A Place in This World - A Taylor Swift Adoption Story

Magic Hour

June 17, 2023

Rose

~~~

Two weeks later, I was back on stage. Pittsburgh was somehow louder than New Jersey, and they were excited to see me and Taylor together again. I went straight to bed after the show, next to Harley, who joined us on tour since her school was over. So when we woke up early today, Harley and I went sightseeing. We drove for some time, then let Colin and Mike lead the way and stayed a couple of feet behind us, close enough for them to intervene if they had to. Harley said she was tired of just walking around, so she hopped on a bench. "Babe, be careful," I said as she tried balancing on the top part.

"I'll be fine," she said, dismounting like a gymnast. I chuckled as she casually made her way back to me and grabbed my hand. "What's next? I kinda wanna go to a park," she commented, and my phone buzzed. Texts from Colin. Three different locations of local parks that we could go to that were considered safe. I showed Harley, and she gave a thumbs up. I glared at her. "Oh, I like the second option." Colin and Mike went in front of us, leading the way. Five minutes later, Harley and I had walked all the way into a park full of blooming flowers. "Peonies!" she said, running to go pick some up. I chuckled as I caught up to her slowly, feet sore from dancing last night and now walking. "Here," she said, as she handed me a makeshift bouquet of flowers.

"Girl," I said, rolling my eyes as she also put one in my hair. My phone buzzed. Text from a group chat between Taylor, Colin, Tree and me. "I have to be back in the stadium in thirty," I repeated to Harley as I read the texts. Harley peeked over my shoulder to see my phone, and I showed it to her, and she nodded. After a couple more minutes of walking through the park, I nodded to Colin nonchalantly and he led us back to the car, since he had the location on a smart watch.

In the stadium, I was getting my makeup on when Taylor knocked on my door and walked in. "Hey kid! You're looking great." I smiled as I finished my blush. "What song do you wanna sing with Aaron?" she said nonchalantly, and I jerked my head around to look at her. Sure enough, Aaron Dessner peaked his head in. He waved, and I just gaped.

"Hi, I'm Aaron, but I think you know that," he said chuckling, and I shut my mouth as Taylor wrapped me in a hug, laughing.

"I'm Rose," I said after a while, extending my hand and he shook it.

"Well?" Taylor said, nudging me. "Pick a song!" I took a deep breath and tried to recall some songs I would've wanted to sing.

"Okay, um... I don't know," I said as Taylor gestured for Aaron to sit on this chair in my dressing room and Taylor sat next to him. I turned back around to look at the mirror, grabbing my eyeshadow palette to put on my eyes as I continued thinking. "What's off-limits?"

"Nothing he didn't produce," Taylor said, then added, "and nothing Lover or Midnights." I thought for a second, then realized there was one pretty tune she hadn't played on the tour yet.

"Could we do seven?" I asked, and Taylor looked to Aaron. They seemingly exchanged thoughts for a few seconds, then looked back at me, nodding. I grinned. "Okay! I'll do my makeup to hint it. Gray..." I said as I skimmed the palette for the closest thing to folklore gray, and Taylor got up, leading Aaron out of my room and waving at me. She closed the door and I was back to my thoughts and makeup.

Soon it was time for folklore, and I had practiced enough to go onstage for my tears ricochet. As I put on my cape and grabbed the edges, I stood next to Taylor, stifling a laugh. We did our whole performance and I channeled all my rage from my childhood in the dramatization. Then I got ready to go down and change. This was my first time quick changing, as the day before I hadn't gone up for folklore.

I took the dress and the cape off and threw them into a corner as I slipped on my fishnet tights that went under my skirt for 1989. I slipped the skirt on, adjusting it so the zipper was to the side, and Harley zipped up my shirt from the back. She winked as I turned around to look myself in the mirror as I still had some time left. I rolled my eyes. "We have done enough zipping and unzipping clothes, Harley," I said, laughing. I topped off the red lip combo I did on myself, then gave Harley a quick kiss. Quickly, Taylor came to get me and we ran to our spots, preparing to rise. I turned my mic on, taking the lead for tonight's show as Taylor took my role as a dancer for once.

"Midnight! You come and pick me up, no headlights," I said, strutting down stage with dancers and looking out into the crowd. At one point Kam and I were together and he guided me to my next spot, which was with Raphael. I chuckled into the mic as I leaned onto him and looked out into the crowd.

"You've got that James Dean, daydream look in your eye!" Taylor started, joining me as we did the moves for the chorus.

"And I got that red lip classic thing that you like," I continued, gesturing to my lip combo with my free hand. Taylor finished the chorus and I went to my mark on the stage (which was blue!) and started the bridge. 

"Take me home!" I said, using the placement Taylor taught me, avoiding a crack. She repeated it, and we rejoined as we sang the last chorus and prepared for Blank Space.

As we rose (ALWAYS PUN INTENDED(guys,Im so funny)), Taylor and I alternated lines. And then the bikes came. When we separated again, we went on different lifts as we prepared for the bridge. We got our golf clubs and I started twirling it around like Taylor.

"Boys only want love if it's torture, don't say I didn't say I didn't warn ya," Taylor started, and I followed.

"Girls only want love if it's torture," I said, grin on my face. I could see Taylor looking at me from the corner of my eye, but I finished the lyric and belted the note as Taylor sang the chorus. When we reunited to start Shake It Off, Taylor nudged me pretty hard, unnoticeable to the crowd since it was dark, but noticed by me as it hurt. I could slightly make out a glare on her face, but she immediately snapped into performance mode as the cue started, as did I. I feared for after the show, but for now, I just focused on the choreo as she gestured to my mic subtly, then my holder. I sighed. No more singing for me, but it was okay because I loved dancing to this song, and the choreo made it hard to sing and breathe properly.

Finally, it was time for surprise songs, and I was getting my dress on(thank you Kam and Jan!!) when Taylor pulled out my in-ear and whispered, "Tree's gonna kill you." I looked over panicked as she popped my in-ear in and the lights came back on, so I plastered a grin on my face. Either way, I was excited about singing with Aaron. We made our way to the front, showing off the dresses with a spin. Taylor grabbed the surprise song mic and didn't even truly speech. "Oh look! It's Aaron Dessner!" I turned to see Aaron rising and we all made our way to the piano. I, since Taylor and Aaron were on the bench, sat on the edge of the stage, my common spot. I got a couple bracelets from fans as Taylor started her speech. I held my mic close as I waited for my cue from Taylor. I put some bracelets on before putting my mic up to my mouth.

"This song is something I requested myself. Taylor randomly popped her head in my dressing room and just went 'Oh, what song do you want to sing with Aaron?' and I just decided this would be a great one for you guys." I nodded as Aaron started playing. I grinned as I waited for our cues.

"Please, picture me in the trees.
I hit my peak at seven feet
In the swing..."

The lyrics alternated and soon came my part. "I've been meaning to tell you, I think that your house is haunted, your dad is always mad so that might be why," I said, voice slightly hitching as I recalled my family. Taylor quickly picked up so the hiccup wasn't as noticeable. The song continued easily, and I harmonized with Taylor as Aaron finished playing.

~~~

The guitar songs went over well, and Tree did in fact pull me aside to talk about the lyric change. She sat me down and explained that while the lyric change was really cool, but I had to at least warn her. She already knew about me and Harley anyways, so she just reminded me that I was in the spotlight a lot more than other kids, and I needed to be careful.

I got ready for Midnights, and Harley zipped up my bodysuit, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind and looking at us in my mirror. I pushed her back and chuckled as I kissed her before going to my spot. Tree looked at me with a "don't try me" look, so I reassured her with a small smile and thumbs up as I heard my cue. I walked out of the door, singing my heart out to Bejeweled.