the car ride to the grammys was quiet at first. you sat beside taylor, watching the city lights blur past as the car made its way through the crowded streets. taylor had been looking over some last-minute texts, probably from tree or someone on her team, but when she noticed your leg bouncing nervously, she set her phone down and took your hand.

"hey," she said softly, her thumb brushing over your knuckles. "you okay?"

you gave her a small smile but couldn't hide the nerves that had settled in your chest. "yeah, just... there are a lot of people. it's kind of overwhelming, you know?"

taylor squeezed your hand a little tighter. "i get it. it's always a madhouse. but you don't have to worry. we'll stick together, and if it gets too much, tree's there. she'll make sure you're okay."

you nodded, feeling slightly better but still anxious. you knew how much taylor thrived at events like this, how she lit up under the lights, and how the cameras adored her. you, on the other hand, were not as comfortable with the spotlight. hell, you didn't even like getting your picture taken.

"you know you don't have to take pictures with me if you don't want to," taylor said, almost reading your mind. "i'll have to do the red carpet and all that, but tree can stay with you while i do the photos by myself."

you raised an eyebrow at her. "you know they'll still want pictures of us together."

she smiled, her eyes softening. "yeah, but just a couple. you can get off easy tonight, i promise."

you laughed lightly, though the thought of being on display like that still made your stomach twist. "as long as it's not too long," you joked, squeezing her hand.

"it won't be, babe. i've got you."

the car slowed as it neared the entrance, and you peeked out the window to see the flashing lights and swarms of people outside. the crowd was thick, everyone vying for a glimpse of the stars, and the photographers were already in position, cameras raised and ready.

"shit," you muttered under your breath.

taylor chuckled softly beside you. "you've got this. just stick with me, okay?"

you nodded again, and as the car came to a full stop, you took a deep breath. the driver opened the door, and you got out first, stepping onto the carpet and immediately feeling the eyes on you. the flashes started instantly, but you ignored them, moving quickly to the other side of the car to wait for taylor.

you opened the door for her, extending a hand, and she took it with a grateful smile. as she stepped out, you instinctively wrapped your arm around her waist, pulling her close as the cameras clicked wildly around you. the noise was almost deafening, but taylor, as always, looked calm and poised, her smile perfect and her hand steady in yours as she waved.

you followed her lead, walking beside her as she greeted some people nearby, and the chaos seemed to fade slightly now that you were by her side. every step, every flash, every shouted name—it was all a blur, but you stayed focused on taylor, her calmness keeping you grounded.

"just a little longer," she whispered to you as she waved to someone across the carpet. "we'll take a few pictures together, and then you can hang back while i finish up."

you nodded, grateful for the plan. you were already exhausted from the constant noise and lights, but you'd do anything for taylor. she guided you through the crowd, stopping every so often to talk to people she knew—lana del rey, mostly, who smiled warmly at you both. taylor's excitement was contagious, and while you weren't exactly thrilled about all the attention, seeing her so happy made it easier to deal with.

an hour later, you found yourself at the edge of the red carpet, standing with tree while taylor took pictures alone. you leaned against a nearby post, watching her smile and pose for the cameras, her movements effortless and natural. despite the overwhelming chaos of the night, seeing her like this—so confident and graceful—made it all worth it. your heart swelled with pride and love.

"she looks amazing," tree commented beside you, and you nodded, not taking your eyes off taylor.

"yeah," you said, smiling softly. "she really does."

after a few more pictures, taylor looked over to you and raised her hand, motioning for you to join her. you felt a flicker of nervousness but pushed it down, walking over to her. when you reached her side, you instinctively took her hand, and she smiled at you with that look that always made your heart skip a beat.

the cameras started flashing again, and you did your best to focus on her, ignoring the chaos around you. taylor leaned into you slightly, and you wrapped your arm around her waist, pulling her close. she kissed your cheek quickly, making you smile as the cameras went wild.

"almost done," she whispered, squeezing your hand. "just a few more."

you nodded, keeping your eyes on her. she made everything better, even this.

once the photos were finished, the two of you stepped off the red carpet, finally free from the flashes and the yelling photographers. you let out a long breath, feeling like you'd just survived something intense.

"jesus, that was a lot," you muttered, shaking your head. "how do you deal with all the flashes and people yelling at you?"

taylor laughed, leaning into you as you walked toward your table. "you get used to it," she teased. "plus, i've got you to keep me grounded."

you smiled, wrapping your arm around her shoulders. "glad i can be of service."

she grinned up at you, and the two of you found your seats at your table, settling in for the rest of the night. the chaos of the red carpet was over, and now you could finally relax with her by your side.

you and taylor finally made it to your table, the noise from the red carpet and flashing cameras fading into the background as you both sat down. you exhaled a deep breath, feeling the tension in your shoulders loosen. taylor leaned close to you, her hand resting on your knee under the table.

"you okay?" she asked, her eyes searching your face for any sign of discomfort.

you nodded, smiling at her. "yeah, just glad to be sitting down for a minute."

she gave you a soft smile in return, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on your knee. "it's a lot, i know. but we're almost done with all the crazy stuff, and then we can just enjoy the night."

you appreciated how she always made sure you were comfortable, how she could sense when you needed a break. taylor had a way of making you feel at ease, even when everything around you felt overwhelming.

for a moment, the two of you just sat there, your hands brushing against each other beneath the table, sharing a quiet moment in the midst of the chaos. but soon, more people started arriving, and the room filled with familiar faces. you could see taylor's excitement growing as she spotted people she knew, and it wasn't long before she stood up.

"i'm going to say hi to a few people," she said, leaning down to kiss your cheek. "come with me?"

you hesitated for a second, feeling the weight of the crowd pressing in, but the warmth in her eyes reassured you. "yeah, okay," you agreed.

taylor smiled and grabbed your hand, pulling you up gently. as the two of you walked through the crowd, she kept her hand on you—either holding yours or resting on your lower back—always keeping physical contact so you knew she wasn't going anywhere.

she led you over to a small group of people she recognized, a bright smile lighting up her face as she greeted them. "hey!" she exclaimed, hugging one of them before turning to you. "this is yn, my girlfriend."

the introductions were quick, but taylor made sure you were included in every conversation, even though you were more comfortable standing back and letting her take the lead. she was in her element, charming and effortless, but every now and then, she'd lean into you, her hand finding yours or slipping around your waist. it was her way of reminding you she hadn't forgotten about you, even with all the distractions around.

at one point, as she introduced you to another group, you caught her eyes darting to you, checking in. you squeezed her hand to let her know you were okay, and she gave you a small, private smile.

as the evening progressed, you found yourself enjoying it more than you expected. taylor was like your anchor, making sure you felt included without forcing you into the spotlight. each time she introduced you to someone new, she'd reach for you, keeping that connection, whether it was her hand resting on your arm or brushing against your back.

and while the whole scene was still a bit overwhelming—the noise, the people, the constant chatter—taylor's presence made it easier to handle. she never strayed far from you, always making sure you were comfortable in the chaos.

when you finally made it back to your table after mingling for a while, taylor slipped her arm around your waist, pulling you close as she sat down next to you. you leaned into her, letting out a sigh of relief.

"see? not so bad, right?" she teased gently, resting her head on your shoulder.

you chuckled, wrapping your arm around her. "as long as you're here, it's fine."

she grinned, her hand slipping back into yours. "always."

as the night wore on and the conversations flowed, you could feel your energy dipping. it was getting late, definitely past your usual bedtime, and the hustle and bustle of the evening was catching up to you. you were sitting next to taylor, her conversation with lana in full swing, while you tried to keep your eyes open.

without thinking, you leaned your head against taylor's shoulder, planting a soft kiss there as you settled in. she immediately paused mid-sentence, turning her head just slightly to look at you, her hand automatically finding your knee under the table.

"you okay, love?" she asked, her voice quiet, the tone laced with concern and affection.

you smiled, your eyelids feeling heavy. "yeah, just tired. it's been a long night."

taylor's expression softened, and she shifted slightly, leaning into you while still holding her conversation with lana. she kept her voice lower now, as if the both of you were in your own little world, even with the noise of the grammys still buzzing around you.

"you sure you're alright?" she whispered, her lips brushing the top of your head.

"yeah," you murmured back, nuzzling closer to her shoulder. "i just might fall asleep right here."

taylor chuckled softly, the sound making you smile. "we'll be out of here soon. just hang in there a little longer, okay?"

you nodded, feeling the warmth and comfort of her presence. she shifted a bit in her seat, adjusting to make sure you were comfortable as she continued talking to lana, her fingers now absentmindedly tracing circles on your leg.

after a few minutes of resting like that, you glanced up and noticed gracie across the room, chatting with someone. it had been a while since you'd seen her, and despite your tiredness, the sight of her sparked a bit of energy in you.

you gently lifted your head from taylor's shoulder and whispered, "i'm gonna go say hi to gracie."

taylor turned to you, a soft smile playing on her lips. "alright, babe. go ahead."

before you left, you leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. taylor blushed slightly and squeezed your hand in response. "come back soon."

you grinned at her, giving her hand a final squeeze before standing up. with a quick glance over your shoulder, you saw taylor and lana still talking, their conversation flowing easily. but even though taylor was caught up in chatting, you knew she'd still be checking in on you, making sure you were okay from across the room.

you weaved through the crowd, making your way over to gracie, feeling the excitement bubble up as you neared her. she noticed you just before you reached her, her face lighting up in a big smile as she called out your name.

as you approached gracie, she lit up, her face breaking into a wide smile.

"hey, you!" she said, pulling you into a tight hug. "i didn't expect to see you here tonight! it's been forever."

you hugged her back, feeling a bit of your tiredness fade as you laughed. "i know, right? it's been too long."

she pulled away but kept her hands on your shoulders, looking at you with a playful grin. "and you look incredible, by the way. that suit? wow. taylor's got good taste."

you chuckled, shaking your head. "yeah, she had a hand in picking it out. she's got a way with these things."

gracie rolled her eyes dramatically. "of course she does. fashion icon and musical genius, what can't she do?"

you laughed with her, feeling more at ease. "exactly! but how've you been? it's been a crazy night."

gracie nodded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "i've been good! just taking everything in, you know? it's always a little surreal being here, surrounded by so many legends. i still get starstruck."

you nodded, understanding the feeling completely. "yeah, i feel that. it's a lot to take in."

gracie tilted her head, giving you a knowing look. "how are you holding up, though? i know these kinds of events aren't really your scene."

you smiled, appreciating how well she knew you. "i'm doing okay, but yeah, it's a lot. i've just been sticking close to taylor, letting her do her thing. she's been great about making sure i'm comfortable."

gracie nodded. "she's good like that. you two are so sweet together. i've seen her keeping an eye on you all night."

you smiled, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at her words. "yeah, she's amazing. but i should probably get back to her soon."

gracie nodded in understanding. "of course! i'm glad we got to catch up, though. don't be a stranger, okay?"

you gave her another quick hug. "i won't. we'll hang out soon, promise."

with that, you started to make your way back to where taylor and lana were still deep in conversation. as you approached, you noticed taylor glance over at you, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw you. she subtly raised her hand, beckoning you closer.

you reached her side and she immediately slipped an arm around your waist, pulling you in close without interrupting her conversation with lana. the physical contact grounded you, her presence steady and comforting.

"you okay?" taylor whispered in your ear as lana momentarily looked away.

you nodded, leaning into her. "yeah, just wanted to say hi to gracie. missed you, though."

taylor smiled, her eyes softening. "i missed you too."

you felt the warmth in her gaze, and as she tightened her hold on you, the noise and chaos of the night faded into the background again, her presence making everything feel just right.