Avalanche [Kaylor]

1.

Manhattan's streetlights glimmered through the rain-streaked car window. Taylor gazed absently through the darkened glass, controlling her anxious breathing as the vehicle gently pulled into a dimly lit back alley. She was hosting Reputation's corporate launch party at a private floor in a small Greenwich hotel, hopefully discreet enough to be away from paparazzi lenses.

After security successfully escorted her through a small back entrance, Taylor slipped into a bathroom to check her appearance. Dressed in a black velvet oversized sweater and dark jeans to match her album aesthetic, she took a fresh Mac lipstick from her clutch bag and painted the dark plum shade (aptly named 'la femme') gently across her lips. She could already hear muffled chatter from her arriving guests – some close friends, but mainly producers, label shareholders and critics. The people who had made her career, she thought...but had also brought so much stress through endless scrutiny. Staring at her reflection she took a deep, measured breath before heading to the main bar. 'You can do this...' she murmured to her own mirror image, brushing a stray golden hair from her forehead nervously.

Exiting the bathroom, her awaiting security ushered her into an elevator. As the metal box clanked its way gradually to the penthouse floor, she couldn't help but check her phone screen one last time.

'Good luck gorgeous, you've 100 percent got this <3 <3' Karlie had text her 14 minutes ago. Feeling a flood of warmth to her cheeks, she wished she could feel the comfort of her girlfriend's arm wrapped around her shoulders. But she knew after the balcony kiss, the rumoured fallout, the celebrity gossip columns, it would be too risky to even be in the same building on an album release night.

'Thanks babe. Heading straight to the bar I think...gonna need a few drinks to get through this xxx'

As Taylor pressed send on the message, the elevator shuddered to a halt. The thick metal doors opened to a penthouse equipped with a glittering lounge and bar. Applause from a sea of familiar company and entourage faces hit her like a wave.

Having performed the routine a million times, Taylor graced her best appreciative smile and entered into the party.

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It had been two hours of nonstop speech-making, liaising and handshaking before Taylor finally found herself able to grasp a moment alone. Manhattan cocktail in hand, she made her way to the balcony, shutting her eyes as the cool night air met her face. Glancing behind, she was relieved to see no one had followed. She sneaked her phone out of her pocket, taking a quick snap of the drink in front of the sparkling new York skyline.


'Things are finally winding down here – only need you to complete the view xx' she sent the picture over, blushing sheepishly at her own cheesiness.

'Aw well you definitely deserve it! How's it all been?'

'Tiring keeping the fake lyric explanations up but reception has been surprisingly positive! Seems like critics are more on board than I thought.'