Shadows Lurking | Taylor Swift Fanfic

81: p r e t t y w o r l d

Can we just stay in this world; I feel like I'm home
Can't take away this feeling now I'm never alone

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Thursday, March 6th. Gracie had just wrapped up her show, and the two Swifts sat together in their hotel room, waiting for her to return. Soon, they would be back on the road, heading to Manchester for Gracie's next performance.

The hum of the hotel air conditioning filled the room as Taylor checked her phone again. Amerie was stretched out on the bed, earbuds in, scrolling through her playlist.

"Are you nervous?" Taylor asked, breaking the silence.

Amerie pulled out one earbud and glanced over at her mom. "You mean about tomorrow?"

Taylor nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "It's a big deal. Performing on a stage in front of a bunch of fans of Gracie. You ready for it?"

Amerie hesitated. "I think so. But what if I mess up?"

Taylor smiled, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind Amerie's ear. "You won't. And even if something goes wrong, the crowd will love you anyway. That's the magic of being on stage—you're there to have fun, not to be perfect."

Amerie sat up, looking Taylor in the eyes. "But they're Gracie's fans.. What if they don't care about me?"

Taylor's expression softened. "Amerie, you're my fan too, right? Gracie's fan? This isn't about them comparing us—it's about us sharing something special together. Besides," she added with a wink, "you've been practicing your part for weeks. You're going to crush it."

The room fell silent for a moment before Amerie smiled. "Thank you."

Taylor smiled. "Always."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Taylor got up and opened it to Gracie, who was still glowing from her performance.

"You two ready for Manchester?" Gracie asked, stepping inside.

Taylor nodded. "We are. But I think they're not ready for us."

Gracie grinned. "Good. Let's keep it that way until tomorrow."

The three of them gathered their things and headed down to the car waiting outside the hotel. The city lights sparkled against the night sky as Taylor, Amerie, and Gracie piled into the backseat.

Gracie leaned back with a sigh. "I can't believe you two are doing this. My fans are going to lose their minds."

Taylor smiled knowingly. "That's the plan. But it's your night, Gracie—we're just here to add a little extra magic."

Amerie glanced out the window, fiddling with her hands. "It's a lot of pressure, though. What if they don't cheer for me like they do for you two?"

Gracie turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Amerie, the moment you step out on that stage, they're going to feel your energy. You're not just my guest or Taylor Swift's daughter—you're you. And that's more than enough."

Amerie nodded, still quiet, but Taylor could see her mind racing. She reached over and squeezed her daughter's hand.

The car hummed along the highway, and soon, the lights of Manchester came into view.

"Almost there," the driver announced.

Gracie glanced at her phone, skimming through last-minute notes. "Okay," she said, looking at Gracie and Amerie. "Here's the plan. My opener will start the show like usual, then I will come out and perform songs then when it is time for us, I'll say something like 'wouldn't it be nice if Taylor was here' then that's your cue to enter the stage. Amerie will come on during the surprise song, in which she will be joining me for in between—it'll be completely unannounced. And, Amerie..."