billie

You huffed quietly, adjusting the sleeve of your hoodie as you walked beside Megan. Your energy was somewhere between barely functioning and running purely on iced coffee and vibes.

Megan nudged your shoulder lightly. 'You good?'

You glanced at her, giving a small nod. 'Yeah. Just… if one more person asks me to describe the group in three words, I might actually lose it.'

That got a soft laugh out of her—quiet, just for you.

'Be creative,' she teased, her hand briefly brushing yours as you walked. 'Switch it up.'

'I did,' you muttered. 'I said ‘sleep deprived’ twice.'

This time she snorted, quickly covering it as the staff member in front of you pushed open a door.

'Alright guys, this is you.'

You stepped inside—and immediately, it felt different. The room was smaller than expected, but bright. Studio lights hung overhead, already warming the space, and the setup was simple but bold.

The floor—and the backdrop behind it—were split clean down the middle.

One side was a deep, bold red and the other a cool, saturated blue. A line ran between them like a boundary.

'Okay, that’s kinda cool.' Manon murmured, looking between the two sides.

'It’s for the game,' a producer explained, stepping forward with a friendly smile. 'You’ll be answering ‘Would You Rather’ questions by choosing a side. Red or blue.'

'Physically?' Daniela asked immediately, eyes lighting up despite her earlier complaints.

'Physically.' the producer confirmed.

'Oh, this is about to get heated.' She grinned.

You could already tell.

Staff moved around you, adjusting cameras, checking angles. A couple of them clipped mics onto your outfits, the familiar routine almost comforting at this point.

'Alright, we’re just going to get you all lined up first,' another voice called out. 'If you can step onto the marks for us.'

You looked down. Small pieces of tape were placed across the floor, spaced just enough for all of you to stand in a line—right along the divide between red and blue.

'Wait, are we starting neutral?' You asked, stepping toward your mark.

'Yeah,' the producer said. 'You’ll all start in the middle, then move depending on your answer.'

'Okay, that’s actually smart.' Yoonchae nodded, already stepping into place.

One by one, everyone shuffled into position, small adjustments and quiet chatter filling the space.

'Daniela, you’re slightly blocking—yeah, just half a step—perfect.' 'Sophia, can you turn a little toward camera two?' 'Megan, just a bit closer—yeah, that’s great.'

Megan ended up right next to you again, your shoulders almost brushing as you both settled into place. Without really thinking about it, her hand rested lightly against the back of your arm for a second—steadying, grounding—before she pulled it away like it was nothing.

You glanced sideways at her. 'Don’t copy my answers.'

She didn’t even hesitate. 'You’re going to copy mine.'

'Absolutely not.'

'Absolutely yes.'

She leaned just slightly closer, voice dropping. 'You literally always do.'

You turned your head toward her, offended. 'Name one time.'

She smiled, way too pleased with herself. 'Last interview.'

Before you could argue further, a voice cut through the room. 'Alright guys—quiet on set!'

The chatter died down almost instantly.

'Cameras ready?'

A few quick nods from behind the lights.

'Sound?'

'Sound’s good.'

The producer gave you all one last look, smiling slightly.

'Okay… whenever you’re ready, just relax. Have fun with it.'

You rolled your shoulders once, trying to shake off the last bit of fatigue. Around you, the others shifted, some already suppressing smiles, others clearly preparing to be as chaotic as possible.

You caught Megan’s eye again—just for a second. She gave you a small, reassuring look—soft, familiar. You felt her pinky briefly hook with yours at your side, quick and subtle.

And just like that, the tiredness didn’t feel quite as heavy.

'Alright.' The producer said. 'Rolling in three… two… one—'

'Hey, it’s Katseye!' You all said in unison, voices bright despite the long day.

'And we’re about to play Would You Rather with LADbible.' Sophia added smoothly, gesturing around you.

The cameras captured the full setup now—half the floor glowing red, the other half blue—your group lined up along the centre line, ready to split at any moment.

A producer off-camera called, 'Alright, first question!'

There was a brief pause.

'Would you rather have your group chat leaked… or your camera roll shared?'

There was a pause before the chaos hit.

Sophia let out a full-on scream. 'WHAT?!'

Everyone else gasped at the same time, a mix of shock and immediate regret.

'That is FOUL.' Lara said, already stepping back like she might leave the set entirely.

'No, no, no—who wrote that?' Daniela demanded, pointing accusingly toward the crew.

You just stared ahead, blinking. 'We can’t even ease into it? That’s the first question?'

Beside you, Megan leaned slightly closer, murmuring, 'Don’t even think about switching sides on me.'

You let out a small laugh. 'I’m not, relax.'

'Alright, choose your sides!' The producer called, clearly enjoying the reaction.

Almost instantly, people started moving—hesitating, doubling back, arguing mid-step.

You started toward blue—and without even looking, Megan moved with you at the exact same time, your shoulders bumping lightly as you both landed on the same side.

'Of course,' Sophia called from across the line, pointing at you both immediately. 'Of course you two are together.'

You didn’t even deny it.

You ended up on the blue side with Lara, Daniela, and Megan. Across from you, Manon, Sophia, and Yoonchae gathered on red, still looking mildly traumatised.

'Okay—group chat?' The producer clarified.

'Yeah,' Megan said, nodding firmly. 'The group chat is not worse than some of our camera rolls.'

Daniela pointed at her immediately. 'That’s true.'

'Thank you!' Megan said, like she’d just proven a major point.

You crossed your arms, nodding. 'I just don’t talk much in the group chat anyway. My camera roll… nobody wants to see that. I won’t allow it.'

Megan glanced at you, smirking slightly. 'Yeah, I’ve seen it. It’s bad.'

Your head snapped toward her. 'Okay—why are you exposing me right now?'

'I’m not exposing you,' she laughed. 'I’m supporting my argument.'

'That’s not support!'

'See!' Daniela gestured at you. 'Exactly. Some things are private.'

'Everything in my camera roll is private.' You added quickly, shooting Megan a look.

On the other side, Manon looked between you all in disbelief. 'But the group chat is where we share all of our worst photos.'

Sophia nodded, stepping closer to her. 'If you really think about it—'

'—it’s actually worse.' They finished at the same time, pointing at each other.

'Not our craziest photos.' Megan shot back instantly.

You hesitated for a second, then added, '…y’all haven’t seen my wildest photos. I can’t bring myself to share them.'

That earned a reaction.

'Oh my—what does that even mean?' Lara laughed, turning toward you.

Megan looked at you again, eyebrows slightly raised. 'Wildest?'

You avoided her gaze immediately. 'Don’t worry about it.'

'I’m worrying about it.' She said, quieter now, but amused.

'I don’t want to know.' Manon said quickly, shaking her head.

'I definitely want to know.' Daniela cut in.

Yoonchae, still standing calmly on the blue side, shrugged slightly. 'I don’t really have crazy photos.'

There was a pause. Then Megan and Lara both turned toward her at the exact same time.

'What?' Megan laughed. 'What is she talking about?'

'Yeah, what do you mean?' Lara added, incredulous.

You pointed straight at Yoonchae. 'Exactly. Yoonchae’s too pure and sensible, meanwhile I’m out here taking the most random photos of like… a bruise.'

'A bruise?' Sophia repeated, already laughing.

'Yeah!' You defended. 'Or like—something weird on the floor. Or a blurry screenshot I’ll never look at again.'

'That’s actually so true,' Daniela said, nodding. 'You do that.'

'Thank you.' You said, vindicated.

Megan bumped her shoulder lightly into yours. 'You have fourty photos of the same thing too.'

You gasped. 'That’s called getting the right angle.'

'Of what? The floor?' She shot back.

'Yes.'

'Wait, wait,' Manon cut in, pointing between you and Megan. 'So you’re saying your camera roll is worse than our group chat?' She mimed scrolling on a phone.

'Yes.' You and Megan said at the same time.

'Absolutely.' Megan added.

'Absolutely.' You echoed, a second later, trying not to smile.

From the other side, Sophia made a loud, dramatic noise. 'This is SICK. You’re literally the same person.'

The producer’s laugh could be heard faintly from behind the camera. 'Alright,' they said, trying to regain control, 'final answers locked in?'

'Unfortunately.' Sophia muttered.

'Yeah,' Lara sighed. 'I already regret this game.'

'Same.' You said.

Megan nudged your arm lightly. 'You’ll survive.'

You glanced at her, a small smile slipping through. 'Barely.'

'And it’s been one question.'

---

'Alright,' the producer called, barely holding back a smile, 'next one.'

You all reset slightly, shuffling back toward the centre line.

As you stepped back, Megan’s hand briefly found your wrist, giving it a small squeeze before letting go—like a quiet reset between rounds.

'Would you rather only be able to talk like you’re in a rap battle…'

A few of the girls were already reacting.

'…or only be able to talk like a Shakespearean character?'

There was a brief pause and then immediate movement.

Daniela was the first to move, grabbing Lara’s wrist and dragging her toward the blue side.

'Rap battle!' She declared.

'Rap battle.' Megan echoed, following right behind her—but not before glancing back at you, like she fully expected you to follow.

'Rap battle.' Lara added, laughing as she's basically dragged onto the blue side.

Manon and Yoonchae joined them pretty quickly, both nodding along.

'I think I could do it,' Manon said. 'It’d be fun.'

Meanwhile, Sophia confidently walked to the red side alone, completely unfazed. 'I think it would make me stand out.'

That left you. Still in the middle.

You giggled under your breath, half-leaning against Daniela’s shoulder as she moved away from you, leaving you momentarily stranded between both sides.

Instead of choosing, you just… stayed there. Staring into space like you were genuinely weighing your entire identity on this decision.

'Rap battle.' Megan repeated again, a little louder this time, like she was trying to pull you over by sheer will.

When you didn’t move, she tilted her head slightly, squinting at you. 'Don’t start.'

You just smiled to yourself, still planted firmly in place.

'Rap battle.' Daniela and Lara echoed, the three of them unintentionally syncing up.

You snorted a little at that, still not moving.

On the other side, Sophia lifted her chin slightly. 'Like what have the—'

'THYYY—' Daniela suddenly interrupted, dramatically pointing at her.

You lost it. A full snort-laugh escaped you, doubling over slightly. Instinctively, your hand reached out—grabbing onto Megan’s arm to steady yourself as you laughed. 'That’s the only word you know?!' You managed.

Megan laughed too, glancing down at where you were holding onto her before looking back at you, amused. 'You good?'

Daniela shrugged, completely unashamed. 'It’s the main one!'

Lara was laughing beside you now too, nudging your arm.

Sophia, trying to stay composed, continued, 'I think it would— it would… it’s kind of aura.'

'Aura?' Manon repeated, amused.

'It’s very poetic,' Lara added, still laughing. 'Everything is cryptic.'

'Yeah,' Sophia nodded, warming to her point. 'It’s cryptic, and it’d make me ponder a lot.'

She paused, then added thoughtfully, 'Maybe I’ll read more Shakespeare and actually start doing that.'

'Please don’t.' Megan said immediately.

She shifted slightly closer to you as she said it, shoulder brushing yours again like it was the most natural thing in the world.

'Actually, please do,' Daniela countered. 'I want to see that.'

The host jumped in, grinning. 'What if you’re trying to have a serious conversation and you’re just… rapping through it?'

That was all it took. Lara immediately turned to Megan, squaring up like it was real.

'Listen—' She started, bouncing slightly to a rhythm that didn’t exist.

Megan caught on instantly. 'No, you listen—'

You instinctively leaned a little toward Megan, watching her with a small smile like you already knew she was about to fully commit to this.

'Oh my god.' Yoonchae muttered, already laughing.

'It’ll be funny!' Lara insisted, fully committing now.

They both started throwing out nonsense lines, half laughing, half rapping, completely unserious.

'Yeah, I got the flow—' Megan started.

'—but you’re moving too slow—' Lara shot back.

Megan pointed at her, hyping herself up. 'Don’t test me—'

'Stoppp.' Manon groaned, covering her face.

You laughed quietly to yourself, shaking your head. 'This is embarrassing.'

Megan glanced at you immediately. 'You’re embarrassing.'

'Me?' You shot back, offended.

'Yes, you. Standing in the middle like you’re special.'

'I am special.' You replied without missing a beat.

She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile there.

The host laughed, then pointed toward you. 'What about you, Y/N? Where are you standing? Just… in the middle?'

All eyes turned to you.

You straightened slightly, glancing at the blue side—where Megan was watching you expectantly—then the red… then back at the camera.

'I can’t choose,' you admitted. 'I’m rapping in Shakespearean, I think.'

From the blue side, Megan let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh, shaking her head like she absolutely called this outcome.

'Of course you are.' Daniela said.

'Go on then,' Sophia gestured, clearly entertained. 'Let’s hear it.'

You took a small step forward—still firmly in the middle—clearing your throat like you were about to perform something serious.

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Megan watching you now—fully focused.

Then, with full commitment,

'Thou speaks loud yet lacketh any flame, Mine bars dost strike thee down—remember mine name, From fairest tongue I spit with rhythm most divine, Thou art but background noise… whilst I outshine.'

The room was dead silent. Megan blinked once.

'What was that?!' She burst out laughing, doubling over slightly.

You grinned immediately, looking straight at her. 'That was talent.'

'No, wait—that was actually good!' Manon said, pointing at you.

Daniela just stared. 'Why do you know how to do that?'

You shrugged casually. 'Told you. Best of both worlds.'

Megan looked at you again, still smiling, a little softer now. 'You’ve been hiding that this whole time?'

You tilted your head. 'Maybe.'

Sophia looked genuinely impressed. 'See? That’s what I’m saying. That was aura.'

'Don’t encourage this.' Lara laughed.

'I’m encouraged.' You said immediately.

Megan nudged your foot lightly from across the line. 'Yeah, we can tell.'

The producer’s voice cut in again, still laughing. 'Alright—final positions?'

'Rap!' Daniela said, dragging the attention back.

'Shakespearean.' Sophia said, standing her ground alone.

'And… middle.' You added proudly.

'Of course.' The host shook their head.

Megan glanced at you one more time, still half-smiling. 'You’re so annoying.'

You smiled right back. 'You love it.'

She didn’t even hesitate. 'Unfortunately.'

From the side, Lara made a loud noise. 'UGH. Can we move on?!'

---

'Alright, next question! Would you rather be a mermaid… or be a fairy?'

There was barely even a pause before people started moving. You stepped onto the blue side with Sophia, Megan, Manon, and Lara almost instinctively.

As you settled, your arm brushed Megan’s for a second—but before it could turn into anything more, Manon leaned into you from the other side, looping her arm loosely around yours.

Across from you, Daniela and Yoonchae landed on red—and immediately looked like they were ready to fight for their lives.

'Fairy!' Daniela said, already gesturing wildly. 'Why is no one choosing fairy?!'

'Yeah!' Yoonchae backed her up, pointing at all of you. 'You can fly!'

'I love the ocean.' Lara shot back instantly from your side.

'But you can’t breathe outside.' Yoonchae argued.

Megan stepped forward like she’d just been personally attacked. 'Mermaids can do both.'

'We have special powers.' Lara added, backing her up without hesitation.

'Fairies can’t breathe underwater.' Megan continued, folding her arms like she’d just ended the debate.

You nodded along absentmindedly—but your attention wasn’t really on the argument.

Manon had leaned more comfortably against you now, her head tipping slightly toward yours as she laughed at something Daniela said.

You didn’t move away—just let it happen, still half-focused on the conversation.

From your other side, Megan went a little quieter.

'Yeah,' she said, not missing a beat in the debate, 'but what is there to discover up in the air?'

Yoonchae opened her mouth—and Sophia jumped in first.

'We’ve already gone up, up and beyond,' she said, gesturing dramatically upward. 'We haven’t gone down, down and below yet.'

There was a brief pause as that registered.

'…why did that kind of make sense?' Daniela muttered.

Meanwhile, you had completely checked out. Tucked slightly under Manon’s arm as she leaned against you, you stared straight into the camera with a blank expression.

'They’re fighting again,' you said flatly. 'We’d be insane at debate club.'

Manon giggled right next to your ear, her grip tightening slightly as she laughed.

'Honestly,' she whispered, 'we’d win everything.'

You smiled a little at that, tilting your head slightly toward hers without thinking.

From beside you, Megan glanced over. Just for a second. Then she looked back at the others, jaw tightening ever so slightly as the conversation kept going.

'Y/N,' Daniela suddenly called from across the divide, pointing at you. 'What was your reasoning?'

You didn’t even hesitate. 'I watched H2O: Just Add Water growing up,' you deadpanned. 'I wanted my profession to be a mermaid. Need I say more?'

Manon lost it, laughing into your shoulder.

Megan let out a small, disbelieving laugh—but her eyes flicked back to where Manon was still leaning on you.

'Profession?!' Megan repeated, turning toward you.

'You were going to apply for that?' Lara added, grinning.

'I had plans.' You said seriously.

'I didn’t know this would be the most divisive one.' The host said, sounding almost apologetic as the noise kept rising.

Sophia suddenly pointed at Lara. 'You and your fairy tattoo.'

'I know!' Lara said, hands up in defence. 'I love a fairy. But I’d rather be a mermaid.'

'Fake fan.' Daniela muttered.

'Excuse me?!' Lara snapped back, laughing.

'And what if I am a fairy,' Sophia started, stepping forward slightly, 'and someone mistakes me for a mosquito and just—zaps me?'

'Oh my god, that’s actually a valid concern.' You said immediately.

'Thank you!' Sophia pointed at you.

'No, because imagine,' Manon added, now fully invested, still comfortably against you, 'you’re just flying peacefully and then—'

'—psst—gone.' Megan finished, flicking her fingers.

Her tone was light—but she stepped a little closer this time. Not quite between you and Manon.

But close.

'Okay but that wouldn’t happen to me.' Daniela argued.

'Why?' You asked.

'I have presence.' Daniela said confidently.

Everyone stared at her.

'…mosquitoes also have presence.' Lara replied.

'That’s not the same thing!'

'Yes it is!'

'No, it’s not—'

'Alright, okay—' The host tried to cut in, laughing.

Too late. Everyone was talking over each other now.

'Mermaids would literally eat you—'

'They would not eat me!'

'You don’t know that!'

'You’re not even in their eco-system!'

'Exactly, so why would they trust you?!'

'Because I’m friendly?!'

'Fish don’t care if you’re friendly!'

Somewhere in the middle of the chaos, Megan moved again. This time, she stepped right up next to you—close enough that your arms brushed properly.

Her hand lightly touched your side for a second, like she was guiding you back toward her without making a big deal of it. You shifted automatically.

Manon was still mid-argument, still laughing—but as you adjusted, you naturally leaned away from her and into Megan instead.

It was subtle. Easy. Like it had always been that way.

Megan relaxed almost instantly, her shoulder pressing lightly against yours. You didn’t even look at her—just let yourself settle there, comfortable.

'Oh god,' you muttered, dragging a hand down your face as the argument spiralled. 'Let’s move on before this gets out of hand again.'

Right next to you, Megan let out a quiet laugh—way softer now.

'Again?' She echoed.

'It’s already out of hand!' Manon added from your other side, still animated.

'Okay, okay!' The producer called, clearly trying not to laugh. 'Final answers—lock them in!'

'Mermaid!' Most of you said at once.

'Fairy!' Daniela and Yoonchae insisted, still unconvinced.

You just shook your head slightly, smiling to yourself.

Megan nudged you lightly with her shoulder. 'Mermaid was the right choice.'

You glanced at her, lips tugging up a little. 'Obviously.'

From behind you, Lara made a noise. 'You two are insufferable.'

---

'Alright,' the host said, smiling as the group settled again. 'Next one.'

'Would you rather perform with Destiny’s Child… or perform with the Spice Girls?'

This time, the reactions were immediate—but way less panicked. People moved quickly.

Lara, Manon, Daniela, Yoonchae, and Sophia all gathered on the blue side without too much hesitation.

Meanwhile, you and Megan drifted over to the red side together—your arms brushing slightly as you walked, like neither of you even thought about separating.

Megan started swaying almost instantly, a weird little side-to-side motion like she was already on stage.

'I kinda wanna have some fun—' She said, dragging the words out dramatically.

You turned to her, blinking. 'Girl, what.'

Sophia cackled from across the set, pointing straight at Megan. 'LOOK AT HER—'

Megan laughed, immediately ducking behind you like you were a human shield.

You laughed too, trying to shove her away slightly. 'Don’t hide now—commit to it!'

From the other side, Daniela made a noise. 'Why is she always hiding behind you?!'

'Because that’s her emotional support person,' Lara added instantly.

'That’s SICK.' Sophia said, still laughing.

'No, literally look at them,' Manon chimed in. 'They didn’t even hesitate—same side, same spot—'

'—attached at the hip,' Yoonchae finished.

'We’re just right.' Megan shot back, peeking out from behind you again.

'Disgusting.' Daniela said, though she was smiling.

'Actually disgusting.' Lara agreed.

'No one asked.' You muttered, but you were smiling.

'You didn’t have to ask—we’re witnessing it live.' Sophia said.

'Yeah, unfortunately.' Daniela added.

'Anyway—' Lara tried to continue, still grinning, 'I love the Spice Girls. I would love to perform with both deeply.'

'Yeah,' Manon nodded. 'This one’s hard.'

'You are in London, so…' The host added casually.

There was a split second where that landed.

Megan popped her head out from behind you. 'Exactly.' She said—in a very questionable British accent.

You froze. '…no.'

From the other side, Sophia pointed again. 'OH NO—don’t encourage her—'

But it was too late. A grin spread across your face as you turned slightly toward her, lowering your voice.

'If you wanna be my lover…' You sang quietly, matching her tone—and her terrible accent.

The reaction was immediate.

'NO WAY—' Daniela shouted.

'THEY’RE DOING IT AGAIN—' Lara laughed.

Megan immediately joined in. 'You gotta get with my friends—'

'Make it last forever—'

'—friendship never ends—'

The two of you started swaying in sync now, barely holding in laughter as you continued under your breath.

Across the set, chaos.

'Oh my god, I can’t watch this—' Sophia said, covering her face.

'Why are they like this?' Yoonchae laughed.

'This is actually painful,' Daniela added, though she wasn’t looking away.

'…if you wanna be my lover—'

Now you were both doing small, exaggerated dance moves, shoulders bouncing slightly as the memory clicked into place. It wasn’t just the song. It was that performance.

Your expression shifted slightly—half amused, half nostalgic—as you started recreating a move from your trainee evaluation days.

Megan noticed instantly. 'No way—' She laughed, joining in.

From across the line, Manon pointed aggressively. 'SEE—THIS IS WHAT I MEAN—'

'They’re in their own world!' Lara yelled.

'HELLO? We’re still filming!' Daniela added.

Both of you were now fully committing—bad British accents, exaggerated choreo, completely unserious.

Across the set, Lara scream-laughed. 'OH MY GOD—'

'MAKE IT STOP—' Sophia added.

'No, keep going.' Yoonchae said, fully entertained.

That snapped you out of it. Immediate regret.

You let out a small, embarrassed groan, quickly stepping forward and wrapping your arms around Megan from behind, hiding your face against her shoulder.

'Nope. No. I’m done.'

The reaction was instant.

'OH MY GOD—' Daniela yelled.

'THERE IT IS AGAIN—' Lara pointed.

'They’re actually unbearable.' Sophia said, laughing.

'This is insane behaviour.' Manon added.

Megan laughed, not even trying to move away. She just reached back slightly, holding your arms where they were wrapped around her, giving them a couple of light pats.

It was gentle—automatic.

'LOOK AT THAT—' Yoonchae pointed. 'She didn’t even react! That’s normal for them!'

'Yeah, that’s routine.' Daniela said.

'That’s muscle memory.' Lara added.

'It was good!' Manon called out, still laughing.

'No it wasn’t.' You mumbled into Megan’s shoulder.

'It was accurate.' Daniela added.

'That’s worse!'

Megan was still smiling, glancing back at you. 'We ate that, actually.'

From the side, Sophia made a loud noise. 'YOU DID NOT—'

You lifted your head just enough to look at her. '…we did not.'

'We did.'

'Stop lying.'

'I’m not—'

'Alright!' The host cut in, laughing. 'Final answers locked?'

'Destiny’s Child!' Most of them said again.

'Spice Girls.' Megan said confidently.

You sighed, reluctantly letting go of her and stepping back into place—but not before your hand brushed hers again for a second.

'…Spice Girls.' You repeated, still a little embarrassed—but smiling.

From the blue side, Daniela shook her head. 'I’m actually sick of you two.'

'Same.' Sophia added.

Lara nodded. 'Like… happy for you. But also—'

'—break up.' Yoonchae finished.

Manon just laughed. 'No, don’t break up. Just… maybe stand on different sides once?'

Megan didn’t even look away from you. 'No.'

You smiled slightly. 'No.'

'See?!' Daniela shouted.

---

'Okay,' the host said, glancing at the next card. 'This one might get interesting.'

You were already suspicious.

'Would you rather accidentally post your drafts… or accidentally like your ex’s post?'

'…ohhhhhhhhhhh.' The sound left you slowly, long and deeply pained, like you’d just been personally attacked.

'No,' you added immediately after. 'No, I don’t like this one.'

Around you, everyone was reacting at once again—groans, laughter, dramatic pacing.

'Okay, choose your sides!'

Movement split the group quickly. Daniela, Megan, Sophia, Lara, and Yoonchae all drifted toward the red side.

Manon stepped onto blue. You didn’t even hesitate—you went straight to her.

'Hell no,' you said, grabbing onto her arm and pulling it to your chest like it was the safest place on earth. 'Nahh.'

You shook your head aggressively, already backing further onto the blue side.

'You better shoot me before you catch me stalking my ex.' You mumbled into her shoulder.

Manon let out a soft laugh, tilting her head slightly to rest against yours for a second, rubbing gently like she understood more than you were saying out loud.

Across the line, Megan had started to say something—but stopped. Her expression shifted slightly as she watched you. Not confused. Just… attentive.

'Okay, okay,' Daniela said from across the line, thinking it through. 'Depends which ex… but I think I’m over here.'

'See?' Lara added. 'But it’s whatever—it’s an accident. Literally everyone has done it.'

You didn’t even look at them.

'Nope,' you muttered. 'Couldn’t be me.'

Megan’s eyes flicked down to the way you were holding onto Manon—arms wrapped tight, tucked in, smaller than usual.

She pressed her lips together slightly, thinking.

'What about stalking your ex’s new partner?' The host added.

That made people pause.

'THAT’S—' Lara started.

'Oh, that’s really bad.' Daniela finished at the exact same time.

Both of them winced.

'Yeah.' Manon murmured quietly beside you.

Megan glanced at you again. You hadn’t moved.

'But what about your, like… current partner’s ex?' Lara continued, now fully spiralling. 'Like when you stalk them.'

She looked genuinely stressed now. 'That’s bad.'

'I don’t think that’s as bad.' Megan said, shrugging slightly—but her voice was a little quieter now.

Sophia nodded. 'Yeah, same.'

Lara turned to them like they’d just betrayed her. 'What do you mean it’s not as bad?'

Megan smiled a little. 'I think it’s kind of endearing.'

'Endearing?!' Lara repeated, staring at her.

Megan’s eyes flicked to you again—just for a second—before she continued.

'Yeah!' she said, still light, but a little more deliberate now. 'If I was dating someone and they liked my ex’s post, I’d be like—' she softened her voice teasingly, '‘awww, you’re a little jealous.’'

'NO,' Lara said immediately. 'No, no, no—that is not cute!'

'It’s a little cute.' Sophia insisted.

'It is not cute!'

While they argued, you stayed exactly where you were—arms still wrapped around Manon’s, not moving an inch. You glanced briefly toward the others… then back down.

'I stand by my decision,' you said quietly. 'I think that’s pretty self-explanatory.'

Manon shifted slightly beside you, her arm still secure in your hold.

'Yeah,' she said gently. 'Fair.'

Across from you, Megan’s gaze lingered a second longer. There was a flicker of something there—something softer than jealousy, but sitting right next to it.

She hesitated. Then took a small step forward—like she might cross over. But Daniela started talking again, and the moment passed.

Across the set, the chaos kept going.

'You’re telling me you wouldn’t overthink that for days—'

'I would not!'

'You’re lying!'

'Okay but accidentally posting your drafts is worse—'

'No it’s not—what do you even have in there?!'

You exhaled softly, shaking your head just a little, a small smile creeping back in despite everything.

'Alright,' the host said, trying to regain control again. 'Didn't mean to cause an argument today. That's my bad.'

'No, you're good. This happens most days. I think its healthy.' You clarify for the poor woman who looks a little too stressed.

She laughs lightly before glancing down at her card prompts. 'Okay, moving on...'

As the attention shifted away, Megan finally moved.

Not enough to make a scene—just a small step closer to the centre line again, her eyes flicking back to you one more time. Still checking. Still a little concerned.

---

'Would you rather never wear makeup again… or never style your hair again?'

There was a brief pause—then a wave of very immediate reactions.

'Never style my hair again.' Megan said instantly, already stepping onto the red side like there was no other option.

'No hesitation?' Manon laughed.

'None.' Megan confirmed.

On the blue side, Sophia and Lara moved at the same time.

'Never wear makeup again.' Sophia said, nodding.

'Same.' Lara added.

Yoonchae joined them a second later, thoughtful but agreeing. Manon followed, glancing between both sides before committing.

That left you and Daniela. Both of you still standing directly in the middle.

'…this is hard.' Daniela muttered.

'For me,' Sophia continued, already explaining, 'I could have the best makeup—but if my hair is a mess, I’ll look not put together.'

'That’s true.' Lara nodded.

'Especially with curly hair,' Daniela added, gesturing to herself. 'You need to style it.'

You tilted your head slightly, thinking. 'I just feel like makeup hates my skin,' you said honestly. 'So in turn, I hate makeup… and my hair is somewhat okay on its own.'

You gave a small shrug. 'Can I live without both? I think, honestly, I’d thrive.'

That got a laugh out of Yoonchae. She stepped out from the blue side, coming to stand next to you in the middle. 'I agree.' She said simply.

'There we go.' You nodded, like you’d just formed a new team.

'I… relate to you with that,' Megan said, looking over at you, 'but I actually kinda feel the opposite.'

She gestured to herself. 'I can’t style my hair without doing makeup.'

'Really?' Lara asked.

'Yeah,' Megan nodded. 'It just doesn’t feel finished.'

She hesitated for a second, then added, a little quieter, 'Also… your skin is just like—' she gestured vaguely toward you, half-smiling, 'you don’t even need make-up. I’m kind of jealous, not gonna lie.'

There was a tiny pause. You looked at her properly then.

'Hey,' you said, softer now, 'I love your skin just the way it is.'

Megan blinked slightly, caught off guard. Before she could respond—

'UGH—' Daniela made a loud gagging noise.

'Oh my god, I’m going to be sick—' Sophia added dramatically.

'Can you not do this right now?' Lara laughed.

'Shut up.' You muttered, trying not to smile.

'I’m serious!' Daniela continued. 'This is not the time for that!'

'This is a workplace!' Sophia added.

'We’re filming!' Lara said.

From the red side, Megan just shook her head, smiling a little to herself now—still looking at you.

'I could put it up in a bun.' Daniela suggested, trying to get things back on track.

'That’s still styling though.' Megan replied immediately, but her tone was lighter again.

Daniela froze. '…oh. So I’d just have to wake up,' she continued slowly, 'and walk around with my hair as is?'

'Yeah.' Megan said, way too casually. 'I mean,' she added, 'I feel like you can brush it. There’s nothing against that, I don’t think.'

Daniela turned to her. 'I can’t even brush my hair—it’s curly. I got no choice.'

'That’s true.' Lara said, nodding again.

'You’d just wake up and accept your fate.' Sophia added.

'I don’t like that fate.' Daniela said flatly.

You snorted quietly beside Yoonchae. 'Middle gang is thriving.' You muttered.

'We are.' She agreed.

Across from you, Manon laughed. 'You guys just don’t want to commit.'

'We’ve evolved past the need to choose.' You replied. 'We’d survive either way.'

The host smiles. 'Some would argue that's the only correct answer.'

Everyone turns to look at Daniela expectantly. 'And where are you standing, Daniela?' The host asks.

Daniela nodded. 'Yeah, I’m still thinking.'

'Of course you are.' Megan laughed.

Her eyes flicked back to you again—just briefly—but this time there was something softer sitting there.

---

'Alright, next one!'

You all shifted back into place, a little looser now, conversations overlapping as the host read the card.

'Would you rather speak every language… or play every instrument?'

This time, the split happened pretty naturally. You stepped onto the blue side with Daniela and Yoonchae.

Across from you, Manon, Megan, Lara, and Sophia grouped on red.

Sophia didn’t even wait. 'Play every instrument,' she said confidently. 'Because music is communication.'

You blinked at her. 'Girl…' you tilted your head. 'What do you think knowing every language is then?'

A few of the girls laughed.

'It’s the way we communicate with the world.' Sophia shot back, like she’d just made a ground-breaking point.

'Because that’s easy to learn.' Yoonchae added, casually pointing at them.

There was a pause.

'... easy to learn?' Manon repeated, turning to Megan.

'Easy?' Megan echoed, both of them looking at Yoonchae like she’d just said the most insane thing of the day.

Yoonchae just shrugged. 'It takes time, but—'

'Time?!' Daniela cut in, stepping forward slightly. 'You can speak to anybody you want in the entire world. You’ll know every single language, anywhere you go.'

'Exactly.' You nodded.

'But here,' Lara jumped in, gesturing to their side, 'we can create anything.'

Sophia nodded along with her. 'That’s what I’m saying.'

You looked between them… then back at your side… then back at them again.

'…okay but imagine this.' You started, stepping forward slightly.

They quieted down just enough to listen.

'How sexy would it be for me to just suddenly be able to speak Tagalog,' you pointed at Sophia, 'and have a full-on conversation with Soph.'

Sophia’s expression immediately softened.

Before you could continue, Megan leaned forward slightly from the other side, eyes on you. 'Okay, but talk to me in Chinese then.'

You blinked, caught off guard for a second. 'Right now?' You asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Yeah.' She nodded, like it was obvious. 'Go on.'

'She said if she could—' Lara started.

'I’m testing the concept.' Megan cut in, not taking her eyes off you.

'You’re so annoying.' You muttered, but there was a smile tugging at your lips.

'Just a little bit.' She shrugged.

You shook your head, then continued anyway—

'Or Hindi?' You added, pointing at Lara.

She raised an eyebrow, still watching the two of you.

'Or German, Korean, and so on—' You continued, pointing around at the others one by one.

Megan tilted her head slightly, still looking at you. 'Still waiting, by the way.'

'You’re not getting it for free.' You shot back.

That earned a laugh from Manon.

There was a small pause as it all sank in. You shrugged slightly, voice a little quieter now. 'Guess I only picked this side so I could talk to them in their native languages. Be some sort of comfort.'

It was silent for a few seconds.

'Awwwwww, Y/NNN!' Sophia cooed instantly, hand over her heart.

Manon smiled, 'That’s actually really cute.'

Daniela nodded, 'Yeah, that’s a good reason.'

Yoonchae gave you a small approving nod too.

Megan’s expression softened a little too—but she still added, 'Still waiting for my Chinese, by the way.'

You glanced at her. 'Later.'

She smiled slightly at that. 'I’ll remember that.'

'Yeah, whatever.' Lara said loudly, breaking the moment as she laughed.

You turned to her, narrowing your eyes with your hand over your chest in mock hurt. 'Wow.'

'I’m joking!' She grinned. 'That was cute. Don’t get used to it.'

'Too late,' Megan added. 'That was very wholesome.'

'Yeah,' Sophia nodded. 'You can’t take it back now.'

You rolled your eyes slightly, but there was a small smile there anyway.

'Alright, alright,' the host cut in, clearly amused. 'Are we ready to move on?'

You glanced across at them one more time, shaking your head. 'Y’all are missing out.' You muttered.

'Or you are.' Lara shot back.

'Debatable. But… we’d all make it work anyway.'

The others nod, some reluctantly, some amused.

The host smiles. 'That’s a very Katseye answer.'

---

'Alright, next!' The host called, already smiling like they knew this would be easy.

'Would you rather forget lyrics on stage… or forget choreo?'

'—ohhh lyrics.'

It wasn’t even co-ordinated, but somehow everyone said it at the same time—already moving toward the blue side in one messy wave.

'No hesitation.' Manon laughed as you all crowded together.

'None,' Megan added. 'Absolutely none.'

The chatter started instantly, everyone talking over each other.

'Yeah, it’s dangerous if one forgets choreo.' Lara said, gesturing as she spoke.

'Yeah,' you nodded quickly, squeezing in beside her, 'there’s always too much happening—one of us would go flying.'

'Exactly!' Daniela added. 'Like, actually injured.'

'And then we all go down,' Sophia said. 'It’s a chain reaction.'

'Domino effect.' Yoonchae nodded.

'Whereas with lyrics—' Megan started.

'—you can just hold the mic outwards.' You finished, miming it, arm stretched toward an imaginary crowd.

A few of them laughed.

'Yeah!' Lara pointed at you. 'Just let the fans sing.'

'Exactly,' you said. 'team effort.'

The host looked between all of you, clearly amused. 'So choreo’s a health and safety nightmare… whereas lyrics is kind of—'

'Recoverable.' Sophia said.

'Manageable.' Manon added.

'Survivable.' Daniela nodded.

As everyone kept talking, the energy softened just slightly.

Sophia had shifted closer behind Lara, resting her head lightly against her shoulder. Without really thinking about it, you joined in and leaned on Sophia from behind as well, your head settling comfortably against hers.

She didn’t even react verbally—just lifted her hand, gently holding your head in place and absentmindedly massaging it.

You let out a quiet exhale, still half-listening to the others. 'Yeah,' you murmured, almost to yourself. 'I can survive forgetting lyrics.'

'Same.' Megan said, glancing over.

Her voice was casual—but her eyes lingered.

She watched you for a second longer than necessary, taking in the way you’d gone all soft and quiet, tucked into Sophia like it was the most natural thing in the world.

A small smile pulled at her lips—unconscious, fond. She shook her head slightly to herself, like she didn’t even realise she was doing it.

'Alright,' the host laughed, clapping once. 'I think this might be our first unanimous answer.'

You nodded slightly, a small smile on your face. 'Finally something we can all agree on.'

Megan glanced at you again, that same soft expression still there.

'Yeah.' She murmured, mostly to herself.

---

'Would you rather it’s always day… or always night?'

'—always night!'

The answer echoed out almost instantly. Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Yoonchae, and Megan all moved to the red side in one confident wave.

You didn’t move. Neither did Lara. The two of you stayed planted in the middle, both looking like you were actually taking this one seriously.

'I…' Lara started, tilting her head slightly. 'Okay, here’s my thing. I love the night time—deeply—but I love the sun. And I need the sun. It gives me joy and energy.'

You nodded slowly. 'Yeah…'

There was a pause. Then Daniela frowned slightly from the other side. '…you’re so right.'

She walked over.

Manon followed right after. 'Wait, yeah.'

Just like that, the balance shifted.

You exhaled, still thinking. 'Like… okay,' you started, glancing between both sides. 'I love my sleep, right? So if it was always night, I’d probably just end up hibernating—like, you’d never see me again.'

A few of them laughed.

'I’d fully ruin my sleep schedule and disappear,' you added. 'But the sun actually gives me energy, so… I think I have to be on this side.'

You stepped over to blue with Lara, Daniela, and Manon.

'I like the night air better.' Yoonchae said from across the line.

'Me too,' Sophia nodded. 'I like seeing the stars and the moon.'

You pointed at her immediately. 'That’s a good point—I love stargazing.'

'Exactly.' She said, satisfied.

'You can’t even see the stars in LA.' Manon added from your side.

'Right?' Daniela nodded. 'But the beach, like the sun—you can’t tan!'

'Girl, I’m not tryna tan.' Megan shot back instantly.

You glanced between them as the volume started rising again.

'I much prefer—yeah I’m tryna tannnn,' Lara said, dragging the word out dramatically. 'You know what I mean—I wanna be melanated and joyful.'

'There’s self-tanner.' Megan replied, completely unimpressed.

'That’s not the same!'

'Yes it is!'

'No it’s not—'

You physically turned your head back and forth, watching them like a tennis match.

'Sun is better for your mental health—'

'Night is peaceful!'

'Sunrise is peaceful!'

'So is midnight!'

'Midnight is when problems happen!'

'Sunburn is a problem!'

'Oh my god—' You slowly took a step back from the group, lowering your voice. '…what is going on.' You muttered to yourself.

Right on cue, the host’s voice cut through the chaos. Everyone paused mid-argument.

'Okay! Have we got our answers?'

'Yup, night time all the way.' Megan says.

'We're partying up in the sun over this way!' Daniela bounces back.

'Make sure you put sun screen on then!' Sophia reminds everyone.

You just shake your head, a quiet giggle slipping out as the noise builds again around you.

The host laughs, glancing between both sides. 'Yeah… I’m not even gonna try to settle that. I’ll just mark that as… completely divided.'

You let out a small sigh, shaking your head. 'You’re all making her job harder, you know.' You mumble, gesturing toward the host with a teasing look.

'WE’RE JUST PASSIONATE!' Daniela blurts—far louder than necessary.

You jolt instantly, shoulders jumping as you duck behind Lara without even thinking, gripping onto her arm.

Lara snorts, barely holding it together. 'Daniela, indoor voice—please.'

'Sorry!' Daniela says, immediately softer this time, hands coming up in surrender.

You peek out from behind Lara, still clinging slightly. '…See?' You mutter, half laughing. 'Danger.'

'Okay! Final question! Would you rather have the power of teleportation… or telepathy?'

'—ooohhhhh, teleportation, one million percent—excuse me—girl move.' You were quick to choose your answer, gently shoving the girls so you could get to where you wanted to be.

'Wait, wait—what’s telepathy again?' Yoonchae asked, looking between everyone.

'Reading minds.' Sophia explained.

'No, wait—is that telekinesis?' Megan cut in.

'No—telekinesis is moving things.' Lara said.

'Then what’s—'

'It doesn’t matter!' You cut through, still trying to squeeze past them. 'Teleportation!'

'Hold on, hold on,' the host laughed. 'Let’s change it—teleportation… or telekinesis.'

'OH,' Daniela said. 'Okay, that’s different.'

This time, people moved with more intention. You stepped straight onto the blue side with Lara, Manon, Sophia, and Daniela.

Across from you, Megan and Yoonchae stood on red.

'Telekinesis?' Yoonchae said, nodding. 'I love telekinesis.'

'Yeah, its cool.' Megan agreed.

'No but teleportation,' Sophia jumped in, already trying to convince them. 'You could go to Korea and then just jump back to LA. No flights.'

Yoonchae paused. '…oh. That’s true.'

You stepped forward slightly, fully invested now. 'Yeah, imagine tour,' you said. 'We wouldn’t have to leave countries early—we’d actually have time to explore. And then we could just suddenly—poof—be somewhere else.'

Manon immediately pointed at you. 'Retweet.'

'Right?!' You said.

'But what else are you supposed to do with teleportation?' Megan started, still unsure. 'Like, if I needed to grab something—'

'Yeah!' Sophia backed her up, before pausing.

'Think about it,' Lara cut in, stepping forward like she was about to deliver a speech. 'Teleportation is so practical—what Y/N said, but also…'

She started counting on her fingers. 'Say you’re about to get kidnapped. There’s a tsunami. Someone’s breaking into your house—'

'Why is it always so extreme?' Daniela laughed.

'—you just teleport elsewhere!' Lara finished, ignoring her.

There was a beat.

Megan blinked. '…you’re so right, oh my god.'

And just like that, she walked over.

'NO WAY.' You laughed.

'That was fast.' Sophia added.

'And like,' you continued, gesturing toward Manon, 'some of our families don't even live in LA—imagine just going home. Like back to Switzerland whenever you want.'

Manon nodded immediately. 'Yeah. I’d be gone every other hour.'

'Exactly,' you said. 'Ugh, someone invent it now please—I wanna teleport so bad.'

'For real,' Sophia added. 'We wouldn’t even have to deal with LA traffic.'

'That alone—' Daniela shook her head. 'Sold.'

'Okay, okay,' the host laughed, stepping in as the group settled. 'Final agreement?'

'Teleportation!' Most of you called.

Even Yoonchae hesitated… then slowly stepped over. 'Okay… teleportation.'

'YESS.' Sophia cheered.

'There we go,' the host smiled. 'Final agreement. Thank you, guys—big round of applause, that was so much fun.'

'Thank you! That was fun.' You all said together, clapping as the energy softened.

The cameras kept rolling for a few seconds longer—little laughs, people stepping off their marks, chatting quietly.

'Wait, I’m still thinking about the kidnapping scenario.' Megan said.

'Why was that your deciding factor?' Manon laughed.

'Because it was convincing!'

You shook your head, smiling to yourself as you stepped away from the set. Megan fell into step behind you almost immediately—like she always did.

Your hands found each other without looking, fingers brushing before loosely linking.

You walked slightly ahead of her, guiding the direction without thinking. Behind you, Megan’s grip shifted—her hand slipping from yours just enough for one of her fingers to hook into the belt loop of your jeans instead.

It was light. Absentminded. Like she just needed to stay connected.

You didn’t even question it. Just kept walking, a small smile tugging at your lips as the noise of the set faded behind you.

---

The studio doors finally swung open, a cool rush of London air hitting you all at once as you stepped out onto the pavement.

'Alright, straight into the van, guys.' Missy called, guiding you toward the next stop.

It was darker now—streetlights glowing, the city buzzing in that quiet, late-evening way that somehow felt calmer than the day.

You exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly as you walked alongside the group.

Almost immediately, Megan drifted closer to your side again—like it was instinct.

'I’m just saying, fairies have range.' Daniela continued, still fully invested.

'Oh my god, not this again.' Sophia groaned.

'No, because you guys completely dismissed the flying aspect—'

'We did not dismiss it!' Manon argued.

'Yes you did!'

'Mermaids are still better!' Lara called back over her shoulder.

You let out a quiet breath, your energy finally catching up to you. Without thinking, you leaned slightly into Megan’s side as you walked.

'I’m so over this debate.' You mumbled.

Megan glanced down at you immediately, her expression softening. 'Yeah?' She asked, quieter than the chaos around you.

'Yeah.'

She didn’t hesitate—just shifted a little closer, her shoulder pressing more firmly against yours.

'You did good today.' She added under her breath.

You huffed a small laugh. 'We argued about mermaids for ten minutes.'

'Exactly.' She said. 'Important work.'

That got a real smile out of you.

Behind you, the argument carried on like nothing had changed.

'But fairies are more versatile—'

'How?!'

'They literally fly!'

'So do planes!'

'That’s not the same thing—'

You shook your head slightly, smiling to yourself as the van door slid open. One by one, everyone started piling in, still talking, still laughing, still arguing.

Megan let the others go ahead first.

Her hand found yours again—fingers slipping between yours like it was second nature. You stepped up into the van, still holding onto her, but she didn’t let go—instead, her grip shifted slightly as she followed behind you.

Just before you moved further in, you felt it—one of her fingers hooking loosely into your belt loop again, tugging you back just a fraction.

You glanced over your shoulder. She was already looking at you. A small smile. Soft. Tired. You shook your head a little, but your lips curved up anyway.

'Come on.' You murmured.

'I am.' She said.

You guided her further into the van, hands still connected, her finger still hooked there like she needed the contact. You ended up settling into your seat side by side, your knee knocking lightly against hers as the others filled in around you.

The noise carried on—Daniela still arguing, Lara laughing, Sophia trying, and failing, to mediate.

But it felt quieter somehow. Warmer.

Megan leaned back into her seat, her shoulder pressing lightly into yours again. You didn’t move away.

Another interview. Another round of chaos.

But for now, you were warm, comfortable, and exactly where you wanted to be.

it was a thursday afternoon when you and sophia were invited to daniela's house to film for the video you both (reluctantly) agreed to appear in. it was the only day the entire month where you both had a free day, between your countless photoshoots and paid appearances and sophia's recordings.

and so there you both were, awkwardly standing outside daniela's house on a random thursday afternoon, waiting for her to get the door. you looked at anything but your ex, eyes darting to the garden in front of the house to sophia's mercedes-benz, glinting underneath the sun.

coincidentally, you had both pulled up to daniela's place at the same time, and there was one open parking spot on the street. your car was in front of sophia's, though, and you were ready to park in, when she swerved right in before you, stealing your spot. you hadn't recognized her then, so you climbed out of your bugatti, fuming, about to throw hands.

sophia didn't seem to see you either at first, as there was a smug shit-eating grin on her face, but when her eyes landed upon your frame, it faltered.

in the end you just pulled up into daniela's driveway, and now here you are, a few steps away from... how do you even describe her?

before you could gather your thoughts, you heard daniela yelp behind the door. she probably tripped on something, the silly girl.

you and sophia could only chuckle lightly before you went back into that awkward silence, heads turned away from one another.

the door swung open and out tumbled daniela, her hair disheveled, a big, goofy grin plastered on her face. you knew her long enough that she was planning something, but didn't question it.

after a round of greetings, an offer for snacks (which neither of you refused), and a quick summary on what's to come, daniela forced you and sophia to sit next to each other on the loveseat couch facing the camera.

you were used to cameras, being an actress and all. so why did your heart stutter as you sat next to sophia?

daniela shot you a thumbs-up and got the camera rolling. she introduced the three of you, but you weren't really listening. all you could think about was how sophia fucking laforteza was a breath away, about how incredibly nice she smelled and—

"earth to y/n?"

you snapped forward, giving the camera a sheepish smile. "shoot, my bad. what did you say?"

daniela clicked her tongue. "i said we're going to give our lovely viewers some insight on your past relationship before we start. so, like, how long did you guys date?"

"five years," sophia responded. "four years all throughout uni, and we stayed together for one more after graduating."

you nodded, smiling despite yourself. "yeah. it was kind of funny because we met in this mandated course that every freshmen had to take, and we weren't even from the same departments. i always looked forward to general education because there was a pretty girl there."

"oh! i remember now," daniela exclaimed. "all you could talk about was this 'drop-dead gorgeous girl' in one of your classes whenever we were on call."

"you know, for the record, i thought y/n was cute too," sophia butted in. you looked sideways at sophia, who was already meeting your gaze.

"okay, lovebirds," daniela drawled, flipping through her notes. "the next question in this intro is..." you and sophia broke eye contact and you coughed into your fist, facing the camera again.

"why did you two break up?"

you swallowed nervously, reminding yourself that you were born for this. play it cool. but memories of you and sophia screaming at each other in the living room, ignoring each other for weeks on end, and how you cried yourself to sleep every night flooded your mind.

you knew you couldn't ignore the question as much as you wanted to, so you spoke up.

"i believe i can speak for the both of us when i say that we had loved each other with our whole hearts," you began. "but sometimes, love isn't enough. life happened. our careers had taken off, and we had to let each other go so we can continue to grow on our own."

and suddenly, the memory of your last night together invaded your mind.

it was another fight over something silly, and sophia had crumpled to her knees and broken down in tears, saying that she couldn't go on like this anymore. you had pulled her in your arms, tears streaming down your face as well. you didn't want to let sophia go, even if all you did lately was fighting.

"you know we have to," sophia told you.

the next morning, she was gone. all of sophia's clothes in your shared closet disappeared. her side of the bed was cold and bare. it was as if she was never here to begin with.

before you could dive even deeper into your memory, daniela, thank the heavens, had snapped you out of it.

she cleared her throat, clasping her hands together. "that wraps up our intro! sophia and y/n, my two best friends in the world, on 'never have i ever'!"

sometimes, you were grateful for daniela's loud mouth.

"alright. first question up! never have i ever..."

daniela smirked, winking at you behind the camera.

"never have i ever flirted with others while we were in a relationship."

you opened your mouth, but sophia beat you to it, smiling sweetly at the camera.

"i have not," she declared confidently.

"i have," you admitted.

daniela's jaw dropped, eyes widening in surprise. you could sense sophia's glare, and your hands were starting to clam up.

"let me explain! there was a valid reason for it," you said defensively.

"sure," you heard sophia mutter. you don't have to look at her to know that she was rolling her eyes at you.

"it was our fourth anniversary, and we were seniors in college. i had so many work piled up that i may have forgotten it was our anniversary." you scratched your neck, chuckling.

"i didn't remember until daniela was congratulating me and asking what we were doing to celebrate."

you remember the panic that arose. you threw on a dress shirt and slacks before running the short distance to the restaurant, running into half a dozen pedestrians. by the time you arrived, you looked like you ran a marathon.

everyone stared at you when you entered, with your messy hair, loose collar, and face red with exertion. but it didn't matter, because at the moment, the only thing that did matter was your girlfriend, who was glaring at you from a table near the glass paned window.

"i'm so sorry for being late," you panted, managing an embarrassed smile. sophia stared at you before she scoffed, motioning you to sit down.

you tried making small talk with her. you asked how her day was going, and if she had been waiting for you for a long time. sophia gave you the cold shoulder, only replying with one-worded mumbles. eventually, after your meals had arrived, she just straight-up ignored you, despite your repeated apologies.

sophia perked up. "i remember this. i was really pissed off at you."

"er... so, the flirting?" daniela asked.

"sophia was ignoring me through the whole dinner, and i was running out of ideas. she didn't even look at me. and maybe i deserved that silent treatment, but i was desperate. and then this waitress around our age stopped by our table and asked if we needed anything."

sophia's face hardened as you went on, her lips pressed in a thin line. you didn't notice, and continued to recount your story.

"i asked her what she would recommend for dessert, and she launched into a whole list of what they had to offer. so i had the bright idea to subtly flirt with her, so i told her 'i'll have whatever you like best', so that sophia would finally acknowledge me." you laughed, but you fell silent as you glanced at sophia, who looked like she was about to commit arson.

"the waitress ended up giving me a mille-feuille and a free shot of tequila," you finished.

"you forgot the best part," sophia added, her eyes darkening.

you stared at her questioningly, because you cannot recall anything else happening for the life of you.

"she wrote her number on the receipt, remember? i couldn't believe it. in front of me! the waitress was flirting with my girlfriend, right before my fucking eyes! on our anniversary!" sophia exploded.

you and daniela stared at her in amusement. sophia seemed to realize her grave mistake and groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"i'm definitely keeping that in the video," daniela cackled.

"i hate you both," sophia lamented.

you snickered. "but honestly, that was the last straw that night, i think. sophia refused to speak to me in the restaurant, refused to talk when we walked back. hell, she didn't even walk next to me! when we got back to our apartment, she walked straight into the bedroom and slammed the door in my face.

"i made sophia's favorite childhood dessert as a peace offering. we went back to her hometown two years into dating and i had asked her mother for some of her recipes. anyway, when i walked into our room, i saw her curled up in her blanket. i thought she looked adorable, but when i heard her soft sniffles, i only remember feeling my heart break."

and that was true. nothing was worse than seeing sophia upset.

"i set the food down on the beside table and engulfed her in a hug. i apologized for everything, and kissed the top of her head." you glanced over at sophia again, and you could see the slightest twitch pulling at the corner of her lips.

"i eventually pulled away from the hug, but sophia let out a whine of protest and i settled back in to bed. we ate and watched a movie and cuddled together all night."

you truly thought that apart from the last few months you had where you only fought with sophia, the most painful memories were the ones that you were genuinely and perfectly content and happy with each other.

because, pray tell, how did you go from being the oxygen each other breathed to being almost-strangers now? 

“i can’t believe that you just revealed to the whole wide world that i give in into cuddling,” sophia said, smiling at you.

you grinned back at her, before the two of you burst into laughter. things had always been so easy with sophia.

“ugh, love…” daniela sighed dramatically, which only made you and sophia laugh even harder.

it was moments like these, where you laughed along with each other, that you wondered why it got so difficult in the end.

"alright, second question!" daniela cheered. she's fumbling with her notes, muttering curses under her breath. she's never been the organized one. back when all three of you lived together, you were the one who arranged her things neatly, and you'd scold daniela every time after you helped her. you always complained to sophia about daniela being a slob, but sophia had laughed and said that you adored daniela enough to do it every single time.

"here we go!" daniela exclaimed, holding up her card. "never have i ever lied to you before."

you thought about it carefully, glancing over at sophia. have you ever lied to this gorgeous woman sitting next to you, the same woman that you've loved for so long?

"i have never," you said. you don't lie, especially not to sophia, because what reason do you have to?

daniela chuckled, leaning forward. "i'm surprised it took you a while to answer, y/n. we all know you can't lie."

"yes i can! i'm an actress, lying is basically my job." your eyebrows furrowed. "wait, that sounded wrong. cut that out, dani."

dani sighed, raising her hands up in surrender. "and you, sophia?" she asked pointedly to your ex.

you looked at sophia, who seemed lost in her thoughts, wondering why she's taking so long to answer.

and just then, sophia smiled brightly and sat up. "i'm proud to say that i have never!"

daniela raised an eyebrow. "really? why don't i believe that?"

you looked between daniela and sophia. was there something that they weren't telling you? but you saw the laugh threatening to bubble out of daniela and figured that dani was just teasing her.

"i really have never," sophia argued.

"really?" you joined in, facing her.

"really!"

"what about that time when you said that i looked really pretty?"

sophia crossed her arms. "now why would i lie about that?"

"because!" you chortled, shaking your head. "you know how i look in the mornings, sophia."

she looked away, mumbling something you couldn't make out. your laughter died instantly and you strained your ears to hear her.

"i've always thought that you looked beautiful, y/n. especially in the mornings."

you think you stopped breathing for a minute. how could she just openly say things like that? how does she still have an iron grip on your emotions, even after you had broken things off?

and how could i be the most beautiful, when sophia is literally right there?

sophia decided to continue. her and her big mouth. then again, all three of you were yappatrons, so who are you to talk?

"you always said that i was the prettiest girl in any room."

you could only nod. it was true, sophia is the prettiest in any room she walks into.

"but not until you walk in after me. nobody is as beautiful as you, y/n. and that's why i have never. i've never lied to you about how absolutely stunning you are."

you felt a little light-headed. you can feel the butterflies erupting inside you. how the hell is she so smooth with it? with all of this? you were an actress, god damn it. you were supposed to be fine with all of this. oscar and golden globe winning awards piled in your display case.

but you can't pretend that you didn't love sophia.

in every universe, you think you'd still love her.

"happy with that answer, y/n?" daniela asked teasingly.

you wanted to hit her so badly right now.

"i'm starving," daniela complained. "i haven’t even had breakfast yet. hold on, guys. let me get some cereal." she paused the recording and promptly left the room. sophia and you exchanged a glance before looking away, the air tense.

cereal. now, what did that remind you of? 

"hybrid cereal!" sophia beamed, showing you her creation. it was a mix of froot loops and frosted flakes and some fruits she had arranged on a plate to form a smiley face. not that sophia was a horrible cook, but she believed that her greatest discovery in life was mixing two different cereal boxes into a bowl and called it an invention.

you, being the hopeless romantic that was head-over-heels over sophia, only agreed.

there wasn't much to say about breakfast, except that you both enjoyed your bowls of hybrid cereal and that sophia had fought you to death for the last piece of kiwi on the plate. she was so happy about her "victory" that she was dancing in her seat as she chewed on the kiwi, smiling happily, in pure and utter bliss. as if she was the happiest girl in the world.

you didn't realize that you were smiling as you watched her, and that was when it hit you. you wouldn't mind having this for the rest of your life. you wouldn't mind having hybrid cereal forever, or giving up the last piece of fruit on your plate for your girlfriend, and that you wouldn't mind watching her happy little dances for eternity.

before you could think anything through, you opened your mouth and the words came tumbling out.

“you’re all i want for the rest of my life.”

sophia immediately stopped dancing and stared at you with wide eyes. 

shit. did you screw up? who says things like that during breakfast?

neither of you said anything for a few moments. you tried to think of something to apologize for saying that out of nowhere. there was an ache in your chest that you were trying to ignore, because right then it dawned on you that maybe sophia doesn’t see you the way you see her, that she doesn’t see you as someone she could spend ‘forever’ with. 

sophia stood up without saying a word, and that was when your heart started to break. you didn’t need to hear her say it, that action alone was enough to tell you all that you needed to know.

your vision was starting to blur, and you could feel the oncoming tears forming. 

“sophia, i–”

before the tears could fall, all of your senses were filled with sophia. the way she smelled, how her arms were around your neck, her dark hair cascading to the side, and suddenly, the taste of her lips on yours.

“i'll love you when we're wrinkled and old and gray. you’re all that i want for the rest of my life too.”

"hello? y/n?"

sophia was looking at you, concerned, waving a hand in front of your face. you must've spaced out so long, and apologized quickly to her and daniela, who was back from her big back adventures.

"what were you thinking of?" daniela asked.

"nothing! don't worry about it, dani."

"really? you seemed really into it. were you thinking about your fellow lead from the movie you're currently filming? the really hot one?" daniela pressed.

your mouth fell upon. what the fuck?

"so you were!" daniela crowed, seeing the expression on your dumbfounded face.

"you shithead!"

you felt shuffling on the other side of the couch. sophia was fidgeting with her fingers, eyes downcast. you wanted to ask her what she was thinking, but daniela's hum broke the silence and she resumed the game.

"okay, next question!"

you took a peep at sophia, but her eyes were on the camera already.

"oh, i like this one. never have i ever posted a photo of us happy when we were mad at each other."

"i have," sophia answered instantly.

you were about to reply, but sophia beat you to it.

"next question, please."

"wait, i haven't answered yet though," you reminded her.

she scoffed before she motioned for you to continue. you wanted to think about it a little more, or maybe ask her when exactly have she posted a photo of you two being happy while you were upset with one another.

you hesitated. you didn't like the look on sophia's face, how it looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but here with you.

but can you really blame her?

"i have never."

"next question, dani," sophia said, not even sparing you a glance.

ouch, that kind of hurts. does she really want to have nothing to do with you anymore?

sophia didn't know why the possibility of you being with someone else pissed her off.

she couldn't deny the fact that you are her ex-girlfriend, and that you were free to do whatever (or whoever) you wanted. but the way you had reacted when daniela had asked you about the actress made her mood sour.

the idiot didn't even do anything to deny it!

she thought about you with somebody else. arms linked together as you ran through deserted alleys with them. kisses on romantic dates, cuddling under the covers as rain poured outside the windows.

sophia couldn't imagine you with anyone else, period.

it was you and her. sophia and y/n. y/n and sophia. in this universe, and every single other one. you were hers and she was yours, it was written in the stars.

but if there was anything that sophia knew from her years of being a celebrity and public figure, it was to make sure to never truly show the world what one is feeling. and everything will probably blow up in her face if her fans found out that she was still hung up over you.

a hand unexpectedly grabbed hers, and sophia almost jumped. she was surprised, yes, but her body decided to relish in the feeling of soft, warm hands on hers. she felt safe and sound.

sophia should've turned her head to see who was holding her hand, but her mind had other ideas. her hand decided to tighten the hold instead.

when she did look up, she was faced with you, an unreadable expression written across your features as you looked back at your joint hands, then at sophia. were you just perplexed, or were you disgusted with her show of affection? either way, sophia took it as a cue to retract her hand and mumble a quick apology under her breath.

"sorry, i did that out of instinct," sophia told you.

you managed a small smile. "don't worry about it. i was just trying to get your attention because you weren't responding when we were calling your name. are you alright? we can take a break if you want to."

sophia shook her head, telling you that she can continue and that she was fine. the fact that you could still read her so well even all these years spent apart brought a flutter to her chest. maybe there will always be parts of her that you couldn't forget, and sophia thought that that was good enough.

just then, you phone rang, and you muttered a curse, pardoning yourself as you looked at the caller id. but when sophia saw you grin upon seeing who had called, her chest tightened.

have you found someone new?

you excused yourself, phone pressed to your ear, and left the room. a part of sophia wanted to follow you, or ask daniela if she knew what's up with all of this, but all sophia could do was stay glued to her seat and stare at your retreating figure.

"hey, sophia," daniela said, taking sophia out of her thoughts.

"yeah?"

"i don't think y/n's interested in that hot actress."

sophia felt liberated upon hearing that statement. the world was not ending. it was all in her head.

"but i think that new actress is really interested in y/n. she turned down a lot of offers reaching out to her to star in their films, but when y/n's current film asked her to film with them, she agreed immediately. they've been spending a ton of time together outside of filming. i called y/n a few weeks ago to ask if she wanted to have dinner, but she said she had plans with the girl."

the world was ending, after all.

"oh, and i think she's the person that y/n's on call with right now, too."

waiter! waiter! can i have a bullet in my head?

you and sophia didn't end on bad terms. not really. honestly, it was more like that there was simply just too many things going on at the same time and that it felt easier to let things go. but you never left each other because you didn't love the other anymore.

no, sophia thought. you loved each other so much that you chose to let go because you and sophia wished for only the best for one another.

sophia always thought that perhaps someday, when everyone had their lives sorted out, that they could try things again. perhaps someday, the universe will work its magic and bring you and sophia together, and the two of you can start over again. it was cliché, but it was something that sophia held on to.

was it time to let that go, too?

"hello?"

"hi! is this miss l/n?"

"that's me. who is this?"

"i'm esther, a representative from pets corp.!"

you didn't mention that you already knew who was calling. you had the company's number saved to your contacts, but you decided to play along.

"ohhh, i see. and you're calling because...?"

"i'm here to inform you that your adoption papers are all approved!"

"oh fuck yes!" you squealed, but realized what you said. "shit, i didn't mean to say that... wait, sorry! i mean... that's wonderful news!"

you hear esther chuckling from the other end of the line, amused.

"congrats, miss l/n. we'll send you an email regarding the final steps for the adoption process. after that's completed, we'll set a date where you can come and pick your new pet up. is that alright?"

"yeah, surely is!" you exclaimed, not bothering to hide your excitement at this point.

esther gave you a review of what else you should be expecting out of this whole process, but it's stuff you already knew from countless articles and reddit threads you spent far too much time on reading.

usually, you wouldn't let someone drone on for so long but the idea of finally being able to adopt your own puppy had you feeling over the moon. she could talk to you about how the universe came to be and you'd let her.

when the call ended, you raised your fist, punching the air. you were finally get your own pet. after eighty-four years...

you sauntered back into the room. your eyes landed on sophia's figure first. she looked deep in thought, and looked up at you when you approached. she smiled at you, but there was something else in her eyes. you appreciated the gesture though, so you gave her a small, quiet laugh for her effort. almost instantly, her eyes shifted and her smile seemed more genuine than it was seconds ago.

you wonder what she was thinking.

you took a moment to take this image of sophia in. she had always been beautiful, there is no doubt about that. she had a smile on her face that made all her features light up. she looks the most beautiful when she's like this: when she was happy. and there had been nothing you ever wanted more for sophia than for her happiness.

maybe that's why you let her go, because clearly, sophia wasn't happy with you.

"hey, are you guys ready? can we get back to my video now?"

you sat down next to sophia and nodded.

daniela yawned, and she held up a card and begun to read off of it.

"never have i ever..."

you braced yourself for the question.

"...fallen in love at first sight."

there was a smirk playing on dani's lips. what was her grand plan? she was up to something, but you couldn't pinpoint it.

"i have," you replied.

you could see sophia's head whipping into your direction out of the corner of your eye. you wanted to laugh at her bewildered expression, but you decided that you valued your life more than making fun of her.

"i've never been in love before sophia.

"i went to nyu without much expectations. i just wanted to study and graduate and begin working. and explore a bit of new york while i'm at it, but that was pretty much the plan.

"one day i showed up a little late to my general ed class and i had to sit in the back. that's when i noticed her by the window."

you remember it like it was yesterday.

sophia was sitting by the window, with wired earphones plugged in as she absent-mindedly stared outside.

you weren't sure what made you notice her.

was it the way she seemed so content, lost in her own world?

or was it the way the sun was shining perfectly upon her that day? it had been all rain and thunderstorms the last few days, but the clouds dispersed and the rain was let up. was it just a coincidence, or was there something else?

whatever the reason was, the moment you noticed her, she was all you could look at right after. throughout class, you found yourself stealing glances at her before you gave up and stared in her direction instead. you tried to look out the window that she was always gazing at, but your eyes seemed only interested in looking at her.

you were perfectly fine just looking at her from where you were sitting, but then all of a sudden, she turned her head in your direction. your eyes widened in surprise when her eyes caught yours. you must've looked like a creep openly staring at a stranger like that.

you expected her to freak out, or flip you off, or ignore you altogether. but when she smiled at you, you felt your heart drum against your chest.

she made you feel alive.

you didn't have a name for what it was back then, but you were certain now: you had fell in love with the girl sitting by the window at first sight.

"and that was it," you finished.

sophia was smiling to herself, and you swore you saw a faint blush blossoming on her cheeks.

"sophie? how about you?" daniela asked.

"huh? i... guess, yeah. uh, maybe? i... i think so." sophia stuttered.

"it's a game of 'never have i ever', not 'i guess, maybe, i think so.'" daniela deadpanned, but she was shaking with laughter.

"uhm... i...." sophia seemed to struggle trying to get her words out.

"sophia elizabeth guevara laforteza, we don't have all day!" daniela barked impatiently.

not the full government name...

"fine! i have!" sophia threw her hands in exasperation.

daniela seemed pleased with her answer, ready to move on to the next question before sophia spoke up once again.

"it was with y/n. i fell in love at first sight with y/n."

you turned to look at sophia, who was already looking at you.

"i've never been in love with anyone before you," she breathed.

you could only smile and nod. you wished she knew that you had never fallen in love with anyone after her either, and that you were so deeply afraid that sophia laforteza will be the first, the last, and the only person that will ever have your heart.

the door to daniela's house swung open and in came manon bannerman, who was one of daniela's close friends from college, and by extension, a friend of yours as well.

you vividly remember hanging out with her during your visit back to atlanta after you graduated nyu. she's one of the funniest people you've met in your life. daniela told you that sometimes manon goes over and sleeps at her place after work.

"oh? what are you guys doing here?" manon asked as she walked in where the three of you were gathered around.

"we're here for dani's video," you answered.

"oh? that was scheduled for today?" she set her bag down and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.

"yeah!" daniela chirped. "we're almost done, though. just a few more questions."

"great! you guys are staying for dinner, right? i'm not taking no for an answer," manon left the room, leaving no space for further discussion.

daniela turned back to you and sophia, tinkering with her camera before grabbing her notes again.

"okay then. next question. never have i ever..."

daniela's eyebrows rose up the way disney villains do before they commit the most atrocious crimes. you were convinced the sole reason you and sophia were here today was for the entertainment of your best friend.

"...forgotten about my past love."

is daniela really asking if you've forgotten about your first love?

before you could reply, sophia beat you to it again.

"i have not."

you stared at her, but sophia's gaze was locked into the camera.

"i have not forgotten about my past love, who was also my first love," sophia said. "how could i, when she's all over social media, dani? 'actress y/n l/n's hottest new look in the met gala. y/n l/n set to star in new marvel movie.' i see her everyday. the world never stops talking about her," sophia sighed.

your could feel your heart drop to the floor. why did sophia make it sound like hearing about you was a bad thing? like she wanted to forget about you?

you bit your lip, trying to swallow the lump forming in your throat, trying to force yourself to come to terms with the fact that your first love, the only girl that you've ever loved, is right here telling the world that she hasn't forgotten about you only because news outlets couldn't keep out of your business.

"y/n, how about you?" daniela probed.

you took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself.

"i have not forgotten about my past love," you stated. "i turn on the tv and see her with her new music award she won. i hear her when i turn on the radio. and when i go on my phone during traffic, there she is, being interviewed about her inspiration for her latest album. i walk by my fellow cast and crew and hear them humming along to her songs. so no, daniela, i haven't forgotten about my first love because she's everywhere."

there was a bitter taste in your mouth. you knew you should've stopped by now, but you couldn't help it.

"how can i forget about her? she's literally right next to me. like i said, she's fucking everywhere." you spat, voice laced with so much venom you didn't know you had. you weren't sure where all of that came from, but it was probably more out of vengeance because sophia didn't sound pleased about your existence.

and then you heard her cough and you faced sophia. she was trying to blink her tears away, and you felt horrible at once.

shit, shit, shit.

you reached out to take sophia's hand, to say sorry, but sophia stood up and excused herself, running to the bathroom. the door slammed with a loud thud following shortly after.

manon came in almost instantly, asking what was wrong. daniela pressed a button on her camera and pointed wordlessly at you.

"fix this, l/n," manon said after a pause, walking back into the kitchen with daniela trailing behind her.

"erm... we can start and wrap this up whenever sophia's ready," she told you before disappearing as well.

you waited for a minute before you gathered the courage to walk over to the bathroom. you pressed your ear flat against the door, hearing sniffles behind it.

you knocked three times before you spoke up.

"'fia, are you okay?"

what a stupid question.

you heard her blow her nose before she said, "yeah. i'll be out in a minute. i just had a runny nose."

you wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. sophia was such a bad liar.

after a while, the door opened and sophia stepped out with puffy eyes and red-nosed. you didn't know you could feel even more guilty.

"i'm sorry, sophia."

"i told you, i'm fine."

"you're not the best liar, you know."

"i'm not lying!"

"sophia."

she clenched her hands, refusing to look at you. "i'm fine."

"sophia, i'm really sorry."

"i already said that i'm fine!" sophia's voice rose.

"i know that. i just wanted to apologize. i know i made you super upset and—"

"i get it, okay? you're not happy to see me. i'm sorry! message received." without another word, sophia spun on her heels and stalked the other way.

"you know that's not the only thing i'm apologizing for."

"whatever. let's just finish the stupid video and i'll stay out of your way."

you couldn't stand watching her walk away again, but what can you do to stop her?

you followed her into the living room, where she was already sitting down on the couch, with her eyes shut, head lowered.

"sophie," you gulped. sophia opened her eyes, and you don't remember the last time you've seen her this broken and tired.

"what?"

"i'm sorry, okay?"

"what did i tell you? you don't have to apologize. it's fine."

you shook your head. "you don't get it, sophia."

sophia rose to her feet, her teeth clenched. "what do i not understand, y/n? you said it yourself. you don't want me in your way, i get it. you don't want me around, you don't want to hear about me. i fucking get it!"

"you don't!"

you were growing agitated as well. this felt like the last few months of your relationship with sophia, the last stage before it came crashing down.

"then what don't i understand?"

you don't understand that i haven't forgotten about my first love because she is standing right in front of me and all i want to do is take her in my arms and kiss her senselessly while i tell her about how i have not stopped loving her all these years, is what you should have told her.

instead, you said, "you just don't get it, sophia. but i do want you in my life."

sophia stiffened, but you could tell her walls were cracking. finally, she sat back down and folded her hands in her lap.

"i'm sorry, y/n. i want you in my life too. i don't want to argue with you anymore."

you sat down next to her and wrapped your arms around her, a string of apologies spilling out as you embraced her.

"i'm sorry" that we keep hurting each other.

"i'm sorry" that i made you think i didn't want you in my life.

and "i'm sorry" for being a coward and letting you go.

"it's alright. it's okay," sophia said, awkwardly patting your back.

no it's not, and you know it. it's not okay that i'm still in love with you.

"so we've reached the end," daniela said. she was looking carefully between you and sophia, as if afraid another fight would break out again.

daniela cleared her throat. "never have i ever... planned out our wedding day."

what kind of question is that? of course we have.

you remember seeing sophia look at countless wedding dresses, and the times sophia caught you looking at wedding venues online.

"i—"

"hang on, y/n. i have to say something." sophia interrupted you, her voice cracking a little. you were confused, but you motioned for her to continue.

"to answer your question, yes, we have dreamt and planned our wedding day," she remarked. "but there is something that i feel y/n should know."

you weren't sure where sophia was going off with this, and judging by the look on daniela's face, she doesn't know either.

sophia turned to you with a sad smile, her eyes glassy.

"do you remember, y/n, a few weeks before we broke up, when you climbed into our bed and gave me a hug so tight i thought my ribs cracked?"

you did. it was the last time you were so physically imitate with sophia.

"i thought you did that because you saw it," your ex grinned to herself, but it faded quickly.

you and daniela exchanged looks, confused as ever.

"there was a small velvet box in my drawer. you loved going through my drawers to look for clothes you could wear even though you had a whole walk-in closet. but i never minded, because you looked pretty in my clothes."

you were lost. sophia was talking about a drawer, clothes, and a box. what does that have to do with anything about dreaming of our wedding day?

and then it dawned on you.

oh wait. no fucking way.

"i thought you hugged me so tightly that night because you saw the wedding ring," sophia continued. "we were fighting so much back then, and i thought that i could've used that to save our failing relationship. to save us."

sophia chuckled, her eyes turning somber as she went on.

"i should've asked you like any other regular person, shouldn't i?"

daniela's jaw dropped. "holy shit. you mean... you were going to ask my best friend to marry you?"

"yeah. i was."

you couldn't stop the words from flowing. "sophia. why didn't you tell me? why am i only finding out about this now?" you couldn't believe it. you could've married the light of your life years ago.

sophia pursed her lips, looking down at her hands.

"because you weren't happy, y/n," she said.

and just when you thought your heart couldn't break anymore, it shattered.

"daniela, what the fuck?"

deciding to play dumb, daniela answered, "what do you mean? i didn't do anything." she gave manon a cheeky smile, hoping to be charming enough that the former wouldn't throw a knife at her.

"you know what i mean, avanzini."

"not the last name!" daniela whined. "okay, fine. it's for my video."

manon stared disapprovingly at dani. "your video!" she laughed humorlessly. "with sophia and y/n!"

"yes." daniela's voice was small.

"dani, you invited them to film a video. where you ask them very personal questions about their past relationship!"

"well, you told me it was a good idea!"

manon's eyes widened almost comically, and daniela swore she was about to get her ass whooped right then and there.

but instead, the swiss heaved a sigh. "i didn't think you were serious."

but it was true, manon did tell daniela that it was a good idea.

it all began a few weeks ago.

you and daniela were hanging out at a bar. you were disguised, with a wig and baseball cap pulled low over your eyes. daniela was laughing at you for doing so but you threatened to not pay for everything and she instantly stopped.

it was supposed to be two beers and that's it. but two beers became three, and three became four, and soon enough daniela was hunched over the toilet puking a week's worth of meals out of her system.

daniela headed back to where you and her had been sitting. you were staring at your bottle of beer, looking deep in thought.

did anything happen while i was gone? daniela walked over, taking a seat next to you.

"you alright?" daniela asked.

"yeah. i was just thinking."

"penny for your thoughts?"

you shook your head, which is your signal for 'i don't really want to talk about it.' daniela decided to give you some space and excused herself, heading off to the center of the bar where all the people were mingling and dancing with each other.

when daniela returned, she saw that you hadn't even touched your drink. you were staring blankly at the clock, eyes faraway.

"she's everywhere, you know." you commented.

"who?"

you pressed a finger to your lips and then pointed at your ear. daniela quieted down and listened.

the loud, upbeat party songs had changed into a ballad. it sounded familiar. daniela was trying to figure out where she had heard this before, until she heard the lyrics.

this is sophia's song.

it was one of the first songs she had released when she just entered the music industry. and it was also one of the first songs that really carved a spot out for sophia as a versatile artist, that she had so much to show the world. if daniela remembered correctly, this was the first song that sophia had wrote herself and was released.

'cause i believe that we were supposed to find this so even in a different life you still would've been mine we would've been timeless

daniela got lost in sophia's voice blaring through the speakers, and as she looked around, it seemed that everybody else was captivated by her voice too.

she glanced back at you, and your eyes were on the table this time. you were running your fingers through your wig.

she was going to ask you about it later.

i'm going to love you when our hair is turning gray we'll have a cardboard box of photos of the life we made and you'd say 'oh my' we really were timeless

hold on. rewind.

daniela knew she heard that from somewhere before. she recalled you telling daniela how sophia told you that she'd love you when her hair is gray and she's wrinkled like a raisin, something along the lines of that.

sophia wrote this song for y/n.

you must've saw her moment of realization, giving her a lopsided smile.

"she's everywhere, daniela. she's the voice playing in the shitty speakers of bars and clubs, she's the person everyone is trying to imitate. do you know how many people i've seen that looked like her with their backs facing me? she's everywhere, and yet, she's still so far away."

you sounded so broken. the last time daniela ever heard you sound like this was when you and sophia broke up a few years ago. she could still remember it. there was a certain desperation in your voice when you called daniela up, the kind she's never heard from you in all the years she's known you. daniela came running to the apartment after that call, expecting the place to be trashed like the ones in those angsty romance movies where the protagonist gets left behind by 'the love of their life'.

but that wasn't what greeted daniela.

instead, what daniela saw when she barged into that apartment was you sitting down on the floor as you hugged your knees, hair sticking to your face as you sobbed violently. daniela remember how she engulfed you in a hug as you cried harder in her arms. "she's gone, she's gone, she's gone", she remembered you repeating over and over again. it was a heartbreaking sight to see. she always told you that she wished you allowed yourself to be a little bit more vulnerable with your emotions. she guessed you took that advice. but daniela wished that it didn't break her heart as well.

you managed to get yourself back after a while though, making daniela believe that you had moved on and that you were alright and that you had accepted that you and sophia just weren't meant to make it.

that night, however, daniela didn't know what to say to you after your vague confession, but in that moment, only one thing was clear to her: it had all been a façade all these years.

the next morning, daniela woke up with the worst hungover known to mankind. she was planning to go back to sleep when she heard laughter outside the bedroom door, and dragged herself out to see the commotion.

"good morning, dani," manon said cheerfully. she was taking a sip from her cup. daniela's gaze shifted to the person sitting next to her.

sophia.

"morning," daniela croaked out.

daniela was invited to sit at the table with the girls to have some food, an offer she obviously did not refuse because she felt that she needed food in her system to feel like an actual functioning member of society once more. sophia and manon were talking among themselves as daniela stuffed her mouth with breakfast, only ever taking breaks to down it with some coffee.

"you look like shit, daniela. what happened?" sophia asked, almost making daniela choke on her food.

"she went out to drink last night," manon supplied helpfully.

"oh? did you go out with anyone?"

"y/n," daniela managed to say.

sophia suddenly turned her head in daniela's direction so quickly that the latina was afraid her head would snap off from her neck.

"y/n?"

"yeah. we went out to a bar for drinks. we weren't supposed to get drunk, i don't know what—"

"where is she? is she alright? how did she get home? did she drive herself back home? did she drink as much as you?" each question that came out of sophia's lips sounded more frantic than the last.

daniela knew that she should've answer her questions properly, that you were home, that you were alright, you took a cab home, and that you didn't drink as much as she did. or at least didn't look like you were having as much of a horrible time as daniela was with those drinks.

but daniela decided to say something else instead.

"oh, i dunno," daniela said nonchalantly. "i'm not sure, but i think she might've gone home with this girl she was talking to last night."

daniela didn't know why she said that, but she supposed it was because she hasn't forgotten about the things you said last night. it wasn't an outright declaration of everlasting love for your ex-girlfriend, but it might as well have been. and a part of daniela just wanted to know if sophia was still hung up over you as you are for her.

"oh."

"oh, good for y/n! i've been telling her to try and meet new people for months. she's been so busy with film and i've been telling her to take time off and maybe start dating." manon said, putting the cherry on top. it was as if she read daniela's mind and wanted to know the same thing.

sophia squeaked out a small 'oh' before she picked at the food on her plate, shoulders slumped. she looked so crestfallen, as if she's carrying the weight of the world on top of her.

that night, after daniela was done playing a few rounds of uno! with manon , she decided to ask her friend straight-out.

"manon?"

"hmm?"

"do you think some people deserve second chances?"

"it depends. what are you thinking of?"

"sophia and y/n. do you think they deserve another chance to get things right?"

manon pinched the bridge of her nose, and exhaled. "well... i think they should get a second chance, but only if they both want it."

"how do we know if they both want it, then?"

"that's something they gotta figure out for themselves," manon replied.

"and what if they don't figure it out themselves?"

manon shrugged. "i don't know, dani."

"what if there's a way to show them they got another shot?"

"what are you thinking of?"

"i'm not sure. i could invite them over for a video where they can get together and reminisce 'bout their past or something. make them actually think about it and consider it." daniela reasoned.

manon's eyes brightened. "wait. that's a great idea."

and that's how the plan rolled into action.

manon insisted on having both you and sophia for dinner after daniela finished filming her video. to say that it was painfully awkward was an understatement, but daniela guessed it was expected when sophia dropped the bombshell that she was supposed to propose to you years ago.

daniela definitely did not know that, and was especially surprised that sophia was willing to share that information with the world.

but to be fair, the world was the least of her concerns. sophia basically just admitted to you that she was going to ask you to marry her but never had the chance to ask. daniela could only imagine that a weight has been lifted off sophia's chest, it's been years after all, and she had to keep this to herself. 

daniela couldn't imagine how you must be feeling though. she wondered how it feels to sit opposite your could-have-been-fiancee at the dinner table, all smiles and pretending that the thought doesn't bother you.

sophia could have been your entire future, and she's sitting right in front of you. daniela wondered how that feels. how it feels to smile and eat together with the person who could have been 'the one' for you. how it feels to be sitting across what could have been forever, how it's so within reach and at the same time, so far away.

the tension in the room was so thick daniela could've cut it with a knife. even manon, who was usually good at navigating through situations like these, was at a loss for words. she tried her best engaging everyone in a conversation, but she soon took the hint and focused on her meal instead. daniela didn't blame her.

after dinner, daniela helped manon clear the table to make way for dessert, leaving the two ex-lovers sitting at the table.

daniela walked into the kitchen to find manon leaning against the fridge, her eyes sad.

"daniela," she said quietly. "they're both hurting so much."

daniela agreed. there was something in the way you and sophia would both avoid having eye contact with one another all throughout dinner, but daniela would catch them stealing glances at one another when the other wasn't looking. they both looked like they wanted to reach out to one another, but not knowing how. she couldn't blame them, because how exactly does one start that conversation? how exactly does one tell the person they imagined a whole future with that it has been years and there still isn't anyone else they can see worth being in their life?

how exactly does one do that?

and now daniela thinking that maybe this was a bad idea. maybe opening up old wounds and digging up old memories was a bad idea because all it seems to have brought is pain and nothing else. a part of her felt guilty, but another part knew that all this was for a greater purpose, just that perhaps her execution was flawed.

manon composed herself before opening the fridge to get cake and cut slices for everyone. she put one slice on each plate and asked daniela to bring the first two in.

when daniela walked in the dining room with the plates of cake in her hands, she saw it again—you and sophia stealing glimpses at one another. it was an absolutely heartbreaking scene to witness. they're literally right there. all they have to do is to reach out and talk.

but that was easier said than done.

after the painful round of dessert, sophia bid goodbye to everyone. apparently she needed to go home and rest up because she had an early photoshoot the next day for a magazine, which she is going to be the cover of. she cracked a joke about expecting everybody to buy all the copies of the magazine once it comes out, before giving daniela and manon a hug goodbye.

manon decided to walk her to the front door, where they appeared to have a short convo. it was inaudible to daniela and you, of course.

daniela glanced worriedly at you. you sat stone-faced, still in your seat at the table. the latina knew you could see the path to the door from where you were. you had been staring at that direction the entire time.

when sophia left, you were still staring.

manon walked back into the dining room, taking the plates and heading into the kitchen. being the hard-working person she was, daniela wiped and cleaned the table down.

"hey, y/n?"

"huh?" you were still looking at the direction of the front door.

"never have i ever watched my ex walk out the door, hoping that she'd turn around and give us another try."

you finally tore your gaze away and faced daniela, who was looking at you expectedly.

daniela didn't wait around for an answer. she let you be, taking the cloth and walking towards the kitchen.

but she suddenly stopped in her tracks upon hearing what you mumbled under your breath.

"i have."

daniela called you at five am five weeks later.

"wake the fuck up! get your ass up!" she screamed the second you picked up.

"what?" you groaned. "what's wrong?"

"sophia announced she's taking a break from music. she's going back to her hometown."

it took a few seconds for the words to register in your mind.

sophia was leaving the country.

she was heading back to the philippines.

on the other side of the world.

"fuck!" you jumped out of your bed in a panic, almost kicking your dog, tajin, who was curled up at the foot of your bed.

tajin had been the constant source of joy in your life lately, but right now, you had other matters to attend to.

"she sent me a photo of her ticket. her plane's departing in less than two hours. you got to make things right!"

you changed out of your pajamas threw on some proper clothes, grabbing your phone and keys before bolting out the door.

"thanks for telling me, dani. i owe you one."

you had a lot of time to think over everything that happened that thursday afternoon the past few weeks. you planned out a whole speech in your head and was going to ask sophia in a few days if she wanted to talk, but that plan was out the window.

which is how you're finding yourself in a cab before sunrise, telling the driver to hurry up and bring you to the airport.

"miss, you know that i can't do that," he told you.

you waved a stack of fifty-dollar bills in his face tauntingly.

the needle on the speedometer never dipped below eighty after that.

the jfk international airport was alive and humming as you stepped in, and your mood dampened.

how on earth were you going to find sophia?

you hadn't bothered to disguise yourself, and twenty seconds later, screaming fans were crowding around you, flashes from their phone cameras blinding you.

"is that y/n?"

"oh my god, y/n! you're prettier in person than on screen!"

"can i get a photo with you?"

"y/n! please sign my forehead!"

okay, you couldn't exactly refuse that. you took the permanent marker and scribbled your signature across your fan's forehead. you weren't sure, but you think he passed out as you turned and ran towards the gate number daniela told you sophia would be in. "i'm sorry, everyone! gotta go."

you really were starting to regret not wearing your wig and cap. you hear the stampede of dozens of people running and yelling after you.

whatever happened to basic human decency?

you were panting and heaving when you finally arrived at the gate number sophia was in. but you still had to look through hundreds of people milling about...

"flight 0628, headed to manila, philippines has been delayed. we apologize for the inconvenience." the loudspeaker blared.

is this a sign that the universe was on your side?

and there she was, sitting on an airport lobby chair alone, gazing out the windows as the first rays of daylight from the sky peeked in and lit her figure in a warm bathe of orange hue.

sophia, you look ethereal.

you stopped a short distance away from her, your breath catching in your throat.

she must've heard all the shrieks and hollers coming behind you, because her head turned and she was looking right at you.

you weren't sure if the fans became quiet as they realized what was going on (the video had garnered millions of views and went viral) or if the rest of the world simply just faded away as you locked eyes with your ex-girlfriend.

sophia, your first love.

sophia, who broke your heart.

sophia, who you could've married years ago.

the speech you had prepared for weeks vaporized in your head.

you were back in daniela's house again, back to that thursday afternoon that changed everything.

never have i ever...

sophia stared at you, puzzled.

shit, did you really say that aloud?

you cleared your throat, shakily reaching forward and taking sophia's hand in yours.

"never have i ever wanted a second chance."

she stared at you for a long moment. the whole world seemed to be holding it's breath, waiting for her response.

you could feel the blood pounding in your ears. a few seconds must've passed, but it was the longest few seconds of your life. and just as you were about to apologize and make a run for it, you saw the corners of her lips twitch upwards ever so slightly.

and then those same lips were on yours.

you remember the first time you kissed sophia. you felt fireworks and confetti going off in your head.

but this kiss was different. it felt like a nice, cozy hug by the fireplace when the weather was cold. it felt more quiet, more familiar. there weren't exactly sparks this time, but warmth. not chaos, but calm. it felt safe.

it felt like coming home.

cheers and shouts and claps erupted around you, as if the fans were witnessing a movie scene. it surely felt like one. you tuned them out, though. because all you could think about was the way sophia's lips still fitted perfectly against yours, how she had one hand on your waist and the other tangled in your hair, the way she tasted on your tongue—

sophia broke away, her face tinged pink. she leaned in and pressed her forehead against yours and whispered softly,

"i have."

every day felt more overwhelming than the last.  between rehearsals, performances, and interviews, it often felt like you had no time to breathe.  but not when you were with sophia.

the two of you hadn't always been this close.  but recently, every time life was wearing you down, sophia was there for you.  after all, she was your leader, so it made sense that she would be eager to comfort you.  it was like she had a sixth sense and could always tell when you weren't feeling yourself.

"c'mere," she'd say, opening up her arms from where she was lying on her bed.  without missing a beat, you'd crawl right into her, resting your head on her shoulder.  her hands would fall to your back and hug you to her chest.

but today, when she looked up at you asking "what's wrong, mahal?" with her brows furrowed in the sweetest concern, it was like a dam broke.  suddenly tears were streaming down your cheeks and all the stress and anxiety you had been feeling for the past few weeks came pouring out.

"baby," she coos as you silently walk over and curl yourself against her.  your head falls to her shoulder like usual, your face pressed into her neck.

"m'sorry," you murmur, just loud enough for her to hear.

"you don't have anything to be sorry about," she says, arms wrapping around your body.

you were just starting to notice how her methods of comforting you had changed.  it originally started with her hand between your shoulder blades, holding you close like any good friend would.  now her hand slides beneath your shirt, barely above the waistband of your shorts, and rubs slow, soothing circles.  her other hand finds your side, gently running her finger nails up your bare skin from your hip to your ribcage.  a shiver runs down your spine at the sensation.

you tried to explain it to yourself as sophia getting more comfortable with you.  but for the past few weeks, every time you found yourself with sophia like this, you could feel your skin grow hot and your body start to twitch like it wanted something more.

with your face pressed into her neck, your tears fall onto sophia's skin.  she feels the wet sensation and hums.  she grabs your waist and pulls you tighter against her.

"you're okay, now," she says in that soft voice of hers that makes you believe her.  she turns her head so you feel her lips ghost over your temple.

you lay there with her for a little while, your tears starting to slow as a wholly different feeling starts to replace the stress.  it's unbearable, like it's eating you from the inside out.  without a second thought, you throw one leg over sophia's so you go from lying beside her to lying on top of her.  you feel her grip tighten on your waist, but she doesn't stop holding you.

you're not thinking at all when you shift your hips slightly.  her thigh brushes in between your legs just enough to make you exhale.  sophia doesn't move or say anything, so you assume she doesn't notice.

but when you chase that nice feeling and half-roll your hips against her thigh, she definitely feels it.  she says your name like a warning.  like she wasn't the one sneaking her hands lower and lower every time she touched you.

you don't reply.  you shove your face deeper into sophia's neck, so deep that your lips are pressing against her skin.  you roll your hips against her thigh once more and it feels better than any sensation you've ever felt before.  every awful thought is erased from your brain in an instant.

"what...what're you doing?" sophia asks, like she knows the answer but doesn't want to admit it to herself.

"sophi," you whisper into her neck while grinding your hips into her again.  and again.  and again.

"fuck, y/n, we can't do this," she says.  but she doesn't sound like the strong, confident leader you're used to.  her voice shakes and her hands tremble where they're still holding you.

you don't pay her words any mind.  you're fully rolling your hips into her, subtle whimpers escaping your lips.

"oh my god," you hear her whisper, more to herself than you.  she sounds wrecked.  her head sinks deeper into the pillow and, you're not sure if she does it on purpose, but her thigh slightly presses up against you.  she grits her teeth.  she can feel herself growing hard in her shorts.

"f-feels so good," you mumble into her skin, your hips finding a rhythm against her.

she curses again under her breath.  you can practically see the internal battle she's fighting.  her fingers press more firmly against your skin like she's losing.

you pull your head barely out of her neck, just enough to look up at her.  her gaze shifts from your body to your tear-stricken face.  you feel her arms squeeze you tighter.

"please help me," you whisper, eyes wide and glossy.

she swallows and something inside her breaks.  that's it.  she can't be strong anymore.

"take these off," she says.  her voice is still sweet, but her fingers glide under your shorts and panties, hooking in the waistband of both.

you help her by lifting your hips, letting her drag them down your thighs.  she nearly groans when she sees how wet the inside of your panties is, but holds herself back.  she doesn't want to scare you with how badly she's been wanting this.

you sit up to help her get them all the way off of you.  it's then that you notice the huge bulge in her shorts.  feeling your eyes, sophia shifts her hips.  she feels a little embarrassed by how quickly she got all worked up over you crying and grinding on her.

but her shame fades away when you move to fully straddle her and press your bare pussy over her clothed bulge.

"fuckkk," she groans, hips bucking up into you.  her hands grab hard at your hips as you grind against where she needs you most.  "oh my god."

she looks down and sees the wet spot forming on her shorts, a mix of your slick and her precum.  she's not gonna last long if you keep going.

"shit, help me," she says, reaching for the waistband of her shorts and pulling them down.  you help her with both hands, and her cock springs free against her stomach.

you just stare for a second.  then you take a deep breath.  this is really happening.

"wanna feel it," you say.  you grab her with one hand and brace the other on her stomach.  you run your hand up and down her length once, noticing how she stiffens beneath you.  you can feel that she's still holding herself back.  "want it inside me."

she groans loud and she bucks into your hand.

"baby, you can't say shit like that," she practically whines.

"why?" you ask, already rising on your knees and lining her up with your entrance.

"you know why—ohhhh," her train of thought derails when you sit on her cock.

you moan as you take all of her in one long push.  you can feel the restraint melting off of her as she stares at where you two meet with something more primal in her eyes.

"you feel so good, sophi," you say as you lift yourself off her and fall back down with another moan.

you ride her just like that, slow and controlled until she's putty beneath you.  her hands stay fastened to your hips and the entire time she looks up at you like you're a piece of heaven.  she moans your name every time she feels your walls clench around her.  it's not long before she feels herself teetering on the edge.

"fuck, baby, i'm gonna come.  lemme pull-"

you silence her by leaning forward and pressing your lips hard against hers.  she kisses you like she's trying to eat you alive, and you let her.  you lean down and kiss her jaw, still sitting on her cock.

"come in me, soph," you whisper, lips pressed against her skin.

"no, i-"

"please."

she freezes for a moment.  why do you have to sound so desperate?  before she even knows what she's doing, her hands slide from your hips to your ass.

"shit," she murmurs, the last morsel of her morality before she uses her leverage to thrust her hips up into you.  a broken, surprised whimper falls from your lips and onto her skin.

then she pulls back as much as she can and thrusts back up into you again, over and over, each one harder than the last.  the sound of skin slapping fills the room as she lets herself give into every ugly desire she's had since the first time you came crawling into her arms.  she can hear you whining into the spot right under her ear as she abuses your cunt.

"'m so close, fuck," she groans.  "m' gonna fill you up." 

"please-please-please," you whine, so needy for her.

two more thrusts and she does.  her hands clamp down hard on your ass and keep you fully seated on her.  she moans your name so loud as you feel warmth flood your insides in long spurts.  you gasp at the feeling, your walls instinctively clenching around her and making her climax even more intense.

"holy shit," she sighs once she's come down.  "should've done that earlier."

you lift your head with a smile.  her hand finds the back of your head and presses your lips back down onto hers.  while she's lost in the kiss, you lift your hips up and then back down again on her sensitive cock.  she throws her head back in a high-pitched whine.  you have to bite your lip to hold back your grin.

With you, Leah was still the same girl you fell in love with. The girl with a wicked sense of humour and a dirty mouth that went along with it. When she was around familiar company, the girl often made the most outrageous remarks— with jokes and quips that should not be repeated around those who can’t understand her sense of humour. 

Another surprising thing about the Arsenal defender and England captain— she can get pretty clingy. Physical affection is one of your girlfriend’s love languages and you are always more than happy to indulge her whenever. Your mornings together start with kisses, and your day ends with kisses. The blonde always needs to be touching you at all times whenever you are around— a hand on the hip, an arm over your shoulder, or a head on your lap. The intimidating captain they see on the pitch is definitely not the same girl that whines whenever you accidentally forget to give her a kiss before she leaves for training. 

Even though she might try and deny it, your girlfriend was a romantic. She loved planning dates, wearing matching clothes, and the cheesy nicknames.

And that’s why you were so excited to try out this new TikTok trend on her. 

——————————————

You situate your phone on the dinning table, fiddling around to make sure it is slightly hidden from view. You have it leaning against a vase which holds a charming bunch of tulips that the blonde had bought for you the other day. The back camera of your phone is pointed towards where your girlfriend usually sits during meals right across from you. The other decorative vase is what will hide your phone from the blonde, but is deliberately placed at an angle so your phone’s camera can still capture her reaction.

You glance at it one more time, making sure the record button is on. 

“Did you want extra parmesan on yours, baby?” You hear your girlfriend shout from the kitchen. 

“Yes, please!” 

You hear a “coming right up, madam!” before you hear the sound of a drawer being pulled open and then shut.

She’s probably grabbed the cheese grater. 

Soon the smell of savoury aromas reach you. You detect the earthy fragrance of garlic first. Then it’s the smell of onions sautéd in olive oil, mingling with the sweet aroma of ripe tomatoes. The scent of freshly chopped herbs— probably basil and oregano— adds a refreshing note in the air, while the unmistakable aroma of Parmesan cheese grating fills the air with a hint of nuttiness. It’s a familiar and comforting aroma simply because it’s the smell of the one and only dish that your girlfriend can successfully cook without setting the kitchen on fire. Not a moment later, Leah appears with a plate on each hand and a grin on her pretty face. 

And a smudge of red pasta sauce on her shirt. 

Mean, scary captain, my ass. 

Dressed in an oversized white T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, grey Nike sweatpants, and her favourite fuzzy house slippers; your girlfriend is the least intimidating person in the world right now. 

She walks the short distance to your spot at the dinning table, placing a plate down in front of you. You eye the dish in front of you— the only recipe perfected by your girlfriend. The blonde can’t make scrambled eggs right— they will either be too soggy or practically burnt— but she can make the dish that has become a comfort food of sorts since you started dating her. 

You hear a throat clear from beside you.  Leah is still standing, her other hand still holding her own plate. “Doesn’t the chef get a kiss?” 

“Uhh— I don’t think my girlfriend would like that” You grin up at her. With her blonde hair tied in a loose low bun, she looks a lot more relaxed then when she first came home earlier after training.

“Baby, give me a kiss before I burn my fingers off from holding this hot plate” 

You roll your eyes playfully, before squealing at the ticklish poke given to your side. 

“Oi! Don’t act like it’s a chore to give your girlfriend a kiss when she rightfully deserves it”

You stand up from your seat slightly, reaching up to grab the side of the blonde’s neck to pull her closer and press a sweet kiss to her lips. “Thank you for dinner, chef” 

The smile that spreads across Leah’s face is one you would like to bottle up and keep close forever. 

“Pleasure is all mine, madam” And then her lips meet yours again, this time with a lingering bite on your lower lip just before she pulls back. 

You almost forget about the video.

Once the defender was seated in her own chair, you both dug into your dinner. 

“…how is it?” It’s sometimes still striking to you that England’s fierce defender is the same shy girl in front of you, just waiting for you to compliment her on her cooking. 

“That’s bloody delicious that!” You raise a hand up for a high-five and your girlfriend’s palm meets yours in a satisfying smack. Before she call pull her hand away, you grab hold of it, giving it a loud kiss. The bashful giggle that comes out from the blonde almost makes you regret the prank you were about to pull on her. 

Almost. 

You decided to let the blonde get a few bites of her dinner, not wanting to start too early otherwise she will figure out that something was up. But now it was time. 

You bring your napkin up to wipe at your mouth to disguise the grin that was already growing on your face, mentally prepping yourself one last time. You swallow your last forkful of pasta and clear your throat to get your girlfriend’s attention. Immediately, in the middle of scoping of bite of pasta into her mouth, the blonde looks up and all her attention is on you.

“Do we still have more parmesan, Leah?” 

The look she gave you was almost comical. Her mouth immediately drops into a small frown and her eyebrows furrow, a wrinkle appearing on her forehead. You itch to remind her not to frown but you cannot break character now. 

She swallows her mouthful, a frown still present on her face. “What?” 

“I said I want more parmesan—“ 

The arsenal defender picks up her napkin, wiping at her mouth, before balling it in her fist and dropping it by her plate. You nearly smile at the sight. Leah is the type to always neatly fold her napkin– an endearing habit you have grown to mirror over the past couple of months of dating her. She is clearly annoyed. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry— can I pleaseee have more Parmesan, Leah” 

She narrows her eyes at you from across the table. “Don’t do that” 

“Do what?“ 

“Don’t call me Leah. You never do that” 

“Yes I do” 

“Only when you’re mad at me” That was true. You only ever called Leah by her first name when you were mad or annoyed at her. It was usually the first telltale sign that you were about to start an argument. You loved that she knew you so well and mentally reminded yourself to reward her for that later. 

“You only call me “love” or “baby”. Don’t call me Leah” You nearly laugh at how she spits her own name out at the end, as if it was a cursed word. You couldn’t wait to watch the footage back. 

“But Leah is your name” 

“Not to you”

You compose yourself, wanting to drag this prank for as long as possible, and raise an eyebrow at her. “What if I want to?” 

“No you don’t.” You almost laugh at how genuinely frazzled she looks. Hair a mess, loose strands falling out from her bun and framing the sides of her face. The slight pout on her lips contrasts the stern tone she tries to take on. 

At your eyebrow raise and your lack of verbal response, her fork clatters onto her plate. She’s serious now. “Baby, what the fuck are you on about”

But you were having too much fun to stop now. “Nothing. Now will you please go grab the Parmesan, Leah” 

“No.” The defender crosses her arms across her chest, leans back and slouches in her chair. A familiar look of determination on her face, so similar to the face she makes whenever she’s marking a difficult opponent on the pitch; however this time her opponent is you. “Not until you call me what you really call me” 

“Dickhead?” 

“Oi! Don’t be crass at the table” 

You roll your eyes for extra flair. “You’re being ridiculous—“

“Me!? You’re the one addressing your own girlfriend by her government name, mate” 

You stand up from your chair, ready to walk to the kitchen and grab the damn parmesan yourself, but you are stopped by an arm around your waist pulling you into your girlfriend’s lap. You right yourself, sitting sideways with your arm over her shoulders. 

She wraps an arm around your waist with one hand gripping your thighs to steady you. You nearly break once you look up and catch sight of the pout on the defender’s face. 

“Are you mad at me?” Her tone softens. It’s the same tone she uses whenever she’s feeling particularly clingy, so different from the tone she uses when she adorns the captain’s armband on the pitch. 

“Babyyy” When you don’t reply Leah grabs your cheeks, gently squishing them together so your lips are forced into a pout. She leans up and places a smacking kiss on your pouting lips, frowning slightly when you don’t react at all. “Hey! Are you actually mad or something? Tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it” 

Determined as ever, the blonde grabs your cheeks again with a hand on your jaw and pecks your lips a few times, drawing back slightly to gauge your reaction after every peck. When you once again give her nothing, an eye roll is your only warning before you feel a sudden, but very sharp, bite to the side of your neck.

“Ouch, love!”

“Aha! I’ve got ya!” You bring a hand up to feel the stinging bite on your neck, and your fingers graze the teeth marks left by your very own girlfriend. 

“That bloody hurt!” You try to scowl at the blonde but it’s kind of hard to do when you see the big grin she’s currently sporting. You do nothing to stop your lips from curling upwards into a smile. 

“Can you please go back to calling me “love”– please” Leah pleaded, the ‘e’ whiny and prolonged. 

She’s so bloody cute. 

“Yeah. I think I’ve had my fun. Prank’s over!”

“Wha– prank?!”

You point at your phone that was still propped up against the vase, just slightly hidden from her view but now the sole focus of her attention. 

You squealed at the pinch to your waist. “Don’t ever call me Leah unless you’re mad at me. I only respond to ‘love’"

“Yeah? What about ‘Captain’?”

“Baby, you know exactly what happens when you call me ‘Captain’” You barely had time to react to her words because the next thing you know, your girlfriend has you in a fireman carry and was walking down the hallway towards your shared bedroom. You playfully attempt to wiggle out of her strong hold, and is awarded by a sharp slap to your ass to still you. 

“You know what, I think it’s time for dessert, baby”

This was supposed to be up for Valentines Day yesterday lol but I forgot to schedule it.

Even if you don't choose to celebrate Valentine's Day, I hope you had a great day yesterday. Don't forget to take advantage of the heavily discounted Valentine's Day gift sets and chocolates.

Please accept this short fic as a token of my love and appreciation for you

-- kisses (and an extra kiss because it was Valentine's Day), butter.