Blue Rose - Reneé Rapp

Killing the Butterfly

The drive back home felt like a blur for Y/N. Her mind was preoccupied with the events of the day and the whirlwind of emotions that had surged within her. The interview had gone well, and the photoshoot had been a success.

As Y/N pulled into her driveway, she parked her car and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the day. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, noticing a notification. It was from Instagram—Renee had commented on her latest post.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat as she tapped the notification. Renee's comment read

"Any chance you'll let someone fall for you soon? Or is that still classified?"

Butterflies fluttered in Y/N's stomach as she read the message. She quickly tried to tamp down the fluttering sensation, telling herself it was just the thrill of being provocative in her post. After all, she had put out the question to stir some excitement, and Renee's comment was just part of the game.

But as she scrolled through her feed, she noticed a flood of fan comments reacting to Renee's post. Fans were buzzing, excitedly discussing Renee's comment and speculating about the nature of their interaction. Y/N's heart raced a little faster, the excitement becoming harder to ignore.

Y/N bit her lip as she read Renee's comment, the butterflies in her stomach intensifying. She knew she had to come up with something just as captivating in her reply. With a smirk, she tapped out her response:

"Maybe I'm just waiting for the right person to make me reconsider."

She sent the message and watched as her comment appeared beneath Renee's. The thrill of the exchange made her pulse quicken, and she felt a surge of excitement as she imagined Renee's reaction.

She tried to "kill the butterflies" by distracting herself. After making a quick snack, she sank into her couch, scrolling through the comments on her post. The reactions were mixed, but many were positive and full of enthusiasm. She smiled at a few comments, but one caught her eye:

Sabrina: "Looking stunning as always!"

Next, she saw a comment from Sierra, which made her roll her eyes:

Sierra: "Nice post. How about you come here tonight and i'll answer the last question?"

Y/N sighed. Sierra had been persistent for the past week, trying to get her to hang out. She didn't want to seem rude, but she wasn't interested in pursuing anything further mostly on social media.

Determined to avoid an awkward confrontation, Y/N DM Sierra, trying to be polite and set some boundaries in person.

"Hey Sierra, I'm actually heading out to the place you said earlier. I'll stop by to say hi, but it'll be brief okay?"

After sending the message, Y/N began getting ready. She put on a casual yet chic outfit, hoping it would help her blend into the background rather than stand out.

As she finished getting dressed, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a new comment from Renee on her post. Y/N opened it and couldn't help but smile:

"Careful, or I might just have to crash your next photoshoot."

Y/N chuckled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The playful nature of Renee's comment was a delightful contrast to the more serious interactions she'd had lately.

She grabbed her purse and headed out, trying to shake off the lingering feelings of anticipation. The drive to the venue was a short one, but her mind was busy. She thought about how Renee's comments had made her day a little better.

When Y/N arrived at the venue, she saw Sierra's familiar figure standing near the entrance. With a deep breath, she approached, giving a polite wave"Hey there beautiful. Glad you could make it."

"Hey. Just came by to say hi, like I mentioned." Y/N said casually as she entered the bar, her eyes scanning the place quickly.

Sierra greeted her with a smile, quickly insisting that she stay for a drink. Reluctant but not wanting to seem rude, Y/N agreed. Surprisingly, the conversation flowed more easily than she expected. They shared a few laughs, and for a moment, Y/N found herself enjoying the light banter. But deep down, she knew this wasn't what she wanted.

After finishing her drink, Y/N excused herself to go to the bathroom. She entered one of the stalls and just as she was about to lock the door, it swung open. Sierra stood there, a determined look in her eyes before Y/N could react.

Sierra clipped her against the door, closing the space between them, and without warning, pressed her lips against Y/N's. Y/N froze, completely shocked by the sudden move. It took her a moment to register what was happening, but when she did, she pushed Sierra away, her hands trembling as she held her lips, a wave of disgust washing over her.

Without another word, she stormed out of the bathroom, brushing past Sierra who tried to grab her hand. "Don't," Y/N hissed, pulling away sharply.

As she left the bar, a swarm of paparazzi was waiting outside. Sierra, trying to hold onto her arm, smiled for the cameras, but Y/N was too stunned to deal with the situation. She forced a polite smile, doing her best not to create a scene, but the discomfort was clear in her eyes. She quickly maneuvered herself away from Sierra and the flashing lights, leaving her behind with the paparazzi as she walked away, her mind racing.

---

Renee heard the last chord on the guitar, letting the sound fade in the studio as Towa adjusted some settings on her amp. They were in the middle of rehearsing a new song, but Renee's mind was somewhere else, the rhythm of the music not enough to pull her out of her thoughts.

Towa glanced over, noticing the distracted look on Renee's face. "You good?"

"Yeah, just... give me a second." Renee sighed, reaching for her phone on the nearby table. She absentmindedly scrolled through her feed until a photo caught her eye. It was Y/N and Sierra, leaving a bar together, their hands linked like they were close.

Her stomach churned, a mix of confusion and irritation swirling in her chest. She zoomed in on the picture, the paparazzi had captured them perfectly—smiling, looking almost intimate. The scene didn't seem to match the vibe she had felt with Y/N the last time they were together. She showed the picture to Towa, trying to keep her voice steady. "Look at this."

Towa frowned, taking a look at the photo. "Is that... Sierra? What the hell?" She glanced at Renee. "How do you feel about this?"

Renee shook her head, a half-laugh escaping her. "I don't know. I knew Y/N had... a thing with girls, but I didn't think she'd be with someone like Sierra." Her voice faltered slightly. "It's just weird, you know? We've been flirting, but now I feel like maybe she's the type to get involved with too many people at once."

Towa raised an eyebrow. "So, she's just out there having fun. Doesn't mean you can't too." She leaned against the table, a teasing smirk forming. "Two can play that game, Renee. If Y/N's out there living it up, why don't you just do the same? Maybe even with her. It doesn't have to be complicated."

Renee let out a slow breath, processing the idea. "So, you're saying I should just... what? Go along with it, not take it seriously?"

Towa grinned, shrugging casually. "Exactly. Y/N's hot, you clearly like her, and it's obvious there's chemistry. But if she's out there hanging with Sierra, why not keep things light and have a little fun? No need to overthink it." She gave Renee a playful nudge. "You're not the type to sit on the sidelines, right?"

Renee's lips curled into a small smile. "I guess not."

Maybe Towa had a point. If Y/N was just having fun, then maybe that's all Renee needed to do too. Keep it light, flirt, and not let herself get too caught up in the emotions.