𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟎𝟒. 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞

A few weeks had passed in a blur of flashing lights and relentless schedules. 

Six months ago, Suki's world had flipped upside down, trading her quiet life for the chaos of stardom, and she still hadn't quite caught her breath. She was trying to keep up, trying to find her footing in this new reality.

Every Thursday, she and Gracie would meet for dinner with their suddenly expanded circle of friends.

 Hollywood, the place where everyone knew everyone, had become her world now. Trendy restaurants buzzed with familiar faces, laughter, and gossip, the clink of glasses mingling with the hum of recognition. 

Yet, as much as she enjoyed the attention, Suki often felt like she was playing dress-up—teetering in her mother's heels, determined not to fall.

Now, after a month of grueling rehearsals for her upcoming tour, she woke up each morning with bruised knees and a back that ached from the constant strain. 

Her routine started with a trip to the café around the corner from Warner Bros. studio, where her team met for rehearsals that stretched well into the night.

The studio was a maze of sound stages, alive with energy and expectation. But Suki found comfort in the little coffee shop tucked between the buildings, its warmth a contrast to the cold, harsh world outside.

Every day, dressed in a snug sports bra and oversized sweatpants that hung off her frame, she stood in line, breathing in the rich scent of coffee and pastries. 

The bitterness of her black coffee grounded her, a small reminder of who she was before the fame. Before the crowds. 

Before the world started to define her.

For just a moment, she felt like herself again. Then the pull of her phone—a constant reminder of the madness—would bring her back to reality. 

She fought the urge to check Twitter, to see what the world was saying about her that day. 

Who was she dating? What scandal had they cooked up now? 

She chuckled quietly to herself at the absurdity of it all.

But even amidst the chaos, she held on to that one truth. She wasn't just Suki Monroe, the rising star. She was still the girl with a dream, and no matter how crazy life got, nothing could take that away from her.

"Hey," a warm voice whispered softly, almost like a secret, as it brushed against her ear. The sound was low and rich, a melody all its own that sent a shiver down her spine.

 Suki nearly stumbled over her sneakers, her heart racing as she turned to find herself craning her neck upward.

Drew motherfucking Starkey.

He was closer than she expected, a living embodiment of charisma and casual confidence, his hair buzzed off just enough to look effortlessly cool. 

The moment their eyes locked, a spark flickered between them—one that made the surrounding chaos fade into a distant hum.

"Hi," she managed to reply, half baffled and half exhilarated, the word spilling from her lips like it was wrapped in a layer of disbelief. 

Before she could collect her thoughts, he leaned in, pulling her into a hug that enveloped her in warmth. His arms were strong, solid against her back, grounding her in a way she hadn't anticipated.

His cologne engulfed her senses, rich and intoxicating—Tom Ford Tobacco Oud. It was a scent she knew all too well, a lingering aroma that filled the air and clouded her thoughts.