It's All Part of the Story

January 2014

"Hey," Karlie says, tapping lightly on the door frame to the studio.

Taylor looks up from where she's hunched over the mixing desk, adjusting the levels slightly. "Hi," she smiles beckoning Karlie into the room.

Karlie steps into the room, taking everything in. She's never been in a recording studio before and is a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of dials and lights. The desk looks like something out of a control room in NASA but Taylor looks completely at ease in the space. "So this is where the magic happens," Karlie says trailing her fingers over the desk.

Taylor doesn't say anything, just shrugs her shoulders, suddenly shy and tries to subtly re-adjust the dials that Karlie has just brushed past.

When she had this brainwave, she hadn't actually thought of how she was going to explain any of this to Karlie. It wasn't like she could just say "Hey wanna make out with me while I record my heartbeat for a song that I'm working on?"

After being in the studio all morning with Jack and failing to get a clear enough recording of her heartbeat to use, Taylor was beginning to regret even suggesting the idea. Jack had made her try holding her breath for a minute, running up and down the stairs and do jumping jacks but the recordings were still so faint that Jack had joked Taylor might actually be clinically dead.

So Taylor had decided to text Karlie because she knew it was her day off and just being in the same room as the model was enough to make her heart do somersaults. So she hadn't really thought of much of anything beyond getting to see Karlie and maybe kiss her. In her defence, she thinks most people would have done the same in her situation.

"Sorry," Karlie says drawing Taylor's attention away from her rapidly spiraling thoughts and sheepishly folding her arms across her chest to resist temptation to touch anything else.

"Thanks for coming," Taylor says shooting Karlie a soft smile holding her hand out for Karlie to take.

"You sounded stressed on the phone," Karlie says intertwining her fingers with Taylor's and tugging her towards her.

Taylor drops a shy kiss to Karlie's cheek and begins to explain. "Jack and I have been working on this song all morning and we just need one last thing for it to be perfect."

Karlie exhales a deep breath and looks down at Taylor with wide eyes. "I had a feeling this day would come, I just didn't expect it so soon."

"Huh?" Taylor asks tilting her head in confusion.

"You invited me down to the studio when you're working on a song, I see where this is going," Karlie says as if it's obvious.

"Babe, no. I've heard you sing," Taylor deadpans. Her girl has many talents and Taylor is thoroughly enjoying learning all about them but singing is not something Karlie has been blessed with.

"That's mean!" Karlie gasps, poking Taylor's side in offence. "Well if you didn't drag me down here for my voice, then what do you need?"

"Well, I do want your help with something," Taylor says reaching out for Karlie's hands to stop their assault on her.

"Yeah?" Karlie asks expectantly.

"It's stupid," Taylor says ducking her head, suddenly shy.

"Hey, come on," Karlie coaxes, reaching out to tilt Taylor's head back up. Karlie is looking at Taylor so open and honest that Taylor can feel her resolve crumble.

"Okay, so I had this idea to layer my heartbeat in with the percussion at the beginning so Jack hooked me up to these electrodes," Taylor explains, pulling her shirt to the side so that Karlie can see the beige patches on her chest.