𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 1999
______________
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I stood in front of the mirror, holding up two dresses—one red, one blue—trying to decide which one to wear for tonight's party. I was still in my white tank top and underwear, my hair in loose waves, staring at my reflection with indecision. Why is this so hard? I thought to myself. I wanted to look good for David's album release, but not like I was trying too hard. Sophisticated but still me.

As I stood there contemplating, David walked into the room, wiping his hands with a towel, having just come from the bathroom. "What's up, babe?" he asked, eyeing me with a playful grin.

I glanced at him through the mirror, biting my lip. "I'm having trouble choosing what to wear." I gestured toward the dresses in my hands. "Red or blue?"

David leaned against the bathroom doorframe, still drying his hands. "Don't stress it," he said casually. "Just wear whatever you want."

I let out a small sigh, shaking my head. "I don't want to just wear whatever. I want to look nice, you know? Sophisticated, but not like I'm trying too hard."

He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, planting a soft kiss on the side of my neck. "Whatever you wear, you're gonna look sexy. You'll be the best-looking girl at the party tonight."

I couldn't help but smile at that, my cheeks warming at his words. "Thank you, but seriously—I could use some help. I can't make up my mind." I looked at him in the mirror, holding up both dresses again. "So choose for me. Red or blue?"

David glanced between the two for a moment, then smirked. "Red. Definitely the red one."

"Yeah?" I asked, turning to look at him.

He nodded, his grin widening. "Oh yeah. Red suits you."

I looked back at the red dress, running my fingers along the fabric before nodding. "Red it is."

David gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Now hurry up and get dressed, we leave in an hour." As he turned to leave, he gave me a light, playful smack on the butt, making me roll my eyes and laugh.

"Okay, okay," I called after him, still smiling as I laid the blue dress aside and got ready to slip into the red one. Tonight was important, and I wanted everything to be just right.

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The room was buzzing with energy as the celebration for The Odyssey's latest album, Eternal Ashes, hit full swing. The album had dropped two weeks ago and had already climbed to the top of the charts, solidifying the band's status as one of the most innovative forces in alternative rock. Their industrial, tortured sound resonated deeply with fans, and tonight, David and his bandmates were basking in their success.

Standing on a makeshift stage in the spacious living room of the rented mansion, David raised a glass of whiskey as the room quieted down. I stood near the back, leaning against the wall with a soft smile, watching my boyfriend soak in the applause.

David's bandmate, Atticus, who handled the keyboards and synths, leaned into the mic. "This album—Eternal Ashes—it's not just music. It's blood, sweat, and a hell of a lot of pain. We wrote this during one of the darkest times of our lives, and somehow, we turned that darkness into something beautiful."

The crowd erupted in cheers.

David stepped forward, his leather jacket hanging off his shoulders, hair disheveled in that perfect rockstar way. "You know," he began, his voice raw and magnetic, "when we started The Odyssey, we had no idea what the hell we were doing. We just knew we had something to say, something clawing its way out of us. This album... it's the culmination of everything we've been through. The heartbreak, the anger, the fucking chaos of it all. And the fact that it's reached so many of you means the goddamn world to us."

The crowd roared again, raising their glasses. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for him. Despite his flaws, David's passion for his art was undeniable. Soon the party was now in full swing, the dim lighting casting a hazy, intimate glow over the room as the sounds of The Odyssey' music pulsed through the speakers.

David was mingling with fans, friends, and bandmates, laughing and enjoying himself. I couldn't help but notice the way his laughter became louder, his movements looser, and how often he kept refilling his glass. He wasn't just drinking—he was really drinking. I didn't want to hover over him, especially on a night like this, but a part of me stayed cautious, watching from a distance.

I sat at the bar, swirling a glass of Chardonnay between my fingers. The music thumped around me, and I let myself get lost in it for a moment. My red dress felt sleek against my skin, and I noticed a few appreciative glances from people passing by. It wasn't my usual attire, but I liked the way David looked at me when he first saw me in it earlier tonight.

As I was listening to the music, a man came to the bar. He was handsome—early 40s, well put together, clearly someone who moved in these kinds of circles. He ordered a drink and glanced at me.

"You don't look familiar," he said, his voice smooth but friendly. "Are you an artist in the industry?"

I gave him a small smile, shaking my head. "No, I'm a professional wrestler. I work for the World Wrestling Federation."

His eyes lit up with recognition. "WWF..Oh, Sonya, right? Wow. I'm Chuck, nice to meet you." He extended his hand, and I shook it. "I used to be a
big wrestling fan growing up."

"Used to, what happened?" I asked with a smirk.

"Well, you know, life gets busy," he chuckled. "But I casually check in here and there. Last time I watched was when Shawn Michaels lost to Stone Cold."

Hearing Shawn's name brought back memories. I half-smiled, feeling that familiar tug in my chest. That weekend... It was a whirlwind of emotions, but I shook it off. "Yeah, that was quite the match."

He leaned against the bar, curious. "How's Shawn doing these days?"

I had to remind myself that the world didn't know much about our past. We kept it quiet, private—just a handful of people in the industry knew the truth. I kept my expression neutral. "He's good, I'm sure. We don't really speak that much anymore."

Chuck raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I see. What happened?"

I took a breath. "He's retired now, spending time with his wife. You know, family stuff."

He nodded, looking surprised. "Didn't know he was married. Is she a cutie?"

I smiled, keeping my tone light even though I'd rather not talk about Shawn and his wife. "She's beautiful."

I quickly turned the conversation back to him. "What about you? What do you do?"

Chuck's face brightened as he explained his role in the industry being a talent manager, and for a while, it was easygoing. But out of the corner of my eye, I noticed David from across the room. He was downing another shot, his movements less steady now. His bandmates were gathered around him, and one of them, Trent, asked, "Where's Sonya?"

David shrugged, looking around. "I'm not sure."

Another bandmate, Richard spotted me. "There's your girl, over there." He gestured toward the bar, and David's eyes followed, locking onto me and Chuck.

I saw the shift in his expression immediately. He knew Chuck—they were friends—but the way his eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened made me tense. I knew that look. He was curious, yes, but there was something else behind it. Jealousy.

David started walking toward us, weaving through the crowd, and my stomach clenched. I could already feel the shift in the air as he approached.

"Hey," David said as he joined us, his voice a little too sharp for casual conversation.

Chuck gave him a friendly smile. "Hey, David. Great party. You guys killed it."

"Yeah, thanks." David's gaze flicked between Chuck and me, lingering a little too long on Chuck. "What are you two talking about?"

Chuck, being the calm, collected guy he was, just shrugged. "Just catching up. She was telling me about her time in WWF."

David nodded, but I could feel the tension building. He took a step closer to me, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. His other hand still clutched his drink.

"Apparently Chuck here is a wrestling fan." I Said

"Yeah I know." David Replied

"Hey, we should totally hang out whenever your company comes over to L.A, I'd totally like to stop by to a show." Chuck Said

"Oh that would be cool I'm sure Dav-" I Said

"Well," David interrupted, "You see she's a busy girl and Chuck your a busy guy, when Sonya is at work she likes to be focused. But I'm sure you can catch the next show, you know when I'm in town."

I shot him a look. "David, don't."

His eyes flashed, and I could see that the alcohol was really starting to take effect. "Don't what? I'm just telling my friend here, that if he wants to hang out with my girl he can do it when we're together."

Chuck, sensing where this was going, put his hands up in a peace gesture. "It's cool, man. I'll leave you guys to it. We can talk tomorrow when you're sober." He patted David's shoulder, giving me an understanding nod before stepping back. "Goodnight."

David didn't say anything as Chuck walked away, but I could feel the tension rolling off him. I turned to him, folding my arms across my chest. "What was that about?"

David's face was a mix of frustration, as he downed his drink, "Nothing I just don't like seeing you talking to other guys like that."

"Like what? I wasn't talking to him any kinda way." I Replied, with my hand on my hip.

"I'm sure you were but when it comes to Chuck, he's a sucker for hitting on cute girls he think he has a chance with." David Mentioned

"But he wasn't hitting on me he just told me he's married." I recalled

"Yeah, but everyone here knows that he's a cheater. He cheats on his wife any chance he can get, so yeah he's my friend..but I didn't want him talking to you." David Said

I sighed, softening a little but still firm. "He's your friend, David. And we were just talking. You don't need to get jealous."

David's eyes, glassy from the alcohol, softened for a moment, but the jealousy lingered. "I don't trust him. And honestly, I don't like how close he was standing to you.

"Really David, we weren't that close to each other." I Sighed

"Please he was practically trying to get closer to you." David Said

"Okay," I grabbed my bag, "Yeah I'm not doing this."

"Doing what?" David Questioned

"This! I'm not arguing over something that didn't happen," I crossed my arms, shaking my head. "You're drunk. I told you not to get this drunk tonight David."

"Jesus Christ It's a fucking party, Sonya!" he snapped, his voice louder now. "People get drunk at parties. My friggin' album just released! Excuse me for celebrating my success, I never shit on you when you want to celebrate." David Said

"Yeah, because when it comes to you and alcohol, there's no stopping you, is there?" I shot back, my voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.

He glared at me, his pride clearly wounded, but he didn't respond. I let out a sharp exhale, running a hand through my hair. "I'm going outside I need some air. You should try to sober up before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."

I turned and walked back inside, leaving him alone near the bar. My chest felt tight as I left the party, the noise and laughter feeling distant. I loved him, but moments like this—when his jealousy and drinking collided—made me wonder how much more of this I could take.

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The next morning as the sunlight filtered in through the curtains, the soft glow warming my face as I stirred awake. My body still felt heavy, the tension from last night lingering in my muscles. I shifted under the covers, my mind immediately flashing back to the album release party.

David had been a drunken mess, and though I tried to let it slide in the moment, it had really gotten under my skin. I knew how he could get when he drank too much, but last night had felt like too much.

We had gone back to his place in silence, neither of us saying a word. I was too upset to even argue. I had just slipped into bed, turning away from him, and eventually, I fell asleep.

Now, as I blinked the sleep from my eyes, I heard the soft sound of footsteps coming toward me. David walked in, holding a tray of breakfast—pancakes, fruit, a glass of orange juice. My stomach twisted, part of me still wanting to stay angry, but the other part already softening at the sight of him trying to make it up to me.

"Morning," he said quietly, a sheepish look on his face as he set the tray on the bed beside me. He wasn't wearing his usual cocky grin, his expression more cautious, like he was testing the waters.

I sat up, pulling the covers around me, and looked down at the breakfast. The pancakes looked good, but I wasn't really hungry yet. Still, I could see what he was doing—his way of apologizing, like always. I sighed, my fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. "You didn't have to do all this."

David sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand reaching out to gently touch my leg through the blankets. "I know I was an ass last night. I just... I don't know. I had a bit too much and I—" He trailed off, running a hand through his messy hair. "I'm sorry, babe. Really."

I looked at him, his eyes soft, guilt written all over his face. I hated how much I always forgave him for these moments, but at the same time, I knew how he got when he drank. It wasn't the first time, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

I took a deep breath, my frustration still there but fading. "David," I said softly, shaking my head. "You really need to watch how much you drink at these things. Last night was... a lot."

He nodded, his eyes not meeting mine for a moment before he looked up again. "I know. I just get caught up in it sometimes. He looked down, shaking his head. "I know, I just—" He paused, struggling to find the words, clouded thoughts. "I just don't want to lose you."

My eyes softened, trying to ease the tension. "You're not going to lose me David, I'm not going anywhere. But you've got to trust me. You've got to trust us."

"I'll do better, I swear.." David Said

I studied his face for a long moment before finally letting out another sigh, the tension in my chest loosening just a little. "Okay. I forgive you. But seriously, you can't keep doing this."

He nodded, reaching for my hand. "I know. I'll be better."

I squeezed his hand, giving him a small smile. "You better be."

He grinned back, that familiar spark returning to his eyes. "So, does that mean you'll eat the pancakes I made?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "I'll eat them. But you're still on thin ice."

David leaned in and kissed my forehead. "I'll take that."

As I picked up the fork and took a bite of the pancakes, I felt the weight of last night finally lift. David had his flaws, and I knew what I had signed up for when I fell for him. But for now, we were okay. And that was enough..I guess.