Highly recommended to listen to the song while you read the chapter. It will hit different

I focus on my black stiletto heels, my mind zeroes in his voice. His voice alone makes me week in the knees, his voice alone causes my heart to constrict because that pain is as clear as day.

His pain only adds to mine.

.

"You know I want you

It's not a secret I try to hide

You know you want me

So don't keep saying our hands are tied"

.

I look at him and find him already looking at me as if the crowd in front of us doesn't exist.

.

"You claim it's not in the cards

And fate is pulling you miles away

And out of a reach from me

But you're hearing my heart

So who can stop me if I decide it's on my destiny?

.

I look away. The side of my face burns by the intensity of his gaze. It's a miracle how we unknowingly end up choosing relatable songs.

The pain in his voice has me shut my eyes and grit my teeth to control the emotions within, I have to stay strong.

.

"What if we rewrite the stars?

Say you were made to be mine?

Nothing could keep us apart.

You'll be the one I was meant to find."

.

I turn my head to the side and meet his eyes.

.

It's up to you, and it's up to me

No one could say what we get to be

So why don't we rewrite the stars?

And maybe the world could be ours, tonight

Inhaling shakily, my grip on the microphone tightens and I make myself ready for my part.

.

I look at him as intensely as he had, ignoring the crowd.

.

You think it's easy

You think I don't wanna run to you, yeah

But there are mountains

And there are doors that we can't walk through

I know you're wondering why

Because we're able to be just you and me within these walls

But when we go outside

You're gonna wake up and see that it was

hopeless after all

.

He shakes his head and looks away in disagreement. I continue looking at him.

.

No one can rewrite the stars

How can you say you'll be mine?

Everything keeps us apart

And I'm not the one you were meant to find

.

Why can't he understand? We aren't meant to be.

.

It's not up to you, it's not up to me, yeah

When everyone tells us what we can be

And how can we rewrite the stars?

Say that the world can be ours?

Tonight."

.

He again looks at me as he joins, his gaze on me powerful. Meaningful.

.

All I want is to fly with you

All I want is to fall with you

So just give me all of you

It feels impossible." "It's not impossible

Is it impossible?

Say that it's possible

.

We sing in sync. Emotion shining in our eyes.

Him trying to tell me it was possible.

Me showing him that it wasn't. It isn't.

.

"And how do we rewrite the stars?

Say you were made to be mine

And nothing can keep us apart

'Cause you are the one I was meant to find."

.

No.

.

"It's up to you, and it's up to me

No one could say what we get to be

And why don't we rewrite the stars?

Changing the world to be ours."

.

"yeah."

"nah nah nah."

"yeah."

"nah."

.

I take a shaky breath and lower my voice, looking at him meaningfully as I sing the last verse.

.

"You know I want you.

It's not a secret I try to hide.

But I can't have you.

We're bound to break and my hands are tied."

.

Cheers erupt.

And, so do the tears.

. . .

I try to get away, the whole place feels suffocating. I need to get away, get out of the crowd. Get away from him because every second I'm near him, the need to be with him increases. He's addictive.

"Alya," I hear his voice behind me, despite the noise. I try to get away, pushing people away from me. My tear clouded vision doesn't help but I'm successful. Once I'm outside, I sprint to my car.

Karim looks at me in concern, I'm sure I look pathetic. The make-up on my face must have smudged but I don't care, I have to get out of here.

"Karim, quick. Please," I tell him with quivering lips.

Just when I see Zayd from outside my window, Karim starts the car and we leave. The hurt in his eyes and that dejected look has me sobbing loudly. I bury my face in my hands. It's all my fault, I should have never lead him on.

Once Karim pulls inside the gate, I sprint outside the car and enter my house, hurriedly. I don't want my parents to see me like this. However, once I'm about to enter my room, I hear something that makes me freeze in my steps.

The voices are coming from the living room. I stand by the door, my heart beating faster than ever. And then, I suddenly feel numb.

"Alya will be crushed, we can't do that to her!"

"It will be fine, honey. She has never liked it here."

"But leaving everything behind-"

"It's for the best. She's going to love it there."

I enter the room, my feet move on their own.

"What is happening?" My voice sounds foreign to my own ears. I can hear my heartbeat. My throat goes dry. Other than that, I feel numb.

The tears long dried.

"Alya," mother walks to me, "what's wrong, sweetie?"

"What is happening?" I repeat again, my eyes fall on the suitcases stacked at the corner of the room. My heart stops beating.

"Your father's company transferred him to their main office," mom squeals in happiness. "We are moving out, we're going back to our country," she smiles at me warmly.

"When?" I whisper.

"We're leaving tomorrow."

I shake my head, a new stream of tears fall down my eyes. Memories flash in my eyes, I feel the cracking of my heart. The pain is physical, it's tearing me from the inside.

"I.. I.. I w-will be.. in my r-room," I shake my head and get out of there. Once I'm inside my room, I look at the nearly empty room. My eyes fall on the bed, the image of Zayd sprawled in it with a beautiful smirk in his face, flashes in my head. I close the door behind me and lean against the door before sliding down, my face buried inside my hands to muffle the sobs.

Another sign that we weren't supposed to find each other.

I'm never going to be his little strawberry.

Sometime that night, when everyone is already asleep, I sneak outside through my window and dash out of my home.

I need to see him before I leave.