Texas concert III

Ethan Jones stood at the center of the stage, the deafening roar of 80,000 fans echoing around him. Every corner of the arena was alive with energy, as if the very air vibrated with excitement. He smiled, his heart pounding in sync with the crowd. He was in his element, standing in front of this massive audience—yet, today felt different. There was something about this show, something about this moment that felt like it could be his best performance yet. From Taylor to now the new guest he was sure this would be his best show yet

The atmosphere felt electric, charged with the kind of energy only Texas could produce. Ethan could feel the anticipation thrumming through the air. His mind raced back to when it all clicked for him, when he realized just how powerful the moment had become. How he had gone from dreaming of moments like these to living them. And now, standing here in the chaos of the crowd, he had never felt so alive. He was thriving off this, he couldn't wait to see their reaction when he came out.

But in the midst of all this, a feeling of suspense gnawed at him, like something unexpected was about to unfold. His eyes darted across the arena, waiting for the next big moment. He could almost feel it in his bones—tonight would be unforgettable.

Hours Earlier

Ethan stood alone in the empty stadium, his voice rising powerfully into the vast space, each note filled with emotion.

🎵 "I'll be with you from dusk till dawn..." 🎵

The melody floated around him as he lost himself in the song, eyes closed, every word pouring out with a kind of raw vulnerability. But then, just as he reached the peak of the chorus, a loud, sudden laugh broke through the air, shattering his focus.

He opened his eyes, slightly irritated, to find Taylor Swift, who had been supposed to be practicing alongside him, bent over in laughter, holding her stomach as if she couldn't contain herself.

Ethan's annoyance flared up. This wasn't the first time she had interrupted his practice with her infectious laughter.

"What now? Are you serious?" he asked, his tone sharp but amused despite himself.

Taylor gasped for breath between her chuckles, trying to compose herself but failing miserably. "Ha, sorry, sorry! I just… I can't! You—you were so into it, like a serious ballad singer or something!" She bent over again, her laugh echoing around the empty stadium.

Ethan sighed, shaking his head, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "I was just feeling the song, alright?" He crossed his arms, watching her with a look of mock annoyance, but there was warmth in his gaze.

"Okay, okay, I'm ready now," Taylor said, standing up and brushing off the last traces of laughter. Ethan looked at her skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

"You sure?" he asked, arms crossed.

"Yes! I'm good. I promise," she replied, trying to stifle a grin.

Ethan eyed her for another second before turning to the band and the stage workers. "Alright, let's take it from the last part again." He got into position, standing face to face with Taylor.

As they locked eyes, Ethan asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah," Taylor replied casually, though the corner of her lips twitched.

Ethan opened his mouth to say, "Let's start," but before the words could leave his mouth, he heard it—a low snort of laughter. His head snapped toward her.

"Really?" he asked, incredulous.

Taylor couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing again, doubling over as she tried to compose herself.

Stepping back, she held up her hands. "What? This is all your fault! Who told you to write such a cheesy song?"

Ethan's jaw dropped, and he shouted defensively, "What? You said you loved the song!"

"I do like it," Taylor said between giggles. "But it's just so—"

"So what?" Ethan interrupted, folding his arms. "You've literally sung plenty of love songs before!"

Taylor straightened, giving him an exaggerated look. "Yeah, but this one feels…" She paused, looking him up and down.

"What?" Ethan asked, exasperated. "Ooh, maybe I should've made it a breakup song instead, huh?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Taylor gave him a dry laugh. "Ha ha. So funny. You know what I mean."

"No, I don't," Ethan said, crossing his arms dramatically.

Taylor let out a long sigh. "Singing this song with you just feels… weird, you know?"

Ethan pulled a mock hurt face, clutching his chest in fake agony. Taylor waved a hand dismissively. "You know what I mean!"

He couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, yeah, I do."

He knew exactly what she meant. Singing the song with her—a global icon, someone who carried herself with the grace of an older sister—did feel a bit strange. But this song was special to him. It was one of his favorites, tied to some of his most cherished memories. And the idea of performing it with a powerful vocalist like Taylor Swift? There was no way he'd pass up the opportunity, no matter how awkward it might feel.

Ethan sighed, then smirked. "I thought you were the veteran here. Seems I was mistaken. No veteran would let a rookie one-up her."

Taylor's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, you heard me. I guess you can't handle it," he said smugly, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Maybe we should just crop those parts out and stick to normal choreography, huh? Would that be okay for you?"

Taylor's competitive streak flared instantly. Like a sibling goaded into a challenge, she stepped forward, fire in her eyes. "Alright, let's do this!" she shouted, turning toward the stage crew.

Ethan grinned. He knew exactly how to get her back on track.

Ethan slumped into the plush chair in his dressing room, running a hand through his hair. He was tired—completely drained from hours of rehearsals. Letting out a groan, he muttered to himself, "Taylor is so hard to work with."

Across the room, Rebecca, his assistant, leaned against the vanity table, sipping her coffee. She raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. "Oh, suck it up, drama king. You two are magic on stage, and you know it."

Ethan shot her a halfhearted glare but couldn't help the small smile creeping onto his face. "Yeah, yeah. Magic… until she starts laughing at me for the millionth time."

Rebecca shrugged. "You'll survive. You'll thank me later for making you rehearse this much."

Before Ethan could respond, the door to his dressing room opened, and Bill, his manager, walked in. His face was lit up with an unusual excitement, practically radiating energy.

"Bill!" Ethan exclaimed, sitting up straighter. "What's up?"

Bill's grin widened as he strode into the room. Ethan immediately noticed the bounce in his step and tilted his head. "Okay… what's going on? You look like you just won the lottery."

"I've got a surprise for you," Bill said, his tone brimming with excitement.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, is this about that thing you've been hiding for weeks?"

Bill's smile turned sly as he shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's—"

Before he could finish, the door behind him swung open.

Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief, and he shot up from his seat. His exhaustion disappeared in an instant as a wide grin spread across his face. "Hey!" he shouted, his voice filled with pure joy and energy.

The room seemed to buzz with excitement as Ethan practically bounced toward the door, his expression both shocked and ecstatic.