No name yet

A small pause followed.

“And that’s messed up, right? Because that’s exactly why I let you go in the first place.”

He fell silent again, like he was debating whether to go any further.

“The truth is…” he started, quieter now, stripped of any defense, “I never moved on. I can’t.”

The words settled between you, heavier than anything he had said before.

“I’ve tried,” he continued, a faint frustration slipping through as he shook his head slightly. “No matter who I meet, no matter how hard I try to just move forward… I always catch myself somehow thinking about you. I kept thinking it would get easier. That time would do what it’s supposed to do. But it didn’t"

His gaze held yours, unwavering now.

“And seeing you again just made that… painfully clear.”

For a second, everything in you went quiet.

Hearing him say it out loud did something you hadn’t expected. It slipped past all the defenses you had built so carefully over time. These were words you had once waited for, longed for even.  And now he was standing here, giving it to you like it hadn’t come too late.

It made your chest ache in a way that felt dangerously close to relief.

Because a part of you still recognized him. Still reacted to him. But right behind that feeling, came everything else.

The nights you spent trying to understand what you had done wrong. The way he left without giving you anything to hold onto. The emptiness that followed, heavy and confusing and so hard to shake. The slow, painful process of rebuilding yourself without him.

He was speaking now like he had never let you go.

But you remembered exactly how it felt when he did.

And that was the problem.

Because as much as his words pulled at something soft inside you, his actions had carved something much harder in its place.

So you stood there, caught in between two truths. One that still cared, maybe more than you wanted to admit. And one that refused to forget.

“But I don’t think it compares to hearing the person you love decide, just like that, that you’re no longer part of their life.”

The words landed exactly where you meant them to. You saw it in the way his shoulders lowered slightly, in the slow breath he let out as if it had been stuck there longer than he wanted to admit.

"I guess what I’m trying to say is…” he hesitated briefly, “If you’ve found someone… if you’re happy, then I’m happy for you. Really.”

He stepped closer then. Not enough to close the distance entirely, but enough that you felt it immediately, that quiet, familiar pull that hadn’t disappeared no matter how much time had passed. It had been a long time since you stood like this, facing each other. It felt like something your body remembered before your mind could catch up, something that settled into place far too easily.

His eyes searched yours, more intent now. “But you have to understand what I’m trying to say here,” he continued, his voice gaining a little firmness again.

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. The words were there somewhere, but they refused to come out.

“If you want to move on with someone else, I’ll accept that,” he said. “I will. I’ll figure it out. I’ll move on eventually, and I won’t stand in your way.” He paused briefly, “But if there’s even the slightest chance… if there’s even a part of you that could forgive me, that still feels something…”

He didn’t look away.

“You need to tell me. Be clear with me. Because I can’t walk away from this. Not if that chance exists.”

The weight of it settled between you, pressing in from all sides. And the worst part was that you didn’t want to hesitate. A part of you already knew what you wanted to say. You could feel it, just beneath the surface, ready to come through. But when you opened your mouth, nothing came. The silence stretched, thin and fragile, until he filled it again.

“I know it’s not just fixed,” he said more softly, his voice losing that edge, something more vulnerable slipping through instead. “I know it doesn’t suddenly go back to what it was. But if you let me… I want a second chance. I want to try again.”

He just looked at you then, like he was waiting for something to shift, for you to meet him halfway, for anything that could break the silence that had settled too heavily between you.

“Say something,” he murmured, his voice lower now.

You wanted to. You really did. “I…” The word barely made it past your lips before everything else got stuck, tangled somewhere between your chest and your throat, impossible to untangle.

So instead, you moved.

It wasn’t a conscious decision, not really. Your hand brushed lightly against his, the contact barely there, but enough to make him still instantly. “Y/N…” Your name came out softer this time, careful, like he didn’t want to push you too far.

You looked up at him then, suddenly aware of how little space there was left between you. Close enough to feel the warmth of him, the restraint in the way he held himself back. He didn’t move closer, and somehow that made it harder, or maybe easier. Your eyes dropped, just for a second, to his lips, and something in you gave in.

Before you could think it through, before you could stop yourself, you closed the distance and kissed him.

For a split second, he froze, caught off guard by the suddenness of it, and then he responded. His hand moved to your arm, steady but careful, like he was holding himself back from doing too much, too fast, like he understood that this moment mattered more than anything else. The kiss deepened slowly, not rushed, not desperate, just searching, like both of you were trying to understand what this was now, what it could become.

Your fingers curled lightly into the fabric of his shirt, grounding yourself in something real, something you could hold onto. After a moment, you pulled back just enough to breathe, your forehead nearly brushing his. His gaze stayed on you, searching, like he was trying to understand what you had just given him.

“Does it mean you’re willing to try?” he asked quietly. “Or was that just… a moment?”

There was no pressure in his voice, but you could hear it underneath anyway, real and impossible to ignore.

You swallowed softly. “It wasn’t just a moment,” you said. It was something you wanted to do all along, you thought to yourself.

“But that doesn’t mean everything’s suddenly okay either.”

He nodded immediately, like he had expected that. “I know,” he said. “ I’m just asking… if there’s something still there.”

Your gaze dropped for a second before finding his again.

“There is,” you admitted.

This time, the smile did reach his eyes.

“Okay,” he said softly, almost like he was grounding himself in that answer. “That’s enough”

For a moment, everything stilled again. Like the world had paused just long enough for you to catch your breath. But it didn’t last.

“Yo, Dom,” Alex’s voice cut through the quiet as he stepped outside. “What’s taking so long?”

Dominic ran a hand over the back of his neck, a small pause betraying him before he answered. “We were… talking.”

Alex’s gaze moved between the two of you, quick but sharp, like he was picking up on something without needing it explained. A faint smirk appeared on his face, subtle but telling.

“Yeah,” he said under his breath, not entirely convinced. “That’s what I figured.”

His attention lingered for a moment before shifting back to Dominic. “Nicole’s asking where you are.”

The words settled heavier than they should have.

For a split second, something tightened in Dominic’s expression, but he masked it just as quickly. He gave a small nod. “I’ll be there in a second.”

Alex glanced at you again, his tone softening slightly. “You can still join us for dinner, Y/N.”

The offer hung in the air, but the thought of going back inside now made everything feel ten times more uncomfortable than it already was.

“Thanks, but I’m still gonna go” you said, offering a small smile.

He nodded. “Next time then. Drive safe.”

And just like that, he disappeared back inside.

The door closed behind him, leaving the two of you in a quieter kind of silence.

You shifted slightly, your fingers tightening around your keys.

“I should probably go now,” you said.

For a moment, it looked like Dominic was about to say something, like the words were right there, ready to stop you.

But they didn’t come.

Something in his expression shifted instead, a quiet hesitation, a flicker of something that made it clear he didn’t want you to leave. Still, he didn’t try to stop you.

He just nodded, slower this time, like he understood… even if he wished it was different.

FINALLY SOME PROGRESS HUHHHH Dominic is going on tour!!! YAY but also, I'm from Europe -.-

Dominic frowned slightly, not following at first. His gaze moved from Alex to Lisa, then briefly around the room, as if he had just stepped into the middle of a conversation and was trying to find his place in it.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confusion slipping into his voice.

Then his eyes landed on you.

“Oh.”

This time the word came out quieter, almost careful.

“I…” He paused, his jaw tightening slightly before he let out a small breath. “I didn’t know you were coming,” he said, looking directly at you now.

Lisa shifted beside you. “It was last minute,” she added quickly. “Like, really last minute.”

Dominic exhaled, still holding your gaze for a moment before finally looking away. “I thought it was just going to be you two and me,” he said, nodding toward Alex and Lisa. “So I figured I would bring someone. You know… so I would not be the third wheel.”

His tone was casual. Almost too casual.

Lisa let out a short, incredulous laugh. “That’s funny,” she said, shaking her head. “That was literally my exact thought process when I brought her.”

The girl beside Dominic glanced between all of you, her expression shifting from polite curiosity to something closer to confusion. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, as if she were waiting for him to clarify.

“Uh…” Dominic started, glancing at her before looking back at the group. “This is Nicole.”

He hesitated, just for a second.

“We’ve been… hanging out.”

Nicole smiled politely and stepped a little closer into the group. Alex greeted her easily, as if nothing about this was strange. Lisa followed with a quick “hey,” light and friendly, like she was trying to keep everything normal.

Even you managed a small nod. Automatic. Polite.

“Hi,” you said softly.

Nicole smiled back, completely unaware of everything simmering beneath the surface. “Hi.”

You glanced at Lisa.

She was already looking at you.

Your expression said everything.

Help.

Or maybe more like… what the hell is this?

Lisa’s eyes widened slightly in response, silently answering I know. I did not plan this. She pressed her lips together, trying not to react too obviously.

You shifted, clearing your throat as you stepped a little closer to Lisa, your voice low enough for only her to hear. “I think I’m just going to go.”

Her brows pulled together instantly. “What?”

“I’ll just say I came to pick something up,” you added quickly. “I just… don’t want to stay.”

“Okay,” she said softly.

You straightened slightly, forcing your voice to carry. “Hey, I actually just realized,” you began, “I only came to pick something up from Lisa. I’m not staying for dinner, but thanks for the invite.”

Lisa caught on immediately. “Oh, yeah. Right. No problem. I'll go grab it for you”

A brief silence followed as Lisa held the door open.

Nicole nodded right away, her expression kind and understanding. “Oh, okay. It was nice meeting you.”

“You too,” you said politely.

The moment you stepped into the hallway, the words spilled out before you could stop them.

“I feel so stupid. Like actually so, so stupid. What was I thinking?”

Lisa looked at you, surprised.

“I hate to admit it, but I think it’s my fault,” you continued, your voice dropping. “I should have told them.”

“No", you shook your head, "It’s okay,”

You sighed, said your quick goodbyes, and left, but the moment replayed in your head on a loop the entire way out.

You were almost at your car when you heard your name.

You turned and saw Dominic jogging toward you.

“Wait,” he said, slowing as he reached you. He caught his breath before looking at you. “Did I make things weird in there?”

“What? No, of course not,” you said quickly.

It was a lie.

It had been weird. Painfully weird. The kind of strange that made you wish the ground would open up and swallow you whole.

He studied you for a second. “Why were you actually here?”

You blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t come to pick something up from Lisa,” he said. “That was obvious.”

He held your gaze, not pushing, just waiting.

“So… why were you really there?”

For a moment, you considered brushing it off, keeping it vague and easy. But something about the way he was looking at you made that feel pointless.

You shook your head lightly. “Okay… fine.”

Your eyes dropped for a second before meeting his again.

“I heard your radio interview,” you admitted. “That’s all.”

“Okay, and?” he said slowly, his brows pulling together. 

You hesitated.

Your mind went blank. You hadn’t thought this far ahead. You hadn’t expected to actually be standing here, explaining yourself.

Your lips parted, but nothing came out at first.

Then, somehow, you found something.

“You said something about thinking I didn’t seem impressed,” you said, more carefully now. “About the house tour you gave.”

You let out a small breath. “So I figured I would let you know that I actually was.”

For a second, he just looked at you, like he didn’t quite know what to do with that.

“You’re being weird,” he said, exhaling softly. “I can’t read you at all.” He shook his head.

“I’m not being weird,” you shot back. “You’re the one being weird by even being here. Your girlfriend is inside.”

“That’s not my girlfriend. We’re-”

You cut him off, raising your fingers in mock quotation marks. “Just hanging out.”

He let out a short breath, something between a laugh and frustration.

“Okay, wow,” he muttered,

You crossed your arms, trying to ignore the way your heart picked up. “I’m just saying what it looks like.”

“That’s not what it is,” he said, more serious now. He exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “And I’m sorry, but I’m kind of lost here… because from where I’m standing, you have a boyfriend.”

Something in you snapped.

“Stop that,” you said sharply. “Just stop saying that.”

He blinked, taken aback.

“I don’t know how many times I have to tell you,” you continued, your voice tighter now, “but Drew and I are not together.”

“Okay, same goes for me and Nicole,” he said, “It’s the same thing.”

You let out a short breath, nodding once. “Okay, great,” you said, a hint of sarcasm slipping through. “So we’re both single. Good for us.”

Dominic shifted slightly, but his gaze never left yours. There was something searching in it, something uncertain, like he was trying to find his footing in a moment that kept slipping just out of reach.

“What do you expect from me?” he asked quietly. 

“You don’t get to ask me that.” you held his gaze, your expression steady, but there was an edge to your voice when you answered.

“You’re not in a position to ask me what I expect from you,” you continued, your tone calm but firm.

Something flickered in his expression, brief but unmistakable.

“I had expectations two years ago,” you went on, swallowing softly as the words came easier than they should have, “back then. Not now.”

He didn’t interrupt. He didn’t even try. He just watched you, like he didn’t trust himself to speak without making it worse.

“I expected you to come back,” you said, your voice quieter now but no less steady. “I expected you to look for me. To call me. To tell me you were sorry. Literally anything. But you didn’t.”

The words hung between you, sharp and undeniable.

“So no,” you added, holding his gaze, “you don’t get to stand here and ask me what I expect from you. Because everything I ever expected from you were things you already chose not to do.”

“I already apologized for that,” he replied, his voice low, a faint edge slipping through despite himself. “Are you going to keep bringing it up every time we talk?”

You blinked, caught off guard for a second, before letting out a quiet, disbelieving breath.

“Is that really what you think this is?”

He didn’t look away. His jaw stayed set, like he was bracing himself.

“I’m not bringing it up, Dominic,” you said, sharper now. “You asked me what I expect from you. I’m answering you. You don’t get to act like it’s unfair that it still matters.”

His expression tightened, but you didn’t stop.

“Not everything is fixed because you said sorry once. That’s not how it works.”

For a moment, he just looked at you. Then something in him seemed to shift, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, this time without defense, without pushing back. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

You didn’t respond, but you didn’t look away either.

“You’re right,” he added, nodding faintly, like the words cost him something. “You are.”

Silence settled again, but it felt different now. Less sharp, more fragile.

He exhaled slowly before speaking again, more careful this time.

“But can I at least tell you how it felt for me?” he asked. “How I experienced all of this?”

Aarhaeruaqdjs, can't wait for next part !!!

NEXT (Part 10)

Before you could react, he set the guitar aside. Waiting for you to sit down on the couch next to him. After some time, you did. 

The silence between you felt different now.

You glanced at him from the side, hesitating for a second before speaking.

“That last part…” you started quietly. “Was that…” You trailed off, searching for the right words. “Is that true?”

“You know I loved you,” he said, his voice low, steadier than you expected. “Maybe not in the way you deserved. Maybe not in a way that made any sense. But I did.”

He exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting for a second before finding yours again.

“My life back then was… a mess,” he continued. “Everything was falling apart at the same time. My parents getting arrested, everything at home just… gone overnight. I had to be there for Alex, try to hold things together somehow.”

A small pause.

“And then I started messing that up too,” he added, quieter now. “He got into trouble more, I start making stupid decisions. It just felt like I was failing all over again. Failing him. Failing everything I was supposed to fix.”

His jaw tightened slightly before he looked away, like even saying it out loud felt heavier than he expected.

“And then you came into my life,” he said after a moment. “Right in the middle of all of that.”

His expression softened, but there was something painful in it.

“You were…so perfect,” he added quickly. “You didn’t come with all that chaos. You didn’t have all these things weighing you down and I didn’t know what to do with that.”

Silence stretched for a second before he continued.

“When I got locked up, I had too much time to think,” he said quietly. “Just me and my own head. And the more I went over it, the more convinced I became that I was only going to drag you down with me. That sooner or later, I’d mess everything up so badly you’d end up hating me anyway.”

He let out a small breath, shaking his head.

“So I made the choice for you,” he admitted. “I told myself it was the right thing. Even if it was the last thing I wanted.”

You frowned slightly, turning your body a bit more toward him. “You don’t get to decide that for me,” you said quietly. “I should’ve been the one to choose whether it was too much.”

“I know that now.” A small silence settled between you. 

“I was so angry,” you admitted. “For a long time. Because it felt like you just… walked away like it didn’t matter. 

His expression tightened slightly, but he stayed quiet.

“But I get it now,” you added. “Or at least… I understand it.”

He nodded slightly. 

“So what now?” you asked. “What do you expect happens next?”

He let out a quiet breath, almost like he hadn’t expected the question.

“Nothing, I have no expectations” he said after a moment, shaking his head lightly. “I just needed to get that off my chest,” he continued, his voice calm but honest. “To finally say it to you. The way I should’ve done a long time ago.”

His gaze dropped for a second before lifting back to yours.

“I’m not here to mess anything up for you,” he added. “Not now.”

A small pause.

“Not with Drew,” he said more clearly this time. “I’m not trying to come between that. If he really gives you the stability you need… then that’s a good thing.”

For a second, you had forgotten. Forgotten that he assumed Drew was… more than he actually was. 

“It’s not really like that,” you said quietly. “He’s not…” you stopped yourself, shaking your head slightly. “We’re not together. Not like you think.”

Dominic blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“Wait… you’re not?” he asked, a hint of surprise slipping through before he could hide it. There was something else in it too, something lighter, like he hadn’t expected that answer.

You shook your head, your gaze still fixed somewhere ahead.

“No,” you said softly. “We haven’t really… been like that since the concert.”

That seemed to settle in.

“He needed time,” you added after a moment. “Or… we both did. To process everything. It just never really… picked back up after that.”

Your mind flickered back to the missed calls from earlier. 

“Not until just now,” you added. “He called a couple of times, I just… didn’t see it.”

Dominic nodded slowly, taking that in. His gaze dropped briefly to your phone beside you, then back to your face.

“You should probably call him back,” he said, his tone steady, almost careful.

Your fingers hovered near your phone, but something kept you from picking it up. Maybe the conversation you just had. Maybe the way everything felt… unfinished, even now that you finally had answers.

“I was going to leave,” you admitted softly. “Before I came over to you.”

He let out a small breath, glancing away for a second.

“Then don’t stay because of me,” he said. “I don’t want to be the reason you avoid something you should deal with.”

“You’re not. This just…” you exhaled softly, searching for the right words. “This mattered too.”

Your phone lit up briefly beside you. It was another call from Drew. 

You both saw it.

Dominic’s gaze flickered down to the screen, then back up to you, but he didn’t say anything this time.

The choice was yours now...

A few days have passed. On the surface, nothing had really changed. At least not for you but a lot changed for Lisa, who was now officially dating Alex. 

The way they had been around each other lately, it was obvious. The constant teasing, the way they always seemed to end up next to each other, like it wasn’t even a choice anymore. The looks. The small touches they probably thought no one noticed.

You had seen it coming from miles away.

Honestly, you were more surprised it had taken them this long.

For a moment, your thoughts drifted back to the last conversation you had with Dominic.

You remembered the way your phone had lit up in your hand. Drew’s name on the screen. The moment just hanging there, waiting for you to decide.

In the end, you answered.

But you didn’t leave to meet him.

Instead, you stepped aside and called him from there. Not next to Dominic, but still at his place. Far enough to have the conversation, close enough that it still felt… tied to everything that had just happened.

The call wasn’t what you expected.

No argument. No tension. Just… disappointment.

Drew told you he wished you had been honest with him sooner. That he didn’t understand why you felt like you couldn’t tell him things like that. And that was it. It ended almost as quickly as it started. After that, you left with Lisa.

You hadn’t heard from Dominic either.

The only glimpses you got were through Lisa’s Instagram, the occasional story where he showed up in the background or where she tagged him, hanging out more than before.

It was almost funny, in a way. Seeing her there like that.

Because you knew Alex and Dominic from a completely different time. Different circumstances. Before any of this. Before the attention, the music, the people, the life they were living now. And now here was Lisa, someone from your life now, moving around in that same space, but in a version of it that barely resembled what you remembered.

Your thoughts quickly broke apart the moment Lisa appeared next to your desk, her sudden presence pulling you straight out of whatever you had been focused on.

“You need to hear this,” she said, already holding her phone out to you. There was something in her expression, a mix of excitement and disbelief, that made your stomach tighten before you even asked why.

“I swear this is about you.” She didn’t wait for you to argue, pressing play before you could say anything else. A radio interview filled the space between you. You recognized his voice immediately.

The interviewer asked him the usual questions, about music, about his tour, about how everything had changed over the past few years. He answered easily, confidently, like he had grown into this version of himself. “Are you seeing anyone right now?” “No,” he said. “Not right now. Haven’t been for a while, actually.” The interviewer let out a small laugh. “Really? How is that even possible? I mean… do women not throw themselves at you?” Dominic laughed softly at that. “Getting women isn’t the hard part,” he said, almost casually. “It’s everything after that that’s complicated. I feel like nowadays you don’t really know someone’s real intention, you know? Are they with me because they like me or because they like all the things around me” he continued.  “When was the last time?”  “The last time I was with a woman?,” he added, a hint of amusement slipping into his voice, “or actually being in a relationship? Because those are two very different things.”

“Very humble guy,” you said dryly to Lisa, which made her laugh a little. You continued with the interview

The interviewer let out a small laugh, nodding. “Fair enough,” he said. “Then let’s be specific… When was the last time you were actually in a relationship?” He leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression shifting, like the question landed a little differently than the others. “Uh…” he started, running a hand over his jaw. “It’s been a while.” “Really?”  “Didn’t really end great,” he continued, with a half shrug, like he was trying to downplay it. “Was she with you for the wrong reasons? Like… money, fame?” Dominic let out a short breath, almost a quiet scoff, shaking his head. “No. None of that,” he said, a small, almost amused smile tugging at his lips. “I didn’t have any of that back then,” he added lightly, a hint of humor in his tone. “So..” The interviewer’s brows lifted, a hint of surprise crossing his face. “Oh okay, so it’s safe to say she was with you for you.” “Yeah,” he said, a small nod following. “That was never a question. She was with me for me for sure." “How long were you together with her?”  “Oh man, I don’t know. A long time, though. Couple of years.” “Wow… do you still keep in touch with her?” the interviewer asked. “I can imagine it must feel a bit surreal for her too, seeing you like this when she knew you before.” Dominic let out a soft huff, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Honestly? I don’t think she really cares that much,” he said lightly. “I gave her a tour of my house the other day and she didn’t seem impressed at all.” He let the words hang for a second before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle. “So there might be a chance for a rekindle there?” Dominic let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he looked down for a moment. “You’re reading into that a little too much,” he said, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Is it?” the interviewer pressed lightly. Dominic hesitated for a second, then shrugged, a small smile lingering. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “We’ll see.”

Lisa took the phone, studying your face for a moment as if trying to read what was going on behind your calm expression.

“Why are you not screaaaaming.” Lisa asked. “This is so cute!!!  Have you heard from him?” she asked.

You shook your head. “No.”

“Well, a little bird told me that he might think you’re getting back together with Drew. Because of the phone call you had back at his place?” 

The little bird clearly meaning Alex. 

“But I’m not” 

“I know, so maybe you reach out for him? Text him or something” 

Your fingers moved almost automatically, opening instagram and going to the search bar. It didn’t even take effort. He was already there, sitting at the top under recently searched.

Lisa leaned in beside you, peeking at your screen.

“Oh wow,” she said, dragging out the words with a grin. “You didn’t even have to type his name.”

“Shut up,” you muttered. It was before the concert thing,” you defended quickly. “I just-”

“Mhm,” she hummed, not convinced at all. “Sure.”

You ignored her, tapping on his profile before you could overthink it.

“What am I even supposed to say?” you asked. 

Lisa tilted her head slightly, watching you hover over your phone.

“Actually…” she said slowly, her tone shifting.

You glanced up. “What?”

She hesitated for a second, then shook her head lightly. “No, you know what? Maybe don’t text him.”

You frowned. “You were just telling me to text him.”

“I know,” she admitted, holding up her hands, “but this feels like one of those talks that shouldn’t happen over a message.”

You let out a small breath, your thumb still resting against the screen. “So what, I just… wait?”

Lisa’s expression softened a little, like she was piecing something together in her head.

“Well…” she started, drawing the word out. “Funny enough… I was actually going to Alex’s tonight.”

You blinked. “Okay…?”

“We were planning on doing dinner together, like just the two of us but somehow Dominic invited himself over” Lisa watched your reaction carefully before adding, a little more gently, “You could come…”

She leaned a little closer, nudging your arm. “At least this way, you’ll actually see him. You’ll know how he reacts.”

You exhaled slowly, your thoughts already spiraling ahead of you.

“And if it goes horribly?” you asked.

Lisa shrugged lightly. “Then at least you’ll know. And I’ll be there the whole time.”

You glanced at her, unsure.

“…What time?” you asked quietly.

Lisa’s smile widened just a little.

Later that evening, you found yourself standing in front of Alex’s place. Alex looked up from the kitchen . His eyes flickered to you, a hint of surprise crossing his expression before it softened into something welcoming. “Hey. Didn’t know you were coming.”

“Last minute decision,” Lisa said casually, already stepping inside like she owned the place.

Apparently Lisa never mentioned that you were coming. Not to Alex, nor to others. And at first, it didn’t really matter. Until the door opened. Dominic stepped inside like but he wasn’t alone. 

There was a woman next to him.

I have this thing where I have to re-read my whole story before I post a new part otherwise it might not make sence because I change the story so many timesssss. It might just be the Virgo in me, tho idkkk.

Anywaysss, i HATE to say this but we might be getting close to the end of this story… 😭

NEXT (Part 9)

“Okay… that’s good, right?” she said quickly, though she didn’t wait for an answer before leaning in again. “Now can we please talk about how Dominic Fike ended up being your ex?”

You gave a small, almost reluctant smile. “We met when we were younger. At a party.”

Lisa stayed quiet this time, watching you closely.

“I was drunk,” you admitted. “And he was… high. Like, really high.” You huffed softly, the memory pulling at you. “We went to the same school, but we had never actually talked before. Not once. And then somehow, that night, we ended up kissing in the laundry room.”

You paused.

“And after that… it just didn’t stop. We were together for a while. A couple of years. Until he started getting into more trouble and…” You hesitated slightly. “He ended things.”

“Wait… he broke up with you?” Lisa said, clearly offended on your behalf.

You nodded, trying to keep it casual. “Yeah.”

“That’s insane,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t believe that.”

A soft breath left your lips. “Well… it happened.”

Her expression shifted, more serious now. “Did you ever see him again after that?”

You hesitated for a moment. “No. For a while, it actually felt like he just disappeared.”

Lisa frowned. “That’s so weird.”

“Yeah,” you said quietly. “Turns out he didn’t disappear. He was back in prison. And then… life just kept moving. Before I knew it, I was in college. I graduated, moved to LA, got a job… and now we’re here.”

Lisa leaned back slightly, shaking her head. “That’s… a lot.”

A slow grin spread across her face.

“I’m still processing the part where I met him.”

You rolled your eyes, already knowing where this was going.

“I mean, I get it now,” she continued, pointing at you. “I fully understand why you’re not over him.”

You gave her a look.

“No, seriously,” she said, laughing. “Did you see him last night? That man is fine.”

You tried to hold it in, but a small laugh slipped out anyway.

“And the way he plays guitar?” she went on dramatically. “That is so attractive.”

She paused, then smirked at you.

“And you had all that?”

You groaned, rolling your eyes at her. 

“You must be God's favorite,” she added, raising her coffee like a toast.

You shook your head, laughing.

Because somehow, only Lisa could say something like that and make everything feel lighter.

“On another note… what’s the deal with his brother?” she asked. “What’s his story?”

You narrowed your eyes slightly. “Why? You interested?”

She waved it off immediately. “What? No. I’m just asking.”

“He’s a good guy,” you said. “Used to be a bit of a flirt. I mean, used to like, way back. I haven’t really been around him in a while, so I’m not sure what he’s like now.”

“Yeah… I kind of got that vibe,” she admitted.

She leaned back, shrugging. “But it was fun yesterday. And he’s from LA.”

You frowned slightly. “He lives in LA?”

You had assumed Alex was just traveling with Dominic, part of the tour. Moving from city to city. That made sense in your head.

Lisa nodded. “Yeah. Him and his brother. Not together, but he mentioned it.”

You hadn’t really thought about it before. Somehow, you had just assumed LA was another stop.

Not home.

“So… is this going to be a thing now?” you asked, a teasing edge in your voice. “You and Alex?”

“I sure hope so,” she said with a grin. “Hopefully we get to hang out with you this time, since you missed yesterday.” Her smirk grew slightly. “And who knows… maybe he’ll bring his brother too.”

“I’m sure Drew would love that,” you said dryly.

Lisa groaned dramatically. “Oh God, screw Drew. I’m team Dom now.”

You both laughed.

The next few days passed quietly.

You saw Drew here and there at work. Small nods. Short conversations. Nothing more. He didn’t push, didn’t bring anything up. And you didn’t either. It felt unspoken. Like something was there, waiting, but neither of you was ready yet.

So you gave him space. You told him you were open to talk whenever he was ready. And you left it at that.

Lisa, on the other hand, was having a very different week.

Her life had suddenly become a lot more eventful.

She and Alex had already seen each other a few times. Drinks, late nights, spontaneous plans. And somehow, in no time at all, they had gotten close.

Really close.

And honestly… It made you happy.

“Are you doing anything tonight?” Lisa asked, turning toward you.

You looked at her, then let out an exaggerated sigh. “Not really. I don’t have plans anymore. Ever since you’ve been so busy lately.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh my god.”

“I’m serious,” you continued. “I’m actually thinking of getting a cat. You know, for company.”

Lisa stared at you before laughing. “You’re so dramatic.”

“Am I?” you shrugged. “At least a cat wouldn’t cancel on me for Alex.”

“Well, lucky for you,” she said, leaning in slightly, “this is perfect timing.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I was actually planning to take you with me tonight.”

Your curiosity kicked in immediately. “To do what?”

“Alex is hosting a small get-together,” she said casually. “Kind of like a welcome back thing for Dominic. His tour’s done. He’s back home.”

“I don’t really know how I’m supposed to feel about that,” you continued, your voice softer now. “It’s just… a bit weird, don’t you think?”

Lisa frowned slightly. “Why would it be weird?”

You hesitated, searching for the right words.

“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” she added, giving you a pointed look.

“And what about Drew?” you asked quietly.

Lisa blinked, clearly not following. “What about Drew?”

“Do you even like him like that?” she asked, her tone more serious than before.

You frowned, caught off guard. “Of course I-”

But she didn’t let you finish.

“Because from where I’m standing,” she continued, crossing her arms lightly, “it kind of feels like he’s was just… something to pass the time.”

That stung a little.

“If it was more than that, you guys would’ve figured it out by now,” she added. “You’d already be together.”

You stayed quiet.

“And the fact that he still hasn’t actually talked to you properly about it?” she went on. “That says enough to me.”

A small pause.

“It feels like a dead end. Look,” she said, her tone softening, “I don’t care who you end up with.” She gave a small shrug. “As long as you’re all in. Like… a thousand percent.”

Her gaze lingered on you for a moment.

“And I get the feeling there are still things left unsaid between you and Dominic,” she added. “Don’t move forward with Drew without closing that first.”

Damn… she was right. You hate it that she’s right. So you join her later that night. 

“There you are,” Alex said with a grin as we walked in, clearly happy to see you both.

He stepped forward, greeting Lisa first with an easy familiarity before turning to you.

“What’s up, Y/N. I’m happy you could make it”. 

“Yeah… thanks for the invitation,” you replied.

“Of course,” Alex said easily, gesturing further inside. “Come on, everyone’s just hanging out. Dom just got here as well, he’s in the back. You should go say hi,” he added casually. “I’ll grab you guys something to drink.”

You nodded, more on instinct than anything else, already scanning the room.

It didn’t take long to find him. He was standing a little further in, surrounded by a small group of people, mid-conversation. Relaxed. Focused on whatever someone was saying, a faint smile playing on his lips. Completely unawar of you or the fact that you were even here. 

Lisa was the first one to say something for Dominic to notice us. “Hey, do you remember me?” 

The conversation around him faded as he turned toward her, recognition flickering across his face.

“Yeah, of course I do,” he said, a smile breaking through as he stepped forward, pulling her into a quick, easy hug.

Lisa laughed softly. “See, I’m memorable.”

When he pulled back, his attention shifted. His eyes found you.

“I bet you definitely remember her,” Lisa added with a grin

A quiet laugh escaped him at that. “Yeah… I remember her from somewhere,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Didn’t expect to see you here, though.”, he leaned in for a quick hug as well. 

“I got scolded for spending too much time with Alex lately,” she said with a dramatic sigh, “So I had to bring her tonight or else she would’ve gotten a cat to keep her company instead.”

“Hey,” you muttered, giving her a look, but there was no real bite behind it.

Lisa just grinned, clearly satisfied with herself.

“Anyways,” she added, glancing around, “I’m gonna go see where Alex is with the drinks”

And just like that, she was gone.

You blinked after her, caught off guard by how quickly she disappeared

The group Dominic had been talking to had already drifted back into their own conversation, laughter picking up again like nothing had interrupted them. No one was paying attention to you anymore. Which left you standing there.

Thanks, Lisa, you thought dryly to yourself.

You shifted your weight slightly, suddenly very aware of the silence stretching between you. Say something. Anything.

“So… is this your place?” you asked, the question coming out a little too quickly.

He looked at you for a second, like he caught exactly what you were trying to do. A small laugh escaped him, not mocking, just… noticing.

“Yeah,” he said, a hint of a smile still on his lips. “I live here.”

There was a brief pause before he tilted his head slightly, studying you.

“Want a house tour?” he added, casual. “Unless you’d rather stay here and keep trying to make small talk. Just saying.” He shrugged, unapologetic.

You hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Sure, a house tour sounds..fun” 

“Alright. Come on,” he said, already starting to walk, glancing back to make sure you were following.

He showed you around without making it a big thing. The living space, the kitchen, a quick stop by the studio room that looked a little too lived-in, cables and instruments scattered in a way that somehow still made sense. It wasn’t overly polished. It felt like him.

After a while, you made your way back to the others, where Lisa and Alex were already deep in conversation. The evening moved on from there, surprisingly smooth.

It wasn’t a crowded party. No overwhelming noise or strangers packed into every corner. It felt smaller. More intimate. A mix of close friends and a few people from the tour, like background guitarists.

Conversations overlapped easily. Most of it circled back to the tour, stories from the road.

Gradually, people started to leave. The room grew quieter with each person that walked out. At some point, Lisa and Alex drifted back toward the kitchen, leaving you by yourself.

You reached for your phone, more out of habit than anything, only to notice a few missed calls from Drew. Your thumb hovered over the screen as you debated calling him back or sending a quick message. He probably wanted to talk. For a second, you considered it. Maybe it would be easier to just go meet up with him instead. Better to deal with it now than let it drag on. The thought settled quickly, and before you could overthink it, you decided you would.

it was probably better to say goodbye first. You found Dominic sitting on the couch with his guitar resting against his leg. He was alone now, fingers absentmindedly moving over the strings. In the background, you could hear Lisa and Alex still talking in the kitchen.

He noticed you almost immediately, his gaze lifting for a brief second while his fingers kept moving over the strings. A small smile tugged at his lips, like he didn’t need to stop to acknowledge you.

“This is how most songs start,” he said after a while, glancing up at you briefly. “Just… messing around until something sticks.”

You nodded as you watched him, letting the melody settle.

For a moment it was just that, the melody, but then he started singing. Quiet at first, like the words were just for himself.

Mmm, what’s worse the- What’s worse to you? Oh-Oh What’s worse? Mmm What's worse, the carry or the curse? She was paired with a maniac and married on the first It was much worse than anyone could tell But he couldn't stick it out so he ended up in jail It was eight months and twenty-seven days And when he got out, he told her, "We should go our separate ways" And the whole world learned about a tape he had recorded They gave a bunch of money to the maniac, a fortune

You felt something shift in your chest.

The words hung there for a second longer than they should have, like they meant more than just lyrics. They carried something personal.  Was this something he wrote about us?

It caught you off guard. He kept singing until these words stuck with you, lingering heavier than the rest.

But he came to a realization That his heart was in love but his brain wasn't there

Yes, I did change the lyrics at the end for the sake of the story lol.

The last part felt a bit short to me, so I combined two parts into one. Hope you like it!!

NEXT (Part 8)

You shook your head lightly. “No, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

You hesitated, then looked at Lisa, your voice softening. “But can you not tell Drew yet? I just… I want to tell him myself.”

“Yeah, of course. I won’t say anything.”

“…Okay,” Alex said slowly, clearly processing none of it. “So… a drink?”

Dominic let out a small laugh and shook his head. “I’d love to,” he said, glancing at Alex, “but I can’t. I’m on a tight schedule with this whole city tour thing.”

Lisa didn’t miss a beat. “Well, you can still come,” she said to Alex. “We’re going for drinks anyway.”

You nodded, a small smile forming. “Yeah, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

Alex looked between the two of you, amused. “Alright… I guess I’m coming then. Let me grab my jacket and I’ll meet you at the bar.”

“Perfect,” Lisa said. “We’ll head over already.”

She turned back to Dominic and pulled him into a quick hug. “The show was amazing. Good luck with the rest of the tour.”

“Thanks,” he replied with a small smile.

Then she turned to you, briefly squeezing your arm. “I’ll go find Drew and the others,” she whispered. “Don’t take too long.” With that, she left, leaving you alone with Dominic.

“I’m glad I got to see you,” he said quietly, leaning back against the table. “Even if it was just for a bit.”

A short silence followed.

“I just wish it was under different circumstances,” he added, his voice lower now. “I would’ve liked… more time with you.”

Your chest tightened slightly.

“There’s still so much I want to tell you,” he said softly. “But for now… I’m just glad you’re okay.”

You exhaled, your expression softening as your eyes met his. “I think I should be the one saying that,” you replied. “I’m really glad things worked out for you.”

Your gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.

“And you look good. I hope it stays that way.” You added.

Dominic nodded, something softer settling in his expression. “I appreciate that,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m getting there.”

For a second, neither of you moved. Then he stepped closer and pulled you into a brief, careful hug.

“Take care,” you said.

“Yeah,” he replied softly. “You too.”

You took a breath and forced yourself to walk away.

The noise of the bar hit you immediately. Lisa spotted you first. “There she is.”

As you got closer, you saw Alex already settled in like he had always been part of the group. He was laughing at something Lisa had said, completely at ease.

“Hey,” Drew said after a moment. His voice was calm, but more serious than before. “I think we should head home.”

Lisa paused mid-sentence, looking between you both. “Already?”

Drew nodded, his eyes returning to you. “Yeah. I think we need to talk.”

Lisa looked at you, then at him. This time, she didn’t joke or fill the silence. “Okay,” she said simply. She gave you a small look that said we’ll talk later, then turned back to the bar.

You hadn’t even reached your apartment when Drew spoke again.

“I’m sorry about earlier. For saying I was your boyfriend,” he said. “I don’t know why I said that. It just came out.”

He paused, searching for his words.

“I know we’re not official,” he continued, softer now. “And I didn’t mean to put you in that position.” He looked at you again, more honest this time. “I just didn’t really know what was going on back there. I reacted without thinking. But can you be honest with me this time? He was not just a friend.”

Your steps slowed. Your gaze dropped to the ground as you tried to figure out where to start.

“Dominic and I… we had something,” you said finally. “It was a long time ago and then he ended it. that’s it.”

“How long ago?” he asked.

You swallowed. “Two years, maybe.”

He nodded slowly.

“And since then?” he continued. “How many other guys have you been with?”

You frowned, not understanding where he was going.

“Just you,” you said.

Drew let out a slow breath and nodded to himself, like something had just been confirmed.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “That’s what I thought.”

“You thought what?” you asked, confusion settling in.

He hesitated, then looked at you more directly.

“That you’re not over him.”

Your brows furrowed. “That’s not…”

“You didn’t end it,” he said, cutting you off. Not harsh. Just honest. “He did.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not over him,” you replied.

“There’s a difference between being the one who ends things and the one who gets left,” Drew said. “When you walk away, you’ve already made that choice. You’ve had time to think it through, to accept it before it actually happens.”

His eyes stayed on you.

“But when someone leaves you, it’s not really your choice. You don’t get that same kind of closure. It just ends, and you’re left catching up to something you didn’t decide.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m still stuck on him,” you said softly. “It just means it took longer to process.”

Drew exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening.

“You’re clearly still in the middle of processing it. The way you looked at him…” he said. “You don’t look at someone like that if it’s really over.” He paused. “And maybe that’s why we never put a label on this. Because somewhere, you weren’t fully in it.”

You shook your head immediately. “That’s not fair. You never made it official either. You never took that step.”

He let out a short, humorless laugh. “Seriously? I tried. Multiple times. I asked you to meet my parents. My sisters. Those are the next steps.”

Your chest tightened.

“And every time, you had an excuse. You were busy. Every time.” He shrugged lightly. “That tells me enough. That’s not someone who’s ready for something serious. And I wasn’t going to force you into something you clearly weren’t ready for.”

Silence settled between you, heavier than any argument.

Drew looked at you for a moment longer, like he was searching for something that might change things.

“I think I just need some time,” he said finally. “To process all of this.”

You nodded slowly.

“Let’s both just let it sink in,” he added. “And then we’ll see.”

I had the WORST stomach flu or whatever its called, which is why I went missing. :( :( :(

NEXT (Part 7)

You looked up at him, slightly caught off guard.

“Your friends,” he clarified, a small, teasing smirk forming. “Didn’t you say they were excited for the show?” He shrugged casually. “I could say hi…"

You let out a small breath, your gaze dropping again.

“Lisa would love that,” you admitted.

You could already picture it, the way she’d light up, how she’d talk about it for weeks. For her, this would be a story. A moment. Something fun.

But for you, it wasn’t that simple. You shook your head slightly.

“They’d ask questions.” Your eyes met his again. “A lot of them.” You hesitated, choosing your words carefully. “And I don’t think I’m ready for that conversation. Not tonight.”

“Then don’t,” he said simply.

You frowned. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t explain everything,” he replied, shrugging lightly, like it was obvious. “Just say we know each other from school but you weren’t sure I’d recognize you.”

You studied him, unsure whether to laugh or question it.

“I get that I might have made things complicated for you today,” he continued more. He hesitated, choosing his words more carefully this time.

“I guess I just wanna know… ,” he said, his voice softer. “.. What your life looks like now.”

His eyes stayed on yours, steady, searching.

“Nothing more.”

You held his gaze for a moment longer, weighing everything.

Then you nodded.

“Okay.”

A few minutes later, you were walking back through the crowd, your heart still unsettled. The music had picked up again, people moving, laughing, completely unaware of what had just happened behind the scenes.

Lisa spotted you almost immediately.

“Finally!” she said, grabbing your arm.

“He asked if you guys wanted to come meet him.”

“Oh my god,” Lisa breathed, already pulling you closer. “Are you serious?”

You nodded, trying to ignore the way your chest tightened again.

Drew stood next to you, quieter now, his eyes fixed on you. “You okay?” he asked softly, just for you.

You nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry I didn’t tell you about him earlier.”

He studied your face for a moment, clearly trying to make sense of everything.

“I’m just a bit confused,” he admitted. “Why didn’t you just say that you knew him?”

You hesitated, then let out a small breath.

“I know him from a really long time ago,” you said, keeping your tone light. “Like… I knew him as a troubled kid way before all of this.” You gestured around you. “I didn’t even know if he’d recognize me,” you added. Clearly lying. 

A small, slightly awkward laugh escaped you, more to cover the discomfort than anything else. Not long after, you were leading them back.

Lisa was practically vibrating beside you. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered.

When you stepped backstage, he was already there. Waiting. His eyes went to you first. Then to them. Lisa didn’t hesitate.

“Hi!” she said, stepping forward, her excitement impossible to hide. “I’m Lisa, BIG fan, by the way.”

You almost smiled at how predictable that was.

Dominic smiled back easily, giving her a small hug. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”

Drew stayed slightly behind at first, then stepped forward and offered his hand.

“Drew,” he said simply.

Dominic shook it, his grip firm but controlled. “Dominic.”

For a moment, the two of them just looked at each other. Then Dominic’s gaze shifted. Back to you. Then to Drew again. Like he was waiting. Waiting for something to be said. Something that made sense of what he was seeing. But nothing came.

And when it didn’t, he filled the silence himself.

“So, I take it that this is… the…” he started, hesitating slightly, his eyes flicking between you both. “Boyfriend?”

The word hung in the air. Your stomach tightened instantly feeling all of their eyes on me. 

But it wasn’t that simple. You and Drew had never labeled anything. There had never been a moment where you defined it, never a conversation where you made it official. You saw each other. You went out, shared moments that felt real. You slept together. Had dinners. Spent time. But he didn’t stay over every night. You didn’t introduce him as your boyfriend. And he had never called you his girlfriend.

The silence stretched a second too long.

And then, “Yeah.” Drew’s voice cut through it, calm and certain. “That’s me,” he added, his hand still lightly resting against yours. “Her boyfriend.”

All of sudden Lisa burst out laughing “Good one, guys.”, her head snapping toward you, eyes wide with surprise. “Wait… really?”

Her gaze moved between you and Drew, trying to catch up with something she clearly hadn’t been told. “Since when?” she asked, half-laughing, half-confused. “Why am I only hearing this now?”

Drew let out a small breath beside you, a hint of tension slipping through. “What do you mean, since when?” he asked, glancing at her. “Like you didn’t know.”

You couldn’t even be mad. That was just how Lisa was. She said whatever came to mind, without filtering it first, without reading the room.

Drew gave a small shrug, though there was a slight edge to his tone. “Anyways,” he said. Then, after a brief pause, he glanced at you. “But how do you two know each other again? I don’t think you ever mentioned him.”

You opened your mouth to answer, but Dominic was quicker.

“We went to high school together,” he said easily, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I saw her in the crowd and recognized her.”

You blinked for a second, caught off guard by how smoothly it came out.

“I asked her to come backstage to.., you know, to see how she’s doing.”

His tone was casual, easy, but there was something underneath it that only you seemed to notice.

“She said she was here with friends,” he continued, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “So I figured I’d see what kind of people she’s surrounding herself with now.”

“Why, were you two friends back then or something?” Drew asked, his tone edged with quiet judgment.

There was a brief pause. Then Dominic let out a short, dry laugh.

“Yeah,” he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. “We were the bestest friends.” He didn’t look at you when he said it. “Until I got arrested, you know,” he added casually, “And had to go to jail for a bit.” 

“Oh, is he the troubled kid you talked about?” Drew said, glancing at you while subtly pointing toward Dominic.

What. the. fuck. Drew.

Your eyes widened just slightly, your heart dropping as you felt the tension snap tighter in the air. You forced a small, awkward laugh, trying to smooth it over before it could land any harder than it already had. “Well… that’s not exactly how I said it,” you replied, your tone light but strained at the edges.

“I can’t really picture you hanging out with… people like that,” Drew continued, his tone laced with judgment.

You weren’t even sure when it shifted. One moment it was a simple introduction, the next it felt like something else entirely. Like a switch had flipped. Like there was something unspoken hanging between them.

As if they were both trying to prove a point.

You could feel the tension building, tightening with every second.

Before you could say anything, Dominic let out a quiet breath, his gaze still on Drew.

“I’m pretty sure she wasn’t the same back then as she is now,” he said calmly. “Just like I’m sure you didn’t meet the same version of her that I did.”

Lisa clapped her hands lightly, stepping in before the silence could stretch any further.

“Okayyy,” she said, forcing a bright smile as she looked between all of you. “We love a good life changing change, I guess. How about we take a picture and then get something to drink?” Her tone was light, almost exaggerated, but it worked. Just enough.

She turned toward Dominic, already pulling out her phone. “I mean, I’m not leaving without at a picture, sorry.”

Drew let out a small breath beside you, glancing between the three of you before stepping back slightly.

“I’m gonna go ahead and join the others,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You guys take your pictures, I’ll wait at the bar.”

You looked at him for a second, a small nod following. “Okay.”

He gave you a quick, almost reassuring smile before turning and walking off, disappearing into the crowd without making it a big moment.

“Here, let me. I’ll take the picture” you said, pulling out your phone. 

They stepped closer together, Lisa immediately slipping into position

“that’s good,” you replied, holding up your phone. You took a few shots, one after the other. “Got it,” you said.

“Can I also have a selfie?” she asked. Dominic didn’t mind.

He leaned in just enough, relaxed, used to it, as she snapped a few pictures, checking them immediately after.

“Okay, these are cute,” she said, clearly satisfied.

Then she turned toward you, her expression shifting into something a little more teasing.

“Your turn.”

Your gaze flickered to Dominic for a brief moment. He was already looking at you. Not saying anything. Just waiting.

“Okay,” you muttered softly as you stepped forward. Dominic slipped his arm around your shoulders, just like he had with Lisa, but this time he leaned in a little closer, his head brushing gently against yours.

Lisa raised your phone, squinting slightly as she framed the shot.

“Alright… cute, Uhu.. cute…”

She stopped. Her expression shifted immediately.

“Y/N,” she said, lowering the phone a little, “I love you, but the way you’re standing right now… is not it.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

She gestured vaguely with her free hand. “You look like you’re posing for a school ID picture. Loosen up.”

You let out a small, embarrassed laugh, shifting your weight slightly. “Okay, rude.”

Dominic let out a quiet laugh beside you, shaking his head slightly.

“I like this one,” he said, nodding toward Lisa. “She’s funny.”

Lisa grinned instantly. “Thank you. Finally someone appreciates me.”

You rolled your eyes, but the tension eased just enough to make you relax a little.

Lisa raised your phone again. This time you turned more to Dominic. 

“Okay, reset. Relax your shoulders… yeah, like that. And maybe don’t look like you’re being held hostage?”

You rolled your eyes, but adjusted slightly, letting out a small breath.

“Better,” she nodded. “Much better.”

She snapped a few pictures in a row.

Then Dominic glanced between the two of you. “So… how do you guys actually know each other?”

Lisa didn’t hesitate.

“Work,” she said, like it was obvious. “We started on the same day, actually.”

You nodded. “Yeah, first day, same department.”

Dominic hummed softly, his curiosity lingering. “What do you guys do exactly?”

"We both work in business development. We basically focus on growth,” you explained. “Finding new opportunities, building partnerships, figuring out how the company can expand., things like that”

Dominic listened, his attention on you, following the conversation quietly, like he was trying to picture it. But before he could say anything, his brother Alex walked backstage. 

“No, way! Y/N?”

You turned toward the voice, surprised.

Dominic glanced between the two of you, a small smile forming as he stepped in. “Oh yeah,” he said, nodding toward Alex. “You remember my brother Alex, right?”

Alex was already walking closer, still looking at you like he was trying to place you back into a version of the past. “It’s been a while,” he said, a half-smile appearing, opening his arms for a hug. You didn’t hesitate. You stepped forward and wrapped your arms around him, the familiarity of it hitting you instantly, like no time had passed at all.

Dominic then shifted slightly, gesturing toward Lisa. “And this is Lisa.”

Lisa perked up instantly, stepping forward with her usual energy. “Hi! I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you, but nice to meet you, nevertheless.”

Alex laughed, shaking her hand. “That’s probably for the best.”

He glanced between the three of you, a familiar spark of mischief in his eyes. “We should go do something together” There was a small pause before he added, glancing at Dominic with a half-smirk, “You know… like old times.”

Then he huffed out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Or is that… weird?”

His eyes flicked between you and Dominic.

“Going for drinks with your ex?” he said, raising a brow at his brother.

Your eyes immediately shot to Lisa. Her reaction was instant. A sharp inhale, her hand flying to her chest as she looked between you and Dominic like everything had just clicked into place.

“Oh my god” she whispered, eyes wide. “Wait… wait, no way.”

You pressed your lips together, already knowing what was coming. 

The pieces were falling together in real time.

Lisa shook her head, half in disbelief, half in excitement. “That makes so much sense.”

I just imagine Lisa to be standing there like

Was this too long? Be honest 😭 I might’ve yapped a little

NEXT (Part 6)

You nodded, though you barely heard her.

From where you stood, you could still see part of the stage. The lights, the crowd, the movement. His voice carried effortlessly through the speakers, steady and raw, while his fingers moved over the strings of his guitar.

You stood there, your hands trembling slightly, your eyes fixed ahead even though your mind was somewhere else entirely.

When the final song came to an end, the crowd broke out instantly. Cheers, applause, voices rising even louder than before. You felt your breath catch as reality suddenly rushed back in as he made his way backstage.

For a moment, he was surrounded. People talking to him, patting his back, saying things you couldn’t make out. But he didn’t linger. His attention was already elsewhere, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on you.

He walked straight toward you.

“Hey,” he said, his voice lower now, rougher than when he had been singing.

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out at first.

“What is this?” you asked, your voice sharper than you meant it to be.

He frowned slightly, clearly caught off guard by your tone, his hand instinctively lifting to his ear as he tried to remove his in-ear monitor, fingers fumbling a little with the small piece of equipment. “Well… hello to you too.”

“Why am I being asked back here?”

He blinked, caught off guard. “You showed up,” he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “What did you expect me to do?”

Your chest tightened. “I didn’t come here for you,” you replied quickly. “I came with friends… kind of.”

He tilted his head, studying you more closely now. There was a slight narrowing in his eyes, like he was trying to read between the lines. He didn’t look convinced.

“Right,” he said, almost too softly. The word lingered, hanging in the space between you, as if he was waiting for you to say more. When you didn’t, he exhaled quietly.

“I just thought…” he started, his voice dropping, the edge in it fading. “I mean… it’s my show.”

“I’m here because my friends like your music,” you continued, forcing your tone to stay even. “They really wanted to come.”

You glanced down briefly, collecting yourself, before looking back at him.

“I didn’t even know,” you admitted, quieter now. “Not until this week.”

Something shifted in his expression like confusion, “What do you mean?”

“I heard one of your songs on the radio,” you said. “At work. That’s how I found out you were… doing all this.” You gestured vaguely around you, at the noise, the lights, the aftermath of the show.

For a moment, he just looked at you.

“Okay,” he said finally, nodding once, slow and thoughtful. “Then that’s on me.”

He ran a hand through his hair, glancing away like he needed a second before facing you again.

“I misread it,” he admitted, quieter now. “I thought you were here for me. Thought maybe… you wanted to see how I was doing.”

His voice softened, the edges of it giving way to something more vulnerable. “I’ve thought about you,” he admitted.

The confession lingered between you, heavier than expected, and your chest tightened before you could stop it.

“I wanted to reach out,” he continued, his gaze dropping briefly before finding yours again. “A couple of times, actually.” A small, almost self-conscious breath left him. “But it never felt like the right moment.”

He shrugged lightly, though it didn’t quite hide the weight behind it.

“I really thought I did the right thing by letting you to"

Your chest tightened as the words settled between you.

You felt it immediately. That familiar tightness in your chest, the burn behind your eyes. The kind of emotion you thought you had already worked through, already buried deep enough that it couldn’t reach you like this anymore.

But it did.

You blinked quickly, forcing the tears back before they could fall. Not here. Not in front of him.

You straightened slightly, building that wall you had learned to rely on. Because you couldn’t give in. Not after everything. Not after the way it broke you.

“You’re right,” you said, your voice steadier than you felt. “That was the best thing you could’ve done.”

The words landed sharper than you intended, colder. But you didn’t take them back. Part of you didn’t want to. You held his gaze, letting it linger, fully aware of what you were doing. Letting it sting. Just enough. Because if he felt even a fraction of it, of what it had been like back then, the confusion, the quiet kind of hurt he had left behind, then maybe he’d understand.

“I’m in a better place now,” you continued, forcing yourself to hold his gaze. “My life makes sense again. I have stability.”

You paused.

“I have someone who gives me that.”

You didn’t say Drew’s name. You didn’t need to because you knew it was enough for him to know what you meant.

The way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes dropped for a second before returning to yours. He nodded once.

“That’s… good.”

But it wasn’t true.

There was no real stability with Drew. Not in the way you made it sound. What you had with him was easy, uncomplicated, something that filled space, but it wasn’t solid. It wasn’t real in the way you were pretending it was.

He shifted his weight, running a hand over the back of his neck, like he didn’t quite know where to place himself anymore.

“I mean it,” he added more quietly. “I’m glad you’re good.”

Another pause followed. His eyes flickered over your face, searching for something he couldn’t quite name.

“Stability, huh,” he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Sounds like the kind of thing that gets boring after a while.” He gave a small shrug. “Or maybe that’s just me.”

“That’s definitely just you,” you replied.

This time, you didn’t look away. You held his gaze, steady. “You’re just not used to anything other than chaos,” you said. “You’ve never really been good at being reliable. Or consistent.”

“Yeah. You’re right.” There was no defensiveness in his voice, just a quiet kind of acceptance. “Maybe I should meet him,” he added, almost casually. “Might learn a thing or two.”

You stilled. Just for a second but it was enough. Your posture shifted, your gaze slipping away from his like you suddenly had nowhere to put it. The hesitation said more than any answer could have.

A flicker of something unreadable passed over his face, the hint of playfulness fading as quickly as it came.

“Do your new friends know about me?” he asked, still light in tone, but his eyes fixed on you now, searching.

You didn’t answer.

“Or am I just…” he paused, watching you carefully, “something you don’t talk about anymore?”

A/N: Look at me actually posting consistently heheh Same place, same time tomorrow for part 5????

NEXT (Part 5)

You let out a quiet breath, adjusting the strap of your top, smoothing your hair one last time as if it might calm the restless feeling in your chest.

Behind you, Drew sat on the edge of your bed, watching you with a faint, amused smile.

“You’ve changed outfits at least three times.”

You glanced at him through the mirror. “No, I didn’t.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You did.”

You turned slightly, crossing your arms. “I just didn’t like the other ones.”

He hummed softly, unconvinced. “You look good. You always do.” He stood up and gave you a kiss. 

“Thanks,” you said

His hands resting lightly on your waist. “You okay?”

You nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He studied your face for a moment, as if he could see past your answer, but he didn’t push. “Just asking,” he said gently.

Before you could respond, the doorbell rang.

“That must be them,” Drew said, stepping away.

You followed him out, your steps just a fraction slower than his. The moment the door opened, the calm of your apartment disappeared.

“Finally!” Lisa stepped inside, already smiling. “We thought you were still getting ready.”

Of course not, it was a quick outfit decision,” you said with a smile, glancing at Drew. “Right, D?”

He laughed, knowing full well you had changed outfits more than once.

Lisa came with couple of more people you knew from work. People you saw almost every day, now relaxed, louder, more alive outside of work.

Lisa walked straight up to you and grabbed your arm. “You look good,” she said, quickly scanning your outfit. “I am so excited!”

You smiled, trying to match her energy. “You’re always excited.”

“Obviously,” she grinned. “It’s a concert.” She tilted her head, curiosity lighting up her eyes. “Have you listened to his songs, or are you just going in blind?”

You nodded lightly. “I’ve listened to a few.”

“Oh yeah, What’s your favorite?” asking as if it was interrogation 

You thought for a moment before answering. “I like Frisky.”

“Ooh, that’s a good one.” 

Not long after, you were all heading out together. Laughter filled the space, conversations overlapping, someone already talking about drinks, someone else about how crowded it would be while someone was calling for an Uber.

Once you arrived at the venue, you walked in with the group, your eyes instinctively scanning the space.

“I’ve never been here before, but it’s nice,” Lisa said, already making her way toward the bar. “Let's go get drinks first.”

You followed, letting yourself be pulled along. Orders were placed, drinks passed around, and after a bit of shifting and settling, you found a spot where everyone could fit. It was slightly elevated, giving you a clear view over the crowd. Close enough to see everything on stage, but far enough that it didn’t feel overwhelming.

Your gaze drifted there almost immediately. Two microphone stands. A simple white cloth hanging in the background. No elaborate setup, just rows of different guitars lined up behind them.

Your eyes moved lower. Cables stretched across the floor, equipment scattered around, and a table covered in buttons and switches you didn’t understand. At first glance it looked chaotic, but there was something intentional about it.

Half an hour passed without you noticing.

The room slowly filled, the noise rising with it as anticipation settled over the crowd. Conversations began to fade, interrupted by people glancing toward the stage, waiting. And then the lights went out.

A single light came back on, casting a soft glow over the stage. Music began to play. And then he stepped into it. 

Dominic Fike performing Babydoll at the M3F Festival Dominic Fike performing Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers after Frisky

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

The crowd, the noise, Drew standing beside you, Lisa grabbing your arm in excitement. None of it mattered. All you saw was him. 

He looked different. Healthier, in a way that was impossible to ignore. His posture was steadier, his movements more controlled. The constant exhaustion you remembered was gone.

You blinked slowly, almost trying to convince yourself it was real.

Because the last time you saw him, he had looked worn down, like everything was catching up to him. This version of him wasn’t that. 

A few songs passed before you even realized it. You had to admit it. He was really good.

His voice filled the room effortlessly. Controlled, steady, but still raw enough to feel real. Every note felt intentional. Every pause, every shift, like he knew exactly what he was doing now. The music wasn’t chaotic anymore. He talked to the crowd in between songs, congratulating someone who’s birthday it was. 

Without noticing, you found yourself relaxing, getting pulled into it.

Lisa grabbed your arm, fully into it, swaying slightly with her drink. “I told you!” she shouted over the music, smiling wide.

You laughed, nodding. “Okay, yes… he’s really good.”

And for a moment, everything felt normal.

You let yourself take it all in. The music, the atmosphere, the rhythm of the crowd, the soft glow of the shifting lights.

Then your eyes met his. Just for a moment. So brief you could have convinced yourself it didn’t happen. But it did. You saw it. The exact second his gaze found yours. And you knew. You knew he had recognized you.

It wasn’t just a passing glance, not the kind performers throw into a crowd without thinking. Something in his expression shifted, subtle but impossible to miss. His focus slipped for a second, like his mind had been pulled somewhere else entirely.

For a moment, he forgot the words.

Maybe it was barely noticeable, just a pause that lasted a fraction too long, a slight hitch. Anyone else might have missed it, but you didn’t. You saw it in his eyes, that brief flicker, the way he blinked as if pulling himself back, reminding himself where he was. He gave a small shake of his head, grounding himself. He eventually continued, his voice steady again, the moment blending back into the rhythm.

When the song ended, the final note lingering softly in the air, he stepped back from the microphone.

He didn’t look at the crowd. Instead, he turned slightly, leaning in toward one of his crew members. You couldn’t hear what he said, it was quick, low, meant only for them. But then the crew member followed his gaze. Straight to you.

Your stomach dropped.

It wasn’t subtle.

They were both looking your way now, and this time it lingered. Long enough to feel deliberate. Long enough to make it seem like you had just been singled out in a room full of people.

“Wait…” Lisa’s voice came from beside you. “Why are they looking here?”

Drew frowned slightly, glancing between the stage and you. 

Lisa narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced. “That didn’t look random.”

On stage, he stepped back toward the microphone again, but something about his posture had changed. Slightly more tense. Slightly more aware. Like he knew exactly where you were now. And you hated how exposed it made you feel.

Because suddenly, you weren’t just part of the crowd anymore.

You were seen.

You tried to focus on the music again, on your friends, on anything that could pull you back into something normal. But it was impossible now.

A few more songs passed before you saw her again, the woman Dominic had leaned in to, the one he had whispered to, stepping away from the side of the stage. At first, you thought she was just making her way through the crowd, heading somewhere else.

But she wasn’t.

She was walking straight toward you.

Your chest tightened.

Each step she took made it harder to breathe. People shifted around her, making space without even realizing it, until suddenly she was right in front of you.

Looking directly at you.

“Hi,” she said, her voice calm but purposeful. “Are you Y/N?”

For a second, no one spoke. Lisa looked at you, confused. Drew’s expression shifted, trying to piece things together. You felt their eyes on you.

You swallowed, then nodded slowly. “Yeah…”

The woman gave a small nod, like she had just confirmed something important.

“Dominic is asking if you can come backstage.”

The words landed heavier than anything else that night.

Silence fell between you.

Lisa’s head snapped back toward you. “Wait, what?”

Drew looked at you, his brows slightly furrowed now, confusion mixed with something else he wasn’t voicing.

Drew looked at you, his brows slightly furrowed now, confusion mixed with something else he wasn’t voicing. Your heart was racing. God… Drew. A sudden wave of guilt hit you.

You were going to have to explain. Everything.

You looked back at the woman, trying to steady your voice. “What about my friends?” For a second, you hoped she’d say to bring them too. That you wouldn’t have to face him alone.

But she shook her head. “Sorry. He only asked for you.”

The words landed harder than expected. You nodded slowly, your throat suddenly dry.

You glanced at Lisa, whose eyes were wide with confusion and curiosity, already forming a hundred questions she was holding back. Then your gaze shifted to Drew.

He was still looking at you. “I…” you hesitated, your voice softer now. “I’ll be right back, okay?” It sounded weak, even to your own ears.

He studied you for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Yeah… okay.”

Guyssssss, what do you think????

BTW, Dominic singing Frisky/ Can't Stop at M3F is my holy grail. It might be my favorite thing to watch atm.

NEXT (Part 4)