isn't it? [taylor swift]

chapter 17

Things had been... pretty normal, all things considered.

Leia paced back and forth in her lavish hotel suite, filled to the brim with anticipation and nerves. The room was a whirlwind of activity, with stylists flitting about like colorful birds, their hands adorned with brushes and hairspray. Mirrors reflected her image from every angle, reminding her that tonight she wasn't just Leia, the half-Scottish, half-American millennial, but rather Leia Hudson, the up-and-coming popstar who was performing at the AMAs.

Her stylist adjusted the sparkling sequins on her shimmering silver gown with utmost precision, ensuring every thread aligned perfectly. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her petite figure while exuding an air of elegance that only bespoke gowns could provide.

"We're going to be late," Riven announced, stumbling around the room in a panic as he tried to gather all of Leia's items in his arms. She flickered her eyes over his figure, trying to bite back the smile that rested on her lips as she noticed some of the other industry professionals in the room look at him like he'd gone insane. "Fuck, shit, fuck..."

"Is he always like this?" 

Leia shrugged as Gigi came to stand beside her, the blonde having been getting ready in the same suite with her own team as Zayn was undergoing a last minute hair-cut. He was nominated for Best New Artist of the Year, and Gigi had also been asked to present at the show. Once she'd seen that Leia was set to perform, she'd immediately made plans for them to get ready and arrive together.

Leia couldn't say she was thrilled about the thought of third wheeling on the red carpet with Zayn and Gigi, but she knew it wasn't like she had a plus one to bring. Her and Taylor were taking things extremely slow and cautious, and Leia knew that while she had been thrust out of the closet, it would be a long time before Taylor even considered telling some of their closest friends about their relationship... let alone the public.

The sound of Riven's frantic cursing blended with the constant hum of excitement that filled the room. Leia looked around, taking in the chaos that enveloped her.

As Leia glanced at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. She liked being in the public eye, and she loved her music... but she kind of just wanted to be curled up in Nashville with Taylor. She was starting to hate Los Angeles and the constant stream of paparazzi and drama. It was too hot, it was too busy and there was something about the place that was beginning to stress her out.

"Are you okay?" Gigi asked, concern etched on her face as she noticed Leia's distant gaze. "Worried about the show?"

Leia sighed, twirling a lock of her chestnut hair nervously. Yes to both, but also no at the same time. She hadn't really had much time to just unwind in a while - probably not even before the Met Gala. Only 3 months had passed since she had been invited as Karlie's plus one and so much had happened in that time. It almost felt ridiculous, that so much could have possibly happened in such little time.

"It's just... I wish things weren't so complicated. I want to be able to share my happiness with the world."

Very few people knew about Taylor and Leia, and they both intended to keep it that way until it was agreed otherwise. They'd only told three of their friends - Selena, Gigi and Cara. The trio had sworn it to secrecy, Gigi even going as far to promise them that she wouldn't even tell Zayn about the couple. Leia respected that - she didn't want Gigi to have to lie to her boyfriend but it was nice that she didn't have to be asked to so do for them.

Georgie knew, having had a literal breakdown on the phone once Leia had told her. Leia suspected her parents knew more than they were letting on, but she didn't want to have that conversation with them. It wasn't that she was ashamed of Taylor, but she knew that her father would have a lot of concerns to voice about her safety and Taylor's currently free-falling reputation.