Chapter 21: Too Much, Too Fast
758 Words
The night had been loud.
Too loud.
Music, laughter, drinks—an afterparty that refused to slow down.
By the time Skye finally stepped into her house, she kicked off her shoes with a groan.
“I’m exhausted…”
She barely made it halfway across the living room before—
“Yeah, but you were incredible.”
Skye turned.
Zara Kingsley, already inside, leaned casually against the wall, phone in hand.
Skye narrowed her eyes. “Do you ever knock?”
“No,” Zara replied simply. “And that rap battle? Insane. I watched the whole thing.”
Skye smirked slightly. “Yeah… I kinda went off.”
“Kinda?” Zara raised a brow. “You embarrassed a legend.”
“Relax,” Skye laughed. “It was all love.”
Zara straightened slightly. “Speaking of love—got some offers.”
Skye groaned dramatically, dropping onto the couch.
“Zara… please don’t do this right now.”
Too late.
“BTS wants you on a track.”
Skye blinked.
“…Oh my God.”
She dragged a hand down her face.
“I don’t hate them,” she said quickly, “but I’m not trying to get dragged into that whole fan war situation.”
“I told them I’d check with you,” Zara replied.
Skye sighed. “Fine. After WrestleMania. Just one track. That’s it.”
Zara nodded. “Done.”
“And I’m not doing more than that.”
“Noted.”
—
“Oh—and Ed Sheeran reached out.”
That made Skye sit up slightly.
“Oh?”
“He wants you to sing on a track. No rap.”
Skye tilted her head.
“…Okay, I’m curious.”
Zara smirked. “Thought so.”
“I’ll do that one,” Skye said. “Next week.”
“Booked.”
—
“And one more thing,” Zara added.
Skye squinted. “Why do I feel like I’m not gonna like this?”
“6ix9ine—Daniel Hernandez—called.”
Skye sat up fully now.
“No way.”
“He wants an insult rap track with you.”
A slow grin spread across her face.
“…That actually sounds fun.”
“I knew you’d say that,” Zara said.
“When?”
“Two days.”
“I’m there,” Skye replied instantly. “Tell him I’m in.”
—
Zara typed quickly. “Done.”
Then paused.
Her eyes flicked toward Skye’s phone.
Another buzz.
Another message.
Zara frowned slightly. “You’ve been getting a lot of those lately.”
Skye rolled her eyes, leaning back again. “Tell me about it. I don’t even know how to get rid of this guy.”
Zara’s expression shifted—more serious now.
“People like that don’t just stop,” she said. “They cling. They escalate.”
Skye exhaled. “Great. Love that for me.”
“Stop reading the messages.”
“I don’t reply,” Skye said.
“That’s not enough,” Zara replied firmly. “Don’t even open them. Ignore completely.”
A pause.
Skye hesitated… then nodded.
“…Alright. Fine.”
“Good.”
—
Zara checked her phone again.
“One last thing—studio tomorrow.”
Skye groaned loudly.
“No—Zara—please—”
“You’ve got one last track for your album Drop,” she reminded her. “You’re finishing it.”
Skye dragged a pillow over her face.
“Kill me now.”
Zara smirked. “Tomorrow, 10 AM.”
Skye peeked out from under the pillow.
“…Fine.”
—
Zara headed toward the door.
“Get some rest,” she added.
“Try,” Skye muttered.
—
The house fell quiet again.
Finally.
Skye sat there for a moment…
Then glanced at her phone.
The screen lit up.
Another message.
Same number.
She stared at it.
Didn’t open it.
Didn’t touch it.
Just watched the notification sit there.
Waiting.
—
Slowly…
She turned the phone over.
Face down.
—
But across the city…
A screen lit up.
The message showed as delivered.
Not opened.
His smile faded.
Just slightly.
“…Ignoring me now?”
A pause.
Then—
A quiet, unsettling chuckle.
“That’s okay…”
His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
“You won’t ignore me for long.”
—
Back in her house—
Skye leaned back, closing her eyes.
Trying to relax.
Trying to breathe.
Trying to feel normal again.
—
But something about tonight…
Didn’t feel right.
- Writer
