𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟏𝟐. 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧

The sun peeked through the grey clouds over London, casting a soft light into the intimate space where Suki, Gracie, and Tucker had gathered. 

The studio, filled with the scent of aged wood and the whispers of countless songs, felt like a sanctuary, a refuge from the storm brewing in Suki's heart. It was the kind of place that promised solace, and today, she craved that sense of safety more than ever.

"Are you ready to get lost in your feelings?" Gracie asked, her eyes sparkling with encouragement as she set her phone on the small table, poised to document the magic they might create together.

Suki chuckled lightly, the sound hollow as it echoed in the studio, but her heart felt heavy, burdened by unspoken words. 

"I guess it's now or never," she replied, glancing around the room, her gaze landing on the guitar propped against the wall, its wood worn from years of love. It felt like a lifeline—an anchor in the turbulent waters of her emotions.

"Let's do this," Tucker said, his voice steady as he picked up the guitar and settled onto a well-loved stool in the centre of the room. "Just you, me, and a little bit of music. What do you want to start with?"

Suki took a deep breath, the weight of the past week pressing down on her like a thick fog. 

The silence in the studio felt amplified, as if the room itself was holding its breath, waiting for her to speak. She moved closer to Gracie, her heart racing with anxiety. 

"I don't know if I can sing right now," she admitted, her voice wavering like a fragile whisper. "I've been feeling so lost."

"Then let's talk," Gracie suggested gently, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her gaze steady and warm as it enveloped Suki. "What's been going on with you and Drew?"

"Everything," Suki murmured, biting her lip to stifle the wave of tears threatening to break free.

"I texted him last week, asking to talk, and he left me on read, again. It feels like I'm just waiting for him to decide if he wants me in his life, like I'm some kind of backup plan." Her words hung in the air, raw and exposed.

Tucker's fingers paused on the strings, his expression turning serious. "That's a heavy weight to carry, especially when you deserve so much more."

"Right?" Suki replied, her voice breaking as the tears finally spilled over, tracing warm paths down her cheeks. 

"But the worst part is that every time I see those photos of him with Odessa, it feels like a knife to my heart. 

I can't help but wonder if I'm just second best. Does he even care about me? Or is he just waiting for me to be okay with being the option he chooses when it's convenient?" The words felt like a confession, a surrender to her insecurities.

Gracie stepped forward, her voice firm yet tender, reaching out to catch Suki's gaze. "You are not an option, Suki. You're so much more than that. But you need to know what you want, too. Are you willing to keep holding onto something that isn't serving you?"