𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟎𝟏. 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥

She paced the confines of her trailer, the rhythmic tap of her heels echoing against the walls, as she sipped her iced black Americano through a straw, careful not to smudge the carefully crafted makeup. 

Her hands trembled slightly, smudging the running mascara beneath her eyes, a mix of nerves and excitement swirling inside her like a tempest. The low hum of the trailer's air conditioning contrasted with the frantic pounding of her heart.

"Can you add some glitter?" Suki sighed, her voice shaking as she turned to her best friend, Gracie, who was busy fumbling through her makeup bag. "I don't want anyone to know I was crying." Her voice hollow.

"Absolutely," Gracie replied, her tone brisk and focused, dipping a brush into silver sparkles and dusting them beneath Suki's lower lashes. The glimmer caught the light, transforming her eyes into pools of shimmering allure. "You look perfect."

Taking the sharp tip of her long nails Suki perfected her cat eyeliner to be as sharp as her words.

The door banged open again. "Suki! Open up!" His voice sent a bolt of electricity through her, twisting her stomach into knots. 

It was a sound that both thrilled and terrified her, stirring memories of late-night laughter and whispered secrets shared under the stars, now tainted by bitter memories.

Gracie turned, blotting her lips with a kiss, the intimacy of the moment grounding Suki. "You ready?"

"Ready to perform? Or ready to deal with that motherfucker?" Suki smirked, her sly smile morphing into a grin that belied the anxiety bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Either one, you're going to kill it." Gracie pulled her into a quick hug, the warmth of their friendship wrapping around her like a protective shield.

"Excuse me, sir, can you step aside?" A muffled voice wrapped in a foreign accent tapped on the door. "Miss Monroe, we need to get you mic'd."

Suki studied her reflection, pulling her skirt up slightly, adjusting her cleavage as if it could somehow alter the gravity of the moment. The fabric hugged her curves, making her feel both powerful and vulnerable. 

She spritzed her signature perfume into the air, inhaling deeply, feeling the familiar scent swirl around her like an invisible armour. "Okay, let's do it."

With a click of the door, her heels thudded down the trailer steps, each step a reminder of the world waiting outside, a world where lights flashed and hearts raced.

"Suki, baby, we need to talk." His voice was smooth, almost too calm, as he paced behind her, his guitar swinging gently against his back, the leather strap crossing over his shoulder like a reminder of their shared history. "Please, talk to me."

She rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling just below the surface, but there was an undeniable pull to him, a magnetism that made her heart race despite herself. 

His tousled hair caught the sunlight, the waves glimmering like spun gold, framing a face that was both rugged and striking. His jawline was sharp, accentuated by a hint of stubble that added an air of danger to his otherwise boyish charm. 

"You choose now? After six months? To talk to me?"

"You choose now, after six months, to perform an entire album about me?" His tone was defensive, a familiar dance they'd done before, and she could feel the weight of unresolved issues crackling in the air between them.

"Shawn, I'm about to get on stage," she stated, trying to maintain her composure, but the way his eyes bore into hers made it hard to breathe.

"Look," Gracie interjected, sensing the rising tension. Suki shot her a warning glance, the last thing she needed was an audience.