isn't it? [taylor swift]

chapter 31

"Mom! Dad! I can't believe you made it!" 

Leia gushed, squealing so high pitched that Adrian's hands shot to cover his ears, trying to suppress the grin that claimed his face as he watched the popstar launch herself across the green room and right into the arms of her parents. Tate bounded around their legs, his delighted yaps causing everyone to laugh at him.

"And miss our baby girl's final show?" Her dad joked, his arm ruffling her hair as Leia's hair stylist shouted out in complaint at the action. Ronnie Hudson stepped back with his hands in the air, allowing Linda to step forward and take over the hug of their eldest daughter.

"Never in a million years would we miss this," Linda murmured gently as she pulled back and looked at Leia from an arms length away. She blinked twice, holding back the tears as she looked at how happy she looked. 

This truly was what Leia had been born for.

Performing had always been in Leia's blood - and now the world had been able to see that too. The past three months of her tour had been insane. She never knew that she could feel so... alive every night doing the same thing over and over again.

Georgie, Adrian and Tate had been at every stop, while Riven had only missed one or two when personal circumstances had interrupted their touring schedule. His uncle had passed away after the fifth show, and Leia had told him to take as much time as he needed. He was back by show thirteen.

Zaria had been at a number of the shows, always in the perfect spot - as scouted by Riven - to make sure that Leia was able to point at her during one or two parts and so that the fans were able to notice and film the moments. It had worked just as they'd hoped, as headlines across the world had been reporting on the actress and popstar's relationship, not a single consideration that it was fake.

Some of her friends had made it along to a number of shows. Gigi and Cara were tying the record for most shows, not that Leia was counting or comparing her friends. They were just the ones with the easiest schedule to get around the country at a moments whim. Selena and Camila had also visited once or twice, and Leia knew that a group of them including Martha, Candice, Gigi and even Shawn was coming for the final tour date.

There had only been one notable absence.

Leia's smile faltered for just a moment, her eyes darting to the empty space beside her sister. She quickly pushed the thought away, focusing on the warmth of her family's presence.

"Sweetheart, how long until you go on stage?" Linda asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she stepped back from having been giving Georgie a welcoming hug too.

Leia glanced at the flashing digital clock on the wall, its red lighted numbers blinking away the few short moments before her final performance. She swallowed her nerves for a second as she realised that it was almost time for her to take to the stage. She figured her support act - which had been a different local musician from each city she performed in -  would likely be over by now.

"Oh! Less than twenty minutes now," she replied, her voice a mix of nerves and anticipation. Now that she was aware of the time flying past, it was like she could already hear the distant roar of the crowd. Something nerve-wracking but also welcoming.

Adrian stepped forward, his tall frame casting a shadow in the warm light of the room. She smiled at him, watching as he clapped her dad's shoulder and gave him a light shake, a proud smile on his face as he naturally fell into his managerial duties as Leia's microphone technician came in and started to attach her battery pack to the back of her jumpsuit.

"I'll escort your parents to their private box," he said, his deep voice carrying a note of pride. He turned to Leia, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Remember, it's the one directly above and to the right of centre stage that I pointed out this morning. You can't miss it."