Speak Now & Surprises [Hunter Hayes fanfic]

Chapter 2: LAX - OMA

"It's a Dassault-Breguet, model Mystere Falcon 900," the pilot informed me, gently tapping the exterior of the jet airplane, "Custom-designed, as you might guess," he added, nodding towards the gigantic '13' emblazoned on the nose of the plane, and '89TS' along the propellors.

"That honestly means nothing to me, but it sure sounds expensive," I confessed as he helped me carry my bags up the ramp and on board.

"Hah," he smirked, "Try forty-million dollars, maybe."

With that figure in mind the flight to Omaha was expectedly luxurious; half of the entourage were filtered onto a second, larger jet as to my surprise (or un-surprise?) Taylor's adored flyer only seated a mere twelve passengers in indulgent leather recliners, complete with a matching beige and cream interior.

I ended up sitting by one of Taylor's spiky haired guitarists - yes, she actually has two spikey haired guitarists - Paul Sidoti, and his recently engaged fiance, Ashley White.

"You're from California? I swear I have an aunt there!" Ashley had exclaimed upon learning we had the same surname, "Hey, wouldn't it be weird if we turned up at each other's Thanksgiving dinner?" she'd laughed. Her gorgeous blonde hair and bubbly personality made it clear why Paul had put a ring on it.

"It was so magical," Taylor crooned, almost groaning at the mention of Paul and Ashley's engagement.

"We were in this castle in Dublin when we were playing there in March, and he just got down on one knee and - actually I took a photo of it, one second," she dived into her handbag and furrowed for her iPhone.

I came to learn Paul had been touring with Taylor since she was seventeen, and they'd travelled from playing tiny shows to crowds of forty people or so to sold out stadiums of eighty-thousand cheering fans, all there for them.

"There's this song on Speak Now that I wrote and it's called Long Live," Taylor explained, "And it's really about the bunch of us, this 'band of thieves' as I actually say, I mean, we finished the Fearless tour at Madison Square Garden and I'm still on an eternal high about that."

"I know the song you're talking about," I disclosed, revealing my iPhone to her to show her album I'd bought way back in October.

"Oh my God, Shelby! You bought the deluxe version too!" Taylor thanked me, honoured, "Honestly I'm so glad you've actually listened to the album because I sometimes think most of the people who speak to me in interviews have usually only heard the singles."

"Taylor, everybody has heard this album." I assured her, and we all laughed.

"Hey, Hunter!" Taylor called towards him at the front end of the plane, ushering him towards us, "When's your album out? Your debut, right?"

Hunter perked up as he heard his named being called and wandered up the center aisle of the plane, eager to join the conversation.

"Yeah, well at the moment we're saying late August, but I mean, the track list hasn't quite been finalized yet and you know there's always something you want to change," he gesticulated to Taylor's agreement.

"Yeah, see with my first album and with Fearless, the main criticism I had was that I was 'too young' - or whatever - to be carrying the weight in these songwriting sessions," she looked towards us all for the appropriate reactions, "So my main goal with Speak Now was really just to disprove that, and by writing the entire thing by myself, that was the only way I could think of doing that, permanently. I'm not saying I didn't have moments of doubt, you always wonder if this is going to ruin your career," she laughed, but the fear underneath the humour was noticeable, "But you know, over a million records sold in the first week? I think that's a risk that paid off really well for me," she grinned as we all applauded her mighty feat.