31: B a c k T o D e c e m b e r

And then the cold came, the dark daysWhen fear crept into my mind

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December 13th 2024

The Era Tour officially ended on the 8th of December. It was the morning of Taylor's birthday, well it was 2:45AM.

Amerie was the only one awake in their Rhode Island mansion, normally they used this as their vacation home, but Taylor wanted to throw herself a 35th birthday party.

Amerie had been working on a painting of her and her Mom dancing in the kitchen, she'd been working on it for weeks, but it was still not finished, she needed to add the last finishing touches.

"Amerie.. what are you doing up at this Time" Taylor said walking into Amerie's bedroom.

"Could say the same to you" Amerie said, it was clear she was tired.

"I needed the bathroom then saw your light on, exactly why are you painting at this time in the morning" Taylor said rubbing her eyes, she was still rather tired.

"It's a surprise for your birthday" Amerie sighed.

"Awh, that's very sweet, but please can you get some rest, you can sleep in my bedroom" Taylor offered.

"Yeah" Amerie said.

Amerie's glasses were slightly slipping down off her face, so Taylor pushed them back up and bopped her nose.

"I'll meet you back in my room get some rest please!" Taylor begged.

Amerie made her way to her Mom's bedroom and layed her head on the pillow.

Taylor walked back in climbing into bed and sighed at Amerie.

"Amerie I'm worried about you, these past few months you haven't been handling the interviews, the photoshoots. I'm just scared this isn't what you wanted, I'm scared that this is not for you. I support your dreams, but I just don't want you getting hurt, the industry it's harsh and leaves you feeling so many complicated emotions" Taylor vented.

"Oh, I guess I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't think it would be so soon. It's my first album, sometimes I think people are only listening to it and it's getting recognition because your my Mom and you promoted it a lot, which made me happy as your proud of me, but I feel like I'm only known because of you." Amerie sighed.

"Being the daughter of a celebrity, I don't know how that feels like, but you do and I can tell it's hard, being famous is hard enough, but for you it's even hard. But Ri-Ri, you are everything to me" Taylor said hugging Amerie closely.

"People say I'm an inspiration, but I don't want to be just an inspiration, I want others to feel like they belong, they are understood. I want to help others, not be an inspiration" Amerie confessed.

"Amerie you are more then an inspiration, and you know how I know that, it's because your a Swift and Swift women are powerful, intelligent, kind women. You Amerie are Amerie Marjorie Swift, you need to own your name, make people see you how to want to be seen, it's hard but it's worth it" Taylor said stroking Amerie's hair and kissing her forehead.

"Thank you" Amerie yawned.

"Now get some rest" Taylor chuckled.

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Amerie woke up to her Mom sipping coffee in bed.

"Morning beautiful" Taylor said smiling at her daughter.

Amerie's hair was in its natural curled state, she rubbed her eyes and searched for her glasses and placed them on her face.

"Morning and happy birthday" Amerie yawned.

"Thank you" Taylor said kissing Amerie's forehead.

"Smells nice" Amerie said smelling the scent of food.

"I've made almond and cinnamon croissants for breakfast, if you want cereal instead you can" Taylor offered.

"The croissants sound good" Amerie smiled.

Amerie left her Mom's bedroom to grab breakfast, she plated up a croissant and poured some of her favourite chocolate milk.

"Couldn't even wait to eat breakfast with me?" Taylor chuckled

"Sorry I'm hungry" Amerie said stuffing her face with the croissant.

Over the few months, Amerie had a major growth spurt, her body had started to develop into a woman's body. She had grown a lot taller, she was still shorter then her Mom, but now she was 5'3 instead of 4'8.

"Slow down, you'll make yourself choke" Taylor chuckled

"Mhm, I've just been so hungry recently" Amerie groaned.

"Good, means you're growing" Taylor chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Can I pick out what you're wearing today please!" Amerie asked.

"Well luckily I bought three new dresses that I need your opinion on which to wear, but only if you wear what I got you" Taylor smirked.

"Okay deal" Amerie chuckled.

"I'll show you the dresses" Taylor said leading Amerie into her closet.

Taylor layed out the dresses, they were each the same sparkled dress just in different colours, one green, one navy, one black.

"The navy" Amerie said.

"Knew you would pick that, well I guess we are matching tonight" Taylor chuckled pulling out the exact same dress but in Amerie's size.

"Okay but you have to wear the navy blue hair bows I have, and the navy blue heels we have matching" Amerie asked.

"Perfect! Outfits sorted, now hair. Half up, half down curled?" Taylor asked.

"Yes!" Amerie said excitedly.

"I have some decorations to put up, if you want to help. Also I'm going to be baking cinnamon rolls, pop tarts and cookies, also I ordered a cake" Taylor said checking her phone for when it would arrive.

"Better get to work then" Amerie chuckled.

The two Swifts ran to the living room pulling out boxes of decorations, Taylor immediately turned on Gracie's album The Secret of Us and burst out singing.

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After hours of decorating, baking and cooking, the party was sure coming together and guests would be arriving soon.

Wine bottles layed out nicely, the table set full of food and baked goods.

Guests had started to arrive, people like Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and their children, followed by Selena Gomez, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers.

Celebrity guests, family and friends Taylor had known since school arrived.

"Aunt Abigail!" Amerie said when Abigail rushed up to Taylor.

"Hi Amerie!" Abigail greeted.

Taylor and Abigail hugged then rushed off to the Photo Booth, the Swift birthday classic.

"Hey" Amerie heard the voice of two teenagers, a male and female.

"Who are you..?" Amerie asked she generally had no idea who these teenagers were.

"Oh I'm Riley James and this is my twin sister Rory James, our parents were invited, they knew Taylor in school, well our Mom did" The blonde boy explained.

"Oh well hi" Amerie said, there was something about this boy that she liked, was it how his eyes sparkled or how his hair flowed.

"You're Amerie right?" Rory asked.

"Yeah" Amerie nodded.

"Sorry about Riley he just has a crush on you" Rory chuckled.

"Roryyyyy, can't you ever keep a secret" Riley groaned.

Amerie let out a small chuckle and tucked her hair behind her ears, she was blushing. It was obvious she liked him, she only just met him. Amerie shrugged off her thoughts and was faced with Riley also blushing. A rather awkward moment.

" I should probably go.. and er find my Mom.." Amerie stuttered.

Amerie walked off instead of going to find her Mom she headed to her bedroom.

Opening up Instagram she searched up Riley's name, she found his profile and clicked on it.

He'd just made a post recently, she clicked on it and her finger hovered over the like button.

Benji came jumping on the bed and her finger clicked the like button.

"Shit, shit, shit, nooo, Benji why???" Amerie cursed.

He would sure now she was stalking his socials now.

This was not good, not good at all.

She unliked the post, but it was too late Riley had followed her account.

"Crap what have I done" Amerie mumbled.

"Done what?" Amerie heard Blake's voice.

"Nothing.." Amerie mumbled.

"Amerie, you're terrible at lying" Blake chuckled.

"Well I totally just met a boy, who was really cute, told him I was going to find Mom, but err I came in here then searched for his socials then liked his post, I unliked but he followed me, I'm doomed. He's going to know I like him and I was stalking his instagram, this is just absolute hell, I've messed up so bad" Amerie rambled.

Blake bursted out in laughter, then was followed by a familiar sound of laughter, her Mom's. She heard it all, shit, shit, shit.

"You did that? God my daughter is an actual teenager for once!" Taylor chuckled.

"It's not funny it's embarrassing and humiliating, I can never show my face again." Amerie said hiding under her blanket.

"It's not that bad" Taylor said.

"Not that bad... it's terrible" Amerie sighed.

"Well you can't hide forever" Taylor said pulling the blanket off.

"I can and I will" Amerie sulked.

"What's his name?" Blake asked curiously

"Ughh! Riley James.. something like that" Amerie sighed.

"Wait, Riley James? No way, never thought you would be into him. I know his Mom, such a sweet person, her kids are too" Taylor teased.

"Oh my gosh, stoppppp it" Amerie groaned.

"Noooo, my baby is falling in loveeeee" Taylor chuckled.

"Oh my god, I'm not I've literally just met him" Amerie sighed.

"I'm only teasing, but go get him girlie!" Taylor chuckled.

"Stop it" Amerie sighed

Taylor pulled Amerie into a hug and kissed her forehead, giving her a big smile.