All Is Fair In Love And Poetry · Taylor Swift

Movement 1 - A Wild Surmise

"Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / He stared at the Pacific—and all his men / Looked at each other with a wild surmise—Silent, upon a peak in Darien."

On First Looking into Chapman's Homer, John Keats

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Amelia smoothed down her shirt, a flowy black number with thin straps crossing over her back, that paired with light washed jeans, as she stepped out of the taxi and onto the sidewalk. The upscale bar loomed in front of her, its sleek exterior bathing the night in a soft neon glow. The music from inside spilled out into the evening, a subtle hum of conversation and laughter accompanying it. She drew a breath, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and trepidation. This wasn't her usual scene, but tonight was about breaking routines and celebrating.

The moment she walked out of the cab, she spotted her roommate.

Jenna was leaning up against the wall, checking her phone. Unlike Amelia, who usually preferred flowing fabrics and earthy tones, Jenna was all about making a statement. She wore a dazzling silver dress that sparkled under the streetlights and a pair of towering stilettos. Her long, blonde hair was swept into an elegant chignon, and her makeup was flawless, as always. When she looked up and spotted Amelia, her face lit up with a bright smile.

"Hey there, hot stuff."

"Hey," Amelia replied, rolling her eyes at the nickname. Despite Jenna's penchant for over-the-top outings to match everything she did, they'd been friends since freshman year, and she couldn't stay annoyed at her for long. "You look like you're about to walk the Oscars' red carpet."

Jenna laughed, twirling around to give Amelia a better view of her dress.

"That's the idea," she said, striking a pose. "Tonight, we're playing in the big leagues. End goal is finally getting a sugar daddy. Or at least a nice, rich art connoisseur to give you an actual job and buy me a couple drinks."

Amelia huffed a laugh. "Right. Because all we need in life are some rich men to come sweep us off our feet." Sarcasm laced her tone, but there was amusement in her eyes. "What happened to the whole empowered, we-don't-need-men speech you gave last week?"

"Oh, I stand by that," Jenna said, linking her arm through Amelia's and pulling her towards the entrance. "But it doesn't mean I can't profit off some of them. You should too, you know. Put that pretty face of yours to good use."

Amelia laughed as they approached the bouncer, who gave them a cursory glance before letting them in.

The inside of the bar was even more impressive than the exterior. Soft, ambient lighting cast a warm glow across the polished mahogany floors and leather booths. A long, glossy oak bar ran along one wall, stocked with every known liquor and mixer. Low, plush couches were artfully arranged in small groups throughout the space, encouraging intimate conversations. A small stage was nestled in a corner, promising live music later in the night.

Amelia's gaze darted around the room, taking everything in. It was a world away from their usual dive bar, where the floors were perpetually sticky and the music was always too loud. But she couldn't deny there was something undeniably alluring about the upscale elegance of the place.

Jenna, as always, seemed right at home. She led the way to the bar, confidently claiming an empty spot. The bartender, a tall, muscular, tanned man with a charming smile, immediately greeted her.

"What can I get you ladies tonight?"

Jenna didn't hesitate, "We'll start with two vodka sodas and two shots of tequila, top shelf. We're celebrating our last semester of college tonight." The bartender nodded with a smile, getting to work on their order. Jenna turned to Amelia with a sly grin. "This is going to be a good night. I can feel it."