Left Behind // Scarlett Johansson x Daughter

The Lines and Ties

YN POV

I woke up suddenly, fearing I'd overslept and missed some appointment, but then remembered there was no shoot scheduled for today, unlike my dad, Ryan, who had to get up early. Mum was by my side, still asleep. I turned off the alarm before it went off; I didn't want to wake her. She had come just to be with me and would stay until I finished my recording. Sometimes I harbored doubts about how much she really cared, although she always tried to show it, and then I'd feel guilty for doubting her.

It was too early to make breakfast, so I decided to check my phone for messages from my friends Ava, Fenan, or Alan. I had spent the previous evening with Mum and didn't want them to think I was neglecting them. I replied to messages from Alan and Fenan, but there was nothing from Ava. Instead, I found a flood of notifications on TikTok and Instagram. Driven by curiosity, I opened the apps.

We hadn't posted any videos in the last two days because we needed to coordinate creating content from a distance. I assumed Ava had decided to post one on her own. Watching the video, I saw Ava and an unknown girl performing one of the week's trends.

I frowned and gripped my phone so hard it turned off. "Why would Ava do something like this?" I thought. It was our account, something very special between us, and we had agreed to post content together, even from a distance. I turned my phone back on and tortured myself watching the video over and over until I noticed that Ava had tagged the other girl. Exploring that account, I discovered Ava appeared in several videos with her.

A sudden unease overwhelmed me. Lately, Ava had been slow to reply to my messages or had left me on read. Our calls had become sporadic. I blamed myself for the changes in my life, thinking Ava was trying to adapt in her own way and enjoy what was left of the holidays.

I felt confused and somewhat betrayed. "Why hadn't Ava told me? Was our friendship not as strong as I thought?" It hurt to think that maybe I wasn't as important to her as she was to me. I'd had more than one chance to post new content with actors from the set, and I could even have roped in Mum, Colin (who was up for any adventure), even Dad and Blake. But I hadn't done it, to avoid hurting Ava or making her think that I no longer needed our friendship, or that I had forgotten about her amid celebrities.

I got out of bed, upset. It was seven in the morning. I headed straight to the kitchen to call Ava, knowing she'd be asleep, but I didn't care; if she wanted to sleep in, I first needed to clear the air.

"Yn, do you know what time it is?" I heard her sleepy voice on the other end of the line.

"Yes, I do. Maybe you put on the same face I did when I saw the video you uploaded yesterday to OUR account," my tone was firm, laden with reproach.

I heard silence, followed by a sigh. I was growing impatient, and my frustration was building by the second. If she didn't respond soon, I felt like I was going to explode in a way I'd rather avoid.

"It's Emily, she's recently moved here. We'll be going to school together. I'm sure you'd like her, she's a bit like you."

"So that's what it is?" I clenched my jaw, fighting back tears as I waited for her explanation.

"What do you mean?" Ava replied, sounding confused.

"You've replaced me, Ava, of all people," I said, as a tear escaped, which I quickly wiped away with the back of my hand. I didn't want to cry, not over you, not after this.

"Yn, it's not like that... You're my best friend and always will be, but you're far away and I don't think it's bad to have another new friend."

"Yeah, sure, 'your best friend'. That's why I'm the one who writes to you, who calls you, and you couldn't even bother to tell me about the video."