6pm

i sat down at a table on the rooftop bar with the girls. "so not only is this place totally packed, it's packed with celebrities." i said as i sat next in between shay and anaya.

"i know, right!" raelynn said with her eyes fixated on a table on the opposite side of the roofdeck with a group of guys. i looked over at the group of guys she was gawking at. i instantly recognized at least four celebrities amongst the men, which really wasn't surprising considering a lot of them are here for melody master awards which will be held tomorrow.

"how are things with you and steve?" i asked raelynn.

raelynn rolled her eyes and leaned her elbow on the table, her head resting on her fist. a sigh escaped her mouth as she spoke. "he's been hanging out with this other girl, but he swears they're just friends. it's really stressing me out. i don't know whether to trust him or not." she admitted.

"oh my god, really?" zoë said, her eyes widening as she reached over to grab raelynn's hand. "how did you find out about this?" she asked gently.

"well, last night when i went through his phone - i know i shouldn't of snooped - i discovered text messages between them that were pretty flirty and suggestive. but i confronted him about it and he dismissed it as playful banter." raelynn said, her voice full of disappointment.

"the worst thing a guy can do is play you" shay said while rolling her eyes. "i suggest you either set things straight, you know...create boundaries or it's time to move onto the next." she said while taking a sip from her colorful drink, shay always said the truth, whether we liked it or not.

raelynn nodded whilst listening to shay. it was clear from her expression that she'd already had a lot to think about regarding this situation. "yeah, you're right shay. i just don't know how to confront him when he always says i'm insecure or overreacting."

"you're not insecure and you're not overreacting. trust is important in a relationship and if there's no trust, it won't work." zoë said while giving raelynn a comforting pat on the shoulder.

from across the table i gave raelynn a nod and a soft smile. the waiter then walked over to us and asked me what kind of drink i'd like, since i had arrived late and everyone else was already sipping on their cocktails. "whatever she's having" i said as i pointed to a woman's table, she was sitting with a tall guy and she sipped on her cocktail as the two looked at the beach view ahead of them. the waiter nodded before walking away.

"that's olivia rodrigo" zoë whispered as she looked at the woman who i had previously pointed at.

"seriously?" i whisper yelled, receiving a nod from anaya. soon after my drink had arrived and the girls and i ordered, just as the waiter left with our orders i noticed olivia rodrigo and what looked to be louis partridge getting up from their chair, about to leave.

olivia glanced at me as she walked away, i gave her a soft smile to which she returned before she stopped in her tracks and walked over to me. "you're elaine, right?" internally i was screaming, even though i was a bit older than olivia i was fangirling.

"yeah, that's me! olivia, right?" i replied with a big smile.

she nodded. "i love your new song...numb. your vocals are out of this world." she said as she gave me a hug.

olivia's sincere compliment on my new song 'numb' made my heart skip a beat, and her tight embrace felt like a warm welcome from a friend i hadn't seen in a while. "thank you so much, olivia," i replied, my eyes lighting up with excitement. "to know that you like my music means a lot to me," i paused, then continued, "also, your album 'guts' is phenomenal. like, 'bad idea right?' is my anthem!"

olivia laughed, her warm smile spreading across her face. "oh my god, you like 'bad idea right?'? that's so awesome! i had so much fun making that song," she said, her excitement evident in her voice. "and i love your new song too! it's been on repeat ever since i heard it. it's such a vibe, you know?"

i smiled and nodded. "thank you so much..." i then looked over at my friends at the table and decided to do the courteous thing. "these are my friends. raelynn, shay, anaya, and zoë" i said as i pointed to each girl.

olivia waved at my friends, her smile still warm and welcoming. "it's nice to meet you all!" she said and turned to louis. "this is my boyfriend, louis."

the girls and i all gave him 'hello's' and he returned them. then olivia turned back to me. "listen, i gotta get going but let's grab lunch sometime!" she said as she pulled out her phone. "here put your number in." i nodded and gently took her phone before putting in my contact information. "so are you going to be at the melody master award show tomorrow?" olivia asked me as i typed in my information.

"oh i don't think so..." i said as i handed her her phone back.

she frowned. "oh that's too bad, but i will see you soon! i'll text you...good meeting you all." she said before starting to walk away with louis who gave us a wave.

"the melody master award show" i said to the girls when olivia had left. "i'd kill to go to that, even if my name isn't on the nominations."

"you should've asked olivia to take you as a plus one" shay said jokingly.

"that or you could ask your rockstar boyfriend." anaya said.

"i don't want to beg to go to places that i wasn't invited to..." i said before taking a sip of my drink.

"then don't beg, instead politely ask." zoë said with a wink.

i then noticed raelynn typing something on her phone, i didn't say anything about it since i didn't really care, but shay spoke up in a playful tone. "hey, no phones at the dinner table."

"i'm doing what has to be done." raelynn said and i raised my eyebrows in confusion before looking down at the table realizing that raelynn was typing on my phone.

"raelynn...give me my phone back." i said.

"i told you, i'm doing what has to be done." she said as she moved the phone under the table, still typing. i looked at zoë with raised eyebrows, basically asking her what raelynn was doing on my phone.

"texting dominic." zoë mouthed back.

"texting him what?" i mouthed to zoë.

"the award show" she mouthed, causing me to roll my eyes.

"how the hell did you even get in?" i asked raelynn.

"do you remember that one night when we went out and you got super drunk and asked me to get in your phone? i never forgot your password." she said innocently.

"remind me never to get drunk again." i said as i held out my hand for her to hand me my phone. with a groan, she handed me my phone back. i sighed as i looked at the messages. "seriously raelynn?"

"i'm surprised at how fast he replied." she said with a shrug.

~~

MESSAGES

dom

elaine
hey dommm

dom
hey lainey

elaine
any plans for tm?

dom
nah i think i'm gonna
just chill at home, the album
is gonna drop on tuesday

elaine
i remember!
that's exciting!!
🥳🥳

dom
i'm super exited! i'm excited
for you to hear it too.

elaine
i know i'll love it.
so you're not going
to the mm awards?

dom
nah i don't believe in
award shows. why? you wanna
go?

elaine
if you're offering...

dom
yeah, i'll go. i'm not
getting nominated for anything,
but i was invited. how about i bring
you as a plus one?

elaine
i'd love that.

dom
it starts at 5 so i'll pick you up at 4.

elaine
see you then!!

~~

i read the messages and immediately looked at raelynn. "you even flirted with him!" i said, i wasn't genuinely mad.

"hey! you said you wanted to go!! i just slightly pushed you..." she said.

i shook my head. "you're the worst."

"you're going, aren't you?" she replied with raised eyebrows and a smile. i knew raelynn only wanted to help, which definitely made me smile. but i couldn't help but wonder, was dominic just saying that to be polite? or did he genuinely want me to be his plus one? i didn't know. the uncertainty made me uneasy and i could feel my anxiety starting to take over.

as soon as i was about to unleash into my overthinking habits, the food arrived. it wasn't long before the girls and i all began to dig in, after eating anaya and i took a stroll on the beach. i couldn't help but gaze at the beautiful sunset as i listened to the waves crashing against the shore. i took a deep breath, the fresh ocean breeze filling my lungs. i felt a sense of peace wash over me, and for a moment, my anxiety faded away. i closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the waves, feeling the cool sand beneath my toes, and the cool night air enveloping my body.

"this is nice." anaya said softly, breaking the silence between us.

"it's beautiful...and refreshing." i said.

"yeah, it is." anaya said, echoing my sentiments. "it's funny how something as simple as a walk on the beach can bring such peace, you know? i guess it's a reminder that we don't always need something extravagant to feel contentment." her voice was soft and carried a sense of tranquility.

i nodded before leaning into anaya and wrapping my arm around her from the side, as she did the same with me. it was a peaceful moment i was lucky to share with my best friend.

as anaya and i embraced each other, i felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over me.

"you know," i said softly. "i'm glad we have nights like this, where we can just be." i took a moment to appreciate the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, and the feeling of the cool breeze on my skin.

"it's moments like this that i cherish the most." anaya said sincerely.

~~

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user1 she's actually so pretty

anayacaddel yes we do

oliviarodrigo cute! cute! cute!
⤷ elainehooks you! you! you!

zoe.barlow adorable

user2 your song is on repeat girl
⤷ elainehooks ❤️❤️

user3 is she dating dominic fike?