#guilty! guilty! reaching out across the sea you put between you and me!

[urgeforgoing]

new romantics and closure surprise songs in the yellow dress let’s gooooo

[baby-girl-aaron-dessner]

evermore & ocean imagery

[drivemysoul]

closure but it’s post-canon armin and eren

[curiouser--and--curiouser]

"If you don't stop-" | James Wilson x Reader

Fictober 2023 Day 14 - "If you don't stop-"

James Wilson x gender netural!Reader

Warnings: flirting, some sexual references, no use of Y/N, James being a simp

A hospital reception isn’t a most thought-of setting for a flashy poker tournament, but the gathering of hospital staff and supporters alike dressed to the nines in suits and gowns certainly helped create a little slice of Vegas.

You were no exception; your own evening wear clung delightfully to your body as you strolled around the room. You clutched two glasses of champagne as you peered through the sea of faces: Chase was lounged against a table as he attempted to chat up his newest conquest, Foreman was hiding his laugh behind his hand at Chase’s romantic desperation, and Cameron had already walked back into the crowd with exasperation at her colleagues.

But none of them was who you were looking for.

Somewhere among the crowd of happy poker players was your boyfriend, James Wilson. Any opportunity to play poker with House (and raise money for charity, of course) Wilson would take and so you scanned over the green tables until, eventually, you found him.

James’s brow was furrowed more intensely than during one of his consults as he glared down at his cards. And his brow furrowed further has House leaned over with his trademarked childish grin with some devious attempt to put his friend off. A shout from Lisa Cuddy broke the two apart, her impressive stack of chips more than signifying her eagerness to play. They all looked so charming in their bow ties and dress respectively, James the most so: he was alluring in his fitted tuxedo, entirely at home in suave and sophisticated finery. He’d been looking forward to this night for weeks and you couldn’t wait to spend it with him.

You started walking over to the trio as Dr House looked up at you and nudged Wilson in the side. James’s eyes flitted up to you and he was immediately transfixed. His gaze followed you like a moth to the flame as you walked towards him, as smooth as the swaying jazz in the background. James’s eyes ran up and down your body unabashedly with a small boyish smile to himself. If he could linger in every single inch of your body he would, worshiping the sight like a holy man to his only vice. Slowly, he dragged his eyes back to your beaming smile as your rounded the poker table to his side. You reached down to press a gentle kiss to his cheek and as you pulled away, he followed into your warmth. James’s eyes remained closed for a moment, breathing deeply into your scent. As you greeted him, he replied with a high-pitched, almost pained sigh and a whisper.

“I really hate you.”

You were taken aback for a second. You looked down at your boyfriend with an incredulous smile.

“Oh, love you too, babe,” you replied, sarcastically. James’s brain suddenly kicked out of its daze as he reached up to stroke your hip.

“I’m so sorry, darling,” he apologised quickly. “I didn’t mean that. It’s just- you look- you’re absolutely stunning… But I still hate you.” He could be such an enigma sometimes.

“Why? What have I done?”

“You’re being very… distracting,” James’s eyes flicked to your lips for a second. Your head fell back as your let out a laugh.

“You’re usually fine with me being distracting,” you said, faux-innocently, using your height advantage to lean over James as your body pressed into his. Even an untrained eye could see his held breath at the touch of your body against his.

“Yes, I’ve seen you be very distracting through the windows of Wilson’s office,” House teased around the cigar between his lips. Your head whipped around like a flash to meet a wink from House as Wilson coughed and spluttered at his friend.

“What?! I thought the curtains were closed!”

“You did what in Wilson’s office?” Cuddy interrogated with disbelief from across the table as you and your equally-guilty boyfriend blushed a deep crimson.

“Anyway…” you rushed to change the subject from your less-than-professional sex life. But that didn’t have to be the end of your fun. “I got you a drink, James.” You bent forwards to place your second glass of champagne down on the table and unashamedly pressed your chest into James’s face as you leaned in. His eyes closed in a dizzy state of bliss.

“If you don’t stop now-“ James warned, lowly.

“Stop what, baby?” you replied coyly, brushing your fingers through your boyfriend’s coiffed hair just how he liked it.

“Please,” James let out in a whine. Just then, you spotted Cameron waving to you from across the room. Suddenly, you stood up straight, righted your dress and pressed a deep kiss to James’s lips. You ripped a low moan from his chest as you pulled away all too soon.

“Bye, babe. Good luck!” You winked as you quickly ran off in search of your friend, leaving James Wilson knowing this would be a long night.

[sixteenavenue]

i cannot BELIEVE people sleep on the lyrics: “i know i’m just a wrinkle in your new life, staying friends would iron it out so nice. guilty, guilty, reaching out across the sea that you put between you and me but it’s FAKE and oh so unnecessary”

[cosmiclove-heavenstruck]

(For anyone avoiding ME! -- There's an acoustic cover called "me." on spotify that I love and its what I imagine the surprise song to be like.)

I've tried to make them somewhat fit/parallel each other:

"I promise that you'll never find another like me" / "I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me" (the dualitiy of the best and worse)

"But he leaves you out like a penny in the rain" / "Just know I'm right here hoping that you'll come in with the rain"

"And I know that you see what you're doing to me, tell me why" / "Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart?"

"I'm no one special, just another wide-eyed girl who's desperately in love with you" / "I watch you fly around the world and I hope you don't save some other girl" (this combo would just be funny yk)

"While she waits up, you chase down the newest thing and take for granted what you have" / "In search of glorious happenings of happenstance on someone else's playground" (do you see the chaos here)

"Who you are is not where you've been, you're still an innocent" / "Guilty reaching out across the sea that you put between you and me, but it's fake and it's oh so unnecessary"

"Don't read the last page, but I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared, and you're turning away" / "You should find another guiding light but I shine so bright"

"But you dream of some epiphany, just one single glimpse of relief" / "desperate people find faith, so now I pray to Jesus too, and I say to you, soon you'll get better" (family trauma :) i don't think she'd ever sing these together tho)

"Call my bluff, call you "babe", have my back, yeah, everyday, feels like home" / "And I want you right here, a red rose grew up out of ice frozen ground"

"But I believe in whatever you do and I'll do anything to see it through" / "These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me"

[taylor-swift-bracket]

Battle of the Bridges!

marjorie

The autumn chill that wakes me up

You loved the amber skies so much

Long limbs and frozen swims

You'd always go past where our feet could touch

And I complained the whole way there

The car ride back and up the stairs

I should've asked you questions

I should've asked you how to be

Asked you to write it down for me

Should've kept every grocery store receipt

'Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me

Watched as you signed your name Marjorie

All your closets of backlogged dreams

And how you left them all to me

closure

I know I'm just a wrinkle in your new life

Staying friends would iron it out so nice

Guilty, guilty, reaching out across the sea

That you put between you and me

But it's fake and it's oh-so unnecessary

🌁Please reblog!🌁

[taylorswiftandx]

Taylor Swift and Guilt

'Taylor Swift'

(no guilt)

'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'

(no guilt)

'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)'

(no guilt)

'Red (Taylor's Version)'

(no guilt)

'1989 (Taylor's Version)'

(no guilt)

'reputation'

(no guilt)

'Lover'

(no guilt)

'folklore'

(no guilt)

'evermore'

Closure: Guilty, guilty, reaching out across the sea that you put between you and me

'Midnights'

(no guilt)

'The Tortured Poets Department'

Guilty as Sin?: Without ever touching his skin, how can I be guilty as sin?

Other Songs written by Taylor

Carolina: Oh, Carolina knows why for years they've said that I was guilty as sin and sleep in a liar's bed

Official Alternate Releases

Anti-Hero (feat. Bleachers): Pierced through the heart of 90s guilt, maybe I'm the problem, it's me

[evermorre]

you know what, I KNOW! IM JUST a….WRINKLE IN YOUR NEW LIFE!! staying! friends! would! IRON IT OUT SO NICE. GUILTY!!! GUILTY!!! REACHING OUT ACROSS THE SEA…that YOU put between you and me…but it’s FAKE! and it’s oh so……unnecessary….

YES I GOT YOUR LETTER!! YES! IM doing better!!!

[orions-choker]

+:★:+* Chapter Six: Damage, Inc. +:★:+*

Japan should have been fun. Touring the world should have been fun. Y/N had been stoked initially, to see the country that had founded some of her favorite monsters, art and shows. Instead she was fucking miserable.

She hadn't left the hotel room since they arrived yesterday, honestly no one had noticed. The boys coped with their grief by drowning in alcohol and Y/N had never felt so alone. They hadn't spoken in weeks properly to each other. On the outside they laughed and joked but there wasn't much to say to her. There wasn't much that could be said in general.

Kirk's absence in her life had hit her the hardest. When they were supposed to rely on each other he was off in strangers beds, fresh snow lining his nose. If he thought he was being sneaky about it he was stupid, or maybe he just thought Y/N was stupid.

The damage between all of them seemed irreparable and it wasn't made any better by a new unwanted presence in the band. Under no circumstances or in any universe could Y/N think of a reason Jason should have entered their lives. It wasn't his fault, as much as the boys sure acted like it was.

Y/N just couldn't bring herself to look at him. He was odd, out of place no matter how hard he tried to pick up the pieces. She felt guilty that she had put her wall up around him.

A light tapping at her door stirred her from the nest she had made on her hotel bed. Unbothered by the blankets tangled around her limbs she shuffled to the door, cracking it open as much as the chain across the lock would allow. “Oh, hey Jase, what's up?” She knew her disappointment was thinly veiled.

Nonetheless he smiled at her, a wide smile that left deep laugh lines in his cheeks. His curly hair was a little wild as he stood in front of her door eagerly. If she had been in any better spirits she would have wanted to draw him, just like this. He was gorgeous of course, you would be blind to not see it. “Hey Y/N! The guys wanted me to come grab you. We're heading out for dinner and drinks, they said uhh, you're not allowed to say no.”

Y/N tilted her head back with an exasperated groan. “Seriously?” She questioned, sighing in defeat as Jason nodded back to her. “Wait here.” She mumbled, shuffling back from the door and closing it. The blankets were dropped back into their pile and she scrounged around for a pair of jeans.

She stared hard at the mirror as she raked a comb through her hair. She really needed a haircut, it came down her lower back now, nearly her hips. She had just been too lazy to do anything about it. There were deep bags embedded into the skin under her eyes. She looked like hell and once upon a time she would have never been caught in such a state. Everything just seemed too pointless now.

Barely presenting as a functioning human, she excited her room to be greeted once again by Jason. “Alright lead the way Jase’” she sighed. Jason's soft smile at her crawled under her skin. He was too kind to her, too kind to all of them when all they had ever done was push him away.

Greeting the two of them in the lobby were the other three. Lars was the only one who greeted her as he would normally. “Man, Y/N you look like shit.” The grin on his face as he said it looked nearly demonic. James punched him in the gut.

She couldn't say anything, she did look like shit. Her eyes drifted to Kirk who noticeably ignored the situation, eyes locked on a chair in the lobby to avoid looking at her. Ouch. She followed them wordlessly onto the busy streets of Tokyo.

It was dark out, she hadn't expected it to be dark already. Her senses were overloaded by sound, neon signs and lights and the smell of fried street food. If she stood in one place she would be swallowed by the sea of people. She reached out grabbing her brother's hand as a lifeline.

James smiled warmly down at her, like they were kids again. He had only ever been two years older than her but had taken his role as her big brother seriously from the beginning. It was the first time she found herself smiling back.

“There she is, hello sunshine” He grinned at her, pulling her closer and ruffling her wild hair. She shook her head gently but the smile persisted. He slowed down, allowing her to catch up to his pace. For the first time in weeks it felt normal, a new normal.

Lars led the pack towards the restaurant they were heading to. To Y/N's surprise Kirk and Jason were…close? She wouldn't deny it hurt to see Kirk being his usual self with someone else, it was nice to hear his laugh. Jason was saying something, his words tumbled out too fast for Y/N to catch them, but she did catch the blush on his face when Kirk responded enthusiastically.

The restaurant seemed too fancy for all of them as they approached, however as they entered it was packed full of people. All loud, rowdy and drunk. She ended up sandwiched between James and Jason, sat directly in front of Kirk who still wouldn't look at her. She frowned again.

“Hey, what do I order?” Jason asked, leaning down to her with this menu in hand. “Kirk told me you eat this stuff all the time and I have no idea what this stuff is.” Y/N looked between the two boys, catching the way Kirk blushed. So he had at least talked about her.

She smiled kindly at him. “Sushi isn't for everyone,” she explained “avoid anything with raw fish for now.” She pointed to a couple of items shaking her head. Eventually after explaining everything on the menu to Jason he found something he considered palatable.

Kirk had become a vegetarian earlier that year, Y/N had honestly been so proud of him for sticking to it. She found herself slowly following suit, unsure if she agreed with the lifestyle or just wanted his approval. Despite not talking to him as of late she still avoided ordering anything with meat.

With their orders taken they all fell into a comfortable chatter. Y/N sat, curled into the seat as best she could, lips pressed tightly as she attempted to listen to two separate conversations. “Y/N what are you going to do with the week off in between us touring the states again?” James asked her, and suddenly everyone's focus was on her.

She shrank in her seat under everyone's gaze. “Well, actually I dont think I'm going to come with you guys again, I think I want to go home after Japan.” She mumbled awkwardly. Kirk sputtered around his drink.

“What do you mean? You've always come with us, what the fuck man?” It was the first sentence he had spoken to her and it was in anger. She flinched a little at his sudden outburst. She noticed the disappointment in James and Lars's eyes as she looked to them for help. Alone, again.

“I just, what's the point? I'm an extra person to book hotel rooms for, feed, and clothe? I'm not a member of the band.” She fumbled her words, hands tapping anxiously on the table. “You guys would hardly notice i'm gone.”

Kirk scoffed, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed. It was Lars who spoke. “We like having you here Y/N, you might as well be a member and we would notice, but it's up to you.” It was surprisingly sincere. Her eyes softened looking at him as he shrugged.

The thick tension was cut by the arrival of their food. Y/N was thankful to shovel the yam sushi rolls she ordered into her mouth to avoid saying anything else. From the corner of her eye she could see Jason eyeing a mound of wasabi on his plate, prodding it gently.

Kirk leaned forward with a grin. “Hey Jase, they gave you mint ice cream.” He declared. “You should eat it before I do.” Y/N's eyes widened. As Jason scooped a huge mound of it onto his spoon she panicked, slapping it out of his hand.

With wide eyes Jason turned to her. He opened his mouth to protest at her sudden outburst but Y/N interrupted him. “Dude that would have killed you!” She kicked Kirk under the table as he burst into laughter. “Not ice cream, wasabi.” She explained, taking a tiny amount on the tip of her chopstick and offering it to Jason.

Jason raised his eyebrows confused but leant forward taking the small amount into his mouth. Suddenly he was sputtering, rubbing at his nose, eyes watering. “What the fuck is that!” He asked, quickly grabbing his drink and downing it as fast as he could. Y/N couldn't help but giggle a bit at the reaction, imagining how much worse it would have been had she not intervened. From the corner of her eye she could see Kirk glaring at the two of them.

“It's really good if you like spice.” She explained, grabbing a large dollop and smearing it on her sushi roll. “It's kind of like horseradish?” She shrugged and popped the piece into her mouth. Soon the laughter from the others died down. The conversation that followed finally seemed to include her.

The rounds of drinks that were ordered seemed never ending. The pleasant buzz that tingled against Y/N's skin soon turned into the room spinning around her, her stomach churning as she realized she was far more drunk than intended. “Are you okay Y/N?” Kirk leaned over the table concerned, his hand reaching out to grasp hers.

Without thinking she recoiled back from his touch. “No m'not feeling good, wan’ go home now.” She slurred her words, leaning her head against James' shoulder. “Why do you care? You don’ care about me.” She grumbled at Kirk.

“Y/N that's not…let me walk you back to the hotel.” He sighed, pushing his chair back and walking to her side of the table. Gently he pulled her into a standing position. James looked over in concern, mouthing something at Kirk and receiving an affirming nod in response.

Shrugging his hands off of her, Y/N pouted. “No, I'd rather Jason take me.” She complained, the other man's eyes followed her curiously. “He's the only one who's bothered to talk to me lately, I don't like you guys very much right now.” as she said it she regretted it, seeing the hurt flash in her brothers eyes, Lars turning away from her with a grimace.

Jason stood up awkwardly, placing a hand on her arm. “I can take her, it's fine.” He smiled at Kirk. “I..actually I don't really know the way back to the hotel.” He admitted.

Kirk turned to the table again. “Me and Newkid will take her back, meet you guys at the bar across the street?” He was already dragging them out of the restaurant. He had never looked so angry and for some reason it satisfied Y/N, finally an emotion directed towards her that wasn't indifference.

“Why do you have to be suck a prick lately.” She provoked him further as they walked, stumbling over her own feet and only staying upright thanks to Jason's tight grip on her. She watched as Kirk's fists clenched and unclenched, willing himself to stay silent. Y/N continued her drunken rant. “Fuckin bullying Jason, fucking ignoring me, fucking this, blah blah, you used to be so sweet.”

They entered the lobby of the hotel in silence. As they reached her room Kirk finally spun around to face her, tears in his eyes. “Yeah I don't know if you've noticed, but life is kind of shit right now dude, we lost Cliff, we almost lost the band god forgive me if I'm not fucking peachy keen right now.” He snapped at her. Jason being the unfortunate witness to this took a step back, working on opening her door.

Y/N rolled her eyes, stumbling forward and catching herself against the wall. “Im supposed to be your best friend, im hurting too and you fucking abandoned me, why weren't we going through this together.” She poked at his chest aggressively before her arms were grabbed gently.

Jason steered her away into her open hotel room. “Okay, Let's get you to bed.” He mumbled. Looking over his shoulder at Kirk in concern. He seemed to sigh in defeat, following them into the room to get her into her sheets. Jason placed her down on the edge of the bed, Kirk grabbing a glass and filling it with water. “Just sit tight okay, watch some tv and get some sleep.”

Y/N groaned, slapping away their doting hands. “Yeah whatever, just fuck off, leave me alone, again.” She emphasized the last word with a glare at Kirk. She flopped back against the mattress, rolling over to face the other way so she didn't have to look at them.

The two men eyed each other wearily before stepping out of the room. The lights shut off leaving Y/N in complete darkness. The door was closed with a gentle click. She could hear the muffled sounds of their concerned voices as they walked away from her room. Thoughts of Kirk’s teary eyes and the uncertainty of her future with the band engulfed her until she finally succumbed to the heaviness on her eyelids and the tired ache of her bones.

[sunrisemill]

I know I'm just a wrinkle in your new life

Staying friends would iron it out so nice

Guilty, guilty reaching out across the sea

That you put between you and me but it's fake and it's oh so unnecessary

[woso-dreamzzz]

Yes, I got your letter

Yes, I'm doing better

It cut deep to know ya

Right to the bone

Yes, I got your letter

Yes, I'm doing better

I know that it's over

I don't need your closure.

Don't treat me like some situation that needs to be handled

I'm fine with my spite

And my tears

And my beers and my candles.

I know I'm just a

Wrinkle in your new life

Staying friends

Would iron it out so nice

Guilty, guilty reaching out across the sea

That you put between you and me.

Closure by Taylor Swift, Totally about Bambi and Alexia (Jenni version)...

'It cut deep to know ya, right to the bone'

That's definitely Jenni's Version Alexia and Bambi

[tayloralisonswift]

here’s to my real friends :( they don’t care about the he said she said :( all of my enemies started out friends :( you had to kill me but it killed you just the same :( you knew the password so i let you in the door :( what you did was just as dark - darling this was just as hard as when they pulled me apart :( don’t treat me like some situation that needs to be handled :( staying friends would iron it out so nice :( guilty, guilty, reaching out across the sea :( that you put between you and me :( but it’s fake and it’s oh so unnecessary :( when the words of a sister come back in whispers that prove she was not in fact what she seems :( not a twin from your dreams :( she’s a crook who was caught :( fuck karlie kloss :(

[svnflowermoon]

I KNOW IM JUST A WRINKLE IN YOUR NEW LIFE, STAYING FRIENDS WOULD IRON IT OUT SO NICE. GUILTY GUILTY, REACHING OUT ACROSS THE SEA THAT YOU PUT BETWEEN YOU AND ME, BUT IT'S FAKE AND ITS OH SO UNNECESSARY

[pinkorchidsinspring]

Reasons why Midnights is a breakup album:

This gives off echoes of pain, She was hurt so bad that she did this masterpiece.

What if I told you none of it was accidental?

Cornelia being so near and dear to Taylor and karlie's relationship. What happened that Taylor felt like Karlie wasn't even trying to maintain a relationship anymore?

"I didn't know if you'd care if I come back"

"This is me trying, at least I'm trying"

I definitely don't think this song was written recently. It goes along perfectly with the Evermore & Folklore sad girlie era of being broken up with.

It goes along with obviously the this is me trying type of songs on both albums. The songs that show a partner that's hard to please:

In relation to: You're Losing Me / A Break Up Song Evidence Cornelia Street / The Apartment Midnights

The 1: "And if you wanted me, you really should've showed"

Exile: "I can see you standing, honey, With his arms around your body, Laughin', but the joke's not funny at all, And it took you five whole minutes, To pack us up and leave me with it, Holdin' all this love out here in the hall"

My Tears Ricochet: "We gather here, we line up, Weepin' in a sunlit room, and, If I'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes too, Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe, All the hell you gave me?, 'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you"

Mirrorball: "I'm still trying everything to get you laughing at me, I'm still a believer but I don't know why, I've never been a natural, All I do is try, try, try, I'm still on that trapeze, I'm still trying everything, To keep you looking at me"

August: “Cause you weren't mine to lose"

Illicit affairs: “Look at this idiotic fool that you made me, You taught me a secret language, I can't speak with anyone else, And you know damn well, For you, I would ruin myself, A million little times"

Mad woman: "Every time you call me crazy, I get more crazy, What about that?, And when you say I seem angry, I get more angry"

Betty: "I think it's 'cause of me"

Peace: "No, I could never give you peace".

Hoax: "Stood on the cliffside, Screaming, 'Give me a reason’, Your faithless love's the only hoax, I believe in"

The lakes: "Is it romantic how all my elogies, euloaize me?”

Willow: "I'm begging for you to take my hand, Wreck my plans... Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind, Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in"

Champagne problems: "You're not sure which is worse, Because I dropped your hand while dancing, Left you out there standing, Crestfallen on the landing"

Tolerate it is a break up song, but it's more Red relationships than now.

Happiness: "But now I'm right down in it, all the years I've given, Is just shit we're dividin' up, Showed you all of my hiding spots, I was dancing when the music stopped, And in the disbelief, I can't face reinvention"

Coney Island: “Break my soul in two looking for you, But you're right here, If I can't relate to you anymore, Then who am I related to?"

Closure: "Guilty, Guilty, reaching out across the sea, That you put between you and me"

Right Where You Left Me: "Break-ups happen everyday, you don't have to lose it, She's still 23 inside her fantasy"

If Taylor lived in her Cornelia street home -like it was publicized- in 2016, and even though she was 27 by December 13th, for most of the duration of time she stayed in her Cornelia st apt, she was 26, and Karlie is 3 years younger than her. She would've been 23.

Inside her fantasy.

You're Losing Me -in its entirety- was either written before or after Midnights. However, this doesn't change that Taylor literally gave us a whole break up album hidden behind a quick follow up of false bravado/soft love in nearly every song.

I mean truly compare the Midnights album and some of her past albums to the lyrics of You’re Losing Me (aka a break up song)

Lover

Folklore

Evermore

Midnights

You’re Losing Me

How long could we be a sad song I think I've seen this film before and I didn't like the ending -Exile

I gave you all my best mes When no one is around, my dear You'll find me on my tallest tiptoes, Spinning in my highest heels, love, Shining just for you -Mirrorball

my endless empathy I'd give you my sunshine, give you my best, but the rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me -Peace I blew things out of proportion, now you're blue, Put you in jail for something you didn't do, I pinned your hands behind your back, oh, Thought I had reason to attack, but no -Afterglow

And all I did was bleed I look through the windows of this love, Even though we boarded them up, Chandelier's still flickering here, 'Cause I can't pretend it's ok when it's not, No, it's not, It's death by a thousand cuts, Trying to find a part of me that you didn't touch, My body, my love, my trust, But it wasn't enough -Death By A Thousand Cuts

I tried to be the bravest soldier, Fighting in only your army, frontlines My knuckles were bruised like violets, Sucker punching walls, cursed you as I sleep-talked, Spineless in my tomb of silence, Tore your banners down, took the battle underground, And maybe it was ego swinging, Maybe it was her, Flashes of the battle come back to me in a blur -The Great War (1/21)

I'm the best thing at this party When I walk in the room, I can still make the whole place shimmer -Bejeweled (2/21)

And I wouldn't marry me either Sometimes you just don't know the answer, 'Til someone's on their knees and asks you, "She would've made such a lovely bride, What a shame she's fucked in the head, " -Champagne Problems He was sunshine, I was midnight rain, He wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain, He wanted a bride, I was making my own name, Chasing that fame -Midnight Rain (3/21)

Who only wanted you to see her I made you my temple, my mural, my sky, Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life -Tolerate It

Do something, babe, say something, Lose something, babe, risk something I'm begging for you to take my hand, Wreck my plans -Willow

Reasons why the rest of midnights is a break up album:

1. Lavender Haze: All they keep askin' me, Is if I'm gonna be your bride And I wouldn't marry me either.

2. Maroon: The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones, The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon

3. Anti-Hero: I should not be left to my own devices, They come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis (tale as old as time), I wake up screaming from dreaming, One day I'll watch as you're leaving, 'Cause you got tired of my scheming, (For the last time)

4. Snow On The Beach: Life is emotionally abusive, And time can't stop me quite like you did, And my flight was awful, thanks for asking, I'm unglued, thanks to you

5. You're On Your Own, Kid: I waited ages to see you there, I search the party of better bodies, Just to learn that you never cared

6. Midnight Rain ✅

7. Question...?: Then what did you do?, Did you leave her house in the middle of the night? Oh, Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight, oh, When she said it was too much?, Do you wish you could still touch her?, It's just a question

8. Vigilante Shit: Draw the cat eye, sharp enough to kill a man, You did some bad things, but I'm the worst of them, Sometimes I wonder which one will be your last lie … I don't start it but I can tell you how it ends, Don't get sad, get even, So on the weekends, I don't dress for friends, Lately I've been dressing for revenge

9. Bejeweled ✅

10. Labyrinth: It only hurts this much right now, Was what I was thinking the whole time, Breathe in, breathe through, Breathe deep, breathe out, I'll be getting over you my whole life

11. Karma: You're talking shit for the hell of it, Addicted to betrayal, but you're relevant, You're terrified to look down, 'Cause if you dare, you'll see the glare, Of everyone you burned just to get there

12. Sweet Nothing: They said the end is coming, Everyone's up to something

13. Mastermind: No one wanted to play with me as a little kid, So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since, To make them love me and make it seem effortless, This this the first time I've felt the need to confess, And I swear, I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care The rushed explanation of what Taylor does, is very telling of why she says this in an almost bitter/jaded way: I laid the groundwork and then saw a wide smirk, On your face, you knew the entire time, You knew that I'm a mastermind, And now you're mine, Yeah, all you did was smile, 'Cause I'm a mastermind

14. The Great War ✅

15. Bigger Than The Whole Sky: No words appear before me in the aftermath, Salt streams out my eyes and into my ears, Every single thing I touch becomes sick with sadness, 'Cause it's all over now, all out to sea

16. Paris: I want to brainwash you into loving me forever Implies that she believes no one could love her forever

17. High Infidelity: You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love, The slowest way is never loving them enough

18. Glitch: I think there's been a glitch, A brief interruption, a slight malfunction, I'd go back to wanting dudes who give nothing, I thought we had no chance, And that's romance, let's dance

19. Would've, Could've, Should've: But, Lord, you made me feel important, And then you tried to erase us

20. Dear Reader: Never take advice from someone who's falling apart

21. Hits Different: Oh, my, love is a lie, Shit my friends say to get me by, It hits different