Page 72 of Fangirl

By 4:00 p.m.,the day of the premiere, I’m a bundle ofnerves.

It’s ridiculous, really. I’m not the one walking a red carpet. I’m not the one about to be blinded by a thousand camera flashes or asked inane questions by reporters. But still, my stomach is a mess—a twisting, fluttering knot of anxiety and anticipation that won’t settle.

Rebecca hums as she finishes the last touch of my makeup, stepping back to admire her work. “Okay, now you can look.”

I exhale, then turn to the mirror.

For a second, I don’t recognize myself.

The dress.Thatdress is somehow even more stunning now that I’m wearing it. Midnight blue, shimmering like a sky full of stars, the sheer bodice delicate yet daring, hinting at just enough without giving too much away. The velvet band cinches my waist perfectly, and the way the pleated skirt flows down to the floor makes me feel like I belong in some kind of ethereal fairy tale.

And my hair? Rebecca outdid herself. It’s swept up in an elegant but soft updo, wisps of brown curls left loose to frame my face. My makeup is flawless, subtle but polished, just enough to make my features pop without feeling like a mask.

I look… beautiful. A realPersefiaprincess.

I can’t help but smile at the thought.

Maya lets out a low whistle from where she’s lounging on my bed. “Damn. Damn. The hot nerd isdonefor.”

I roll my eyes, but my lips twitch into a smile.

Speaking of Eli…

He offered to meet before the premiere, but I couldn’t.The thought of him seeing me exhausted, overwhelmed, and riddled with anxiety felt too exposing. Tonight, I need to be my best self, the Amy who isn’t running on nerves and caffeine alone.

Looking at my reflection now, I know I made the right choice.

My phone beeps, breaking the moment. A text from the car service sent by Eli’s production company letting me know they’re on their way.

Maya stretches, tilting her head. “He must be one hell of a special effects guy to get this kind of VIP treatment.”

I scrunch my nose. “I know, right? It’s weird.” I shake my head, trying to brush off the nagging feeling crawling up my spine. It’s just anxiety, surely. First-date nerves, even if we’ve been talking for months. But still… a small part of me can’t shake the feeling that I’m missingsomething.

Maya sits up and grabs my shoulders, forcing me to meet her gaze. “Hey. I know that look. And I’m telling you right now—don’t do this.” She tightens her grip like she can physically shake the doubt out of me. “You don’t need to wait for the other shoe to drop. You don’t need to dig for something wrong with the man or the situation. You deserve this. You deserve love. You deserve the goddamn fairy tale. So don’t sabotage it before it even begins. Breathe. Get in that damn car and have the best night of your life with your man.”

I exhale slowly, forcing the tension from my shoulders.

Then I smile. “Okay.”

Maya grins, satisfied. “Damn right, okay.”

A car horn sounds outside.

Igrab the cashmere shawl Maya lent me for the occasion, wrapping it snugly around my shoulders. It’s December in London, which means freezing, but I’ve never seen anyone wear a coat or jacket on the red carpet, so it’ll have to do. Not that I plan to be outside for long—five minutes, tops, just enough time to make my way into the Odeon Luxe.

Sliding into the backseat of the luxury sedan, I smooth my dress, my fingers lightly tracing over the delicate fabric. The car glides away from the curb, the city lights flickering past the windows.

“We should be there in about thirty minutes,” the driver says, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

I nod, offering a polite smile. “Thank you. Traffic must be decent today.”

It usually takes about forty minutes from Tooting to Leicester Square, but right now, time feels both too fast and agonizingly slow.

In half an hour, I’ll be seeing Eli…for the first time.

And despite everything Maya said, despite the excitement humming beneath my skin…

I can’t shake the feeling that nothing will ever be the same after tonight.