Fuck it I love you

2

The breakup was messy, like trying to untangle a ball of yarn that had somehow woven itself into a knot too tight to break. Aidan and I had tried to navigate the pressure, but the relentless scrutiny was suffocating. Every glance we shared on set was analyzed, every moment together scrutinized by the cameras that surrounded us.

Eventually, the decision came down from the director: Aria and Five would go through a divorce in the show. It felt surreal, a reflection of the turmoil I was experiencing off-screen, but also a bittersweet way to channel all the heartache. I poured my emotions into the scenes, capturing the essence of loss and betrayal as I performed, even as my own heart felt heavy with the reality of it all.

When filming wrapped for the season, I finally had a moment to breathe, but it didn't last long. I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, scrolling through the latest articles, each one more hurtful than the last. Aidan had been my rock, but in the end, the pressure had driven us apart, and I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.

That's when I reached out to Nadia. We'd met during filming for Stranger Things, and from the moment we connected, it was like finding a long-lost sister. She understood the whirlwind of Hollywood life, the pressures of growing up in the spotlight, and the constant need to prove yourself.

"Come over," I texted her, my fingers trembling. "I need to talk."

Within an hour, there was a knock at the door, and I opened it to find Nadia, her curly hair bouncing as she stepped inside. "Hey, girl," she said, wrapping me in a warm hug. "I heard the news. How are you holding up?"

"Not great," I admitted, sinking back onto my bed. "I feel like my whole life is falling apart. Aidan and I... it's just messy. The media won't stop talking about us, and now I'm supposed to pretend everything's okay when it's not."

Nadia nodded, her expression sympathetic. "That's the thing about this industry; it never lets you breathe. But you don't have to go through it alone. You've got me, remember?"

As I poured out my heart to her, I felt the dam inside me break. I talked about the hurt, the confusion, and the anger I felt toward the press for tearing us apart. "It's like they want to see us fail. They thrive on the drama."

Nadia listened intently, her dark eyes filled with understanding. "You know what? Let's take a break from all this. You deserve to feel normal again. We can binge-watch something, eat junk food, and just be ourselves."

The thought of it was a breath of fresh air. "That sounds perfect," I said, managing a small smile.

As we settled into a marathon of our favorite shows, I realized how much I needed this moment of escape. We laughed and made fun of the characters, letting the weight of the world fall away, if only for a little while. Nadia's presence was like a shield, protecting me from the chaos outside.
We settled into my cozy living room, popcorn bowls in our laps, and decided to start our movie marathon with the Percy Jackson films. As the opening credits rolled, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. I had loved the books growing up, their pages filled with adventure and myth, and I was eager to revisit those worlds—despite knowing the movies didn't quite capture the magic.

"Okay, here we go," Nadia said, rolling her eyes as the second film began. "Let's see how they butcher this one."

Within minutes, I found myself leaning forward, heart racing not from excitement but from pure frustration. "Wait, hold on! Why did they make Isla look like just another love interest? She's supposed to be a badass warrior in her own right!"

Nadia laughed, shaking her head. "Exactly! They completely glossed over her character. She deserves way more than being just Luke's girlfriend. I mean, come on! They introduced her in the second movie like she's an afterthought!"