Her heart's dilemma (WLW)

Love is love

The next day, Asher arrives at the Urban Films office feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She's eager to continue working on the project and to see Sydney again. As she settles in at her desk, Luca calls the team together for a quick meeting.

"We've got a last-minute opportunity," Luca announces with a grin. "A well-known indie film festival in Paris has an open slot for a short film. They reached out to us, and we think it would be a great chance to showcase our work and get some buzz for 'Intertwined.'"

Sydney chimes in, "We need to put together a compelling teaser trailer in just a few days, Ash. Since you're the director for 'Intertwined,' we'd love for you to lead this project. It's a lot of pressure, but we believe you're the right person for the job."

Asher is surprised but excited by the opportunity. "Wow, thank you! Of course Im uh...this is big! I'll do great things, swear!"

The team touched by Ashers sense of service for the team thanks her.

A couple minutes into the day Asher is sitting on her chair when Sydney suggests she and Asher spend the morning reviewing the notes they already have from yesterday along with brainstorming ideas for the teaser as she enjoyed working with Asher yesterday. They head to a small editing room together, where they can work more closely without distractions. Asher tries to focus on the task at hand, but being alone with Sydney makes her a little nervous, especially after the moments they shared the previous day.

As they draft the teaser, Sydney leans in close to Asher, her arm brushing lightly against Asher's. Asher's heart races, but she tries to stay focused. Sydney notices Asher's intense concentration and smiles. "You really have an eye for this, Ash. You can see the story in every frame."

Asher blushes slightly. "Thanks, Syd. It's just... I want to make sure we capture the emotion of the film. It's such a powerful story, and it deserves to be told right."

Sydney nods, her gaze softening. "I agree. And I think we're lucky to have someone like you on the team who's so dedicated and talented."

Asher blushes...INTENSELY.

As they continue working, Sydney starts to open up a bit more about her personal life. She casually mentions how she got into filmmaking because she wanted to create stories that could connect with people and make them feel less alone. She talks about her struggles in the industry, especially as a woman, and how she's faced challenges balancing her professional and personal life, especially with Simon, who doesn't always understand her creative passion.

Asher listens intently, feeling a deeper connection forming. "I can relate to that, wanting to create something meaningful. It's one of the reasons I got into film too. I've always felt like movies were a way to show the world through a different lens, to give people a chance to see things from another perspective."

Sydney looks at Asher thoughtfully. "I'm glad you're here, Ash....really. It's nice to have someone who gets it." She hesitates for a moment, then adds, "I don't often meet people who understand how I feel."

Asher feels a warm rush at Sydney's words. "I'm really glad to be here too. And I'm always here if you need someone to talk to or bounce ideas off of."

Sydney smiles at Asher, noticing this she feels a sense of fear within her and snaps out of it.

As they wrap up their session in the editing room, Sydney suggests taking a break. They head to the kitchen area, where Luca and Alexis are joking around acting like the sweet couple they are. Sydney starts teasing Luca about his colorful socks, and Alexis laughs, joining in the banter.

Alexis turns to Asher with a friendly grin. "So, Asher, any special someone in your life? Someone waiting for you back in Italy, perhaps?"

Asher laughs nervously, but decides to be open. "No, not really. I mean, I've always been focused on my work, and well... I'm actually a lesbian and not bi, so my dating pool's been a bit limited." She says this with a light-hearted tone, not wanting to make it a big deal, but she notices Sydney's eyes widen slightly in surprise.

Luca and Alexis exchange a quick look and then smile at Asher. "Hey, that's cool. Love is love, right?" Luca says cheerfully. Alexis nods in agreement, adding, "Yeah, absolutely. We're all about being who you are here." Followed by sharing a quick kiss with Luca to make Asher feel a sense of comfort, that shes surrounded by people like her.

Sydney gives Asher a warm smile, and for a moment, there's a pause. "Thanks for sharing that, Ash," she says softly. "It's really brave to be so open about who you are."

Asher feels a mix of relief and curiosity about Sydney's reaction. She smiles back. "Thanks, Sydney. It's just who I am, you know?"

Sydney nods, still smiling, but there's a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "Can I ask you something, Ash? And feel free to tell me if it's too personal."

"Sure, go ahead," Asher replies, intrigued by what Sydney might want to know.

"Have you ever been in a relationship?" Sydney asks, tilting her head slightly, her voice gentle. "Or, like, had any exes?"

Asher chuckles softly, a bit surprised by the question but not uncomfortable. "No, not really. I've never actually been in a proper relationship. I guess all the girls I've ended up liking were either straight or saw me as one of the guys. It's like... they liked having a lesbian friend because they're treated like princesses, but they'd never think of me as a romantic interest."

Sydney's brows furrow slightly in empathy. "That sounds tough. It must have been hard, feeling like that."

Asher shrugs, trying to downplay the emotion behind her words. "It was, but I've learned to live with it. It's just part of the deal sometimes, I guess. I mean, it's not like there's a lot of us out there, and I always seem to fall for the wrong girls. But it's okay. I'd rather be myself than pretend to be something I'm not." She says followed by a chuckle if that was too awkward?

Sydney leans in a bit closer, her expression softening even more. "I get that. I really do. And for what it's worth, I think you're pretty great just as you are, Ash."

Asher feels a warm flutter in her chest at Sydney's words, and she tries to hide her blush. "Thanks, Syd. That means a lot coming from you."

Sydney gives her a small, thoughtful smile. "I'm glad. And, you know, you shouldn't have to change who you are for anyone. The right person will see you for who you really are."

For a moment, they just look at each other, the air between them charged with a subtle but undeniable tension. Asher wonders if Sydney is thinking what she's thinking, or if she's just imagining things. But before she can dwell on it, Luca calls out from across the room.

"Hey, you two! Ready to get back to work?" he says, waving them over. "I got you guys snacks, you guys are doing so good!" Luca says

Asher and Sydney both nod, breaking eye contact with a small, shared smile. As they thank Luca for the snacks and head back to their desks, Asher can't help but feel that something has shifted between them. She's not sure what it is yet, but she knows one thing for sure: Sydney is different from anyone she's ever met before. And maybe, just maybe, there's a chance that Sydney might see her differently too.

The rest of the day is filled with work, but there's a subtle shift in how Sydney interacts with Asher. She seems more engaged, asking Asher more about her interests, her music, and her life back in Italy. There's a newfound curiosity in Sydney's eyes, a softness that wasn't there before.

Asher notices these little changes and feels her heart fluttering. She tries to stay focused on work, but every time Sydney looks at her or smiles, she feels her crush deepening. She starts to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there's a chance Sydney feels something too.