Zee hummed softly to herself, her foot tapping out a steady rhythm beneath the table as her fingers idly adjusted her straw. She took slow, measured sips, watching Lauren with a half-attentive smirk that suggested she was only half-listening—though in truth, she missed very little. Lauren was a riveting woman. She had climbed high in the music industry, and fast, all while keeping her cards tucked neatly to her chest. That alone made her just as interesting as the other women surrounding Zee. They had written songs, performed on stages, built something real together and yet, each of them revealed only fragments. Small tells. Fleeting expressions. Zee found that… entertaining. It was always a game. But the moment the words world tour left Lauren’s mouth, everything stopped. Zee’s foot stilled mid-tap. Her eyes widened just slightly.

[color=ed145b][i]”Да! Наконец-то! Мы это сделали!”[/i][/color]

The words slipped out before she could stop them, her smile breaking wide with genuine, unfiltered excitement. For a brief moment, she forgot herself forgot the mask, the control, the constant awareness. Then she caught it. A soft cough followed as she straightened, her composure slipping back into place with practiced ease. The smile softened, refined into something more measured. More controlled. This was it. Beyond exciting. They were going to be idols. This was the final wall she needed to build security, visibility, protection. A place where no one could touch her, where she could finally rest behind the safety of fame, wealth, and everything she had worked toward.

…Wasn’t it? Her expression faltered, just for a moment. Her fingers drifted absentmindedly toward her forearm, a quiet sigh slipping past her lips.

No.

That wasn’t entirely true. She wanted them in it. This wasn’t just her escape—it was their dream too. Her jaw tightened slightly as she forced the thought down, burying it where it couldn’t surface. Where it wouldn’t complicate things. Just whispers in the corners of her mind. Zee rose smoothly to her feet, posture straight and composed once more, a playful smirk returning as she stepped closer to the table. Her hands folded neatly behind her back as she leaned in just slightly, reclaiming her presence.

[color=ed145b]“That,”[/color] she hummed, voice light but confident, [color=ed145b]“is the best question anyone could have asked.”[/color] Instead of taking a chair, she perched casually on the edge of the table, brushing her hazelnut hair over her shoulder as her gaze flicked between the girls. [color=ed145b]“We could celebrate. Something small just us, back at the house.”[/color] She gave a small shrug. [color=ed145b]“We’ve worked hard enough to earn at least that much.”[/color] A faint grin tugged at her lips.

[color=ed145b]“Invite a few close friends, maybe go out after… a club, somewhere loud.”[/color] She tilted her head slightly. [color=ed145b]“Just know, I’m calling dibs on most of the alcohol.”[/color] Her tone carried a teasing edge, light and effortless. Her gaze shifted toward Charlotte, giving a small nod. “[color=ed145b]Char’s right. We’ve got interviews coming up… and I am not about to become a meme this early in my career.”[/color] A quiet chuckle escaped her as she slipped off the table, smoothing her outfit absentmindedly. [color=ed145b]“So,”[/color] she added, arching a brow as she glanced between them, [color=ed145b]“maybe we keep it a little contained?” A beat. “Just in case we get carried away.”[/color]