...in juicier celeb news, I'm sure you all will have seen the photos currently circulating on twitter of the very public break up between international pop-star Leia Hudson and her now ex-boyfriend Dylan Redcrown! It seems the pop-star finally had enough of their partying lifestyle and was seen having a heated argument with the man after he returned to find all of his belongings packed up outside! More on this story soon..."

Taylor turned the channel over as she entered the room, a bottle of Diet Pepsi in her hand as she gave Leia a short but stern look at how the girl had been watching what the news were saying about her. Her argument with Dylan had been rather explosive, but the photos hadn't quite captured how Leia had managed to stand up for herself for the first time in a while.

Sure, she had broken into hysterical tears after the door had shut on Dylan but no one other than her girl gang ever needed to know that. They had held her, wiped her tears and supported her until she had finally been able to move into her lounge where Camila and Cara had already fully cleaned up the place with the disinfectant and bin liners that they had bought from the store.

The best part of all? The black dog that was currently half asleep in her lap that they had brought with them. Tate had been ecstatic to see his owner and seemingly held no grudges for her giving him to Selena weeks prior. One ear was flopped across his eyes as he snores gently against Leia's leg, the reunion having tired the pup out.

"I missed you guys," Leia softly murmured to them all. She was still slightly ashamed at herself for believing that they would suddenly cut her out of her life like Dylan had lead her to believe.

"Oh come here," Taylor said, initiating a massive group hug between the group of friends. Tate huffed and wriggled in the middle of the hug, everyone laughing as the dog barked in happiness, his tail wagging frantically as he spun around to decide who was most likely to give him the best attention.

They all stayed in their group hug for a moment, the soft sound of music floating through the room coming from the Amazon Echo that Leia had on her coffee table. It had been a gift from Georgie when she had moved out to LA, knowing that the girl would get lonely if she couldn't at least talk to something. The song changed as the group went to pull out of their hug, a laugh coming from them all as they instantly recognised the tune.

"You listen to your own songs?" Cara teased Leia, causing the brunette to jokingly swipe at the girl and send them both tumbling backwards against the couch. The rest of their friends erupted into heavy laughter as the two girls engaged in a tickle war, no-one sure who was most likely to give up first.

Selena caught Taylor's eye as she looked over at the blonde, noticing how she had thrown her head back and laughed the loudest out of them all as the two girls play fought in the middle of the room. She looked back at her raven haired friend, noticing that Selena was sending her a playful smirk at how she was grinning widely at literally anything Leia did. Taylor blushed profusely as she rolled her eyes playfully back before she reached out to tap another sip of her water.

Gigi letting out a yelp broke off their fight as they all noticed the large black dog was clambering over her shoulders. Tate had obviously gotten jealous of his human getting what he thought was a belly rub and was now trying to force the blonde supermodel to play with him. She was squealing happily as the dog frantically licked at her face for attention, barking and yapping as his tail smacked Leia's phone off the table and straight into Taylor's lap. Selena reached over, tugging slightly at Tate to get the dog to leave Gigi alone and let her give him a belly rub instead, something that the dog graciously accepted.

Taylor lifted Leia's phone from her lap, moving it and noticing the message that was flashing on the screen. Leia furrowed her eyebrows as she took the phone from the blonde, confused as to who was texting her. It was too late in the UK for it to be Georgie (not that her sister was bothering to contact her anymore) and everyone else who regularly texted her was in the room. She almost considered it was Karlie - but she had came to terms that things had changed with Karlie.

Scooter Braun had ruined her friendship with the girl and not just for Leia, but for everyone else sitting in the room around them too. She'd heard mutterings from Dylan about how Karlie had told Scooter about Taylor being upset about Leia not being around, and it had set a seed of doubt in Leia's mind about the blonde. If she knew that Leia was not doing well and was with Dylan, why hadn't she just told Taylor that?

Her thoughts were disrupted as she looked back at the phone. She gulped slightly as her fingers hovered over the screen, her eyes slowly taking in the message as it fully opened on her screen. She was very, very, very aware of the eyes of her friends piercing into her as she tried to make sure that whatever she was reading wasn't going to send her off the rails. After a moment of pause, she settled on angrily rolling her eyes and clenching her jaw before relaxing and taking a deep breath.

"It's Dylan, he said he still loves me," Leia told them all, rolling her eyes as she typed away on her phone. All of them started to object as her fingers tapped away on the screen, until Leia silenced them by turning it so they could all see the number now added to her blocked list. "This is exhausting, you know? Like we are never getting back together, like, ever?"

Everyone paused for a moment before bursting into laughter at her reference. Taylor groaned as she threw the cushion she had been leaning against across the room at Leia who barked out laughter along with the rest of their friends.

"I hate you, Leia Hudson," Taylor joked, rolling her eyes as her friends all continued to snicker at the previous girl's pun.

Leia grinned back at her from where she was peering over the coffee table, having pretended to dive under it to avoid the incoming pillows that Taylor had thrown in her direction. She ran a hand through her slightly tossed hair before rolling her eyes with her usual smirk on her face that the group of friends hadn't seen in so long.

Everything was going to be alright.

____

"Where are the others?"

Taylor's voice was raspy throughout the darkness, the slight ruffling of the extra duvet cover she was borrowing alerting Leia to the fact the girl was now sitting up on the couch. The brunette jumped and squealed in surprise at the sudden noise as she hadn't realised Taylor had woken up.

The group had stayed the night, but the others all had to leave before sun rise due to other commitments. Cara had a whole day of date activities planned, while Selena had studio time booked for that morning. Gigi was going with Zayn to a performance he had scheduled in London so she had left first so that she would make her flight in time.

"They all had work - or dates," Leia added, both of them chuckling as they remembered listening to Cara talk about this girl she was trying to win over. Taylor nodded, rubbing her eyes as she moved towards the balcony at the side of the room, pulling the curtains open and allowing the Californian sunlight to pour into the room.

"Where's Tate?" Taylor asked, noticing that the black dog hadn't jumped her like he usually did the second she moved. Turning around, she thanked Leia as the brunette passed her a mug of freshly brewed coffee.

"Selena asked if she could take him into the studio with her to keep her company since she's writing alone today."

Leia settled herself on the couch, sipping her own cup of coffee as Taylor joined her. They sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of the city filtering through the open balcony doors. Leia watched as Taylor's gaze lingered on the bustling streets below, a pensive expression on her face.

"You alright?" Leia asked softly, reaching out to gently touch Taylor's arm. She could sense that something was bothering her friend.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "It's just... I missed this."

Leia hung her head in shame a little. She'd taken something that was so pure, and had ruined it with one single one-night stand that had turned into some weird infatuation. She wasn't sure she'd ever forgive herself for pushing Taylor and the rest of her friends away and getting into this situation.

Taylor let out a deep sigh, her eyes still fixed on the bustling city below. Leia could see the weight of Taylor's words in the lines etched on her face, the way her shoulders slumped with the burden of their strained friendship. She wished she could turn back time, erase the mistakes she had made, and restore the bond they once shared.

"I'm sorry," Leia whispered, her voice filled with genuine remorse. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

Taylor turned to face Leia, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and longing.

"I know you didn't, Leia," Taylor said softly.

Leia felt her heart tighten in her chest, realizing how much pain her actions had caused Taylor. She swallowed the lump in her throat, desperately wanting to bridge the gap that had formed between them. She took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage within her.

She wanted to reach out and hold Taylor's hand, to offer comfort and reassurance, but she couldn't bring herself to make that first move.

"But can we go back?" Taylor's voice cracked as she spoke, vulnerability seeping through every word. "Can we find our way back to how things used to be?"

Before Leia could respond, their gazes locked, something shifting in the air between them. The world seemed to fade away as they leaned towards each other, caught in a moment suspended in time. The anticipation swirled around them like a melody waiting to be sung.

Their lips were mere inches apart when Taylor's phone rang, shattering the fragile connection they had forged. They both pulled away abruptly, breathless and wide-eyed.

"Tree's called you a few times this morning," Leia murmured, not wanting to freak Taylor out. Tree Paine - Taylor's publicist - usually only repeatedly tried to reach the girl when something had been said about her in the press. "I didn't want to wake you."

"Oh," Taylor mused, reaching out to take her phone from the table, the moment ruined. The brunette smiled gently before standing up and walking towards her room, motioning to Taylor that she was going to give her some space so that she could make the call.

Taylor watched her go, a sigh on her lips as she felt her head still spinning from the moment that had just almost happened between them.

Maybe things would be alright.

____

"That's right folks, pop star Leia Hudson had been pictured making out with none other than Lauren Jauregui - a member of girl band Fifth Harmony who came out as bisexual in an open letter only a few weeks ago! Speculation from the photographs have lead to many believing they are recent so this might be actual confirmation that Leia's heated confrontation with ex-boyfriend Dylan Redcrown yesterday might have been after he discovered her cheating! Leia and Lauren's representatives have not yet commented on the matter but here at TMZ we will be updating you regularly as the updates come in!"

Turns out, it wasn't Taylor that Tree had been worried about. The woman had heard the news that morning before it had broken into public domain, and her phone calls had been to try and warn Leia before the story broke, since she couldn't get a hold of Riven and knew that Leia needed to hear this. She was too late, for Leia had opened her Twitter app at the exact second that Taylor had hung up the phone and called out her name.

TMZ had publicly outed her.

Leia stared at the phone in her hand with blurry eyes, her tears pooling in her eyes as she tried to understand why someone would do that. She wasn't ready for the world to know who she was when she was only just starting to come to terms with it herself. She hadn't even told Taylor.

She felt a surge of panic and vulnerability wash over her, realizing that she was about to face the judgment and scrutiny of the entire world.

Taylor rushed out of her room, the sound of Leia's sobs immediately echoing through the apartment. She found her curled up on the edge of her bed, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her phone tightly in her hands. Without hesitation, Taylor sank down beside Leia, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her close.

"...I was supposed to do it on my time," Leia breathed out, trying to stop herself from bursting into tears as she let her phone fall on to the floor, her hands coming up to cover her face as she rested her elbows on her knees. "Why would they take that from me?"

"Leia..."

"They're old photos Taylor. These were taken months ago, and someone's just had them in their phone or camera or whatever just waiting to ruin my life. I hadn't even told you yet."

Taylor moved forward, crouching down in front of Leia and moving her hands up so that they interlaced with Leia's before slowly moving them away from her face. The brunette refused to look up at her friend, but Taylor could now see the tears that poured down her face. She reached out, using her thumbs to try and wipe away the tears that lay on the girl's skin. She figured now wasn't the time to tell her that she already had figured it out, knowing that would make matters worse.

"I'm so sorry, Leia," Taylor whispered, her voice filled with genuine remorse. She could feel Leia's body shaking against her own, the weight of the world pressing down on her fragile shoulders.

"I didn't want anyone to know... not like this," she choked out between sobs. "I feel so exposed."

"There's nothing I can say that will make this any better, but Leia, nothing will ever change how I feel about you."

Leia finally looked up, sniffling as she tried to process everything that was going on. This wasn't how she had expected her morning to go. Taylor smiled as Leia rested her head against the blonde's palm, wiping at her tears as she tried to calm herself down. It felt like her world was falling apart.

Eventually, Leia's sobs subsided, replaced by a numbing exhaustion that settled over her like a heavy blanket. She pulled away from Taylor's touch and wiped her tear-streaked face with trembling hands.

"Thank you," she managed to choke out, her voice hoarse from crying. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Taylor pulled Leia into another tight embrace, their hearts beating in sync as they held onto each other. In that moment, they found solace in the strength of their bond. The road ahead might be rocky and uncertain, but together they would face whatever came their way.

____

Leia and Taylor were well aware that the second they had entered the Taco Bell that everyone had been watching them. If it was anywhere else in the world people might not have believed that two international superstars had entered their fast food joint, but this was LA and everyone sure as hell would recognise Taylor Swift when they saw her.

The duo had made the executive decision to leave their phones at Leia's house, knowing that Leia would be receiving hundreds of messages that she didn't have the emotional energy to answer right now. This was their chance to escape reality for a moment.

"I really am sorry," Leia murmured, her eyes shooting up from her burrito to meet Taylor's.

"You don't need to ever apologise to me."

"I do. For telling everyone but you, for thinking you'd have actually abandonded me, for not reaching out..."

Taylor cut her off, leaning slightly as she extended her arm to connect her and Leia's hands. The blonde softly smiled at her friend with not a single hint of upset or annoyance.

"Leia, it's okay."

They both stared at each other for a moment, hands still interconnected until Leia subconsciously noticed a group of teenagers in the corner all turning around to look at them. She slid her hand out of Taylor's grasp, failing to notice the small look of sadness that flittered across Taylor's face at the lack of contact.

Leia's heart raced as she felt the weight of the judgmental stares from the teenagers. She couldn't bear the thought of being the center of attention right now. She quickly averted her gaze, focusing on her half-eaten burrito, trying to act nonchalant.

Taylor, sensing Leia's discomfort, decided to change the subject. "So, have you thought about what you want to do next? With everything that's happened?"

"I should make a list," Leia muttered, her eyebrows raising as Taylor pulled out her own phone, pressed the notes app and looked at her expectantly. Leia had been so sure that Taylor had left it behind, but then again, she'd just assumed that because she had done so that the blonde would have also. "I didn't mean right now... but sure."

"Georgie," Taylor prompted, Leia's fall falling as she thought about how she had treated her sister. "She's really worried."

"Yeah," Leah breathed, not wanting to get into it while in public. "Riven. Oh, Adrian too, I think. Maybe my parents but they're lower on the list, I don't think they're even aware I've basically been MIA..."

Taylor made a note to ask about that some other time. She had figured they weren't close, but Leia had never spoken about them with any hatred or animosity. There was definitely a story there.

"... the rest of our friends..." Leia sighed, her appetite disappearing as the reality of her situation set in and she stopped listing names. "I don't know, Taylor. I feel like my whole world has been turned upside down. I wasn't ready for this kind of exposure."

"I get it. It's a lot to process. But remember, you have a choice in how you handle this. You don't owe anyone an explanation or justification for who you are," Taylor murmured, understandingly.

As they continued to eat, Leia couldn't help but steal glances at Taylor. There was something magnetic about her presence, something that made Leia feel safe and understood. With every passing moment, the bond between them grew stronger.

"Do you wanna get out of here?"

____

"I had a really nice night tonight," Leia said, a smile on her face. "All things considered, of course."

Leia smiled at Taylor as she opened the front door, the blonde stepping out as she slung one of Leia's old denim jackets over her shoulders. She had came back to collect her bag, but the temperature had dropped significantly since that afternoon so Leia had suggested that she at least take it for now.

"Me too."

There was a silence between them - but one that Leia didn't feel the need to break. They were so content with just being in each other's presence that nothing really needed to be said to rid the silence.

"We should do this more often... a mate date," Taylor said, putting on a fake British accent that Leia was sure was supposed to sound like Cara but was nothing alike.

"Cara does NOT sound like that!"

"Okay, okay, okay..."

"But yes, I'd love to do this more often," Leia said, a glimmer in her eye as she stood in front of Taylor. The blonde looked incredible in Leia's pastel denim jacket and it was taking everything in her to not do something that she'd regret.

"Great, I've got some ideas of things we could do."

Another soft silence fell upon them, but this one was different. Leia was sure that they had subconsciously taken a step closer to each other because it seemed like the only thing she could now see was the girl. Taylor smiled at her, and Leia wondering if this was how Tom and Calvin had felt the first time they had been this close to her.

"I know what I'd like to do," Leia murmured before she could stop herself. The girl almost cursed herself out but stopped when something unexpected happened. She was sure the adrenaline of everything that had happened in the past 24 hours was catching up with her, but she knew she couldn't miss the chance.

Taylor took a small step forward, bringing their bodies closer together as she looked at her friend. Leia moved back slightly, allowing Taylor to step into the door frame of her apartment.

"Then do it."

So Leia did.

.

.

.

.

originally published: may 2020

rewritten: february 2024