3.Fearless-Taylor Swift

There’s somethin’ ‘bout the way

The street looks when it’s just rained

There’s a glow off the pavement,

You walk me to the car

And you know I wanna ask you to

Dance right there

In the middle of the parking lot,

Yeah...

Ty, Mickey and the others were on the crowded B47, all squished together. There was a strong scent of liquor, weed, and cigarette smoke coming from mostly every person on that bus.

 When the bus came to a sudden stop, Mickey stumbled, Ty wrapping his arms around her waist to catch her fall. “You good?” Ty said, smiling at her.

“Yeah.” Mickey straightened up. “Thanks.”

“Hey, Ty.” Davis called to him. “We’re heading to McKenna’s house, so we’re getting off here, you guys wanna come?”

“Sorry, but I have to go home,” Mickey said.

“I’ll catch up with you guys later,” Ty said as the others got off the bus. “I’ll make sure Mickey gets home safely.”

Davis nodded. The bus doors closed and Ty drew his attention back to Mickey who was looking down at her feet which were kicking at the speckled black floor.  There was a silence that neither could fill. Then suddenly, Ty heard Mickey mutter something he couldn’t make out.

“What was that, Mickey?” Ty asked.

“You didn’t have to do this.” Mickey said, looking out the window past Ty. “You could’ve gone with them if you wanted to.”

“Nah.” Ty smiled. “I was planning on going home anyways.” The bus came to another stop. “So where do you get off?”

“The next one.”

“Wait, you live on Flatbush?” Ty’s eyes widened, his smile getting brighter.

Mickey nodded. “What? Do you live around there too?”

“Yea, me and Davis grew up there.” Ty explained. “How come I’ve never seen you around?”

“I just moved here.” Mickey’s eyes dropped back down to her feet.

“Where’d you live before you moved here?”

“Canada, Australia, even spent a few months in Europe before my mom’s company moved her here to New York.” Mickey looked up, Ty smiling down at her. “What”?

“Nothing,” Ty ran a hand through his hair, looking back up and out the window. “Aw man, look.”

Mickey followed his gaze and saw drops of water landing on the already water-stained window. The drops looked like tears as they streaked down the glass, more and more rivers of tears flowing bigger and faster as the bus drove on.

Mickey’s face dropped into a pout. “I don’t have an umbrella.”

“It’s cool.” Ty’s smiled grew even bigger. “We don’t need one.”

“But we’ll get soaked.”

“That’s the fun part.” Ty said as the bus came to a stop. “C’mon, lets go.”

Ty grabbed Mickey’s hand and made a run for the nearest tree as they hopped off the bus. Mickey’s squeals and laughter forming an almost melody in Ty’s ears. They ducked from tree to tree, being careful not to bump into the passing bystanders, until they came to a stop underneath the shade of a bodega. Mickey panting and giggling softly as Ty shook the rain drops from his hair.

“See now wasn’t that a lot more fun than hiding under some stupid umbrella?” Ty asked, smiling at a red-faced Mickey.

“You’re insane.” Mickey laughed, rolling her eyes. She noticed that they were standing across the street from a park. “We’re near my house.”

“Where do you live exactly?”

“Through that park and across the street.” Mickey pulled her iPod out, gasping when she looked at it. “Damn it, I’m gonna be late.”

“Late?” Ty followed Mickey across the street. “Do you have an early curfew or something?”

“Something like that.” Mickey explained. “I’m supposed to get home before she does, and she’s gonna be home in like five minutes.”

“Shouldn’t it be the parent that gets home before the child.”

“It’s complicated...” Mickey looked down and saw that Ty was still holding her hand, with no signs of letting go. “Thanks for walking me home, but I can make it on my own from here.”

“Nah,” Ty squeezed her hand slightly. “I said I was gonna walk you home, so I’m not gonna leave your side until we reach your front door.”

They were halfway through the park. Autumn leaves crunching beneath their feet. Orange, red and yellow leaves falling around them, the crunching noises beneath them the echoing throughout the park. Ty finding a slight joy in the silent walk with Mickey.

Nearby there was the slight sound of someone playing the saxaphone, Mickey glanced up at Ty whose hair was drenched in rain water. She reached her free hand to feel the wetness of her hair.

“That guy’s playing again.” Ty broke the silence. “He’s playing even better than ever today.”

“You know him?” Mickey had never met anyone who smiled about the smallest things the way Ty did.

He shook his head. “I’ve never seen the person playing, could never find him.”

“Then how do you know who’s playing.”
“He plays the same exact song every day.” Ty explained. “Don’t you recognize that song?”

Mickey closed her eyes and listened closely. “Isn’t that...”

Before she could finish, Ty lifted her hand and spun her around. He grabbed her other hand and her pulled her close and started making her dance with him. “...What have I gotten into this time around. I know that I had sworn I'd never trust anyone again but I didn't have to, you had me at hello.” Ty sang into Mickey’s ear, laughing slightly as he spun her around one more time.

“What are you doing?” Mickey laughed, her face flushing pink.

“I dunno.” Ty shrugged as they reached the other end of the park, smirking. “I just really like that song, I guess.” He fixed his gaze across the street, spotting a middle-aged brunette standing on the porch of the burgundy house right across from the park. “Is that you’re mom?”

Mickey looked up, eyes going wide. She looked up at Ty. “You should go now?”

“How come?” Ty started to cross the street, Mickey pulling him back. “What’s wrong Mickey?”

Mickey looked down at the ground as she held onto Ty’s shirt. “Go home, Ty.” She looked up across the street, not letting go of Ty.

Ty looked down at Mickey and then followed her gaze. He pulled away from Mickey and crossed over to the other side, a confident grin on his face. “Why did she have that look on her face?” He thought to himself.

The woman came down from the porch, looking passed Ty and over at Mickey. “Michelle, get inside, now.”

Mickey dropped her head low as she walked by Ty and up into the house, waving a small little goodbye at Ty before turning away.

Ty brushed his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry Mickey was late, it was my fau...”

“Her name is not Mickey.” Her mother crossed her arms across her chest. “And I think it’s in your best interest for you to not get close to her.”

“What?” Ty’s eyes went wide as she spoke.

“Please go home now.” Her mother turned towards the house, walking back into the house and shutting the door behind her.

Ty remained frozen, trying to put together what just happened. “It’s probably nothin’ serious.” He thought to himself he made his way back home on the other side of the park.

And I don’t know why

but with you I’d dance

in a storm in my best dress

fearless...