Jess

By the time the group arrived at the beach—Nick hauling the world’s most complicated umbrella, Peyton carrying a speaker, and Rainbow complaining about sand getting in her shoes—the sun was in full command of the sky.

Aurora and Rainbow wasted no time laying out towels and collapsing into the warm sand while the rest set up for volleyball nearby.

“Alright,” Rainbow said, applying lip balm like it was a mission, “give me the drama. I know you’ve got manager tea.”

Aurora snorted. “Oh, you know I do. So, one of her other clients, like… absolutely refuses to audition for anything she sends.”

“Why?”

“Because apparently ‘indie horror isn’t her vibe’ and ‘period dramas don’t align with her personal brand.’”

Rainbow blinked. “Is she… okay?”

Aurora shrugged. “She said, and I quote, ‘if I’m not playing the next Marvel lead, I’m not wasting my time.’”

Rainbow nearly choked on her water. “BABE.”

“I know. Meanwhile, I’d audition to be a silent background tree in a medieval drama if it meant getting on set.”

“Literally same,” Rainbow agreed. “Put me in a mossy wig, call me ‘Tree #4,’ I’m there.”

They both burst into laughter, high-pitched and unbothered as they sprawled across their towels, tossing occasional commentary at the others fighting over volleyball rules like children.

Eventually, Milo jogged over, shirtless, sandy, and sweaty, flopping directly onto Aurora like he was auditioning to be a weighted blanket.

“Ewwwww,” she groaned, smacking his chest with her beach hat. “Get OFF, you’re gross.”

He just nuzzled into her shoulder. “That’s not very nice.”

“Neither is this human puddle situation.”

“Shh,” he mumbled, eyes closed. “You’re my pillow now.”

She rolled her eyes and let him stay, Rainbow grinning like she’d just won a bet with herself.

Milo, clearly content, began fiddling with Aurora’s necklace, twisting it gently between his fingers while the girls resumed their conversation like he wasn’t there.

After a while, Milo sighed dramatically. “I’m bored.”

“Then go swim,” Aurora suggested without looking at him.

“Come swim with me, Bug,” he coaxed, nudging her side.

“I don’t want to get my hair wet,” she replied, adjusting her sunglasses.

“Bug…”

“I said no. My hair is having a good day.”

“I’ll fix it after.”

“You’re not certified in curls.”

He paused. “That’s a good point… but I’m still dragging you in.”

“What—Milo, don’t—MILO!”

He scooped her up in one swift movement, tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes while she shrieked loud enough to draw attention from the entire beach.

“Milo! Put me down!” she shrieked, pounding her fists against his back.

Rainbow laughed, pulling out her phone to capture the moment. “This is gold.”

Milo grinned, carrying Aurora toward the water. “Last chance to come willingly.”

“I swear, Milo, if you—”

They went under. Came up. Splashing and shoving water at each other like kids.

“You’re actually the worst,” she said, blinking salt out of her eyes.

“You love me,” he replied with a grin, launching a wave straight into her face.

On the shore, Rainbow and Payton sat with sunglasses and snacks, watching the chaos unfold like it was a reality show.

“How are they not together?” Nick asked, biting into his chips.

Rainbow shook her head. “Delusional levels of denial. Textbook.”

“They’re, like, aggressively adorable.”

“They’re tragically in love.”

“How can they be in this much denial about their feelings for each other?” Peyton mused.

Nick chuckled. “It’s like watching a rom-com in real life.”

After what felt like forever of playful dunking, chasing, and shrieking, Aurora and Milo finally trudged out of the water, dripping and grinning. Aurora’s hair was a wet mess, and Milo looked entirely too pleased with himself.

“See that was fun!”

“You’re so annoying.”

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, the group gathered their belongings. Peyton turned to them with a smile. “Dinner at my place tonight? I’ve got a new recipe I want to try.”

Everyone agreed, and they parted ways to prepare for the evening.

⸻

Aurora stood in front of the mirror in Milo’s flat, towel-drying her hair. She rummaged through her bag, realizing she’d left her favorite dress at home.

“Hey, Milo,” she called out. “Think you could swing by my place so I can grab my dress for tonight?”

Milo leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “Why don’t you just borrow one of my shirts? Oversized is in.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow. “As tempting as that sounds, I’d prefer my own clothes.”

“Alright! Which one?” He asked grabbing her door keys from her bag

“The black satin one it should be on the back of my chair.” She said as he headed for the door

She told herself it was just dinner with friends, nothing fancy, nothing serious. But her hands still trembled slightly as she fastened the dainty necklace Milo had helped her untangle that morning.

A knock echoed through the apartment, followed by the familiar creak of her door swinging open. “Bug?” Milo’s voice rang out, playful and casual. “I come bearing dress retrieval success.”

“In here!” she called, not turning away from the mirror.

He strolled in, holding her purse and a bottle of water like a delivery guy who took tips in compliments.

“Shout me when you’re dressed.”

Milo quickly scurried out of the room leaning her to get dressed as quickly as she should. Auroras hands ran up and down the dress as she smoothed out the wrinkles

“Mi!” She called out

He paused when he entered the bedroom, mid-step, his words catching in his throat.

Aurora met his eyes in the mirror.

And he froze.

Milo stood there for a beat too long, eyes sweeping over her from the bare arch of her shoulders down to the soft swish of the dress around her thighs. It wasn’t a romantic moment with dimmed lights and violins playing — it was quiet, golden, and completely unguarded. His mouth parted like he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

“Too much?” she asked, smoothing the front of the dress nervously.

His eyebrows shot up. “Too much? Bug, you just broke time. Like, I think I blacked out for a second.”

She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the way her cheeks warmed. “Be serious.”

“I am,” he said, stepping into the room, gaze still fixed. “You look… wow.”

“Wow?”

He laughed a little under his breath, shaking his head like he still couldn’t get over it. “Yeah. Like, actual ‘wow.’ Like, I’m sorry to our neighbors because I might yell about it in the hallway.”

She gave him a suspicious look. “You sure it’s not just the fact you’ve been living off protein bars and set catering and forgot what a person in clean clothes looks like?”

“Ha. Ha.” He held out the purse. “You look amazing. Like, hold-my-breath kind of amazing.”

Aurora took the bag, trying to hide her smile as she grabbed her shoes from beside the bed and slipped them on. “You clean up alright yourself, you know.”

“I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt.”

“Exactly. Your peak.”

He put a hand to his heart. “You wound me.”

She stood and grabbed her denim jacket from the chair, throwing it on. “Ready to go?”

“Not even a little bit. I’m still recovering from the dress reveal.”

“Milo.”

“I’m just saying, I may need to take a minute to emotionally process.”

She laughed, brushing past him, and he followed right behind her, still smiling like a goof.

⸻

Later that night, Milo and Aurora arrived at Peyton’s apartment. Milo had driven them there, the car ride filled with their usual banter and shared glances. Peyton had gone all out, her flat adorned with twinkling fairy lights and a beautifully set table that exuded warmth and charm. She had taken care to set the table with dinner plates, salad plates, and an appetizer plate, ensuring each setting had a water goblet and a wine glass, following advice from seasoned hosts.

Dinner was loud and hilarious before anyone even finished their drinks. The stories flowed like the wine, and somehow it all led to:

“No, no, please let me tell this one,” Kristian said, already wheezing. “So, I had an audition last week. Straightforward, chill—until the scene partner goes, ‘Now pretend you’re a chicken.’”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“What?!” Nick gasped.

“A CHICKEN,” Kristian repeated. “I was in the middle of this super emotional monologue and suddenly I had to start clucking and flapping.”

“I’m crying,” Aurora said, wiping her eyes.

“I didn’t even ask why,” Kristin said. “I just committed. Squatted down. Did the full chicken strut. They stared at me in silence for ten seconds and said, ‘That’ll do.’”

“I need that tape,” Milo said, half-choking on his drink. “For science.”

“Oh!” Milo added, mouth still full of bread. “Did I ever tell you guys about the time I walked in on Aurora performing Red by Taylor Swift like it was a full-blown concert?”

“MILO.”

“She was spinning with a hairbrush. Literal tears in her eyes.”

“It was an emotional day!”

“Didn’t even notice I was there for, like, three minutes.”

Aurora covered her face. “Kill me now.”

Peyton added between laughs, “At least you’ve got that you found him talking to your teddy bear like it owed him rent.”

Aurora pointed a dramatic finger. “That happened.”

“EXCUSE ME,” Milo defended. “Lou was asleep and I was venting.”

“So I came back to my trailer after filming one night, and Lou is asleep on the couch. I’m like, ‘where’s Milo?’ Then I hear him—talking to my teddy bear.”

Kristian nearly fell off his chair. “No.”

“He’s all, ‘Dude, I don’t know what to do with her. She’s chaos. But like, good chaos. Like… if chaos wore perfume.’”

Milo groaned. “I was workshopping emotions, okay?”

“More like confessing them,” Rainbow muttered.

“To a teddy.”

“He’s a good listener!”

Then Peyton laughed, pointing at Aurora. “Don’t even! You woke up thirty minutes before call one day and told everyone you were on the phone with your doctor.”

The room exploded.

“BUG!” Nick shouted.

“In my defense,” Aurora said, dramatically sipping her wine, “you guys made me drink the night before.”

“You’re awful,” Milo said through laughter.

“I’m efficient.”

Everyone was dying of laughter, even Spencer, who rarely cracked more than a grin, groaning, “You two give me a migraine.”

Aurora raised her glass. “Cheers to that.”

Later, when they were still sitting around in cozy piles, Milo’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, read the message, and his smile faltered.

“Everything okay?” Aurora asked.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. They need me back in New York. Day after tomorrow.”

There was a long pause. Nick was the one who said it.

“Damn. You just got back.”

Aurora didn’t say a word. Her face stayed neutral, but she didn’t rejoin the conversation right away. Her hand dropped from Milo’s arm.

The others chatted around it, trying to shift the mood, but her silence clung to him like a shadow.

⸻

Back at their building, they walked quietly down the hall, Aurora unlocking her door with robotic motions.

“Bug,” Milo said gently, “talk to me.”

She paused, halfway inside. “It’s so shit.”

He followed her in, closing the door softly behind him. “I know.”

“I just—” she flopped onto the couch, curling into herself, “—we finally have time to just… be. And now you’re leaving again.”

Milo crossed the room and sat beside her, their knees touching. “It’s not forever.”

“I know.” Her voice cracked. “But it feels like it every time.”

“I’ll come back.

“You always say that.”

“And I always do.”

She smiled, watery-eyed. “I hate that I miss you before you even go.”

Milo leaned his head on hers. “I’ll miss you before I even land.”

They sat there, the quiet between them filled with the things they didn’t need to say out loud.

“I’ve got a meeting in a bit,” he said, tone shifting slightly. “Possible script changes for the last few scenes. Nothing major. But then I’ve got a fitting, and I think some kind of promo photo thing. Not too bad.”

“You always say that like your days are normal. That’s a lot.”

He chuckled. “It’s a good busy. Keeps me from missing you every five minutes.”

Aurora’s heart flipped, and her pace slowed slightly as she smiled down at the sidewalk. “You’re so dramatic.”

“I’m not!” he insisted. “I miss you, Bug. I’m not even pretending.”

Her voice softened. “I miss you more.”

“Not possible,” he replied easily. “I’ll call you tonight, yeah? After the meeting and everything.”

“You better,” she said, crossing the street. “Don’t make me yell at you on FaceTime again.”

Milo laughed. “God, I live for that.”

“Okay, now you’re just weird.”

“I’ve missed being called weird,” he said. “Talk tonight, pretty. Have fun, okay?”

“Okay. Knock that meeting out.”

They hung up just as she spotted Payton already waiting at a table outside the café, oversized sunglasses on and her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. She was typing something on her phone when she looked up and spotted Aurora.

“Finally!” she called. “You took forever.”

“I walked!” Aurora laughed, hugging her. “And you always get here early like a psycho.”

“I like being on time,” Payton said, standing to squeeze her tightly before they both sat. “Besides, I needed first dibs on the croissants.”

They settled into their seats with steaming lattes, and the conversation flowed easily. They talked about Payton’s latest auditions, a chaotic group chat moment from the night before, and the weirdest fan interaction Rainbow had apparently had while shopping for almond milk.

Half an hour in, Aurora was halfway through a story about her mom sending her a totally random “I love you” voice note when her phone buzzed again.

Aurora narrowed her eyes, her story trailing off. “Okay. What’s going on?”

Payton blinked up at her, the picture of innocence. “Huh?”

“You’re checking your phone every ten seconds. You got somewhere to be?”

“Nope.” Payton took a sip of her drink, way too nonchalantly.

Aurora tilted her head. “Okay, but you’re acting weird.”

“I’m not acting weird.”

“You are.”

Payton exhaled dramatically. “I just have a delivery coming later, that’s all.”

Aurora wasn’t convinced. “A delivery?”

“Yes. A delivery. I ordered something super top secret and important.”

Aurora narrowed her eyes further. “Like what?”

Payton hesitated for half a second too long before saying, “A…plant.”

Aurora snorted. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You kill every plant you’ve ever owned.”

Payton gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “How dare you. I’ll have you know I have a thriving pothos on my kitchen counter.”

Aurora just stared at her.

Payton shifted under her gaze, then quickly deflected. “Anyway, you were telling me about your mom’s random voice note.”

Aurora rolled her eyes but let it go. She picked up her coffee again and continued the story, though the suspicion still lingered in the back of her mind.

Little did she know, she was about five minutes away from finding out exactly what Payton was really hiding.

Aurora stirred her coffee absentmindedly, half-listening as Payton rambled about a new audition she was preparing for. They had been at the café for almost an hour now, tucked into a cozy corner by the window, the faint hum of city life filling the space around them. The smell of fresh espresso lingered in the air, mixing with the sweet scent of pastries from the display case near the counter.

“—and then my agent sends this script, and I’m like, do I really look like someone who could play a lawyer?” Payton huffed, waving her hands dramatically.

Aurora laughed, resting her chin in her hand. “I mean, I could see it. But you’d be the type of lawyer who argues with the judge just because you like the chaos.”

Payton gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “How dare you.”

Aurora smirked, taking another sip of her coffee.

Aurora was mid-laugh when her phone buzzed against the table. She barely registered it at first, shaking her head at Payton’s latest ridiculous story about a disastrous self-tape audition. But then, out of habit, she glanced down at the notification.

One new message.

From Milo.

Milo: Turn around.

Her stomach flipped.

Her fingers tightened around her mug, and for a moment, she just stared at the text, trying to make sense of it.

Turn around.

No way.

“What’s wrong?” Payton asked, feigning innocence terribly.

Aurora didn’t answer. She was already turning in her seat, her pulse pounding

And then she saw him.

Standing just a few feet away, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, grinning at her.

For half a second, her brain completely short-circuited.

And then—

She was gone.

Aurora pushed back from the table so fast her chair nearly toppled over. She didn’t even think—she just ran.

Milo barely had a second to react before she crashed into him, arms flying around his neck as he caught her effortlessly, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, her voice already shaking.

Milo just held her. Tight. Steady. Secure.

“I hate you,” she mumbled against his shoulder, though her fingers curled into the fabric of his hoodie like she never wanted to let go.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against her hair. “Missed you too, Bug.”

Aurora squeezed her eyes shut, suddenly feeling the sting of tears. She hadn’t even realized just how much she’d missed him until this moment. Until he was here.

When she finally pulled back enough to see his face, her eyes were definitely wet.

Milo smiled softly and wiped her cheek with his thumb. “Crying already?”

Aurora huffed, sniffing dramatically as she swatted at his chest. “Shut up.”

Milo just grinned. “Not my fault you’re obsessed with me.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, but she was still crying a little.

Behind them, Payton clapped her hands together. “God, that was better than I imagined.”

Aurora turned sharply toward her. “You knew.”

Payton smirked, lifting her coffee. “Obviously.”

“You little-”

“Okay, okay,” Milo laughed, still holding onto her waist. “Let’s sit before we make a scene.”

Aurora let him guide her back to the table, though she refused to let go of his hand. Milo just smiled, squeezing her fingers lightly as they both sat down.

She barely even registered the fact that she still had tears drying on her cheeks. It didn’t matter. He was home.

As soon as they settled, Payton leaned forward. “So. Now that Romeo is back, we should get the gang together for dinner tonight.”

Milo smirked but shook his head. “We can do that tomorrow.”

Payton raised an eyebrow. “Tomorrow?”

Milo turned to Aurora, his expression softening. “I already made plans for me and Bug.”

Aurora blinked. “You did?”

Milo nodded. “Figured you deserved a little one-on-one time after all that suffering without me.”

Aurora scoffed, but her heart melted.

Payton sighed dramatically. “Ugh. Fine. I guess I’ll allow it.”

Milo chuckled, turning back to Aurora. “Sound good?”

She smiled, squeezing his hand.

“Sounds perfect.”

Aurora barely noticed anything around her. She still couldn’t believe he was here. Every time she looked at him, her heart did this stupid little flip in her chest, like it was trying to remind her that, yes, Milo was actually sitting right next to her.

“You lied to me,” Aurora suddenly said, narrowing her eyes at him.

Milo turned to her, feigning innocence. “Huh?”

She crossed her arms. “On the phone this morning! You told me you had a meeting and a whole schedule today.”

Milo chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “I did have a schedule. It just involved getting on a plane and surprising you.”

Aurora huffed, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. “You lied to me, Milo.”

He leaned closer, voice dropping just slightly. “I’m sorry, pretty. Couldn’t ruin the surprise.”

Aurora’s stomach fluttered at the way he said it—soft and teasing, like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Payton groaned, interrupting the moment. “Okay, as cute as this is, I need more details. How long are you back?”

“A couple weeks,” Milo answered, reaching for his coffee. “Then I have to go back to New York for a bit.”

Aurora frowned slightly. “So it’s not for good?”

Milo glanced at her, something soft flickering behind his eyes. “Not yet.”

Aurora nodded, trying not to let that disappoint her.

“Anyway,” Payton said, smirking. “You two go have your little romantic dinner. I’ll go cry into my ice cream or something.”

Aurora laughed, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic.”

“Oh, I wonder who I got that from,” Payton said, staring directly at Milo.

Milo just grinned.

Aurora rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling when she and Milo finally left the café, hand in hand, walking back toward her apartment.

As soon as they stepped into her apartment, Aurora kicked off her shoes and turned to Milo, still high off the fact that he was actually here.

“I can’t believe you did this,” she murmured, leaning against the counter. “You actually flew back early.”

Milo smirked, stepping closer. “What, you thought I was gonna leave you suffering for weeks?”

“I was handling it.”

“You were struggling.”

Aurora scoffed, but before she could argue, Milo reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She froze.

The room felt smaller somehow.

His eyes flickered to hers, amusement melting into something warmer, something quieter.

Milo smiled. “Get ready, Bug. I’m taking you out.”

Aurora blinked. “Out?”

“Dinner,” he confirmed. “Just us.”

Aurora tried not to look too flustered as she pushed off the counter. “Give me thirty minutes.”

He chuckled. “Take your time, pretty.”

Aurora turned quickly before he could see how flustered she actually was.

Milo had taken her to a small, candlelit restaurant just outside their neighborhood. It wasn’t fancy, but it was perfect—dim lighting, quiet conversation, just the right amount of privacy.

The second they sat down, Milo leaned on his hand and grinned at her.

“What?” Aurora asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You look really pretty.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, even as warmth spread across her chest. “You saw me an hour ago.”

“Yeah, and I thought it then too,” Milo teased.

She picked up her menu, trying to ignore the fact that he was watching her instead of reading his own.

“Milo,” she warned.

“Yes, Bug?”

Aurora fought a smile. “Pick something to eat.”

“Already did,” he said easily. “I’m focused on more important things now.”

She peeked over her menu. “Oh yeah? Like what?”

Milo leaned closer. “You.”

Aurora’s breath caught as she rolled her eyes at his playfulness.

The restaurant had a cozy, intimate atmosphere—dim lights casting a golden glow over the wooden tables, the sound of quiet laughter and soft music filling the space. It wasn’t a fancy spot, but it felt warm, familiar. Like the kind of place you’d go to when you just wanted to enjoy good food and good company.

Aurora leaned her elbow on the table, watching as Milo scanned the menu, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.

“You’re taking this very seriously,” she teased, sipping her water.

Milo didn’t even look up. “It’s a big decision.”

She smirked. “You’re getting a burger, aren’t you?”

Milo huffed. “You don’t know me.”

Aurora raised an eyebrow.

He finally glanced up, giving her a lazy grin. “Fine. Maybe I was considering the burger.”

Aurora laughed, setting her menu down. “I knew it.”

“You’re so smug,” Milo groaned, shaking his head.

“I deserve to be.”

The waitress came by a few minutes later, taking their orders—Milo did get the burger, and Aurora went for pasta, because she was still deeply obsessed with the truffle ravioli she’d had here months ago.

As soon as they were alone again, Milo leaned on the table, chin resting in his palm.

“So,” he started, eyes twinkling. “How’s life been without me?”

Aurora scoffed. “Oh, you mean my tragic existence? Barely survived.”

Milo smirked. “I knew it.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve been gone for weeks, Mi.”

“That’s a long time.”

Aurora raised a brow. “You act like we didn’t FaceTime every day.”

Milo grinned. “Still wasn’t the same.”

Aurora felt something warm settle in her chest but quickly covered it with an exaggerated dramatic sigh. “Okay, fine. I guess I missed you.”

Milo gasped. “You guess?”

Aurora smirked. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“Too late.”

She shook her head, laughing as their food arrived.

They ate while catching up—Milo told her about the chaos of filming, including an ill-advised handstand competition that ended with him falling straight on his face.

“I thought I had it,” he defended between bites of his burger.

Aurora was still laughing. “Milo, you don’t do handstands.”

“I know that now.”

Aurora wiped at her eyes. “I swear, it’s my new favourite video.”

Milo smirked. “Oh, don’t worry. Plenty more where that came from.”

“I can’t wait.”

Milo chuckled, then glanced at her plate. “Done?”

Aurora sighed dramatically. “Yeah, tragically, all good things must come to an end.”

Milo shook his head, amused. “I swear.”

The waitress returned, and as Milo handed her his card, Aurora noticed something—out of the corner of her eye, near the entrance, there was a person holding up their phone, subtly angled in their direction.

Milo must have noticed too, because he smirked, whispering, “You’re about to be Twitter’s favorite topic.”

Aurora groaned. “Great.”

Milo chuckled, grabbing his receipt. “Hope they got my good side.”

Aurora rolled her eyes but still laughed, grabbing her coat as they headed out into the cool night air.

——

Aurora woke to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. She blinked against the brightness, groaning as she fumbled for the phone, eyes still bleary. A dozen notifications were lighting up the lock screen—texts, Twitter mentions, tags from friends.

She sat up slowly, blanket still wrapped around her like a cocoon, and unlocked her phone.

First text was from Sarah:

“UM. YOU AND MILO. TWITTER. PLEASE EXPLAIN???”

Then Rainbow:

“Bug. You’re trending. Also, you look great in that lighting.”

Aurora furrowed her brows, heart doing a weird little skip.

Trending?

She tapped into Twitter, and there it was—front and center on the For You page:

“Milo Manheim and Aurora Quinn: Just best friends or something more?”

Attached to the tweet was a very clear photo of them at dinner the night before. Milo was leaned forward, that lazy half-grin on his face, and she was laughing—shoulders loose, hand reaching toward him. It definitely didn’t look like a platonic conversation, especially with the soft lighting and the way they were gazing at each other.

Aurora’s stomach flipped.

The tweet had over 30k likes. The quote tweets were unhinged.

“ok but if they’re not in love, then I’m throwing my phone in the ocean.”

“they have golden retriever & sunshine girl energy. don’t fight me on this.”

“i’ve never wanted to be a third wheel more in my life.”

“his whole face softens when he looks at her. i’m fine. really.”

Aurora dropped the phone onto her lap, dragging a hand down her face. “Oh no.”

As if on cue, a knock came at the door—sharp, familiar.

She shuffled out of bed, still wrapped in her blanket, and opened the door to find Milo standing there with two coffees in one hand and Lou’s leash in the other.

His grin was too smug. “Morning, Bug.”

Aurora narrowed her eyes. “Don’t even start.”

Milo walked in without missing a beat, Lou happily trotting after him and making himself at home on Aurora’s rug like he hadn’t been there in months.

“So…” he said, settling on the couch, “you seen it?”

Aurora grabbed one of the coffees from his hand and flopped down beside him. “Unfortunately.”

Milo wiggled his brows. “We’re famous.”

“You mean infamous.”

“Semantics.”

Aurora sipped her coffee, then gave him a side glance. “You’re way to smug about this ”

Milo feigned innocence. “What? All I did was take you out to dinner?”

She stared at him.

Aurora groaned and buried her face in a throw pillow. “I hate you.”

Milo laughed, leaning back. “No you don’t.”

She peeked up at him. “You’re not even worried about it?”

Milo shrugged, sipping his coffee. “Why would I be? Let them speculate. It’s kinda fun.”

Aurora gave him a look. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

He smirked. “It’s not every day Twitter calls us the main characters.”

“I swear, if I get tagged in one more edit with Taylor Swift music—”

Milo pulled out his phone. “Oh, wait! Look at this one.”

He handed it over. Aurora reluctantly looked.

Someone had edited clips of them from press tours, red carpets, interviews, and now the dinner photo—with a voiceover saying “He always looked at her like she was the sun.”

Aurora blinked. “Oh my god.”

Milo was howling laughing. “You’re the sun, Bug!”

“Stop.”

“No, wait, here’s another one—someone did a slow-motion montage of you running into my arms in season one with Lana Del Rey in the background.”

Aurora groaned again, falling back into the cushions. “This is my villain origin story.”

Lou placed his paw on Aurora’s shin and sighed in sympathy.

“See? Lou understands,” Aurora mumbled.

Milo grinned and leaned back beside her. “You gotta admit… it’s kinda cute.”

Aurora turned her head to look at him. “Okay. Fine. A little bit.”

Milo bumped her shoulder with his. “Knew you’d cave.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their coffee, scrolling the increasingly chaotic threads.

One tweet read:

“If they don’t soft-launch this relationship, I’m starting a petition.”

Another:

“They live in the same building and think we don’t know? Bestie, please.”

Aurora tilted her head, smiling despite herself. “They know we live in the same building?.”

Milo laughed. “It’s kinda scary.”

“You think Payton’s seen it?”

“I know she has. She sent me three memes already.”

Aurora shook her head. “We’re never gonna live this down.”

Milo leaned back, arm draped along the back of the couch, casual and warm. “We might as well enjoy it. We are pretty great together.”

Aurora shot him a look. “Platonically, remember?”

Milo raised his cup in mock toast. “Platonically adorable.”

She rolled her eyes, but the laugh that escaped gave her away.

Aurora: Just got out of my meeting. I think I might actually die.

She tossed her bag onto the passenger seat and slid into the car, tapping her fingers anxiously against the steering wheel. Within seconds, her phone buzzed.

Milo: Okay, dramatic. Did they yell at you? Did they tell you that you’re actually awful and should quit acting forever?

Aurora rolled her eyes, but she smiled.

Aurora: No, dumbass. It was actually really good. I might have an audition for that movie I told you about.

The typing bubble appeared immediately.

Milo: NO WAY

Milo: BUG THAT’S HUGE

Milo: Proud of you :’)

Aurora bit her lip, warmth blooming in her chest.

Aurora: I don’t even have it yet, calm down.

Milo: Nah. Already manifesting it for you.

She shook her head, still smiling.

Aurora: I’m going to Nick’s now, but I’ll call you later, okay?

Milo: You better.

Her phone buzzed again just as she started the car.

Milo: Manifesting so hard rn

She rolled her eyes, laughing to herself as she pulled out onto the road.

By the time she pulled up to Nick’s apartment, she barely had a chance to knock before the door flew open.

“BUG!

Aurora barely had time to react before Rainbow launched herself at her, squeezing her so tight she could barely breathe.

“Jesus,” Aurora wheezed, laughing. “Missed me that much?”

Rainbow pulled back, dramatically placing both hands on her cheeks. “You’ve been gone for so long.”

Aurora snorted. “It’s been a week.”

“Exactly. A week too long.”

Nick leaned against the doorway, smirking.

“Are you guys done being weird, or should I come back later?” Aurora grinned, stepping inside and immediately wrapping him in a hug. “Missed you too, losers. ”

Nick patted her back dramatically. “Our Bug has returned.”

She rolled her eyes, kicking off her shoes as she followed them into the living room. The coffee table was already covered in snacks, a few bottles of wine open, and blankets draped across the couch.

“So,” Rainbow said, flopping onto the couch and pouring them each a glass of wine. “What’s the first thing we’re talking about?”

Nick smirked. “I have a topic.”

Aurora groaned. “Oh god.”

Nick ignored her, turning to Rainbow. “Did I tell you what happened to Spencer on set that last day?”

Rainbow’s eyes lit up. “No! What happened?”

Aurora sipped her wine, trying not to laugh as Nick launched into the story.

“So, Spencer was running late, right? And you know how he’s insanely organized? Well, apparently, he thought he had his script in his bag, but when he got to set, he realized he did not.”

Rainbow gasped. “No. Spencer? Forgetting something?”

“Exactly!” Nick said. “So now, he’s panicking, right? And guess who he calls?”

Aurora grinned.

“Milo.”

“Of course,” Nick confirmed. “And Milo, being Milo, doesn’t answer any of his calls. So Spencer starts losing it, running around set like a madman—”

Rainbow was already wheezing with laughter. “Oh my god.”

“—and then finally,” Nick continued, “he finds Milo, just casually drinking his coffee like nothing is wrong, and Spencer’s like, ‘Where is my script?!’ And Milo just goes—”

Nick paused for dramatic effect, then mimicked Milo’s voice perfectly.

“‘Oh, that? Yeah, I took it out of your bag this morning because I needed something to put under my coffee so it wouldn’t stain my table.’”

Aurora and Rainbow lost it.

“Oh my god,” Aurora wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes.

“He ruined Spencer’s script!” Nick said, grinning. “It had coffee stains everywhere.”

Rainbow clutched her stomach. “I cannot believe you guys survived press with him.”

Aurora’s laughter died down slightly, but something in her chest twisted at the mention of Milo.

Nick noticed immediately.

Rainbow, too.

They exchanged a look before Rainbow leaned in, her voice softer. “Okay. You have to tell us what’s going on with you and Milo.”

Aurora’s stomach flipped. “What?”

Nick crossed his arms. “Don’t play dumb. You froze when we mentioned him.”

Aurora exhaled, sinking back into the couch. “…I miss him, okay?”

Rainbow’s expression softened. “Oh, Bug.

Nick nudged her foot with his. “Have you guys talked?”

Aurora nodded. “Yeah. All the time. But it’s not the same.”

Rainbow smiled gently. “Maybe you should tell him that.”

Aurora didn’t respond.

She wasn’t sure she could.

“He’s busy. I don’t want him worrying about me. You know how he gets.” She said her chest tightening

“He cares about you bug, I’ve never seen that man drop anything as quick as when you need him for something.” Aurora smiled softly

“Yeah like Remeber that time when he was mid conversation with Kristen about changing something for a scene and you text him telling him that you needed his car keys because you left your lip balm in there?” Nick began as he topped her glass up

“Yeah.” Aurora whispered

“Literally mid conversation, without a word he ran to his car to get it for you… and when we asked him about it he just said Bug needed me.” Nick continued doing his Milo impression once again

“He’d of done that for any of you.” Aurora tried to deflect

“Like hell he would! Don’t get me wrong he’d incredibly thoughtful but that boy literally came to your apartment every morning with Lou to make sure you were awake and had eaten!” Rainbow smiled

“Okay maybe you’re right.”

“We are!” They both said in unison

Later that night, after she’d been home for a few hours, her phone rang.

Her heart jumped.

Milo.

She grabbed it immediately, pressing it to her ear.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

There was a pause, then—

“I miss you,” Milo admitted. “It’s weird not having you here.”

Aurora let out a slow breath, closing her eyes.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I miss you too.”

A beat of silence.

Then—

“You wanna FaceTime, wanna see your face.”

Aurora smiled. “Yeah.”

A second later, the screen flickered, and there he was—lying on his bed, hair a mess, hoodie slightly askew

“You look awful,” Aurora teased, getting comfortable.

Milo scoffed. “Rude. I was gonna say you look cute, but never mind.”

She grinned, but her cheeks burned anyway

“Shut it dummy!” She whispered

“About you? Never!”

For the next hour, they talked about everything and nothing.

Milo told her about filming, the cast, how he’d tripped over yet another cable. Aurora told him about her meeting, her wine night, how much she missed everyone.

At some point, he shifted, the screen tilting—

And suddenly, Lou, his dog, was on the screen.

Aurora gasped. “LOU!”

Milo groaned. “Oh, great.”

She cooed at the dog. “Hi, baby! I missed you so much!”

“Aren’t you just the cutest boy ever?”

“Yes you are.”

“Look at you!”

“Okay, enough,” Milo said, moving the camera back to himself. “I called you. I want attention.”

Aurora laughed. “Fine, needy.”

He smirked. “Damn right.”

“So,” she said, adjusting her pillow. “When are you actually coming back home?”

Milo hummed, glancing up in thought.

“Couple more weeks, I think? Depends on how fast we wrap everything.”

Aurora groaned dramatically. “That’s so long.”

Milo smirked. “Miss me that much?”

She rolled her eyes. “I hate you.”

“No, you miss me.”

“Same thing.”

Milo chuckled, resting his cheek against his arm. “Alright, when I do get back, what’s the first thing we’re doing?”

Aurora grinned. “Ooooh, planning mode activated.”

Milo laughed. “Oh no, what have I done?”

“Okay, first,” Aurora started, “we’re getting coffee. Obviously.”

Milo nodded. “Duh.”

“Then, we’re going straight to Spencer’s apartment and bothering him all day.”

“Classic.”

“Then,” Aurora continued, “we need a proper movie night, because I know you haven’t been keeping up with our list.”

Milo gasped. “Excuse me?!”

Aurora raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you have watched the movies I told you to?”

“…No.”

“Exactly.”

Milo sighed dramatically. “Fine. Movie night. But you know I’m picking the snacks.”

Aurora groaned. “Which means you’re gonna eat everything I buy and then act like you didn’t.”

Milo grinned. “Correct.”

She shook her head, laughing.

“Oh! And you still have to show me all those behind-the-scenes videos you promised,” she added.

Milo’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god. Bug. I have so many.”

Aurora smiled. “Like what?”

Milo grabbed his phone, scrolling through it for a second before snorting. “Okay, so—there was this one day where we had a lot of downtime between scenes, and someone had the genius idea to start a handstand competition.”

Aurora grinned. “No way.”

“Oh, it gets worse,” Milo said, already laughing at the memory. “I was convinced I could do it.”

Aurora gasped. “Milo.”

“I swear I almost had it!” he defended. “Like, I was up for three seconds—and then…”

He trailed off, eyes gleaming with mischief as he sent her a video.

Aurora opened it immediately.

The camera was shaky, people laughing in the background as Milo kicked up into a handstand—

And then immediately toppled forward, landing directly on his head with a loud thud.

Aurora gasped. “OH MY GOD.”

Milo lost it, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. “Did you hear how loud that was?!”

“YES,” Aurora shrieked. “Are you okay?!?”

Milo was still laughing. “I was fine! But the director was watching, and he literally made me sit down for ten minutes to make sure I wasn’t concussed.”

Aurora was still clutching her chest. “Milo. I swear—one day, I’m gonna get a text saying you’ve broken everything.”

Milo grinned. “Nah. I’m invincible.”

Aurora scoffed. “Not from your own stupidity.”

Milo gasped dramatically. “Wow.”

She rolled her eyes but was still smiling.

“You’re gonna love the rest of the videos,” Milo promised. “There’s one of Addison falling off her chair mid-interview, and I got one of Ty straight-up sleeping on set.”

Aurora giggled. “Oh, I need to see those.”

Milo smirked. “Oh, trust me. I’m saving everything for when I’m back.”

Aurora sighed, sinking further into her pillow. “You better be back soon.”

Milo’s expression softened. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Miss you too.”

They fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, just existing together through the screen.

Aurora shifted onto her side, phone propped up against her pillow as she watched Milo through the screen. He was still lying on his stomach, hoodie slightly falling off one shoulder, his hair sticking up in every direction like he’d been running his hands through it all day.

“You’re exhausted,” she pointed out.

Milo scoffed. “And you’re not?”

Aurora shrugged. “Nope.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Liar.”

She grinned but didn’t deny it. Instead, she stretched, letting out a small hum before settling deeper into her blankets.

The room was dimly lit, her fairy lights casting a soft glow against the walls, and even through the screen, it felt like Milo was right there with her.

He sighed, rolling onto his back, staring up at the ceiling for a moment.

“I hate being away from home,” he admitted.

Aurora frowned. “You’ve been traveling for months, though.”

“I know,” he said, turning back toward the camera. “But it’s different now. Like, I love filming, but I’m used to going home to you guys after. It doesn’t feel the same without everyone.”

Aurora’s chest tightened. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I get that.”

Milo studied her for a moment. “You’ve been okay, though? Like, really?”

She hesitated, then sighed. “I mean… I have been busy, so I haven’t had much time to think about it.”

Milo gave her a look. “Bug.”

She groaned. “Okay, fine—I hate it, alright? It sucks. I miss you. I miss everyone.”

Milo smirked. “See? That wasn’t so hard to admit.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her chest at how easy this always was with him.

“Well,” Milo said, voice softer now, “when I get back, we’re doing everything on our list.”

Aurora perked up. “Oh! Speaking of our list—” She reached for her phone, quickly typing something. “—I added something very important.”

Milo narrowed his eyes. “Oh god. What is it?”

She smirked. “We’re having a baking competition.”

Milo blinked. “Bug. I cannot bake.”

Aurora grinned. “Exactly.”

Milo groaned. “You just want an excuse to make fun of me.”

“Correct.”

He sighed dramatically. “Fine. But if I burn my kitchen down, that’s on you.”

Aurora giggled. “Deal.”

They kept talking, conversation drifting between the most random topics—what color Milo should dye his hair next (“Absolutely not,” she’d said when he suggested red), which of their friends would survive in a zombie apocalypse (“Spencer would have a full plan, Nick would be too reckless, and Rainbow would just scream the whole time”), and if a hotdog was technically a sandwich (“Milo, no”).

Eventually, the conversation slowed. The weight of the day started to settle in, and Aurora found herself sinking deeper into her pillows, eyes fluttering shut despite her stubborn insistence that she wasn’t tired.

Milo must’ve noticed because his voice was softer when he spoke again.

“Alright, Bug. You need to sleep.”

Aurora hummed, fighting a yawn.

“Nope.”

Milo chuckled. “You’re literally falling asleep right now.”

“Shhh,” she mumbled.

Milo smirked. “Fine. I’ll just keep talking until you pass out.”

Aurora barely had time to process his words before his voice softened again.

“Hey,” he murmured.

She hummed.

“I know we joke around a lot, but… I really am proud of you,” he said. “Like, so proud of you. And I know you’re nervous about everything, but I promise—you’re gonna do amazing.”

Aurora’s heart squeezed.

“…Thank you, Mi.”

“Always.”

There was a pause, and then—

“…Goodnight, Bug.”

Aurora smiled sleepily.

“Night, Mi.”

“You’re staring, Bug.”

Aurora scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You wish I was staring.”

Milo smirked. “Oh, so you’re just admiring me then? Got it.”

Aurora reached over, shoving his shoulder. “Shut up.”

Milo just laughed, shifting slightly so that he was propped up on one elbow, his face still entirely too close to hers. His gaze softened as he looked at her, his teasing fading into something more sincere.

“I know I joke around a lot, Bug,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. “But… having you in my life has been the best thing. Just being around you makes my day better.”

Aurora felt her breath catch in her throat.

Milo wasn’t looking away, wasn’t laughing it off or making some sarcastic remark to lighten the moment. He just let the words hang between them, unguarded, completely sincere.

She swallowed, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of the blanket. “You’re really sweet when you want to be.”

Milo smirked. “Only for you.”

Aurora rolled her eyes, but there was no stopping the warmth that spread through her chest.

Silence settled between them again, but this time, it wasn’t awkward. It was… comfortable. His face was still close—closer than it probably should’ve been—but neither of them moved.

Milo exhaled, shifting slightly so his fingers brushed against hers under the blanket. “It’s weird,” he murmured. “This is our last morning like this.”

Aurora blinked. “Like this?”

Milo smirked slightly but didn’t pull away. “Just… together. Hanging out. No interviews, no press schedules. Just us.”

She bit her lip, looking down. “Yeah… not seeing you 24/7 is gonna be strange.”

Milo’s voice softened. “Not being with you every day is going to be weird.”

Aurora didn’t know how to respond to that, so she didn’t. Instead, she just held his gaze, wondering why her heart was suddenly beating way too fast.

Before she could overthink it, the door to the room swung open.

“There you are!” Peyton’s voice rang through the quiet space. “I brought coffee!”

Milo groaned dramatically, flopping onto his back. “So close to having a moment.”

Aurora laughed, sitting up slightly as Peyton bounced onto the bed, handing each of them a coffee. “You guys were having a moment? Damn it, I always miss the good stuff.”

Milo sat up, taking a long sip of his coffee before sighing. “It’s weird to think that in six hours, we’ll all be heading home.”

Aurora exhaled. “Yeah… not being with you guys every day is going to be weird.”

Peyton pouted. “I hate that we’re all splitting up again.”

Milo turned to Aurora, nudging her knee with his. “I really hate that you’re not gonna be down the hall from me anymore. Having to walk past your apartment and not say hi to your Ring doorbell? Tragic.”

Aurora grinned, shaking her head. “Oh, Mi! You’re breaking my heart,” she teased in an overly dramatic voice, clutching her chest.

Milo groaned. “That’s my line.”

Peyton grinned between them, watching the way their eyes lingered on each other. She didn’t say anything, just sipped her coffee and let them have their moment.

Hours passed too quickly, and before Aurora knew it, they were all standing in the airport terminal, waiting for their separate flights.

Milo was heading to New York. Aurora was going back to LA.

She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest.

Milo slung his bag over his shoulder, stepping closer to her. “So… this is it.”

Aurora forced a smile. “For now.”

His eyes searched hers for a moment, something unreadable in them before he reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. She melted into it, her arms winding around his waist as he held her close.

“I’m really gonna miss you, Mi,” she whispered against his shoulder.

Milo sighed, his hand gently rubbing her back. “Gonna miss you too, Bug.”

They lingered for a moment, neither wanting to be the first to pull away. But then his flight was called, and Aurora felt the inevitable reality settle in.

Milo hesitated before stepping back, giving her a small, soft smile. “Text me when you land?”

She nodded. “You better do the same.”

Milo squeezed her hand once before finally letting go. “See you soon, Bug.”

Aurora watched as he disappeared toward his gate, a strange ache settling in her chest.

Coming home felt… off.

Aurora stood in the hallway of her apartment building, her suitcase in one hand, her keys in the other. She glanced toward the door down the hall—the one that should’ve had Milo behind it.

But it didn’t.

For the past few weeks, it had been normal to hear his voice echoing down the hall, to see him waiting by the elevator in the morning with a smirk and a stupid joke, or to have him knock on her door just because he was bored.

Now, there was nothing but silence.

She sighed, pushing open her door and stepping inside. The second the door shut behind her, the emptiness of her apartment hit her all at once.

No overflowing suitcases in the corner from a month-long press tour. No pile of random clothes from running into her room to change between interviews. No lingering scent of the hotel lobby candles that had somehow stuck to her sweater.

Just stillness.

She pulled out her phone, sinking onto the couch as she typed out a quick message.

Aurora: Made it home.

She stared at the screen, waiting for the three dots to appear.

A few seconds later, her phone buzzed.

Milo: Good. Now your Ring doorbell is gonna miss me.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips despite the ache in her chest.

Aurora: You should’ve taken a picture before you left. Immortalized your last hallway visit.

Milo: I did. It’s my new lock screen.

She snorted, shaking her head.

For the next few minutes, they went back and forth, the conversation light, playful—just like always. But eventually, the replies slowed.

She knew why.

She had meetings lined up for the rest of the day. He had filming to get to. Life was creeping back in, pulling them into different time zones, different routines.

Aurora set her phone down on the couch beside her, exhaling as she leaned her head back against the cushions.

She knew they’d see each other again soon. That’s how it always worked.

But something about this time felt different.

She hadn’t let herself dwell on it before, but now, in the quiet of her apartment, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that had settled deep in her chest.

It wasn’t just that she missed the group.

It wasn’t just that she missed having him down the hall.

It was him.

His dumb jokes. The way he always had to be touching her in some small way, whether it was a nudge, a hand on her back, or his fingers brushing against hers. The way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.

The way he’d held her just a little tighter at the airport.

Aurora closed her eyes, pressing her fingers against her temples.

She was not going to overthink this.

She had things to do. Responsibilities. The last thing she needed was to let herself spiral into feelings she wasn’t even sure she was ready to name.

Her phone buzzed again.

She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name.

Milo: Hey. You’re not allowed to miss me too much, okay?

She bit her lip, shaking her head.

Aurora: No promises.

She could practically hear his groan through the phone.

Milo: Great. Now I’m gonna have to fly back just to make sure you’re not too sad without me.

Aurora: Guess you’ll have to.

She hit send before she could second-guess it.

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Milo: Don’t tempt me, Bug.

Aurora stared at the message for a long moment, her stomach flipping in a way she wasn’t sure she was ready to deal with.

She knew he was joking.

“Look, Bug, if I don’t enforce some kind of schedule, these idiots will have us wandering aimlessly for hours.”

“I take offense to that,” Milo said, slinging an arm around Spencer’s shoulder. “I have great directional instincts.”

“You got lost inside a mall last week,” Sarah reminded him, adjusting the camera strap around her neck.

Milo opened his mouth, paused, then huffed. “...That mall was big.”

The group collectively laughed as they stepped outside into the crisp autumn air. The streets were already bustling—commuters rushing to work, the smell of fresh pastries wafting from nearby cafés, a street musician strumming a guitar on the sidewalk.

“Coffee first,” Kiara announced, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. “Bug gets cranky without caffeine.”

“I do not,” Aurora argued.

Kristian and Rainbow exchanged looks. “You definitely do.”

Aurora huffed. “You guys are the worst.”

Milo grinned, bumping her shoulder. “Aw, we tease ‘cause we love you, Bug.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get coffee before I start throwing hands.”

The café was warm and inviting, the scent of espresso filling the air. The group lined up at the counter, chatting casually. Aurora was already reaching for her phone to place her usual order— But before she could, Milo smoothly stepped forward.

“Medium iced vanilla latte, extra shot of espresso,” he said without hesitation, then gestured toward himself. “And a black coffee, two sugars.”

Aurora blinked.

The group immediately turned to look at her.

Kiara raised an eyebrow. “He didn’t even ask you.”

Milo just smirked. “Didn’t have to.”

Aurora stared at him, a mix of amusement and suspicion. “Have I become that predictable?”

Milo turned toward her, his smirk deepening. “Not predictable, Bug. I just pay attention.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Creepy.”

Milo chuckled, handing her the drink when it was ready. “You love me.”

Aurora took a slow, deliberate sip of her coffee. “Again Mi, the Jury’s still out.”

Spencer groaned. “You two flirt so much.”

“We’ve been saying this!” Sarah laughed

“We are not flirting,” Aurora and Milo said in unison.

The entire group rolled their eyes.

Fueled by caffeine, the group ventured into the city, stopping in every store that caught their interest.

The first stop was the thrift store Aurora and Kiara immediately made it their mission to find the ugliest sweaters possible.

“This one is atrocious,” Kiara announced, holding up a bright orange knit monstrosity with dancing reindeer.

Aurora cackled. “Milo. Try this on.”

Milo eyed the sweater warily. “That looks like something my grandma would force me to wear.”

“Exactly,” Aurora grinned, tossing it at him.

Meanwhile, Nick and Spencer were in a heated debate over a bedazzled jean jacket.

“You cannot pull this off,” Nick argued.

Spencer deadpanned. “I have kids to think about.”

“You don’t have kids.”

“You don’t know that.”

The Next stop a record store.

Sarah, ever the photographer, was snapping photos of everyone.

She caught Milo flipping through vinyl, Peyton balancing a ridiculous stack of albums, and Rainbow dramatically posing next to an old jukebox.

Aurora found a vintage Fleetwood Mac record, running her fingers over the worn cover.

Milo peered over her shoulder. “Classic Bug. Old soul.”

Aurora smirked. “I like good music, sue me.”

Sarah snapped a candid shot of them before Aurora could protest.

And then—

Sephora.

Milo groaned the second Aurora grabbed his wrist.

“No. Nope. Absolutely not.”

“Oh, yes,” Aurora said, already dragging him inside.

The others followed, highly entertained.

“You’re so dramatic,” Aurora teased, leading him toward the makeup displays.

Milo sighed. “I do not belong here.”

Aurora grinned. “Oh, you do now.”

Before he could protest, she grabbed his hand and flipped it palm-up, swiping a deep red lipstick across the back.

Milo just stared. “Did you just—”

“Yep.”

“Unbelievable.” Still, he didn’t pull away as she tested a few more shades

“You know they have paper swatches for this, right?”

She shrugged “where’s the fun in that?”

Milo smirked “so you just wanted an excuse to hold my hand?”

Aurora paused, Narrowing her eyes “do you ever stop?”

He grinned. “Not when it comes to you.”

“You’re so annoying.”

“It’s okay I know your game, Bug.” She rolled her eyes fighting the urge to shove him.

Rainbow, watching, started humming “Unwritten”.

Milo immediately joined in. “FEEL THE RAIN ON YOUR SKIN—”

Spencer groaned. “I swear to god, you two—”

It only got worse from there.

Milo and Rainbow started singing everything anyone said that reminded them of a song.

At one point, Peyton said, “We should grab a drink after this,” and Milo immediately launched into “bartender” by akon

By the time they left, Milo’s hand was covered in makeup swatches, and Spencer looked one second away from putting them all in time-out.

A small group of fans spotted them on the street.

“Milo! Aurora!”

Milo lit up immediately, turning toward them with a grin. “Hey, guys!”Aurora stepped back, watching as he immediately pulled them in for hugs.

“You guys having a good day?” he asked, voice warm and familiar, like he knew them.

A girl in a lavender sweater beamed. “This just made it way better.”

“D’awww,” Milo cooed, ruffling her hair. “You guys are too sweet.”

Aurora watched as he took selfies, signed things, and—of course—kissed one girl on the cheek, making her squeal.

Aurora shook her head. “You’re so ridiculous.”

Milo turned to her, still grinning. “Hey, don’t be jealous, Bug.”

One of the fans giggled. “You guys are such cute friends.”

Milo smirked. “Hear that? We’re cute.”

Aurora groaned. “Come on, Loverboy.”

After hours of wandering through thrift shops, record stores, and makeup aisles, the group found themselves standing at a crosswalk, the neon lights of the city casting a warm glow over them.

“I refuse to let this day end without a drink,” Nick declared, stretching his arms over his head. “We deserve a little celebration.”

Spencer checked his watch. “One drink. Then we all get some actual sleep.”

Milo smirked. “Look at you, Dad Mode activated.”

Spencer just rolled his eyes. “Someone has to be responsible.”

“Do they?” Peyton teased.

Sarah nudged Aurora. “What do you say, Bug? One drink?”

Aurora, still buzzing from the day, grinned. “Let’s do it.”

They ended up in a cozy little bar tucked between two towering buildings, the kind of place that wasn’t too loud but still had a steady hum of conversation and low music playing in the background. Edison bulbs hung from the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the dark wooden bar top.

Milo leaned against the counter, flashing the bartender his usual easygoing smile. “Alright, what’s everyone having?”

Orders started flying in—Spencer with his standard whiskey neat, Rainbow with a fruity cocktail, Kiara and Kristian opting for classic gin and tonics.

When it got to Aurora, she barely had time to open her mouth before Milo spoke up.

“She’ll have a spiced rum and coke.”

Aurora blinked. “Okay, seriously, how do you just know these things?”

Milo gave her a lazy grin. “Like I said earlier—I pay attention.”

Kiara smirked. “That’s a little suspicious.”

Milo winked at Aurora. “Maybe I’m just invested in Bug’s well-being.”

Aurora groaned. “You’re insufferable.”

Milo lifted his glass. “And yet, you’re still here.”

Nick raised his drink. “Alright, to chaotic friendships, successful press tours, and not getting lost in a mall again.” Milo pointedly avoided eye contact. Glasses clinked, and for a moment, everything just felt easy. No cameras, no schedules—just them, laughing, reminiscing, and enjoying the simple comfort of being together.

At some point, Aurora and Peyton got distracted by a dog sitting outside the window.

“Oh my god,” Payton gasped. “That puppy is so cute.”

Aurora practically melted against the bar. “Look at his little face.”

Kristian sighed. “That’s it. We’re never leaving.”

Meanwhile, Milo and Rainbow were still turning every casual statement into a song.

Spencer, exhausted, pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you two sing one more time—”

Rainbow smirked. “Oh no, guys, Spencer’s mad.”

Milo, without missing a beat, started singing “Mad” by Ne-Yo.

“So both of us are Mad for nothing!” He sung

Spencer groaned.

By the time they finished their drinks, the group was just tipsy enough to be giggly but not enough to make getting back to the hotel a struggle.

Milo, ever the gentleman (or so he claimed), offered Aurora his arm as they stepped out into the chilly night air.

“Shall we, Bug?”

Aurora rolled her eyes but took it anyway. “You are so dramatic.”

Milo grinned. “And yet, we’re still best friends.”

She didn’t respond.

But she also didn’t let go.

Back at the hotel, the group split off to their respective rooms, exhausted but still buzzing from the day. Aurora sighed, kicking off her shoes as she stepped into her room, only to hear a knock at her door before she even had a chance to sit down.

She didn’t even have to ask who it was.

With a knowing smirk, she swung the door open. “Couldn’t survive five minutes without me?”

Milo leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, that familiar grin tugging at his lips. “Busted. What can I say? I need my daily dose of Bug time.”

Aurora rolled her eyes still took his hand to head to his room knowing he’d drag her there at some point eventually.

“Also,” he added, flopping down dramatically onto his bed, “I figured we should probably eat before we pass out. What’s the move? Room service or takeout?”

Aurora stretched, glancing at the bedside clock. “Room service takes forever. Takeout?”

Milo pulled out his phone, already scrolling. “Okay, what are we feeling? Pizza? Sushi? Burgers?”

Aurora flopped onto the bed beside him, peering at his screen. “Mmm… Chinese?”

Milo smirked. “You always go for Chinese.”

“Because it’s elite.”

Milo chuckled. “Fine, fine. What’s your order?”

Aurora didn’t even get a chance to answer before Milo tapped on the screen.

“Sesame chicken, extra sauce, fried rice, and an egg roll.”

She blinked. “Okay, you seriously need to stop memorizing my orders.”

Milo just wiggled his eyebrows. “Admit it. You’re impressed.”

Aurora grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. “Creeped out is more like it.”

Milo laughed, shielding himself. “Hey! It’s not creepy! I just pay attention.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Aurora muttered, but she was smiling.

They finished ordering, and while they waited, Milo rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow.

“So. Highlight of the day?”

Aurora thought for a moment. “Probably taking you into Sephora and using your hand as a makeup palette. That was very satisfying.”

Milo held up his hand, which still had faint traces of swatches. “You ruined me.”

“Oh, please. You liked it.”

Milo smirked. “I liked you holding my hand, sure.”

Aurora groaned, shoving his face away. “You cannot be serious this late at night.”

Milo just grinned. “What about you? Favorite moment?

Milo exhaled, staring up at the ceiling for a second. Then he looked at her, softer this time. “Honestly? Probably when we met those fans. I love how excited they get. Makes all the crazy stuff worth it.”

Aurora smiled. “You are kind of a golden retriever when it comes to them.”

Milo scoffed. “Excuse me?”

“You just—” Aurora gestured vaguely at him. “You love people. Like, really love them. You go all in, full hugs, cheek kisses, the whole thing. It’s kinda cute.”

Milo wiggled his brows. “You think I’m cute?”

Aurora groaned. “I walked into that one.”

He chuckled, nudging her shoulder. “You make it too easy, Bug.”

“And yes Mi, you’re cute.”

Before he could retaliate, a knock sounded at the door.

Milo hopped up. “Food’s here!”

He grabbed the bags from the delivery guy and plopped back onto the bed, setting the containers between them.

They dug in immediately, Aurora stealing an egg roll from Milo’s container without hesitation.

Milo gasped, clutching his chest. “Betrayal.”

Aurora took a slow, exaggerated bite. “You love me anyway.”

Milo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching some random late-night TV show on the hotel screen. At some point, Aurora pulled a blanket over her lap, leaning against the headboard.

Milo nudged her knee with his. “Tired?”

Aurora yawned, stretching. “A little. It’s been a long day.”

Milo reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Wanna sleep?”

Aurora sighed. “Mmm. But I should probably get back to my room.”

Milo didn’t move, just watched her for a second before shaking his head. “Nah. Just crash here.”

Aurora hesitated, glancing at him. “You sure?”

Milo gave her a lazy grin. “Yeah, Rora. I don’t mind.”

Aurora rolled her eyes but settled deeper into the pillows.

Milo grabbed the remote, lowering the volume. “Sleep well, bug.”

And for once, she didn’t argue.

—

The soft light of morning filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Aurora’s eyes fluttered open, the warmth of the blanket surrounding her feeling comforting and familiar. She shifted slightly, but something didn’t feel quite right.

It took her a moment to realize why—there was an arm wrapped securely around her waist.

Her first instinct was to freeze. But as her mind caught up with the situation, she slowly turned her head, heart skipping a beat as she realized why she felt so secure. Milo’s face was inches from hers, his head resting on the pillow next to hers. His arm was draped over her, his body tangled up with hers in a way that should’ve felt awkward but instead felt completely natural.

Aurora's chest tightened for a moment.

But the warmth of Milo’s body next to hers was too comforting, too calming. She slowly breathed in, feeling his steady breaths against her cheek. He was sound asleep, his face relaxed, his lips barely parted in a peaceful expression that was a far cry from his usual playful, teasing grin. She felt the beat of his heart beneath her skin, their bodies still intertwined in a way that felt more intimate than anything they’d shared before.

Her breath caught, and for a long moment, Aurora just laid there, her body still, trying to process everything without waking him. She could hear the soft rhythm of his breathing, the way his arm tightened around her waist every time she shifted slightly.

She should move. She should get up and slide out of his embrace. But the way his body held onto hers so effortlessly made it hard to pull away.

There was something about waking up like this—so close, so tangled with him—that felt different. There were no cameras, no fans, no schedule looming over them. Just this quiet morning, the weight of the world momentarily gone.

Aurora tried to adjust, but as she did, Milo groaned softly in his sleep, his grip tightening around her waist instinctively. His lips brushed against her hair, a soft exhale slipping from him.

Aurora couldn’t help but smile at the softness of it all. She had never imagined waking up like this, not with Milo. They had their playful moments, their teasing banter, but this—this was different.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Milo shifted slightly, blinking sleepily as his eyes cracked open. For a brief moment, there was only silence.

Then his eyes met hers, still blurry with sleep, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Morning, Bug,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

Aurora’s breath hitched, her heart racing even though she tried to remain casual. She swallowed, a slight blush creeping up her neck. “Morning,” she replied softly.

There was a beat of silence, just the two of them in this tiny bubble of quiet. Neither one moved to pull away. Neither one seemed to want to.

Finally, Milo blinked again, his voice teasing despite the grogginess. “So… this is what it looks like when you actuallyfall asleep on me, huh?”

Aurora laughed softly, her fingers lightly grazing the back of his hand where it rested on her side. “Or maybe you just can’t stay away from me?.”

Milo smirked. “Uh-huh. Sure, Bug. Keep telling yourself that.”But his tone was soft, his thumb gently brushing across her skin.

Aurora stared at him for a moment, and she could see it—the way his eyes were a little more vulnerable than usual, the way he seemed more real, more present in a way that felt different from their usual back-and-forth.

For a moment, she felt the tension rise between them. A question hung in the air, unspoken but understood. Was this just a moment of vulnerability? A one-off slip-up, or was it something more?

But before she could say anything, Milo gently pulled her closer, as if he couldn’t help himself. He tucked his face into her hair, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Stay for a while, s’last day I’m gonna see you for at least a month,” he said, and for a fleeting moment, there was a quiet softness to him that Aurora wasn’t sure how to handle.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let herself fall into the comfort of his arms, allowing the stillness of the morning to wash over her.

Three hands pointed at Nick without hesitation.

"Oh, come on!" he groaned, throwing his hands up.

"Listen, buddy," Aurora said, grinning. "I love you, but we’ve all had to re-shoot scenes because of you."

"That one time—"

"Multiple times," Milo cut in, smirking. The group laughed as Nick shook his head in defeat.

The interviewer pulled another card. "Who's most likely to show up late to set?"

There was a brief pause before Aurora hesitantly raised her own hand, wincing playfully.

"See, I want to argue," Milo said, tilting his head, "but I can’t."

"Okay, in my defense—" Aurora started.

"There is no defense," Sarah teased. "You just suck at waking up early."

The next few questions sparked more laughter and playful accusations.

"Who's most likely to get lost in a new city?"

"Peyton," Aurora and Milo said in unison.

"Wow. Betrayal." Peyton said with her hand on her chest with fake hurt

"Who's most likely to cry during a movie?"

Aurora immediately pointed at herself, and Milo raised a hand, too.

"Wait, you cry during movies?" she asked, nudging him.

"Sometimes," he admitted. "I’m a sensitive man."

Aurora grinned. "Good to know."

The next card was read aloud. "Who's most likely to brighten everyone's day without even trying?"

Milo barely hesitated before turning toward Aurora. "Bug. No question."

The playful atmosphere shifted just slightly, the laughter dying down as Aurora blinked at him, caught off guard. "What?"

"You just…you have this way of making everything feel lighter," he said, his voice sincere. "Like, even when we're exhausted or filming a really tough scene, you always find a way to make us laugh or keep us going."

There was a collective aww from the group, and Aurora felt warmth creep up her neck. She met his eyes, offering a soft smile. "That’s really sweet."

Milo just shrugged, but there was a hint of something behind his usual easygoing expression—something almost shy.

By mid-afternoon, Aurora’s throat was dry from talking so much, and a small cough escaped her. Before she could even reach for her own drink, Milo was already holding out his water bottle.

She hesitated for just a second before taking it, their fingers brushing lightly. "Thanks."

He gave a small nod, watching as she took a sip.

“Who’s most likely to have the best playlist?”

“Mi! 100% there’s a reason why I get him to drive me home everyday from set!” Aurora said enthusiastically

“What kinda songs do you have?” The interviewer asked

“Oh I got everything! Lizzy, Sabrina, Taylor, Kendrick, the weekend all the good stuff!” Milo listed artist off as he scrolled through his playlist

“The amount of times I’ve caught these two in bugs trailer screaming cruel summer is unreal!” Peyton said as the group laughed

“Taylor is an icon we can’t help it!” Milo said holding his hand up in defence

By the time they wrapped for the day, everyone was drained. Despite that, they decided to head out for dinner together. After a full day of sightseeing with their co-stars, Aurora and Milo found themselves walking side by side, a little behind the rest of the group. The city lights shimmered above them, and the streets buzzed with life.

“You hungry?” Milo asked, glancing down at her.

Aurora gave him a look. “Milo, when am I not hungry?”

He grinned, nudging her with his shoulder. “Fair point.”

The restaurant was tucked away on a quiet street, warm and inviting, with dim lighting and the rich scent of garlic and spices filling the air. The cast had been on their feet all day—filming interviews, sightseeing, and navigating through the city crowds—but somehow, the energy was still high as they slid into their seats around a long table in the center of the dining room.

Aurora found herself seated between Milo and Sarah, with Nick and the others across from them. The table was already scattered with menus and glasses of water, condensation trickling down the sides.

A waiter approached, and the group wasted no time in ordering—pasta, steak, seafood, and enough appetizers to feed a small army.

“Okay, so who decided we needed three different kinds of bread?” Eli asked, raising an eyebrow at the selection of baskets in the middle of the table.

“That would be me,” Aurora said, reaching for a slice. “And you’re welcome.”

Milo smirked beside her. “That’s why she’s the smartest one here.”

Aurora elbowed him playfully. “See? Someone appreciates my genius.”

“Oh, trust me, I’m very appreciative,” Milo said, leaning in just slightly. His voice dropped, just for her. “You always know exactly what I need.”

She shot him a look, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. “Behave.”

He grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?” Across the table, Peyton rolled her eyes.

“Can you two not flirt for like, five minutes?”

Aurora huffed. “We are not flirting.”

Nick snorted. “Oh, you absolutely are.”

Milo just shrugged, completely unbothered. “What can I say? She brings it out of me.”

Aurora groaned, covering her face. “I hate all of you.” Laughter rippled through the group as the appetizers arrived, and soon, everyone was too busy digging into the food to tease her any further.

“Okay, but seriously,” Sarah said between bites. “Best moment of the press tour so far?”

“Oh, easy,” Nick said. “Milo tripping over a mic cord right before we went live.”

Milo groaned, tossing a piece of bread at him. “I told you not to bring that up.”

Aurora laughed, nudging him with her knee. “To be fair, that was pretty iconic.”

He turned to her, eyes narrowing playfully. “You laughed at me.”

“I did not—”

“You absolutely did.”

Aurora bit her lip, fighting a smile. “Okay, fine. Maybe a little.”

Milo shook his head. “Unbelievable. And here I thought you were on my side.”

Aurora placed a hand over her heart, feigning sincerity. “I am on your side. I just also really enjoy seeing you suffer.”

He leaned in again, his voice low. “You enjoy seeing me suffer, huh?” There was something in his tone—something teasing, but also…something else. Something that sent a flicker of warmth down her spine.

She cleared her throat, reaching for her drink. “Shut up and eat your pasta, Milo.”

Milo just smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

The conversation flowed easily as the meal continued—stories from set, embarrassing moments, inside jokes that only made sense to them. Aurora found herself laughing more than she had in days, the exhaustion from earlier fading into the background.

“Wine?” he asked, already reaching for the menu.

Aurora smirked. “Are you trying to impress me?”

“Depends,” he said, flashing a slow, lazy grin. “Is it working?”

She pretended to study her menu, ignoring the way her stomach flipped. “Jury’s still out.”

Conversation with him as easy, effortless, full of teasing and laughter. Milo was in full charm mode—leaning in just a little too close when he asked her opinion on something, stealing bites of her food like it was his right, throwing in the occasional wink just to see her roll her eyes.

“You do realize you have your own meal, right?” Aurora asked as Milo plucked another fry from her plate.

“Yeah, but yours tastes better.

She huffed. “That is objectively not true.”

He smirked. “Bet you just like the attention.”

She pointed a fry at him. “You are so lucky you’re funny.” Milo laughed, and damn it, she liked the sound of it.

At some point, dessert arrived—a rich, chocolatey something that non of them technically had room for, but Milo insisted on ordering anyway.

Aurora picked up her spoon, but before she could take a bite, Milo reached over, dragging his own spoon through the dessert before holding it up to her lips.

“Open up, princess,” he said, eyes full of mischief.

She gave him a deadpan look. “You did not just call me that.”

He wiggled the spoon slightly. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

With an exasperated sigh, she leaned forward, letting him feed her the bite. The second the flavor hit her tongue, she closed her eyes, humming in approval.

When she opened them, Milo was watching her. His gaze had darkened just a fraction, and the playful smirk on his lips softened into something else entirely.

“Good?” he asked, his voice lower now.

Aurora swallowed. “Yeah.”

For a moment, they just…looked at each other. The restaurant bustled around them, but all she could focus on was the heat in his eyes, the way his fingers toyed absentmindedly with the edge of his napkin, like he was holding himself back.

Then, as quickly as the moment arrived, Milo leaned back, grinning again. “Told you we needed dessert.” Aurora let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Nick groaned. “Oh my God, just date already.”

Aurora nearly choked on her drink. “Excuse me?!”

Milo, meanwhile, just smirked, twirling his fork in his pasta. “Patience, Nick. We’ve gotta keep the slow burn going.”

Aurora turned to glare at him. “I hate you.”

He grinned. “No, you don’t.”

She kicked him under the table.

He winked.

And just like that, the night carried on, filled with good food, endless laughter, and just a little more flirting than Aurora cared to admit.

By the time they made it back to the hotel, exhaustion fully hit. Aurora sighed as they walked through the lobby, reaching down to slip her heels off.

"I think my feet have officially given up," she mumbled.

Milo glanced down, shaking his head. "Why do you do this to yourself?"

"Fashion over function."

Without another word, he crouched slightly. "C'mon."

She frowned. "What—"

"Get on," he said, giving her a pointed look. "I’m not letting you limp up the stairs."

Aurora hesitated, but the dull ache in her feet made the decision for her. With a quiet sigh, she climbed onto his back, arms draping around his shoulders.

"You’re ridiculous," she muttered, but there was a smile in her voice.

"That’s what I’ve been told," he replied, adjusting his grip.

When they reached her door, she climbed down with a relieved sigh, stretching out her legs. "You’re officially my hero."

"I accept that title."

Instead of heading to his own room, Milo lingered for a bit. She unlocked her door and glanced at Milo, who was leaning against the wall next to her.

“You tired?” she asked.

Milo shrugged. “Nah. You?”

She hesitated.

He caught onto it immediately. “You want me to stay,” he teased.

“I didn’t say that.”

He smirked. “Didn’t have to.” With an exaggerated sigh, she stepped aside, holding the door open for him.

“Fine. But if you fall asleep on my couch, I’m kicking you out.”

Milo walked in like he owned the place, collapsing onto her couch with a dramatic groan. “God, I love being right.”

Aurora grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and tossed it at him. “Hydrate, ego boy.”

He caught it easily, cracking it open. “You should probably listen to your own advice, Miss ‘I Forget to Drink Water Until I Have a Headache.’”She rolled her eyes but took a sip of her own water anyway.

They fell into an easy rhythm—flipping through channels, scrolling through their phones, laughing at stupid memes. At one point, Milo leaned over, resting his chin on her shoulder to see what she was looking at.

“What’s that?”

Aurora didn’t even flinch at his proximity anymore. “Just pictures from today. Oh, look.” She turned the screen to show him a candid someone had taken of them when they were doing portraits of each other in a buzz-feed interview and she’d lent over smudging paint on his nose.

Milo smirked. “Proof that you treat me like a human canvas.”

“You let me do it,” she pointed out

“Maybe I just like being touched by you.”

The words were so casual, so effortlessly flirty, that it took her a second to process them.

Her heart did a stupid little flip.

“Milo—”

He stretched out, resting an arm along the back of the couch behind her. “Relax, princess. I’m just messing with you.”

She huffed. “I hate you.”

He grinned. “No, you don’t.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The longer they sat there, the heavier Aurora’s eyelids became. At some point, she shifted, curling into the couch, her head resting against Milo’s shoulder without much thought.

Milo froze for half a second before exhaling softly, his fingers brushing lightly against her arm.

“You’re getting sleepy, huh?” he murmured.

“Mmm,” was all she managed in response.

Eventually, he stood, stretching. "I should probably let you sleep."

Aurora stifled a yawn, nodding. "Yeah, probably."

But as he reached the door, she hesitated. "Hey, Milo?"

He turned back. "Yeah bug?"

She smiled, softer this time. "Thanks. For earlier. And for, you know…everything."

The name alone sent a ripple through Y/n’s chest. Her forced smile wobbled for just a second before she steadied herself. "I don’t want to talk about him tonight."

"Good," Payton said firmly. "Because tonight is about fun. No sadness, no exes—Milo’s name is officially off-limits."

They clinked glasses, a silent agreement to leave the past where it belonged. But as Y/n threw back her drink and let the burn settle in her throat, she knew—forgetting wasn’t as easy as they made it sound.

Hours later, the alcohol had done its job, numbing the edges of her heartbreak. The beat of the music pulsed through her veins, and before she knew it, she was on the dance floor, swaying, laughing, existing.

That’s when she saw him.

Not him—not Milo.

A stranger. A handsome guy at the bar, watching her with interest.

She let him.

One drink led to another, and suddenly, his lips were on hers. She let it happen, let him pull her close, let herself believe for a fraction of a second that this was what moving on looked like.

But the second his lips met hers, nausea rolled through her. Not from the alcohol.

It was wrong. The touch, the taste, the feel of him against her—none of it was right. None of it was Milo.

She yanked herself away, muttering an apology before stumbling towards the bathroom, her breath coming fast and uneven.

The second she locked the door behind her, she crumbled, mascara staining her cheeks.

"Y/n?" Payton’s voice came from outside, gentle but firm.

She didn’t answer right away, just stared at her reflection in the mirror, her red-rimmed eyes and smeared lipstick a stark reminder that no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t escape him.

With shaking hands, she opened the door.

Payton took one look at her and sighed. "Let’s go home."

The air outside was sharp and sobering as they walked to meet Jacob, Payton’s boyfriend, who was picking them up. Y/n scrolled absently through her phone, her vision blurry, fingers clumsy.

And then she saw it.

Milo’s Instagram story.

It was nothing—just a set photo, a behind-the-scenes shot of him sitting next to her. A girl Y/n didn’t know. A girl who wasn’t her.

The impact was immediate. Her stomach twisted violently, her breath hitched—before she even had time to process it, she was doubling over, throwing up on the sidewalk.

"Jesus," Rainbow gasped, pulling her hair back. "Okay, we’re done for the night."

They kept walking, Y/n wiping her mouth, her body shaking. And then, as if the universe hadn’t been cruel enough, they passed by a bar blasting their song. "You belong with me."

She broke.

Sobbing, clutching onto Payton as the weight of everything she had been trying to suppress came crashing down.

The girls tried to soothe her, tried to say all the right things. But nothing felt right. Nothing felt right.

She whispered his name through her tears, slurring it like a prayer, like a curse.

By the time they reached Jacob, she was still crying. He didn’t say a word, just opened the car door and let her in while the others talked outside. Y/n curled into herself in the backseat, silent tears streaming down her face as she stared out the window, lost in a storm of memories she couldn’t seem to outrun.

When she got home, she found them.

The artifacts.

A hoodie he left behind, the ticket stub from their first movie together, the stupid baseball cap he always wore but never took back.

She sat on the floor, holding the cap in her lap, tears slipping down her face.

"He was the one," she whispered to no one. "I loved him. And he just...left."

Payton sat beside her, leaning her head against Y/n’s shoulder.

Y/n let out a shaky, bitter laugh. "You know, this is why they shouldn’t kill off the main guy."

Payton smiled sadly. "Bet you could still melt his world. His argumentative, antithetical dream girl."

Y/n just sniffled, closing her eyes. "I dream about him, you know?" she whispered. "His hair, his stare, the way he used to believe in me."

Payton squeezed her hand. "Maybe he still does."

The next morning, Y/n lay in bed, eyes swollen from crying, heart still aching.

And then—

The key in the lock.

Her breath hitched.

Her heart pounded.

Milo?

She shot up in bed, staring at the door down the hall, waiting, waiting, waiting

But it wasn’t him.

Of course, it wasn’t.

She collapsed back into her pillows, fresh tears burning her eyes.

Until her phone rang.

Her heart stopped.

It was him.

With trembling fingers, she answered.

A beat of silence.

And then, his voice, raw and quiet.

"I miss you."

Silence hung between them, thick and heavy, stretching across the distance that neither of them could seem to cross.

Y/n swallowed hard, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles ached. Her breath felt uneven, like she’d just run a marathon, but she hadn’t moved an inch.

"I miss you."

Two simple words. Ones she’d wanted—no, needed—to hear for weeks.

But now that she had, she didn’t know what to do with them.

She let out a slow, shaky breath. "You don’t get to say that, Milo."

A pause. Then, a quiet sigh on the other end. "I know.

"Then why did you?" Her voice cracked, and she hated herself for it.

"Because it’s true."

She squeezed her eyes shut, fingers trembling around the phone. "No. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to walk away and then—then call me in the morning like I’m supposed to just—" She broke off, biting her lip so hard she nearly tasted blood.

"Y/n…" His voice was softer now, pleading in a way she wasn’t sure she’d ever heard before.

"Why are you calling me, Milo?"

Another pause. She could hear him breathing, like he was debating what to say.

"Because I can’t stop thinking about you."

A tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away angrily. "That’s not fair."

"I know."

"You always do this," she whispered. "You always come back just enough to make it hurt again."

"I don’t mean to."

"But you do."

Another beat of silence. Then, quietly—"Did you see it?"

She knew exactly what he meant. The photo. The girl. The thing that sent her spiraling into the worst night of her life.

"Yeah," she admitted, voice small.

Milo exhaled sharply, like he’d been holding his breath.

"It wasn’t—she’s no one, Y/n. Just a co-star. It was just set stuff, you know that."

"That doesn’t change how it felt."

"I know," he murmured. "I hated it too, if that makes you feel any better."

"It doesn’t."

Another long pause. She could picture him now—probably running a hand through his messy hair, jaw clenched the way it always did when he was frustrated.

"You’re still mad at me," he said finally.

She let out a bitter laugh. "Of course I’m mad, Milo. You broke my heart."

The words hung between them, heavy and painful.

His voice was barely a whisper. "I know."

She closed her eyes, hating how much she wanted to believe that he regretted it.

"Why did you do it?" she asked, voice raw.

She heard him inhale, then exhale slowly. "Because I was scared."

She frowned. "Of what?"

"Of how much I loved you."

Her breath caught.

"Of how much I still love you," he corrected.

She pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to hold in the sob that threatened to escape. "Milo…"

"I know I don’t deserve to say it," he admitted. "Not after what I did. But I—God, Y/n, I don’t know how to exist in a world where you’re not mine anymore."

Her heart ached so badly she thought it might shatter completely. "You let me go."

"I thought it was the right thing to do," he confessed. "I thought—I don’t even know what I thought. I just know that I was wrong."

She let out a shaky breath. "Do you think that just saying this fixes everything?"

"No," he said immediately. "I don’t. I know I have no right to ask for anything. But I had to call. I had to hear your voice."

Tears slipped down her face, one after another.

She didn’t know what to say.

"I miss you," he said again, softer this time. "And I know I don’t deserve you, but if there’s even a chance—if there’s anything left—"

She squeezed her eyes shut. "Milo."

"Do you still love me?"

It was the question she’d been dreading.

The answer sat heavy on her tongue, waiting.

And the worst part?

She already knew it.

But she could feel it—the tension building up in him. And when they arrived at the bar and met up with the group, it didn’t get any better. Milo stayed quiet, but his eyes never left Matt, her boyfriend, who was talking animatedly to everyone around him. Y/n was laughing at something Matt had said when she noticed Milo’s tense posture. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched at his sides. The irritation rolling off him was so thick it was almost palpable.

"Is he okay?" Payton asked, leaning toward Y/n as they stood near the bar.

She glanced at Milo, then back at Payton, her voice quiet. "I don’t know. He’s been weird all day."

Payton gave a little shrug. "Maybe it’s Matt. He’s been a little... off with Milo recently."

“I doubt it that… I know they don’t get on but Milo isn’t like that, I expect that from Matt maybe but not from Mi.”

Payton nodded telling y/n she was gonna go check in on Milo

“What’s up with you?” Payton asked.

Milo hesitated, his gaze flicking to Y/n and Matt, her laughter ringing in his ears.

“He’s what’s up with me,” Milo muttered, barely holding back the bitterness in his voice.

“Matt?” Payton asked.

Milo’s fists clenched. “I know he’s her boyfriend, but the guy’s annoying,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “It’s like he doesn’t even care about her.”

Payton let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re only annoyed by him because you’re in love with her,” he said, his tone blunt.

Milo’s head snapped up, glaring at Payton.

“So what?” he spat. “He treats her like crap, and you know how many times I’ve had to pick her up after he’s made her cry? It’s endless.”

Payton frowned, shaking her head. “I know, Milo. But she’s with him.”

Milo’s jaw tightened. “Don’t know why,” he muttered.

It didn’t take long for Milo to snap. As Matt was talking about something he was studying in college, Y/n asked, genuinely trying to understand, "Wait, what? I don’t get it."

Matt looked at her with a smirk. "It’s college talk, Y/n. Don’t get your pretty head all confused over it."

Y/n blinked, taken aback by the condescending tone. "Excuse me?"

Milo immediately tensed beside her. He spun around, glaring at Matt, his voice tight. "Just because she didn’t go to college doesn’t mean shit."

Matt rolled his eyes. "It’s not that deep, man."

Milo’s frustration boiled over. "It’s not a joke, dude," he snapped. "Calling her dumb isn’t funny."

Matt leaned in, smirking like it was all a game. "I didn’t call her dumb."

"You implied it," Milo growled, his fists clenched, his entire body rigid.

Payton stepped in, sensing where this was going. "Will you two cut it out?" She said, her voice rising slightly.

Matt wasn’t backing down, though.

"What the fuck is your issue, man?" he asked, his tone challenging.

Milo’s temper exploded. "You’re my issue," he spat, his voice low and furious.

Matts grin faltered, and he took a step toward Milo. "Oh, grow up," he sneered, the words a clear provocation. “she’s my girl dude she knows I’m joking.” He emphasised the ‘my girl’ knowing it would get under Milo’s skin

“She’s not your girl you don’t own her.” Milo spat back at him he was so close to snapping

“Neither do you buddy, it was a joke chill.” Matt warned

“Calling her dumb isn’t a joke dude so no I won’t chill.”

“Shut up man.” And that was it. Milo’s fist flew out, connecting with Matts jaw.

The bar seemed to freeze for a moment, but then chaos erupted. Matt staggered back, but he came back swinging, the fight between the two of them turning into a blur of punches and shoves. Y/n screamed at them to stop, but neither seemed to hear her as they collided again and again.

She rushed toward them, grabbing at Milo’s arm, trying to pull him away from Matt. "Milo! Stop it!" she yelled, but it was like talking to a wall. Her voice got lost in the noise of the fight.

Matt threw a wild punch, landing a hit to Milo’s side. Milo retaliated with a hard jab to Matt ribs, pushing him back. By now, the two of them were getting physical with one another, shoving, swearing, fists flying, as the group stood in stunned silence.

Finally, Spencer stepped in, trying to break up the fight, but it only escalated further. Spencer anger flared, and suddenly, he was in the middle of the mess, yelling at Milo. "What the hell is wrong with you, man?!" Spencer shouted.

But nothing

“Mi Stop it!” Y/n yelled

It was enough to stop the fight, but only just. Milo stood there, panting, face red with fury. Y/n was standing in front of him, her face pale, her heart hammering in her chest.

“Y/n, let’s go,” Matt said harshly, glaring at Milo.

Y/n looked at him, her expression torn. Milo was breathing heavily, looking over at her, eyes pleading. She didn’t move, her eyes locked on Milo. She couldn’t understand what was going on with him. He was acting so strange tonight, so unlike himself.

Matts frustration came to a head again. "Y/n! I said let’s go!" His voice cracked as he shouted at her.

Y/n flinched at his tone, something in her gut turning over with hurt. It wasn’t just the fight—he was mad at her, too.

"Don’t yell at her," Payton intervened, pushing Matt away from Y/n.

Milo turned to face her, his face twisted with regret. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice quieter now. "I don’t know what came over me."

Y/n didn’t even look at him as she grabbed his arm and started dragging him toward the door. "Keys," she ordered, her voice cold.

Milo hesitated, then handed her the keys, the weight of his actions finally dawning on him. He knew he was the one who’d messed up, but he couldn’t take back the anger that had bubbled to the surface. They left the bar in silence, Y/n’s anger burning in the pit of her stomach.

They made their way back to their apartment, the tension between them palpable. When they got inside, Y/n didn’t even give him a chance to explain. "Sit down," she ordered, her voice hard.

Milo obeyed, slumping into the couch, feeling like a kid who’d just been scolded. Y/n paced around the room, grabbing things to tend to his injuries. When she handed him a bottle of water and painkillers, she sat down in front of him, her gaze piercing.

"Do you know how fucking stupid that was?" she asked, her voice shaking with frustration.

Milo winced but didn’t look away. "I know, Y/n," he mumbled. "I’m sorry."

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Did I say you could speak? No, Milo," she snapped. "You don’t get to apologize like that. You don’t just act like a goddamn maniac and then say sorry. Do you realize what you did? Do you even care?"

Milo opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand. "No, I’m talking now." Her words were sharp, cutting through the air. "You made me feel like shit tonight. You got so angry, and I didn’t even know why. You’ve been pushing me away all day, and I didn’t even know what I did. You’re mad at Matt, sure, but you need to stop taking it out on everyone else."

Milo swallowed, his chest tight, but he knew she was right. "I’m sorry," he said again, his voice small.

"Sorry doesn’t fix this, Milo," she replied coldly. "You think just because you’re my best friend, you can behave however you want? That’s not how it works. I’m not here to pick up the pieces after you lose your temper. I’m not just here when it’s convenient for you."

Milo looked down, unable to meet her eyes, his hands shaking.

Y/n took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I’m tired of you treating everyone like they don’t matter, like their feelings don’t count. What happens when I’m the one who’s fed up? What happens then?" She leaned in, her voice soft but firm. "I need you to take a step back and think about your actions, Milo."

Milo stayed silent, nodding slowly. He didn’t have anything to say. He just sat there, feeling the weight of her words settle over him like a cloud.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she sighed, rubbing her face. "You’re lucky I’m still here. I’m so angry right now, but I care about you too much to walk away. But you need to fix this. You need to stop letting your anger control you."

Milo looked at her, his heart in his throat. "I know," he whispered. "I’ll fix it. I swear."

She nodded, finally softening just a little. "You better. Because if you don’t, I don’t know how much longer I can stand by and watch you destroy yourself over someone who doesn’t even care about you."

Milo stayed silent, his mind racing. "I’m sorry," he said again, quieter this time.

Y/n stared at him for a long moment before speaking.

"Good. Now sit there and think about what I said." She stood up, gathering the ice pack to help with his hand.

He watched her, a mixture of guilt and relief flooding him. "Y/n," he whispered, looking at her with a sincerity that made her heart ache. "Thank you."

When she walked back into the room while was looking up at her with puppy dog eyes “I’m sorry, Y/n,” he said quietly. “It wasn’t okay for me to do that. I crossed a line.”

Y/n sighed, her gaze softening just a little. “Yeah, you did.”

Milo reached for her hand, his fingers trembling. “Part of me is glad you did, though,” she said, her voice small. “His comment made me feel like shit, and it’s nice to know I have someone in my corner.”

Milo’s heart swelled. “Always,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He was so close to her now, he could feel her breath on his skin. She brushed a strand of hair from her face, and he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss.

Y/n pulled away slightly, her face flushed. “You’re gonna wanna ice that,” she said, handing him the bag of peas.

Milo smiled softly as she sat next to him again. “Y/n,” he whispered, his voice low and earnest. “Brake up with him.”

She raised an eyebrow, glancing at him.

“Was planning on it.”

Milo's hand found her cheek, his thumb gently brushing over her skin. “Good,” he said, a grin playing on his lips. “Because it means I can do this a hell of a lot more.”

He kissed her again, his lips soft and tender. She melted into him, a mix of emotions flooding her. “Milo,” she murmured, her voice trembling.

“We shouldn’t,” she said quietly, breaking the kiss reluctantly. “You know we shouldn’t.”

“I know,” he whispered, her face flushed. “But you make it so hard not to.”she laughed, a soft, breathless sound.

“Fine, fine. I won’t kiss you again. You’re right—we’re friends, and we shouldn’t cross that line.”

She pouted slightly, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t give me that look,” he said.

“What look?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“You’re pouting.” He grinned, running his thumb across her lips.

“I’m not,” she argued

“You are too! So, what’s it gonna be, pretty? Can I kiss you or not?” Her eyes softened, and she leaned in.

“Maybe a little more.”

“That's what I thought,” he said with a grin, pulling her into his lap. And they kissed again—again and again—until the world outside didn’t matter, only the feeling of each other’s lips and the promise of what might come next.

“You’re so pretty, you know that?” he murmured.

“Oh, stop it,” she teased.