Behind The Scenes

Chapter 20:The Daytime Emmys and Devora's First Nomination

The alarm clock shrieked at six in the morning, a jarring intrusion into the quiet of my apartment. I groaned, throwing the covers back, the familiar routine of my pre-dawn workout already settling over me. My phone buzzed, and I snatched it off the nightstand, half-expecting it to be another reminder about my upcoming audition. Instead, it was Noa, her voice bubbling with excitement. 'Devyn, you won't believe this!' she shrieked, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a frantic energy that I found oddly endearing. 'The Crimson Tide got nominated for a Daytime Emmy!'

My brain took a moment to process this. 'Really? That's amazing! Which category?'

'Outstand—' she paused, her voice dripping with even more enthusiasm. 'Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding On-Screen Chemistry for you and Devora!'

I felt my smile soften. It was a nomination, a prestigious one, but my heart wasn't exactly beating out of my chest. Don't get me wrong, I was happy for the team, and for Devora, her bright and bubbly personality always a beacon of positivity, a stark contrast to my own stoicism. But for me, this was just another nomination, another award ceremony, a familiar dance I had performed countless times in my long and decorated career. It wasn't that I didn't care; it just felt, well, mundane. My emotions felt like a perfectly polished, unblemished marble statue. Beautiful, but cold.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of gym routines, rehearsals, and a quick meeting with my agent, who, needless to say, was over the moon about the nominations. When I finally returned home, the aroma of bacon and pancakes filled the small apartment. Devora was perched at the kitchen island, her face flushed, her hair a mess of curls, but a smile stretched across her face like sunrise breaking over a mountain. I couldn't help but smile back, a genuine one this time. Her joy was infectious, so utterly pure, a stark contrast to my own muted excitement.

'You're finally eating a proper breakfast!' I exclaimed, leaning against the counter, my gaze lingering on the overflowing plate in front of her. It was a small victory, a testament to her gradual progress with her eating habits, a battle she had been waging for years.

'I know, I know,' she chuckled, taking a bite of a fluffy pancake. 'I feel like a brand new woman! And after you told me the news... well, this just felt like the perfect way to celebrate.'

'Noa called?' I asked, raising an eyebrow. I loved Noa, she was like my sister, but sometimes her enthusiasm could be a little overwhelming.

'Yup,' Devora nodded, her smile widening. 'She wouldn't stop until I promised to eat a whole breakfast. She's like a mother hen sometimes.'

'She's just excited for you,' I reminded her, gently pushing her hair behind her ear. 'You deserve to be excited. This is your first Emmy nomination!'

Devora's eyes lit up, and a flush of excitement colored her cheeks. 'It is!' she gasped, her voice laced with disbelief. 'I can't believe it! And we got nominated for chemistry? You and me?'

I pulled her close, feeling her warmth against my skin, the scent of her body wash and pancake batter filling my senses. The weight of the nomination, the buzz surrounding it, seemed to melt away as I held her close. Her excitement was a welcome warmth in the cool space of my emotions.

'It's true,' I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear, a shiver running down her spine. 'We're good, Devyn. Really good.'

She laughed, her head tilting back against my chest. 'I know, I know. But it's still amazing! And we're going to win, you just wait and see!'

I chuckled, pulling her closer, her warm laughter echoing in the apartment. She was right, we could win. The nomination itself was a victory, a testament to our hard work and on-screen dynamic, but the thrill of the unknown, the possibility of winning, the anticipation... it was a new adventure, and for Devora, a first, a chance for her to truly shine. And as I looked into her eyes, I knew this was just the beginning of something special, something that had the potential to change both our lives forever.

The Daytime Emmys felt like a distant dream, a future event that was both exciting and daunting. For now, it was just Devora and me, two women who had found solace in each other, two souls dancing to the rhythm of a shared dream. The future was an open book, waiting for us to write our own story. And as I held Devora close, I realized that I wouldn't want to share that story with anyone else.