and an ache in her chest that was just embarrassing. Cara told her. She

told

her and she ignored it. That Karlie was a girl who liked to sleep around, to do stuff like this, but even then it didn’t matter. She fell for it. And now she has to do some sort of walk of shame out of this room.

Taylor preoccupies her mind, making the bed and folding it nicely. Not that Karlie deserved it, but she needed to clear her head. She picked up her clothes and fixed their mess from the bathroom. She probably should shower again. It might clear her head.

She exits the room in a bit of a walk of shame, but thankfully no one was out to see her, shutting the door behind her and jetting for her room and the bathroom inside.

She’s clean and refreshed, her hair is blow-dried and straightened, and she has different fresh clothes on. Taylor forces herself out of her room and sees Selena instantly, who reaches out her arms and hugs her deeply.

“Oh, Tay, I’m so glad you’re okay.” For ruining her rehearsal dinner, Taylor is glad she doesn’t seem that mad.

“Hey, Sel. I’m sorry for ruining everything - “

“Don’t worry about it, okay? Trying to keep it positive today, and I love you so much. I’m just happy as long as you aren’t hurt.”

“I love you too, Selena. And Happy wedding day!”

Selena twirls her hair in her finger. Taylor laughs at her, shoving her softly. “I still can’t believe I’m getting married before you.”

“Well, you better believe it. You deserve it. You are incredible.”

“And so are you… Which is why I was wondering if you’d be okay to get the wedding cake with Toni? It’s just in town.”

Taylor pauses for a minute, the other name leaving an odd taste in her mouth. Especially after last night. Quite literally. “Toni?”

“Yeah! That’s not awkward for you, right? She just offered, and I figured she would want some help..”

“No, that’s totally fine! I can go with Toni. I’ll go get your wedding cake.”

Selena kisses her on the cheek and gives her a big hug. “God, I love you. Best maid of honor.”

Cara runs from behind Selena and catches her in a hug, giving her a sweet kiss and then detaching herself to look at Taylor, giving her a small wave.

“Mornin’ Taylor. Oh, I wanted to thank you for those cookies you and Kar made last night! They were pretty amazing.”

She’d practically forgotten about them, especially since the plethora of events that occurred yesterday it was one of the more uneventful. “Of course! Just wanted to make up for our mistakes.”

“Well, I don’t want to hold you back from getting that cake… Got everything in order, Sel?”

Selena leans into her fiancé and drags her back down the hallway. “It’s like directing a play on opening night, but I think I’ve got it under control.”

They fade away, and Taylor lets out the deep breath she had been holding in. Going to get the cake with Toni would be an

interesting

experience. She hasn’t talked with her much, most of their interactions just involve smiles and waves. But she couldn’t let her emotions get in the way of everything. This wasn’t the day to make about herself, it was about Cara and Selena, and she already seemed like she was on the last straw.

Taylor makes her way down the hallway to the kitchen where Toni is waiting. Alex seems to be nowhere in sight, so she greets her with a smile. Toni takes the keys from the counter for one of the Jeeps. Taylor follows behind her, looking at the peaking waves matching the crystal sky. It was a beautiful day or a wedding.

The silence is kind of killing Taylor though, so she starts talking as they are walking outside. “I’m really glad that Selena asked you to help. I don’t think I could’ve gotten this cake alone.”

“No worries! I’m always up for a quick run into town without any drama. I mean, between everything that’s happened so far, I’m glad it’s you and me heading out together.”

Taylor gets the hint. Toni can sense the tension between her and Di and Karlie and Alex… and Her and Karlie with everyone else. Maybe it wasn’t an amazing idea to agree to be Selena’s Maid of Honor after all.

Toni drives, and Taylor sits in passenger, watching out the window at the waves against the beaches. The wedding is set to take place on a beach just a few miles out of the house they were staying, and part of her was already dreading the sand that would be in every crevice of her body. For a good portion of this trip, it already was. There was just something about having a beach wedding that was both romantic and uncomfortable at the same time.

The city is busy, but Toni is a pretty good driver. She can’t say the same for herself. It took her several times to pass the driver's test, and even then she can’t remember the last time she had to use it. New York had lots of public transportation, and she did have a car, but what was the point of using it if it was faster to get to somewhere on foot?

Toni parks the car in front of the bakery, its cute pink logo splashed on one of the windows, and when Taylor opens her door she’s rushed with the smell of sweetness even from the outside. Toni’s perfectly tanned hand opens the bakery door and lets her inside, following behind her as they approach the front. There’s a small arrangement of baked goods. Cupcakes, macarons, cookies. It makes her stomach cry a small plea in hunger.

The Hawaiian woman approaches the front and greets them with a smile. “What can I get you?”

Taylor clears her throat. “I’m here to pick up an order for Selena? Should be a wedding cake.”

“Oh! Perfect! I’ll get it right out!” The lady rushes to the back, and Toni leans in to look at the goods. They all look absolutely divine. Selena seems to have done her research.

“We used to come to this store all the time as teens when Derek’s parents would fly us down to visit. Karlie always ordered the Chocolate raspberry cupcake. I don’t think she ever ordered anything different.”

It sounded like her. Stubborn. “I’d believe it.”

“It’s so odd now, though. I mean, we’ve all grown up, we are starting our lives with different people. Never thought we’d separate from our group.”

“I thought the same after I moved from Nashville to New York,” Taylor commented, drawing a heart shape with her finger against the glass.

“Nashville to New York? Well, isn’t that a big jump!” Toni bumps her with her shoulder lightly, spiking a smile from the blonde.

“Yeah, for school. I always thought I’d stay to do music in Nashville, but people can change.”

Toni gives her a sympathetic smile, and the woman comes back with the cake. It’s gorgeous. It perfectly matches the color scheme of the wedding while also tying in the elements of the beach. On the top are two small figurines of Selena and Cara, or what is made to look similar to them. It’s still absolutely adorable.

“It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”

“Of course! Let me get it boxed up for you.” She takes it to the back again. Toni glances over to her and taps her fingers against the glass of the display case.

“You know, I never got the whole glamour of weddings. I think if I was to get married it’d be secret and just one quick elope. I don’t think I’d want something big like this.”

Taylor shrugs and bites her lip, “I used to dress myself as a bride and marry my stuffed animals while playing the wedding theme on my iPod.”

Toni snorts at the image and shakes her head in disbelief. “That is so ridiculous. We seem to be very different people.”

”I don’t know if I want a wedding now, though. I don’t even know if I’ll ever find the right person.” Taylor looks to her feet, avoiding any sort of eye contact. Toni made her just as insecure as she had made her this entire week.

“Oh, you and Karlie?”

“It’s sort of just situational. Just casual. I think. That’s what she wants it to be.” She made that very clear.

“So, you wouldn’t mind if I tried with her again? I think I messed up last time and wanted to try again.”

Taylor’s mouth is agape for a second. She doesn’t even know why. This was their entire plan, the whole reason they were faking it, and now Taylor just wanted to scream from the top of a palm tree that Karlie was hers and only hers. But this wasn’t like that.

“If it’s not okay, you can tell me! It’s fine.”

“No - no, it’s fine. I know she likes you.”

“Oh, Taylor, you are amazing! Thank you!”

Toni hugs her, and she returns it in the best way she can. Everything makes her feel sick to her stomach.

The cake is boxed, and Toni helps her carry it out to the car. She’s much more coordinated and strong than she is. She’ll be good for Karlie. She has to tell herself that as she gets into the car beside her.

Even if she doesn’t believe it.

<3

When Taylor and Toni are back at the house, everything seems well. They set the box on one of the tables outside so it can be loaded to the beach later. Enough of it in the shade so none of the frosting will melt.

“Do you think I should wait till after the wedding to shoot my shot with Karlie or - “ Toni asks, looking at her over the top of the cake box.

“I - I don’t really know. I think anything is fine - “

Selena appears from the door leading inside the house with Cara shortly behind her.

“Oh good, you made it back okay! I was starting to get a little worried.” Selena looks at the cake with awe, her dark onyx eyes filled with adoration. “Wow, this is even more gorgeous than I thought it was going to be!”

“I was shocked too, but you definitely picked the right place, Sel.” Taylor smiles at her best friend who wraps an arm around her waist. Her brief moment of bliss is interrupted by the voice of her parents.

“Taylor, you

quit

law school?”

It’s her mom’s first. Taylor turns as her blood spikes cold, opening her mouth to try to say something, but her dad gets to it first.

“When were you going to tell us? Were you just going to keep it a secret?”

“I - “ There was only one person she told. One person on this entire trip.

Her mom looks disappointed and devastated as she comes closer to her. “I thought that was all you wanted. You wanted to be a lawyer. What happened?”

Selena looks oddly at her, “Taylor, I had no idea - “

Taylor bites her lip.

Hard

, hard enough to draw blood just so she can ground herself, “I didn’t - I didn’t tell anyone - “ She takes a second to breathe, taking one step back. “I didn’t want to make this a big deal - “

“It

is

a big deal, Taylor Alison Swift! How do you not tell your parents about quitting school?” Her mother’s expression seems cold. It’s something she hasn’t experienced in a very long time. It’s chilling. “Is there time to re-enroll?”

“No - Mom, I don’t

want

to re-enroll - I just want - “

“Everything fell apart after you broke it off with Dianna. She kept you together, and now you here, quitting school, being with some girl who is - “

“Stop!” Taylor yells, “I didn’t want to have this discussion until after the wedding - So that stuff like this didn’t happen - “

“Stuff like what?”

It’s Karlie. Blue eyes lock to green, rapid ocean cascading the perfect green seafoam. “You told my parents I quit school?”

“What? Tay - No, I didn’t. I know you wouldn’t want that - “

Her dad steps in, looking over at Taylor. “We overheard Derek and Karlie talking about it when they came back with the flowers.”

Karlie’s eyes shut tightly, glancing over at Derek clasping his hands together. “Shit. I - Yes, I told Derek, but they were going to find out eventually, right?”

“You can’t make decisions like that!” Taylor snaps.

“I’m sorry - “

Her mom steps in beside her dad, “It doesn’t matter how we found out, but now I need to know what you are going to do about it.”

“I - I don’t know. I don’t know, okay? I just know that law school isn’t for me.”

“You need to figure out what is for you because to us it looks like you are just tossing your life out the window. We want you to succeed.”

Cara is the one to step in this time, separating them and giving them space. “Hey, let’s cool off for a bit, yeah? I think maybe we can all take a dip in the pool while maybe Taylor and Karlie sort out their tension - “

Taylor shakes her head, “No, you know what, your stupid plan is over. It’s all

fake

. Me and Karlie

faked all of it

. We aren’t together.”

Her parents look confused, along with Toni and Dianna, while Cara, Selena, and Gigi look surprised. Not Derek, though, oddly enough.

Her mom speaks first, “What are you talking about - “

“We organized a plan to get the two of them together to settle the peace for the duration of the wedding,” Derek confirms. Dianna is the first to say something.

“So you said all that stuff about how you were with Karlie and how good she was just for you to be lying? What is wrong with you?”

Well, that was the first time Dianna said something like that to her. It kind of shocked her how much it hurt.

“What have you even been honest about lately, Taylor?” Her dad questions. It’s getting

really

loud again.

“I - “

“Taylor - “

It’s Karlie, and the brief touch of her hand is way too much. She flings herself back with her hands over her ears. Her back hits the patio table, hitting it just hard enough that it wobbles, and the cake box slides right off the edge, landing on its side and smushed.

It takes her a moment to even realize what just happened, stepping back and pealing her hands from her ears to hear the silence. There is a look from everyone on her. It’s deathly. Tears weld in her eyes and her lip quivers. She should have never come.

“I am so sorry,” Taylor says to Selena before taking off inside.

Dianna follows behind her calling out her name, but she can’t hear it over the sound of the sobs coming from her mouth.

<3

“Taylor?”

She’s in her bed, bloodshot eyes just barely peering over the covers to see who it is. She’s still going to the wedding, she has to, she just feels like she’s fucked up everything for everyone. Including the person who is standing in the doorway. Dianna.

She ruined a huge chunk of Dianna’s life because there was too much perfectness. Isn’t that what every single girl wants? A perfect life like hers and Di’s. Di was on the road to being a successful actress, and if push came to shove she'd have a PhD as well so she could be some sort of doctor as well. Taylor’s life was set. She would be a happy wife with a beautiful wife and maybe a few kids. But no. She had to make her life difficult because it bothered her that they

didn’t

fight.

And that was stupid too, wasn’t it? Every marriage wants to be like that so bad. They go to couples counseling for that, to find someone like her perfect Dianna, but perfect wasn’t good enough for Taylor. She wanted flawed.

She wanted someone like Karlie. As much as she hates to admit it. She wanted someone who seemed perfect but had ridiculous quirks that made her smile. Like how she has to listen to music when in the air, or that she can’t swim, or that she’s afraid of bugs. They argue, they can’t stand each other, but she’s never been as happy as she has been these past few weeks. Karlie has shown her colors that she didn’t know were even possible.

But what was the point when it seemed Karlie didn’t feel the same?

“I brought you some crackers - club rectangles, to be specific. I know they are your favorite.” Dianna hands her the box, and she accepts it.

But she wants someone to not know her favorite by looking at her. She wants someone to ask her. Talk to her. Have a conversation where they can disagree. The first time Dianna ever spoke out against her was only a few minutes ago on the patio.

“I’m sorry for the way I acted, Tay. I understand why you did it.”

She wants Dianna to

not

understand. Taylor wants Dianna to scream at her and tell her how fucked up she is. Someone has to tell her, right?

Don’t

apologize, Dianna.

”I should’ve flown you back when you came here,” Taylor mumbles, taking a cracker and shoving it in her mouth. She doesn’t even care that she’s eating in bed.

“I’m really happy I am here, but maybe it would’ve been better. But I am here now, and we should make the most of it, right?” Dianna’s thumb strokes her cheek and wipes the tear stains. “Don’t worry about the cake by the way, they are making do with a half cake instead - Cara seemed rather enthusiastic about it actually, and Gigi got to work on finding Pinterest boards for their inspiration.”

Taylor chuckles into the comforter. It did seem like them to make the best of a bad situation. She loved them for it. She’s glad that people like Cara, Gigi, and Derek have welcomed her with open arms. It feels safe.

“You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“I don’t think I could ever be mad at you, Dianna Agron.”

“It just sort of seemed like it. Sometimes it felt like you were rubbing Karlie in my face to show how good she was and - I don’t know. It just felt shitty.”

Taylor bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think that way of you, Di. I was doing it to rub it in my parents' faces. I didn’t mean to do it to you.”

“For the record, you two did look really good together. I think you are a better actress than I am. You really fooled me.”

The singer rolled her eyes and shoved her lightly. “You are just saying that.”

“No, I really did. I believed every second of it. And maybe it was my jealousy, but I am happy to know it was fake.”

Not all of it was. She had marks to show for it.

“Do you actually have a plan now that you quit college?” Dianna seemed genuinely worried and she had a right to feel that way. Taylor had just tossed her entire life down the drain with a few clicks and emails. Maybe her parents were right about being upset with her.

”I’ve always been passionate with my music, and I know it didn’t hit off as great as I wanted it to back in Nashville but, I want to try again. Just to see if it could go anywhere.”

Dianna gives her a smile that could light up an entire town. “I’ve always loved your music. If someone doesn’t, they are crazy.”

“Maybe I’m the crazy one for writing so many stupid songs.”

“Some are not stupid!”

“Remember the one I wrote about a cat going to a drugstore when I was drunk at your place?”

“Okay, that one does fall under the bad category.”

They share a small laugh, and Dianna gives her a last stroke to her cheek before pulling away, standing back up, and moving to her closet. Hanging on the door was her dress for the wedding, a beautiful gold one to match the color scheme Cara and Selena had picked out. Dianna brushed it softly and then glanced back at her.

“I hope I see you at the wedding, Tay. It would be kind of embarrassing if the Maid of Honor was the one that didn’t show.”

“I think Selena might replace me with Gigi.”

“Oh, whatever! Selena will forgive you. She knows how you are, you just got overwhelmed. Just maybe take one of your anxiety meds before heading to the beach?”

As much as she wanted that to hurt, she knew that Dianna meant it with a good intention.

“Okay. I will. I’ll be there. I can’t miss my Best Friend’s wedding.”

“Good.” Dianna nods and clicks her tongue. “Well, I should probably get ready too - So I’ll see you there.”

Dianna approaches her almost as if she wants to do something, maybe out of impulse, but she doesn’t. She pauses to think for a moment and then exits the room, shutting the door behind her. Taylor stares at the ceiling and wonders how her life for this way.

But then eventually drags herself out because she was here for one reason. Selena. And by god, she wasn’t going to mess up the actual event.

<3

Karlie knew most of this was her fault. She wanted to blame it on Taylor, it was a natural reaction, but she knew better than that. Taylor didn’t do anything wrong. She was being a normal human and reacting to her emotions. Karlie was the one who left, the one who told Derek, the one who made everything worse. She wasn’t playing the victim because Taylor didn’t deserve that.

She hates to admit how fond she’s grown of the blonde over the past week. Taylor has gone from someone she would like the spend the least amount of time with to the most. She loves how creative her mind is, how funny she can be, and the face she makes when she’s serious about something.

And Karlie has found she’s done the exact opposite of what she’s wanted this entire trip.

Toni is there, she’s always wanted Toni. She’s missed her ever since they broke up, but now Karlie's caught between Taylor and Toni and she doesn’t even know what she wants. She’s made this a mess instead of growing some balls and doing something maturely like an adult because she is an adult. But now she’s just the girl who fucked everything up.

And she’s okay with accepting that. Which is progress.

She tightens the tie of her suit, Cara’s decision. She wanted her and Derek to match, and Cara would be wearing a suit dress type thing, so it would match with them. Karlie glances in the mirror, brushes her dark hair back, and attempts to put on her best smile. It doesn’t work very well.

“I don’t even know why we brought them in the first place!”

It’s a familiar British voice, which puts a big pit in her head at making the correlation. Karlie glances out the window next to her that is just slightly open so she can hear the conversation. Cara and Selena are sitting on the patio set, covered by fluffy robes.

“Taylor is my maid of honor, and Karlie is your best woman - We can’t exactly just kick them out because they don’t like each other.”

“They have ruined everything, Sel. And now they are just adding more onto it with the cake and - “

“I get why you’re mad, but they haven’t ruined everything. Sometimes things are your fault, and you don’t even admit to them!”

“Really? Well, I think that you’ve been more worried about Karlie and Taylor than me! I’m literally marrying you!”

Selena is silent for a moment and clicks her tongue. “If that’s how it is, and how it feels for you, then why are we even doing this?”

Karlie backs away from the window, biting her bottom lip hard. Were they really fucking it up this badly for them? To make them cancel their wedding on the wedding day? She was insanely guilty for this. She was making her best friend’s wedding miserable.

Karlie had to do something about it.

After making sure she did look alright and practicing her smile just one last time, she exited her room. The sound of her dress shoes echoed against the wooden floors till she reached a door she dreaded, knocking on it quickly till it opened.

Taylor stood there with noticeably lightly puffy eyes but looked breathtaking nonetheless in her dress. She could never not look good in anything.

“I know I’m the last face you want to see right now, and I get that. But there’s something we need to do.” It comes out fast, and Karlie takes a breath to catch herself. Preparing herself for the worst.

“

We?

”

“Yes,

we

.

We

need to apologize to Selena and Cara. They are thinking about calling off the wedding because of us.”

Taylor’s eyes widen, and she blinks one to condense herself. “I - I,

okay.

Okay. Let’s go apologize.”

The blonde grabs her handbag and follows her down the hallway till they get to the front of the beach house where everyone is hanging out, decorating the vehicles, and finishing the touches on their outfits. Karlie can’t find Selena or Cara, even on the patio set they were on just minutes ago. They walk down to where Toni is, Alex beside her hanging up small decorative flowers on the side of the truck.

“Hey, Toni, have you seen Selena or Cara?”

Toni looks gorgeous, as she expected her to, but smiles even brighter today, glancing over her from top to bottom. “I think they went to get their dresses on. Why?”

“Oh, it’s no big thing. Don’t worry about it.” Karlie offers her a smile and then fades back towards the porch, Taylor following silently behind her.

Maybe she should heal another wound while she’s at it. “Taylor, I know - “

“Oh, there they are.” The blonde points to the two brides who come out from one of the house doors. Cara and Selena have decided that they can’t wait to see each other, so they’ve unanimously agreed to not pay attention to the whole ‘can’t see your bride till the walk’ thing, which Karlie thought was very cute.

Taylor leads them this time, approaching the pair, who look at them oddly before Karlie clears her throat.

“Taylor and I are super sorry, you guys. We have been assholes.”

“Big Assholes,” Taylor adds.

“And we know that we’ve fucked up a good portion of your wedding.”

“But you guys are some of our best friends, and we don’t want to ruin it. We will be on our best behavior.”

Selena and Cara glance between them before looking at each other and shrugging.

“We forgive you guys, but fuck another part up, and I’ll use the new knives we were gifted,” Cara warns, and Selena places a hand on her upper arm.

“They are huge,” Selena adds quickly, demonstrating the length with her hands, before dragging Cara to their car, letting her inside before Cara takes her hand to help her in. Taylor glances at Karlie. They lock eyes for just a moment before she runs off to get in her own jeep with her parents, even despite the awkwardness.

Karlie takes the one with Derek, Alex, and Toni. Cara and Selena are leading the front to get to the spot for the reception. Everyone flicks on their engines with a roar, and the truck takes off down the road. Taylor glances back to her since Karlie is leading the caboose, the second green locking blue takes her by a whirlwind.

She wants it to be a tropical storm, but it’s a hurricane.

<3

Taylor holds the straps of her sandals in her hands as she wanders the beach to the seats of the wedding. Tons of Selena’s and Cara’s families were here now, the ones that weren’t a part of the bachelorette parties. There is a set of tents covering them as the tide rushes in and out. There is a set of jet skis off to the side for later use, but she finds the idea of it funny.

Definitely

a Cara edition.

Tons of people have greeted her, but it’s all a blur. As much as she’s loved visiting Hawaii, she is excited to go home now. She’s had enough of the sand, and the people, and everything that comes with it. Everything that has gone down in the past 24 hours alone has made her not want to come back to Hawaii for a very long time, that’s for sure.

Everyone is gathering for the ceremony at last. Taylor takes her spot next to Gigi beside the arch, Toni just behind her. The couple agreed on smaller parties to keep it more intimate, and Taylor liked it that way. It was stressful as is to be the maid of honor, she couldn’t imagine trying to spend this week with even more girls.

There is a shift in music from the band off to the side, signaling it is time for the brides. Cara came first, from behind one of the shielded tents. Her parents weren’t able to fly out here till the day of so her dad seems jet lagged, but aids her all the way down till handing her off. Then it’s Selena. Selena’s parents weren’t able to make it, so Taylor’s dad is guiding her instead. It’s sweet of him to do it, and Selena seemed disappointed at first that her parents weren’t coming, but this seems to be making up for it.

Selena is handed off and the officiant greets the both of them. It was Cara’s original plan to get one of them officiated, but none of them took it up, so they

did

have to hire someone locally in Hawaii. He seemed very nice, though.

“Good afternoon friends, I am very happy to present the union of Cara Delavigne and Selena Gomez. Love is everywhere in the air. It’s in the water, It’s in fire, it’s in the breeze. And perhaps it’s even in the sand,” He jokes and there is a soft chuckle among the crowd. “But, regardless, there is love. And I am happy to present another representation here today.”

He gestures for the two girls to read their vows, Cara stepping up first.

“Selena. From the first time I laid eyes on you I knew you were the one. There was something in your stubborn and cocky attitude that made me want to make you mine. Maybe it was that you reminded me a bit of myself, but you’ve shown a much sweeter side of you that has made me fall for you even harder than I can describe. You are the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly. I’ll take you for a ride on my motorcycle any time you’d like from now until forever. You are my forever, Sel, and I want it to stay that way.”

Selena is tearing up, and she collects herself before taking a step forward and a deep breath. “Cara, you are like my best friend. Taylor does already have that spot, but you are making your way up there. You make me the happiest girl, and I love how you’ve introduced me to so many of your friends and now they are my friends as well. This trip, this journey, has meant so much to me. I want you every time of the day. I want you when you get mad at a kid for killing you on Fortnite, I want you when you try to make food and it turns out poorly, I want you when you turn the bass up so loud in the car I can feel my eardrums popping out. Those are the ways I adore you. And I’ll adore you and want you till my last breath, Car.”

The officiant smiles between them, “Now the rings?”

One of Selena’s smaller cousins runs to the front with them on a pillow, a bright smile on his face even with a few of his teeth missing. Both Selena and Cara take a ring, and through the guidance of the officiant slide them on each other’s fingers with a grin.

“I now pronounce you married!”

There is a cheer and Taylor shouts loudly as Cara and Selena kiss with their hands clasped. With them now not blocking the image, she can see Karlie on the other side, locking eyes again as it shoots a dagger through her heart.
How stunning she looks in her black suit. And

fuck

, she needs to stop looking, glancing back to the sand.

The event continues though, moving under the tents as the sun begins cascading into a sunset. Taylor collects herself a drink, and Dianna follows her, maybe just trying to give her reassurance that someone is there to support her because she doesn’t say anything. Taylor does appreciate it.

She sips from the glass and admires the way the waves crash to the shore, how beautiful the soft oranges of the rays of the sun illuminate the ripples of the water. When she turns back to the party, she sees her parents approaching and bites her tongue lightly, taking a deep breath in and out so she can prepare herself to talk to them.

“Are you okay, Taylor? Doing alright?” Her mom asks in a quiet voice.

“I am doing fine now. I’m really sorry I lied to you about school. I was just really scared how you were going to take it.”

Her mom smiles and takes her hand, “It’s okay, honey. I’m more upset that you felt like you couldn’t tell me. I know we overreacted, we just want you to enjoy your life. I understand now that I was pushing you in a direction that would do the opposite.”

Her dad chimes in as well, “It wasn’t fair of us to judge you for being who you are. You should do what makes you happy. Whatever that might be.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you. I love you.” Taylor hugs the both of them.

It’s reassuring to see the change her parents can make. She’s always loved them, but there have been plenty of times when she finds they are overbearing and hard on her, it’s nice to find the middle ground and appreciate the bond that they can have. Pursuing music might not be something they wanted her to do, but they would come around to it. They always do.

Cara and Selena cut their smushed cake, Gigi takes Instagram photos, and Selena shoves the cake in Cara’s face. The dance music starts to play and the group of the wedding begins making their way to the makeshift dance floor. Cara and Selena get the first dance, and Taylor watches them from afar, nursing the glass in her hand. Slowly people are integrated into the mix, but Taylor doesn’t move. She’d rather people watch for a moment.

She can tell a lot about a person by the way that they hold someone or their body language. She can see the love in Cara and Selena. The stiffness in Alex and Toni. The relaxation in Karlie and Derek as they dance goofily. Toni pulls herself away from Alex and taps Karlie on the shoulder. So gently. She can see the affection. The gaze lingers for a moment before Toni wraps her arms around the tall woman’s neck. Karlie’s hands fall perfectly on Toni’s hips. They are perfect. So incredibly perfect. It makes her sick.

She watches so longingly as they dance across the floor. She shouldn’t be upset. She told Toni it was okay. She and Karlie were over. They never had anything. They were just people who felt a small spark and had to act on it while it was still lit. Nothing more than that.

Selena and Cara seem to notice her gaze and approach her cautiously.

“Are you okay, Tay?” Selena asks, tilting her head.

”We know it’s been a rough few days.” Cara adds, wrapping her arm around Selena’s waist.

“I’m okay. Just, you know, hanging in.”

“Maybe you should take a walk? Just clear your head?”

Taylor nods, biting her lip to resist the urge to break into tears already. “I think I will. Might just enjoy the sand and the beach. Just not right here, you know? It’s better to write lyrics alone.”

Selena smiles and wraps her in a hug. “Okay. I love you, Tay Tay.”

“I love you too, Sel. Now, please enjoy your wedding.”

When Taylor pulls away from the hug, she can see just past Selena’s shoulder the image of Toni and Karlie kissing. There’s saliva builds up in her mouth very quickly, and Taylor backs away in the best way she can, smiling at Selena and Cara before taking her walk up the beach and to the road just above and out of eyesight.

Taylor throws up the contents of her cake on the side of the street before calling a cab to take her to the one place where she could clear her head.

<3

Karlie is dancing with Derek and trying her best to forget all of her issues, as she normally does. She’s never been one for talking about them or opening up, it’s always been a more ‘deal with them in silence’ sort of thing. It’s easy to do that with Derek since they’ve been friends for ages and he just gets her. It’s the same with Cara, but obviously, Cara is dancing with her new wife now. Derek has heard about her problems, was there as a shoulder to cry on when her mom passed away, and helped her not be a shitty person. He was the one that made her own up to her mistakes and learn how to do better, she was grateful for him and being the guy he is. Anyone would be lucky to have him.

They are making a foolish attempt at a swing dance, and every so often Karlie glances over her shoulder to see Taylor off to the side, nursing her drink and flicking her eyes between the people on the dance floor. Karlie concluded that maybe it was better if they just let things settle on their own. She wanted to apologize to Taylor, but in all reality, it might make things worse. And were they ever going to see each other again after tonight? If she quit school she doesn’t have a reason to stay in New York. It just seemed safe.

The fairy lights above them cast a beautiful glow to the entire place, especially as the sun continued to set. It still had about 15 minutes or so till it was completely gone, but it was the perfect level for the oranges to bleed into the wedding. Derek reaches and twirls her around like a princess, even if she’s in a suit at the moment, and when she’s released and looking at Derek again is when there is a tap on her shoulder.

It’s embarrassing how fast she assumed it was Taylor, but she was met with a dark-haired individual with dark eyes instead of beautiful blue. Toni looked stunning.

“May I have you for a dance?”

Karlie glances at Derek and then looks back at Toni with a nod, holding out her hand. “Of course.”

Toni takes it but then immediately trails her hands up to her neck and folds her wrists behind it. Karlie takes the request and slides her hands to Toni’s hips. She’s wanted this for so long. She can tell Toni has too.

“It’s nice to have the two of us alone,” Toni comments as they sway.

“Yeah, it is. Where is Alex now anyway?”

“He’s gone to sit, spooning at the cake. He has a huge sweet tooth.” Toni emphasizes the word 'huge' and they share a laugh, Toni’s hands reaching up to comb through the back of Karlie’s hair.

“I would believe it.” Karlie leans just lightly to see him, sure enough sitting right beside the large dessert. “I am sorry about that, though. He seems kind of... odd.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I suppose he is. It’s okay though, it was never much more than a fling.” The girl shrugs and looks just past her shoulder briefly, “And you and Taylor? She said you were just casual.”

“She said that?”

Toni nods in response. Karlie can’t tell if she’s being entirely honest, but it does still pain her just a bit. Maybe she thought it was casual at first. No attachments, just pretend, but you don’t get washed up on a beach with someone and admit lots of your traumas when you’re casual. At least, she didn’t think that.

“She was right, just happened to have it happen here on this trip. It wasn’t meant to go much farther than that. We made that mutual agreement.” They did, and it sort of failed.

“Well, I’m glad in a way. These past few days have made me realize how important you are to me. And how much I miss you, Kar.”

Well, they succeeded in their plan. Karlie smiles, gazing at her deeply and her dark gorgeous eyes. Toni takes her hand from her neck and places it on her cheek. Karlie tries to back off for a moment, but Toni is already leaning in. Their lips pressed together.

It takes a moment before it finally clicks in her brain what’s happening. Toni’s lips are on hers. The one thing she’s been wanting since she got here since she saw Toni on the beach. Since she saw her with Alex and how jealous it made her knowing that she moved on when Karlie didn’t know if she ever could truly. Her warm, beautiful, plump lips were on hers. Soft and slightly minty.

But Karlie doesn’t kiss her back.

Because there aren’t sparks. It doesn’t feel the same way as that night with Taylor. It’s not passionate, she doesn’t feel the blood coasting through her veins at the small touch on her arm or the feeling of their chests pressed together. It isn’t Taylor’s eyes. It isn’t Taylor's lips. It isn’t the woman she fell in love with before she even knew what was happening.

Toni pulls away confused, looking at Karlie for an explanation.

She takes a deep breath. “I wanted this Toni. I’ve wanted this since I left you. But I don’t think I did, I just liked the idea of it. And wow- I’m... I’m so sorry, Toni.”

Toni looks incredibly confused. Hurt, even, but Karlie watches as Taylor walks away in the sand and it hurts her more than anything. There is nothing she can do, Taylor must have seen them and now she’s gone from someone that Taylor heavily dislikes to hates. God, she’s a mess.

“I’ve fucked everything up.”

Karlie storms from the dance floor out of frustration and anger at herself, finding one of the tables around the beach and sitting herself down. She wants to be mad at Taylor, maybe say something like how she’s the one who suggested doing this in the first place, or that she’s the one who said things were casual to Toni, or that it’s her fault for leaving that first day. But she knows it’s not. She can’t be frustrated at her for those small things when she’s done just as much if not more things to make Taylor feel the same way.

And she regrets her choices. Of course, she does. It wouldn’t be human if she didn’t. Karlie was just as human as everyone else here, even if they didn’t see her like that. Just a stupid human who has made some pretty idiotic decisions.

Just a table away or so are Cara and Selena, sitting down from their dances but they seem to be in a deep conversation, Selena’s hand on Cara’s thigh. She can just barely hear it.

“I can’t stand seeing her in the dumps like this,” Cara states flicking her eyes over to Karlie in an attempt to be sly, but it’s failing miserably.

“No, I mean, I feel awful. As much as they bickered they seemed good to each other.”

“I still remember that first night at the bar - “

“Yes, they were very snappy, but over these past few days I don’t think I’ve seen Taylor happier.”

It’s pretty clear they are doing this on purpose again. But they are so far away it’s hard to tell because she would have suspected they wanted someone closer to seal the deal with their terrible acting.

Just beyond the tent she is beside there is a peak of blonde hair. Lighter than Taylor’s, so it must be Gigi.

“Oh! I remember! Yes, the blonde one I’m on the trip with. And the really tall brunette one. They need to understand the true point of love - how impactful, beautiful, and inspirational it can be with just an impactful message deep from the soul - “

Karlie stands up before Gigi can continue with her fake phone call, pushing back the tent fabric slightly to reveal her reading a script off her phone.

“Oh! Um, Hi Karls!”

“Can you stop? All of you! Not just Gigi. I’m looking at you Sel and Car. I’m sick of this really loud talking pretending to make me overhear bullshit!”

Selena and Cara stand up surprised, moving towards her. “Oh, we didn’t know you could hear us - “ Selena tries to defend herself.

Gigi shrugs her shoulders, “I definitely knew. I thought I was an amazing actress.”

Karlie rolls her eyes in annoyance, “Stick to modeling Gi, but I need you guys to just stop doing this. I know it was your plan, but guess what? It failed! We weren’t really together! And I’ve ruined every single chance I have with her. I’ve just been caught in this web all week and I don’t think I can do it anymore.”

“I did mean what I said in my phone call. Love is super important. And beautiful,” Gigi adds, crossing her arms, before double-checking that her script said something similar.

“I don’t - I don’t even know where she is.”

“She said she was going on a walk a bit ago,” Selena informs her.

Cara hummed a tone of agreement, “She left after she saw you kiss Toni.”

“What? No. I didn’t kiss Toni.

She

was the one who kissed me,

I

sucked my lips in!”

“A kiss is a kiss, Kar.”

Derek comes up to them with a wide grin at realizing what is happening, presumably hearing the vast majority of it. “Oh, my beloved Karlie, run! Run as fast as those big, strong legs will take you! You need to run for love!”

Karlie is partially taken aback by this, not expecting the enthusiasm from everyone, “Uh, do you know where she was going?”

Selena thinks for a moment, “I think she said something about enjoying different sand and writing lyrics? I’m sure she’s on the beach somewhere but -“ The brunette glances around and there isn’t any sight of her in either direction.

But it clicks for Karlie. “She’s not on this beach.”

“I’m pretty sure she is. I think it was sort of a metaphor for go and cry somewhere alone - “

“No... No. I know exactly where she is.”

Then there’s Taylor’s parents, her dad patting her on the shoulder. “Then go! You only get a chance like this once in a lifetime. You’ve got to chase it!”

Karlie thanks them quietly and runs a hand through her hair. “All I need is to figure out how the hell to get there.”

The group waits in unanimous silence as Karlie thinks, glancing around the beach, the wedding, and eventually the shore. Finding just what she’s looking for.

“I’ve got it.”

Cara stares in confusion, “What are you -“

Karlie takes running towards the shore, stripped off her blazer, and hopped straight onto the back of one of the jet skis letting it roar to life. There are collective gasps behind her, but she could care less. The only thing she knew was that the Lagoon wasn’t far, had an opening to the sea, and by God was she going to get there before her chances were ruined for good.

Or let Taylor write a bad song about her.

<3

Taylor had made a quick stop before heading to the lagoon. She remembered Karlie telling her that the house had a music room with a guitar, and she didn’t care what kind or how shitty it was, she just needed to feel the metal strings under her calloused fingertips. She’d shed a few too many tears in the back of the car on her way here, feeling slightly bad for making the driver endure her sniffles and weak attempts at being quiet. He pulled into the driveway. She handed him whatever money was in her purse.

“I’ll be quick, I’m so sorry.”

He smiles kindly at her, “I feel like I should be sorry, somehow.”

Taylor lets out a wet laugh and wipes the tears from her face, heading inside and using a tissue from the front to wipe her nose. She’s realized that she hasn’t explored this house much more than the rooms that she needed to see, so she picks a hallway she hasn’t been down before and starts opening doors. The first one is a bathroom, and the next is Selena and Cara’s room, which she can tell from the thick collections of makeup along the dresser. The next room is odd because she can’t exactly place whose it is. It’s decorated, warm, smells good. It doesn’t smell like anyone she remembers, though.

Out of pure curiosity, she steps in further and starts looking through the collections of items. There’s a laptop and energy drink on the desk, and besides that, there is a Polaroid picture flipped upside down. Taylor picks it up to render the image.

It’s a photo of Karlie and Toni. From years ago.

She’s in Toni’s room. Looking through Toni’s stuff. Looking at the photo that Toni took when the two of them were together.

Taylor felt like she was going to throw up again.

She shoves the Polaroid picture back down and exits the room as fast as possible, leaning up against the door to catch her breath and shut her eyes. When she opened them, she was met with the door directly across from her, it was slightly open, and even then she could see the piano. This was the room.

Taylor pushes the door open with a soft creak. The large black Piano sits in the center of the room, and there are plenty of other instruments hanging along the walls. Electric guitars, Acoustic, Banjos, and god, was that a Lute? Taylor stares in awe at the room before bringing herself back down and picking one of the Acoustic guitars off the wall, plucking the strings to see if they are tuned.

She turns the knobs till they are, putting the strap over her shoulder and exiting the room. Taylor would bring back the guitar, she wasn’t the type of person to steal, but she just needed it to get through the rest of the night.

Back outside, the driver is still waiting for her. She’s a bit more put together now, sliding back in and giving him the directions to the Lagoon. Taylor plucks the metal strings of the guitar all the way there, just softly enough so she can remember a tune or hear the sound of it. It’s always been her happy place to write songs and play music, and at one time she thought she would make it big, but it was just a big hoax. Everything was.

They pull next to the dock, and Taylor thanks the driver again with another bit of cash she grabbed when she was inside. She gets out and lets the salty air brush against her skin. Her bridesmaid dress blows in the soft wind as she makes her way down to the beach. The sun is setting hard, with only a few dark oranges in the sky. There are the occasional Tiki torches along the beach and she sits herself down next to one to give her enough light to play.

Other than her, the guitar, and the waves, it’s completely quiet and she loves it. She strums once, twice, letting the sound enter her ears. She mumbles lyrics, trying to figure out what key it should be in and what cords to use. She’s starting to form it when she hears an odd sound that it’s the pleasant sound she was just enjoying. It loud. Water crashing and the roar of some engine. When Taylor glances up to where the sound is coming from, the entrance of the lagoon, there she sees a Jet-ski. It tears through the water, and upon further realization, it hits her that it’s coming

towards her

.

Taylor sets the guitar in the sand and stands up, trying to prepare herself to run or fight, but most likely run because she knows she can’t punch to save her life.

But it’s

her.

It’s

Karlie

.

She’s drenched, but that doesn’t stop her from killing the engine and jumping straight into the water to run towards her when the Jet-ski can’t take her any farther. Taylor doesn’t even know what to do, she just freezes and stares at her in complete shock.

“Taylor!” Karlie calls, running in the sand till she reaches just a few feet away from her. She looks so ridiculous and like a disaster that it’s

adorable

and Taylor can’t help the smile on her face. “I

didn’t

- " Karlie pauses to take a breath, "Toni kissed me, I didn’t kiss her, and I know that’s

so

stupid - total bullshit excuse, but it’s true. And - And I didn’t have a faster way to get here. And

please

don’t write a song about me.”

“Are you crazy?” Taylor asks, looking to the jet-ski and then back to a soaked Karlie.

“Yeah. Yeah, I am crazy. I’m crazy because I’m obsessed with you and I haven’t done anything about it. I’ve known you for over a year and I didn’t spend every single one of those days with you. That’s crazy. Because, Taylor, even when you call me an asshole, or you give me that scary look with your bright eyes, I want to be with you.”

Karlie sucks her lips in, taking a deep breath. Her dress shirt is clinging tightly to her body, letting Taylor see the perfect tone of her muscles.

“And I’m an idiot. I’ve made

so

many stupid decisions over this trip, and I haven’t been accountable for them. Talking to Derek about your school, not defending you earlier, leaving this morning. God, I’m so stupid for leaving this morning.”

Taylor stares at her for a moment, “Why did you leave?”

“I was worried - Worried that you didn’t want that. Toni said that you thought we were casual, after, and I hated the thought of it. I didn’t want you to regret it.”

“Last night was one of the first things I

haven’t

regretted.”

Karlie’s green eyes widen, smile lines showing up perfectly on her skin. “I love you, Taylor. I regret not telling to you sooner, because now I’m worried that it’s not mutual, but I love you. I love how bright and smart you are, how you know what you want and what you don’t want, I love the way you help me swim because I’m terrible at cardio. I love that you remember things, I love the way you make cookies or the way you look with a tampon hanging out your nose. And If you don’t feel the same, then I guess I’m fucked, but It would be really super amazing if you did.”

The brunette lets out a sigh and Taylor stares at her silently, flicking her eyes to Karlie’s lips and then back up. “Are you going to kiss me now?”

“If - Um. You know if that’s okay - with you. I’d really like that. But if it’s not - “

“Shut up, you asshole,” Taylor interrupts and takes Karlie’s head into her hands, kissing her hard. It’s fire, it’s golden, it’s blue, it’s every single color at once dancing between them as their lips slide against each other.

They pull apart for breath, but Taylor can’t get enough, pulling her back down and into the sand. Tongue. Flick. Teeth.

Yes

.

When she needs a breather again, Taylor looks up to green eyes. “I’m not sure if it’s obvious, but I love you too.”

“It would’ve been a terrible lead-on if you told me you didn’t.” Karlie kisses the side of her neck, but Taylor pushes her off slightly.

“We can have fun time later, but not in the sand. I’ll throw up again.”

“Again?”

Taylor flushes out of embarrassment and mumbles the response into Karlie’s wet neck.

“Taylor, if you don’t feel good - “

“IThrewUpBecauseIsawToniKissYou.”

Karlie comprehends what she said, then laughs hard, leaning to kiss the side of her head.

“The thought of me with someone else made you sick?”

“

Yes

. And it’s not a funny matter!”

“Okay, okay! But, I did happen to notice you brought this.” Karlie reaches over to Taylor and hands her the guitar. “Will you play me a song?”

“I - I was working on one, but it isn’t very good - “

“I don’t think anything you do could be considered not good,” Karlie says encouragingly and backs away so that Taylor has room to play.

Taylor swings the strap over her shoulder and gives a test strum. “You won’t make fun of it?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Okay.” Taylor licks her lips and starts with the brief melody she came up with, humming for a moment before figuring out the lyrics.

“

She is sensible and so incredible

And all my single friends are jealous

She says everything I need to hear

And it’s like I couldn’t ask for anything better

She opens up my door and I get into her car

And she says ‘You look beautiful tonight’

And I feel perfectly fine.

“

She takes a moment to glance at Karlie, who seems in awe of her work. The model smiles at her to encourage her to keep going.

“

But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain

And it’s 2:00 am and I’m cursing your name

So in love that you act insane

And that’s the way I loved you.

Breakin’ down and coming undone

It’s a roller coaster kinda rush

And I never knew it could feel that much

Ane that’s the way I loved you.

“

Taylor stops strumming after a moment and sets the guitar aside. “That’s all I got but I hope you get the memo.” Taylor has always been nervous to share her music with people because it’s personal to her. Maybe not every song had a specific meaning but a lot of them directly projected her life. This one was heavily inspired by what she’s experienced over the past few days with Karlie and Dianna.

Karlie leans over and kisses her again, softer, keeping their foreheads pressed together afterward. “You can love me like that for the rest of our lives, Tay.”

Taylor gives an appreciative smile. She kisses her once, twice, maybe sex on the beach doesn’t actually sound

that bad

. It’s not like any of the group is here -

Oh god, there was a wedding that wasn’t there?

“Do you think we should get back before they kill us?” Taylor asks quietly.

“I sort of do have to bring back the jet-ski.”

Taylor snorts at her and shoves her away, standing up to shake the sand off her dress. Karlie follows her and attempts to clean the black pants off before giving up and leading Taylor to the water.

The stars are shining brightly above them as Taylor wraps her arms around Karlie’s waist and lets her drive them out of the Lagoon.

<3

Fireworks crash in the sky above them as they pull to the shore. Karlie turns the engine off with the flick of her wrist and exits into the water, soaking her shoes and pants, but it’s okay because now she gets to be the one to help Taylor off the back of the machine and carry her to shore so her feet don’t get wet.

“Karlie, I told you I’m fine, I don’t mind getting my feet wet - “

“Shh. Shut up and let me have my moment.”

Taylor rolls her eyes and clutches the neck of the guitar tightly so it doesn’t get caught in the water and have damage done to it. She was persistent on taking it with them even though Karlie told her that Derek’s family was so loaded they probably wouldn’t even notice a missing guitar. Even if it was some collector's item. They rarely came down to the beach house unless it was for a family event, so it was mainly left to Derek and his friends, for lots and lots of partying.

Once they reached the dry sand she set Taylor down, lacing their fingers together so they could still be close. It was odd, but to Karlie, it felt like if she let Taylor go again, she’d never be able to get her back. They return to the collection of tents where everyone greets them again.

Taylor’s parents hug their daughter tightly, muttering apologies and giving Karlie a warm smile and a thumbs up.

Cara hugs her tightly with Selena right behind her. “You got the girl!”

“Yeah. Yeah, I did.” Her eyes linger over to the blonde who laughs with Gigi and Derek. She doesn’t even know how she did it, to be honest, Karlie is 90% sure she blacked out the second she was on the lagoon beach.

“Then let’s celebrate!” Selena cheers, and everyone follows suit collecting champagne in their glasses and clinking them over the rise of the moon.

Taylor meets back with Karlie after getting her glass and gives her a passionate kiss right to her lips in front of everybody. And it’s

amazing

. It’s perfect. Selena and Cara are standing just off to the side, watching them with a quiet coo.

Taylor wraps her arm around Karlie’s waist, looking towards her best friend, “I’m sorry we were the reason you guys almost called off your wedding.”

There is a collective sound of surprise from the rest of the group.

“What? Is that true?” Derek asks, looking between the two wives.

Cara cackles. Straight-up cackles and Selena follows with her in a slightly calmer manner.

“We staged that so you guys would feel bad and talk to each other,” Selena explains, looking over at Cara. “'I get why you’re mad, but they haven’t ruined everything. Sometimes things are your fault and you don’t even admit to them!'”

Cara recites her lines with an overdramatic voice, “'Really? Well, I think that you’ve been more worried about Karlie and Taylor than me! I’m literally marrying you!'”

“If that’s how it is, and how it feels for you, then why are we even doing this?” After Selena finishes they bow and Karlie shakes her head looking down at Taylor.

“We are just pawns in their game, aren’t we?”

Taylor hums in agreement and kisses her again.

“Hey, Tay, did you bring a guitar?” Selena peers over, seeing the instrument hanging across her back.

“Oh - Uh, yeah. I was playing it before I got here, and I didn’t want to leave it so - “

“Play something!”

“Sel, you know how I am with lots of people -“

Karlie nudges her slightly and whispers something in her ear that makes her flush red.

“Okay, I’ll play something.”

Selena cheers, leading everyone to the dance floor. Karlie admires how Taylor moves towards the end and tests the strings before picking a song to perform and giving Karlie a smirk that can only mean the worst. The first plucking of the strings already makes her dread it.

”

On a dark desert highways, cool wind in my hair

Warm smell of colitas, and using up through the air

“

Karlie gives a disapproving shake of her head and looks to the rest of the people on the floor who begin singing along. Of course, she would do this. Just to torture her for a moment.

As it gets to the chorus the crowd gets loud enough that Taylor doesn’t even have to play, she detaches the guitar from herself and leaves it in the sand, running up to her and wrapping her arms around her neck, planting a firm kiss on her cheek.

“Telling everyone my comfort song? Cruel.”

“Yeah? Well, it’s been a cruel summer with you.”

Karlie can’t hide the smile that’s stupidly wide on her face, spinning her girl around in the heat of the sparkling wedding of their best friends.

And who knows, maybe next time it’ll be them on this beach.
Karlie would be okay with that.

She’d like to truly ask her

real

wife what she wants from the coffee shop. Maybe this time without her trying not to piss her pants.

<3