The Taylors

In this prequel to Eulberg's The Taylors: Love Stories, we find out how the group got together as they started middle school in fifth grade. Teffy is new to Harrison Middle School, and meets Taylor, Tay Tay, and TS in her homeroom. All four girls were named after the singer, and adopt nicknames to limit confusion. Taylor is the youngest of five, and so tired of hand-me-downs that she asks to be allowed to keep her full name! The group bonds over wanting to go to the Eras concert, although tickets are expensive. Mean girl Hannah boasts that her parents are taking her, and says that she is allowed to invite one friend, which gives her a lot of social power. The Taylors (as they call themselves) know they can't count on Hannah's invitation, and vow to stick together and work to raise funds so that they can all go. They also try out for cheerleading, and help each other with the routines, eventually making the 5th and 6th grade squad of 24 girls. This makes their schedules a little tight; they all have various other things going on in their lives, and commit to make 200 beaded friendship bracelets so they can earn $400, which leads to more requests for the hand made jewelry. It's not enough, however, and even after trying to gain some attention on social media in hopes of winning tickets, they content themselves with "Tay-gating" at the venue with one of the mothers. There, they are interviewed by local news media about the fact that they are all named after the singer, and also the fact that they took all the money they earned for tickets and donated it to the local library that had recently suffered a fire. The singer hears this interview and not only invites them to hear the concert in the VIP section, but hugs the girls and gives Teffy a hat that they are all supposed to share. They, in turn, give the singer a bracelet, which she puts on right there! (Insert appropriate squeals.)