In the next life, maybe ?

Chapter 17 : Irony

The next morning, as soon as I arrived on set, Jenna rushed over and hugged me. It caught us both off guard, and for a second, we froze. We hadn't expected such a reaction from something as simple as a book.

She pulled back slightly, her eyes bright with emotion as she clutched *The Midnight Library*. "You didn't have to do this," she said softly. "But thank you. It's perfect."

I smiled, warmth spreading through me. "I thought it might help you relax after everything. Plus, snacks."

She laughed, light and sweet. "I love it. And the note? So thoughtful."

Her smile lingered even as we were called to set. Today's scenes were intense—focused on her character's inner struggles. Jenna, as usual, gave a flawless performance, but I could see the story's weight bearing down on her.

After we finished filming, Jenna turned to me, looking tired but smiling softly. "Can we hang out at your trailer tonight? I need a break."

"Of course," I said, trying to hide my excitement. "My trailer's all yours."

Once we got there, we relaxed immediately. Jenna grabbed a couple of blankets, tossing one my way. "How about a game? Two Truths and a Lie?"

I chuckled, unfolding the blanket. "Sure. You go first."

She thought for a moment before saying, "I was born in September, I've met Harry Styles, and my favorite subject in school was science."

I squinted at her, pretending to think deeply. "No way you've met Harry Styles."

She giggled. "Wrong! I met him at a party in LA. The lie was science. Literature was my favorite subject."

I laughed. "I should have known." I smirked. "Alright, my turn. I'm the oldest of two, I hate country music, and my zodiac sign is Capricorn."

Jenna studied me carefully. "Hmm... the Capricorn one. You don't give me those vibes."

I grinned. "Right. I'm an Aquarius."

Her eyes brightened. "Libra and Aquarius are supposed to be really compatible," she said, holding my gaze.

My breath hitched. "Oh, really? I didn't know that." I laughed nervously. "Not into zodiac stuff, but... good to know."

At one point, she started talking about her family, and I found myself captivated by how her lips moved, how her eyes sparkled. I must have stared for too long because she suddenly stopped, blushing. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

I blinked. "No! I was just... lost in thought."

She blushed deeper and playfully shoved me. "You're a terrible liar."

I laughed, still watching her, and she smiled back. We kept playing, sharing stories about our families, school, and random dislikes. The conversation flowed easily, and soon Jenna seemed completely at ease. Somehow, we ended up closer, without even noticing. I was lying on the floor, and she was next to me, resting on her elbows.

After a few more rounds, I cleared my throat. "Hey, are you free tomorrow night?"

Jenna raised an eyebrow. "I think so... why?"

"It's a surprise."

Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "A surprise? Now I'm really intrigued."

"You'll just have to wait and see," I teased.

The night carried on with more talking, laughing, and getting to know each other. All the tension from earlier melted away, and it was just the two of us, comfortable in the moment.