Solace (Sabrina Carpenter/Olivia Rodrigo/ YOU)

Assumptions and Misunderstandings.

Sabrina's POV

I stood there, rooted to the spot in the hospital parking lot, watching Y/n's car speed away like I was some distant memory she couldn't get away from fast enough. The evening air was cool against my skin, but I barely felt it. All I could focus on were those taillights, disappearing into the dusk, leaving me with this hollow ache in my chest. It all happened so quickly. One moment, I was laughing with Shawn, and the next, Y/n's expression had shifted, like she'd seen something she wasn't supposed to. And then she was gone.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something had snapped between us in those few seconds. Did she see Shawn and assume he was just some random guy? Someone I was with? The idea of it made my heart twist painfully. No, it couldn't be. Y/n had to know me better than that by now. But still, the way she hurried off, the way her eyes flicked between us before she bolted—it was like she'd made a decision right then and there. A decision that crushed me.

"That's my brother," I whispered into the empty parking lot, the words feeling useless now. If only Y/n had stayed a few seconds longer, I could've introduced them. I could've explained. But instead, she was gone, and the only thing left was this sinking feeling that she thought I'd been toying with her.

I pulled out my phone, my fingers shaking a little as I dialed her number. I waited, the ringing filling my ears, but every call went straight to voicemail. It was like she had already decided to cut me off before I could even try to explain.

"Y/n, it's me... please call me back. I need to explain. That guy you saw... he's my brother, Shawn. Please, don't misunderstand this."

I hung up, but it didn't make me feel any better. The voicemail felt like shouting into a void, hoping my words would somehow reach her, but knowing deep down that they probably wouldn't.

/time skip/one month after the wedding/

Y/n's POV

Life had taken a turn I didn't quite expect. After Tiffany's wedding, things had started to come together in ways I never thought possible. Reuniting with my mom and sister in the Philippines felt like a missing piece of me had finally slotted into place, healing wounds I had ignored for far too long. I was back to my usual routine now—boss of my company, back in the States—but something had changed. I felt alive, truly alive, for the first time in years. The weight of the past had lifted.

Maybe it wasn't just the closure I found with my family. Maybe it was Olivia.

We had worked together for years, Olivia as my secretary, our relationship strictly professional—until it wasn't. I still remember the moment we both acknowledged the spark between us. It was almost like it had been there all along, simmering under the surface, but we had never dared to look too closely. Now, two weeks into our relationship, it was more than I could've imagined. We had agreed to give it a try, and every day felt like discovering something new, something beautiful.

And yet, as I sat at my desk, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my coffee cup, a complication arose. It was something I hadn't anticipated, something that pulled me out of the peace I had only just found.

My mom had asked me to donate a hospital wing in honor of my dad and brother. It was a cause I couldn't refuse, not when it meant so much to her. The hospital was close to my office building—familiar, even—but that wasn't the problem. The problem was Sabrina.

Sabrina worked there.

I hadn't thought about her in a while, not since I'd seen her walking hand in hand with that guy. We had been close, maybe too close, but nothing had ever come of it. But seeing her with him had felt like a chapter closing, and I'd let go—until now.

Now, I had to face her. I wasn't sure I was ready for that.

I glanced out the window, my heart sinking a little. I had Olivia now. I couldn't let anything mess with that—couldn't let old feelings for Sabrina stir something I didn't want. What Olivia and I had was too beautiful, too new, too fragile. But the thought of seeing Sabrina again, of potentially being in her orbit, threw me off balance.

Sabrina had someone, though. Right?

That thought lingered as I tried to push it away, tried to focus on what mattered. My family. My dad and brother. Olivia. But there it was, a flicker of doubt in the back of my mind, whispering of unresolved feelings I wasn't prepared to face.

"Are you okay?" Olivia's voice pulled me from my thoughts, gentle yet concerned. She stood in the doorway, her presence calming as always.

"Yeah," I said, offering her a small smile. "Just thinking about this hospital wing donation. It's... complicated."

She walked over, resting a hand on my shoulder. "I'm here, you know. We'll figure it out."

And with that, the flicker of doubt dimmed, at least for the moment. Because whatever lay ahead, I had Olivia by my side, and that was enough.

Or so I thought.

A/n:

Wow, we've made it to the end of the first part of our story! This journey has been such an incredible ride, and I'm beyond grateful to each and every one of you for sticking with me through all the ups and downs. Your support and enthusiasm mean everything, and I promise—this is just the beginning. There's so much more ahead, but I'll be honest—I'll be busy with work for a while. Still, I'm always thinking about what's next.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you! If you're interested in a different story, have suggestions, or just want to chat, feel free to slide into my DMs. I'm always open to ideas—or just good conversation!

Take care of yourselves, stay hydrated, and remember—the best is yet to come.

Xo
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