yours sincerely, daisy. - taylor swift

25

The next night, Daisy stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down the fabric of her maroon dress. It was elegant yet understated, hugging her frame in all the right places. She had chosen it carefully—something that made her feel confident, bold. Tonight was a night to be seen, to step out of the shadows and into the light.

The party had already been buzzing for hours by the time she arrived. The energy was electric, with music pulsing through the air and laughter spilling from the bar to the rooftop terrace. Hollywood's biggest stars mingled effortlessly, the scene a whirlwind of designer outfits, champagne flutes, and flashing smiles.

Daisy spotted Lena almost immediately, standing near the entrance. As soon as their eyes met, Lena grinned and made her way over, her hand resting lightly on Daisy's arm as they exchanged greetings.

"You look incredible," Lena said, her eyes flickering over Daisy's dress with approval. "Ready for a night of chaos?"

Daisy chuckled, feeling a bit of the nervous energy lift. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They entered the party together, navigating the sea of familiar faces, each conversation flowing smoothly as Lena introduced Daisy to her circle of friends. Daisy found herself actually enjoying the night, laughing and chatting, for once not feeling like she had to hide. It was freeing—refreshing even—to just exist without worrying about being seen.

But halfway through the night, everything shifted.

Daisy was by the bar, mid-conversation with Lena and a few others, when she heard a ripple of whispers around the room. People began glancing toward the entrance, and the atmosphere seemed to change in an instant. Daisy turned her head slightly, just in time to catch sight of them.

Taylor and Joe.

Taylor looked effortlessly stunning, as always, in a sleek, black dress that clung to her tall, statuesque frame. Joe was beside her, dressed in a sharp suit, his hand lightly resting on her back as they moved through the crowd. Daisy's heart dropped into her stomach as she watched them enter the party, their presence commanding attention in the way that only they could.

It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.

Taylor hadn't seen her yet, but Daisy couldn't tear her eyes away. She had known this might happen. Hollywood was a small world, and there was always a chance they'd be at the same event. But seeing Taylor walk in with Joe—so public, so untouchable—sent a jolt of emotion through Daisy that she hadn't been prepared for.

Lena noticed the shift in Daisy's demeanor, her voice lowering as she asked, "You okay?"

Daisy swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe. "Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, her eyes flickering back to Lena with a strained smile. "Just... surprised."

Before Lena could respond, Taylor's gaze finally swept across the room—and landed on Daisy.

For a split second, the world seemed to stop. Taylor froze, her eyes widening just enough to show the flicker of recognition and something else—something deeper, sharper. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, all the noise, all the people around them, seemed to fade into the background.

Taylor's face remained unreadable, but Daisy knew her too well to miss the tension in her posture. It was subtle—the way her hand moved slightly away from Joe's back, the way her gaze lingered on Daisy's for just a second too long.

And then, Taylor looked away.

Joe was speaking to someone, oblivious to the silent exchange between the two women. But Daisy's heart was pounding, her mind racing with everything unsaid, with the weight of the last few weeks crashing down around her.