MIDNIGHT SKY.
﹆ . ⁺ . ✦ ﹒₊˚𓂃 ★﹒₊‧
⌞ 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗒-𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 .ᐟ ⌝

@drewstarkey | Drew Starkey
╭・␥ 📱 ★﹒new post

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drewstarkey  Hello,

As many of you know, I deeply value my privacy and would prefer to keep my personal life separate from the public eye. However, I can no longer stay silent when someone very dear to me has been subjected to unwarranted hate and threats over baseless and fabricated claims.

To my fans who have supported me throughout my career, I am truly grateful. But I will not tolerate the negativity being directed at my girlfriend.

I am very happy in my relationship, and I kindly ask that the rumors and hate come to an end.

Drew
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user  CLOCK THEM HATERS

user  well said, drew! 👏🏼

kingraella  jealousy kills and I wouldn't be shocked if we're RSVPing to a funeral soon 🥰

madelyncline i love it here

     ⤷ user  backstabbing bitch

madisonbaileybabe  love u both to the moon and back!

obx  ❤️

user saige does not deserve the hate at all! :(

jonathandavissofficial  proud of you both!

rudeth  THIS ATE

hichasestokes  ignore them haters like drew ignores the groupchat @lovesaige

     ⤷ user  😭

user break up with ur gf i'm bored

     ⤷ user  girl read the fucking room

user HE DID THAT YA'LL MY MAN

     ⤷ user  OUR MAN
     ⤷ user  girl- that's saige's man!

carlaciagrant  we love you, saige! ❤️

user god i'm so sorry for all the people hating, there's no reason for it at all! :(

brooke_starkey  people need to remember that kindness is free smh love you, saige!!

starkeyboy  ❤️

comments on this post have been limited.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

    As soon as Drew posted about the issue on his Instagram, most of the backlash had faded. It wasn't entirely gone, but Saige quickly learned that when you date an actor, especially someone like Drew fucking Starkey, people would always have something to say.

    At first, the comments had stung. Each one felt like a jab, even though none of it was true. Well, mostly. She wasn't a homewrecker, but a part of her had wondered if she was just a rebound.

    Though that was a long time ago. She and Drew had long moved past that phase, silently reassuring her through his actions and their shared moments that she was never just a rebound. Besides, Drew hadn't rushed into their relationship after his breakup with Daniela. He'd taken his time, and when he finally let Saige in, it had been real—something that felt undeniably genuine.

    Right now, though, she had bigger things to focus on.

    It was ten minutes until November 4—Drew's 29th birthday. One year closer to thirty. After tonight, technically, he'd be thirty. Saige once read somewhere that after you celebrate your birthday, you begin living life as your next age. It sounded complicated at first, but it made sense. After all, those first months before your first birthday were considered your first year of life.

    That thought alone made her head pound, but she pushed it away. There were more pressing matters at hand.

    Five minutes until midnight, and Saige was orchestrating a surprise. The OBX cast and Raella had gathered in Drew's apartment, the lights turned off and the air buzzing with excitement. Drew had been out all day with college friends, having an early celebration of his birthday.

    He'd texted her throughout the day, checking in to make sure she was okay, reassuring her everything would be fine. But one message had nearly knocked the wind out of her.

You know you're my girl, right?

    Drew had been nothing but sweet to her—so different from the distant, guarded person he'd been when they first met. Now? He was warm, attentive, always making her feel like the most important person in his life.

    As the minutes ticked down to midnight, Saige and the cast huddled together in the darkened living room. Drew had texted that he was on his way home and would call when he arrived. She could hardly contain her excitement. "He's here!" She announced, practically bouncing on the spot.

    The spare key he'd given her months ago felt heavy in her pocket—a tangible reminder of how their lives had intertwined.

    Then, the sound of jingling keys at the door broke the silence. The group froze, their excitement barely contained.

    "Shhh!" Madison hissed, frantically waving her hands at the laughing boys.

    The door creaked open. Drew stepped inside, balancing a takeout bag in one hand, his keys and phone in the other. His expression was relaxed, almost sleepy, until—

    "Happy birthday, Drew!" A party popper went off with a loud snap, showering the birthday boy in a flurry of confetti.

    "What the f—" Drew nearly dropped the paper bag. His free hand flew to his chest, his face a mask of mock horror before it quickly softened into a grin. "You guys scared the shit out of me." He laughed, shaking his head, eyes sparkling with amusement.

    "29, brother!" Chase shouted, clapping him on the back. "One step closer to the big 3-0!"

    "Drew rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips as the cast surrounded him with laughter and hugs. His gaze then found Saige, standing by the couch, her eyes glowing with affection as she watched him.

    "When their eyes met, Drew's grin lessened, becoming something more intimate. He crossed the room and gently took her hand, pulling her close.

    "You planned all this, didn't you?" He murmured, his voice low and playful.

    "We all did," Saige replied, her smile widening. "Happy birthday."

    "Thank you, baby." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, and for a moment, the room around them seemed to disappear.

    "Alright, lovebirds, break it up!" Madison teased, tossing a handful of confetti at them. "Cake time! Candles to blow!"

    "That's what she said!" Rudy chimed in, earning a playful smack from Madison.

    The group gathered around the kitchen island, plates and forks in hand, as Drew sliced into the chocolate cake Madelyn had picked out. It was chaos in the best way—everyone talking over each other, cracking jokes, stealing extra frosting from the cake's edges.

    "Man, these are clutch o'clock—straight OG," Drew said, holding up an Uncrustable, the snack the cast had thoughtfully picked out, knowing it was his all-time favorite. "You know, if you freeze them—"

    "Wait, you freeze them?" Austin interrupted, furrowing his brow.

    "Yeah, you fucking freeze these," Drew said, matter-of-fact. "And it's like the perfect summer snack."

    "Damn, this is not good." Madison muttered, shaking her head in mock disbelief.

    "Shut up!" Drew shouted, earning a laugh from Saige.

    "This is so nostalgic!" Carlacia nodded, munching on them. "But Drew's right, it's much better when it's cold."

    "So, like the crust is... pre-determined?" Austin chimed in, taking a bite.

    "But there is crust!" Madison argued, pointing to the outer area fo the snack.

    "No, it's Uncrustables!" Drew shot back with a grin.

    "That's more like a pinch, Bails." Raella added.

    "Oh, so you can take this off?" Saige asked, her tone genuinely curious as she examined the outer crust. Being younger than the rest, she wasn't as familiar with the snacks, which probably explained her confusion.

    "You don't need to do that!" Austin protested, shaking his head. "It's perfect!"

    "Don't touch it!" JD exclaimed, feigning alarm.

    "Wait, but it's Uncrustables, I'm uncrusting it?" Saige said, holding up the edge, her eyes wide with mock innocence.

    "No, it's already uncrusted!" Drew laughed, popping his into his mouth.

    "She's peeling it off!" Madison made a face, laughing hysterically.

    "It's like a peanut butter and jelly dumpling," JD added with a grin. "You don't need to do anything to it."

    Laughter erupted around the room as Saige finally let go of the "crust", shaking her head at herself. The lighthearted banter continued as they all dug into more snacks.

    Later that night, everyone lounged around Drew's living room in a sugar-induced haze, a movie flickering on the TV. Drew sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Saige was curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. It had been perfect—laughter, joy, and easy fun with the best people.

    Then, Drew leaned down, kissed her forehead softly, and murmured that he was heading to the bathroom. His phone remained on the couch as he walked away. For a moment, the screen stayed dark—then it lit up with a notification. Saige tried to ignore it. She really did. But the phone sat there, unmoving, its glowing screen practically daring her to look. He was her boyfriend—what harm could a quick glance do?

    She hesitated, then peeked. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart plummeting at the notification staring back at her.

TODAY 12:21 AM
Thank you for today, Drew.

    Saige's stomach twisted as she read the sender.

    Daniela.

    What the fuck?

    Her mind raced, her eyes glued to the faint glow of the screen. The message sat there, untouched, yet it burned into her thoughts—a glaring reminder of a past she'd fought so hard to leave behind. Second choice. A gamble she'd taken for him. A fleeting distraction from the pieces of his broken heart. The doubts she'd buried clawed their way back to the surface, threatening to pull her under.

    She quickly looked away when Drew returned from the bathroom, sitting down beside her, unaware of the tension creeping in.

    Drew casually picked up his phone, scrolling with ease. Saige, however, felt her heart rate spike, watching him from the corner of her eye, trying to hide the unease building inside her.

    "What's up, baby?" Drew asked, noticing her stiff posture.

    "Nothing," Saige replied quickly, her voice too light. "Just thinking."

    "About me?" He teased with a smile.

    "Always." She replied, attempting to sound playful.

    Drew's eyes warmed as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple before wrapping an arm around her waist. Saige closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the moment wash over her, but her thoughts refused to settle. The text lingered in her mind, sharp and intrusive, casting a shadow over his embrace.

    Then, as if on cue, Drew's phone buzzed again, breaking the silence. Saige's stomach dropped, her breath catching in her throat.

    She saw Drew glancing at his phone casually and swiped the notification away before Saige could catch a glimpse. But it was too late. Her heart raced, the unease gnawing at her once more.

    "Who was that?" She couldn't help but ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "No one," Drew said, locking his phone and slipping it back into his pocket. "Just work."

Saige nodded, forcing a neutral expression, but inside, her thoughts churned relentlessly. Her pulse thundered in her ears, and the lighthearted atmosphere of the night had vanished like a burst bubble.

Sensing her unease, Drew pulled her closer, his arm snug around her waist. "Everything's fine, baby," he murmured, his voice soft and reassuring. "Trust me."

But Saige couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her chest. The uneasiness wasn't just about the text—it was about everything it represented. It stirred memories she'd tried to bury: Drew leaving her for Daniela, taking calls from Daniela even when they were together, and the times he'd bailed on her because of Daniela. Those wounds weren't as healed as she thought.

As she lay in his arms, pretending to be okay, two questions echoed relentlessly in her mind: Why was his ex-girlfriend texting him at midnight, and why was he lying about it?

GWYN'S NOTE.
ఌ︎
short chapter with a cliffhanger bc i'm evil like that <33 stay tuned for the next one it's gonna be a looong one mehehe.
also, just so you know, midnight sky will end at chapter thirty :) 2 chapters more! x