save me - taylor swift

The drive to Taylor's house was quiet.

The kind of quiet that wasn't uncomfortable, but heavy—laden with thoughts neither of them voiced. Ruby kept her eyes on the road, her hands steady on the wheel, but she could feel Taylor's presence beside her like a weight pressing into her chest. She hadn't spoken much since they left the studio, only offering the occasional nod or hum in response to Ruby's casual remarks.

Ruby didn't push her.

After what had happened the night before, she figured Taylor needed space. And maybe, in a way, Ruby needed it too.

But when they finally pulled up in front of Taylor's house, the silence shifted.

Ruby put the car in park and turned slightly, expecting Taylor to grab her bag and head inside like usual. But Taylor didn't move. Her hands rested in her lap, fingers curled slightly into the fabric of her jeans. She stared straight ahead, her jaw tight, her expression unreadable.

Ruby frowned.

"You good?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Taylor inhaled slowly, then exhaled, her shoulders rising and falling with the motion. She turned her head slightly, but not enough to meet Ruby's eyes. "Yeah, I just..." She trailed off, her grip tightening on her hands.

Ruby studied her, piecing it together almost immediately.

"You don't wanna go inside."

It wasn't a question.

Taylor swallowed, looking down at her lap. "It's stupid," she muttered, shaking her head.

Ruby sighed, leaning back against the driver's seat. "It's not stupid," she said, her voice quieter now, softer. "After what happened last night, it makes sense that you'd be on edge."

Taylor pressed her lips together, still not looking at her.

Ruby exhaled through her nose, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. She knew what fear looked like—real fear, the kind that clung to you even when you tried to shake it off. And right now, it was written all over Taylor's face.

So, she did the only thing she could.

"Nothing's gonna happen," Ruby said, her voice firm. "I checked the perimeter before we left the studio. Security's tight. No one's getting in."

Taylor still hesitated.

Ruby turned her body slightly, resting her arm over the steering wheel as she looked at her. "You're safe, Taylor."

It was the first time she had said her name like that—without formality, without the weight of the job pressing between them. Just her name.

Taylor finally looked at her then, her blue eyes searching Ruby's face as if trying to find reassurance in it.

And maybe she did.

Because after a long moment, she finally nodded. "Okay."

Ruby gave her a small nod in return before glancing toward the house. "Go on," she said, tilting her head toward the door. "I'll wait until you're inside."

Taylor took a breath and reached for the car handle, but just before she pushed the door open, she hesitated again.

Then, she turned back to Ruby.

"Can you stay?"

Ruby blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

Taylor shifted slightly in her seat, looking almost embarrassed, but not enough to take it back. "I just—" She sighed, shaking her head. "Oddly enough, I feel safest when you're around."