Track Fourteen
Daniela's POV
The second the door closes behind her, the apartment erupts.
"SO."
Daniela barely makes it three steps before Megan grabs her shoulders and spins her around.
"What. Is. Going. On." She laughs despite herself. "Nothing!"
"Nothing doesn't spend the night." Sophia from the couch: "And nothing doesn't have that look." "What look?" Daniela asks too quickly.
"That one," Manon says immediately. "The soft one. You look soft."
Daniela throws a pillow at her.
But she can feel it. Her face is warm. Not embarrassed. Just... glowing in a way she can't hide.
They all settle onto the couch, staring at her like she's about to give a press conference.
"Okay,"Sophia says, more serious now. "Are you okay?" That question hits different. Daniela nods. "Yeah."
"Like actually?"
"Yes."
There's a pause. Then she exhales and sinks into the couch. "It wasn't random." Three heads tilt.
"It wasn't just physical," she adds quietly.
"Ohhh," Megan says softly.
And that's when it shifts from teasing to listening.
"We talked. Like really talked," Daniela continues. "They're... scared."
"Of you?" one of them asks.
"No. Of feeling something real."
The girls glance at each other.
"That tracks, they always keep to their self from what I see, so I guess that makes sense." Manon mutters.
Daniela smiles faintly. "But they didn't run."
That part matters.
"They kept checking in. Made sure I was sure. Like actually sure."
"And you were?"
Daniela doesn't hesitate. "Yeah."
The room quiets again.
"Do you like them?" Sophia asks, but gentler this time.
Daniela leans her head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"I feel calm around them," she says finally. "Not butterflies. Not chaos. Just... calm."
Manon smiled knowingly. "That's worse."
"Why?"
"Because calm is the kind that sneaks up on you."
Daniela's phone buzzes.
All three of them lunge.
She yanks it to her chest. "Back up!"
"Is it them??"
She tries to play it cool.
It is.
Y/N: At the studio. Made it safe.
And for some reason, that simple text makes her chest feel full.
She types back:
Dani: Good. Don't overwork yourself. Call me later.
She hesitates.
Then adds:
And don't spiral.
She hits send before she can overthink it.
The girls are watching her like hawks.
"You're smiling again," Sophia says.
Daniela bites her lip. "Shut up."
"Just don't let them disappear on you," Megan says softly.
Daniela nods.
"I won't," she says.
But in her chest, there's still that tiny whisper of fear.
Because she knows how your mind works.
She just hopes this time... you choose to stay.
Her friends eventually disperse, but not before extracting every possible detail that doesn't make her combust from embarrassment.
By the time she's alone in her room, the apartment is quiet again.
Too quiet.
She sits on her bed, hoodie sleeves covering her hands, replaying everything.
The way you looked at her this morning.
The way you kissed her like it wasn't just heat — like it meant something.
The way you didn't rush out after. Didn't disappear.
She's re reading the texts. Specifically the last one she sent.
"And don't spiral."
She stares at the screen for a second before locking it.
"Don't spiral," she mutters to herself.
As if she isn't doing the exact same thing.
Your POV
The studio feels colder tonight.
Or maybe it's just quieter without her here.
You drop into your chair, rolling back toward the board, trying to focus on levels and edits. A new artist tomorrow. Malcolm Todd. You honestly love his music, and feel like you know exactly what he may want to hear. You should be locked in.
Instead, you're replaying her laugh on your couch.
The way she looked half-asleep in your hoodie.
The way she said it was peaceful.
Peaceful.
That word won't leave you alone.
Your phone lights up.
Daniela: Don't overwork yourself. Call me later.
Daniela: And don't spiral.
You huff under your breath.
"She knows me too well," you mutter. You toss your phone face down. Pick it back up five seconds later.
Type.
Delete.
Type again.
You: I'm not spiraling.
You: Maybe a little...
You stare at the three dots.
They appear almost immediately.
Daniela: Thought so.
You lean back in your chair, staring at the ceiling.
Why does being understood feel this exposed?
You put the phone down and force yourself to work. For a while, it helps. Sound fills the room. You adjust EQ, layer vocals, lose yourself in something controlled.
But every quiet moment between takes?
She's there.
Daniela's POV
She's in her bed now, lights dim, scrolling mindlessly through nothing. She's not anxious.
She's just... aware. Of how fast things shifted. Of how easy today felt. That's what scares her. Not the sex. Not the intensity. The ease.
Her phone rings.
She doesn't even pretend to hesitate.
"Hey," she answers softly.
There's background noise. Studio ambiance. A chair rolling. Then appears your face.
"Hey."
Your voice sounds lower at night.
"You good?" she asks.
"Yeah. Just taking a break."
There's a pause. Comfortable. But loaded.
"You thinking?" she asks.
You laugh quietly. "How can you tell?"
"I can feel it."
Silence.
Then you exhale.
"I don't regret last night," you say.
She didn't realize she needed to hear that until right now.
"Okay," she replies, softer.
"I just... I don't wanna mess this up by overcorrecting. Or pulling away because it got real."
Her chest tightens.
"Then don't," she says simply.
You go quiet again.
She stares at you. In your usual sweats, and hoodie. Admiring your hair, she's starting to love the way your hair looks in braids. You complained earlier saying how its time to take them out, you hair growing so fast you felt like the braids never lasted.
Interrupting the silence,"I don't know how to do this slow," you admit. "Without either rushing or running."
"We're not rushing," she says. "And you're still here."
That lands. You let out a small breath. "Yeah."
"And I'm not asking for labels tomorrow," she adds. "I just... like you."
There it is. Simple.
You don't answer right away.
Her stomach flips.
Then: "I like you too."
It's quiet. Honest. No dramatic music. No fireworks.
Just two people choosing not to pretend.
Your POV
You hang up feeling lighter.Not fixed. Not certain. Just steadier.
You stare at the mixing board for a long moment. This is the part that scares you. Not the physical closeness. The fact that she's not asking for more than you can give, she's just asking you not to disappear.
And you don't want to. That's new.
Your phone buzzes again.
Daniela: Don't stay too late.
Daniela: I like you rested.
You smirk.
Three dots appear.
Pause.
Daniela: Don't start.
You laugh out loud in the empty studio.
Daniela's POV
She sets her phone down, cheeks warm.Heavier emotions don't feel as heavy now.She's not naive. She knows you overthink. She knows there will be moments you retreat a little.
But tonight?
You didn't. And that matters.She rolls onto her side, staring at the wall.For the first time in a while, she doesn't feel like she's chasing someone emotionally unavailable.
She feels... met.
Not claimed.
Not promised.
Not labeled.
Just met.
Your POV
You shut everything down later than you meant to.
The building's almost empty.
As you lock the door behind you, your phone buzzes one last time.
Daniela: Im gonna be so honest. I miss you already. I wanna come back.
You: So come back.
Daniela: I should just fake sick then come to yours
Daniela: Text me when you get home.
You don't hesitate this time.
You: I will.
As you walk to your car, you realize something. You're not scared because it happened. You're scared because it feels sustainable. And that's unfamiliar territory. But you don't speed off this time. You drive steady. And when you get home, you text her like you said you would.
No disappearing.
Not tonight.