May 2016

"I'm not going."

"We don't have time for this, Leia."

The blonde model rolled her eyes as the brunette girl flailed her arms around, ignoring the small chuckles of some of the others in the room as she paced back and forth in front of the hotel mirror. The smaller girl stopped, finally staring into the tall mirror with shock written across her face as she lifted strands of her hair out of the way to examine the area in question.

Leia's heart sank as she saw the small burnt strands, her singed hair looking more like a buzzcut patch than curled. She pressed her fingertips against the almost hairless post, feeling the burnt ends sticking to her fingertips. Panic bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill over.

"I can't go outside like this," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "This is not supposed to be happening."

"It's not as bad as you think, Leia," the blonde model said with a reassuring smile, although Leia rolled her eyes knowing that if roles had been reversed, there would be a bigger drama happening before their eyes. "We'll find a way to cover it up."

"What's wrong with Leia?"

Antonio, their stylist for the evening, asked. His eyes were gentle until he noticed the patch at the front of Leia's crown, his lips pulling into a thin line as he shared a look with the model. The blonde looked back at him before turning her attention back to Leia.

"Babe, you'd look good completely bald."

"Karlie, that's not even fucking helpful right now," Leia bit back, noticing how Karlie's face fell a little as she tried to comfort her friend and was immediately bit back at.

"Leia, I'm just trying to help you."

Her words struck a chord in Leia, and the younger girl I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for shutting her down so quickly. Karlie had always been supportive of her, ever since they'd first ran into each other a few years prior. Leia had been lucky enough to book her first properly public gig at a small fashion show, where Karlie happened to be walking. The show had been a disaster - half the models had wardrobe malfunctions minutes before the show started, somehow four out of six strips on Leia's guitar snapped moments before she stepped out, and to top it all off, there had been a completely chaotic power cut and the show had been cancelled ten minutes in.

It had truly been a bonding experience for the singer and the model. While they'd moved in different directions in their lives, they'd still kept in touch. Karlie had very quickly moved into the inner circle of the modelling world, while Leia had kept her head down and started working on getting signed to labels and finding her voice.

Three years later, her first official single was charting across the world and Karlie had invited her to be her plus one to the Met Gala. She was pretty rue she was about Karlie's fifth back-up option, but Leia didn't care. She just knew that this was the perfect opportunity to reach a new audience with her music.

Leia took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She couldn't let a little hair mishap ruin this moment for Karlie - or for herself. She turned back to look at herself in the mirror once more. The patch of burnt hair stared back at her, almost mocking her.

"I'm sorry, Kar. It's just...this is a big night for me, you know? I want everything to be perfect."

Karlie nodded, reaching out and squeezing Leia's hair before looking back at Antonio who was examining the patch a little closer now that Leia seemed to have relaxed ever so slightly.

"Is there anything we can do to salvage this situation?" Leia asked him, her voice steady despite the panic that still lingered within her. She'd only ever worked with the man once before - again, an event with Karlie - but she'd seen the wonders that he'd pulled off for others.

"Antonio can fix this, cant you?" Karlie reassured her, directing the end of her sentence to the man. Nodding frantically, the man glided back over towards the girl as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pocket hairspray.

To Karlie's delight - and Leia's inevitable shock - Antonio certainly was able to fix the disaster that had been her hair. Leia smiled into the mirror as she reached up to gently touch a strand of hair that he had purposely left dangling at the side of her face. She thanked the man before smoothing out the sides of her dress, just glad that she hadn't ruined the designer item at all.

Karlie being a high profile model certainly had perks for when it came to events such as this. Not only was the blonde kitted out in a gorgeous Brandon Maxwell white dress, she had also managed to get her date for the gala in another Maxwell dress. Unlike Karlie's dress, Leia's was covered in small metallic fragments, making it almost look futuristic. She supposed that it was supposed to correlate to the theme, but she wasn't entire sure it really worked. Nevertheless, who was she to question the fashion designer?

She'd even noticed that there were small black and white tartan elements on the inside lining of the dress. A coincidence, she was sure, but it made her feel a little bit more relaxed. While she had always lived in the states, her father had emigrated with his family when he was her age from Edinburgh in Scotland - something she always loved to hear about. He'd since moved back with her mother and sister, but Leia had stayed behind.

Leia was surprised at how quickly they'd managed to tailor it to her, especially considering that this was all such a last minute invite for her. Honestly, Leia was just surprised that Anna Wintour had even approved the change - it wasn't like she was well known compared to the other famous faces that were attending.

She knew that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were going to have all eyes on them throughout the event - and with good reason too. Leia had seen their outfits for the past few years and she was always blown away by how amazing they looked. She was sure they were one of the only celebrities that recognised there was a theme each year.

Some of Karlie's friends were on the guest list too - hence why Leia had been chosen as her plus one. Most of her close friends had their own invites and their own plus ones, so it wasn't really like Karlie had many other people to ask. Leia wasn't entirely sure that was a compliment when Karlie explained her reasoning, but she was too excited by the thought of attending the Met Gala that she overlooked it.

Beyonce, Kayne West, Nicki Minaj, Lorde, Gigi & Zayn... even Taylor Swift was set to attend. She had heard stories of the blonde superstar from her short time in the industry, and even more from Karlie who gushed about her mega-famous friend at any given opportunity. Leia was a bit intimidated to meet her, but Karlie had assured her that they'd get along like a house on fire.

She'd at least met Gigi a few weeks prior, so she knew that there were at least two people in attendance that would have an idea who she was. Everyone else... she just hoped security didn't try to escort her out and think she had somehow snuck in.

"You ready for your first Met Gala?" Karlie asked as she looped her arm through Leia's, reaching to the side and picking up her clutch. Leia smiled, taking a deep breath as she watched Antonio snap a few photos of them both from the side of the room.

"I've never been less ready for anything in my entire life."

_____

Considering she'd never even been to an award ceremony, let alone the Met Gala, Leia thought that she was handling the initial overwhelming feeling of being a fish in a very small glass tank rather well.

Karlie, well, she would retell the story later and ruin that perception of coolness for the singer. Every person she saw, she would drop her voice to a whisper and point them out to the model with a look of disbelief on her face. The blonde simply would laugh, redirecting her to the next photo spot and posing for her own photos.

Leia was genuinely surprised when a number of the media photographers started shouting her name. She looked around for a second, trying to spot where the sign that someone was definitely holding with her name was, but she came up short. Maybe they did know who she was after all? She wasn't a model by any means, but Leia had thankfully always known her good sides and angles when it came to photos.

The flashes were a little bit overwhelming at first, especially as more celebrities walked by and offered her smiles or ignored her existence.

Leia's heart pounded with excitement and nerves as she continued to pose for the cameras. The lights were blinding, and for a moment, she felt like she was living in a dream. This felt like it was her first taste of genuine fame, and it both thrilled and terrified her. Sure, she'd done a few radio talkshows over the phone recently, but this was a brand new experience. She didn't want to take it for granted at all.

She couldn't help but steal glances at the other celebrities around her. Beyoncé, stunning as ever, effortlessly commanded attention with every step she took. Kanye West, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, and then Karlie, who was now approaching her with a smile on her face and her own publicist trailing slightly behind her.

Leia's own publicist, Riven, had been furious when she had told him that she had a last minute invite to the Met Gala, since he was across the pond and wouldn't be able to make it back in time to join her. He gave her strict instructions to not waver from the (very, very brief) media training that he had been trying to install in her since she hired him only a few months prior.

As the photographers seemed to switch interest to someone else, Karlie tugged at Leia's arm, pulling her towards the grand staircase where more interviewers were gathered at the sides. The two of them made their way up, feeling a rise in energy as they ascended.

"Can you believe we're here?" Leia exclaimed, squeezing Karlie's hand. The blonde only laughed in reply, lightly leading her towards where a dark-haired woman was waving at the duo.

Leia hadn't done an actual face-to-face interview before, but she figured there was a first for everything as it seemed that the journalist wasn't just interested in speaking to Karlie, but rather seemed to perk up with enjoyment as she noticed the singer behind the model.

"Well, if it isn't the gorgeous Karlie Kloss and Leia Hudson!"

Leia smiled shyly at the reporter as Karlie grabbed her hand to pull her closer into the shot of the camera that was recording the interaction. The brunette laughed softly as she waved to the camera, praying that her hair disaster was still hidden from sight.

"Yeah! She's my plus one tonight, a celebratory moment to mark her upcoming rise to pop stardom!" Karlie joked, Leia blushing furiously as the reporter also joined in with the laughter.

Turning to face her and extending the microphone slightly, Leia was surprised that the reporter would even have any questions for the young girl.

"So Leia, how does it feel to be at such a famous event?"

Leia blinked for a second as she tried to find words to describe all the feelings that she was currently trying to process. Opening and closing her mouth for a second she finally settled on something that hopefully didn't embarrass herself.

"It's absolutely surreal," Leia began, her voice filled with wonder. "I mean, just being in the presence of so many talented and influential people... It's like stepping into a whole new world. I never dreamed that I would be here, and yet, here I am."

The reporter nodded, seeming genuinely interested in Leia's response. Leia continued, her words flowing naturally now. She glanced around at the opulent surroundings of the Met Gala, taking in the intricate details of the decorations and the sea of glamorous faces surrounding her.

"And the atmosphere, you can feel the energy buzzing in the air. It's electric. It's like every person here is a star in their own right. There's this sense of camaraderie and celebration that I've never experienced before. It's overwhelming, but in the best possible way."

"And speaking of incredible artists, Taylor Swift is also here tonight. Have you had a chance to meet her yet?"

Leia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Taylor Swift - even if the mention seemed a little out of place. She couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness at the thought of meeting the pop icon. Karlie laughed at the interviewer, a grin breaking out across her face as she looked between her and Leia.

"Not yet," Leia answered honestly. "But I've heard so many amazing things about her from Karlie and others. I have so much respect and admiration for Taylor's talent and success. It would be an honor to meet her tonight."

"She's certainly looking forward to it, for sure," Karlie cut in, her own media training kicking in when it came to her friend. "Taylor is amazing, and I'm sure we'll all know as soon as she arrives. What about you, Rina, are you having a great night?"

If there was an award for deflection, Karlie was certainly in the running for it. Leia was almost surprised at how easily she changed the topic back to the event, before reminding herself that the Taylor and Karlie dating rumours had almost ruined their friendship. It was no surprise that Karlie had become an expert at avoiding questions about her famous friend.

The reporter smiled and nodded again, ready with another question. She asked a few more questions to Karlie before turning her attention back to Leia one last time.

"Now, Leia, not only are you making waves in the music industry, your new single 'Be The One' has blown up on the charts not just in the USA but all over the world, yet you've also been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. How do you plan to use your platform to bring about positive change?"

She blinked for a second, the question taking her by surprise a little. She had convinced herself that the interviewer was just pretending to know who she was to be polite, but the non-rehearsed question made her release that the women, Rina, genuinely knew who she was and what she stood for.

She glanced at Karlie, who gave her an encouraging smile before stepping back slightly to give Leia the spotlight.

"Well, Rina, using my platform to bring about positive change is something that I've always felt passionate about," Leia began, her voice steady with conviction. "I believe that music has the power to unite people from all walks of life, and I want to create a space where everyone feels seen and heard."

The reporter nodded appreciatively, clearly impressed by Leia's sincerity. Leia's heart swelled with pride as she saw the genuine interest in Rina's eyes. She hoped that her words would resonate with not only Rina but also with anyone who was watching, although she knew most would have turned on the interview simply for Karlie anyway.

As the blonde answered a few more questions to finish off their interview, Leia allowed herself to take in everything that was happening around her. Closing her eyes just for a second she let her senses take over as she tried to engrave this moment in her mind forever.

_____

Leia's laughter rang out like bells in the main hall as she was twirled around by Zayn, her long brown hair flowing out beside her in a thick wave. The Met Gala attendees were all either chatting animatedly at the side or breaking into dance across the room, their designer outfits swaying with every movement.

After being introduced Zayn by Gigi and Karlie, Leia had instantly hit it off with the singer. Currently, she had one hand clasped in Zayn's left hand while Gigi held onto his right, creating a spinning trio that drew curious glances from other guests. She was glad that Gigi didn't seem to care that her boyfriend was dancing with Karlie's newest friend, even going as far to offer to go and grab another drink for the trio as Karlie headed off to the bathroom with another model that Leia hadn't been introduced to yet.

As the singer duo spun and laughed, Leia stumbled backwards slightly and let out a small yelp as she collided with someone behind her. She quickly spun around, reaching over to help steady the woman that she had accidentally stumbled into, her hands resting lightly on her forearms.

Holy fucking shit, Leia thought, her palms almost feeling clammy as she gently let go of the woman who was grinning like a Cheshire cat at her. She had no animosity in her eyes for the brunette almost causing her to crash into the ground but rather was looking like a kid in a candy store.

It was a moment Leia never thought would come. Despite almost begging Karlie to introduce them when she realised Taylor was at the other side of their table that evening, the model had told her that it was best to just wait until Taylor finished speaking with other guests. But it seemed that Taylor was caught up in conversation with everyone except for Leia by the time Karlie finally noticed how eager Leia was to meet her.

"Leia! It's so great to finally meet you!" Taylor exclaimed, leaning forward and wrapping the girl in a warm embrace. Leia stood frozen, completely unprepared for the music legend to be hugging her and knowing who she was.

Taylor pulled back slightly, her eyes twinkling with genuine excitement. Leia had imagined this moment countless times in her head, but now that it was actually happening, she couldn't think of anything to say. She stared at Taylor, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"I've heard so much about you, Leia. Karlie has been raving about your talent and passion. I've been dying to hear more of your music. Really, no lie! Dude, 'Be The One' is so sick. Did you write it yourself?"

Leia felt a surge of warmth spreading through her. Knowing that someone like Taylor Swift had heard about her music, let alone wanted to listen to it, was beyond anything she could have imagined.

"I had a great team helping me," Leia said, staying humble even as she accepted the compliment from the blonde. "I'm just thankful that everyone seems to have enjoyed it so much."

If anyone asked Leia the exact moment she was sure her soul had left her body she could have pinpointed it to that exact moment. Almost as if she was on an episode of Punk'd, the music changed and the exact song in question started to play over the speakers. Leia's jaw dropped as she turned to look at all the superstars around her in shock that her song would be played at something so monumental.

Karlie was making her way back to them then, a grin splitting across her face as she noticed the way that Leia was standing amongst her friends, almost like she'd known them her whole life. She knew that brining the singer was a good idea, and she'd even asked the DJ to play Leia's song to try and make the girl ease up a little.

"THIS IS MY SONG!" Leia yelled to them all over the music, turning and motioning for Karlie to hurry up and join the rest of them as they danced. Everyone laughed as they cheered, Leia jumping up and down as the facts sunk in.

"LET'S DANCE!" Taylor yelled back, clinking their champagne glasses that one of the waiters had just handed out. She poured the drink down her throat, wasting no time in reaching out and grabbing Gigi and Leia's hands lightly as they danced around the table with the rest of their friends.

As she swung her body and yelled the lyrics, Leia couldn't help but think that her life would certainly be changed forever after this moment. Her music was taking off, she was becoming friends with people she had only ever imagined would know she existed and her name was getting out there. Everything she ever wanted was starting to become true.

And while she didn't know it at that moment, a lot more than her reputation was going to change very quickly in her life.

.

.

.

originally published: july 2018

rewritten: february 2024