Chapter 9 - Friendly Fire and Other Forms of Flirting

The rooftop bar was buzzing with the sound of music, neon lights and overpriced drinks, the kind of place Priya said she hated but always took Sophia to anyway. The DJ was trying way too hard, and his music selection was questionable.

Sophia had barely taken her first sip of her margarita when Priya's elbow found her side.

"Don't panic," Priya said in a voice that immediately made Sophia panic. "But guess who just walked in."

"No," Sophia said instantly.

"You didn't even look yet."

"I don't need to. It's either Bobby or Drew, and both are bad for my blood pressure."

Priya sipped her drink like this was all very amusing. "It's Drew. And he's already spotted us."

Sophia turned just in time to catch Drew Gallo at the bar, flashing that signature smile that made bartenders forget to check IDs and professors overlook missed assignments. Same expensive watch, same impossible hair, and the same smug aura that made you want to smack him and invite him to brunch at the same time.

"What's he doing here?" Sophia whispered, sinking a little lower into her seat.

"I invited him," Priya said with a shrug. "I figured if you're stuck in Knight Hell, I deserve some entertainment too."

Sophia groaned. "I just want you to know you're a menace "

"Pot, meet kettle."

Before Sophia could plot her escape and run away, Drew spotted them. His grin spread wide, and he crossed the bar in that relaxed, swaggering way

"Well, well, well," Drew drawled, sitting down into the seat across from them sitting down the three drinks he ordered like he was born there. "Priya Patel. Still terrifying. Still hot."

Priya didn't even blink. "Drew Gallo. Still allergic to effort."

Drew pressed a hand to his chest, mock-wounded. "You know, I actually missed this."

"You missed being roasted in public?" Priya arched a brow. "Freak."

"No, I missed the way you hide how much you like me behind deeply creative insults."

"I liked you better when you were a blurry background character in my rearview mirror."

Sophia sighed dramatically. "Oh good, they're back at it already."

"Don't act like you're not thrilled," Drew said, taking a fry off of Sophia's plate. "Reunited and it feels so good."

"You're literally Bobby's best friend," Sophia said. "Why are you crashing girls' night?"

"Because Bobby's moping and I'm allergic to emotional responsibility," Drew said cheerfully. "Figured you two could entertain me instead."

Priya tilted her head. "Moping, huh? Wonder why."

"No reason," Drew said, way too casually. "Just his lifelong academic nemesis is suddenly back in his life and driving him crazy."

Sophia took a long sip of her drink. "Work. It's just work and nothing else."

"Right," Drew said. "Totally professional. No lingering tension or anything whatsoever."

Priya smirked. "Soph, your neck vein's doing that thing again."

Sophia slapped a hand over her neck. "I hate you both."

"No, you hate Bobby," Priya corrected. "We're just here for color commentary."

Drew clinked his glass against Priya's. "Cheers to that."

Flashback - NYU, Sophomore Year

Study Room Showdown

"Move your crap," Priya said, pushing his bag off the table.

Drew, sprawled across the other half of the table not even glance up. "Priya Patel. Academic terror of the east wing. Come to ruin my night?"

"Always." She dumped her books onto his papers, knocking over his protein shake spilling it everywhere. "Why are you even here? You hate this class."

"I don't hate it," Drew said lazily. "I just don't believe in overworking."

Priya groaned. "You and Bobby are prefect for each other. Two halves of the same underachieving coin."

"Careful," Drew said. "That almost sounded like admiration."

Priya rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of something amusement, maybe. "Do you know you're insufferable."

"And you're my favorite pain in the ass."

They'd spent most of college like that sniping at each other between study sessions and parties neither admitted they liked it. It wasn't flirting, not really. Except for the times it definitely was.

Present Day - Rooftop Bar

"So what's the actual deal with you and Bobby?" Drew asked, dragging Sophia back to reality. "He's been weird ever since the pitch meeting."

Sophia kept her expression neutral. "I told you there is no deal."

Drew grinned. "You're both terrible liars."

Priya stirred her drink, fully enjoying this. "She once said she'd rather eat glass than work with him again."

"That sounds right," Drew said. "Except Bobby once said he'd rather light his diploma on fire than lose to her."

"See?" Priya said. "Soulmates."

Sophia glared at both of them. "We are not soulmates."

Drew leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Just admit you had a thing."

"There was no thing."

"Denial," Priya sang. "Not just a river."

Sophia groaned. "Why am I friends with either of you?"

"Because you love chaos," Priya said.

"And because deep down," Drew added, "you know we're right."

Sophia's phone buzzed Bobby, a simple text asking about tomorrow's pitch rehearsal. She ignored it. For now.

Drew saw her glance and smirked. "Tell him hi for me."

"Tell him to choke," Priya added helpfully.

Sophia shook her head, already regretting every life choice that led her here. "I need new friends."

"No you don't," Priya said. "You need therapy. But until then, you have us."

Later That Night

Drew walked Priya to the subway, hands stuffed in his pockets. The playful banter had faded into something quieter. They'd known each other too long for small talk, but not long enough for whatever this weird, maybe-flirty nostalgia was.

"So," Drew said. "Still terrifying?"

Priya smirked. "Still charming?"

"Obviously."

They stood there, silence stretching between them, the hum of the city filling in the gaps.

"See you around, Drew."

"Count on it, Priya."

And just like that, they were back. Same snark, same rhythm—maybe with a little more under the surface now.

This was going to get messy. And neither of them could wait. But one thing was for sure it wouldn't be boring