Leia closed the door behind her, sighing ever so slightly as she heard the lock click into place. Soft thuds on the wooden floor alerted her to the incoming presence of a tired looking Tate, the black dog's head lolling to the side as he trotted over to sniff at the girl. He had been sleeping peacefully when she had left to meet Taylor, and a slight thought of regret crossed her mind at the thought of him waking without her to be seen.

Leaning down to rub at his ear, Leia chuckled lowly as the dog almost purred before picking up the battered toy rabbit that he had dropped from his mouth. As she slung her jacket on to the coat rack and kicked off her shoes, a sudden wave of inspiration crossed her as she looked down at the dog who was rolling around at her feet.

"Tate, I think I've got a song forming," she murmured, rubbing his head before gliding across the hallway and towards the lounge where she had dumped her guitar only hours before. The dog barely paid any attention to her but followed her into the room anyway.

Just as she went to pick up the guitar, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Leia looked at the screen, the bright light causing her eyes to squint as she reduced the brightness on the screen. A single green bubble had appeared across it, the one name that had been on her mind all day staring up at her.

taylor
thank you for tonight x

leia
it's no worries, anytime x

Leia smiled as she locked her phone and threw it on to the sofa, a smile forming on her lips as she thought back to the night before them.

____

"I'm so happy you have a sunroof," Taylor noted, leaning her head to cast a quick glance to look at Leia. "But I kinda want to sit outside."

Leia smiled softly as the blonde stared upwards, her eyes glinting across the stars in the dark sky as she tried to hint to Leia to suggest that they set up camp on the ground outside of their parking space. It had taken the girl's only twenty minutes to reach their destination, a look-out point across LA and it had only taken three minutes for Leia to know that her feelings for Taylor were deepening.

"Let's do it then," Leia murmured, watching how the moonlight reflected off Taylor's face and her recently bleached hair as she leaned back in the passenger seat. The girl turned to face her with a wide surprised smile on her face before ungracefully scrambling out of the car and into the darkness outside.

Leia quickly grabbed a blanket from the backseat and followed Taylor out of the car, her heart pounding with anticipation. The cool night air washed over her as she joined Taylor on the grassy hillside, the city lights below twinkling like stars of their own. They laid side by side, their bodies close but not touching, as they stared up at the vast expanse above them.

"Is this okay?" Taylor asked, her voice suddenly sounding timid and childish as she motioned at her own body on the blanket. "I should have asked I know, I know Calvin doesn't like it when I don't ask so I shouldn't have just presumed you'd be okay with it but I'll move if..."

"I'm not Calvin, Taylor you can do whatever you want and I will still support you," Leia murmured, a deeper meaning behind her words that Taylor did seem to pick up on. The brunette could see a twinkle light in Taylor's eyes as they stared at each other. The soft moonlight reflected against Taylor's smooth skin and Leia wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch it.

But she knew better. Taylor's wasn't hers to touch. The girl was so much more than someone's property and while it was beginning to seem that Calvin forgot that, Leia never would.

The silence between them was comfortable, filled only with the sounds of crickets and their quiet breathing. Leia could feel the warmth emanating from Taylor's body, a magnetic pull that drew her closer. She turned her head to steal glances at Taylor, admiring the way the moonlight traced delicate lines across her features.

"I never thought I'd experience a night like this with someone like you," Leia whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle breeze.

Taylor turned her head to meet Leia's gaze, a soft smile playing on her lips. "And why is that?"

"Because you're Taylor Swift," she finally said, her voice filled with awe and wonder. "You're this incredible superstar who's seen and done so much. I'm just a small-town girl who stumbled into this crazy world."

Taylor turned her head to meet Leia's gaze, their eyes locking in an intimate moment of shared understanding. Taylor could see the hint of vulnerability in Leia's eyes, a longing for connection that mirrored her own.

Just as Leia felt Taylor's breath against her face, the blonde suddenly coughed and leaned back on her hands. A slight awkwardness filled the air as they both tried to process what had just happened.

Leia bit her lip, unsure of what to say. She had felt the moment shifting, the energy between them crackling with something more than just friendship. But now, Taylor's sudden shift reminded her of the reality they were in. The reality of Taylor's highly publicized relationship with Calvin Harris.

"So, um... I almost also wrote a new song today," she stammered, gesturing towards herself. "I was actually just about to work on it when you messaged me."

Taylor looked relieved at the change in topic, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Really? Can I hear it?"

"I got nowhere, but when I have something... you can be the first one to hear it."

"Deal."

Little did Leia know, Taylor also went home and wrote her own song about that truly gorgeous night.

____

Looking at Tate as she finished scribbling the lyrics that had came into her mind while reminiscing about the night before, she sighed in contempt as she noticed the pup twitch slightly in his sleep. She closed her lyric book over gently before moving off the couch and scooping the sleeping dog into her arms and heading to her room for the night.

Leia carefully tucked Tate into his own bed, making sure he was comfortable before turning off the bedroom lights. She crawled into her own bed, her mind still buzzing with the memories of that magical night with Taylor. The way their laughter filled the air, the shared vulnerability in their eyes, and the warmth of Taylor's presence next to her on that blanket under the starry sky.

As Leia lay in the darkness, thoughts of Taylor consumed her. She wondered if Taylor felt the same connection they had shared, or if it was just a fleeting moment for her. And what about Calvin? The public relationship that hung over them like a shadow. Leia couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and uncertainty.

She reached over to her bedside table and grabbed her phone, unlocking it to see if Taylor had messaged her again. There were no new notifications, and Leia's heart sank slightly. Maybe it was all just a beautiful night that would be forgotten as quickly as it had happened.

She was going to have a long day ahead of her in the morning, but little did she know that a lot more than one simple writing session was going to happen.

_____

"Lost in a light?"

Leia shrugged as she stood in Karlie's kitchen, having just finished a spin class with the blonde model. The blonde was currently making them both oat pancakes, Leia siting at the breakfast bar watching her as she tried to finish the bridge of the song she'd been inspired to write after her late night trip with Taylor.

"Yeah, do you not like it?" She asked, watching Karlie's face to see her genuine reaction to the song title that Leia was pitching her.

"It seems a little impersonal," Karlie mused, flipping the pan as she turned over the pancakes inside it. Looking at Leia with a slight jut of her hip, the girl paused as she tried to analyse why she wasn't so keen on the song title. "What about 'Lost in YOUR light'? Seems more fitting, especially after your gushing this morning about the 'sweet delicate moonlight that shone off her perfect face'."

Leia blushed, realising that Karlie had been paying much closer attention to her words than she had anticipated. She'd developed a pretty bad habit recently of oversharing to the blonde, but it wasn't like Karlie really seemed to mind that much. Besides, Karlie had always been more perceptive than Leia gave her credit for anyway.

Leia snorted at her friend's impression of her, chucking a loose blueberry at the girl before actually taking into account what she had said. She was grateful for Karlie's suggestion, realizing that it added a layer of depth and personal connection to the song... without explicitly saying that she fancied Taylor Swift.

Karlie handed Leia a plate of steaming oat pancakes, their sweet aroma filling the kitchen. Leia took a bite, savouring the warm comfort of the food. It reminded her of her dad's. They sat down at the breakfast bar, Leia eagerly pushing her phone across to Karlie so she could play the demo of another unreleased song that she had been working on. The melodic chords filled the kitchen as Karlie listened intently, nodding along to the rhythm.

"I love it," Karlie declared when the song finished, a genuine excitement in her voice. "This is going to be a hit, Leia. How did you manage to get a demo of the track done so quickly?"

"Oh, it's not the same song," Leia clarified, her mind flickering back to when she told Taylor that she could be the first to hear the song she'd started working on that night. "But this is what I'm thinking for my next single."

"You know, Taylor is lucky to have you in her life. You bring out a side of her that I haven't seen in a while."

Leia blinked a little at the comment, surprised that Karlie was redirecting the conversation straight back to Taylor. Her heart skipped a beat, unsure of how to respond. She knew Karlie and Taylor had a been friends for a long time, and she didn't want to overstep any boundaries or make Karlie feel like she was trying to replace her.

"I mean, I don't know about that," Leia replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Taylor's the one who's been there for me, encouraging me and giving me advice. I feel like I'm the lucky one to have met her."

"I don't know, you're special to her. And trust me, she needs someone like you in her life."

The words resonated in Leia's head for the rest of the day.

_____

It was just after noon when Leia's phone began to ring with an unknown number. She squinted at the bright screen, her mind racing with worry that it could be a pesky paparazzi trying to invade her private life once again. With a frustrated sigh, she leaned over and answered the call, holding the device to her ear.

"Hello?" She spoke cautiously into the phone, unsure of who was on the other end since they were remaining silent. After a moment of silence, a confident voice broke through.

"Leia? It's Calvin, the famous DJ," he added the last bit on at the end as what Leia supposed was supposed to be a slight humble brag but really the girl couldn't care any less about his status. "Taylor gave me your number."

A lump formed in Leia's throat as she thought about her almost kiss with Taylor the night before. The blonde was straight - and Leia certainly was not. The confusion was expected, but the sudden call of Taylor's boyfriend had her panicking that he had been told by her friend how close they had came. Had Taylor seen it as that? Or did Taylor think she was trying to take advantage of her?

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Leia held her breath, fearing that he had somehow sensed her inner turmoil.

"I just wanted to...talk," Calvin replied, his voice somewhat more relaxed that she was expecting. "Taylor mentioned that you two had a great time last night and I wanted to...I don't know, check in?"

Leia's mind raced. What could she possibly say to him? She didn't want to lie, but she also didn't want to reveal anything that could hurt Taylor or jeopardise their friendship.

"Look, Leia...I trust Taylor completely. And if she feels comfortable opening up to you, then I trust your intentions too," he said, his voice surprisingly warm. "So I was talking to her about your music and she totally suggested that me and you link up for a new collab. I've been playing about with some beats for a while now and couldn't find the perfect voice but I heard Be The One the other night and I reckon you'd be perfect, mate."

Mate. Leia's stomach churned with guilt. Here was Calvin, reaching out and trying to help her and she had been picturing kissing his girlfriend all weekend.

"I spoke to your manager and he said it was a class idea but I'd just need your opinion."

Leia wanted to say no. Sure, Calvin had never done anything to her. He seemed like an alright guy despite the suddenly increasing arguments with Taylor and everyone always seemingly had nothing but good things to say about him. Maybe that was why Leia had decided she hated the man. He had Taylor and didn't appreciate that, and she had no-one.

"Yeah, sure," she murmured, noticing how Calvin didn't even seem to pick up on the lack of enthusiasm in her voice.

"Great!" Calvin exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. "I'll have my team send you over some beats and we can schedule a meeting to discuss the details. I think this could be really big, Leia."

Calvin's excitement was palpable through the phone as he began explaining his vision for the collaboration. Leia half-listened, her mind elsewhere. As the conversation continued, Leia's thoughts wandered back to the previous night - the way Taylor had looked at her, the electric chemistry between them. She couldn't deny the magnetic pull she felt towards Taylor, but she also couldn't ignore the knot of guilt in her stomach.

This could be a huge opportunity for her career, a chance to work with a successful DJ like Calvin. But it also meant spending more time around him with Taylor, risking the fragile equilibrium she had established in her mind.

As Leia ended the call, a mixture of anticipation and unease settled within her. She found herself standing by the kitchen sink, staring out of the window at the clear blue sky. Slamming her phone down on to the counter, Leia turned the device off to allow herself some time to disconnect from the world for a little while.

Reaching into the drawer that she deemed her 'dog drawer', she grabbed a few bags and treats before picking up the soft red lead from within. At the sound of the metal hook touching the side of the wooden drawer she heard a chirpy bark indicating the approach of an excited Tate.

The black dog howled as he pounded in a circle around the girl, causing her to laugh lightly as she rolled her eyes. She crouched down to clip his lead on to the collar that rested around his neck before she grabbed her keys from the hook in the hall.

"Just you and me Tate, some nice and needed peace and quiet."

___

Leia yawned as she flicked the apartment lights back on, her and Tate shaking off the rain from their skin as they entered. She hadn't even bothered to check the weather forecast before leaving, so really it shouldn't have came too much as a surprise when they'd felt the first few raindrops on their skin.

The brunette wasn't a huge fan of running with Tate, but they'd broken into a brisk jog to try and get back before the heavens had opened and it had started to pour down on them. They'd almost made it back but had still managed to be caught in the tail end of it.

Leia sighed as she peeled off her wet clothes, feeling a sense of relief as she slipped into a cozy hoodie and sweatpants. Tate, his fur still damp, shook himself vigorously, spraying water droplets across the room. Leia chuckled and reached for a towel to dry him off, feeling his warmth against her palm. The rain had drenched them both, but it hadn't dampened his spirits, clearly.

As she finished towel-drying Tate, Leia noticed her phone on the kitchen counter, its screen black and lifeless. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and turned it on.

She immediately regretted it. The screen lit up, revealing a flurry of notifications from Riven, her publicist. Confusion knitted her brows together as she tapped on his name to read the messages.

Leia! Are you okay? Have you seen the news articles? Calvin Harris cheating scandal with Taylor Swift! Are you involved?

The messages came in rapid succession, each filled with panic and concern.

Leia's heart pounded in her chest as she quickly opened her browser and typed in Calvin Harris' name. The search results were overwhelming—headline after headline about Calvin's alleged infidelity with Taylor Swift, accompanied by pictures of them together.

"Calvin Harris Caught Cheating on Taylor Swift with Rising Star Leia Hudson?" one blared. Another proclaimed, "Love Triangle: Taylor Swift's Heartbreak Over Calvin Harris' Secret Affair!"

"No," Leia muttered under her breath, disbelief and frustration mingling within her. How could such baseless rumors spread so quickly? There weren't even any photos of her and Calvin - she hadn't ever even met the guy, and it was so strange that this was suddenly being spread across the internet less than a few hours since her first ever interaction with the guy.

She felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she thought about Taylor and how this false news would affect her. It was clear that someone was trying to stir up drama, using Taylor's reputation as a catalyst. Leia wasn't sure why her name was suddenly being dragged through the dirt but she didn't care about her own reputation.

All she cared about was making sure that Taylor was okay and that the girl didn't believe any sort of rumour that had been floating around during the short hour of her phone being turned off.

She just hoped that Taylor believed her.

.

.

.

originally published: february 2019

rewritten: february 2024