Ivy - Jenna Ortega

20

As the final notes of the encore echoed through the venue, Harley raised her hand to the cheering crowd, her heart still racing from the performance. The concert had gone off without a hitch, but that one moment—when she sang the song she had written for Jenna—kept replaying in her head. She could still feel the familiar pull, a bittersweet ache that had never quite gone away.

"Goodnight, Dublin!" Harley shouted, flashing a wide grin before disappearing backstage.

The moment she was behind the curtain, her smile faltered slightly, the adrenaline still running through her body but now with a twinge of melancholy. Nick and Lacey rushed up to meet her, both congratulating her on the killer show.

"You were amazing out there," Lacey said, throwing an arm around her. "That crowd was insane, definitely top ten."

Harley smiled, nodding her head. "Oh, for sure, i'd say right above Berlin right below New Orleans."

Nick shook his head, "I thought it was higher."

"Well-" she stopped mid sentence to look at the man. "No wait, you rigged the surprise song!" She accused giving him a light shove.

"No..."

"Drea told me."

Nick snickered, going to wrap his arm around the girl's shoulders, "okay, I did, but it's such a good song people needed to hear it." He paused, turning to his other friend, "plus... it was Lacey's idea."

The woman glared at the him, before quickly waiving him off, "well, everything worked out... so I think we should celebrate."

Harley shrugged, "what do you have in mind? I mean it's your last night with us, we gotta go out with a memorable one."

"The manager of the venue told me about this low key bar down the street. Not a lot of people, no fans, no paps. How about it?"

The two girls nodded, "sounds good to me."

~~~

Meanwhile, Jenna exited the venue with her cast mates in toe, her mind swirling. The concert had been incredible, but it had also stirred up everything she'd been trying to avoid. Seeing Harley on stage, hearing her voice again—it made Jenna realize how much she had missed her, and how badly she'd handled everything.

As they made their way down the street, Emma suggested grabbing a drink. "Let's unwind a bit. We've got the whole night ahead of us, and there's a chill spot nearby."

Jenna glanced at her phone, half tempted to call it a night, but the lingering adrenaline from the concert made her restless. "Yeah, sure," she muttered, her voice quieter than usual.

Hunter nudged her playfully. "You okay? You've been kind of quiet."

"I'm fine," Jenna said, forcing a small smile. "Just... a lot on my mind."

They walked a few blocks until they reached a dimly lit bar tucked between two shops. The music inside was low, a welcome change from the pounding noise of the concert. The group slipped inside, grateful for the dark, intimate atmosphere. It felt like a good place to hide.

~~~

Harley, Nick, and Lacey arrived at the same bar not long before. True to Nick's word, the place was quiet, not many people around. It was the kind of spot where Harley could blend in and just enjoy the night without being recognized.

They grabbed a booth near the back, and Harley settled in, staring down at the soda Nick had ordered for her. Her two friends had gotten up to grab another drink, and their absence Harley was left alone with her own thought. Her mind was still on the concert, on Jenna, and the nagging feeling that Jenna might have been there.