The bass still thundered through the walls of Black Diamond as Elaine slid out the side door into the chilled air of the night. She let out a relieved exhale, tugging her jacket tighter around her shoulders. Her hand lifted, placing a hand to the brim of her cap to hold it low while she composed herself. Her loose, dark hair created a curtain around her face, and her mask hid most of her features.
"Figures the one night I go out, the universe sends a circus." She muttered under her breath, finally lowering her hand to fish her phone from her pocket to access her Uber app to order a ride.
Remind me never to follow Eleanore to another club... especially not one that requires special access. She thought, tapping her screen, completely distracted. She continued walking towards the curb while typing in the information; however, her trek ended abruptly when she walked into someone.
"Whoa, careful." A steady hand caught her elbow before she could stumble to the ground.
Elaine's head snapped up, and she immediately regretted not just saying thanks and continuing. The person who stood before her had her heart skipping a beat. Oh, crap.
Luca Hunt, of all people, was who she mindlessly walked into. The same Luca who was missing from the lineup inside, the Luca whose fans would practically shriek walls down when he walked onto a stage.
His ocean blue eyes studied her as he turned his head to the phone he had hovering in the air away from his ear. "I'll call you back." He hung the phone up mid-sentence, his attention refocusing entirely on Elaine, calm and steady.
"Are you alright?"
Elaine blinked, realizing she had been standing like a deer in headlights, just staring at him. She extended her arms, brushing off imaginary dust, completely mortified. "I- yeah. Sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."
When she glanced up at him, he had a faint ghost of a smile on his lips. "No harm done. Are you waiting on your ride?" His voice was different compared to what Elaine had heard during interviews and livestreams. It was deeper and warmer than the usual tiredness lacing his voice.
Elaine slowly blinked, freezing in place, "...My ride?"
In all the chaos, she had spaced and internally kicked herself. Oh, fan-fucking-tastic, Elaine. Real smooth.
She hung her head slightly in defeat and embarrassment, lifting her phone, "I, uh, was in the process of booking it. Guess I'm really living on the edge tonight."
Luca lifted a hand to his mouth, giving a genuine, light, quiet laugh. "Maybe just a little." He held his thumb and pointer finger nearly together when he said 'a little', clearly a bit amused.
Elaine couldn't lift her gaze to face the man she had just made a fool of herself in front of, scrolling through the options and clicking through them. She was hyperaware that he was watching her.
"Can I ask you something?"
Elaine steadied herself, looking up, "Sure."
Luca's hands were partially in his pockets, his expression unreadable, "Do you..." He hesitated before finally letting out a gentle sigh. "Do you not like Premise of Design?"
Elaine's thumb paused on the screen as she clicked the last thing she needed, surprised as she lifted her gaze to meet his. For a heartbeat, the chaos from earlier: the fans, the noise, the lights: flashed through her mind. She gently shook her head, "It's not that," she stated clearly through her mask, "I've just had enough chaos for one night."
Luca lifted his hand to his chin, a thoughtful look in his eyes, before giving an impressed grin. "You're different."
Elaine blinked, her lips parting before she pursed them back. "I'll take that as a compliment," she murmured flatly, choosing not to make a sarcastic remark given her company.
"It's meant to be one." Luca faintly chuckled under his breath, genuine amusement in his gaze, "Most people would've fainted or screamed by now, asking for an autograph or photo. You..." he hummed, a small smile forming on his lips, "You act like you just ran into some stranger on the street."
Elaine gave a small chuckle, a smile playing on her lips behind her mask. "Well, technically, you are a stranger on the street. Being famous doesn't change the fact that I don't know you."
"Touché," Luca smiled softly. His gaze shifted as he teetered on the heels of his boots for a moment. When his toes touched back down on the concrete, he extended his hand, "Luca Hunt."
Elaine slowly shook his hand. "Elaine..." She hesitated before she could say her last name. Should I...? Nah. He won't recognize me like this, so I'll leave it at that.
"Nice to meet you, Elaine." Luca seemed amused as his gaze flicked between her hat and mask, "You in school?"
Elaine gave a curt nod to the question, "Golden Valley University." She paused for a moment, "I'm in my senior year for Music Production."
Luca's expression was a mixture of surprise and delight, "That's actually kind of perfect." He had a light smile, lifting his head to look at the sky with a relieved sigh, "I like that."
Elaine gave a slight shake of her head, caught somewhere between amusement and embarrassment. Of course he does. Musician to musician. She watched the parking lot as she spoke, "Yeah, it's... fulfilling."
Before Luca could respond to her, another voice broke into the fold, "What's fulfilling?"
Elaine blinked, turning her head sharply to see Rylan Butler saunter up, throwing an arm around Luca's shoulders with a lazy grin. He looked Elaine over, tilting his head. "Who's this?" he inquired, nudging Luka with his free hand, "A fan trying to charm you before we even get in the car?"
Elaine rolled her eyes, "As if."
Bold choice. Nice.
Rylan stared at her as if she had grown a second head while Luca shook his head, shrugging him off his shoulders. "No. She's just waiting for her ride. I didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone out here."
Elaine blinked. So that's why.
Rylan tilted his head, causing his dark hair to fall to the side, "So, you're not some crazed fan, then?"
Elaine masked a scoff with a dry laugh, "Pretty sure the crazed ones are still inside."
Luca waved a hand between the two before shaking his head. "She's a future music producer," he explained before gesturing between the two, "Rylan Butler, meet Elaine Wolf."
If the mask hadn't been hiding her face, they would have seen her jaw drop before she clamped it closed. He recognized me. So much for wishful thinking.
Rylan blinked a few times. "Oh, thank god," his grin returned, "I thought you were a stalker."
Elaine stifled a laugh that rose to her throat, pulling her mask down slowly, "You're very reassuring, you know that?"
Rylan shrugged, "Part of being famous. You should know about that, Wolfbyte."
Elaine rolled her eyes in good humor, "Luckily, I haven't had to deal with that aspect of fame."
"Oh, really?" Rylan mused, "I'm surprised. You're music is fantastic."
Elaine smiled, thanking him, though she caught Luca stealing small glances at her as if studying the way she spoke. Elaine was about to crack a joke when her phone dinged, and the headlights of a black sedan swept over them. Elaine gave a small smile, discreetly pulling her mask back up over her nose. "Well, that's me. Thank you both for the company."
"Anytime," Rylan beamed. Elaine nodded to him and Luca, turning to walk across the cement to the curb. She stepped down and took the door handle, pulling it open.
"Oh." She heard Luca behind her, "Wait just a moment."
She paused in the doorway of the car, "Just a moment," she murmured to the driver, stepping back out of the threshold with the door cracked after the driver nodded, telling her to take her time. "What's up?"
Luca paused in front of her, holding his phone, "Could I... uh," he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, "Could I maybe get your contact number?"
Elaine blinked, dumbfounded, and stared at him, "Is this... a prank?"
Luca looked genuinely thrown, "No... I just-" he deflated.
Elaine's gaze softened, "Right. Sorry." She gently took the phone from him, typing her number into it before sliding it back into his hands. She felt bad for her previous comment and decided to try to lighten the mood. "Try not to give it to your fan club."
Luca gave a small smile, but before he could respond, Rylan spoke up. "No promises."
Luca turned to him, and Elaine chuckled, shaking her head as she slid into the backseat, "Goodnight, Luca. Rylan."
Luca turned back, meeting her gaze before nodding, "Goodnight, Elaine." He closed the door for her, and Elaine watched the two Premise of Design members as they began to pull away.
He's not going to text me. They never do. She smiled lightly, leaning to watch the blurring city lights as the driver drove skillfully through the streets to her destination. It didn't take long, and when they pulled up in front of the apartments, Elaine could feel the exhaustion settling in.
She pulled her wallet out, giving the driver a large tip for the ride and for waiting, then stepped out, closing the door. She swiped her ID, unlocking the doors, walked inside, greeted security, then headed up to the fifth floor and into her apartment.
She kicked her shoes off by the door, gathered her clothes, and made her way to the bathroom to take a much-needed hot shower. After thirty minutes, she settled into bed with her remote. She snuggled under her comforter, watching her current fixation, Soul House, the kind of cheesy comfort, Rom-Com, she'd never admit to loving. About halfway through the episode, Elaine drifted to sleep with the faint sound of laughter buzzing from the television speakers.
Her phone buzzed quietly on the nightstand with a new text.