𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗌

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𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺 𝗉𝗈𝗏

𝗇𝗒𝖼 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗌

october 3, 2024

4:30 pm

as we stroll through the crowded streets, soaking in the buzz of the city, tucker drifts closer to me, his voice low and casual.
"so... what are you wearing at the concert tommorow?" he asks, raising an eyebrow in that playful way of his.

i shrug, a small laugh escaping my lips as i glance down at the sidewalk. "honestly, i don't know yet. i packed these lace shorts because i spent hours scrolling through tiktok looking for inspiration, and that's what came up," i admit with a little sigh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "but for the top... i think i might make a late-night trip to michaels and figure it out from there."

tucker lets out a soft chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he watches me. there's something about the way he looks at me that makes my chest tighten, like he finds my indecision charming instead of annoying.

"typical isla," he teases, nudging my arm lightly. "waiting until the last minute but somehow still pulling off something amazing."

his words catch me off guard, and i feel a flush creeping up my neck. i glance at him and see the sincerity in his smile, that familiar mix of mischief and warmth that's so completely him. my heart does that annoying little flutter it always seems to do when he's around, and i have to remind myself to keep my cool.

i laugh again, trying to play it off. "well, don't get your hopes up too much. i could end up in a glittery disaster if michaels doesn't come through for me."

"somehow, i doubt that," he says, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful. his gaze lingers on me for a moment longer before he turns back to the group ahead of us, falling into step beside me like he belongs there. like he always has.

we walk in step, and for a few moments, neither of us says anything. it's the kind of silence that should feel awkward, but it doesn't. not with tucker. with him, it's easy—like we've been sharing quiet moments like this forever.

he's still close, close enough that i can feel the brush of his arm against mine every now and then, and each time it happens, it sends a spark shooting straight up my spine.

"so... lace shorts, huh?" he says suddenly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

i roll my eyes, but i can't help smiling. "yes, tucker, lace shorts. don't act so surprised. you've seen me wear weirder things."

"true," he says, grinning now. "remember that time you wore a sweater with actual rhinestones glued all over it? you looked like a walking disco ball."

"okay, first of all, that sweater was iconic," i say, pretending to be offended. "and second, you're just jealous you didn't think of it first."

he laughs, that deep, genuine laugh that never fails to make my chest feel a little lighter. "yeah, you caught me. secretly, i've been dying to bedazzle my entire wardrobe."

"i knew it," i say, shooting him a playful look. "don't worry, we'll make it happen. i'll grab some rhinestones at michaels tonight, and by tomorrow, you'll be sparkling like the star you are."

"you're dangerous, you know that?" he teases, but there's something softer in his voice now, something that makes my heart stutter a little.

i shrug, trying to play it cool. "what can i say? it's a gift."

he looks at me then, really looks at me, and for a second, it feels like the whole city just fades away. it's just us, standing there in the middle of the street, caught in this quiet little bubble that somehow feels more real than anything else around us.

"you're something else, isla," he says softly, and there's a warmth in his eyes that makes my breath catch.

i don't know what to say to that, so i just smile, hoping it says everything i can't put into words right now.

before i can overthink it, tucker glances ahead at the rest of our friends, who are now a good ten paces in front of us. "come on," he says, nodding toward them. "we'd better catch up before they leave us behind."

"right," i say, falling into step beside him again. but even as we walk, my mind is still spinning, replaying that look, that moment, over and over.

and i can't help but wonder if maybe—just maybe—this is the start of something neither of us is ready to admit yet.

as we catch up with the group, i can't shake the feeling that something shifted between us back there. it's subtle—like the tiniest crack in a dam—but it's there, and now i can't stop thinking about it.

ahead of us, cora is pointing excitedly at a street vendor selling vintage rings and necklaces. she grabs felix's hand and drags her toward the booth, the two of them laughing as they start sifting through the trays of jewelry. the rest of the group scatters nearby, checking out different shops and stands, and suddenly, it's just me and tucker again.

we stop in front of a little café with string lights draped over the outdoor seating area. it smells like fresh bread and espresso, and for a second, i consider dragging him inside for a coffee, just to give us an excuse to sit and talk a little longer. but before i can say anything, he leans against the wall, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his jeans, and looks at me with that same thoughtful expression he had earlier.

"what?" i ask, tilting my head at him.

he hesitates, like he's deciding whether or not to say whatever's on his mind. and then, finally, he lets out a breath and just... goes for it.

"do you ever think about how different things might've been if we hadn't met that night?"

the question catches me off guard. it's so out of the blue, and yet, at the same time, it's exactly the kind of thing tucker would ask. he's always been like that—unexpected and a little bit deeper than people realize at first.

i blink at him, trying to gather my thoughts. "you mean at that party?"

he nods. "yeah. if you hadn't been there... if i hadn't spilled that drink on you..."

i laugh softly at the memory. "god, i was so mad at you."

"you had every right to be," he says, grinning. "i completely ruined your dress."

"it wasn't that bad," i say, even though it kind of was. "besides, you made up for it by buying me fries at that diner down the street."

"and letting you rant about the patriarchy for two straight hours," he adds, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"hey, you encouraged me," i point out, smiling.

"because you were brilliant," he says, and there's something so earnest in his voice that it makes my heart ache a little. "you still are."

i look down, suddenly feeling shy under the weight of his gaze. "you're not so bad yourself, you know."

he chuckles, but there's a softness to it, like he's not quite ready to brush off the moment completely. "seriously, though... i think about that night a lot. how it changed everything."

i glance up at him, my chest tightening at the way he's looking at me—like he's not just talking about the past, but about right now. about us.

"me too," i admit quietly.

we fall into silence again, but this time, it's different. heavier. like we're both waiting for something to happen, for someone to make the next move.

but before either of us can say anything, cora calls out from across the street. "guys! come check this out!"

the moment shatters, and tucker sighs, pushing off the wall with a small, rueful smile. "saved by the bell, huh?"

i laugh, even though my heart is still racing. "yeah, something like that."

we cross the street to join the others, but even as we laugh and joke and browse through more street vendors, i can't stop thinking about what just happened. about what almost happened.

and i can't help but wonder how much longer we can keep dancing around this thing between us before it finally comes crashing down.

@𝗂𝗌𝗅𝖺𝖿.𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗂𝗋 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽...