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chapter NINETEEN he's moved on .
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starr didn't have time to catch her breath before ahliya found her again. they were supposed to be on a break between scenes, but it felt more like an interrogation with the way ahliya followed her, throwing barbed comments whenever she got the chance.
"you know, for someone who's supposed to be a professional, you sure let your feelings get in the way," ahliya said, casually leaning against a nearby wall with a smug smirk on her face.
starr froze mid-step. she turned slowly, her stomach twisting. "what's your problem with me?" her voice was measured, trying to keep calm, though inside she could feel her temper rising.
ahliya shrugged, her expression completely unbothered. "oh, i don't have a problem with you. i just think it's funny how you can't handle a little competition. it's obvious you're still hung up on mason."
starr narrowed her eyes, trying to suppress the flare of anger that was threatening to boil over. "we're just co-stars. whatever you're trying to imply is way off base."
"sure you are," ahliya said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. she crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the reaction she was getting. "but don't pretend i don't see the way you look at him. just a piece of advice though—don't get too attached. he's moved on. people like mason don't wait around forever."
starr bit down on the inside of her cheek, trying not to rise to the bait, but ahliya had struck a nerve. there was truth in what she was saying, and that's what hurt most.
"you don't know anything about me or mason," starr shot back, her voice steadier than she felt. she refused to let ahliya have the upper hand in this conversation.
ahliya just gave a mocking little laugh. "i know enough. and trust me, this little rivalry you've got going on? it's pathetic. if you're not careful, it'll be obvious to *everyone* soon enough. maybe it already is."
starr clenched her fists, taking a step forward, her jaw tight. "you don't know what you're talking about."
before she could say anything more, mason appeared at the other end of the hallway, heading toward them. his usual smile was gone, replaced with a hard expression starr hadn't seen before. ahliya noticed him too and her smug expression flickered, but she quickly recovered, brushing past starr as if the conversation was over.
