what it feels like - Austin Butler

fifty-five - celebration

We're walking into the Waverly Inn, a quaint yet nice restaurant not too far from the apartment, and we're immediately escorted into the back. It's like someone has been waiting for us. As Austin and I trail behind my parents, hand in hand, we turn a corner.

To my surprise, both Olivias, Diana, Taylor, Florence, and Sadie are waiting for me at a table. "Surprise!!!"

I drop Austin's hand, rushing forward to hug everyone, meeting my best friend, Olivia Oh, first and pulling her into my arms. I move down the line of my friends, greeting them all and thanking them for coming until we eventually sit down to eat.

Food has already been ordered as my friends, my boyfriend, and my parents sit around the table. Eventually, the topic of new music is brought up.

"Actually, I've got an album. Finished," Taylor's jaw drops.

"And I'm just hearing about this now, Isla?"

"Sorry, Tay. I think I might talk to the label and just drop something today. That could be fun."

Florence furrows her brow, "Can you really just do that? Just 'drop something' whenever you want?" I nod and she continues, "Damn, I might have to get into the music industry. I'm currently waiting for this shitshow of Don't Worry Darling to be over."

All of our attention turns to her as I ask, "Oh yeah... how's that going?"

"I just can't wait for the press to get done. There's so much between Harry and Olivia that I'm not even sure people remember I'm in the film."

After some more small talk about that relationship, Taylor tells me, "I was talking with Harry yesterday regarding a collaboration and he was asking about you." My brow raises as Austin instinctively grabs my hand. "He wants you on a song. Something about Matilda." Austin's death grip on my hand softens as I begin to smile.

"Harry Styles? Wants me to sing with him?" I ask, in utter shock.

"I guess," Taylor shrugs.

Sadie chimes in, "Isla, that's huge!"

"Wow. Don't get my hopes up you guys. It might not even be really happening."

After a minute Diana brings my music up again. "You said something about a surprise drop? Can we hear the song?"

"Hmmmm," I pretend to think, "No. You'll have to wait like everyone else," I say smiling.

Olivia Oh asks, "So nobody's heard the song other than people at Interscope?"

I snicker to myself, sharing a quick cheeky glance with Austin, "Well maybe. But only a few people."

To wrap up the fun occasion, I've uploaded a snippet of "Feels Like" to tiktok as a teaser, and posted a video of me, Olivia, Olivia, Taylor, Diana, Sadie, Florence, and Austin gathered around my phone singing and dancing to the bridge. It goes, "And I need you sometimes, we'll be alright. Met you at the right time. This is what it feels like."

Before I know it, lunch is over and I'm sharing a bittersweet goodbye with my friends. Austin and I have another premier to get to tonight. This one should be quicker since we're just going to the carpet, then I'm heading back to the hotel and Austin is heading to an interview with Jimmy Fallon.

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short chap just wanted to remind you guys that isla has friends and also... ISLA AND HARRY COLLAB????