Starstruck

13. Egypt

Sleep wasn't coming. Egypt lay in her team house bedroom, mind racing between guilt and want, between what was right and what felt inevitable. Her saxophone case seemed to glow in the moonlight, calling her like it always did when her heart was too full.

The house was quiet at 2 AM, but soft piano notes drifted up from the main studio. Egypt knew that touch on the keys, knew who she'd find if she followed the sound. Knew she shouldn't.

She went anyway.

Safiya sat at the piano, locs loose around her shoulders, protection beads gleaming in the low light. The melody she played was new - something raw and wanting that made Egypt's chest ache.

Before she could stop herself, Egypt lifted her saxophone. The harmony came natural as breathing, their sounds weaving together like they were made for this moment.

Safiya didn't startle, didn't stop playing. "Knew you'd come," she said softly, her careful accent slipping into something more island, more real. "Always feel when yuh near."

Egypt's heart thundered at the intimacy in her voice. They played together, letting music say what they couldn't. Each note felt like confession, like prayer, like danger.

The song ended but neither moved. The space between them crackled with everything unsaid.

"That's new," Egypt managed finally, voice barely a whisper.

"Wrote it last night." Safiya's fingers traced piano keys absently. "After..." she hesitated. "After dreaming bout you."

Egypt's breath caught. They stared at each other in the dim studio light, the air heavy with possibility. Safiya stood slowly, drawn closer like gravity. The protection beads at her wrist glowed warm in the darkness.

Egypt's phone shattered the moment - Karma's FaceTime call lighting up the studio.

Reality crashed back. Egypt stumbled backward, guilt choking her. "I should... I need to..."

"Go," Safiya's queen persona slid back into place. "It's late anyway."

But her accent had slipped again on that last word, and something in Egypt's chest broke at the sound.

She didn't answer Karma's call. Couldn't trust her voice. Instead, she wandered the house until sunrise, eventually finding herself in the kitchen. Cooking always helped her think.

"Smells good." Maxwell's voice made her jump. He sat in his usual meditation spot, eyes closed. "Ancestors been busy tonight. Energy all stirred up."

"Sorry if we... if I disturbed your peace."

His smile was gentle. "Some disturbances meant to happen. Some energy needs stirring."

Before Egypt could respond, Leila appeared. Her careful assessment felt heavier than usual.

"Early morning session?" Her tone was pointed.

"Couldn't sleep," Egypt focused on the stove.

"Seems to be going around. Queen was up all night too."

Maxwell's quiet "Leila" held warning.

"Just saying," Leila's voice softened slightly. "People could get hurt here. People I care about."

Egypt's hands trembled as she plated breakfast. "I would never hurt-"

"Not on purpose, maybe." Leila squeezed her shoulder as she passed. "But hearts don't always follow plans."

Marcus found Egypt stress-baking later that morning. He watched her knead dough with more force than necessary, saying nothing until she was ready.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she whispered finally.

"Yeah you do." His voice was gentle. "You're just scared to admit it."

Rehearsal that afternoon felt charged. Every time Egypt played with Safiya, electricity filled the room. Their sound had changed - deeper, richer, more intimate somehow.

"That's the one," Marcus Chen announced after their third take. "Whatever's happening between you two? Bottle it. That's Grammy material right there."

Egypt caught Safiya touching her beads, noticed her hands shaking slightly before she clasped them behind her back. Noticed everything about her these days.

"Again," Safiya called, voice carefully controlled. "From the bridge."

But when Egypt played, Safiya's queen persona cracked just slightly. Their eyes met across the studio and time stopped, music flowing between them like love songs neither should be thinking.

That night, alone in her room, Egypt finally listened to Karma's voicemail. Sweet words about missing her, about plans to visit. Every word felt like guilt in her chest.

Her saxophone gleamed in the moonlight. Below, piano notes drifted up again, calling her like destiny.

Egypt touched her lips, remembering how close they'd stood in the dark studio. How natural it had felt. How right and wrong and inevitable.

Her heart knew what it wanted.

That's what scared her most of all.