⋆ 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 ⋆ 𝙉𝙄𝘾𝙃𝙊𝙇𝘼𝙎 𝘼. 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙑𝙀𝙕

ｌｅｓ ｐｉｅｄｓ ｓｕｒ ｔｅｒｒｅ

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

And since fairy tales only happen in Hollywood—within the realm of movies and series—Violet returned to her usual life as a celebrity, juggling catwalks, magazine shoots, interviews, and more. Today, she had an exciting interview lined up with the cast of Outer Banks to discuss the upcoming Season 4.

To everyone’s surprise, Rudy Pankow, known for his reclusive nature, accepted the invitation to join the panel. It was common knowledge that he typically avoided these types of events that put him in the spotlight. His unexpected appearance stirred up excitement, but for Violet, it brought a wave of mixed emotions.

Several months back, she and Rudy had shared a brief yet intense connection that ultimately faded under the scrutiny of the tabloids. The rumors about their relationship exploded, and the pressure of the “Duval effect”—the tendency for anyone connected to her to face overwhelming media attention—pushed them apart. It had hurt more than she cared to admit, and now, seeing him again stirred feelings she thought she had buried.

As Violet arrived at the venue, she felt both anticipation and a twinge of anxiety. The energy in the room was electric, and when Rudy walked in, all eyes turned to him. He was as charming as ever, but there was a hint of hesitation in his demeanor. Their eyes met briefly, and she could see the familiar warmth mixed with the weight of their shared history.

During the interview, the hosts asked about the upcoming season and what fans could expect. Violet took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay professional. She engaged with the cast, eager to show that she could handle the situation with grace. However, her focus often drifted to Rudy, who seemed to be wrestling with his own thoughts.

When the hosts prompted Rudy to share why he decided to join this particular event, Violet held her breath. “Honestly,” he began, “I thought it was time to step out of my comfort zone. Plus, I heard Violet would be here.” The admission caught the room off guard, and Violet felt her heart race. What was going on? What was he implying?

The interview proceeded with plenty of laughter and playful banter, but beneath the surface, an unspoken tension lingered between them. As they played games testing their knowledge of one another, Violet noticed Rudy stealing glances at her, and she couldn’t help but smile at the memories they shared—both the good and the complicated.

At one point, a game revealed a secret that made the whole cast burst into laughter, and the playful atmosphere lightened the mood. Rudy shared a funny story about a miscommunication on set, prompting Violet to jump in with a similar experience. The chemistry was palpable, and it felt as if no time had passed since their last interaction.

As the interview wrapped up, the hosts decided to play a game where cast members had to guess each other's secrets. Violet felt a flutter of nerves when it was his turn. Rudy didn't hesitated before revealing something about his past experiences with a co-star. “Well, I once went on a few dates with someone, but the media blew it out of proportion, and we had to distance ourselves…” Her eyes involuntarily flicked to Rudy, who looked slightly pained at the implication.

I didn't understand why Rudy came back out of nowhere with all this stuff...

If something always makes you doubt it, it's because there's something wrong with it... right?

After the interview, Violet couldn’t help but be approached by Rudy, she had a mix of warmth and hesitation in her eyes. “Great job out there,” he said, his tone friendly. “It was nice to see you again… despite everything.”

“Yeah,” Violet replied, feeling the weight of their shared past. “It was good to see you too. I didn’t expect you to show up.”

“I didn’t either, but I thought maybe it was time to face some of those old rumors,” Rudy said, his gaze sincere. “We should catch up sometime… properly.”