The next morning, Romy arrived on set with her game face on. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to pick up on the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. Between Drew's cryptic explanations and the tabloids still buzzing with photos of him and Taylor at the bowling alley, she had enough drama to fill her own show.

The cast and crew were gathered in the main filming area, the energy light and upbeat despite the early call time. Chase and Rudy were goofing off by the catering table, tossing grapes into each other's mouths, while Madelyn sat in a corner scrolling through her phone. Drew was nowhere in sight, and for that, Romy was grateful.

She took a seat near Sofia, who immediately slid her phone over. "Okay, tell me you saw this," she whispered conspiratorially.

Romy hesitated but glanced at the screen anyway. It was another Instagram post—this time, a fan edit of her and Drew in their characters' costumes, set to some melancholic Taylor Swift song.

"Romy and Drew have so much chemistry 😍," one comment read.
"They're definitely more than friends. Look at the way he looks at her!" another chimed in.

Romy sighed and pushed the phone back. "People need to stop reading into things," she muttered.

Sofia raised an eyebrow. "Girl, you're telling me there's nothing to read into? Because last time I checked, the tension between you two could power a small country."

"Sofia," Romy warned, her voice low.

"Okay, fine, I'll drop it," Sofia said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "But just so you know, everyone's rooting for you two."

Romy didn't respond, instead focusing on the script in her hands. She could feel the weight of Sofia's gaze but ignored it.

Moments later, Drew walked onto set, his usual confident demeanour noticeably subdued. Romy caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye but refused to look his way.

As the director called everyone to their marks, she forced herself to stay professional, even as the tension between her and Drew thickened with every passing second.

On Set

The scene they were shooting was one of the more intense ones—Romy's character, Jaine, confronting Drew's character, Noah, about a betrayal. The irony wasn't lost on her.

The cameras rolled, and Romy threw herself into the scene, her voice sharp and full of raw emotion.

"You think you can just say sorry and make it all go away?" she demanded, stepping closer to Drew.

His character hesitated, guilt written all over his face. "Rom, I didn't mean to hurt you. You have to believe me."

"Believe you?" Romy's voice cracked, the anger and hurt in her eyes startlingly real. "After everything you've done, how am I supposed to do that?"

The director called cut, but Romy didn't move. Her chest heaved as she tried to pull herself back from the emotions of the scene.

"That was incredible," the director praised, clapping his hands. "Romy, Drew—perfect. Exactly what we needed."

Romy didn't even glance at Drew as she walked off set, leaving him standing there with a complicated mix of admiration and guilt on his face.

Lunch Break

The break room was buzzing with chatter as the cast and crew gathered for lunch. Romy sat at a small table with Madelyn and Sofia, doing her best to act normal.

But when Drew walked in, their eyes briefly met, and Romy quickly looked away. He hesitated by the doorway for a moment before joining Rudy and Chase at another table.

"Okay, I can't take this anymore," Sofia whispered, leaning closer to Romy. "You two need to talk. Like, for real this time."

Romy shook her head. "Not happening."

"Why not?" Sofia pressed. "You're miserable, he's miserable, and everyone can feel the awkward vibes."

"Because it doesn't matter," Romy said quietly. "He's still tangled up in whatever's going on with Taylor. I'm not about to be someone's second choice."

Sofia frowned but didn't push further.

From across the room, Drew glanced over at Romy, his expression unreadable. Rudy said something to him, but he didn't respond, his focus lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned back to his food.

The day dragged on, the tension between Romy and Drew unspoken but palpable. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Romy couldn't help but wonder if things would ever go back to normal—or if they'd crossed a line they couldn't uncross.

As the final scene wrapped, the director gave a satisfied nod. "Great work today, everyone! Get some rest. Call time tomorrow is 8 a.m."

Romy let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and quickly gathered her things, eager to escape the awkward cloud that had hung over the day. She slung her bag over her shoulder and headed toward the trailers, her footsteps brisk.

"Romy."

Her heart sank at the sound of Drew's voice. She stopped but didn't turn around. For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.

"I just wanted to say..." Drew's voice trailed off, as if he were struggling to find the right words.

Romy finally turned, her expression guarded. "Say what?"

He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I know I messed up. And I know things have been weird between us, but—"

"Weird?" she interrupted, her tone sharp. "That's one way to put it."

Drew flinched, but he pushed on. "I just... I hate this. I hate how everything feels right now. And I hate that I hurt you."

Romy's jaw tightened as she looked at him, her emotions threatening to spill over. "You didn't just hurt me, Drew. You embarrassed me. You made me feel like I wasn't enough. And then you didn't even have the guts to face me after."

His face fell, guilt written all over it. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Taylor showing up... it caught me off guard. But nothing happened, Romy. Nothing."

She let out a bitter laugh. "That's not the point, Drew. The point is you made me feel like an idiot for caring about you."

"I care about you too," he said quickly, stepping closer. "More than you know."

Romy's breath hitched, her defences faltering for a split second before she shook her head. "Then maybe you should've shown it instead of running back to her."

Drew opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Romy didn't wait for him to figure it out. She turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, his shoulders slumping as the weight of her words sank in.

That Night

Romy sat cross-legged on her bed, staring at her phone as messages from Sofia and Alisa popped up on her screen.

𝗦𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗮: "You okay?"
𝗔𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮: "Do you want to come over? I have snacks and wine."

She ignored both texts, tossing her phone aside with a sigh. She didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to rehash the emotional minefield that was Drew Starkey.

But as much as she tried to distract herself, her mind kept replaying their conversation, the pain in his eyes, the way his voice cracked when he said he cared.

Maybe he really does mean it, a small voice in her head whispered.

But Romy couldn't let herself believe that—not yet.

Across town, Drew sat alone in his apartment, staring at his phone. His messages with Taylor were still open, her name glaring back at him like a reminder of everything he'd screwed up.

𝗧𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗼𝗿: "I hope you're okay. I didn't mean to cause problems for you."

He let out a frustrated groan, running a hand down his face. He hadn't responded, and he didn't plan to. Whatever closure he thought he needed from her, it wasn't worth losing Romy over.

But now, the damage was done, and he had no idea how to fix it

Romy hadn't planned on seeing Devin again—ever, if she could help it. Their breakup two years ago had been a clean cut, the kind where you deleted photos, blocked numbers, and pretended you were fine even when you weren't. But life had a way of throwing curveballs, and this one hit her square in the chest.

It was late afternoon, and Romy was running errands, her sunglasses perched on her nose and a coffee in hand as she strolled through a quiet bookstore. The place was small, cosy, and the perfect refuge from the whirlwind of emotions she'd been drowning in lately.

She was flipping through a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Romy?"

Her heart dropped. Slowly, she turned, her stomach twisting as her eyes landed on him. Devin Bostick.

He looked the same, yet different. His hair was slightly longer, his jawline sharper, but the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled was unmistakable. He stood there, holding a copy of On the Road, looking equally surprised and cautious.

"Devin," she said, her voice quieter than she intended.

"I thought that was you," he said, stepping closer. "Wow, it's been... what, two years?"

"Something like that," she replied, her grip tightening on the book in her hands.

An awkward silence settled between them, the kind only exes could share.

"How have you been?" he asked, shoving his free hand into his pocket.

"Good," she lied. "Busy. Work's been... busy."

He nodded, his smile soft. "Yeah, I saw you've been doing well. Outer Banks, right? That's huge."

"Yeah, it's been an experience," she said, forcing a polite smile.

Another silence. This time, it was Devin who broke it.

"Listen, I don't want to make this weird," he said, his tone tentative. "But it's... really good to see you, Romy. I mean that."

Something in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she let her guard slip.

"It's good to see you too," she admitted.

They ended up talking for a few minutes longer, catching up on surface-level things—his new job, her life in the spotlight, mutual friends they'd lost touch with. It felt strange, like stepping into a time capsule of a life she'd left behind.

As they said their goodbyes, Devin hesitated.

"Hey, if you ever want to grab coffee or something, just... let me know," he said, his tone casual but his eyes searching.

Romy froze, unsure of what to say. Part of her wanted to walk away and keep the past firmly in the past. But another part of her—one she didn't want to acknowledge—was curious.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, offering a small smile before walking away.

As she stepped back into the bustling city streets, her mind was a whirlwind. Seeing Devin had unearthed feelings she thought she'd buried, and it left her wondering if moving forward always had to mean leaving everything behind.

later that night,

Romy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she hesitated before picking it up.

Her thoughts drifted to Devin's smile, the way he'd said it was good to see her. And then, unbidden, her mind wandered to Drew—the way he'd looked at her earlier that day on set, the tension that still lingered between them.

as
Alisa (lisi)
Romy (wolfie)
Sofia (french woman)
Leilani (lei lei)

-

cₕₐₒₛ qᵤₑₑₙₛ💜

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Didn't expect to hear from you tonight. You good?

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: I'm fine... just a little off. Saw Devin today.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: Wait, WHAT?

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: Devin Bostick?! The ex we don't talk about?

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Damn, I didn't even know he was in town! How did that go?

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: We talked for a bit. It was awkward, but not terrible? Like, I don't know. It was like talking to a stranger, but also not?

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: So basically, every ex ever.

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: Seriously though, girl. What are you feeling?

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: I don't know, Leilani. I just... I thought I was past all of this, but it's like some stuff never really goes away, you know?

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Okay, but are you considering getting coffee with him? Because I might just have to come along and drink all the wine if you do.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: Alisa's right. If you're going to make that mistake, at least let us be your support squad.

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: I'm not saying I approve, but if you do decide to meet up with him... I'll make sure I'm nearby so I can "accidentally" show up with a cute guy and distract you.

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: You guys are ridiculous 😂 I haven't even said yes to meeting up yet.

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Just say yes! Think of the drama! Also, you deserve closure.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: Exactly! He's been gone for years. Just get the coffee and see if your heart skips a beat. Or if you feel literally nothing—either way, you get a nice cup of coffee out of it.

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: And if it's awkward, I'll have a chocolate cake waiting for you at my place. You know I'm always here for you.

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: You guys are insane, but thanks. I'll think about it.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: We know you will, but just remember—you've got us if you need to vent, laugh, or scream.

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Honestly, just text me if he says anything dumb. I'll be there to roast him in 5 minutes or less.

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: Same. We got your back, as always.

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: Love you guys. Seriously.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: We're your ride-or-die crew, always.

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: And you know we're here to keep you from making bad decisions. Well, maybe a few bad decisions, but only the fun kind.

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: Exactly.

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: Alright, enough drama for tonight. I'm going to bed before I overthink this even more.

𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻: Fair enough. Sleep tight, Romy. Tomorrow is a new day—and maybe a new coffee date.

𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶: Go get 'em, girl. Goodnight! 💖

𝗹𝗲𝗶 𝗹𝗲𝗶: Night, Romy! Don't let the ex vibes keep you up.

𝘄𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲: Night, guys. Thanks for being the best.

The chat went quiet after that, but Romy couldn't help but smile at the support of her friends. Even though she still wasn't sure about Devin or what to do next, she knew she wasn't alone in this.

Romy lay sprawled on her bed, the soft glow of fairy lights casting shadows across her room. The texts from her friends lingered in her mind, their words a comfort but doing little to settle the storm of emotions swirling in her chest. Seeing Devin again had been like opening a door she thought she'd locked a long time ago. And now, all the memories she'd buried were flooding back with a vengeance.

Grabbing her phone, she scrolled aimlessly through Spotify, searching for something to drown out her thoughts. Her thumb hovered over the screen before finally landing on a playlist titled Late-Night Feels.

The soft strum of a guitar filled the silence, and "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron began to play.

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you...

The lyrics hit like a sucker punch to the gut, and before she knew it, tears pricked her eyes. She closed them tightly, the song weaving through her memories like a ghost, bringing her back to the days she and Devin had spent together. The way he used to make her laugh until her sides hurt. The way he held her hand like she was the only person in the world. The way it all fell apart.

Her chest tightened as the chorus swelled.

Take me back to the night we met...

Romy hugged her knees to her chest, letting the music fill the empty spaces in the room. It wasn't just Devin. It was Drew, the tension between them, the awkwardness of the day on set, and the way he'd avoided her like she was invisible. It was everything—piling on her at once.

She let out a shaky breath, wiping at her cheeks. "Get it together, Wolf," she muttered to herself.

But the truth was, she didn't have it together. Not even close.

As the song played on, she opened her notes app and typed a single sentence.

"Sometimes, moving on feels harder than holding on."

She stared at it for a moment, then locked her phone and let the song fade into silence.

Tomorrow would be another day. But tonight, she let herself feel every ounce of the sadness, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd wake up lighter.

𝘁𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁 story !

@𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆
••••

sent to romy

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘄: i love you,
i'm sorry
𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟭𝗮𝗺

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