Speak Now & Surprises [Hunter Hayes fanfic]

Chapter 22

“Oh my goodness – is that Emma Stone?” I barely exhaled, watching the blonde dot of a woman’s head disappear behind some foliage.

“Probably,” Hunter chuckled by my side, throwing me a disbelieving grin. Neither of us could believe that we were actually in Taylor Swift’s Nashville estate, throwing a party for her tour we’d begun with her.

Initially I thought we’d be going to Taylor’s apartment – a huge building in the centre of Nashville, lived in by many other celebrities – but when she’d directed me down a few back roads and twisting lanes, it became apparent that we were not.

The twin wrought iron gates automatically opened to the invited vehicle and closed again after it, creating a pile up on the long gravelled drive way which led down the fairy-tale of a forest and up to the white marble steps of the estate. Star-spangled banners fluttered around the four matching marble pillars that supported the awning, glowing golden in the soft flicker of the tea-lights that hung from surrounding branches. Good thing Nashville was still so damp; else they might’ve caused a fire.

“Welcome to the Northumberland Estate!” Taylor came over to say.

We were sat in what appeared to be a sunroom. It had large glass walls and a streaky white marble floor, matching pine and tomato coloured furniture everywhere.

“It’s beautiful.” I breathed. Hunter tickled my nose with the foliage of a potted plant. I batted it away gently.

“You know, I originally bought this estate for my mom, but she thought it was too much.” Taylor sighed disdainfully. “So I got a smaller house built at the end of the garden so that she could stay there. It’s kinda like a grotto.” She pointed out of the windowed wall at a small bunch of lights that glowed like fireflies in the distance.

“It’s like something from a story-book.” Hunter told her. She laughed and then caught sight of somebody that had just arrived in the neighbouring room.

“Emma!” she cried as she ran over to the blonde haired woman, swishing her chandelier print knee length dress.

“I guess it was Emma Stone then.” Hunter shrugged.

“Told you so,” I punched his shoulder, only to receive him dragging me into a fireman’s lift despite my objections.

“If you want to play rough then here’s how it going to be.” He grinned and began laughing as I pounded his back with my fists. “Let up Shelby, I’m not putting you down.”

“You will put me down at once Hunter Hayes!” I demanded, suddenly paranoid that my dress would be sticking up at the back. I smoothed down the floral yellow fabric and began pounding Hunter’s back again. He plopped me down onto the tomato coloured sun lounger and kissed me slowly, but longingly. When we broke apart he pushed my hair out of my eyes and I messed his up.

“We totally did not make out on Taylor Swift’s sun lounger.” He smirked sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at him and got to my feet.

“Let’s go see what celebrities we shall grace with our presence.” I joked and led him by the hand into the living room.

Never once did he loosen his grip on my hand as we waded through the pulsing mass of people, one seeming body. We spoke with Selena Gomez and I complimented her magenta dress, we hushed Hayley Williams as she spilled us her secrets (completely intoxicated), we even asked Abigail Anderson how long she had know Taylor for – she replied six years. They’d met in high school. Crazy!

But it wasn’t until we were half-way through a conversation with the Utah born and raised Julianne Hough that we got asked if we were together or not. I’d decided that I already liked Julianne: she was friendly, funny and not afraid of asking.

“Yeah, she begged and begged and begged until I finally said yes.” Hunter faked, smiling devilishly at me.

“Wasn’t it the other way round, Hunter?” Caitlin interjected. I hadn’t realised that she was so nearby, looking as rock-chick as ever in shiny black pants and a black corset.

“Sorry Shelby, I snuck into your make-up bag and borrowed the lipstick you leant me earlier. It’s just divine!” she flashed me a smile and left to dance with Kellie Pickler. Julianne gave us a flushed cheek grin before heading to the kitchen to refill her wine glass.

The dancers and aerialists were really stealing the dance floor though: Taylor had pushed the mismatching fabric and leather armchairs to the side, along with the glass coffee table and sheepskin rug. An old-school disco ball hung from the ethereal fan above the living room, casting sparkling spells across the wooden floor where Charity’s fire truck red mane swished through the air as Shannon jumped off of her shoulders.

“Good thing Taylor’s not here... she’d probably decide to set up some crash mats.” Hunter said softly in my ear. I laughed because it was true: Taylor was a health and safety freak. Caitlin and Amos had been fighting in the back seats of my car on the way here. All she did was tell them to put their seatbelts on.

Justin threw Dominique and she twirled through the air, not unlike a piece of confetti flying through the wind. Fernando and Clifton caught her in a sort of seated movement, ever so graceful. Marlyn and Meredith caught my eye back flipping over tables. I clapped them on.

“Well if it isn’t Hunter Hayes!” A poppy voice said from behind. As I turned with Hunter I recognized the speaker immediately: Katy Perry.

“Wow! Hello Katy!” Hunter began then paused, unable to form words. I guess to find out that the international multi-album superstar Katy Perry even knew you existed would feel pretty unreal, let alone meeting her like this. They exchanged a few brief compliments and then I was introduced.

“Hi, I’m Shelby White: Manager of the Speak Now tour.” I told her. We shook hands and smiled then snapped a picture all together.

“Tricky job then, tour managing?” Katy asked me as Hunter went to get me a drink.

“Yeah it can be challenging,” I laughed, remembering trying to get Grant and Caitlin to the first rehearsals, “But everything was worth it by the end of the show. Everything.” Even the rains of Nashville, Austin’s jibes, the tabloid fiasco, poor old Arnold... not to mention enduring Ricky for years.

“See you round.” Katy smiled and left as Hunter arrived wielding a foaming pina-colada and a can of sweet beer. He handed me the pina-colada. I took a few sips before sneaking a slurp of his beer. He stared at me astounded for a few moments.

“What, you think a first class girl can’t drink?” I asked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Did you seriously just quote Titanic?” He fumbled for his words as his tongue tripped over torrents of laughter. I blushed and nodded. He cracked up and threw his arms around me, dancing. Was I imagining it or was he already a little tipsy?

I sighed. Looks like I’d be driving us back to the hotel tonight.