isn't it? [taylor swift]

chapter 29

"Who the fuck is that guy?"

Leia ignored Georgie as she continued to scroll on the computer, her face so close to the screen that she knew she would likely end up with a tension headache later that evening. She was faintly aware of Tate shifting from his usual position at her feet, moving to greet her sister instead as Leia's eyes burned against the screen.

Georgie rolled her eyes, walking closer and looking over Leia's shoulder with a small frown on her face as she stared in confusion at the screen.

"Joe Alwyn? Who the hell is that?"

Leia finally tore her gaze away from the screen, her blue eyes meeting Georgie's inquisitive stare. She sighed, leaning back in her chair as she rubbed her temples, feeling the beginnings of that tension headache she'd anticipated.

"Joe Alwyn," Leia began, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension, "is a British actor. You know, one of those up-and-coming types with a posh accent and boyish charm."

She gestured vaguely towards the screen, where images of a blonde, clean-cut young man filled the browser window. Some photos he was sporting a buzzcut, but in more recent ones it was clear his blond locks had grown out a bit since then. 

"He was at the Met Gala last year, same time as me. Don't remember seeing him there though."

Georgie's eyebrows furrowed as she leaned in closer, squinting at the photos. 

"Okay, so he's a moderately attractive British actor who's been to a fancy party. That still doesn't explain why you're googling him like he holds the secrets to the universe."

Leia bit her lip, her fingers drumming nervously on the desk. The room suddenly felt smaller, the weight of the information she was about to share pressing down on her. She took a deep breath, knowing that they had all agreed that Georgie was one of the people that would need to know about the PR relationships.

"Well, that's where things get... complicated." She paused, seeming to search for the right words. "You know Tree, right? Taylor's publicist?"

Georgie nodded, her curiosity piqued.

"Well," Leia continued, her voice dropping to a near-whisper despite the fact that they were alone in the apartment, "Tree has decided that Joe is going to be Taylor's new... PR boyfriend."

"PR boyfriend? You mean like, fake dating?"

"Yeah, it's... it's a thing in the industry," Leia said, as if it was no big deal but Georgie could see right through her. "Tree thinks it'll be good for Taylor's image, you know? A nice, stable relationship with a respectable British actor... Take them off the scent of little Leia Hudson and megastar Taylor Swift."

 Georgie's eyes widened as the implications of Leia's words sank in. She stared at her sister, taking in the subtle signs of distress that most people would miss - the slight tremor in Leia's hands, the way her teeth worried at her bottom lip, the tension in her shoulders. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air growing thick with unspoken emotions.

"Leia," Georgie began, her voice soft and filled with concern, "are you really okay with this?"

Leia's gaze dropped to her hands, now clasped tightly in her lap. The silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the gentle whir of the computer fan and Tate's occasional snuffle from his new spot by Georgie's feet. When Leia finally looked up, her blue eyes were shimmering with unshed tears.

"I have to be," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. "It's either this or lose Taylor."

Leia's shoulders sagged, and she ran a hand through her dark auburn waves, a gesture Georgie recognised as a sign of her sister's inner turmoil.