violet .

09

It was late in the evening when Lyra received a text message that made her heart sink: "We need to talk. - Zayn"

Lyra sighed heavily as she read the text from Zayn. It had been a long day, and this was the last thing she needed. Her mother, Florence, had been bombarding her phone with calls since the morning, each one more insistent than the last, but Lyra wasn't in the mood to answer.

Feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her, she scrolled through her contacts until she found her mama's name. Without hesitation, she pressed the call button and waited for the familiar voice to pick up.

"Hey, sweetheart," Nara's warm voice came through the line. "What's going on?"

Lyra felt a rush of relief at hearing her mama's voice. She took a deep breath, feeling a bit of the tension ease just hearing her mama's voice. "Hey, Mama. I just... I needed to talk to someone. It's been a rough day."

"I'm here, Lyra. What's bothering you?" Nara's tone was gentle, encouraging her to open up. "It's Zayn," Lyra began, trying to keep her voice steady. "He texted me, saying we need to talk. And Mother has been calling me non-stop since this morning. I don't know what to do. I don't even want to think about dealing with either of them right now."

Nara was silent for a moment, absorbing her daughter's words. "I'm sorry you're going through this, Lyra. Zayn has no right to disrupt your life, especially after everything he put you through. And Florence... well, you know how she is. She means well, but she doesn't always handle things the right way."

Lyra nodded, even though Nara couldn't see her. "I know. It's just... overwhelming. And on top of that, with everything happening with Johnny and the media... I feel like I'm being pulled in a million different directions."

"Take a deep breath, darling," Nara advised. "You don't have to deal with everything at once. One step at a time. Have you told Johnny about Zayn's message?"

Lyra hesitated, realizing she hadn't shared this with Johnny yet. "No, I haven't. I didn't want to burden him with more problems, especially with what he's already dealing with."

Nara gently encouraged her. "Johnny seems like a good man, Lyra. If he's as kind, caring and supportive as you say, he would want to know what's going on with you. He might want to be there for you through this. Don't be afraid to lean on him when you need to. Maybe he can help, or at least be there for you," Nara suggested gently.

"You're right," Lyra admitted, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "I'll talk to him. But for now, I just needed to hear your voice, Mama. It always brings me peace."

Nara chuckled softly. "I'm glad I can be that for you. Remember, you don't have to face anything alone. You've got me and Papa, and it sounds like you've got Johnny too."

Lyra smiled, feeling a bit lighter. "Thanks, Mama. I needed that."

"Anytime, sweetheart. Now, go take a few deep breaths, maybe make yourself some tea, and then decide what you want to do next. And remember, I'm always here for you."

"I will. Thank you. I love you, Mama."

"I love you too, Lyra. Take care of yourself."

As Lyra hung up the phone, she felt a renewed sense of clarity. She knew she had to address the situation with Zayn eventually, but for now, she needed to gather her thoughts and figure out how to approach it. And she would talk to Johnny because Nara was right and he deserved to know, and maybe he could help her through this.

With a deep breath, Lyra stood up, feeling a bit more grounded. She headed to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea, ready to tackle whatever came next, one step at a time.

-- -- --

It was a moment of respite amidst the chaos when Lyra received Johnny's message.

"You want to talk now? I'm available if you are. - Johnny." Her heart fluttered with a mix of gratitude and nerves as she quickly replied,

"Yes, let's talk."

A few minutes later, her phone rang, and she answered, her voice a blend of relief and anticipation. "Hey, Johnny."

"Hey, Lyra," Johnny's voice was a calming presence on the other end. "What's going on? You sounded stressed in your message."

Lyra let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the day lifting slightly. "Yeah, it's been overwhelming. Between the media frenzy and my mom's persistent calls, I feel like I'm juggling too many things."

Johnny's concern was palpable. "Do you want to talk about it? I'm here to listen." Lyra appreciated his offer. "What about your mom? Is everything okay on your end?"

Johnny's voice softened. "Yeah, she's fine. I can handle her. But let's focus on you. What's been on your mind?" Lyra hesitated, grateful for Johnny's support. "It's just my mom being... well, my mom. I love her, but sometimes her persistence can be overwhelming."

"If you ever want me to talk to her or help in any way, just let me know," Johnny reassured her. "Thank you, Johnny. I might take you up on that offer," Lyra replied with a small smile.

"And about the rumours..." Johnny began, his tone apologetic. Lyra interrupted gently, "It's not your fault, Johnny. I knew what I was getting into when we agreed to the fake dating scenario. I just didn't anticipate it becoming this intense."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Johnny said sincerely.

"You don't have to apologize," Lyra reassured him. "We'll navigate this together." Johnny's warmth radiated through the phone. "Absolutely. You're not alone in this, Lyra."

Feeling a sense of relief, Lyra continued, "Talking to you helps a lot. And maybe we can plan a day to hang out, just us, away from all this chaos."

Johnny's enthusiasm was palpable. "That sounds perfect. How about this weekend? We can find a peaceful spot and unwind."

Lyra's smile widened. "I'd love that. Thank you, Johnny."

"Anytime, Lyra. I'm here for you," Johnny replied warmly.

As they bid goodbye, Lyra felt a weight lift off her shoulders. With Johnny's unwavering support, she felt more capable of handling the challenges ahead, one step at a time.

The days leading up to the weekend were a whirlwind of activity for Lyra. Between her demanding job as an engineer and the constant barrage of messages and calls from both fans and family, she found herself longing for the quiet escape she had planned with Johnny