woodstock, vermont

sloane was currently apple picking at an apple farm that has been closed off for the entire cast and crew. it is their off day, lila wanting them all to explore the beautiful city that is woodstock. she had her buckwheat basket gripping onto it tightly. her basket contained six apples, six more  to go.

when she gets back to the house, she will be fixing up some of her favorite apple fall recipes handing them out to everyone as a token of her appreciation to them all. unfortunately, her friends all had to leave getting back to their lives.

finneas left heading back to california as him and billie were getting ready to perform for the olympics closing ceremony. emma had to get back to work so she could finish filming a movie with yorgos lanthimos and jesse plemos. kelsie had to get back to work reaching out to her other clients finding auditions for them.

everyone could feel a change within sloane when they all left vermont. she has been been nice and associates with everyone, but majority of the time she is in the corner either reading or drawing. her and ryan have barley spoken to each other. both exchange a 'hi' 'goodmorning' or 'how are you?' to each other on a daily basis but it never gets any further than that.

despite that, no one can take away the insane dynamic and chemistry to the two have when on screen. their chemistry is enough to make you feel like the two definitely have something going on behind the scenes. enough to have rumors beginning to circulate over the internet which everyone won't be surprised if that ends up happening when the press tours begin.

sloane stood there struggling as she was on her tipping toes. her eye met with the most perfect and shiny apple she has ever seen. she began grunting doing her best to reach it. she began to jump like a fish out of water growing more frustrated by the second. a hand suddenly ripped the apple off the stem.

sloane turning around facing ryan who handed it to her. she put it in her basket, "um thanks." she said quietly

"no problem, why so many though?" he asked curiously with a frown. he was towering over the short girl who felt like a child compared to him. the height difference between them is insane

"i'm going to make some food for the whole cast and crew." her and ryan nodded simultaneously, "will i be getting something?" he asked

"yeah!" sloane state the obvious with a laugh, "why wouldn't you get something? you're my castmate!" sloane expressed sounding like she actually cared which took ryan for a loop

ryan shrugged sticking his hands into his pockets, "just a wild guess."

"i know we don't know each other that well and don't talk that much but you're still an important part of all of this and deserve kindness." sloane informed him with a welcoming tone

"i think maybe we should get to know each other more. we're on set everyday. we're going to be seeing each other for the next five months, we should make an effort to build some type of bond." ryan said immediately mentally cursing, he felt like running away feeling like he was being too straightforward

"that's fine." sloane shrugged, "come over to my cabin, you can be my little helper while i cook."

ryan felt deflated. sloane seemed nonchalant about what he said and it drove him crazy. he didn't want to come off as needy. "are you sure?"

"yeah, totally!" sloane exclaimed looking into his eyes. she nodded profusely, "i'm sure. just come over whenever we get back."

ryan for some reason didn't waste anytime going over to sloane's cabin. he took a shower and got dressed. before he knew it, he was knocking on her front wooden door. standing on the porch, he looked over to see a bouquet of lavender flowers sitting on a wooden rocking chair. there was a card in the center of the flowers. ryan went back and forth in his mind wondering if he should read the card

but sloane opened the door, "hey! you came over quicker than i figured you would!"

his face instantly dropped along with his stomach, "am i too early? i can just come back—-" sloane shooed him off stepping aside motioning for him to come on in. he got the message. when he got inside, sloane frowned seeing the flowers.

she stepped outside grabbing them quickly taking them back inside with her shutting the door behind her. she headed into the kitchen with ryan carefully paying attention to her. the sweet smell of apples and cinnamon lingered around the cabin.

he stayed in the same spot watching as she smelled the lavender flowers smiling brightly as she took the card off the pick card holder. she placed it face down onto the counter then washed her hands resuming back to cutting her apples.

"flowers from a secret admirer?" ryan started up a conversation. sloane shot him a look before turning her attention back to the honeycrisp apple

she scoffed, "not at all and come sit down." ryan did as he was told while looking around seeing the place was minimally decorated. he noticed there was a 1974 black christmas movie poster hanging above the chimney in the living room

"that's a horror movie right?" he asked. sloane was confused looking up seeing him staring at the poster. she nodded, "a classic to say the least." she informed him

ryan hummed. sloane began cooking some bacon on the stove with her back turned from him. "you've never seen it?" she asked curiously

"no i hate horror movies." she turned around shocked at what she is hearing, "why?"

"i'm a scaredy cat. i get anxious even thinking about them." he admitted to her rubbing his hands together. sloane started flipping the bacon onto the other side perfectly cooking it making sure it wasn't too crisp

she eventually talked again, "i love horror. definitely is my favorite genre."

"how come?" ryan questioned

sloane didn't need to think, "i love the feeling of being disturbed plus i love seeing women covered in blood. final girls are just so badass." she simply explained turning the stove off. she started making her famous bacon apple grilled cheese sandwiches

"so you're basically just a weirdo." ryan said in all seriousness with a mixture of sarcasm that sloane picked up on.

she nodded, "yeah." she laughed, "pretty much." she diagonally cut the sandwhich placing it onto a glass plate taking one half of it. she began to eat sliding the plate across the counter to ryan

he couldn't help but to look at the sandwich with a disgusted look, "apples on a sandwhich... with cheese and bacon?" he asked perplexed

sloane rolled her eyes, "barry said the exact same thing, just try it!" ryan put his hands up in defense picking the warm grilled cheese sandwich up with both hands. slowly but surely bringing it closer to his lips, he took a small bite.

sloane watched as he chewed carefully swallowing his food, "well?"

ryan frowned then immediately his eyes lit up, "oh my God!! this actually is amazing!" he beamed taking another bite

sloane cheekily grinned washing her hands and getting back to making the rest of the sandwiches. "well thank you!" ryan consumed it within seconds

"you act like you don't eat at home." sloane joked. ryan sighed, "i don't eat things that good." he informed licking his fingers then going over to the sink to wash his hands and the glass dish

sloane shook her head smelling bullshit, "i refuse to believe that. you or blake must cook frequently."

"we have a private chef who constantly cooks these fancy fucking meals such as white chocolate ice cream cones...." ryan dried his hands throwing the paper towel away going back to where he was sitting.

sloane was confused letting out a laugh, "that sounds delicious!"

ryan gave her a glare, "with caviar on top." her smile quickly faded. she bit her lip then whistled, "now that sounds gross."

"fucking disgusting but everyone in my household—-" ryan shrugged, "they love it."

"i prefer meals like this. simple yet cozy vibes not all of that fancy five-course meal shit."

"talk to blake about it." sloane insisted like it would be that simple. ryan exhaled scratching the back of his head, "i have but she doesn't agree. we have fought over this multiple times."

"hopefully it will all work out in the end." she said trying to be optimistic even if she didn't like blake

"i don't want it too." ryan said out loud regretting it. sloane knew exactly what he meant by that sentence that he meant to keep that in his head. "fuck." he said shutting his eyes in embarrassment.

"i'm sorry. you don't need to be hearing about my marriage problems. i should't have." he was embarrassed. he didn't know what had gotten into him talking about his marriage to his co-star who he barley knew but for some reason he actually enjoyed talking to her. the conversation felt organic and real plus she was actually seeming to listen to him and not take sides which is something he greatly appreciates

"you're fine. sometimes it is nice to talk about for someone to listen. i don't judge nor do i mind. keeping it all locked away will destroy you." sloane advised. ryan was so surprised at how mature she was for her age. how well spoken the girl is, he started to see why she is so well liked and respected

he felt like he threw too much at her in that moment so he changed the subject, "what are you making next?"

"i have an apple crumb cheesecake in the refrigerator and then i'm going to fix up some apple cinnamon blondies with maple cream cheese frosting." she answered

ryan headed over to the refrigerator opening it to see the most beautiful cheesecake he had ever seen on the top shelf, "can i try a slice?" he asked

"yes, but only a tiny piece!" she warned with him letting out a chuckle

almost to 400 reads. i'm having so much fun writing this book and all the support makes it even better. i really do love you guys and thank you so much  ˚ ༘♡ ·˚ ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ