mabletree003

[mabletree003]

love by chance ⋆˚꩜｡ | love was nothing but fiction before him

Pairing: Drew Starkey x Reader

Warnings: none

Word count: 976

Notes: my first writing so please be sure to lmk what I should do differently next time ⋆˚꩜｡

You’ve never been one for romantics. Love was always something you thought of in novels, movies, or the fleeting whims of daydreams, not something that ever had a place in your life. You had always preferred keeping things practical, rational. But all of that changed one late night after a concert that left you buzzing with excitement. The music still echoed in your mind as you made your way back to the hotel, your feet tired from the hours spent standing and dancing, your heart still racing from the energy of the performance.

As you approached the elevator, you barely noticed the man standing beside it. You were too lost in the rhythm of the night, too distracted by the fading notes of the music that clung to your thoughts. But then, just as you were about to step inside, the elevator doors slid shut in front of you, trapping you between floors. The sudden jolt of the stop made you look up—and there he was, standing a few feet away.

He was tall, with dark, tousled hair and a casual yet confident air about him. There was something effortlessly charming in the way he carried himself, as though he belonged in every space he entered. His eyes locked with yours, and for a brief moment, you thought you might have been imagining it, but you could swear there was something in his gaze—an unspoken invitation, a quiet acknowledgment that something was about to change.

After a second of awkward silence, he smiled. It was warm and genuine, a contrast to the coolness of the sterile hotel lobby. “Looks like we're stuck,” he said, his voice smooth, almost soothing, with just a hint of amusement.

You couldn’t help but smile back, a little embarrassed by the situation. “Seems like it. Elevator’s not exactly my idea of a perfect nightcap.”

He chuckled lightly. “I can think of worse places to be trapped,” he replied, his smile widening.

The conversation flowed easily from there, despite the unexpected setting. He asked about the concert, sharing how he, too, was a fan of the band. The more you talked, the more you realized how much you had in common, from your taste in music to your thoughts on life. There was an easy chemistry between you, like old friends catching up after years apart, even though you had just met. Time seemed to lose its grip as the minutes ticked by, and suddenly, the elevator jolted again.

The doors slid open with a soft ‘ding,’ and for a split second, neither of you moved. He looked at you, his expression soft and sincere. “Well, I guess this is our stop.”

You nodded, but you both lingered for a moment longer, unsure if you wanted to break the connection you had just sparked. 

Then, with a glance and a smile, he said, “Maybe I’ll see you around.” And just like that, he stepped out of the elevator, leaving you standing there, wondering if it had been real—or just another fleeting moment in the rush of the night.

As the elevator doors began to close, you stood frozen for a second, caught in the brief but undeniable pull of the moment. You could feel the weight of the silence settling in, a mix of hesitation and curiosity hanging in the air. Then, without thinking, you blurted out.

“Wait!”

He turned back just as the doors were halfway closed, a slight quirk to his brow as if he hadn’t expected you to stop him. He paused and gave you a questioning look.

“What's your name?” you asked, your voice surprisingly steady, though your heart raced.

For a brief moment, his eyes softened, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face. Maybe he wasn’t used to people calling out to him, or maybe he hadn’t anticipated this kind of follow-up. But after a beat, he stepped back into the elevator, his posture easy, like he hadn’t ever been thinking of leaving yet.

“Drew. Drew Starkey,” he said, offering a smile that was even more genuine than before. “And you?”

You couldn’t help but smile, a small spark of warmth spreading through you at the way he said it—like the name held some kind of weight, a quiet invitation.

“[Your Name],” you replied, the sound of your own name almost strange on your lips, like this brief exchange had somehow made it feel new.

Drew nodded thoughtfully, as though committing it to memory. “Nice to meet you, [Your Name]. I’m glad we got stuck together, even if just for a few minutes.”

There was something about the way he said it—casual, yet somehow meaningful—that made your stomach flutter. You hadn’t expected the night to go this way, but suddenly, it felt like the universe had orchestrated this encounter for some unseen reason.

“Same here,” you said, your voice quieter now, but still filled with a warmth you hadn't anticipated feeling. “I’m glad I called out.”

Drew’s smile widened, and for a moment, you wondered if maybe he felt the same thing you did. A shared connection, a spark in the air, something more than just the randomness of being stuck in an elevator together.

As the elevator doors opened fully this time, you both stepped out onto the floor of your hotel. Drew hesitated for just a second, then, with a final glance, he spoke.

“Maybe I’ll see you again, [Your Name].” His voice was low, but there was a definite promise in it. Then, without another word, he turned and walked down the hall, his steps confident and sure.

You stood there for a moment, the doors still closed behind you, replaying the encounter in your mind. It had been brief, but somehow, it felt like it was just the beginning of something, even if you couldn’t quite put your finger on it yet.