Call It What You Want - a Taylor Swift Story

Part 6

Lila's POV:

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the girl in the pink, worn leotard covered in sparkles. Last night, everything had changed. My mother's angry voice echoed in my mind, and the sharp pain in my ribs reminded me of what I couldn't escape.

"Lila! Are you ready?" Taylor's voice called from across the studio, bright and cheerful, cutting through my thoughts. I took a deep breath, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than anything real.

"Yes!" I called back, glancing at my reflection one last time. I wanted to be the girl everyone loved, not the one everyone felt sorry for.

The air buzzed with excitement. The scent of polished wood and the sound of laughter filled the room, but it felt so distant, like I was peering through a glass wall. I wanted to belong, but I felt like a ghost, lost among the bright, happy girls my age.

"Come on, Lila! Let's warm up!" Taylor said, her voice drawing me back. I joined the circle, and their laughter felt like knives in my chest. How could they be so carefree? Each movement reminded me of the bruises hidden beneath my costume, of the pain I was desperate to forget.

The spotlight fell on me, and for a moment, everything faded away. I took a deep breath, letting the music wrap around me like a warm hug and danced my part of the music video, being careful not to mess up. I danced through the pain, pouring every ounce of my struggle into each movement.

Taylor rushed over, her face beaming with pride. "That was beautiful! You danced like a star!"

I felt a flicker of joy, but as the applause faded, so did my smile. I could see concern in Taylor's eyes, and guilt washed over me.  She could never know, I didnt need help. I could fix this.

As the rehearsal continued, I fought to keep my smile in place, each step a reminder of the battle raging within me. I watched Taylor, full of light, and wished I could let her in. But the fear of burdening her felt like a weight I couldn't carry. What if she didn't understand?

Taylor had quickly become a comforting presense in my life unlike any of the other grown ups around me at the moment. She was warm, kind and loving.

After rehearsal had finished for the day I quietly sat in the corner putting my shoes on waiting for my mom. Taylor was chatting with the other kids and their parents, carefree. She turned to me once the others were gone and I was the only child left, like ususal. My mom was never on time to pick me up, soemtimes I just made a excuse she was down the road and walked the blocks home so noone noticed my absent mother.

"Come here!" Taylor exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug. It felt good, comforting, until a sudden sharp pain shot through my ribs. I gasped, instinctively pulling away.

"Oh no! Lila, are you okay?" Taylor's voice turned serious, her eyes wide with worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing the words out, even as my heart raced. I didn't want her to see my pain. I didn't want to ruin her excitement with my problems.

"Are you sure?." Taylor's brow furrowed, her concern palpable.

"I'm just... tired," I said, trying to sound convincing. But the truth was like a heavy stone in my chest, and the fear of letting it out made me want to crumble.

And that is how the next few weeks of rehearsals went, me desperately tring to hide my unortunute reality and Taylor getting more and more persistant in her questions, worries and interrigation. She was kind and it was comforting but she didnt need to know, it wasnt her problem.

Taylor's POV:

After the lesson, while the others chatted excitedly about how the music video was coming along, I stepped aside to make a call. I had to call the one person who might understand my concerns.