COLORFUL

Two Weeks LaterSeptember 16th; 2024Taylor Swift's Point of ViewTravis and I lie in bed, the early morning light filtering through the curtains. With Travis shirtless beside me, I find myself tracing the contours of his abs, marveling at every curve and line of his upper body.

"Do you like what you see?" Travis chuckles, his arm wrapping around me.

"I do," I reply with a smile, my fingers lingering over his skin. But then, something catches my attention – a light brown patch of skin nestled amongst the smooth expanse of his torso. I gently touch the marking, drawing Travis's gaze.

"That's just a birthmark, nothing to worry about," he reassures me, but it's not the birthmark itself that throws me.

"It's not that," I say quickly.

"Oh, so you have no care for my well-being?" he teases with a playful smile.

"Oh shut up," I roll my eyes playfully, but my attention remains fixed on the mark. "This is going to sound strange," I start, "but Joy... she has a birthmark exactly like that, in the exact same spot."

Travis's smile falters slightly. "I thought we agreed to keep Joy out of things when we're..." he trails off, searching for the right word, "canoodling." Travis says, a hint of tension in his voice. We had decided to keep our conversations focused on us, at least for the time being, but it's difficult when Joy's presence looms large in my life.

"Travis, what are we?" I inquire, the question lingering in the air.

"Oh god, this conversation," he sighs, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

"I'm serious!" I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "It's been about a couple weeks and a couple months of cat and mouse. We haven't had the talk. Are we dating? Is this just fun and games?"

"I'd love to be your boyfriend, Taylor," Travis declares, his words bringing a smile to my face, a long-awaited affirmation.

"Really?" I ask eagerly, seeking reassurance.

"But if I'm going to be your boyfriend..." Travis begins to trail off, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice, sparking my worry. I had always vowed to keep love out of my life since having Joy, and now I'm breaking that promise.

"Are you sure we need to do that?" I deflect, trying to gauge his readiness, hoping to stall my own apprehensions.

"We don't need to do it now but eventually..." he replies casually, as if it's a simple matter.

"She's my entire world, Travis. I'd die for her, and she means everything to me." I explain, my protective instincts kicking in. My life has always been under a microscope and she's never seen me date anyone.

"You're on break from the tour," he suggests, his gaze hopeful. "What if you and Joy came to stay for a couple of weeks? We could all get to know each other better."

Hasty. That's the word that comes to mind. I want Joy to feel secure, to have a sense of normalcy in her life. Throwing her into this situation feels reckless.

"Isn't this a little fast?" I counter, hoping he understands. "Joy needs stability, and I can't just uproot her life."

"Is it trust?" he asks, his voice gentle. "Because if it is, I get it completely."

I shake my head. "It's not that I don't trust you," I stammer, searching for the right words.

"Three days then," he cuts in, a playful glint in his eyes. "You've stayed over before, right?"

"But that was different," I protest. "We were just friends then."

"So how about this," he continues, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "We break up for three days?"

I can't help but laugh. "Seriously?"

"I think we should see other people, Tay," he continues in a mock-serious tone.

The absurdity of it all sets me off into a fit of giggles. "Oh my god," I manage between breaths.

"It's not you, it's me," he says, dropping the most clichéd break-up line ever.

"Let me guess," I say, trying to contain my laughter, "we've grown apart? You need to focus on yourself?"

"See, you're getting it!" he exclaims, throwing his head back and laughing with me.

Okay, maybe we can do this. "Alright, alright," I concede with a sigh. "Three nights. But Joy and I are sleeping in the guest room."

He pretends to sigh dramatically. "Fine," he says, the playful glint back in his eyes.

Suddenly, I glance at the clock with a gasp so loud it makes Travis jump. "Shit!" I exclaim, my heart leaping into overdrive.

"What is it?" Travis asks, concern replacing the amusement in his eyes.

"It's Joy! She's going to be here any minute!" I blurt out, scrambling towards the dresser.

"But I thought your mom wasn't dropping her off until three?" Travis asks, bewildered by my sudden panic.

"It's kindergarten!" I explain, throwing on a sweatshirt with frantic haste. "Today's her first day, and I completely forgot!" Shame washes over me as I realize how badly I've messed up. This was supposed to be a special day, and I've been so caught up in the conversation with Travis that I completely spaced on making it special for Joy.

"Wait, wait, slow down," Travis interjects, gently placing his hands on my shoulders to stop me in my whirlwind of activity. "Your mom is dropping her off now?"

"Yeah," I nod, guilt gnawing at me. Sundays she picks her up she drops off her back at three on Mondays. It's been a lifesaver since I started seeing Travis. My mom was more than happy to help out since she's been pushing me to date again. I even got her an apartment in New York for when Joy spends the night there. I wanted Joy to spend her first day of kindergarten at my place though.

Before Travis can comment, the sound of the front door unlocking cuts through the air.

"That must be them! You need to leave!" I exclaim, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Suddenly, the mission of explaining the sleepover situation to Joy pales in comparison to the immediate need to salvage this special day.

I dash towards the door, throwing it open to reveal a confused Joy clutching a brightly unicorn stuffy. My mom stands behind her, a worried frown etched on her face.

Joy's eyes widen as they land on Travis, who stands awkwardly behind me, a sheepish grin plastered on his face. My mom steps forward, taking in the scene with a raised eyebrow.

"Taylor? Honey, everything alright?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.

"Uh, yeah, Mom," I stammer, my mind racing for a plausible explanation. "This is, uh, Travis. We were just..." I trail off, glancing helplessly at Travis.

"Just catching up," Travis chimes in smoothly, offering a charming smile that could melt glaciers to my mom. Thankfully he's fully dressed. "Didn't realize it was so late. Congrats on the first day of kindergarten, little one!" he adds, crouching down to Joy's level and extending a hand towards her.

"Thank you Mr. Travis!" Joy beams, showing all her teeth in a bright, gap-toothed grin. "Want to see my special backpack I got for school?" She asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet with barely contained excitement.

"Of course I do!" He exclaims with a laugh, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest.

"Stay right there!" Joy shouts, already halfway down the hallway to her room. The sound of her tiny footsteps fades and then returns in a flurry as she races back, a brightly colored backpack bouncing against her back.

I smile, relief washing over me like a tidal wave. Not only has Travis managed to charm my mom, but Joy seems completely oblivious to the awkwardness a few moments ago.

"Look, Mommy! Look, Mr. Travis!" Joy exclaims, holding the backpack out proudly. It's a bright pink canvas adorned with a glittery purple unicorn leaping over a rainbow. Dangling from the side pocket is a bright red lunchbox with a cartoon cat wearing a chef's hat.

"Wow, Joy, that's amazing!" I lean down to get a closer look, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "That unicorn is certainly ready for its first day of school."

"It has a name!" Joy corrects me, her voice filled with pride. "Her name is Sparkle, and she's going to help me learn all about letters and numbers!"

Travis chuckles, his gaze lingering on the sparkly unicorn. "Sparkle sounds like a great friend to have. Maybe she can teach me a thing or two as well." He winks at Joy, making her giggle.

"I gotta go brush my teeth now!" Joy announces, suddenly remembering an important detail. She throws her arms around my legs in a quick hug, then darts off towards the bathroom, leaving a trail of glittery pink behind her.

I glance at my mom, a wave of gratitude washing over me. "Thank you, Mom," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "For everything. You're a lifesaver."

My mom pats my hand gently. "No problem, sweetie. She's so easy to take care of. All she wanted to do today was color and bake cookies. We even made enough to share with your friend here." She gestures towards Travis with a knowing smile.

"Actually, Joy's teacher is going to be here soon..." I trail off, suddenly flustered.

Mom throws her head back and laughs. "Oh honey, kicking me out already?" she teases, pulling me into a hug.

Joy bursts through the doorway, all sunshine and curiosity. "Is Nana leaving?" she asks, her brow furrowed.

"Yeah, sweetheart," I say, kneeling down to her level. "Nana has to go home. Give her a big hug goodbye."

Joy frowns but obliges, wrapping her tiny arms around my mom. "Bye, Nana," she mumbles.

"I'll call you tonight, sweet pea," Mom promises with a smile before heading out the door.

Travis raises an eyebrow, a spark of surprise flickering across his face. "Her own homeschool teacher, huh?"

I nod, feeling the need to explain. "It's not the most traditional route, but it works for us. With touring and recording, my schedule can be a whirlwind. Homeschooling lets Joy learn at her own pace and gives us more flexibility." I hesitate, then add defensively, "Plus, with Joy being...well, Joy..." My voice trails off, unsure how to articulate my concerns.

Travis sees my struggle and leans back, his gaze softening. "You want to protect her privacy. Keep the media out of her life?"

Relief washes over me. "Exactly! It's not that I don't trust public schools, but I don't want her childhood plastered all over the tabloids. Homeschooling gives us some normalcy, you know?"

"Do you want to give Mr. Travis a tour of the classroom?" I ask, my voice tinged with a touch of nervous excitement.

Joy's face explodes into a grin that could rival the summer sun. "Yes!" she squeals, already bouncing towards a doorway tucked away at the end of the hallway. Laughter bubbles up from my chest as I watch her go, the tension easing a fraction. Travis and I exchange a smile, and with a chuckle, we follow her eager steps.

Joy throws open the door with a flourish, revealing a space far more impressive than the unassuming term "classroom" could ever suggest. Sunlight floods through a large window, illuminating a room that feels both cozy and stimulating. In the corner, a plush armchair, nestled beneath a vibrant tapestry depicting a fantastical forest, overflows with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. A bookshelf, painted in a riot of rainbow colors, groans under the weight of children's books on every imaginable topic: dinosaurs, princesses, and quite a few kitten related ones.

At the center of the room, a large wooden table is a masterpiece of creative chaos. Paints, markers, crayons, and an assortment of construction paper are neatly organized in colorful bins, while half-finished drawings and playful clay creations peek out from under a mound of modeling dough. A large whiteboard on one wall displays a testament to Joy's artistic endeavors: planets orbit a giant, smiling sun, and beside them, in wobbly yet enthusiastic handwriting, magnetic letters spell out "Joy"

"This is my classroom, Mr. Travis!" Joy declares proudly, puffing out her chest with the importance of a tiny tour guide on a mission. She grabs his hand, practically dragging him around the room like a whirlwind of explanation. "This is where I read my books," she says, pointing to the plush armchair with a wide smile. "And over here is where I do art!" she exclaims, gesturing enthusiastically towards the overflowing table.

Travis steps inside, his surprise morphing into genuine admiration as his gaze sweeps over the details. "Wow, Joy," he says, kneeling down to her level. "This is amazing!"

Joy's eyes widen with excitement. "I know! My mommy said I can have my special crayons here too!" she exclaims, practically bouncing in place. She races over to a small basket tucked beside the art supplies and proudly presents Travis with a collection of worn-down, rock-shaped crayons – the ones he'd gotten her for her birthday.

Travis takes the well-loved crayons, a grin spreading across his face. "These must get a lot of use, huh?" he says, examining them with mock seriousness.

"Uh-huh!" Joy nods enthusiastically. "They're my favorites!"

"Well, in that case," Travis says, his eyes twinkling, "I'm going to need to go dig up some more for you."

Joy's brow furrows in confusion. "Crayons don't come from the ground, silly!" she corrects him with a giggle.

"Ah, but these aren't just any crayons," Travis replies, playing along. "These are special Amazonian Rock Crayons, and they only grow deep within the rainforest."

I stifle a laugh, realizing his technicality isn't entirely wrong. "The Amazon?" Joy echoes, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

"Yep," Travis confirms with a wink. "I bet I could go on an Amazon expedition right now, and they'd be here tomorrow morning, ready for more masterpieces!"

"Really?!" Joy squeals, her laughter echoing through the room.

Travis pulls out his phone, his movements smooth and practiced. "Absolutely," he says, pulling up the Amazon app. "How about we get the bigger box this time? Even more crayons for even more amazing artwork."

"More crayons!" Joy cheers, practically vibrating with excitement.

Travis throws his arm around her playfully. "More artwork to hang in all the museums around the world," he adds with a smile.

—————Author's Note:

Joy and Travis's relationship is everything I've ever wanted. I imagine this is how he's with his nieces too 😭

Y'all we have been fed so much this week like wtf