Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 29: The Visit]

Just a moment ago, the llittle chubby Austin who had been laughing with his new friend, suddenly turned serious. Through gritted teeth, he spat out a few words: "Swift, is there a problem?" The expression on his face made it seem like having that last name was a disgrace.

Ryan shook his head. He had heard Taylor mention her three-year-younger brother, but he didn't know he attended Hendersonville High School or that he was part of the football team.

Still, whatever happened with his sister was none of Austin's business.

"Isn't it a lot of pressure?" Ryan asked.

"What?"

"Having a celebrity sister."

"Oh, there's some pressure for sure. There are plenty of people here who are jealous of her," Austin mumbled, probably tired of hearing gossip about Taylor.

That made sense. Ryan didn't have to think hard to know what those whispers were about -- slut-shaming, personal attacks, and questioning her talent were the big three.

"Those people are idiots. They can't see how hard she works. Whenever she has a spare moment, she dives into writing new songs. Sometimes, we don't see her for a week, and she doesn't even dare to eat too much because she has to keep up her image. But she's all smiles every day. Lately, she's been irritable since coming back from Florida, like someone owes her money," Austin rambled on, likely after getting chewed out yesterday.

"If anyone dares to bully her, I'll... I'll... I can't let her get bullied," Austin declared.

"Absolutely no problem," Ryan nodded in agreement.

"What do you think of her?" Austin asked, looking at Ryan. He clearly didn't know that the person who went to Florida with Taylor was standing right in front of him, let alone that Ryan shared a secret afternoon with his sister.

Ryan casually replied, "She's going to become a worldwide superstar."

"Right! She's going to become a global superstar, standing on stage, bathed in countless spotlights, singing her heart out while thousands cheer her on. That's been her dream since she was little," Austin confirmed enthusiastically.

In some parallel universe, maybe Taylor would have smoothly entered an Ivy League school for finance, graduated, and followed her father to work on Wall Street. After working for a few years, she would marry a man matchingly affluent and attractive, then choose to stay home like her mother did to raise a family. But one day, upon seeing Faith Hill's live performance on TV, who knows if she'd remember that afternoon years ago when she first saw her on screen, igniting a dream in her mind...

...

After training, Austin surprisingly invited Ryan over to his house, but Ryan declined, making up an excuse that he would definitely come next time.

"Are you going to training tomorrow?" Austin asked hopefully.

"Not sure," Ryan replied. If Abigail didn't need to train tomorrow, he planned to catch up on homework instead.

"Gentlemen, breaking news: the coach is taking a day off tomorrow. Training is canceled," Paul chimed in.

"Ahem, Ryan, can you help us reserve a table for tonight? We just defeated our arch-rivals, and the team hasn't celebrated yet. We all agreed tonight is a guys' night; no girlfriends allowed!" Paul exclaimed excitedly.

It was Paul who had brought Ryan and the others to the 'Wet T-Shirt Party' back in Florida. He ended up as a substitute in the game due to an injury and didn't contribute much on the field, but when it came to planning where to hang out, he always rushed in first!

"Everyone got IDs?" Ryan asked.

Such a trivial question was no problem for Paul: "Everyone's got one, from age 18 to 90, fill in whatever you want."

Then Paul looked at Austin beside Ryan: "Wanna join us, Boy Scout? Summer camp can't compare to that; the girls there, wow, they can knock you off your feet!"

As he said this, Paul gestured with his hands to emphasize the curves.

Ryan immediately elbowed Paul and then told Austin to head home for the night.

"Only you are allowed to pick up girls at the club? Others can't even look? Shouldn't we be on the same team?" Paul shot back. Actually, it was because these parties were always split costs; having one more person meant less cost for everyone.

Austin nodded along. "My sister said we should actively participate in group activities to fit into the team."

You're surprisingly obedient! Ryan thought with a smirk.

...

Late at night, a Dodge Challenger cruised through the upscale streets of Nashville.

"You're home," Ryan said, giving Austin a gentle pat on his cheek.

At that moment, the chubby guy's face was flushed, his head bobbing as he dozed off, exuding a faint scent of alcohol.

During the last moments, he could only sit in a wheelchair due to losing mobility. Since no one else knew where Austin lived, and Joel happened to be off today, Ryan, who hadn't been drinking, had to drive him back.

"Don't mess around!" the drunken chubby guy waved Ryan's hand away. Gritting his teeth, Ryan had no choice but to exit the car, open the door from the other side, assist him out, and carry him toward the house.

It was already past midnight, and the lights were blazing at Taylor's house, suggesting her family was probably in a state of anxious chaos.

As Ryan carried Austin into the yard, the front door swung open, revealing Taylor storming out, rushing toward them.

As she walked, she muttered angrily, "You idiot."

Seeing her about to scold her brother, Ryan quickly interjected, "No one made him drink more than one cup, just one, really..."

In that moment, Taylor raised her hand.

"Smack!"

The sharp sound of the slap resonated in the quiet night, startling a nearby German Shepherd to start barking wildly.

Austin scratched his neck, feeling no pain from the slap.

That was because the slap hadn't hit him.

Ryan turned sideways at the last moment, and Taylor's palm struck his shoulder instead. He immediately let go of Austin, who promptly flopped onto the ground and fell asleep instantly.

"Have you lost it?!" Taylor gritted her teeth, directing all her anger at Ryan.

Ryan was about to speak when he heard a voice from behind Taylor: "Sweetheart, how can you hit someone?"

He looked over to see a plump middle-aged woman emerge from the house. Taylor's golden hair mirrored hers perfectly, indicating a strong resemblance.

Right behind her was a tall middle-aged man, towering over Ryan, with dark brown hair resembling Austin's. It was clear that Taylor and her brother had inherited their height from him.

Once he caught a whiff of alcohol on Austin, the middle-aged man quickly understood and moved to help him up. Ryan instinctively offered to assist.

"Don't touch him!" Taylor shouted instantly.

"Be quiet," her father Scott snapped.

"How can your dad handle him alone? Besides, he was kind enough to bring your brother back. That's rude," Taylor's mother Andrea added supportively.

Taylor opened her mouth again, but her father shot her a glare, forcing her to close it reluctantly.

'He had no good intentions!' Taylor thought.

The entire time, she bit her lip, standing by and frowning as she watched Ryan almost single-handedly carry her brother into the house, stooping forward to place him on the bed. Heaving with exhaustion, Ryan struggled, as a drunken person always felt heavier, especially with Austin being a little taller and stockier than him.

"I'll get some water. Look at this kid, he's worn out; let him rest," Taylor's mother said upon noticing beads of sweat on Ryan's forehead.

"Mom... it's late. Let him go home," Taylor insisted, grabbing Ryan and trying to lead him outside, fearing he'd linger in her house for even a second longer.

But she bumped into her father. He wore glasses and had a serious expression.

"He needs to stay. I have something to ask him," Taylor's father Scott stated firmly.

*****

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