Shadows of Stardom / Scarlett Johansson x Daughter

Chapter 7: A Week Away from It All

Anastasia was used to the whirlwind of her life—filming, the emotional chaos of being back on set with her mother, and the constant pressure that came with being in the spotlight. So when she decided to take a week off, she welcomed the break with open arms. She knew she needed it, and her best friends, Liam and Billie, made sure she had the escape she deserved.

The three of them met up at Liam's house on the outskirts of Los Angeles, a place far enough from the madness to feel like a sanctuary. 

The first few days were filled with laid-back conversations, watching movies, and just lounging around, letting the world fade away. Anastasia found herself grateful for the quiet moments with them. 

One afternoon, as they sat by the pool, Liam tossed a bottle of sunscreen at Anastasia. "You're going to burn if you keep sitting out here without this. You're turning into a lobster."

Anastasia caught the bottle with a small smirk. "I'm fine. I could use some color."

Billie, lying on the lounge chair next to her, grinned. "You? Color? You're pale as snow. I think we're beyond sunscreen at this point." 

Anastasia rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. For the first time in weeks, she felt at peace. "I don't care how pale I am," she said, her voice soft. "I just needed this—time away from everything."

Liam sat down on the chair opposite her, his expression more serious now. "How are you feeling? Really?"

Anastasia opened her eyes and looked at him. She appreciated how direct Liam was with her. There was no sugarcoating things with him. 

"I don't know," she admitted. "I'm exhausted, to be honest. The movie... Scarlett being there... it's been a lot. And after everything with Ariana..."

"Don't let her get into your head," Billie interrupted. "Ariana's not worth the stress."

"I know." Anastasia nodded, though her face betrayed her unease. "It's just... everything's coming up at once. I can feel everyone watching me. Like I'm some sort of ticking time bomb."

Liam shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "You know how this business is. People are always going to be watching, waiting for something to happen. But you've got this, Ana. You're stronger than all of them. Just take your time."

Anastasia gave him a grateful smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you two."

Billie grinned, leaning over to nudge her. "You'd probably burn to a crisp without us reminding you to wear sunscreen.

Anastasia laughed, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel the weight of her past. She was just here, with the people who mattered, in the moment. 

---

Back to Set

A week passed, and soon enough, Anastasia found herself back on set. As she walked onto the familiar soundstage, she could feel the eyes on her again. No one said anything directly, but the glances from the crew and cast members were impossible to ignore. She knew they were curious, wondering where she'd gone, what she'd been doing. Some might have known about the blowup with Ariana at the restaurant, but no one dared to bring it up.

She filmed a few scenes, throwing herself back into the work. It was easier to focus on her character, to become Evelyn and push aside the swirling thoughts that threatened to pull her back to reality. But after a particularly intense scene, RDJ caught her attention.

"Hey, Ana," he called, waving her over with his usual laid-back grin. "Why don't you join us for lunch today? Everyone's heading over to this great little spot."

Anastasia hesitated. She didn't want to be rude, and she knew avoiding everyone would only make things more awkward. She forced a polite smile. "Sure. Sounds good."

They headed to a restaurant not too far from the set, and when they arrived, the cast was already seated at a large table. Chris, Elizabeth, Scarlett, and the others were there, along with the newer cast members. As Anastasia sat down, she couldn't shake the feeling that almost every pair of eyes were on her.

The food was being served slowly, and while she hadn't ordered anything, she was surprised when a box was placed in front of her.

She furrowed her brows and looked around the table. "I didn't order anything. Whose is this?"

Elizabeth gave her a knowing smile. "It's yours."

Anastasia blinked in confusion before opening the box. Inside was a familiar dish, something she hadn't seen in years. It was her favorite childhood meal—one that Scarlett and Paul used to make for her from time to time. The sight of it caught her off guard. 

She didn't know how to react. Memories flooded back of her father cooking it for her on lazy Sundays, of the rare moments when Scarlett would be there to help.

Slowly, she picked up a fork and took a bite. The taste was just as she remembered. Her expression softened, and before she could stop herself, a small smile crept onto her lips.

Chris noticed and leaned over with a teasing grin. "You know, you should smile more often. It's really pretty."

Anastasia glanced at him, slightly embarrassed, but she couldn't help but smile a little more. "Thanks," she said quietly, feeling Scarlett's eyes on her from across the table. She didn't dare look in her direction. Not yet. She wasn't ready.

As the meal went on, Anastasia tried to focus on the conversation around her, though she could still feel the weight of Scarlett's gaze. After a while, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message from her manager.

She unlocked her phone and opened the message, her eyes scanning the words. Her manager had sent her a link to an article. The headline made her frown.

_"Anastasia McColin Johansson: The Hidden Daughter of Scarlett Johansson. Restaurant Fight wit Ariana Grande Reveals Hollywood's Best-Kept Secret! Is it true or only rumors?!"_

Anastasia sighed, her fingers tightening around her phone. Of course, the world had figured it out. The restaurant confrontation with Ariana had blown everything wide open, and now everyone knew she was Scarlett Johansson's daughter.

Florence, who had been sitting next to her, noticed her change in expression. "What's wrong?" she asked, leaning closer.

Anastasia shook her head. "Nothing I didn't see coming. It's just... the press trying to figured out who I am. There's an article about what happened at the restaurant with Ariana."

Florence raised an eyebrow. "That's what's been going on, huh?"

Anastasia nodded. "Yeah. I figured the truth had to come out eventually. I've been hiding it for long enough."

Florence gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry you have to deal with all that. But hey, you seem pretty unfazed by it."

Anastasia shrugged. "Honestly? I'm not worried about it anymore. People will talk, they'll write their articles, but at the end of the day, it doesn't change anything. I'm still me."

Florence smiled, nodding. "Good attitude."

Anastasia took another bite of her meal, feeling the weight on her shoulders begin to lift, even if just a little. Maybe things weren't perfect. Maybe they never would be. But for now, she had people who cared about her. And that was enough.