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chapter TWENTY FOUR we've got a problem .
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it was a few days after the premiere, and things between starr and mason had shifted—drastically. they weren't pretending anymore, weren't tiptoeing around their feelings. yet, the awkwardness that usually followed these kinds of confessions never came. if anything, they fell back into their usual banter like they'd always been this way. and that was the weirdest part.
on set, things were nearing the final stretch. only a couple of scenes left before filming wrapped. the rain kiss scene was tomorrow, and starr had been trying not to overthink it. she didn't want the weight of their real feelings bleeding into the characters, not like before. miller and clara's love was complicated—hurtful. hers and mason's? well, she didn't want it to be.
but today wasn't about filming. the set was unusually quiet when starr arrived. a few of the crew members bustled around, but there was no sign of mason or ahliya. she was half-expecting ahliya to pull some new petty move. after all, their relationship had remained as icy as ever.
starr was busy reading over the script when a voice broke her concentration.
"didn't think you'd be here this early."
mason's voice, familiar and teasing, had her glancing up. he was leaning casually against the doorframe of her trailer, looking far too relaxed for her liking.
"early? it's almost noon," she replied, eyebrow raised. "unlike some people, i don't sleep in 'til two."
"gotta keep the mystery alive," he smirked, stepping inside. "also, who are you calling lazy? i was up at ten."
"shocking."
mason plopped down onto the couch opposite her, stretching his arms across the back like he owned the place. "so, are you ready for tomorrow?"
the question caught her off guard, though it shouldn't have. they'd been dancing around the rain kiss for days, neither bringing it up in full detail. she shrugged, pretending it was no big deal. "it's just another scene, right?"
