isn't it? [taylor swift]

chapter 19

Leia's heart thundered like a drum-line in her chest, reverberating against her ribs with the kind of intensity that made her fingertips tingle. Backstage, cloaked in the dim glow of vanity lights, she fussed with the hem of her sequinned top, a garment chosen by her stylist and Riven for its brilliance under the studio lights but now feeling like a suit of armour she wasn't sure she deserved to wear.

Her digital confession that had ricocheted across social media – the confirmation of her sexuality that had been speculated for weeks – was no longer just words behind a screen; it was about to be spoken, felt, and scrutinised in real time by the talk show host and his audience, before being broadcast to the entire world.

She could almost hear Riven's voice in her head, reminding her that truth was like sunlight, sometimes harsh but always necessary. She guessed he knew that from first hand experience. Drawing a deep breath that did little to steady her nerves, Leia poised herself at the edge of the curtain, the murmurs from the audience seeping through the fabric and wrapping around her like a call to step into the studio stage.

"Please welcome, the sensational Leia Hudson!" Jimmy Kimmel's voice sailed through the speakers, punctuated by the swell of applause that seemed to rise up like a wave ready to carry her forward.

At least no one was booing her off stage - yet.

Her pulse rocketed as she stepped out into the blinding glare of the stage lights, each step feeling a little easier than the last. The studio audience erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm spurring her forward with a grin across her face. She waved though the tremor in her hands, hoping that the crowd wouldn't notice the shiver that indicated her inner turmoil.

Jimmy Kimmel stood with open arms, his grin as wide as the desk between them. They shook hands, his grip both reassuring and grounding, a silent acknowledgment from one professional to another. Leia sank into the leather chair beside his desk, the cushion accepting her weight as if it were a throne. Her grin persisted, a mask carved from the expectation of poise she was still learning to uphold.

When Riven had suggested she do a talk show before making any further comments on her sudden announcements, she hadn't been entirely sure she wanted to do so. It had been Adrian that had persuaded her to go and speak to the man in New York, since he was doing a round of shows in the city instead of his normal LA residence. She'd leapt at the concept - especially since Taylor had told her that she was renting a place in New York now.

"Leia, how are you tonight?" Jimmy's question, simple and direct, carried the warmth of genuine interest.

She knew the man had been prepared by her team on what was a no go - despite her confronting the rumours of her sexuality, there was to be no mention of Dylan at all. In fact, Jimmy had already made a comment when she had met him backstage that he had been glad to see that was on the list, as his impression of the man wasn't particularly high anyway. Leia had made a mental note to ask about that another time.

"I'm doing well," she replied, her voice a melody of practiced ease that belied the storm beneath her calm exterior. In the brief pause that followed, Leia anchored herself in the present, steeling her resolve to speak her truth, to own her narrative.

"Leia," he began, the timbre of his voice resonating through the studio, "does it ever feel surreal to you? In just six months, you've gone from an unknown talent to someone whose name is on everybody's lips."

"It's been a whirlwind," Leia admitted with a gentle laugh, her fingers tracing the edge of the armrest and grounding her before she got too nervous. "I'm incredibly grateful for all of it... the love, the opportunities. But yeah, it's absolutely crazy."

Jimmy nodded, his expression softening with understanding.

"And with the spotlight comes the good and the bad, right?" he prompted, his tone gentle yet probing. "Big choices, moments of triumph, and maybe a few stumbles?"