𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺 𝗉𝗈𝗏

𝗅𝖾 𝗏𝗋𝖺𝗂 é𝗍𝗈𝗂𝗅𝖾

october 5, 2024

10:00 am

we arrived at the restaurant felix had chosen, and wow—she really outdid herself. the place was fancy in a way that almost felt intimidating, with soft golden lights, plush seating, and a quiet hum of conversation from other well-dressed diners. it felt like stepping into a scene from a movie. we all exchanged excited looks as we followed the host to our table, the anticipation buzzing in the air.

tucker was still by my side, just like he'd been all night, and honestly, i wasn't complaining. having him near gave me this strange mix of nerves and calm at the same time, and i didn't know how to explain it.

we sat down, and somehow i ended up between cora and tucker, while ky and the others filled the seats around us. the table was beautifully set with crystal glasses and linen napkins, making the moment feel even more surreal.

"i'll give you all a few minutes to decide on your drinks," the waiter said politely before stepping back.

we all flipped through the drink menu. some were already eyeing the wine list, while others scanned the cocktails. i didn't need to think too hard—I knew what i wanted.

"what are you going to get?" tucker asked, leaning closer. his voice was quiet, almost like he didn't want to break the spell of the moment.

"i'm getting a cosmo," i said with a little grin. "i love them. plus, they make me feel like carrie bradshaw."

tucker smiled, but before he could say anything, felix laughed from across the table.
"literally! you are carrie bradshaw—if she wrote about fashion instead of sex."

"true," i said, laughing along with her, but there was something about the way tucker was still looking at me that made my breath catch. his smile was soft, like he knew exactly how i was feeling, and in that moment, i realized tonight might be one of those nights that stays with me forever.

as we waited for the drinks to arrive, the conversation at the table flowed easily. ky was cracking jokes, making felix roll her eyes while trying not to laugh. cora was scrolling through her phone, showing me pictures of the outfit she was planning for an upcoming event, and tucker leaned back in his chair, relaxed but still quietly attentive.

the restaurant had this magical kind of glow—the kind that made everything feel a little more cinematic, a little more romantic. i couldn't help but think about how much had changed in the past few months. we were all moving in different directions, chasing dreams that felt bigger and scarier than ever before, but somehow, in moments like this, it felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

the waiter returned with a tray of drinks, placing them carefully in front of us. my cosmo sat in a sleek, curved glass, its soft pink hue catching the light. i couldn't help but smile as i lifted it to take a sip. the familiar taste—a perfect balance of tart and sweet—instantly made me feel like i was in an episode of sex and the city.

"cheers to isla living her best carrie bradshaw fantasy," felix teased, raising her glass of wine.

"cheers," i said, laughing, clinking my glass with hers, and then with everyone else's.

tucker's glass lightly tapped against mine, and as we both took a sip, he leaned in just a little closer.

"it suits you, you know," he said softly.

i tilted my head, raising an eyebrow. "what does?"

"the whole carrie vibe," he said with a small smile. "you're just... unapologetically you. it's cool."

for a second, i didn't know how to respond. tucker had always been charming in his own laid-back way, but tonight there was something different about the way he looked at me—something that felt more real, more intentional.

"thanks," i said, my voice quieter than i meant it to be. i could feel my cheeks flush, and i quickly took another sip of my drink to cover it up.

the conversation around us carried on, but it felt like we were in our own little bubble. every time i glanced at him, he was already looking at me, and it sent a flutter through my chest that i couldn't ignore.

the night continued with laughter, stories, and way too many inside jokes, but that quiet, charged energy between tucker and me never really went away. it lingered like a secret, waiting for the right moment to be told.

as the waiter brought out our meals and we all dove into our food, i couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting—something big, something that might change everything. and for the first time in a long time, i wasn't afraid of it. i was ready.

after we finished eating, we ordered another round of drinks, and the conversation shifted to reminiscing about old times. ky was telling a story about the time we all got stuck in a snowstorm on the way to a concert, and felix kept interrupting to correct the details, insisting that he exaggerated everything.

"you're literally the most unreliable narrator ever," felix said, rolling her eyes as she sipped her wine.

"that's because i know how to make a story interesting," ky shot back with a grin.

"interesting or full of lies?" cora teased, raising an eyebrow.

"semantics," ky said with a shrug, making everyone laugh.

i was laughing too, but my mind kept drifting to tucker. he was sitting close enough that our arms brushed every so often, and every time it happened, my heart sped up a little. i wasn't sure if he noticed, but then he shifted slightly, letting his arm rest against mine like it belonged there.

i glanced at him, and he gave me a small, knowing smile.

"you okay?" he asked softly, his voice low enough that only i could hear.

"yeah," i said, nodding. "just... thinking."

"about what?"

i hesitated, my fingers tracing the rim of my glass. "about how things feel different lately. in a good way, i mean."

he tilted his head, studying me for a moment. "yeah. they do."

we didn't say anything else, but in that silence, it felt like we'd said everything.

the night stretched on, and eventually, the restaurant started to empty out. we stayed a little longer, finishing our drinks and talking about what was next for all of us. ky had a job interview coming up, felix was working on a album, and cora was planning a trip to europe with drew. it was exciting, hearing about all the things we were doing, but it also made me realize how quickly time was moving.

"it's crazy, isn't it?" i said, looking around the table. "how fast everything's changing."

"yeah," felix said, nodding. "but that's a good thing. we're growing."

"and we're still us," tucker added, giving me a quick, meaningful glance.

i smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the cocktails. maybe things were changing, but some things—the important things—were staying exactly the same.

after the restaurant, we headed to a club that felix had found on tiktok. she swore it was the place to be right now.

"are you sure they'll let us in?" ky asked, raising a skeptical brow as we walked down the crowded street toward the entrance.

"of course they will," felix replied confidently, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "you've got me—a rising singer—and, to top it off, we've got gracie and tucker with us." she smiled, clearly proud of herself.

ky rolled his eyes but shrugged, muttering, "if you say so."

to be honest, i wasn't sure either. but somehow, felix always had a way of getting what she wanted. and just like that, we walked past the line, straight to the front. the bouncer glanced at felix, and before i knew it, we were ushered inside.

apparently, she wasn't exaggerating—they actually knew her. the whole thing felt surreal, like we had slipped through a hidden door into another universe.

they gave us a table right in the center of the room, where we could see everything. the dim lights cast a golden glow over the crowd, and the bass of the music pulsed in my chest, making it hard to tell whether it was the beat or the rush of adrenaline. for a moment, i just sat there, taking it all in—the laughter, the flashing lights, the feeling that we had somehow stepped into a night we wouldn't forget.

felix was laughing at something gracie said, leaning back with the kind of ease that made her look effortlessly cool. ky had already flagged down a waiter, and tucker was drumming his fingers against the table to the beat of the song playing overhead. it was chaotic, loud, and a little overwhelming, but in that moment, i couldn't help but smile.

i was still taking everything in when tucker slid closer to me, his shoulder brushing against mine. the sudden shift caught me off guard, but i didn't move away.

"you good?" he asked, his voice low, almost drowned out by the music.

i nodded, but he gave me a look that told me he wasn't convinced. his eyes had that familiar softness, the one that always made it feel like he saw more than i was ready to share.

"it's a lot, huh?" he added, leaning in slightly so i could hear him better. his breath was warm against my ear, and i tried not to shiver.

"yeah," i admitted, glancing around the crowded club. "but it's... cool, i guess. just a little overwhelming."

"we don't have to stay long," he said, his voice gentle in a way that made my chest tighten. "felix will survive without us."

i laughed softly, and he smiled, the corners of his mouth tugging up in that lazy, lopsided way that always made my heart skip.

"you know she'll hunt us down if we leave too soon," i teased, trying to ignore the way my pulse sped up at how close we were sitting now.

"true," he said, grinning. "but i'd risk it for you."

and just like that, my brain short-circuited. because tucker had a way of saying things that sounded so casual, but sometimes, i wondered if he meant more than he let on.

before i could respond, felix turned toward us, completely oblivious to whatever moment had just passed between us.

"okay, we need drinks!" she declared, dragging everyone to the bar. "you guys stay here and guard the table. no one steals our spot."

as soon as they were gone, tucker leaned in again, his voice low, almost playful.

"guess it's just you and me now," he said, his eyes meeting mine, and for a second, i forgot how to breathe.

i swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my pulse was racing. it was just tucker—my friend, my constant, the one who always made everything feel easy. but right now, nothing felt easy.

"looks like it," i said, forcing a casual shrug even though my heart was doing somersaults.

he leaned back against the booth, stretching his arm along the back of the seat. his fingers rested lightly behind me, close enough that i could feel their warmth. i tried not to think about how effortlessly cool he looked sitting there, like he belonged in a movie scene where the guy gets the girl without even trying.

"so, are you having fun?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze still on me.

"yeah," i lied, because how could i think straight when he was looking at me like that?

he raised an eyebrow, like he could tell i wasn't being entirely honest. "you sure? you seem kinda... quiet."

i sighed, giving up the act. "okay, fine. it's a little overwhelming. clubs aren't really my thing, you know?"

"i know," he said softly, his voice cutting through the noise like it was meant just for me. "but you're here anyway."

"felix dragged me," i joked, but we both knew that wasn't the whole truth.

he smiled again, that slow, knowing smile that always made me feel like he could see right through me. "well, for what it's worth, i'm glad you're here."

my stomach flipped, and i looked away, focusing on the dance floor instead. people were swaying, laughing, completely lost in the music. it felt like a whole different world, one where everything was loud and bright and chaotic.

"you wanna get out of here for a bit?" tucker's voice broke through my thoughts.

i blinked, turning back to him. "what?"

"just for a little while," he said, shrugging. "we can go outside, get some air. it's too loud in here anyway."

i hesitated, but before i could overthink it, he was already sliding out of the booth and holding out his hand.

"come on," he said, his eyes soft, patient. "you'll feel better."

without thinking, i took his hand. his fingers curled around mine, warm and steady, and just like that, everything felt a little less overwhelming.

we made our way through the crowd, his hand never letting go of mine, and i tried not to think about how right it felt. when we finally stepped outside, the cool night air hit me, and i let out a breath i hadn't realized i was holding.

"better?" he asked, still holding my hand.

i nodded, looking up at him. "yeah. thanks."

he smiled, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. it was quiet out here, just the hum of the city around us, and i felt like i could finally breathe again.

"you know," he said after a beat, his voice low, almost hesitant, "i wasn't just saying it earlier. i really am glad you're here."

i looked at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "me too," i whispered, and somehow, that felt like the most honest thing i'd said all night.

tucker's eyes stayed on mine, searching, like he was trying to find the words he wanted to say. his fingers brushed against mine, just barely, but it was enough to send a spark racing up my arm.

"isla," he said, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. "i've been thinking about something... for a while."

i swallowed hard, my pulse speeding up again. "yeah?"

he nodded, running his free hand through his hair—a nervous habit i'd seen a thousand times, but it had never looked quite like this. not when his face was so serious, like whatever he was about to say actually mattered.

"i like you," he said, finally, and for a second, i wasn't sure i'd heard him right. "like, more than just friends."

the world tilted for a moment, like everything i knew had shifted just slightly out of place. i stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest so loudly i was sure he could hear it.

"tucker..." i started, but i didn't even know how to finish the sentence.

he let out a breath, like he'd been holding it. "you don't have to say anything right now. i just—" he broke off, shaking his head with a quiet laugh. "i wasn't planning to say it tonight. but sitting in there with you, watching you pretend you were fine when i could tell you weren't... i don't know. it felt like the right time."

i didn't know what to say. my thoughts were a jumble, all tangled up with the way he was looking at me, like he wasn't sure if he'd just made the biggest mistake of his life.

"tuck," i said, my voice barely above a whisper. "i..." i hesitated, then just said what i was feeling. "you were my person when we were in australia, when we first met, and even after we reconnected, you still were. and now..."

"now it's different," he finished quietly.

i nodded, still holding his hand, still feeling the warmth of it like an anchor. "yeah. it's different."

for a second, i thought maybe he'd regret saying it, that he'd pull away and we'd go back to pretending nothing had changed. but he didn't let go. if anything, his grip tightened, like he was afraid to lose the moment.

"i don't want things to get weird," he said softly. "but i also don't want to keep pretending i don't feel this way."

i took a deep breath, letting his words settle around us. he'd said it now. there was no taking it back. and maybe that was okay.

"do you want to know the truth?" i asked, my voice shaking just a little.

he nodded, watching me closely. "always."

i looked down at our hands, still linked, and smiled just a little. "i've been trying to ignore it. how i feel, i mean. because it scared me. you've always been the one constant in my life, and i was so afraid of messing that up."

his breath hitched, and when i looked up, i saw something like hope in his eyes.

"but the truth is," i said, my voice steady now, "i think i've liked you for a while too."

tucker stared at me for a long moment, like he was trying to decide if he'd really heard me right. and then he smiled—this wide, beautiful, relieved smile that made my heart flip all over again.

"you do?" he asked, like he needed to hear it one more time just to be sure.

i laughed softly. "yeah. i do."

and before i could overthink it, before i could talk myself out of it, i leaned in and kissed him. his hand slid up to cup my cheek, gentle but sure, and for a moment, everything else just... disappeared. the noise, the crowd, the whole chaotic night—it all faded away until there was only tucker.

when we finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing hard.

"well," he said, his voice a little breathless, "that wasn't how i thought tonight would go."

"good surprise or bad surprise?" i teased, still smiling.

he grinned. "definitely good."

we stood there for a minute, wrapped up in each other, and for the first time all night, everything felt easy again.

🦭

𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗌, AND THEY CONFESSED THEIR FEELING TO EACH OTHERRRRR!!!

but not everything is rainbows and sunshines 🤗🤗

have u heard the more ep? if so, pls tell me ur fav song!! my fav song is deep dive - reprise it's just sooo good, THE VOCALS are cheff kiss and why do i hear some cole's vocals in the background (i might be schizo)

if you have any ideas, suggestions, or just things you'd love to see, drop them in the comments, bbgs!

sub, like and comment!!

enjoy!