𝓔𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮
ᴸᵃᵗᵉ ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵗᵃˡᵏⁱⁿᵍ

Elena was stretched across her bed, her head resting on a pile of pillows, the dim glow of her bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the hotel room.

The TV in front of her was paused on Revenge of the Sith, mid-scene, Anakin Skywalker's face frozen in brooding intensity.

She was mindlessly scrolling through her phone when the screen lit up with an incoming FaceTime call.

Mason.

Her heart did that stupid little flip thing it always did when she saw his name pop up, but she quickly masked it with a smirk before answering.

"Well, well," she mused, tilting her phone slightly so he could see her. "Look who finally decided to call me."

Mason grinned from his end of the call, lying back against his pillows, his messy hair falling over his forehead like he'd just collapsed onto his bed. "Oh, don't act like you don't miss me, Star Girl."

Elena rolled her eyes, even though the warmth spreading through her chest betrayed her. "I don't know... I've been pretty busy. You're lucky I even answered."

Mason scoffed. "Yeah, okay. I bet you were staring at your phone, just waiting for me to call."

She gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I'll have you know I was doing something very important."

"Oh yeah?" Mason smirked. "Like what?"

Elena flipped her camera to show her TV screen. "Educating myself."

Mason squinted at the paused scene. "You would be watching Revenge of the Sith."

"As I should," she said matter-of-factly. "It's a masterpiece."

Mason groaned. "Oh God, you're about to go on another 'Anakin was actually the victim' rant, aren't you?"

"First of all, it's not a rant. It's an analysis," she corrected. "And second of all, I wouldn't have to do this if people just acknowledged that he was set up to fail."

"You would take the side of the emotionally unstable guy who burns alive."

"You're mocking my taste in fictional men," Elena said, crossing her arms.

"I mean, yeah," Mason teased, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Should I be concerned?"

Elena narrowed her eyes playfully. "Oh, please. Like you're any better. You had a crush on—"

"Don't." Mason pointed a warning finger at the screen.

"—Lola Bunny."

Mason groaned loudly, dragging a hand over his face. "I was eight!"

"And?" Elena grinned. "You were down bad for a cartoon rabbit."

"And you are down bad for a Sith Lord," Mason shot back.

"Because he has layers!" Elena argued.

Mason gave her a look. "The only layer he has is charred flesh."

Elena gasped. "I hate you."

"You love me." Mason smirked.

She opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out.

Mason grinned wider, clearly pleased with himself.

"You know what?" Elena huffed. "I really should've let this call go to voicemail."

"But you didn't," Mason said, leaning closer to the camera. "Because you secretly like talking to me."

Elena rolled her eyes. "You are so full of yourself."

"And yet, here you are," he teased.

She ignored the way her stomach flipped at his tone. "So, why did you call me, Mason? Felt bad about ignoring me all this time?"

Mason's playful expression softened just a little. "Nah. I just missed you."

Elena felt her heart stutter. "Oh."

He grinned at her reaction. "Got you speechless, huh?"

She scowled. "Shut up."

Mason just laughed. "Nah, I think I'm gonna keep talking."

And he did. For hours.

They talked about everything and nothing. About filming, about the dumb things their castmates had done on set, about how Justice and Dominic were constantly arguing over movie theories. Mason told her about how boring things were without her around, how Aaron and Alex were "actually insufferable," and how he swore Charolette had been giving Aaron heart eyes all week.

At some point, Mason shifted onto his side, his cheek pressed against his pillow, his voice lower, softer. "By the way, you look cute."

Elena arched an eyebrow. "You just noticed?"

Mason chuckled. "Nah. I noticed the second you picked up."

She bit back a smile. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it."

Elena sighed dramatically. "Yeah, yeah."

"Admit it," Mason teased. "You'd be lost without me."

Elena hummed, pretending to think about it. "I mean... I am surviving pretty well without you."

Mason scoffed. "Oh, so you're just thriving without my presence?"

Elena grinned. "Obviously."

Mason shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Cold. Ice cold, Star Girl."

Elena just smirked. "Get used to it."

"Never," Mason shot back, his voice laced with something softer.

Elena glanced at the clock. It was way past midnight, and neither of them seemed to care. They were both lying in bed, phones propped against pillows, the conversation shifting into lazy, late-night murmurs.

"You should sleep," Mason said after a while, though his voice wasn't convincing.

"You first," Elena challenged.

Mason huffed. "Not fair."

Elena yawned but refused to be the first to go. "Too bad."

Mason chuckled, his voice lower now. "I really missed this."

Elena's heart squeezed. "Me too."

There was a pause. A comfortable one.

Mason exhaled. "Goodnight, Star Girl."

Elena smiled softly. "Goodnight, Mason."

And maybe, just maybe, neither of them wanted to hang up just yet.

— ETERNAL SUNSHINE —