NEPO BBY

38

Jack Depp wins Best Actor in his lead role of Ethan in the rom-com movie "A Night to Remember," the tabloid read the following morning, a headline that seemed almost surreal to me in the soft light filtering through my bedroom window.

I couldn't believe I had won such a title; the feeling of disbelief and joy washed over me as I lay in bed, scrolling through my phone to relive the night via an endless stream of congratulatory messages and photographs.

As I revisited those moments, snippets of the previous evening crystallized in my memory. The awards show itself was a blur of glamour and anticipation, filled with the crowd's roaring applause as my name was called. In that instant, a wave of emotions surged through me—pride, gratitude, and an exhilarating thrill from years of hard work and dedication.

But the after-party, ah, that was where the night truly unfolded in ways both delightful and chaotic. I remembered stepping into a whirlwind of laughter, music, and clinking glasses, the atmosphere electric with celebration. I indulged too much, allowing cocktails to wash away my inhibitions as I danced and mingled. In the lighthearted chaos, I exchanged jokes with fellow actors and toasted the ridiculousness of it all—a celebration of love, friendship, and achievement.

Yet, as the night bloomed into a tapestry of vibrant memories, I also recalled snippets of deeper conversations shared with Gabriel, Anna, and Carmen, which felt poignant amidst the laughter.

First, I remember confronting Gabriel for telling Lily I had slept with Carmen. "Why'd you tell Lily about Carmen? That's bro-code!" I said to him as we stood at the bar, the low hum of laughter and clinking glasses swirling around us as if mocking the gravity of our conversation.

Gabriel shifted nervously, his eyes darting away from mine, and finally mumbled, "Sorry man, I didn't mean to. You know how she is." I knew all too well how Lily was—my sister, my confidante, and the one person whose opinion I truly valued.

But then it dawned on me—why was he alone with Lily to begin with? "Wait, when did you tell her this? Where was I?" I pressed, suspicion crawling up my spine.

"Oh," he replied, a note of anxiety creeping into his voice. "I saw her downtown at the farmers market, and we started talking."

A chill ran through me. "You told her this in public?!" I exclaimed, disbelief bleeding into my tone.

"No. No. No," he shot back quickly, his demeanor shifting from relaxed confidence to panicked defense. "It was back at my place."

The words sent my mind racing, a thousand questions colliding at once with the stark realization of what those words implied. "Your place?" I repeated, my face twisting in disgust and confusion. "Why was she at your place?"

The kernel of dread settled in the pit of my stomach. "Jack," he said, shaking his head, a silent plea dancing in his eyes as he realized I was piecing this puzzle together. And I knew in my gut why she was at his place.

"My sister?!" I exclaimed, its gravity crashing over me like a wave. "Please tell me you did not...with my sister!"

The mixture of anger, betrayal, and disbelief boiled over, prompting me to groan audibly as I tossed back the rest of my cocktail in a futile attempt to drown my spiraling thoughts. How could he betray me like this, crossing boundaries I never thought could be breached?

I stormed off from the bar to get some fresh air outside. I stood there, admiring the stars, as I felt the anger and betrayal pulsing through my veins; each twinkle in the vast, black sky seemed to mock my turmoil. The cool night air swirled around me, attempting to soothe my frayed nerves, but it did little to quell the storm raging within. When it felt like the stars were the only company I would have, I heard a voice cut through the silence. "What's wrong?" It was Anna, who had always seemed to revel in my misfortune since our breakup.

My head snapped towards her, sharp and unwelcoming. "Go away," I said softly, returning to the sparkling skyline, desperate to find solace in the universe that felt so distant and indifferent to my suffering. "You're the last person I want to deal with."

"Fair enough," she replied, almost defiantly, as she planted beside me, ignoring my request. "I came to congratulate you and saw you storm out here. Is everything okay with you and Gabriel? You looked mad," she pressed, her voice laced with an insistent curiosity that only fueled my irritation.

"Yes, Anna," I replied, annoyance tinging my words, but then the anger exploded as I thought of the betrayal that clawed at my heart. "You know what—you want me to suffer so fucking bad! Here you fucking go!" I spat, frustration spilling over with each word, the rawness of my emotions spilling out like a floodgate unleashed.

"I don't want that, Jack," she said, her tone softened by a surprising touch of empathy, but I refused to be swayed.

"No! I just found out Gabriel is sleeping with my sister! And he's been telling Lily everything—things he has no business repeating around this dreadful fucking town!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the stillness like a painful truth.

"I'm sorry," she said, her hand reaching out to rub my arm in a gentle gesture that was both soothing and infuriating. The anger threatened to recede for a moment, but as I looked down in a moment of vulnerability, something shifted within me. When I finally lifted my gaze to meet hers, the world around us blurred, and before I could register what was happening, her lips were on mine.

Initially, I kissed her back, caught up in a whirlwind of emotions that muddled my thoughts, but then the image of Carmen flashed through my mind like a beacon guiding me back to reality. Panic surged through me as I quickly backed away, fear taking over. "No, I can't do this with you," I said frantically, my heart racing as confusion and regret set in.

Her frown deepened as she asked, "Are you serious?"

The weight of my actions hung heavily in the air, and without another word, I turned and hurried inside the party, weaving through revelers still oblivious to my inner turmoil, until I reached the front door. I needed to be with Carmen, and the decision was made before I even realized it; I ordered an Uber and all but begged the driver to hurry as I sat in the back seat, my mind racing with thoughts of what had just happened and what I was about to do.

When I finally arrived at Carmen's place, I dashed up to her door, my heart pounding. I banged on it urgently, praying she would answer quickly, and when she did, she stood there in her bathrobe, her eyes wide with confusion as she took in my disheveled state. "Jack?" she questioned, her voice laced with disbelief, and I could see the concern wash over her features. I was breathless and disoriented, high on the adrenaline of being so close to her, yet also terrified of what I was about to confess.

"Carmen," I rasped out, taking a moment to gather myself, "I'm in love with you." The shock on her face was palpable; her eyes widened in disbelief as she processed my drunken proclamation.

"Jack, you're drunk," she pointed out, and I nodded, the truth hanging heavily between us.

"Yeah," I agreed, "I am drunk. But I am in love with you." I could see her struggling with my words, clearly trying to make sense of why I was here, why at this moment, despite the chaos of the night swirling in my head.

"Stop," she said, her voice steady as she grabbed my hand and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us as if she wanted to shield us from the intensity of the outside world. "Don't say that." Her plea was genuine, but it left me frowning, confusion knitting my brows together.

"Why?" I murmured, my heart racing and desperately wanting to understand why my feelings sparked such fear in her eyes.