r y d e r . l y n n

Harmony: The free work trips are definitely something I'm going to miss but I'm sure you'll be okay. If you're ever feeling sad, I can dress up as Captain Marvel again and send you photos to keep you from missing me too much.

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

Harmony smiled against his lips and her arms tightened her arms around his neck. “Kind of?” She replied with a laugh. “When I was in college, I helped teach a bunch of six year olds for extra credit for exactly two days. The offer of extra credit was retracted so I quit because I didn’t feel the need to do it if I wasn’t getting something out of it. That sounds bad but college is hard.”

Ryder laughed softly at Harmony’s story about college and teaching. He would’ve quit too if the extra credit opportunity was pulled. Teaching six year olds sounded exhausting. “Nah, it doesn’t sound bad. I couldn’t even get through a normal high school because that was too hard. I couldn’t imagine college. But I bet you’d make a great teacher, if that’s what you end up doing. You’d be good at anything you did.” Ryder was confident in Harmony no matter what she did, but he felt like her time as an actress wasn’t over yet and leaving Bitten would hopefully show her that. 

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

Even in a moment where she was really anxious, Ryder could always get her to laugh. “Yes, I’m definitely terrified because I won’t be seeing you as often.” Smiling up at him when he tried to reassure her, she pressed herself closer against him and kissed him softly. “I think so too.” She agreed quietly, doing her best to back herself as much as her boyfriend was. “And if not, being a ballet teacher wouldn’t be the worst thing. I have options so if I’m still where I am now by 28, I guess I’ll just become Ms. Pearce.”

Getting Harmony to laugh was something Ryder had strived for every time they hung out. He loved seeing his girlfriend smile and he was glad to see her do so even when he knew she her emotions were all over the place. “I had a feeling,” he smiled. His tightened his arms around her, and he brought her closer into his chest. “I’m blown away by your willingness to not give up but also how you try to be positive about whichever way things go. I know you’ll make it as an actress, but you’d make an awesome ballet teacher too. You’re great at both.” He kissed her, letting his lips linger to her’s for an extra second and pulled back. “Have you ever taught before, Ms. Pearce?” 

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

Harmony softened when Ryder agreed and even though she didn’t need him to be on board, she really liked that he was. Closing the space between them, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “I guess I’ll just have to stay over more often now. You know… since we’re going to have a lot of time to make up for.” Kissing him again, she leaned her forehead against his briefly before she pulled back. “I’ve got to admit, I’m kind of terrified.” She confessed with a laugh. 

Ryder placed his beer down on the counter and brought his arms around her, pressing his lips to her’s. “I’ll never say no to having you stay over.” He kissed her back, opening his eyes to her forehead pressing to his momentarily. “Because you won’t see me as often?” Ryder joked before pulling in his smile. “I know I can’t make you not terrified but you’re going land a role, a big role, in no time. Trust me. Hollywood won’t know what hit them and then you’ll be getting offers left and right,” he said with all the confidence in the world. 

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

“Yeah, a lot more opportunities.” Harmony replied quietly. “I love the show and the people I’ve met… being there brought to me you so of course it was one of the best things I ever agreed to do.” Walking over to him, she ran her fingertips along Ryder’s forearm and offered him a small smile. “But it’s been three seasons and they just want me to be an extra. There’s been no talk of writing a role for me and maybe that’s a sign to move on and try something else.”

Taking the job for Bitten was the decision Ryder had made as well. Given his ex was the head writer, he almost passed on the chance. Now, he was glad more than ever he didn’t. He glanced down at Harmony’s fingertips running across his skin, and looked up to return her smile. Personally if it was his decision, she would’ve been the leading lady on Bitten. Alas, she wasn’t despite it being a fact she was just as good as an actor as the rest of the cast. “Well, then I think turning down another season is exactly what you should do. It’s gonna suck not see you as much on set and stuff but that’ll just make the times we hang out even better.”

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

Smiling when Ryder greeted her with a kiss to the cheek, she walked into his house and tried to relax. She knew there was no way he would ever judge her but vocalizing her dilemma was a little harder than she was expecting it to be. Shaking her head when he offered her a beer, she followed him into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “I had a phone call with my agent today, apparently Bitten wants to renew my contract for season three.” Harmony told him, her nails tapping lightly against the bench. “I think I’m going to say no.”

Once in the kitchen, Ryder took his beer in hand and twisted off the cap before tossing it on the counter. Looking at Harmony, he could tell something was off and just as he was about to ask if she was okay, she began speaking. He raised his beer to his mouth and took a small sip while listening to what she had to say. The decision for Harmony to walk away from Bitten wasn’t a complete surprise to Ryder but he was a little bummed to hear it. He knew she deserved more than being someone just in the background, though. “Really?” He wasn’t sure why he even asked when he knew the answer. “I’d be being selfish if I said don’t and to stay on for another season but leaving the show will give you more opportunities to go out for casting calls and stuff, right?” 

A Fresh Start || Ryder & Harmony

Harmony had been working on Bitten as an extra for a few seasons now and it was starting to become a problem. They had offered to renew her contract for season three and as much as she never thought she would ever turn down work, she was seriously considering doing just that. She wanted to be more than just a background actress and the only way she could make that happen was to go out on auditions and not be tied down to one show.

Arriving at Ryder’s house a few minutes before she told him she’d be there, Harmony knocked on her boyfriend’s front door and waited for him to answer. There was only one person she wanted to discuss this with and that was with him, his opinion meant everything to her and she knew he’d be honest with her.

Ryder was in the kitchen pulling out a beer from the fridge when he heard a knock at the front. He put it down on the counter and headed towards the door. Opening it with a big smile, he greeted Harmony. “Hey. You know, you don’t need to knock. You can just come in,” he said, leaning in and kissing her on the cheek before taking a step back allowing her room to enter the house. When she stepped through the threshold, he closed the door softly behind her and started walking back towards the kitchen. “I was just grabbing myself a beer, do you want anything?” 

I wish there was a block button in real life.

Come on! That one was pretty good. You gotta admit.

Rachel: I'm thrilled to hear you're both excited and inspired.

Napa, it was really beautiful. Totally worth the drive there and back again. How was the party? Life of the party live up to her name? 

Nice, man! Did you drink a lot of wine while you were there? It was one of the coolest parties I’ve ever been to hands down. Sugar definitely deserves the title. 

Harmony: Well I'm glad that you think its cute. I'm pretty sure dancing is my natural default.

It definitely seems like it. Well hey if you have anymore cool spot recs, send ‘em my way. I wanna see and do as much as I can before we have to go back home.

I probably have a recommendation for nearly anything you might wanna do, and if I don’t I could alway ask my parents for suggestions! There’s a crap ton of museums you could check out or loads of breweries if you’d prefer to drink your way through Boston. 

Harmony: Have you gotten over the amount of ballet I do while I'm waiting for my coffee to brew?

Thanks, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Well thank you again, I’m just trying to help out where I can and give back a little, you know? My fans have got me where I am, so helping them out is like no biggie. Yeah exactly! If he wasn’t impressed with all that then I think young Ryder would give even young Sugar a run for her money in the judgey department.

You’re welcome. You’ve proven worthy of it. And you’re welcome again. I think that’s important and I’m sure your fans appreciate it. It’d be hard for me not to be impressed with what I’ve done, so young Sugar and you can keep your money. 

Ridiculous.

I don’t know, enlighten me.

Wrong.