BACK TO YOU ━━ rudy pankow ¹

lxvii. karaoke gone wrong

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔
SIXTY SEVEN — ( KARAOKE GONE WRONG ! )

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUN NIGHT OUT FOR THE OUTER BANKS CAST. They deserved a night spent with their friends, drama free. After working nonstop for the past month, it was what they deserved. It should never have ended the way it had. With half of them storming out by the time the bar had closed.

The conversation that had started it had been completely innocent at the beginning. They were just talking about the show, how funny it would be if Sydney's character, Juliet, ended up with Rafe at one point. With how the season was going and the scripts they had read so far, it wasn't a complete stretch. It hadn't meant to turn into such a horrible conversation.

But Elaine had been invited so they couldn't say they were really that surprised. They hadn't even wanted her there but Madelyn and Sydney had invited the new assistant on set, Isabella, so they felt as though they had to extend the invitation.

Chase had made a comment about how weird it would be if Sydney and Drew had to kiss, and they all had to watch. That was all that was said, the group laughed and were going to move on but Elaine just had to open her mouth and ruin the whole night in three words.

"Well, that'll be alright." Elaine spoke up. "They've had practice." She said, smiling. All eyes shot to her, confused and shocked looks across everybody's faces. Drew, Madelyn and Sydney all shared a confused look with each other.

"What?" Drew forced out a laugh.

"What are you talking about?" The colour from Sydney's face had drained. How did Elaine know about that kiss? She had discreetly glanced at Drew, who looked just as pale as she did.

"What?" Elaine laughed. "Well, just that Drew and Sydney have kissed before so it won't be anything new to them." Elaine told the group. She knew it was risky to say it in front of everybody, she wasn't even sure if Rudy had already been told.

"Okay, funny." Austin let out a laugh, there was no way Sydney and Drew had kissed without any of them knowing about it, right?

"You two have kissed, right?" Elaine looked at Sydney, and then to Drew.

"Where did you hear that?" Madelyn asked her, beginning to panic. How did she even know about the kiss? Nobody had mentioned it in months.

Elaine shrugged her shoulders. "I heard Madison telling Mariah." Which was the truth, but it still was not her place to have said anything. Especially not in front of everyone.

"So you were easedropping?" Madison shot back, a look of disgust on her face as she looked at Elaine.

Rudy scoffed, eyes darted from Sydney to Drew, and back again. "Why aren't either of you denying it?"

"Rudy—" Sydney tried talking but he wouldn't let her, not when he could see the pure fear on her face.

"No, you're not denying it." Rudy pointed out. Neither Sydney nor Drew were trying to deny it, were trying to claim that Elaine was lying and she didn't know what she was talking about.

"Please let me just talk!" Sydney almost snapped, she just needed to explain. "When we went to Vegas." Sydney started, wanting to just explain the details and hoping that Rudy would understand. But before she could even carry on, Rudy was inturrupting her.

"In Vegas?" Rudy threw his head back and laughed. "Are you fucking with me right now?" He wanted them to tell him it was all a big joke.

"No!" Sydney raised her voice, matching Rudy's volume. "Please let me explain. We were really drunk, and don't even remember it." Sydney felt sick going over what happened in Vegas now Rudy knew the truth. "We only know it happened because Madelyn walked in."

Rudy whipped his head around to Madelyn. "You knew?" He frowned at her. Who else knew? The thought made Rudy feel physically sick.

"Yes I knew." Madelyn admitted. "I'm sorry, I'm confused as to why you're so upset?" Madelyn tilted her head to the side. She didn't see why Rudy was getting so angry. Yes, they kissed but they weren't together. What was the big deal?

Rudy let out a scoff. "You're confused?" Now it was his turn to tilt his head. "Maybe the fact that my girlfriend kissed one of our friends and I didn't know about it." Well, when he worded it like that, it did sound bad. Sydney's heart dropped in her chest as she watched Rudy talk to Madelyn. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"But you two were not together." Madelyn shot back.

The next words out of Rudy's mouth made Drew tense in his seat. "And? I'm not blind, I could see that there was something there between them, so now I know that they actually kissed—"

"We were drunk!" People did stupid things all the time when they were drunk, things they regret. Sydney knew Rudy wasn't immune to that.

But Rudy was hurting. "Does not make it any better."

Sydney's heart was beating so fast she felt as though it was going to burst out of her chest. But she had to stay calm. "You're overreacting."

He scoffed. "Oh am I?"

"Yes!" Sydney knew it wasn't nice for him to hear but she definitely thought he was overreacting.

Rudy shook his head, pushing back on his chair. "I can't do this." He couldn't even look anybody in the eye as he stormed out of the bar.

"Rudy, please." Sydney tried grabbing him but he moved too fast. She locked eyes with Madelyn, who was just as speechless. Sydney wanted some words of advice from Madelyn but it wasn't the time or place. Sydney needed to follow after him. So that's exactly what she did, followed him straight out of the bar.

When Sydney and Rudy were both gone, Madelyn had faced Elaine, who had a rather smug look on her face. "What is wrong with you? Seriously?" Madelyn was furious with her. She knew exactly what she was doing even bringing it up and now she'd possibly caused the end of a relationship.

"What?" Elaine shrugged her shoulders before taking a sip of her drink.

Madelyn shook her head. "You knew exactly what you were doing." She couldn't even look Elaine in the eyes without seething with anger.

It was then silent for a few more moments. No one really knowing what to say, till Drew stood up from his seat and stormed off towards the exit. Isabella and Madelyn shared a look before Chase had opened his mouth to speak. "What a mess." He mumbled, his arm tightening around Madelyn's shoulders, trying to make her feel better. It was definitely a mess.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

AUTHORS NOTE
🫣🫣🫣🫣
i'm sorry

this chapter will actually be linked with the next chapter of my drew fic 'Something There' which will be a carry on from this chapter, showing drew after he storms out and how that plays out with isabella. i should have that up soon!