Daniela and Manon's room was a disaster zone. Makeup palettes littered the floor, hair tools were plugged into every available outlet, and discarded outfit options were draped over every surface. The air buzzed with excitement as they got ready for the huge music festival.
“Where’s my other boot?!” Lara called out, rummaging through a mountain of clothes.
“Did you check under the bed?” Megan asked, casually biting into a protein bar. She was already dressed—jeans, crop top, her ginger hair loosely curled—looking effortlessly gorgeous as usual.
Lara sighed, ducking down. “Why would it be under—oh. Found it.”
Daniela leaned into the mirror, applying the final stroke of her eyeliner. She shot Megan a side-eye. “You better not get crumbs on my bed.”
Megan grinned, a crumb already falling. “Too late.”
Sophia sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through the festival lineup. “Guys, I just realized we’re about to see some of our favorite artists live.”
Yoonchae, adjusting her ponytail, perked up. “I know, I’m so excited.”
“I’ve been waiting for this for months,” Lara squealed.
“Same!” Megan echoed, trying to match their energy. But she couldn’t. A strange unease had settled over her since this morning—anxious and unshakable. Everything was going well: their band was thriving, her routines were improving, her singing stronger than ever. The girls were closer than they’d ever been. Yet, something felt... off. She pushed the feeling aside, forcing a smile.
“I’m just happy to finally have a break,” Manon muttered, struggling with the zipper on her boots.
“Dude, I know. This festival is gonna be amazing,” Daniela said with a grin.
Lara spun around dramatically. “Okay, how do I look?”
“Like a rockstar,” Megan said.
“Like a goddess,” Manon added.
“Like someone who almost lost her boot,” Daniela deadpanned.
Lara chucked a hairbrush at her.
The chaos continued—Lara double-checking her bag for the hundredth time, Megan stealing one last glance in the mirror, Manon fixing Yoonchae’s hair (“Stop moving, you’re making it worse!”), and Sophia desperately trying (and failing) to keep everyone on schedule.
Then, Sophia’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and grinned. “Girls, our ride’s here.”
For a second, the room went still. Excitement flickered between them, settling deep in their bones. They were about to see their favorite artists. They were about to let loose for the first time in forever.
And they couldn’t wait.
As soon as they piled into the car, Megan and Daniela instinctively claimed the back seats—their seats. It had always been that way. The rest of the girls settled in, chatting excitedly, but Megan drifted into her thoughts, staring out the window.
Daniela noticed immediately. With a gentle nudge of her knee against Megan’s, she pulled her back to the present.
Megan blinked, turning to her with a questioning look.
“You okay?” Daniela asked, concern laced in her voice.
“I—yeah, I’m good.” Megan forced a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She wasn’t sure how to explain the unease sitting heavy in her chest. She wasn’t even sure why she felt this way in the first place.
Daniela wasn’t convinced. And Megan knew it.
If it had been any of the other girls, they might’ve missed the telltale signs—the way her whisker dimples didn’t appear, the way her eyes didn’t crinkle like they would if she was genuinely smiling. But this was Daniela. Daniela, who knew her too well. Who always saw through the cracks.
But instead of pressing, Daniela simply intertwined their fingers and rested her head on Megan’s shoulder.
Megan let out a slow breath, grateful. Grateful that Daniela understood her without needing words. That she knew Megan wasn’t ready to talk just yet. That she trusted Megan to come to her when she was.
For the rest of the hour-long car ride, Daniela absentmindedly played with Megan’s fingers, tracing patterns against her skin. She’d done this a thousand times before, probably without thinking much of it. But every time, it sent Megan’s heart racing.
And yet, somehow, it also calmed her. Grounded her.
Funny how that worked. The one person who made her heartbeat go wild, who made her feel nervous in a way she didn’t fully understand, was also the only one who could soothe her anxiety without even trying.
The festival was alive with energy—thousands of people packed into the open-air venue, the pulsing bass of the music vibrating through the ground. Neon lights flashed across the night sky, and the hum of excited voices blended with the distant roar of a live performance. The girls had just finished watching one set and were weaving through the massive crowd, their bodies still buzzing with adrenaline.
“Okay, who should we see first?” Manon asked as they finished checking in.
“Who’s playing right now?” Lara added, scanning the massive venue.
Sophia pulled out her phone, where she had the schedule saved. “We’ve got Tate at Stage A, SZA at Stage B, and Benson Boone at Stage C,” she listed off.
“Personally, I want to see Tate,” Daniela chimed in, glancing at the others for their reactions.
“Ooh, yes,” Yoonchae said, practically bouncing on her heels.
“Yeah, we’ll listen to her for a bit and then wander between stages,” Lara agreed.
“Perfect,” Sophia grinned, motioning for the group to follow her into the sea of people.
At the back of the group, Daniela glanced over at Megan and immediately noticed her subtle distress—the way her eyes darted around, the way her shoulders tensed. Large crowds always made Megan uneasy. Too many people, too much noise, too much happening all at once.
Without a word, Daniela reached for Megan’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Megan looked up, startled at first, but when she met Daniela’s eyes, she found a soft, grounding presence there.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” Daniela said with a bright, confident smile.
And just like that, Megan felt her nerves ease, just a little. She smiled back, squeezing Daniela’s hand in return.
“Let’s go before Sophia leaves us behind,” Daniela teased, tugging Megan forward.
The rest of the group was already ahead, but whether they hadn’t noticed or were simply used to Megan and Daniela being in their own little world, they didn’t slow down. They knew they’d catch up eventually.
And, hand in hand, they did.
The festival was just as electric as it had been that morning, if not more. The sky had deepened into soft hues of orange and purple, and the music pulsed through the massive crowd, a heartbeat of bass and energy. The girls had been having the time of their lives, finally able to let loose after weeks of non-stop work.
Megan was still slightly on edge, but Daniela had been keeping an eye on her, pulling her into spontaneous dances, making goofy faces, anything to keep her from slipping too far into her thoughts. Every time Megan’s shoulders tensed, Daniela was there, grounding her without a word.
As they made their way toward the next stage, Daniela was teasing Lara, her voice light with laughter. “Lara, you could misplace your own shadow if it wasn’t attached to you.”
She turned, expecting Megan’s usual eye roll or amused smirk.
Instead, all she saw was a sea of unfamiliar faces.
Panic struck, sharp and cold.
“Where’s Megan?” Daniela’s voice cut through the chatter, sharper than she intended.
Lara frowned. “She was right behind us—”
“She’s not here.” Daniela’s heart pounded, her body already moving before she could think.
Sophia tried to reassure her. “She probably just got caught in the crowd, she couldn’t have gone far—”
But Daniela wasn’t listening.
Megan didn’t do well with crowds. Not when she was feeling off like she had been all day. Daniela shoved through the mass of people, her thoughts spiraling into worst-case scenarios. The festival was too big. Too chaotic. What if Megan was hurt? What if someone had—
No.
Daniela ran.
Ignoring the frustrated murmurs of people she pushed past, ignoring the calls of her friends, ignoring everything but the frantic need to find Megan.
And then—
A glimpse of familiar ginger hair near the barricades.
Megan stood frozen, looking small, her breathing shallow, her hands curled into fists at her sides.
Daniela didn’t hesitate. She pushed past a lingering group, reached out, and gently took Megan’s wrist, pulling her down to sit on the grass.
“Hey, hey, Meg. It’s me.” Daniela’s voice was steady, soft. “Can you do something for me? Can you name five things you see?”
Megan swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. “Um… security guards.” Her voice was shaky. “The stage. The barricades.” She sucked in a breath.
“You’re doing great,” Daniela murmured, her grip firm but comforting.
Megan’s gaze flickered around. “Some asshole spilled a drink on a girl.” Her lips twitched slightly. “And… you.” She finally looked at Daniela.
“Good. Now four things you can touch?”
Megan exhaled, her hands unclenching. “The grass. My clothes. The barricades.” Her fingers twitched against Daniela’s. “Your hand.”
Daniela squeezed gently. “Three things you can hear?”
“The crowd. The artist singing.” Megan’s breathing was evening out. “Your voice.”
“Two things you can smell?”
Megan hesitated, then smirked slightly. “Alcohol. And your perfume.”
Daniela chuckled. “And one thing you can taste?”
Megan pressed her lips together before answering. “My cherry chapstick.”
“Are you okay?” Daniela sats letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Slowly, she shrugged off her leather jacket and draped it over Megan’s shoulders.
Megan blinked up at her, startled. “I— I just lost track of everyone, and I couldn’t find you in the crowd. I panicked.”
Daniela leaned back just enough to cup Megan’s face, her thumbs brushing lightly against her cheeks. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Megan’s eyes widened at the intensity in her voice. “Dani, I’m fine, I swear—”
“No, you don’t get it.” Daniela exhaled shakily. “I thought I lost you. I thought something worse was going to happen to you.”
Megan parted her lips like she wanted to say something, but Daniela beat her to it.
“I don’t— I don’t think I could handle that.”
The space between them was small, charged. The stage lights flickered in the distance, casting a soft glow over Megan’s flushed cheeks.
After a moment, Megan swallowed hard. “You really worried that much about me?”
Daniela let out a breathless laugh, raking a hand through her hair. “Are you kidding? Megan, I—” She hesitated, her heart hammering. And then, before she could stop herself—
“I care about you. More than I probably should.”
Megan stared at her for a beat, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, her lips curled into the softest, most Megan smile Daniela had ever seen.
“I think I like hearing that.”
Daniela’s breath caught.
And then, before she could overthink it, Megan reached out—tangling their fingers together, squeezing Daniela’s hand in a silent promise.
“C’mon,” Megan said gently. “Let’s go find the others.”
Daniela exhaled a shaky laugh. “Yeah, they’re probably worried. I kinda ran off like a madwoman when I realized you were gone.”
Megan just looked at her, that same soft smile still playing at her lips. “Come on,” she said again, tugging Daniela forward.
Daniela let herself be pulled along, her heart still racing.
But this time, it wasn’t from fear.
Megan and Daniela wandered through the crowd, scanning the sea of people in search of their friends.
“Wait, I see them,” Manon’s voice cut through the noise.
Daniela turned toward her right, following her gaze. Sure enough, the rest of the girls were walking toward them. As soon as Lara spotted Megan, her expression shifted to one of concern.
“Megan, are you alright?” Lara asked, her sharp eyes instantly recognizing the subtle signs of a panic attack—the slightly tousled hair, the sheen of sweat, the deep, measured breaths Megan was still taking to steady herself.
Megan nodded quickly. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Dani found me before it got worse.”
Lara didn’t look entirely convinced, but she still let out a relieved breath. “Good. You two scared us.” Without hesitation, she pulled them both into a quick but firm hug.
“Sorry,” they both mumbled, equally sheepish.
“It’s okay,” Sophia chimed in, her usual confidence softened by concern. “I’m just glad you’re both okay.”
She then turned to Megan. “Do you want to go home? You must be exhausted.”
Megan hesitated for only a second before shaking her head. “No, I’ll be okay. We can stay for a couple more hours.” Then, as if sensing the lingering doubt in Sophia’s eyes, she added, “I really want to see Ariana and Playboi Carti.”
That last part was only half-true. Megan wasn’t dying to see Playboi Carti—but Daniela was. Megan knew how much she’d been looking forward to his set, and after everything Daniela had done for her tonight, she wanted to make sure she got to enjoy it.
Sophia studied her for a moment. “If you’re sure?”
“I am,” Megan reassured her.
“If at any point you want to leave, just say the word,” Manon added, her voice firm with sincerity.
“Thanks, but I promise, I’m good.” Megan gave them a small but genuine smile.
“Alright, then let’s go see Playboi Carti,” Lara said, already turning toward the stage.
Just as Megan moved to follow, Daniela caught her hand, gently stopping her.
She didn’t say anything. Just searched Megan’s eyes, silently asking if she was truly okay. It was the kind of unspoken conversation they’d had a thousand times before, built on a level of understanding that no words could replicate.
After a moment, Megan squeezed Daniela’s hand. I’m okay.
Satisfied, Daniela nodded, then walked beside her, fingers still intertwined.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the girls—the way they held hands the entire time, or how Megan was still wrapped in Daniela’s leather jacket. But now wasn’t the time to bring it up. Megan didn’t need their teasing, their knowing looks. She just needed them to act normal. To let her breathe.
For the next couple of hours, Daniela never let go of Megan’s hand. Never let her out of her sight.
Megan didn’t mind.
She liked the weight of Daniela’s attention. Liked knowing that even as one of her favorite artists performed, Daniela’s concern for her never wavered. It made her feel… safe.
As the night stretched on, exhaustion slowly crept over Megan. She didn’t say anything, but the girls could see it—the way her blinks grew slower, the way she leaned just a little more into Daniela’s side.
Without hesitation, Sophia pulled out her phone and called for the car.
By the time they piled in, Megan was barely holding onto consciousness. As soon as she settled into the back seat, her head naturally found its place against Daniela’s shoulder. Daniela, already half-asleep herself, instinctively leaned into her, their fingers still loosely tangled.
It was too precious of a moment for the girls to resist.
“They’re so cute,” Sophia whispered excitedly, barely able to contain her squeal.
“I know,” Yoonchae murmured, her face split into a wide grin.
“Ha! Dani’s drooling a little,” Manon snickered, quickly snapping another picture.
“Shh,” Lara hushed them, though even she couldn’t help but smile. “Let them sleep.”
Because, teasing aside, they all knew one thing for sure—Megan needed this rest. And more importantly, she needed Daniela.
And Daniela?
She wasn’t going anywhere.
When the girls arrived home, they exchanged sleepy murmurs, stretching as they exited the car.
Sophia leaned into the back seat, her voice gentle. “Hey, girls, we’re home.”
Daniela stirred first, blinking blearily as she took in her surroundings. “Okay… thanks.” Her voice was thick with sleep, but as soon as she felt Megan still slumped against her, she shook off her exhaustion. “I’ve got Megan,” she added, waving Sophia toward the house.
Sophia didn’t argue. She knew Megan would much rather be woken up by Daniela than anyone else.
Daniela turned her attention to Megan, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face. “Hey, Meg, we’re home.”
Megan stirred, her voice muffled. “Hm? Okay.” She shifted, barely making it out of the car before stopping, eyes still half-lidded.
Then, softly—“Carry me?”
Daniela let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes, but her expression gave her away—fond, amused. “You’re so spoiled.”
Still, she crouched down without hesitation. Megan immediately climbed onto her back, snuggling close, her arms looping around Daniela’s shoulders.
The moment Daniela stepped inside, she was met with a chorus of knowing smirks from the girls lounging on the couch. They said nothing—but the looks they exchanged said everything.
Daniela ignored them.
She carried Megan straight to her room, carefully setting her down on the bed before pulling the blankets over her. “I’ll be right back, okay?” she murmured.
Megan hummed sleepily in response, already halfway to dreamland.
Daniela made quick work of retrieving some makeup remover wipes from Megan and Lara’s bathroom, knowing exactly where they were kept. When she returned, she gently nudged Megan.
“Meg, sit up for a sec,” she coaxed, holding out a wipe. “You need to take off your makeup.”
Megan groaned. “Too tired.”
Daniela huffed a quiet laugh but didn’t argue. Instead, she carefully wiped away Megan’s makeup for her, her movements soft and methodical.
“Thanks, Dani,” Megan mumbled when she was done, her words barely audible.
Daniela smiled. “Of course.” But Megan was already asleep.
Moving quietly, Daniela slipped out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her. As she turned around, she nearly jumped out of her skin—Lara was standing right there.
“Ah—” Daniela yelped.
Lara cringed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I was just heading to bed.”
Daniela let out a breath, placing a hand over her chest. “Right. Good night.” She started toward her own room, but before she got far—
“Dani?”
She turned back. “Yeah?”
Lara hesitated for only a moment before offering a small, sincere smile. “Thank you.”
Daniela frowned slightly. “For what?”
“For taking care of Megan.”
Something in Daniela’s expression softened instantly. “Lara… you don’t have to thank me. It’s Megan. I’d do anything for her.”
Lara nodded, but there was something else behind her eyes—something more. “I know. It’s just… you’re one of the only people who can truly help her. Who can calm her down. I try my best, but you’re the only one here who really can.”
Daniela’s heart squeezed. She took a step closer. “You’re doing great, Lara. Don’t forget that. I know Megan appreciates your help.” Her voice lowered, as if admitting something fragile. “And I appreciate it, too. Because I can’t always be there to help her. To protect her. Even though I wish I could.”
Lara’s expression flickered with something understanding. Then, she smiled.
“Good night, Dani.”
Daniela exhaled, the exhaustion finally settling in. “Good night, Lara.”
And with that, she headed to bed, her heart a little fuller than before.
The next morning, the girls had a packed schedule—filming TikToks, rehearsing new choreography, and spending a few hours in the recording studio. The day was so busy that Megan and Daniela barely had a moment to talk, let alone process the unsaid words from the night before. The confession lingering between them.
It wasn’t until the evening, when they had finally settled down for the night, that they had the chance.
Daniela and Manon were lounging in their room, each lost in their own world, when a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Come in!" Manon called out, too lazy to get up.
The door creaked open, and Megan stepped inside, her eyes instantly finding Daniela, who was curled up on her bed, reading.
"Hey, Dani, can we talk?"
Daniela looked up, immediately closing her book and bookmarking the page. "Yeah, of course." A warm smile spread across her face.
Manon, sensing the moment, stretched and stood up. "I’m just gonna go bother Lara," she announced.
Megan hesitated, feeling guilty for kicking Manon out of her own room, but before she could say anything, Manon caught her eye and mouthed, Good luck. Things are gonna work out, trust. She shot Megan a wide, knowing grin before slipping out and closing the door behind her.
As soon as they were alone, Daniela patted the spot next to her. "Come here."
Megan sat down, a little awkward at first. "So..."
"So..." Daniela echoed, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
Megan exhaled, gathering her thoughts. "There were… some things said yesterday, and I just—I really hope I’m not reading into it wrong."
"I hope not either," Daniela said, turning to face her fully. "I really hope we’re on the same page right now."
Her voice softened as she continued. "Megan, I really like you. I have for a long time."
A radiant grin broke across Megan’s face. "Oh, thank god," she breathed out, relief washing over her. "I really like you too, Dani."
They both laughed, eyes locked as they slowly leaned in. Their lips met in a kiss—soft, warm, filled with the weight of every unspoken feeling between them. The moment they had both been waiting for, the moment everyone had seen coming for the past year.
When they pulled apart, Megan’s face was glowing, her signature whisker dimples on full display. "I’m so happy right now."
Daniela grinned, eyes crinkling. "Me too. Best day ever."
They stayed like that for a while, curled up together on Daniela’s bed, wrapped in the comfort of each other’s presence. Words weren’t necessary—being close was enough.
After a long moment of quiet, Megan shifted slightly. "Dani?"
Daniela hummed in response. "Yeah?"
"How did you know about the 5-4-3-2-1 trick?" Megan asked softly.
Daniela hesitated for a beat before answering. "I… I looked up ways to help with panic attacks after the first time it happened. I felt so helpless back then. I didn’t want that to happen again. I wanted to make sure that next time, I’d be ready."
Megan lifted her head from Daniela’s chest, just staring at her in wonder. "God, you are too perfect."
Daniela flushed, looking away. "Stop. Anyone else would’ve done the same."
"Maybe," Megan admitted. "But not everyone does. No one takes care of me the way you do."
Daniela let out a small, embarrassed chuckle. "I don’t know… I’ve just always had this need to protect you. You’re such a bright star, Megan, and I don’t ever want anything to dim that. I want you to experience all the good parts of life and none of the bad."
Megan’s heart swelled. "You do protect me, Dani. I feel safest when I’m with you. And when the bad parts of life happen… I know you’ll be there to hold me through them."
Daniela swallowed, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Megan. So fucking much."
Megan’s hand found Daniela’s, squeezing tight. "I love you too, Dani. More than I’ll ever be able to show."
So they spent the night curled up together in Daniela’s bed, warmth and love filling the space between them.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Manon sprawled out on Megan’s bed with a triumphant grin, more than happy to steal it for the night.
The next morning, Megan and Daniela were the last ones to make it down to breakfast. As they came down the stairs, the girls were waiting, all sporting huge grins.
"Please, please, please tell me it happened," Lara practically begged, her excitement barely contained.
Megan and Daniela exchanged a glance before both breaking into smiles. "Yeah, it did," Daniela confirmed.
The girls all squealed and rushed over to hug them, catching the two off guard.
"Finally!" Yoonchae deadpanned, her grin barely hiding her amusement. "Took you two idiots long enough."
Sophia smacked Yoonchae lightly on the arm. "Don’t ruin this moment," she scolded, pouting a little.
"What?" Yoonchae shrugged, unbothered. "I was getting a little tired of watching you two pine after each other," she smirked.
"I gotta agree with Yoonchip," Manon chimed in, "It did take you forever."
"Yeah, but they had to get there in their own time," Lara defended, giving Megan and Daniela a reassuring smile.
Megan and Daniela stood there for a moment, a little speechless. They hadn’t realized how obvious they’d been, or that the girls had been waiting for this moment.
"Okay, fine, we took forever," Megan finally sighed, grinning sheepishly.
"But we got there in the end," Daniela added, her smile widening as she looked up at Megan.