unfinished echoes - taylor swift

04

The night of the Love Bites premiere arrived with all the glitz and glamor Daisy had anticipated-but the added layer of her PR "relationship" with Ivy made the event feel different, more charged. As they stepped out of the car together, Ivy looped her arm through Daisy's, and they exchanged a quick smile, both fully aware of the charade they were about to play.

The flashes from the cameras started immediately, capturing them in every angle as they posed on the red carpet. Ivy leaned in close, her hand resting on Daisy's waist as they smiled for the photographers, whispers of the crowd swelling around them. Daisy had done plenty of premieres, but there was something different about being so close to someone, putting on a show that went beyond the usual red-carpet glamour.

They shared glances, inside jokes only they understood, playing up the chemistry between them for the cameras. Ivy leaned in at one point, murmuring a playful comment into Daisy's ear, making Daisy laugh, her head tilting toward Ivy's shoulder just as another flash went off. From the outside, the scene looked every bit the part of two co-stars turned couple-effortlessly affectionate, comfortable with each other in a way that felt almost intimate.

The cast and crew soon joined them, taking photos, hugging, and sharing congratulatory words as they moved down the line. The excitement in the air was contagious, with fans and media buzzing about the movie and Daisy's bold new role. Daisy felt herself relaxing a little, sinking into the rhythm of the night, focusing on the success of the film and the energy around her.

Inside the theater, after making the rounds with the press, Daisy and Ivy took their seats for the screening. Ivy's hand lingered on Daisy's as the lights dimmed, and Daisy forced herself to focus on the screen as the film began. The scenes she'd spent months working on played out larger than life, and there was something surreal about watching herself, about seeing the intimacy she'd shared with Ivy captured so vividly for the world to see.

Taylor sat backstage, her phone screen glowing in the dimly lit dressing room as she scrolled through photos from the Love Bites premiere. Each image hit her harder than the last-Daisy with her arm looped through Ivy's, their shared glances and effortless laughter, the way Ivy's hand lingered on Daisy's waist. The chemistry they radiated was undeniable, and Taylor couldn't ignore the way her stomach twisted with each new photo, each flash of their too-perfect smiles.

She locked her phone, pushing the images from her mind as she tried to refocus on the show. But the tightness in her chest remained, a pang of something she didn't want to name but couldn't shake. She tried to brush it off as pre-show nerves, a buildup of energy that she could channel into her performance, but it was more than that.

Just as she was beginning to steady her focus, Joe stepped into the room, his expression strained. He'd been distant lately, both of them caught up in their own worlds and struggles, and tonight was no exception.

"Taylor, we need to talk," he started, his voice low but pointed.

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Can it wait? I have a show in less than an hour, Joe."

"Actually, no, it can't." He crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "You barely talk to me lately. I get that you're busy with the tour, but I feel like you're not even trying. It's like I'm the only one putting in any effort."

Taylor's frustration flared. "You think I'm not trying? I'm the one balancing a world tour here. Do you know how exhausting it is?"

"I know exactly how exhausting it is," Joe shot back. "But even when you have a moment to yourself, it's like you're a million miles away. Like there's something else-someone else-on your mind."

Taylor froze, caught off guard by his words. She felt a surge of defensiveness rise up, instinctively protective of the memories she'd tried to bury. "You're imagining things, Joe."