Drawn By You

chapter 2 - To the performers that will bring it to life..

After a much-needed cry in the studio bathroom, I finally made it back to my apartment. The shock of seeing Carlos again still clung to me like a cold shadow. How was I supposed to process all this? But there wasn't time to grieve—too much was on my plate today. I glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes. What?! "I'm going to be late! Damn it, I need to hurry!"

I tore through my wardrobe, but nothing seemed right. This was my book, my dream, coming to life—how could I show up looking like a mess? This lunch was the first official meeting with the crew, the beginning of what would be months of working together to complete *Drawn by You*. But instead of feeling excitement, all I could think about was the one person I dreaded seeing. He probably didn't even realize the impact he'd had on me, but for me, the memories were as fresh as if they'd happened today, not five years ago.

The thought of going there, pretending I wasn't on the verge of breaking, felt impossible. But if there was one thing I knew how to do, it was to smile through the pain. I was the perfect ray of sunshine, always giving to others, and today wasn't the day to let that mask slip. So, I grabbed the outfit that seemed the least terrible and got ready.

When I arrived at the café, everyone was already there. Liela approached me, beaming. "Hey! Are you as excited as I am?"

I forced a smile and nodded. "Let's do this."

Taking a deep breath, I raised my glass and stood, summoning all the confidence I had left. "Hello, everyone. As you may know, I'm Isabella Allegra, the author of *Drawn by You*." The crowd erupted into applause, which only added to the pressure. "I'm over the moon to see my book turning into a movie, and it's all thanks to each of you. And a special thanks to my best friend and rock, Liela Terra." The crowd cheered again, and I continued, "Now, let's enjoy this meal and get to know the family we'll be working with for the next few months."

As I sat down at the round table, I watched everyone laughing and chatting, clearly enjoying themselves. It was a relief to see them bonding, even if I felt like I was barely holding it together.

Time passed in a blur as I mingled with the cast, crew, and publishers. But then, out of nowhere, his voice pierced through the chatter, hitting me like a punch to the gut.

"Miss Isabella, *Drawn by You* is an incredible book, full of so many emotions. It might sound silly, but I feel like I relate to it somehow... like I was meant to be part of this."

Carlos's words were kind, his smile genuine, but they brought back a flood of memories I wasn't prepared to face. "Thank you so much for saying that," I replied, forcing my voice to stay steady despite the lump in my throat. "I really look forward to working with you."

When he extended his hand for a shake, I hesitated, needing a few seconds to compose myself. But the moment our hands touched, I felt a spark—an old, familiar feeling that I wasn't ready to confront. Was I overthinking it? Probably. But it didn't matter.

The moment ended as quickly as it had begun when Liela called me over for some work. It was the perfect excuse to escape before the tears threatened to fall again.

"Isa, are you okay?" Liela asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? This is everything I've ever wanted, right?"

Liela narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying my forced smile. She knew me too well. "Isa, you don't have to pretend with me. I know this is a lot, and seeing him again... I can't imagine how you're feeling."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. "I'm fine, Liela. Really. I just need to keep it together, you know? For the team, for the project... for the dream."