"Heaven ft. Marshmello" exploded online, hitting 5 million views in just two days - a breakthrough moment for Christopher's career. The comment section buzzed with speculation, particularly about the mysterious Lucid. His tall, athletic figure and striking blue eyes captured viewers' imagination, spawning countless theories about his identity.
The masked woman in the video sparked even more intrigue. The intimate scenes between her and Lucid - tender embraces and meaningful glances - set social media ablaze with speculation and envy.
"Who's that girl with Lucid? 😭 I thought he was single!" one comment read.
"That hair color and those eyes... Is it Taylor Swift?" another suggested.
"No way, she moves just like Jennifer Lawrence. Look at her height too!"
Despite the mask, Jennifer's distinctive features - her honey-blonde hair and expressive eyes - had inadvertently sparked recognition among observant fans. The comments section became a detective board of sorts, with viewers analyzing every frame for clues.
Meanwhile, in his apartment, Christopher scrolled through the comments. While most focused on Lucid and his mysterious female companion, he noticed growing interest in his own persona:
"Who's the guy with the marshmallow helmet? His beats are fire 🔥"
"It's Marshmello - read the title lol. But yeah, his production is amazing"
As he watched the view count climb steadily, Christopher felt a surge of inspiration. The video's success made him consider something he hadn't before - perhaps it was time to create a music video for "Joy" as well. The mysterious persona approach was clearly working, and he wanted to capitalize on this momentum.
***
In his home studio, Lucas scrolled through dozens of emails flooding the Lucid account. Record labels were scrambling to sign the mysterious artist after "Heaven's" success, but Lucas had no intention of signing with any of them. Being independent gave him the freedom he needed to navigate both his public and private musical personas.
Two days after the video's release, an unexpected message arrived - this time to his personal account. Taylor Swift was requesting a song, offering a substantial sum for his songwriting services.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, mind drifting to the vast catalogue of music from his previous life. He spent hours at his desk, writing down potential songs that might suit Taylor's current style and career trajectory. The pages filled quickly, but choosing the right one proved challenging. Each song carried its own weight of history and meaning from his past life.
"Still thinking what song to write for Taylor?" Jennifer's voice interrupted his thoughts as she settled beside him on the studio couch.
Lucas nodded, absently shuffling the papers. "Yeah, it's kind of hard to choose—" he caught himself mid-sentence, "I mean, kind of hard to think of good songs that will fit her."
He had almost said 'hard to choose which songs from his previous life that will fit Taylor better.' That would have been impossible to explain to Jennifer.
"Did you already have an example? Maybe I could listen and tell you if it's any good."
"Actually, I do have something," Lucas said, reaching for his guitar. "Let me show you."
He positioned the guitar in his lap and began strumming the gentle opening chords. His voice softened as he sang:
"Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you..."
Jennifer sat perfectly still, gradually drawn in by the performance as she always was. The Carpenters' classic took on new life through his interpretation, filling the studio with its timeless melody. When the final notes faded, her eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
"I think that song will fit Taylor well!"
Lucas smiled, already imagining how Taylor would interpret the classic. "I hope she'll sing it well."
Later that evening, he recorded a simple video of himself performing the song and sent it to Taylor. As he hit 'send,' he couldn't help but appreciate the irony - a beloved song from his past life about to find new life through another artist's voice.
***
In her recording studio, Taylor sat surrounded by half-written lyrics and discarded melody ideas. She'd been experimenting with different styles, adjusting the metronome repeatedly, but nothing felt right. The creative block was frustrating, but she knew it happened to every artist occasionally.
During a much-needed break, she checked her phone and noticed Lucas's message. Opening the video, she watched as he performed "Close to You," his voice carrying the melody with a warmth that immediately captured her attention. By the time the last note faded, she was already hitting the call button.
"Hello?" Lucas's voice came through.
"Lucas, that song is perfect," Taylor said, her voice brimming with excitement. "I'll double my original offer. The song needs to be mine."
A soft chuckle came from Lucas's end. "Of course, I'll accept the offer," he said, then added warmly, "But hey, if you're free, would you mind doing me a favor? My friend Paul Sterling's wedding is next week - would you be willing to perform there? And maybe debut 'Close to You'?"
Taylor recalled seeing Paul's wedding announcement on social media a few weeks ago - Lucas's old roommate from their struggling actor days.
"Okay, deal," she said immediately, smiling at how Lucas had turned a business transaction into a friendly favor.
"Great! And if you perform 'Close to You' there, it would be perfect," Lucas added.
"No problem," Taylor replied, already mentally arranging the melody in her head. "It'll be perfect for a wedding."
Lucas proceeded to outline his vision for the song - the arrangement, key changes, and subtle modifications that would suit her voice.
***
The Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles sparkled with wedding decorations as Lucas arrived with Jennifer. Paul's face lit up at the sight of his old friend, pulling Lucas into a warm embrace.
"So you haven't forgotten about your old roommate after all," Paul teased, his eyes crinkling with genuine affection.
Lucas smiled, aware of how their busy acting careers often kept them apart. Their last meeting in New York felt like ages ago. "How could I forget the guy who used to steal my cereal?"
After exchanging greetings with Jennifer, Paul introduced them to Lara, his radiant bride-to-be. As the women drifted off to chat at a nearby table, Paul nudged Lucas's shoulder.
"When are you going to take the plunge?" Paul gestured toward Jennifer. "You and the beautiful Jennifer Lawrence seem rock solid."
"I've been thinking about it," Lucas replied, his expression growing serious. "Just need to handle some business matters first."
His mind drifted to his ongoing concerns - Harvey might be in prison, but Lucas knew better than to underestimate him. Then there was Diddy and others. Hollywood's undercurrent of danger still ran deep.
Paul, oblivious to these darker thoughts, shook his head. "Don't wait too long, man. A woman like that? Someone else might sweep her off her feet."
Lucas managed a smile, then smoothly changed the subject. "Hey, you mentioned Lara's a big Taylor Swift fan, right?"
Paul nodded. "Yeah, that's why I mentioned it to you. Since you're friends with Taylor and all... maybe you could invite her?"
"I did invite her," Lucas replied casually.
Paul smiled, shaking his head. "Come on, man, I was just kidding. You being here is more than enough—"
The sentence remained unfinished as Taylor Swift walked in. A quiet ripple of recognition moved through the guests as she entered the venue.
Paul blinked in surprise, but quickly composed himself. After all, being an actor in Hollywood meant he was no stranger to celebrity appearances.
Taylor spotted them and made her way over. "Thank you for the song, Lucas," she said, then turned to Paul with a warm smile. "Congratulations on your wedding day!"
"Just make sure you do it justice," Lucas responded with a slight grin.
Taylor nodded with a light laugh. "If I didn't do the song justice, I wouldn't forgive myself."
"Song? What song?" Paul asked, curiosity getting the better of his position as groom.
Lucas briefly explained his arrangement with Taylor, how he'd written the song and their deal for her to perform it at the wedding. Paul fell quiet for a moment, touched by the effort his old friend had put into making his wedding day special.
After some quick coordination with the wedding planner and band, Taylor took her place at the front. The guests, already enchanted by her surprise appearance, fell silent as she began to sing:
"Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you"
The band followed her lead perfectly, the arrangement flowing smoothly as if they'd rehearsed it for weeks. Taylor's voice carried the gentle melody through the venue:
"Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you"
Jennifer nestled against Lucas's shoulder, swaying slightly to the music. Across the table, Lara turned to Paul, her eyes bright with wonder. "Did Taylor write this specially for us?"
Paul shook his head, smiling. "Actually, Lucas wrote it."
"On the day that you were born the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue"
As the lyrics painted their picture, several heads at their table turned toward Lucas, taking in his golden hair and blue eyes. Paul leaned over with a smirk, keeping his voice low. "Hey man, are you sure this is my wedding? Because that song's describing you better than me."
Jennifer and Lara stifled their laughter, glancing between Lucas and Paul - one with golden hair and blue eyes, the other with his dark hair and brown eyes. The irony wasn't lost on anyone at their table.
***
***
***
(Close To You - Carpenters)