Act Two / Chapter Fifteen

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"Tay, there's really no need for a release party. It's literally a song about wanting to die, that's not very party worthy." Mikah insists.

Don't get it twisted, she loves parties, but not when they're about her. Probably because she has a spring birthday, so in elementary school her teachers would always humiliate her in front of the entire class.

"Everything is party worthy! Jack practically threw a party for me in August when I let my cuticles heal instead of just making them worse."

Mikah covers her face, "I just don't like being the center of attention."

"I know you don't," Taylor murmurs, wrapping an arm around Mikah, pulling her in, "but this is a big deal, baby. You deserve to be celebrated."

"Fiiiiiine," Mikah sighs, leaning into her girlfriend's touch. "But only Jack and Margaret."

"Deal!" Taylor kisses Mikah's head, "I'm so proud of you."

She rolls onto the couch, pulling Mikah down with her, kissing her soundly. "Can you believe it's been over a month since Jack forced me to leave the house?"

"Mmh, feels like it's been a week."

"Best month of my life."

She means it when she says it, having spent so long with a cloud over her head she thinks she might've forgotten what true happiness really felt like. For most of the last year she'd been running on the euphoric relief post-show adrenaline gives you, but whatever she's feeling right now, is real.

Real happiness.

Real love.

They kiss again. It's different than it was a month ago, she and Mikah's relationship. At the beginning it was mostly just lust. That desperate, I-Haven't-Been-Touched-In-Six-Months lust. Naturally that's all still there, but it's... gentler now, for lack of better term.

"I love you," Taylor murmurs, placing a kiss onto Mikah's bare shoulder. "I mean it."

"Love you." She whispers.

"Come on tour with me." Taylor suddenly blurts out. "If you want to, that is. I'd really appreciate it."

Mikah's slightly taken aback by this. She hadn't even realized it was only two weeks until Taylor had to leave again, or considered the fact they'd have to be away from each other.

"It's okay if you don't want to. I get it." Taylor says, voice low, almost a whisper. "I know you don't like having attention on you, and we'd have to go public beforehand in order for it not to be a whole thing and-"

"Hey, stop that." Mikah quickly retorts, "I'm willing to take the attention, okay? I'd love to come on tour with you."

Taylor smiles, hugging Mikah tighter. "Have you, like, told anyone? Your parents?"

"Some of my friends and my brother know. I don't really talk my dad much, so he'll find out when it's in the news, I guess."

"Mm. I've told my mom, my publicist, and my therapist. Everyone else either heard from someone else or just inferred the situation. Or literally set us up."

"Does your dad know?" Mikah asks. "Is he, like, chill?"

"He's very chill, don't worry. All he really cares about is whether I'm happy." Taylor smiles. "He comes on tour with me. Every single show. Even if it's halfway across the world, he'll be there."

Mikah feels a lump in her throat. It's happy, though. Maybe even longing for something.

"What about your mom?"

Taylor sucks in a breath. "The international travel is...hard on her, to say the least."

"Ah, I get it," Mikah murmurs. "I haven't seen my mom since I left Idaho before the pandemic and I just... worry I won't get the opportunity to go back before it's too late"

"I know the feeling. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she says, voice muffled by Taylor's chest. "I should've made better effort to visit her." She feels herself getting choked up.

"Hey, hey. Don't talk like that. It's not your fault that you haven't been able to see her." Taylor mutters, gently running her hand over Mikah's back.

"It's just so hard not to think about it."

"I know, baby. I know, believe me." Taylor says, voice low. "There's still time, I promise. There's always time."

Mikah sniffles. "I love you."

"Love you, too." Taylor smiles into Mikah's hair. "When was the last time you talked to your mom?"

"Like, June I think. After graduation."

"Baby," Taylor frowns, running her hand over Mikah's back, "text her, please. Tell her about the song, and me."

"But she's gonna know who you are..."

"You don't have to tell her you're dating Taylor Swift, just say something like: "hey, mom, I met this girl, her name is Taylor" and go from there."

"I'll try, maybe." Mikah yawns, cuddling into her girlfriend. "I wanna get some sleep first, though, if we're partying tomorrow I wanna get at least 10 hours tonight."

"Oh, honey, you are not getting 10 hours."

***

"Hey," Taylor says, approaching Mikah from behind, kissing the back of her head, "you look great."

Mikah leans back into Taylor, "No I don't, I'm barely dressed up."

Taylor kisses her cheek, "Shush. You always look great." She turns her around in her arms, stealing her mouth for a quick kiss, pulling her in closer.

"I need to talk to you about something," she murmurs into Mikah's shoulder.

"You okay?"

Taylor nods, "yeah, I just want to warn you because there's usually... paparazzi outside of Electric Lady, so I think, maybe, it would be a good idea for us to enter separately. You go first, they won't take photos of you."

"Taylor, I really don't care if we're seen together-" Mikah says, quickly getting cut off.

"I do care, Mik, and I'm sorry. But it's for the best. I'm having Tree put out a statement on November first, then we can go from there," Taylor cups her face, making her look at her, "I don't want to hide, it's just for tonight."

"Okay. Whatever you're comfortable with." Mikah mumbles as Taylor pulls her in for a proper hug, burrowing into her. "You ready to go?"

She shakes her head. "In a few, I need hugs."

"You sure you're okay?"

"Just a little anxious."

"I'm sorry, honey. How can I help?"

"I need a drink," Taylor laughs, pulling away, "we should go. We'll be late. Also you have lipstick on your nose."

"You're the worst!" Mikah calls after Taylor as she leaves the bedroom, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"I love you, too!"

***

"Hey, Mikah! Come on in," Margaret greets her at the door, "where's your girl?"

"She's behind me, she'll be here in a sec," Mikah says, shrugging off her coat, "where's your boy?"

"Upstairs. We'll join him once Taylor gets here."

In that moment, Mikah feels arms wrap around her waist.

"Hi."

"Hi, baby. You okay?"

Taylor nods into her shoulder. "My eyes hurt, but yeah. I'm good."

"I'm glad," Mikah murmurs, kissing her cheek. "C'mon, let's head up."

Margaret smiles at the couple before leading them upstairs, where Jack and all the party equipment are. Where Taylor and Mikah first met.

"Heyyyy, you two!" Jack says, going over and hugging both of them at the same time. "I haven't seen you in forever, T! How are you guys?"

"I'm really good," Taylor smiles, throwing an arm around Mikah. "I dunno about this one, though, I don't think she's slept in a minute."

Mikah rolls her eyes, "speak for yourself, I got 8 hours last night."

"You did not get eight hours, every time I was up you were up and I got five."

"Oh my god, how are you two already bickering like a married couple? Haven't you been together like a month?" Jack laughs, shaking his head at them.

"We've been dating for like two weeks."

"Damn, they really weren't lying when they said lesbians move fast."

"I am not a lesbian!" Taylor exclaims, "I still like men!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure." Jack teases. "Maggie and I don't even act like we're married yet, we're literally married. Right Mags?"

"Jack, we are so married. We argued over the correct yogurt to seasoning ratio in ranch the other day!" Margaret says from the other side of the room, laughing at her husbands antics.

"Anyway!" He turns to Mikah, who's still tucked under Taylor's arm, "First ever song, Mike! How are you feeling?"

"Nervous," Mikah chuckles, "but Tay's got me covered, honestly. She's just amazing with this stuff, and in general."

Taylor blushes, "stop iiiittt, I just do what I can."

Mikah squeezes her, "you don't give yourself enough credit."

Taylor just crinkles her nose, "c'mon, let's go sit."

Taylor doesn't drink much, considering that tour is just around the corner. She joins in on the blunt rotation occasionally, but not as much as she'd like, (Tree had gotten on her ass for smoking again, still not entirely sure how she even found out.)

Once it hit midnight, and funeral was officially out, Mikah leans onto Taylor, who wraps an arm around her instantly.

"I'm so, so proud of you. I love you."

***

🩶🩶🩶

and with that, act 2 comes to a close. just about 10 more chapters left folks!
aaahhhhh sorry this took so long!! i have been simultaneously very busy and a lil stressy depressy but i'm gonna try to update at least twice monthly
not proofread it is one in the morning
remember to vote & comment love you alllllll
(also, ps, enjoy your peace while it lasts 😙)