(I can feel) the draw

Amethyst eyes trace the delicate engraving carved on the golden frame in her hands, a perfect and constant reminder of the life full of luxuries and money in which she had been raised in, but that lacked of the most important: love.

A heavy and sad sigh escapes the lips of its owner, a long haired brunette that can't help but stare at the photograph that it contains with nostalgia, looking fixedly at the image of her young self in it holding the hands of her beloved parents with a wide and happy smile sparkling on her lips as brightly as the sun itself.

Maya still remembers those days in which her parents were everything to her, in which they were respected and idolized to the point of wanting to be like them. Of aiming to be as good as they were in their respective careers and make them proud.

And yet, instead of that, she encountered nothing but their hard criticism filling her days, always demanding more and more of her until turning her life into a complete misery.

The brunette can't help but go back to those days in which she found herself locked in the studio of their home hearing the same song in repeat until her dancing and acting were perfectly refined.

Until her feet bleed out or her muscles burned so hard she could no longer stand on her feet dancing and fell unconscious to the floor due to the pain and exhaustion that came with such sacrifice.

Days full of bitter and hurtful words reminding her the mistakes she made, before punishing her without eating so she put more effort into the next audition, into the next play to be the top star she was aimed to be and that would make them proud of her, congratulating her for her success before showing her off around as if she was a trophy.

A shaky sigh escapes her lips as Maya tries to hold back the tears peeking through her eyes, before she looks away from that "illusory" happy and perfect family portrait to let her gaze land on the photograph at her right.

A fond smile quickly spreads across her lips as she takes the simple bluish silver frame in her hands, her slender fingers tracing the beaming faces of the girls in it.

Tracing the faces of that group of eight girls that came to her life unexpectedly, fighting hard to earn her respect and friendship. Those same eight girls that taught her what a family truly was and felt like.

Soon enough her gaze stop at a familiar ash-blonde girl, her fingertips tracing ever so feathery her grumpy features almost as if she was doing it for real, learning by heart every wrinkle and freckle on her smooth skin as a warm feeling runs through her veins until reaching her heart making it pound fast.

Maya lets out a chuckle as she recalls with fondness their first Starlight together, the grumpy expression adorning Claudine's beautiful features as she promised her, or more like threatened her, to win her at the next one. As she unknowingly set her goal to win not just her position as the top star and main character, but also her heart.

She can't help but remember with fondness how the ash-blonde stage girl made her way through every one of the walls she long put up to tear them down and make herself a home in her heart just as if she had entered their usual practice room like a gale: her ash-blonde hair flowing in the air with every step she took, her mesmerizing magenta eyes and confident grin drawing her in, pulling her to take her hand and dance together through every obstacle on their way.

Pulling her into a rollercoaster of emotions, some which she wasn't even aware of: insecurity, envy, jealousy, pride, happiness, but especially, love.

Maya can't help but feel her heart pounding hard against her chest just with the mere thought of Claudine, of that proud and grumpy yet lovely ash-blonde that managed to steal it and turn her life upside down (for the better, of course), before she goes back to look at the familiar photograph at her left.

Another heavy sigh escapes her lips as she stares at it, as she gets lost in the premise of a future full of the success that it will give her.

The numerous work offers that would lay on her table everywhere she goes just for the mere fact of being the daughter of a renowned stage actor and a prima donna, of being the brightest star that anybody has ever witnessed, before seeing a rain of proposals pouring over her trying to think on which one her parents would agree with to then arrange a prosperous but unhappy marriage with any famous actor or multimillionaire they choose for her.

She can't help but shake her head, before going back to look at the ash-blonde girl that stole her heart years ago.

At the premise of a future filled with love, of sharing the same feelings, the same thrill and passion for the stage, dancing and acting. A future in which they'll help one another to be the best version of themselves and reach their dreams together.

A future filled with the warmth of Claudine's gaze, her tender smiles and cute grumbling in her mother language.

Filled with the happiness of have finally found a home in her heart and a love for all times even if that means having to overcome and face many closed doors because of her parents' reputation and the nasty comments for loving another woman, a dazzling ash-blonde woman that makes her life have a meaning.

With a smile, Maya places the family portrait back down on her desk to then take the Starlight photograph with her, holding it close to her heart, before she puts it in her bag.

- I'm sorry, mother, father, but I choose Claudine. Always.

She says in the intimacy and quietness of the bedroom that saw her grow and became a star, before she bows at the door as she says goodbye to all the memories she made in there and goes downstairs ready to leave her childhood house behind and get out of her parents' life forever.

- If you set a foot outside this house, I swear I'll cut you out of my will, Maya. You've heard me!?

Her father threats her, and Maya, far from being intimidated by him, can only take a look at his furious face and at her mother's sadden face, before she takes a step out of the house.

- You're no longer a Tendo, you hear me Maya! From this moment on, you stop being our daughter!

Her father reproaches her while her mother cries in the background all while she begins to walk out with her head high, not letting the threats of being repudiated, vilified and disinherited for choosing to be happy with the love of her life affect her.

Maya's eyes soon meet Claudine's ones, feeling those mesmerizing magenta eyes that drawn her in years ago welcoming her, before she feels her arms wrapping her and pulling her into a tight and warm hug.

- I love you, mon amour. I'm really proud of you.

Claudine tells her as she cups her cheeks and wipes away the tears that managed to fall.

- I really love you.

The ash-blonde whispers as they rest their foreheads together, smiling softly, before she gives her a short but tender kiss and pulls the brunette by the hand towards her car.

- Let's go home.

Claudine says as she interlaces their fingers together, leaving a light kiss on them, and Maya can't help but feel her heart fluttering happily upon the prospect of having a home, of their home, knowing that if Claudine is with her then it won't matter whatever that happens because they'll face it together.

That everything will be okay.