𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟐𝟐. 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐲

"Suki!" Madelyn's voice cut through the tension like a blade. Suki's head snapped around, spotting her friend pacing toward them with purpose, her jaw set like she was ready to throw down.

Mads didn't even hesitate, shoving Drew back as if they were siblings bickering over something small—but nothing about this was small. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she shot at him, fury flashing in her eyes. "For fuck's sake, Drew!"

Mads wrapped her in a hug, pulling her in tight. "Hey, hey. I'm done shooting for the day. Let's get out of here."

Suki wiped her face quickly, embarrassed to have let him see her break. But as Mads held her, the coldness settled back into her, that cool armour she'd been perfecting for years. She stepped back, straightened her spine, and levelled her gaze at Drew.

"It's too bad," she said suddenly, her voice sharp, the words slicing through the air. "I thought you were the kind of man who could handle me. But evidently, you're not." Her chin tilted up, defiance in every inch of her. "And now you'll have to watch the world love me."

Madelyn didn't say anything, but the glint of pride in her eyes spoke volumes. Suki could feel it too—this power, this strength that had been growing inside her ever since she left Drew behind. 

She'd let him hurt her once. Let him break her heart and fool her into thinking his love was something she couldn't live without. But now? 

She wasn't that dumb girl anymore.

There it was. The way his eyes darkened, the flicker of something primal behind them, like he was both infuriated and intrigued all over again. Drew never did like being told he'd lost control. And Suki, well, she was always just out of reach, slipping through his fingers right when he thought he had her.

"You think showing up here, saying a few words, changes anything?" She shook her head, lips curling in a way that was almost cruel. "You were fucking Odessa the whole time, Drew. You think a grand declaration is going to erase that? Please." She rolled her eyes.

Drew's stepping closer, his breath practically brushing her skin. He leaned in just enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him. 

She scoffed, rolling her eyes even as her pulse quickened, a flush creeping up her neck. "Oh, save it, Drew. You think sweet words are going to fix this?" She stepped closer, too, until there was barely any space between them, their faces inches apart. The tension crackled between them, thick and electric, like the air before a storm. "I'm not the girl who falls for your bullshit anymore."

His lips twitched, but his eyes stayed locked on hers, refusing to back down.  She could feel the pull of him, the same one that had always existed between them, dragging her in even when she swore she'd stay away. It pissed her off how much she still wanted him, even now, even after everything.

Drew tilted his head, his eyes dropping to her lips for just a second before dragging back up to meet her gaze. He murmured, his voice a low rasp. "You think this is over? Baby, it's never been over. Not for a second."

"Next time you want to see me," she said, tilting her head with a smirk, "buy a ticket, Starkey."

The smirk that spread across his face was infuriatingly slow, like he knew exactly what she was doing—and liked it. "See you at the meet and greet, baby," he called after her, that cocky edge back in his tone.

She turned, slipping her sunglasses on with a flick of her wrist, tossing her hair over her shoulder. But as she walked away, she could feel his eyes on her, the tension still simmering, unresolved and inevitable.

She didn't turn back, didn't let him see the way her hands trembled just slightly at her sides.

"SUKI!"