Track Thirteen
You wake up first.
It takes a second to remember where you are, not because you don't recognize your own room, but because something feels different.
Warmer.
Heavier.
Daniela is curled into you, one arm draped over your waist, her leg thrown lazily over yours. Her face is tucked against your chest, breathing slow and steady. Peaceful.
You stay still at first.
Last night flashes in pieces. Her hands, heat, the way she looked at you like you weren't something fragile or temporary. The way she moaned your name. The way you let yourself be seen.
You swallow.
For a second, the old instinct creeps in. The urge to overthink. To analyze. To wonder if it changed things too much. But then she shifts in her sleep, tightening her hold on you unconsciously, like she's afraid you might disappear. And something in your chest softens.
You carefully slide out from under her, replacing your body with a pillow so she doesn't wake. She stirs, brows knitting slightly, but settles again. You sit there for a moment just... looking at her.
No regret on her face.
No tension.
Just calm.
You exhale putting on some sweats and head to the kitchen.
Cooking helps. It always has. No matter if it's baking or a cooked meal.
It always was helpful when you had your mind on something.
You start simple. Eggs, toast, fruit.
Peppermint tea cause it always helped with your stomach in the morning.
And coffee or orange juice, not sure of what Daniela might want.
The quiet hum of your apartment feels different today. Less empty.
You're halfway through flipping the eggs when you feel arms wrap around your waist.
"You're not slick," Daniela mumbles against your back, voice still thick with sleep. You smile without turning around. "You were knocked out."
"You left," she says, mock accusing, tightening her hold. "I made breakfast."
There's a pause.
Then she presses a slow kiss between your shoulder."Okay. That's acceptable."
You turn this time, spatula still in hand. She's wearing one of your hoodies again, sleeves too long, hair messy, eyes soft. It does something dangerous to your composure.
She notices you staring.
"What?" she asks.
You don't answer with words.
You step forward, set the spatula down, and cup her face.
This kiss is different.
Not hungry. Not rushed.
Slow.
You kiss her like you're memorizing her. Like you're reassuring both of you at the same time. Your hand slides into her hair, tilting her head slightly. She exhales into your mouth, melting into you without hesitation.
It stretches. Deepens. Softens again.
When you finally pull back, your hand rests against her face.
"You're overthinking," she murmurs. You huff quietly. "Am I that obvious?"
"Only to me." Her thumb brushes your jaw.
"Last night wasn't something to spiral about," she says gently. "I wanted it. I don't regret it. And I don't feel weird."
You search her face.
Nothing guarded. Nothing unsure.
Just steady.
You nod slowly. "Okay."
She smiles. "Okay."
Then she kisses you again—quick this time. Playful. "Now feed me."
After breakfast, she insists on "helping" clean up. Which really means she stands behind you while you rinse dishes, wrapping her arms around your waist and swaying like there's music playing.
"There is no song," you say.
"There is in my head," she replies, pressing a lazy kiss to your back. You try to stay serious. You fail.
Once everything's cleaned, you both migrate to the couch. She steals the bigger blanket without hesitation.
"You're actually evil," you accuse.
"You love it."
You roll your eyes but lay down anyway, head resting against her chest. Her fingers immediately slip into your hair, slow and gentle.
You didn't realize how much you needed that.
"You're really soft like this," she murmurs.
"Don't ruin it."
She laughs quietly, and you feel it vibrate through her chest. Conversation drifts in and out. Childhood shows. Embarrassing phases. She admits she cried watching The Notebook.
"You would," you tease.
"Oh please," she nudges you. "You look like you cry at Pixar movies."
You pause.
"...that's not relevant."
Her gasp is dramatic. "You DO."
" HEY HEY listen those movies be sad as fuck. I even cried to shrek as a kid..."
You groan as she laughs harder.
Later, it shifts into something deeper without either of you planning it. You tell her why you really started making music. Not the polished answer. The real one. How it felt like the only place you could say things without being interrupted. How control feels easier with headphones on.
She listens. Really listens.
"That makes sense," she says softly. "You feel everything deeply. You just don't always say it."
You look up at her. "That's a read."
"It's an observation."
She tells you about herself too. How she pretends to be more confident than she feels sometimes. How she hates disappointing people. How she overthinks texts before sending them.
"You?" you raise a brow.
"Shut up."
You smile.
At some point you're fully tangled together, her leg thrown over yours, your arm around her waist. Sunlight shifts across the room, warm and slow.
She traces one of your tattoos not noticing. "Does this one mean anything?"
"Yeah," you say quietly. "Got it after a really rough year."
She doesn't press for details. Just leans down and presses a soft kiss over the ink.
"That version of you survived," she says.
It lands deeper than you expect.
You pull her into another kiss—lazy this time. Smiling into it. Breaking apart because her hair gets in the way. No urgency. No pressure.
Just warmth.
You attempt to watch something, but she starts narrating over the actors in a dramatic voice.
"That's not even what's happening," you protest.
"It is now."
You argue about what anime she should start again. She refuses to commit to Death Note just to annoy you.
"Why do you do that" she asks
"Do what" you asked extremely confused
"That with your hands. You like put your hands in you pants for like I'm assuming comfort?" she responds
You look down, realizing she's right. "Oh i mean honestly okay New York weather is extremely cold I would honestly be walking around with just my hands in my pants...no nasty shit. But mainly now just kind of a comfort thing like you said."
"Hmm... cause I realized you even do it in your sleep you know"
"You watch me sleep...Daniela? " you question
"Oh shut up don't make it weird, just I woke up randomly one time last night and had noticed it, and even as you walk around your house or in the studio you tend to do it" she says
"Mmm very observant I see" you say as you chuckle a little
By mid-afternoon, it feels like she's been there for days in the best way. Like her laugh fits inside your walls.
At one point she's lying on her stomach scrolling on her phone while you sit on the floor between her legs, leaning back against the couch.
She looks down at you.
"You look peaceful," she says.
You tilt your head back to meet her eyes.
"I am."
And that's the part that surprises you.
No tension.
No spiraling.
No running.
Just her fingers combing through your hair.
Your hand resting over her knee.
Sunlight fading slowly outside.
As the room dims, she rests her chin on your shoulder.
"I like days like this," she admits.
You nod, squeezing her hand.
"Me too."
And for once.
You don't feel the urge to pull away from something that feels this real.
You hear a buzz from Daniela's phone.
" Oh shit" she says
" You good? you reply
" Yeah I'm fine, just the girls. I forgot to tell them I wasn't coming home last night. They were I guess worried"
" Oh that's my bad, I know i asked mad last minute for you to come here after our session. But you want me to take you home?" you ask
" Yes that would be very much appreciated before they all kill me" she laughs
" Alright no problem, I'll get my keys and put some clothes on"
On the way there, you and Daniela talked a little about ideas for next time sessions and how her schedule is gonna be packed next week with performances coming up. You pull up stopping the engine, she then asks " You wanna come up for a little?"
You freeze. "uhh right now?" you ask
"Uh yeah...you don't want to? she questions with a bit of disappointment in her tone
" No it's not that, just I haven't really talked to them much. They've been at a maybe one or two sessions but never got to talk to them much. Might be a little weird when they see pretty much their producer bringing one of their best friends who didn't come home last night in..." you say
" Hmmm... welp lets go"
You stare at her after that so great response... Just hoping it's not awkward when you get up there.
You follow Daniela up the stairs, hoping that it would stall time rather than talking the elevator.
"You're nervous," she says over her shoulder.
"I'm not nervous."
"You're walking like you're about to defend a thesis."
"Okay first of all—"
She laughs and grabs your hand for half a second before letting go when you reach her door. The gesture is quick. Casual.
Still. You clock it.
She unlocks the door and pushes it open.
Immediately you hear
"Oh my GOD."
Three heads turn from the living room. Megan, Sophia and Manon. Megan gasps dramatically like she just witnessed a plot twist.
"There she is!" Manon says. "Alive. In the flesh."
Daniela drops her bag. "Relax. I texted."
"You texted at 2 in the afternoon," one of them shoots back. "We thought you got kidnapped."
Then their eyes slide to you.
Pause.
Silence.
Assessment mode.
You give a small nod. "Hey."
Sophia squints. "So this is why you forgot to come home."
Daniela rolls her eyes. "Oh my god, shut up."
But she doesn't deny it.
That's the thing.
You stand there, hands in your pockets, which does not go unnoticed, trying to look normal. Which probably makes you look more suspicious.
Megan energy chaotic, walks closer, looking between the two of you.
"So," she says slowly. "What's going on."
Daniela crosses her arms. "Nothing."
All three of them: "Mmm."
You fight the urge to laugh.
"It's not like that," Daniela adds quickly.
"Then what is it like?" Sophia asks.
You clear your throat slightly. "We just had a late session."
"Uh huh."
"And then?" chaotic friend presses.
Daniela looks at you for half a second. Not panicked. Not ashamed. Just... measuring.
"Then we talked," she says.
Which is technically true.
Manon tilts her head. "All night?"
You shrug. "Conversations can be long."
Manon snorts. "Oh they're calm. I don't trust calm."
You can't help it — you smile. The nervousness slowly wearing off thankfully.
Daniela nudges you lightly with her shoulder. "They're dramatic. Ignore them."
"We're protective," Sophia corrects.
There's a shift then. Slightly more serious.
"You good?" Megan asks Daniela directly.
Not teasing now. Genuine.
Daniela doesn't hesitate. "Yeah."
"And you?" she asks the same question , looking at you.
You weren't expecting that.
You nod. "Yeah."
It's quiet for a second.
Like they're reading between lines.
Sophia sighs dramatically again. "Okay fine. I'll allow it."
"You don't allow anything," Daniela laughs.
"Oh we absolutely do."
You finally step a little closer to Daniela, not touching her, but close enough that it's clear you're not distancing yourself either.
"We're working," you say. "That's priority."
"Working," Manon repeats, smirking.
Daniela shoots her a look.
But she's smiling.
And that's what her friends really notice.
They all lean back on the couch, arms crossed, satisfied. "Alright. Just don't disappear on us next time." says Megan
Daniela softens a little. "I won't."
There's something about the way she says it that makes you glance at her. She means more than just last night. You step back toward the door after a few more jokes get thrown around.
"I'll head out," you say.
Daniela walks you to the hallway.
The door closes behind you both, muting the sound of her friends immediately whisper-screaming inside. You look at her. "Well," you say. "That was... not as bad as I thought."
She smiles. "Told you." There's a pause.
You brush your knuckles lightly against her hand.
Not dramatic.
Not claiming.
Just intentional.
"They care about you," you say. "I know."
She steps closer. Not kissing you, not doing too much.
"Thank you," she says softly.
"For?"
"Not making it weird." You huff quietly. "Trying." She studies you for a second. Then leans in and presses a soft kiss to your cheek.
Not hungry.
Not secretive.
Just warm.
"You'll see them again," she says. "Yeah?"
She nods. "Yeah."
And for once...
You don't feel like you're sneaking around something.
You feel like you're stepping into it.
"Well I gotta go to the studio, got some shit I gotta catch up on. New artist to work with tomorrow so ima try to get everything situated tonight. But um call you later?" you say
"Yes i would love that. I had a really good time. not just last night cause i will definitely say that was something..." she says teasingly
"Dani..." you say blush creeping on your face
"But I had fun today as well, sitting in the house with you was peaceful. Haven't had something like that in a while. So thank you again. But i'm gonna let you go. Text me when you get to the studio okay?" she finishes
"Yes ma'am. I'll see you later" you finish leaving a kiss on her lips.
You walk to your car, but don't pull off till she walks back up stairs.
As you drive, now just you in the car, you think.
Hoping the peace and good of what is going on isn't temporary.
"Hoping the calm isn't just the quiet before you panic again.
You know how your head gets, especially without the distractions to keep the overthinking away.
But you also realize you're stepping into something new and need to let it run its course.