𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺 𝗉𝗈𝗏

𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺'𝗌 𝗁𝗈𝗍𝖾𝗅 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆

october 5, 2024

12:50 pm

"i think what we need to do now is celebrate tonight," drew says, his voice full of excitement.

"yes, we have to celebrate this amazing news," cora says, still hugging me tightly as if she doesn't want to let go.

"we could go to a fancy restaurant and then hit a club afterward," felix suggests, already pulling out her phone to start making plans.

"i like that plan. what time?" i ask, feeling a little breathless from everything that's just happened.

"maybe around 6 or 7 pm for the restaurant, and then we can head to the club right after," felix says, still scrolling through options.

"sounds good. i'll go change. want me to invite gracie and the others?" tucker asks, standing up and looking at me.

i walk over to him by the door and smile. "yes, i'd love to celebrate with more people. the more, the merrier," i say.

he pauses for a second, then looks at me more seriously. "how does it feel to accomplish your dream?" he asks.

i think about it for a moment. "it feels... peaceful, you know? like everything inside me finally just settled. it's hard to explain," i say, looking at him.

he's looking right back at me, and for a second, everything feels a little too quiet, like there's something hanging in the air between us. neither of us says anything, but it's there.

"so... what color is the dress you're wearing tonight? or, well, what are you wearing?" he asks suddenly, breaking the silence.

the question catches me off guard. "uh... i think i brought a pink dress with black bows. why?"

"no reason, just wondering," he says casually, shrugging. then he leans down and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. "see you later," he says before walking off toward the elevator.

"bye," i say softly, though he's already too far away to hear me. i stay by the door for a second, trying to process what just happened.

it wasn't a big moment, not really. but somehow, it feels big. i hate how quickly i start overthinking things like this, how easily i fall into this cycle of daydreaming and spiraling. it's like i can't help myself.

i try to shake it off and head back into the room, where cora is waiting for me with a raised eyebrow.

"and?" she asks the second i walk in.

"and what?" i ask, pretending to be clueless.

"how did it go?" she presses.

"you took a while to come back inside," ky adds, smirking. "tell me you finally kissed."

"you love drama, don't you?" i say, raising an eyebrow as i sit down next to him on the couch.

"you know me so well," he teases with a grin.

"we were just talking about vogue, and then he asked me what i was going to wear," i say, but drew interrupts before i can finish.

"because he wants to match with you!" he says excitedly.

"um... i don't think so," i say, rolling my eyes. "anyway, then he said goodbye and kissed me on the cheek."

"that kiss should've been on the lips," felix says with a mischievous smirk.

i ignore the way my cheeks are starting to burn and stand up. "okay, i'm gonna take a shower and start getting ready because i really don't want us to be late," i say, trying to change the subject.

"yes, mom," they all say in unison, laughing as they start getting ready too.

as i head to the bathroom, i can still feel tucker's kiss on my cheek. maybe i'm delusional, but unfortunately, that's just how i am when i like someone.

i step into the shower, letting the hot water run over me, hoping it'll clear my mind a little. but it doesn't work. my thoughts keep circling back to him, to the way he looked at me, the way he asked me about my dress like it mattered to him.

why would he ask that? and why does something so small feel so big to me?

i lean my head against the tiled wall and sigh. i hate this part—the overthinking, the what-ifs, the constant guessing about how someone feels about me. it always feels like i'm walking this fine line between reading too much into things and missing something important.

after what feels like forever, i get out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel, wiping the fog off the mirror to look at my reflection. my cheeks are still a little flushed, whether from the hot water or from thinking about tucker, i'm not sure.

i try to focus on getting ready instead. i do my skincare routine carefully, trying to enjoy the familiar steps, the way it always calms me down. then i sit at the small vanity by the window and start doing my makeup—something soft but elegant, just enough to feel confident tonight.

when i finally slip on the pink dress with the black bows, i glance at myself in the mirror again. it's cute. i love how it hugs my waist and flares out just a little at the bottom. it's not too much, but it's enough to make me feel like myself—like i belong.

i hear a knock at the door just as i'm finishing with my lipstick.

"come in!" i call out, and cora walks in, already dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit that makes her look like she's about to walk a red carpet.

"you look amazing," she says, her eyes lighting up when she sees me.

"so do you," i say, smiling.

"everyone's almost ready. drew and ky are taking forever, though," she says, rolling her eyes. "you know how they are."

i laugh because it's true.

"oh, and tucker's already downstairs," she adds casually, but there's a glint in her eye that tells me she's not being that casual about it.

"okay..." i say, trying to sound nonchalant, even though my heart speeds up a little.

"you should've seen him when he saw you earlier," she says, leaning against the doorframe. "he was definitely looking at you like he wanted to say something more."

i bite my lip, trying not to let that comment spiral me into another round of overthinking. "he was probably just being nice."

cora gives me a look. "isla, you're a lot of things, but oblivious isn't one of them."

"i don't know... i just don't want to assume anything," i admit softly.

"well, if it helps, i think he's into you. and honestly, you deserve someone who looks at you like that," she says, her voice a little more serious now.

"thanks," i say quietly, feeling a little emotional but not wanting to show it.

"come on, let's go before the guys make us even later," she says, linking her arm with mine and pulling me toward the door.

as we head down to the lobby, i try to push all my thoughts aside and focus on the night ahead. it's supposed to be a celebration, after all. a night to remember.

but when we step outside and i see tucker waiting by the car, leaning casually against the door with his hands in his pockets, i feel that familiar flutter in my chest again.

he looks up when he hears us, and for a second, his eyes lock on mine, lingering just a little too long. there's something unspoken in that look, something that makes my heart race.

maybe i'm imagining it. maybe i'm not.

but either way, it's enough to make me feel like i'm falling—just a little more.

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:

𝗍𝗎𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗋 𝗉𝗈𝗏

i gave her a kiss on the cheek and left quickly, which, looking back, i probably shouldn't have done. maybe i should've stayed, said something more, done something to ease the tension hanging between us.

but i didn't. and now, instead of dwelling on that moment, i've got another problem—i need to find a pink or black button-up shirt, and i definitely didn't pack one for this tour.

as i step into the elevator, i pull out my phone and call gracie.

"i need your help," i say the second she picks up.

"hi, tucker, how are you?" she answers, her tone playful. "where are you? i didn't see you when we all went down for breakfast."

"i had breakfast with ky at his hotel," i explain.

"uh-huh, with ky... are you sure it wasn't to see isla?" she asks in a teasing tone.

"isla wasn't even there when i got there," i reply, rolling my eyes, though my heart skips a beat just hearing her name. "but that's not the point. the point is, i need to find a pink or black button-up shirt."

"why?" she asks, curious now.

"long story short, isla got offered a job at vogue, and we're going out to celebrate. and, by the way, you're coming too," i tell her as i try to book an uber or a taxi back to the hotel.

"so, not only do i have to help you find an outfit, but now i have to figure out what to wear too?" she says, pretending to be exasperated.

"exactly," i say, laughing.

"why can't it just be a white shirt?" she asks, clearly not understanding the urgency of my request.

"because i asked isla what she was going to wear, and she said a pink dress with black bows," i explain.

there's a pause, and then gracie gasps dramatically. "oh. my. god. tucker, you're totally into isla. you're head over heels for her."

i don't say anything because, well... maybe she's right.

"you're not denying it?! wait—oh my god, do you like her again?" she asks, her voice practically vibrating with excitement, even more excited than when i agreed to join her on tour.

"can you just help me, please?" i ask, trying to steer the conversation back to the issue at hand.

"fine, just let me know when you get to the hotel," she says, still sounding giddy.

"okay, i'll be there in like five minutes," i tell her before hanging up.

i exhale slowly, leaning against the wall of the elevator as it descends. my mind is racing. i don't know why i'm so nervous about tonight. it's supposed to be just another night out. nothing special.

but somehow, it doesn't feel like just another night. it feels bigger. different.

because it's not just any night—it's a night where i'll be with her. and, as much as i hate admitting it, that alone makes it feel like so much more.

i step out of the car and meet gracie in front of the hotel, trying to act calm even though i feel like my nerves are about to explode. she's practically bouncing on her toes, excited as ever.

"so, where are we going?" she asks, eyes gleaming with mischief. "to find the perfect shirt, of course."

"yeah, yeah," i mutter, running a hand through my hair. "i just need something quick."

she laughs, slinging her arm through mine as we start walking. "you're acting like this is no big deal, but you know you're into isla. don't even try to play it cool with me."

"gracie, can we please focus on the task at hand?" i say, half-laughing, half-sighing.

she raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying my act, but she lets it slide—for now. we walk a few blocks before we reach a trendy boutique. it's the kind of place where everything is ridiculously expensive but somehow always looks perfect.

"this is it," she says, pulling me toward the entrance. "we'll find something, trust me."

the moment we walk inside, a flood of scents and bright colors hits me, and i feel my nerves creep back up again. i'm not used to this whole shopping-for-an-outfit thing. i've never been a guy who worries about what to wear. but tonight... tonight feels different.

gracie immediately starts scanning the racks, pulling items off without even a second thought. i follow her, scanning the store, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in my head. i can't help but picture isla in that pink dress with the black bows. it makes my chest tighten in a way i don't want to acknowledge.

"what about this?" gracie calls over, holding up a sleek black button-up shirt. "perfect, right?"

i glance at it, not sure. "it's fine, i guess. but i kind of wanted something more... subtle. something that matches her dress."

gracie narrows her eyes at me. "oh, so that's what this is about. you're trying to match with isla." she's grinning, clearly pleased with herself. "i knew it."

"stop," i mutter, my face warming up. "just... we need to find something that works."

after a few more minutes of browsing, i spot a baby pink button-up shirt. it's light, simple, but it'll definitely stand out without being too much. i grab it, deciding it'll do. as i bring it to the fitting room, i catch gracie's eye, and she shoots me a knowing look.

"you're gonna look good," she says, her voice teasing. "but not as good as isla in that dress."

i roll my eyes, trying to laugh it off, but i can't ignore the way my heart skips a beat at the thought of isla looking incredible tonight. it feels like everything is falling into place, but at the same time, everything feels uncertain. i'm about to step into a night where the stakes feel higher than ever.

"just get dressed already," gracie says, nudging me toward the fitting room.

i nod, forcing myself to focus. i've got a shirt now. i've got an outfit. now, i just need to get through the night. the rest will come later. or at least, i hope it will.

as i change into the shirt, the reality of what's happening tonight starts to settle in. i'm not just celebrating isla's success. i'm celebrating something between us—something unspoken, something that makes me feel like tonight is more than just another night out.

and, as much as i hate admitting it, i don't think i'm going to be able to forget about it anytime soon.

we're in the car now, on our way to isla's hotel, and the tension in the air is almost tangible. gracie's sitting beside me, still acting like she's figured me out completely, though i'm not sure i've fully figured myself out yet. we're quiet, but it's not an uncomfortable silence—just... anticipatory. the kind of silence that builds up before something big happens. i can feel it in my bones. tonight is going to change things.

"you good?" gracie asks, looking at me from the corner of her eye.

"yeah, just... thinking," i say, trying to keep it cool.

"thinking about isla?" she teases, her voice light but laced with curiosity.

i don't answer right away, too caught up in my own head. the thoughts of tonight, the way it feels like i'm teetering on the edge of something. something big. and as much as i try to keep it together, there's no denying it. it's isla. it's always been her.

the car finally pulls up in front of the hotel, and i'm relieved to see it's still early enough that the lobby isn't packed with people. it's a quiet, almost intimate moment. i step out of the car, my heart pounding harder with each step i take. gracie's right there beside me, her arm wrapped around mine like we're on some kind of mission.

"you're not backing out now, are you?" she asks, a smirk dancing on her lips.

"don't jinx it," i mutter, walking toward the entrance, trying not to let my nerves show.

as we wait for the others—cora, drew, felix, ky, and of course, isla—I'm trying to focus. i tell myself it's just a night out, a celebration. nothing more. but that's a lie. i know it is. and deep down, i feel like tonight is the start of something. i just don't know what yet.

the elevator dings, and the group emerges. isla's the last one out, and the moment i see her, i feel it. that punch in the gut. the way she carries herself with such ease, like she owns the room without even trying. but it's more than that. she's glowing. her hair falls perfectly around her shoulders, and there's something about the way she moves that makes everything else fade into the background. she's wearing that pink dress she mentioned earlier—the one with the black bows—and it's even more stunning in person. it hugs her curves in all the right places, and her smile, that smile, is enough to make me forget how to breathe.

it's stupid, really. i've known isla for so long, but seeing her like this, in that dress, it feels like i'm seeing her for the first time. and i can't help but think, how did i not notice this before?

i watch as she walks toward us, my heart racing in my chest, every step she takes making me fall even more. i can't look away. my eyes are locked on her, and the closer she gets, the more it feels like everything else around us has melted away.

"hey," she says, her voice light and warm, pulling me out of my daze.

"hey," i reply, trying to act casual, but i can't hide the smile that's tugging at my lips.

gracie leans in, whispering in my ear with that smug grin again. "you're so gone for her, i swear."

i ignore her, my attention fully on isla now. she looks perfect—too perfect. and as much as i want to act like it's no big deal, it is. it's everything.

"you ready?" ky asks, breaking the moment, pulling me back to reality.

"yeah, let's go," i say, finally forcing myself to take my eyes off isla long enough to join the others.

we head outside to the limo that felix rented. it's sleek, black, and almost as stunning as the night ahead. we all pile in, and i find myself sitting next to isla. i try not to let it show how much i'm freaking out inside. the way she smells, the way her presence fills up the space—it's all so much.

"so, how's the whole vogue thing feel?" felix asks, her voice light, but the excitement in the air is palpable. we're all buzzing, and for a moment, it feels like the whole world is outside of this limo.

isla smiles, and my heart stutters again. "it's honestly still sinking in," she says, her voice soft, but full of confidence. "i'm excited, though. it's a huge opportunity."

"it's only the beginning," drew chimes in, smiling at isla.

"exactly," i say, nodding, but it's not just about vogue. it's about her. it's always been about her. and i don't know how much longer i can keep pretending it's not.

as we drive toward the club, the lights of the city flashing by, all i can think about is how much more i want her to know. how much more i want to be the one to make her smile like that, to make her laugh like we've shared so many times before. but this time feels different. it feels like there's a shift between us, one that i don't know how to navigate, but i'm determined to try.

and, just like that, i fall deeper. again.

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:

@𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺𝖿.𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽...

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