october 4th, 2016; los angeles

taylor riffled through her closet for a dress. sure, she had dozens of cocktail dresses, but she needed the perfect one for their sort-of date. she had already tried on a simple blue one that cut off at the knees, and a pink dress that cut off mid-thigh. finally, she texted joe again. what are you wearing?

a couple seconds later, he sent a picture of his outfit, a blue dress shirt and black pants. taylor pulled out a dress whose color was almost identical to joe's shirt. this would do.

after touching up her face and putting on some lipstick, taylor pulled on some black heels and posed in the mirror. as she was leaving the bathroom, she got another text from joe. i'm driving over.

taylor checked the time. it was seven p.m. she grabbed a bottle of water and sat down to watch some friends on the tv before she had to leave.

the doorbell rang at 7:33. taylor put her unfinished bottle of water into the fridge, checked her hair and outfit, grabbed her purse, and locked the door behind her. 

joe was waiting next to a black chevrolet suv. "an american car?" taylor remarked, with the faintest of smiles. 

joe shrugged and returned her smile. "i'm poor." a pause. "but, you know, like not poor-poor. you know what i mean?" taylor nodded.  

taylor got into the front seat. it wasn't that bad. it wasn't smelly, or messy, or a bad quality car at all. also, she hadn't ridden in a real car since her 1989 tour—she rode limousines now. 

 as they left her sub-division, taylor saw her bodyguards trailing them, through the side mirror. she said nothing.

joe programmed google maps to take them to the hungry cat, then turned the music up. the radio was playing "this is what you came for" by calvin harris and rihanna. he gave her a sideways look and reached to change the station.

taylor laughed at his uneasiness. "you know, i wrote the damn song. and besides, calvin and i don't have any bad blood. it's fine."

"yay, i guess? what should i be saying?" joe rubbed his nose and suddenly braked, almost missing the red light.

taylor rolled her eyes and smiled to herself. "i don't know. let's just sit in silence, then."

joe laughed, and they rode to the restaurant in silence.

once there, a passing waitress caught a glimpse of taylor. "good evening! would you like a table?"

she opened and closed her mouth. just because she was famous didn't mean she should get special treatment. regardless, she said, "good evening. and it doesn't matter where we sit."

"all right," said the waitress, motioning them to come with her.

soon, taylor and joe were sitting at a table far from the windows, where paparazzi might gather. the waitress asked, "would you like a drink? or some non-alcoholic beverages?"

taylor cast a look at joe. he said, "i'll have a champagne."

"rosé for me," said taylor. the waitress smiled, placed two menus on the table, and left to get their wine. taylor turned back to joe. "do you want a seafood platter or just entrées?"

"come again?" said joe, raising an eyebrow.

"do you want a seafood platter or an entrée?"

"what's an entrée?"

taylor sighed. "it's the main course. do you want a seafood platter to share or just stuff from the main course part?"

"what's the best?"

"they're both good."

joe looked up. "seafood platter, then."

"one tier, right?"

"yep. this will make for a nice instagram. i'll tag you," said joe, winking.

"no. for the sake of mysteriousness, please don't tag me. fans will know about us, and you know what happens. after all, reputation precedes me, and rumors are knee-deep." taylor rolled her eyes.

joe nodded, understanding. "you and me would be a big conversation."

taylor looked back at the menu. "we're done, then."

"alright. so, the seafood platter, one tier, and champagne and rosé."

taylor nodded. "yep." the waitress came back with their alcohol, and taylor ordered. the waitress left.

there was an awkward silence, and then she asked, "why did you invite me to dinner?"

joe opened his mouth, then shut it. "well, i'm here. we haven't spoken in ages. also, why the hungry cat? there are tons of delicious restaurants in southern california."

"i told you already. it's one of my favorites. the seafood. the local beer."

"oh." he paused. joe was gazing at something behind taylor.

"what?"

"turn around."

behind taylor, a couple was staring at taylor and joe. she laughed, and turned back around. "let's ignore them. i don't want to stir up shit."

joe nodded. "but people must really like you, though."

"the media doesn't. taylor swift this. taylor swift that. taylor swift new album. taylor swift new boyfriend. taylor swift everything." taylor sighed and sipped her rosé.

"that must suck. anyway, tell me about you. we didn't get much bonding time at the met gala."

"you already know a lot about me. also, it does suck, joe. i swear i don't love the drama, it loves me."

joe's ocean blue eyes looked into her own. "i've always wondered how you manage to let go of grudges. not to piss you off, but if i was you, i would hate kanye west with a passion."

"seems like you haven't heard my 2010 song 'innocent'. i realized that life is full of little interruptions. it isn't worth it to hold on to bad things. however," she said, becoming serious, "i bury hatchets but i keep maps of where i put them."

"hmm. i'll buy the song, i guess." joe sipped his champagne.

"the truth is, it's easier to ignore it, believe me. anyway, what about you?" asked taylor. "i'm not just going to keep talking about myself."

"i'm doing a movie, as i told you at the met gala. there's nothing much."

"there must be something besides your career," said taylor.

"i mean, i got a reputation that don't precede me. all i can talk about is my movie." he shrugged.

taylor opened her mouth to speak, but the waitress came with their order. "one tier seafood platter." she set down the platter and an array of seafood sauces, and left. the waitress came back with more champagne and rosé. after refilling their glasses, the waitress smiled and said, "enjoy!"

"thank you," said taylor and joe, and the waitress left.

taylor reached for a crab leg. "i swear, the food here is amazing."

"like you." joe smirked, picking up his glass to drink champagne.

"slick," said taylor. "king of pickup lines. anyway, how's life?"

joe wiped his mouth. "okay, i guess. how's that album coming along?"

"why?" taylor groaned. "why must people always ask me about my album? it's ridiculous."

"is it coming out soon? it's taylor swift album season. late october to early november, on even years."

"no, it's not coming out this year." taylor knew she was a bit blunt, but she didn't care.

"then when?"

"i'm trying to make a nice second impression on you," said taylor, taking quite a big sip from her wineglass. "so here's the truth from my red lips."

"yeah?" said joe, hanging onto every word.

"one year from now," said taylor, taking a mussel from the platter.

"what?"

"you heard me."

joe fixed her with a confused look, but didn't speak.

"if you tell anyone, i will come to your house and kill you."

he laughed. "i bet. but i promise i'll tell no one."

the conversation ceased as they ate. taylor thought about their conversation. had she revealed too much? and was she wrong to trust joe alwyn, who she couldn't yet call her friend? she was probably overthinking everything, though. taylor absentmindedly rubbed her temple. maybe she was getting drunk.

"check, please?" joe called to a passing waitress, startling taylor. the waitress nodded at him and kept walking. joe began feeling around in his pockets for his wallet, but taylor stopped him.

"i told you i was paying," she said. "over text, remember?."

"it's okay," said joe. "doesn't the man always pay?"

"gender roles are outdated," said taylor. "besides, i was the one who invited you here."

"fine. but i'm paying for the alcohol."

taylor didn't feel like arguing with him, so she nodded. they paid, and gave the check to the waitress. they both finished their wine and the rest of the food, then collected their credit cards and left the restaurant.

at 10:30, they drove back to taylor's residence, per her directions. thankfully, he didn't ask to stay over. but before he left, joe said, "so...are we friends?"

taylor shifted uncomfortably. they had kept in touch. they'd texted every couple of days and facetimed each other every couple of weeks. and, they had just shared—no, enjoyed—a meal together. did that count as friendship?

she decided to say what she was thinking. "i don't know. does texting and facetiming count as friendship?"

"maybe. want to eat somewhere else? i'm paying next time."

"sure, text me," said taylor.

"great," joe replied. "i'm one call away whenever you need me."

taylor smiled. now, to think of it, he would make a nice partner. not that she liked him, of course. she was not ready for another romantic relationship.

"see you," she said. from inside the chevy, joe waved.

grinning, taylor went into her house, got ready for bed, and fell asleep thinking about none other than joe alwyn.