Tate stands and waits by the incoming flights area of the airport, checking the time on her phone and the screen that says Gracie's flight has landed. She rented a car to come pick her up in, even though Taylor insisted on just having her security do it. Tate denied that though, she wanted to come get her herself like she told the younger woman she would.
Gracie heads down the escalator to the pickup area, scanning faces until her eyes land on Tate's. A big smile forms across her face when she sees Tate make eye contact back at her.
Tate quickly unfolds the sign she was holding, Gracie straining her eyes until she can read what it says. Her face flushes a deep red when she reads it, embarrassment coursing through her head.
Tate stands there with a stupid grin on her face, holding the sign and some flowers in her hand. She watches as everyone who comes off of the escalator reads her sign gives her dirty looks, Gracie included.
Gracie walks hurriedly up to Tate and punches her arm.
"'Welcome back from prison' Tate, really?!"
"You don't like it?" Tate says with a fake frown, folding the sign back up in half.
"People are going to think you're serious!" She scolds, shaking her head at her.
"I hope so" Tate says and pulls Gracie in for a hug, holding her tightly. Gracie hugs her back just as tight, smiling as she inhales her scent.
"These are for you" Tate says smiling, handing her some flowers. Gracie blushes and smiles.
"This doesn't make me forgive you for that sign" she says, shaking her head. She grabs the flowers and smells them, smiling to herself when she realizes that Tate remembered what kind she liked.
"Come onnn, it was funny" Tate mumbles, leading Gracie out of the airport and to the rental car. She opens the door for her and shuts it, getting into the drivers side and heading onto the main road.
"You should've seen that mom pulling her kid away from us as she read the sign"
"UGH! TATE!" Gracie groans and covers her face, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment again. "You're literally the fucking worst."
Tate holds her stomach from laughing so hard, wiping the tears falling out of her eyes. Gracie sits with her eyes looking out of the window, trying to be as stubborn as she possibly can be.
"You can't be mad at me forever" Tate says, poking Gracie's side over and over again. Gracie swats at her hand and glares at her, making Tate laugh.
"Yeah I can be."
She drives to the hotel they're all staying in, parking her rental car in the valet for them to return it for her. She opens Gracie's door, grabbing her small luggage and carrying it for her. Gracie smiles and follows behind her like a little puppy following its owner.
"So I wasn't sure what your plans were, but my room has 2 beds so I figured maybe you'd wanna stay with me?" Tate asks, looking at the younger woman apprehensively. "Unless you want your own room of course! I'm sure that can be arranged, I just uh"
"Tate" Gracie says laughing, stopping her rambling, "I'm good with staying in your room dork."
Tate nods and smiles, opening the door for her. "Okay" she exhales, "then follow me."
They walk to the elevator, Tate pushing the button to the floor they have reserved just for them. When the elevator opens, Tate smiles at the security guards that let them by, before making her way to their room. She grabs her key card and unlocks the door, letting Gracie in.
![TAYLOR SWIFT - [1] by illicitaffalrs](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/366131845-80-k312715.jpg)
![You Know How To Ball · Taylor Swift [EN] by cmonjauregui](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/373945479-80-k580095.jpg)
She places her bags down next to Gracie's bed, putting her wallet and phone down on the tv stand.
"We have a few hours before we have to go to the stadium" Tate starts, "I can order us food because I'm sure you're hungry after your flight. And you can shower and get ready, whatever you need" she finishes smiling.
Gracie chuckles and nods, grabbing her bag to walk into the bathroom.
"My gracious host" she says jokingly as she enters the bathroom and shuts the door behind her. She takes a shower and brushes her teeth, coming out of the bathroom in a towel wrapped around her.
"How much time do we have?" Gracie asks, walking out of the bathroom to hear Tate.
"About two hou-" Tate starts, looking up from her phone at Gracie in only a towel. She takes a hard gulp, her eyes trailing up and down her body. "Uh two hours" she recollects herself and says.
Gracie nods and smirks to herself, returning to the bathroom. Tate sits and stares at the spot she was once standing in, snapping herself out of her dirty thoughts she was having.
Gracie finishes getting ready as the room service arrives, Tate getting it all set up so they can eat. Gracie enters the room and smiles, sitting down on the edge of her bed to eat.
"Do you have a hoodie I can borrow? It's chillier than I anticipated" Gracie asks, Tate nodding immediately. She grabs one of her hoodies out of her luggage and hands it to her, smiling as she takes it.
Gracie takes her top off, leaving her only in a bra. Tate looks away quickly, clenching her jaw together. Get it together Tate. Gracie slips on the hoodie and smells the sleeve, nodding a thank you to Tate for it. Tate smiles sheepishly as her cheeks are still flushed red from seeing Gracie take her shirt off.
They finish eating and lay down on the bed, both doing their own thing, Tate watching TikToks on her phone while Gracie reads through the comments on her album. Gracie instinctively rests her head on Tate's shoulder, not even realizing it. They sit in a comfortable silence until every few minutes Tate interrupts it by just needing to show her a funny video, making her roll her eyes and laugh at her.
When it's about time to go, they both stand up and put their shoes on, meeting the security guard who is going to drive them to the stadium. Gracie isn't performing there tonight, but she figured since she'll be in town that she might as well go watch her play anyway.
Tate opens the car door for Gracie and slides in next to her, shutting it and buckling themselves in. Gracie watches as Tate's phone lights up, making Tate look at who's calling and putting it face down on her lap. She could quickly see it was Ellie, causing Gracie to be confused as to why she didn't want to answer it.
"How come she isn't here?" Gracie asks seriously.
Gracie sees the disappointed look on Tate's face as she shrugs, looking at her lap.
"She views it as 'just a work thing' or whatever" she says quietly, Gracie smiling at her genuinely.
"Well, if I knew you were going to be singing I would've been here immediately" she says, trying to cheer her up. Tate looks at her and nods, smilingly gently.
"It's okay" Tate breathes out, "she said next time she'll be here."
Gracie nods and looks out the window, muttering "great" under her breath.
They arrive to the stadium in just a matter of minutes, quickly being escorted inside.
"You go find Taylor" Tate says, pulling a cigarette out of her pocket, "I'm going to have one of these first"
