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English
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Part 43 of TNT Short Fics
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Published:
2025-10-21
Completed:
2025-11-11
Words:
1,510
Chapters:
2/2
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32
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145
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A Wish List

Summary:

A series of ficlets based on prompts from The Life of a Showgirl lyrics and poems.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: That was a lie

Summary:

She sometimes wonders what exactly he saw in the girl she was that first summer.

Notes:

Hi, hello! Long time no talk. I am trying out something new to hopefully jumpstart some creativity and get me back to writing. I'll be sharing ficlets from time to time based on The Life of a Showgirl songs and poems. I've created a list of 50 prompts from the lyrics and lines of the poems. I'll choose 1-2 prompts and create a very short story. Each ficlet will stand alone; they won't be in any order. But they will all mostly take place during the time period of TLOAS (Late Summer 2023 to January 2024). I'm not promising a certain schedule, but hopefully I'll get back to writing more!

I'm sharing the list of prompts at the end if you'd like to see them (or even feel free to try them out yourself).

Chapter Text

She sometimes wonders what exactly he saw in the girl she was that first summer. Armor inches thick. Hot and cold at times and full of thorns. And the way it all fell away so quickly for him. It still amazes her how he saw through all that noise and found her anyway.

On their first date, she’s full of nerves and false bravado. Despite their long talks and laughter during the weeks they call and text from training fields and stages, there’s still something cynical in her that looks for things to pick at. A voice in her head whispers this is never going to end well. Nothing ever does.

“I’m not sure marriage is ever going to be in the cards for me.”

It slips out—blurted out, really—as Travis shares a story about his brother and sister-in-law and their good-natured teasing of each other. At her words, his eyebrows lift in surprise, but he simply says, “Oh?” giving away nothing else. No judgment, no retreat, just calm curiosity that disarms her more than she expects.

That hurt part of her deep down rears its head once more, and more words come. Words she’ll kick herself for later.

“Yeah, not even sure I believe in marriage.”

She says it with a nonchalance she doesn’t feel and drops her eyes to the table, picking at the edge of the plate before her. She waits for him to either run for the hills or worse—agree with her. But he does neither. He looks at her steadily as he softly says, “Hmm, I guess after the year you’ve told me about, it might feel that way, huh?”

Her eyes snap up to meet his, and she can’t look away. Not sure what to do when he refuses to take her self-sabotaging bait. Her pulse trips at the quiet certainty in his gaze.

He reaches for her hand, and she just nods before looking away, suddenly too seen.

“I get it, Tay,” he assures her. “I don’t feel that way myself, but I get it. You give something all you’ve got, and it doesn’t pan out. I get it.”

She squeezes his hand, not trusting her words. But he’s right. That is exactly it. And somehow, he says it without making her feel broken.

“I’m not going to try to change your mind. Just…I’m in, Taylor. I’m not here to mess around. Just know that I’m in.”

She looks back at him now—the man who makes her laugh and sees through the hurt to the parts of her deep down that still do feel soft and unbroken. The parts that know her declaration is a lie. Maybe she can’t quite believe in it anymore out loud, but he makes her want to try. And that makes her brave.

“If you’re in, I am too.”

Chapter 2: A beautiful, beautiful time-lapse

Summary:

The air is warm, perfumed by the lilacs that line the pea gravel lane. She tips her head back, eyes closed, letting the sun soak into her skin.

“Sweetie, you look so serene right now.”

Notes:

Fun fact: there really was a park fair at Great Tew in the Cottswolds the weekend of the London shows last year. And yes, it did have a Ferris wheel.

Chapter Text

The air is warm, perfumed by the lilacs that line the pea gravel lane. She tips her head back, eyes closed, letting the sun soak into her skin. 

“Sweetie, you look so serene right now.”

She smiles, not feeling the need to turn her head. Knowing that he’s in this moment with her. This pocket of peace they’ve been carving in small pieces through a whirlwind summer. 

“I feel it, Trav,” she answers, finally opening her eyes. Color explodes around her as she takes in their surroundings again: pinks and purples and white. And green, so much green. 

He’d woken her this morning with kisses and promises of a walk along the rambly lane behind the cottage, the one that skirts the edge of the village. They’ve been sneaking these walks in between tour stops, and she’s holding tight to each one, aware they’ll soon end when he’s back to football full-time. 

As they come to a bend in the lane, she sees it. The tall structure is decked out in pastel pennants fluttering in the breeze. The closer they get, the more the scene before them comes into focus. Other rides are scattered across the field. It’s a country fair, set up at the large estate. 

Travis whistles, pointing. “Man, I haven’t been on one of those since I was little. Jason was always too freaked out by heights to go on it, but my mom and I loved them.” 

“It looks like the little fair we’d have in the summer in Wyomissing,” she says wistfully. While there had been a bigger county fair in Reading, her family had always ended up at the little summer fair. Cotton candy memories drift back, sticky fingers, laughter, the hum of dusk. 

“We should go check it out,” Travis says.”

“I mean… it looks closed this early.” 

That glint appears in his eye. The one that always means adventure. “Tay, let’s investigate.” 

She laughs as he tugs her hand and leads her closer. There are clearly no patrons, just workers moving around. As they get closer, she notices a sign that tells her that they’ve actually just missed the fair. They must be getting ready to pull everything down. 

Travis turns to her with a grin after he spots a man near the Ferris wheel. “Wait here,” he states with a nod to Drew. 

“Babe,” she starts, but he’s already jogging towards the man, hand outstretched. He’s ridiculous. 

She watches him turn on that Kelce charm: big grin, back slaps, easy laughter. He points back towards her, and the man shades his eyes from the sun, squinting to follow the gesture. The exchange continues before they shake hands, and Travis comes striding back, grin wide. 

“Come on, sweetie.”

“No way,” she scoffs. 

“What? I got charm.” 

He absolutely does, but she figures it might be her name that opened the door. Except as they reach the ride, the man waves to her and laughs. “Your young man is very persuasive. He told me… well, let’s just say he made a strong case.” 

He clearly has no idea who she is. And she turns to beam up at Travis. 

“What do you say, Tay Tay? Want to go for a ride?” Travis asks, one brow raised. 

“Absolutely.”

She catches Drew’s eye, and he rolls them at her, knowing by now there is no talking her out of the whims she and Travis get up to. 

“Now, no funny business, you two,” the man teases with a wink as he holds out a hand for Taylor to take to step up into the carriage. She blushes, turning to take in the privileged sight of Travis awkwardly folding his 6’6” frame into the seat beside her. 

A kaleidoscope of bright, fair music starts as the man pushes a button. The wheel lurches then steadies into a smooth rise. She can’t help the laugh of delight that spills out, light and unguarded, as she reaches for Travis’s hand. 

“Look! You can see the whole village!” 

He squints before joking, “I think I can see Beckham’s soccer field from here.” 

They circle a few times before the Ferris Wheel holds steady at the top. 

“Wow, it’s really pretty,” he says as she notices the sunlight catch the verdigris green of his eyes at just the right angle.

“Yeah, it is,” she agrees, not taking her eyes off of him. 

He glances over, catching her stare. “You flirting with me, girl? You heard Fred, no funny business.” 

“Not even a kiss,” she challenges. 

He fakes being put out, then reaches for her cheek. I guess one kiss won’t hurt,” he whispers against her lips. She sinks into the kiss. The faint scent of his cologne, the warmth of his hand at her jaw, the way the world seems to fall away for those few suspended seconds. It all folds into this moment like it’s exactly where they’re meant to be. 

The Ferris wheel jolts back into motion, and they swing slightly. It knocks their noses together, and she opens her eyes to lock eyes with him as they both dissolve into laughter. 

The laughter that escapes surprises her, light and free and reflexive in a way she hasn’t felt in years. She reaches for his face, needing to put her fingertips to the wide smile and laughter creasing his eyes. His joy pulls a fresh wave of laughter from her belly.

Everything that has felt impossible or rushed over the summer—or really her entire life— falls away, leaving only this beautiful suspended moment in time. A moment that feels shimmering and warm and wild, just like when she was small. She realizes with a breath that feels like it could carry forever, that she’s found it. They have found it. This moment, this peace, this love. Together.

They lean back in the seat, the Ferris wheel steadying before starting to turn once more. The sun slants through the lilacs across the field, painting everything a soft gold and lavender. She presses her head against his shoulder, and for a long, perfect stretch, the world narrows to just them—kisses, laughter, and the hum of summer fading into quiet, like coming home.

Notes:

TLOAS Prompts

When I said I don't believe in marriage, that was a lie
If he’s in, you are too
That view of Portofino was on my mind
Plaza Athénée
You know the last time I laughed this hard…I must have been about 8 or 9
Ferris wheels, kisses, and lilacs
Tiny Bubbles in Champagne
He’s a magnet and a trampoline
I’m never gonna leave you out/I'm never gonna leave you now
But now you’re home
Every youngest child felt/They were raised up in the wild/But now you're home
Never gonna break that vow
Only you possess the key
Basketball hoop
We tell the world to leave us thе fuck alone, and they do, wow
Sweetie, honey, lovely
Wishlist vs. The Prophecy
Caught me off my guard/Crashlanded next to me
Redefine blues
Best Friend who is hot
Summertime Spritz, pink skies
Wintergreen kisses, all mine
We could play house
Then you stay until the morning/Forever night stand
Sweetie, it's yours, kickin' in doors, take it to the floor, gimme more
Color of your eyes
I heard you calling
The land, the sea, the sky
Keep it 100
Hand/team/vibes
Don’t care where the hell you’ve been, 'cause now you’re mine
Saved my heart
Chain, crown, vine
Failure brings you freedom
This life will beat you up
Better that than to ask it all your life
Oftentimes, it doesn't feel so glamorous to be me
All the right guys promised they'd stay/Under bright lights, they withered away/But you bloom
Babe, I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust
And you, look at me like you're hypnotized, and I think you know why
And all the perfect couples/Said, "When you know, you know"
You couldn't understand it/Why you felt alone/She was in her phone/And you were just a pose
You finally left the table (Uh, uh)/And what a simple thought/You're starving 'til you're not
Oh, my Lord/Never met no one like you bеfore
This is just/A storm inside a teacup/But shelter here with me, my love
He ran to his car from work to catch the flight
Every song is just a prayer/a wish list
He’s not what you’ve been waiting for, he’s more. Why you held out, why you left
Nothing aches suddenly
His photo on the dressing room mirror

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