– Two and a half months later –
Evie woke up in her hotel bedroom in Chicago, Illinois. She had been on tour for two months now and all the traveling sometimes made her forget where she was. She picked up her phone from the night stand as usual and saw a message from Taylor.
“I feel so much better, so see you at Kam’s party tonight! <3”
Taylor had been sick for the past two days after the show in Cleveland, Ohio and was so scared that she had to cancel a show due to her sickness. Evie was happy for her as she knew how crucial it was for a singer to have a perfect voice and that Taylor really wanted to go to Kam’s, who is one of her dancers, party. She quickly replied, jumped out of the bed and got herself ready for the day.
Taylor and her became very close friends over the past two months, something she had not expected to happen when she heard that Taylor booked her as a pre act. She saw Taylor as her mentor at first, someone she could learn a lot from and discuss music with. But Taylor was such a warm-hearted person that it was actually impossible to only be colleagues. Taylor made sure to meet Evie in her dressing room before every show to ask how she was doing and they started to exchange books after Evie had put the finished book from the first show in Taylors dressing room while she was on stage. They shared so many interests, the same taste in books, music and TV shows and talked endlessly when they were together. At first, their conversations happened backstage before the show but after some weeks, they started meeting in their free time, going to the hotel gym, getting lunch. Their friendship was easy going and it was easy to forget that they were both singers on a sold-out stadium tour.
The party took place at the hotel rooftop which offered a 360 degree view over the city. Evie arrived on time and could already see other members of the tour crew. The theme for the night was “Bejeweled” just like Taylors songs and Evie wore a white t-shirt and a a golden glittery mini skirt that she had bought the week before. She loved themed parties and had so much fun admiring the others’ outfits. “Hi Kam! Happy Birthday!!!”, she said excitedly when she finally found Kam who was busy welcoming people and accepting presents. “Hi darling, so glad you’re here”, Kam welcomed her as well. It took only five more minutes until Taylor entered the scene, wearing a black asymmetric top and a bejeweled silver skirt. She wore her hair naturally curly and look stunningly good.
“Hi girl! Nice outfit.”, Taylor greeted her and hugged her. “Thanks, love your skirt! And I am so glad you’re here and not in your bed tonight.”. They both got themselves a drink and walked around the rooftop, greeted people and engaged in conversations. It was a fun night, everyone enjoyed themselves and Kam seemed to be content with the course of his birthday.
Taylor and Evie settled down in a less crowded corner to enjoy their drinks. “This place is so beautiful. I don’t want to copy Kam but I really want to have a rooftop party as well for my birthday.”, Evie told her as she gazed down on the busy city below. “I don’t think Kam’s someone who’d be bothered by it. He’s such a refreshing person to be around.”, Taylor said and looked in Kam’s direction where a few people gathered around him to sing “Happy birthday”. They both watched how Kam got all flustered and tried to play it off by dancing in and to the song – typically him. “Just like you.”, Taylor suddenly said and caught Evie off guard. “What?”. Taylor cleared her throat, smiling. “You’re also refreshing. I mean, we don’t know each other for long but you’re already a close friend of mine.”, Taylor explained herself and her kind words warmed Evie. It only summed up how Evie felt about her as well. “I can only say the same thing about you, touring is so much fun with you. I never really expected us to be friends and I am glad we are.”, Evie said back, only speaking the truth. They smiled at each other as they got interrupted by a guy, none of them knew who randomly offered them cigarettes. “Cigs?”, he only said with a cigarette in his mouth and his eyebrows raised. It was really random and Taylor and Evie both had to chuckle. “Why not.”, Evie accepted the offer even though she rarely smoked. This was a party, an excuse to be bad for one night. “Only because you do it…”, Taylor agreed and grinned at Evie who protested “Am I a bad influence now? Don’t make me responsible for your bad decisions darling.” Her tone was mocking and Taylor kept grinning as she let the guys lit up their cigarettes and finally left. “I won’t, promise.” The two of them sat there, smoking their cigarettes, chatting and enjoying the view. Everything was great.
Some time later, Taylor and Evie decided to socialise again. They found themselves with Kam’s brother, Kam and another of Taylors dancers named Jan on the comfy couches that were placed in one corner of the rooftop.
“Well, well, well,”, Kam started saying, “I am happy that you feel better again. I bet it was a bit cold at the football game right?”. Kam loved mocking Taylor. Evie did not really know what he was talking about and just decided to listen but Jan seemed to be just as confused. “Could you explain it for those who don’t have a clue what you’re talking about?”, he asked. But Kam wasn’t able to answer because his brother came in first. “Taylor went to our football game to support Travis. It was freezing cold that day but love warms you from within right?”, he laughed. Kam’s brother was a football player and he seemed to know something Evie had not known until then. Taylor suddenly seemed a bit uncomfortable and just quickly explained that it was a “chill date” but nothing worth talking about. That was all she said and it seemed to satisfy the others as they moved on to the next topic. Evie seemed to pay attention but she was somewhere else mentally.
She somehow felt unsettled and even wondered herself, why her mood had changed so suddenly. Taylor and her had been very honest with each other; Taylor had opened up about events that had inspired certain songs and Evie had told her about her break-up with her boyfriend the year before. It seemed weird to her that she had not told Evie about a date with this football guy and she feared that Taylor didn’t trust her as much as she thought she would. But there was something else that unsettled her; The fact that Taylor was dating another guy in general. Why is that bothering me so much?, she asked herself even though she somehow already had her answer.
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