MIDNIGHT SKY .ᐟ
ᰋ. ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ chapter thirty ⎯⎯
❛ it'll always be you. ❜

⿻

present time ── drew.

"can we talk?" daniela's voice barely rose above a whisper. her eyes were bloodshot, the white part of her eyes tinged with red, and her nose was red, as if she'd been crying for hours.

"there's nothing to talk about." drew's voice was flat. distant and cold—different from the drew she once knew. he stood meters away, arms crossed as a barrier between them.

daniela swallowed hard. "i just... i need to apologize. for everything."

drew's expression didn't falter. he stayed rooted, his gaze hard as he looked at the woman who had once held his heart. "apologize for what? the video? the lies? the harassment you caused saige?" his voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. "or do you mean the way you left things between us?"

daniela winced at his words. "i didn't mean for things to get so out of hand," she stammered. "i didn't—"

"don't." he spat. "you knew exactly what you were doing."

tears streamed down her face. "i swear i didn't think it would go that far, okay? i didn't think your fans would actually attack her–"

"the fuck you didn't." drew's jaw clenched, his glare boring into her.

"i swear!" she exclaimed, panic flashing in her wide, tear-filled eyes. "i wasn't thinking straight. i was hurt and i-i just didn't know what else to do. i was angry, drew. you seemed so fine without me, like you didn't care. i wanted you to feel what i felt."

"you think i didn't care?" he interrupted, his voice rising. "about you? about us? when were the one who walked away?"

"i—"

"no," he cut her off. "the time for explaining is over. if you want to hurt me, then fine. do it. but don't drag saige into this."

she shook her head frantically, her breathing uneven, words tumbling out like she was trying to catch up with her emotions. "you have to understand that i was hurt, drew. i was angry. you just... you moved on so fast, like i never mattered."

"so you made it everyone else's business." his words were blunt, heavy with disappointment, but he didn't care.

daniela's breath caught, her face crumpling. "i know i fucked up, okay? i know that! i've been replaying it over and over in my head, and it's like... i can't make sense of myself."

drew's jaw tightened, his silence slicing through her frantic words. he knew her game too well. this wasn't remorse—it was an attempt to ease her own guilt. that was daniela: always spinning her mistakes into something more excusable. and drew wasn't falling for it. not this time.

"do you remember the day we broke up?"

his expression hardened. he didn't want to revisit that moment. but daniela pressed on, her voice trembling as more tears slipped down her face. she shook her head, her composure crumbling further.

there was once a time where drew might've stepped forward, might've taken her in his arms and comforted her. but not now. now, all he saw was manipulation—her tears, her pleas, her desperate attempt to rewrite the story.

"when we broke up, i said all those things... things that weren't true at all," daniela began, her voice shaking, barely holding herself together. "i know it's too late, but i didn't mean it, drew. i was just... overwhelmed." she looked down like she wanted the floor might swallow her whole. "you loved me too much, and i couldn't handle it. i didn't know how to. every time you showed me how much you cared, it felt... too good to be true, like it was all going to fall apart any second. so, i did what i thought was best—i pushed you away. i thought... if i ended things first, it wouldn't hurt as much when you left me."

"i wouldn't have left you, dani," drew said, his voice steady but filled with a pain he couldn't hide.

her eyes filled with tears again as she tried to explain, but the words seemed to choke her. "i know that now, i... i regret it, okay?" she gasped for air, barely able to finish. "i-i hate myself for it. i hate how i hurt you. i just..."

drew shook his head again, a heavy sigh escaping him. this conversation was going nowhere. "it's too late for this, daniela. you should leave," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. he turned, ready to walk away, but her voice stopped him.

"wait!" she called after him. desperate, almost pleading. "i... i don't want to ruin what you have with saige. i just wanted to apologize," she paused, her breathing shallow. "i'm leaving tomorrow. going back to LA. i just... i needed to tell you in person. to apologize. to both of you."

drew didn't respond right away. instead, he studied her. the way her shoulders hunched forward, as if carrying the weight of her guilt. the nervous shifting from one foot to the other. her eyes, red-rimmed and brimming with tears that she tried—and failed—to blink away. the quiet sniffles that broke the silence. her fidgeting hands, twisting and untwisting, betraying her inner commotion. and the stiffness in her posture, like she was forcing herself to stand there, to apologize, or maybe just to not crumble completely.

"look," drew finally said, his sigh heavy and tired. "what you did hurt saige in ways you can't even imagine. you let people believe she was the reason we broke up when she hadn't even met me back then. that's fucked up, daniela."

"i know," she whispered, nodding, fresh tears streaming down her face as her voice broke.

his gaze hardened. "but if you think looking for pity, or whatever this is, is enough, then just leave."

"i'm not looking for pity," she said softly, her voice shaky but resolute. "i am genuinely sorry for what i did." she hesitated, her eyes darting to the ground before meeting his again. "but i also wanted you to know that... i did love you, drew. with everything i had to offer. but... she loves you more."

drew remained quiet, his lips pressed into a thin line. he didn't argue—he couldn't. because deep down, he knew it was true. even though his relationship with saige was still new, he had known for a while now that her feelings for him were real. she'd always shown it to him. she'd always been honest about it.

"i can see it," she continued, her voice growing fainter. "and i know you love her, too. just as much as she does." she exhaled a deep sigh, as if the words themselves were a burden being lifted but still painful to release. "so, yeah. i guess that's it."

drew watched her as she began to turn away. there was just something in her eyes—a mix of sorrow, regret, and acceptance that he hadn't seen in her before.

and as she took a step to leave, he called out, halting her in her tracks. "i understand where you're coming from. but... i also want you to know that i wanted to fight for us, daniela. i did," he paused, letting his words settle. "at first, i wanted to fix things. i wanted to go back to how it used to be."

another tear slid down daniela's cheek at his confession, but drew continued. "but then... saige came. and i didn't expect this. i didn't expect us to end up where we are now. she's different, dani. she was there for me when you weren't. she makes me feel like i can breathe, like i don't have to keep a facade. she sees me—not the drew that everyone else sees. just me."

he paused again, his voice tightening as he continued. "i love her. and i'm sorry for what happened between us. i am. but like you said, we're over. and while you claim you didn't mean to, you hurt her in ways you can't imagine. you let the fans tear her apart, and seeing her hurt over the things they said... it's unbearable. and i'll be damned if i let anything like that happen to her again."

daniela's voice cracked as she asked. "is there something i can do?"

he stayed quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on her as an idea began to form. finally, he nodded. "yes, there is."

silence hung between them, heavy but no longer hostile after drew told her what he wanted her to do.

when she'd agreed, he gave a small nod, his expression sincere. "i hope you know i wish you the best, daniela." the words carried no bitterness, only a quiet acknowledgment of the past they shared—a past he had no intention of revisiting.

and yet, as he looked at her now, he felt no regret. he didn't hate her; he didn't even pity her. any lingering ties between them had been broken, replaced by the certainty of where his heart truly belonged.

because right now, saige filled every corner of his world. heart, mind, body, and soul—she was everything.

daniela managed a faint smile, her voice trembling. "yeah, you too."
   
with that, drew turned his back and walked away, leaving behind the girl he once thought he'd spend forever with. for the first time since their breakup, a weight lifted off his chest, and he felt free—free of the past, free of guilt, free to move forward.

"happy birthday, drew!"

drew jumped slightly but couldn't stop the wide smile that spread across his face. his friends had jumped out from the shadows, grinning from ear to ear. and there, standing near the couch, was saige. she beamed at him, her smile so radiant it momentarily stole the air from his lungs. she looked stunning, effortlessly beautiful, and in that moment, he was reminded that she was his.

the heaviness that followed him from his encounter with daniela dissipated like smoke. the room was warm, filled with laughter, teasing, and the aroma of snacks his friends had brought for his birthday. he felt the tension in his shoulders melt away as he joined in on the fun, cracking jokes and laughing with the people who truly mattered.

it was the kind of happiness drew had almost forgotten he could feel—a reminder that his future was finally his to embrace.

Daniela
Thank you for today, Drew.

Daniela
I meant, tonight.
I'll fix everything, I promise.
I wish you and Saige the very best.
Goodbye.

he swiped the message away, not wanting to let it linger. the last thing he needed was to rehash any part of that chapter. he was done with daniela. that part of his life was in the past, and he had no intention of resurrecting it. not now, not ever.

his gaze flicked to saige, but he didn't speak up immediately. the urge to tell her surged within him—to explain what had transpired with daniela in the parking lot, to let her know what happend. but something held him back. he wanted to wait until daniela kept her word.

so instead of being open, drew lied.

"everything's fine, baby," he said, offering her a reassuring smile. "trust me."

his decision to lie wasn't about hiding the truth from saige—it was about protecting her from more pain. he knew she had enough on her plate and didn't want to drag her back into the mess with his ex-girlfriend. the truth would come out when the time was right, but for now, he wanted to give her peace. he'd carry the weight alone if it meant she could stay free of the stress. her happiness was worth everything.

⿻

@daniela.cline | daniela cline 💋
╭・␥ 📱 ★﹒new post

♥ liked by 3,798,204 others
daniela.cline  🖤
comments for this post have been turned off.

⿻

"...i truly hope we can all put this behind us. thank you for your understanding. love, daniela." raella's voice trailed off as she finished reading the post aloud, her jaw dropping in disbelief.

the room fell completely still. the girls, huddled together in madison's room mid-prep session, were frozen in place. curling irons dangled forgotten in hands, lipsticks left uncapped, as all eyes remained locked on the glowing screen in raella's hands.

madelyn blinked rapidly, then let out a breathless gasp. "oh. my. god."

saige remained motionless, the weight of the baking powder under her eye suddenly feeling unbearable. her heart raced as she processed the words that raella read to them. daniela—the same woman who had begged her to walk away from drew —was now... apologizing? publicly? on instagram, no less?

it didn't make sense. saige felt a knot tighten in her chest.

"man, that's just crazy with a master's degree!" carlacia exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief. her eyes shifted to saige, who remained frozen in place. "you okay, saige?"

saige blinked, her thoughts racing. "i... think so." she managed, nodding as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

this was the last thing she'd expected.

daniela was publicly admitting to her lies? apologizing so openly? saige felt a surge of confusion. was this... the reason why drew lied to her last night? why he kept the truth from her? because he didn't want her to worry? a wave of tenderness—almost painful—settled in her chest at the realization.

maybe he had been handling it all for her.

"i never thought she had it in her to post something like that," madelyn muttered, still reeling from her cousin's public apology. "that's... just weird."

saige, her gaze still fixed on the screen, finally spoke again, her voice quiet but steady. "i saw a notification on drew's phone last night," she said, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "from daniela. she said, 'thank you for today'."

"did... drew tell you if they spoke?"

saige shook her head. "no," she replied softly. "he just told me to trust him, that everything was fine."

raella raised an eyebrow, a look of curiosity crossing her face. "and do you?"

saige hesitated, her heart torn between certainty and doubt. she parted her lips, but her voice caught in her throat. after a long pause, she spoke, her words soft yet unwavering. "i... i know he chose me," she murmured, her eyes lowering to the floor as if searching for something to ground her. "i know he wants to be with me. but... in all the time we've been together, so much of it was him talking about getting her back or how much he loved her—even after everything she did to him. and even though we're here now, together... there's still this part of me, no matter how small, that thinks... he'll always have a soft spot for her."

"oh, saige," madison said softly, her frown deepening with a mix of sympathy and understanding. "look, dani might have had his heart before, but trust me when i say he's in love with you."

saige paused, her mind still clouded with doubt. "i don't know, bails. there's so much still hanging in the air."

madison nudged her gently, offering a comforting smile. "why don't you just talk to him tonight?"

saige took a moment, and after a long pause, she nodded. "i'll talk to him after the party."

the girls returned to getting ready, the excitement of drew's birthday party at the bar buzzing around them. but as saige finished her makeup, the uncertainty between her and drew persisted in the back of her mind, leaving her restless.

the night at the club buzzed with flashing lights and the rhythmic pulse of the music. it was only hours later when saige spotted drew near the bar, looking effortlessly handsome as always, his broad smile lighting up the room. her heart skipped a beat as she made her way to him.

"happy birthday, baby," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. she slid her arms around his back, pulling him close, the warmth of his body grounding her. "are you happy?" she asked quietly.

drew grinned down at her, his arms slipping lazily around her waist, eyes soft with so much affection it nearly took her breath away. "always," he said, his voice smooth and steady. "i'm always happy when you're here."

saige rolled her eyes playfully, a smile tugging at her lips. "shut up," she teased, turning her face away as a blush spread across her cheeks. drew chuckled then he pressed a kiss to her forehead. his chin rested atop her head, and saige felt the warmth of his breath against her skin. "your flirting skills need serious upgrades," she murmured, laughter escaping her as she leaned into him.

"oh, yeah?" his voice tinged with musing, yet there was a glint of mischief in his eyes. "i've just been taking notes from your flirting, so i guess that makes two of us."

saige couldn't help but let out another laugh, her heart lifting in the moment. she cherished these lighthearted moments with him, but a part of her still pressed heavily on her. pulling away slightly, she met his gaze, her mind searching for the right words.

"hey," she started, her voice quieter now, a touch of uncertainty slipping into her tone. "can i ask you something?"

"sure, baby," he replied, his expression shifting as he noticed the change in her mood, a trace of concern in his eyes.

saige hesitated for a beat before the words tumbled out. "did you... threaten daniela to put out a public apology?"

drew paused, his gaze locking onto hers for a moment, before he burst into laughter. his chest heaved with each chuckle, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. his cheeks flushed, not only from his laughing but also from the beer he'd been drinking.

"no," he finally managed to reply, still chuckling. "but even if i did..." he shook his head, catching his breath. "what she did was just the bare minimum."

her brows furrowed, her mind racing to make sense of his words. "did you... talk?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. her heart clenched at the thought, torn between which was worse: that drew hadn't told her about their conversation or that he might've had to threaten daniela just to get her to apologize.

drew's smile faded, his attention drawn to the worry on her face. he chuckled softly, as if trying to lighten the moment. "i didn't threaten her," he said. "but yeah, we talked. it wasn't anything pretty, though."

saige's chest tightened, her heart racing as she searched his face for any clue of what had really transpired. "what did she say?" she asked, her eyes desperate for the truth.

he sighed deeply, his gaze momentarily shifting as if he were replaying the conversation in his mind. "she came to me last night in the parking lot," he began, his voice low. "she said she didn't mean what she did, that it was a mistake. she apologized—said she never intended for it to go that far, that it was out of character for her." his tone softened for a moment then he took another deep breath. "i made it clear that what she did wasn't just a mistake. it was wrong. it hurt both of us."

he looked at saige then, his eyes locking with hers. the intensity in his gaze was unmistakable, but it softened as their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.

"i'm sorry i didn't tell you sooner, saige," drew continued, his voice full of sincerity. "i didn't want you to carry that pain. i thought it was something i could handle on my own, without dragging you into it. but... you should've been the first to know." he paused, his expression softening. "i was also waiting for daniela to keep her end of the bargain. she promised to post a public apology, to make things right, and i needed to make sure she followed through before i said anything."

he moved a step closer, reaching out to take her hand, holding it gently in his. his thumb traced the back of her hand, offering quiet reassurance. "i'm sorry for lying to you, for not being more open. i should've told you the moment it happened," he added, his eyes locking with hers. "but i want you to know, i'm with you, saige. always. you and me, we're in this together, okay?"

her heart fluttered in her chest, and the pressure in her shoulders began to lift as his words sank in. still, a feeling of unease tugged at her heart. what if... drew's past with daniela would always cast a shadow over them?

and he seemed to sense the doubt in her eyes. "hey," he whispered, his voice soft, almost protective. "i mean it. i've got you, baby. always."

the warmth of his touch and the sincerity in his voice settled the storm inside her, even if just for a moment. and for that moment, saige allowed herself to believe him. she gave him a small smile, but it felt as though drew could still see the uncertainty lingering in her eyes.

without a word, he leaned in, crashing his lips against hers, his hands finding the back of her neck with a firm, almost desperate grip. the kiss felt different—full of promise. saige's arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, as their lips moved in perfect harmony.

drew tilted his head, deepening the kiss, his tongue tracing the contours of her bottom lip as he tasted her.

the thumping music of the club roared around them, but in that moment, it felt as if it were miles away, fading into the background. the chatter and laughter of the crowd became distant hums and the world around them seemed to blur. time slowed, leaving just the two of them, locked in a moment of intimacy, their souls entwined in the silent promise of each other.

when they finally pulled away, drew's forehead rested against hers, his breath hot against her skin. his eyes, raw with emotion, locked onto hers. "you're the one, saige," he breathed, voice low but full of intensity. "as long as i'm breathing, it'll always be you."

he kissed her again, this time slow and gentle, as if the world had faded and only the two of them existed. the opening chords of robbers by the 1975 then filled the bar, and it felt like the world paused. it was a kiss that carried everything they had become—from strangers to friends to lovers. a kiss that carried love and a promise that no words could capture. from that moment on, their connection felt eternal.

like a love written in the stars—unbroken, unspoken, and as limitless as the midnight sky.

⿻

author's note:
and that's a wrap! ugly crying rn omggg
epilogue's next—stay tuned!
love you guys more than you know x