Chapter 16: Mini Me

Author's note: I rushed this one sorry and I cba to edit it properly haha

Also, I've decided there will be no Travis in this fanfic (this fic doesn't follow any real life chronological order), but I'll add some one shots in the end because they'll require Taylor's point of view. I think the fanfic itself will have around 25 chapters in total, so we're over halfway there. 

"I look like someone murdered a disco ball and turned it into clothes," I grumble, tugging at the silver sequined jacket Tree somehow got. The matching pants catch the backstage lights, throwing sparkles everywhere. "I thought the orphanage was bad? This is actual child abuse."

"You look perfect," Tree says, adjusting my collar with suspicious moisture in her eyes. "Very on brand."

"Your brand is giving me eye strain." But I let her fuss, still not quite able to move too far from where Taylor's getting her makeup done.

Tree reaches to fix my hair and I give her a stern look. "Touch my hair and die."

She rolls her eyes.

"It's enough I let you put me in this ridiculous jacket."

"The jacket's Versace," Tree informs me proudly. "Custom made."

"Of course it is." I roll my eyes but can't help running my fingers over the stupidly expensive fabric. "Because normal clothes weren't an option?"

"Not for our tiny delinquent they weren't."

"I'm not-" I try to argue.

"Yes you are," Taylor calls from her makeup chair. "Now come here so I can see you properly."

I shuffle over, trying not to blind anyone with my reflection. "This is ridiculous."

Taylor turns, and her eyes immediately fill with tears. "Oh, baby."

"Don't you dare cry," I warn her, even as my own throat gets tight. "Your makeup person will kill you."

"Too late." She pulls me into a hug, ignoring her makeup artist's protests. "You look beautiful."

"I look like a walking mirror ball."

"Perfect for 'Mirrorball' then," she says into my hair.

"You're not funny."

"Nah, I'm pretty funny." She pulls back to look at me again. "You sure you're okay with sitting in the audience? You can watch from backstage..."

I cut her off. "I'm fine. Tree's got me practically surrounded by security. Plus I'm pretty sure no one will be able to see me through all these fuckin sparkles anyway."

"Language," she says automatically, but she's smiling. "And you're sure..."

"Oh my god." I flop dramatically into her lap, probably covering us both in glitter. "Yes, I'm sure. Yes, I'll stay with Tree. Yes, I'll tell her if I get overwhelmed. Yes, I'll eat the snacks she definitely has hidden in her purse. Happy?"

She presses a kiss to my forehead. "Getting there."

"You're impossible."

"You love it."

"Five minutes!" someone calls.

"Knock knock, bitches!"

I spin around to see a blonde whirlwind somehow slipping past three security guards, who look annoyed and resigned at the same time. Something tells me they're used to this.

"Sabrina," Taylor sighs, but she's smiling. "How did you..."

"Please, like your security can stop me from meeting my new niece." Sabrina zeroes in on me with a suspicious grin. "Holy shit, Tree really did turn you into a disco ball."

"Language," Taylor and Tree say automatically.

"Oh fuck off," Sabrina and I say in perfect unison.

We stare at each other for a moment before breaking into identical smirks.

"Oh no," Taylor mutters. "There's two of them."

Sabrina throws an arm around my shoulders like we've known each other forever. "Love the attitude, mini me. Very on brand for this family."

"I'm not..." I start to protest, but she cuts me off.

"Save it, sparkles. I've already heard all about your criminal tendencies from Tree."

I find myself grinning. "It was a nice watch."

"See?" Sabrina turns to Taylor. "She's perfect. Can I corrupt her? Please?"

"Absolutely not." Taylor tries her best to look stern but I can tell she's amused. " She's already enough of a delinquent."

"But a sparkly delinquent," Sabrina points out, tugging at my jacket. "Seriously, Tree went all out. You look like you mugged a Christmas tree."

"That's next on my to do list, after stabbing Santa," I deadpan, making her cackle.

"Fuck, you're funny too." She squeezes my shoulders. "I'm keeping you. Sorry Taylor, she's mine now."

"Language," Taylor sighs, but she's fighting a smile.

"Whatever, mom," Sabrina rolls her eyes, then freezes when she feels me tense. "Shit, sorry. Too soon for mom jokes?"

But Taylor just steps closer, running her fingers through my hair until I relax again. "Maybe stick to aunt jokes for now?"

"Cool cool cool." Sabrina doesn't remove her arm, just shifts to let Taylor next to me. "Aunt Brina will teach you all the things they won't."

"Like what?" I ask, genuinely curious.

"Like how to sneak into places where you're not supposed to be in. And the best ways to dodge paparazzi. You've already scandalized the Catholic church baby and so have I, so we got that covered..."

"No," Tree interrupts from her corner. "Absolutely not. I already have enough gray hairs from this one's adventures."

"You love it," Sabrina and I say together, then grin at each other again.

"See?" Sabrina gestures between us. "Meant to be. Now, important question - has Tay taught you how to properly flip off photographers yet?"

"SABRINA," Taylor groans, but she's laughing.

"What? It's an essential life skill! And you do it too." She turns back to me and demonstrates. "The trick is to make it look accidental. Like you're just fixing your hair or..."

"Out," Tree points to the door. "Before you corrupt her any further."

"Too late," Sabrina sings. "She's already got the attitude. I'm just refining it."

I lean into Taylor's side, watching Sabrina argue with Tree about the educational value of creative swearing. "I like her."

"Of course you do," Taylor sighs fondly. "She's basically you with a driver's license."

"Hey mini me!" Sabrina calls over. "How do you feel about learning to pick locks? For legal reasons only, obviously."

"Already know how," I say before I can stop myself.

Sabrina's eyes go wide. "THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER. I'm sitting with you guys during the show before I perform. For educational purposes."

Tree pinches the bridge of her nose. "Why do I feel like I'm about to need anxiety medication?"

"Because you're old," Sabrina and I say together.

"That's it." Tree crosses her arms. "I quit. You're Taylor's problem now."

"Nope. Taylor can't handle me alone, she can't even handle herself alone," I tell her, still tucked into Taylor's side, feeling her smirk.

"Yeah Tree," Sabrina grins. "You're stuck with us. The chaos twins."

"Oh god," Taylor mutters. "What have we done?"

But she just holds me tighter as Sabrina launches into a story about sneaking into some property that has Tree threatening to call her lawyer.