Behind the Spotlight (Jenna x Male Reader)

Chapter One: A New Beginning

Chapter One: A New Beginning

It had been a month since their lives had taken a turn. The whirlwind of the Golden Globes, the after-parties, and the public revelation of their relationship seemed like a blur. Now, the chaos had settled, and Jenna and Y/N were standing on the threshold of a new chapter: their first apartment together in Los Angeles.

The apartment wasn't too big, but it was perfect for them. Situated in the heart of the city, it had high ceilings, a cozy living room, and large windows that allowed sunlight to flood in. Boxes were scattered everywhere, each corner filled with half-unpacked belongings as they worked through setting up their new home. For the first time in months, it was just them—no directors, no press, no fans, no set schedules.

"Where do you want these?" Y/N asked, holding up a box labeled *Kitchen.*

Jenna looked over from where she was unwrapping the final picture frames. "On the counter for now. I'll deal with it later," she said, pushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were flushed from the effort of unpacking, but there was a glow in her eyes that hadn't been there for a while.

Y/N chuckled, setting the box down. "I don't know why we packed so much stuff when we're literally living in the middle of a city with everything we could ever need."

Jenna grinned. "Well, I like my stuff."

"Clearly," Y/N teased, walking over to the bookshelf she was working on. He watched as she carefully arranged the last frame—a candid shot of the two of them, laughing on the set of *Wednesday,* arms draped over each other. The picture captured so much of their journey, from friends to something deeper. Every time he looked at it, he was reminded of how far they had come.

Jenna stepped back to admire her work, then glanced around at the apartment. "Looks like we're officially moved in."

Y/N walked over to stand beside her, glancing around as well. It wasn't completely done yet—there were still boxes to be unpacked and furniture to rearrange—but for the most part, it felt like home. Their home.

"Not bad," he said with a satisfied nod. "I think we've earned a break."

Jenna laughed softly. "Definitely."

She wandered toward the balcony doors, drawn by the golden glow of the setting sun. Sliding the door open, she stepped outside, breathing in the cool evening air. The view was breathtaking—Los Angeles sprawled out beneath her, the skyline glowing as the city began to wake for the night. It was one of the reasons they had chosen this place. The view alone made the apartment feel like an escape from the chaos of their lives.

Y/N joined her a minute later, slipping his arms around her waist from behind. "You okay?" he asked gently, resting his chin on her shoulder.

Jenna leaned back into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace. "Yeah," she replied softly, though there was a thoughtful look in her eyes. She rested her hands on his, fingers tracing idle patterns across his skin.

"What's on your mind?" Y/N asked, sensing that she was holding something back.

Jenna stayed quiet for a moment, her gaze focused on the shimmering lights of the city below. Finally, she sighed and turned slightly to face him, her eyes searching his. "Do you remember that phone call I got a month ago? After the Golden Globes?"

Y/N nodded, his brows furrowing slightly. "Yeah, you never really told me what it was about. Just said you weren't ready to talk about it yet."

"Well..." She bit her lip, as if unsure how to begin. "It was about a role. Actually, two roles."

"For us?" Y/N's curiosity deepened.

Jenna nodded, her eyes watching his face for a reaction. "Yeah. They offered us parts in the new *Scream* movie."

Y/N blinked in surprise. "*Scream*? Like the horror franchise?"

"Yep," Jenna confirmed, exhaling slowly. "They wanted us both. A big opportunity, but... I didn't know if it was the right time."

Y/N tilted his head, trying to understand. "Why not? I mean, that sounds incredible. Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

Jenna leaned against the railing, her expression conflicted. "Because we just finished *Wednesday,* and that project took everything out of us. I wasn't sure if I was ready to jump into another intense shoot, and... well, we've just moved in together. I don't want to lose what we've finally started building."

She gestured to the apartment, their newfound sense of peace. It was the first time in months that they weren't constantly on the go, that they didn't have the weight of their careers pressing down on them. Jenna worried that accepting another role so soon might disrupt the balance they had finally found.

Y/N was quiet for a moment, processing her words. He understood where she was coming from. Filming *Wednesday* had been demanding, both physically and mentally, and the whirlwind of their personal lives had only added to the exhaustion. This apartment, this moment, felt like the calm after the storm.

"I get it," Y/N said softly, leaning on the railing beside her. "But you know we can make it work. We've been through a lot already, and we've figured things out together. If this is something you want, we can do it on our terms."

Jenna looked at him, her expression softening. "I don't know... I want to do it, but I don't want us to feel like we're just... diving back into work without a break. Like we're losing each other to the job again."

Y/N reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We won't. We're stronger now. Besides, if we're both in the same movie, we'll have each other. It could be fun."

Jenna smiled, leaning into his touch. "Yeah, I guess it could."

"We'll take it slow," Y/N reassured her. "We don't have to decide anything right now. We'll take our time and figure it out together. No pressure."

Jenna nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "You always know the right thing to say."

He grinned, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I try."

For a while, they stood there in comfortable silence, watching the city lights twinkle below. It was peaceful, the cool breeze brushing past them as the sky turned darker. The apartment behind them, their new home, stood as a symbol of the life they were building—a life together.

As the night deepened, Y/N wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a playful nudge. "Okay, enough serious talk. How about we order pizza and relax? We've earned it."

Jenna laughed, her earlier tension dissolving. "That sounds perfect."

They headed back inside, the warmth of their new home enveloping them as they settled into the living room. It wasn't long before the pizza arrived, and they sat on the couch together, eating slices straight out of the box and laughing about the mess they had made while unpacking.

Later, as the evening wound down, they curled up together on the couch, the remnants of their pizza scattered around them. Jenna rested her head on Y/N's shoulder, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.

"So... *Scream*, huh?" Y/N murmured after a while, running his fingers through her hair.

Jenna chuckled softly. "Yeah. It's pretty crazy, right?"

"It is. But whatever we decide, we'll face it together."

Jenna smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm glad I have you."

"And I'm not going anywhere," Y/N said quietly, tightening his hold on her.

The flickering light of the city outside cast a soft glow around them, and for the first time in a while, everything felt just right.