Chapter 30: Emotional Card

Milie's POV.

Exams drained me.

The sleepless nights, the submissions, the constant pressure—it should've been exhausting enough to hate everything about it.

But it was not, because exam season meant more time together.

Late-night studying and gossiping. Random food at 2 a.m. Sleepovers where Daxton pretended to be responsible for exactly five minutes before giving up on us.

It was chaos. And I loved it.

We were sitting in a café after our last paper, finally free.

I took a huge bite of my burger, barely chewing. "Movie?" I mumbled through it.

Sammy didn't even look up. "Nope. Dance meetup at Beats Studio. Four p.m. sharp. My feet are dying."

Daxton's brows pulled together. "Your parents know?"

Sammy smirked, scrolling. "They don’t need to know everything."

That tone. I exchanged a look with Dax. We both knew what that meant.

Sammy and his parents were complicated, especially when it came to dance.

His parents had studied at top universities and run a large law firm. For them, Dance could never be a 'career.' It could just be a distraction.

But for him, it was everything.

We didn't say anything. Just let it pass. Because sometimes, pushing him only made things worse.

"What's that face?" I leaned forward as I saw Sammy smirking while texting on the phone.

He locked his phone, sat straighter, and tapped the table like something was brewing.

"Okay," he said slowly. "What if we plan a trip?"

I froze for half a second, then lit up. "Now that sounds like a plan."

I raised my hand for a high-five. He met it instantly.

Sammy turned to Daxton. "Mr. Responsible. You in?"

Daxton sighed like he already regretted existing. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

I grinned, but seeing a playful smirk still plastered on his lips, I stopped.

"Wait," I said, something clicking. "Is there a catch?"

Sammy leaned back, that dangerous smile spreading across his face.

"How about going with dates?" He said, casually.

"Excuse me?" I blinked.

Daxton huffed under his breath. "I knew… his ideas are never normal."

I frowned. "What does that even mean?"

Sammy leaned forward, elbows on the table, completely serious now.

"I'm bored."

I stared at him. "With us?" I asked flatly.

He winced. "That came out wrong."

"Yeah, it did," Daxton smiled fakely.

Sammy dragged a hand through his hair. "That's not what I meant. I just… I want something different. New energy. New people."

He looked between us.

"We're always together. Every plan, every day. It's like…" he paused, then grimaced, "we'd probably go to the bathroom together if given the chance."

"Ew, Sammy!" I shoved his shoulder.

He laughed, then leaned forward again, softer this time.

"I just want… more. And I think it'll be fun. We go together, but not just us. We bring people along."

Silence settled between us.

Daxton gave him a tight smile. "Sounds like you're done with us."

I agreed to and stood up, pushing my chair back. "Come on, Dax. Let's go."

Sammy dropped his head onto the table with a groan, and there came an emotional manipulation, version 101.

His voice followed as we walked out together, my fingers loosely hooked with Dax's sleeve.

"You guys always team up anyway."

I paused. Dax and I exchanged looks and kept walking.

Not giving heed to him, Dax and I drove away on his bike. We didn't even make it far when I felt guilty.

"Should we go back?" I asked quietly.

Dax didn't answer. He just turned the bike around. "We should."

When we got back to the café, Sammy was gone. I checked inside. Outside. Nothing.

"Gone," I said, shaking my head.

Dax tried calling him. Once. Twice. He rejected it.

We both exhaled at the same time.

"Classic," I muttered.

I crossed my arms, thinking. "Let's go to the studio. He'll be there."

Dax nodded, and we drove away now towards his studio.

A few minutes later, we stopped at a signal when a car pulled up, with another car between us.

Something about it felt familiar. I stood slightly on the footrest, trying to get a better look.

"What are you doing?" Dax asked.

"I think that's my dad," I said slowly. "In someone else's car."

"Could be anyone," he replied. "Want me to follow?"

I looked down at myself—oversized tee, ripped jeans, zero effort.

Yeah, no.

I shook my head. "Bad idea."

The signal turned green. We moved, and the car went the other way.

Still, something didn't sit right. And then—

"Alan?" I murmured under my breath. "Same model. Same color as Alan's."

Could they be together? Nah.. Why would they?

I shook it off and leaned my head against Dax's back.

"Tired?" he asked.

"A little," I said, thinking about Alan. Let's skip the movie." I added. "Instead, we can try that new game Alan got me."

The moment his name left my mouth, I felt it. That subtle shift in Dax.

Barely, but there.

"Did you talk to him after that day?" he asked.

"No," I said quietly. "We didn't," I said, feeling heaviness in my heart.

We didn't exchange a single text. So many times, I almost, but somehow controlled myself.

I never agreed consciously. But I was yearning to see him. Whenever I left my place somewhere deep inside, I wished to bump into him.

Unfortunately, every time I received disappointment. Heaviness instantly settled in my chest.

Alan's topic made us silent till we reached the venue.

When we reached the studio, Sammy still wasn't there. We waited outside.

Ten minutes later, he finally showed up. I stepped right in front of him, hands on my hips.

"What was that?"

He blinked, then smirked. "Aren't you supposed to be at the movies?"

"Sammy."

I hit his arm. Hard.

"What do you expect us to do?"

He didn't even hesitate. "Come on the trip. With dates."

I groaned. "We're back to this?"

He grinned.

"Any girl would say yes to Daxton," I added casually. "What about me?"

He shrugged. "You'd probably have to knock door to door—" He chuckled.

"If you say Alan," I cut him off sharply, "I will actually hit you."

"Excuse me, I didn't say. Your mind went straight to him."

Heat rushed to my face. Damn it.

"I just said door to door," he added, clearly enjoying this.

Fuck. I groaned to myself. I had no comeback. None.

"Sammy," Dax cut in, voice firmer now. "Enough. What's the actual plan?"

"Okay. No forced dates. Happy?" Sammy said.

"But," he continued, "people are coming. Friends. Whoever we want. That's my condition."

I exchanged a look with Dax. That actually sounded reasonable. I thought about it, then slowly nodded.

"I’m in."

Sammy's face lit up. "That's my girl."

We both turned to Dax. He looked at us, still deciding, and finally, a long sigh left him.

"You two are exhausting."

But he extended his hand anyway. Sammy immediately fist-bumped him. "You're my real bro."

Dax ruffled his hair instead. "And you're our drama queen."

I watched them. And for a second, everything felt right again. Loud, messy, but still ours.

And I just hoped it stayed that way.