isn't it? [taylor swift]

chapter 69

The VIP tent was already a small city - people moving in and out, security radios crackling softly, champagne flutes half-drunk on scattered side tables. Above it all, music pulsed low from the stadium speakers, like a heartbeat held just under the surface. The show hadn't even started, but the buzz had already hit a fever pitch.

Leia stood near one of the canvas flaps, arms tucked close to her chest, cradling a bottle of water she hadn't opened. She was dressed in utter rebellion - not glamorous, not camera-ready, not even trying. A faded Junior Jewels T-shirt hung loose on her frame, Sharpie signatures (including Taylor, Scott and Andrea's) scrawled across the fabric in glittering marker pens, paired with soft plaid pyjama pants and an old pair of Converse she'd nearly thrown away last year.

And fans were losing their minds.

Even from inside the tent, she could hear them - high-pitched shrieks and breathless commentary drifting from behind barricades.

"She's wearing the Junior Jewels shirt-"

"Those are pyjama pants. She came in pyjama pants!"

Leia smiled, a little crookedly, and sipped her water at last.

"You're trending," Georgie said, sidling up beside her with a smirk. "#LeiaErasTour is number four in the US and climbing."

Leia rolled her eyes, unbothered. "Good. Let them think I'm soft. Then I'll emotionally destroy them by crying during marjorie."

Austin appeared with a second water and passed it to Georgie, eyeing Leia's outfit.

"So this is what we're wearing now?"

Leia looked down at herself. "She told me to wear something casual."

Georgie raised a brow. "And you listened?"

"She literally said, 'If you wear something sexy, I'll get worked up onstage and blame you.'"

Georgie snorted. "Fair."

Leia's gaze drifted back to the open flap of the tent. The sky beyond was deepening to indigo now, the sun slipping behind the stadium's curve, and the first opener's crew was moving in position. Any minute now, the crowd would erupt again and this time, it wouldn't stop.

She touched her wrist absently, her thumb grazing the edge of the anniversary bracelet Taylor had given her on her birthday at the studio in New Orleans. Leia turned just in time for Georgie to crash into her, arms wrapping around her waist, the two of them swaying slightly as they laughed. Georgie was in a silk jumpsuit the colour of disco balls and danger, her lips already stained pink from the first round of champagne.

Austin was grinning in his more subdued button-down and blazer.

"You look like you're trying to blend in and failing miserably."

Leia mock-bowed. "Thank you. That's exactly what I was going for."

"Do you feel ready?" Georgie asked, stepping back to study her. "I mean, this is it. The show. Your girl. And I've seen some of the rehearsals - it's batshit beautiful."

Leia exhaled slowly, fingers playing with the edge of her sleeve. "I think I'm more nervous than she is. Which is probably not how this is meant to go."

Austin gave her shoulder a warm squeeze.

"She's been buzzing about this all week. You know that, right?"

Leia looked down into her water. The ice had mostly melted.

"She asked me not to come to rehearsals. Said she wanted me to see it all at once. Like the fans do."