𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧' 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 ─────⋆⋅★𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘺

𝟐𝟕. 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝

The sunlight seeped in through the curtains of Suki's living room, casting warm, lazy patterns on the walls. She blinked in the soft morning glow, her body relaxed in a way that felt unfamiliar and strange. It was her house, but it was like she was seeing it through someone else's eyes. Or maybe it was the fact that she was sharing this space with Drew, something she hadn't done since... well, since that night after the VMAs. The memory washed over her, unbidden and heady, reminding her of all the warmth and laughter that filled the spaces between them.

Drew stretched his legs out on her couch, sinking into the cushion with an easy familiarity that surprised her. "This couch has seen some things," he teased, glancing her way as he draped his arm over the back. "Or, I guess, we have."

She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, swatting his arm lightly. "We're not going there."

"No?" he said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with that playful glint she loved. "So we're not talking about how that night completely ruined me for anyone else?"

"Drew!" she laughed, trying to give him a stern look, but she couldn't hold back her grin.

"Fine, fine. No talking," he winked, his voice soft but his gaze warm as he stretched, settling deeper into the sofa. It hit her how naturally he fit here, sprawled out in her space as if he'd always belonged. As if, somehow, they both had.

For the past week, they'd mostly stayed inside, savoring these quiet, stolen moments together. Drew had even started sneaking out in the mornings to grab her favorite coffee, slipping back in with a shy grin and a baseball cap pulled low to avoid any paparazzi lurking outside. They had been in this little bubble, safe and unhurried, shielded from the flashing lights and prying eyes. But something shifted in the air between them as he glanced down at his watch, his expression softening as he said, "I'm going back to Charleston soon."

His words lingered, marking the end of their sanctuary, and she felt the bubble pop, just a little. "Right. To finish the season," she said, trying to keep her voice casual.

"Yeah. Just a few more weeks of filming," he murmured, studying her face. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she answered quickly, trying not to think about the idea of him leaving. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it. But he could see right through her.

Drew leaned forward, placing a gentle hand on her arm, his thumb brushing her wrist as he searched her face. "Hey. You don't have to pretend with me."

And just like that, the wall she'd put up crumbled. "They... threatened to drop me," she confessed, the words bitter but freeing.

Drew's expression tightened, but he stayed quiet, letting her continue.

"They said my career's been too 'unpredictable,'" she said with a humorless laugh. "I had to remind them I've brought them millions, that my last two albums went platinum. But they're giving me one last chance. A month-long tour to prove I'm still... viable."

Drew's fingers tightened around her wrist, his jaw clenched. "That's ridiculous," he murmured, voice steady but simmering with anger. "You're not just 'viable.' You're... Suki. They don't deserve you."

She looked down at their joined hands, a small comfort grounding her. "Thank you," she whispered. "It's just... hard. I don't know how I'm going to pull it all together."

"You're not alone in this," he said without hesitation, as if he'd already decided. "Whatever you need, I'm there. And if you need a break, a place to hide from it all..." He gestured around as if LA itself were the problem. "Come to Charleston with me. We'll escape. My sister's birthday's coming up, and I'd love for you to come. I know she'd want to meet you."