bed chem | drew starkey

CHAPTER 21

LATE DECEMBER 2023 - EARLY JANUARY 2024

The last few weeks felt like a blur to Aurora, a series of emotions she couldn't quite catch up to. Christmas had come and gone, and she found herself sitting in the corner of her apartment, surrounded by brightly wrapped gifts from her co-stars, friends, and family. Everyone had been thoughtful, each gift a reminder of the family she had built, but one thing was missing. One gift that she had long since expected, but now, it felt like it would never come.

There was nothing from Drew.

Aurora blinked, feeling the ache in her chest deepen as she stared at the pile of gifts, each one a reminder of the distance between them. She had made sure to pick out something for him. Even now, in this awkward and painful chapter of their relationship, she still wanted him to know she cared. But he hadn't thought of her. Not even a little.

A wave of emotion hit her, and before she could stop it, the tears came. She didn't even bother wiping them away. It felt like a release, a moment where all of the sadness she'd been holding back spilled out. For an hour, she cried. The tears blurred the Christmas lights twinkling outside her window, the wrapping paper, the decorations, everything. Her heart was heavy. She felt like she had lost something so important to her, and she didn't even know how to get it back.

It wasn't just the gift. It was the friendship.

She thought back to when things were simpler, when she and Drew would talk for hours, laugh together, share stories about their day, share food, and just... be. Now, they passed each other on set, exchanging only the bare minimum of words.

And then there was the way she couldn't stop thinking about the times Drew had cared for her—like the night he showed up after she had been cheated on, when he fed her, talked to her, and just... cared. Now, she barely recognized him. It felt like the Drew she had known was slipping away, and it left her hollow.

She hadn't even realized how little she had been eating lately, until she started noticing how weak she felt, how much energy she had lost in these past few weeks. It wasn't intentional. Every time she tried to sit down and eat something, all she could think about was that night. How Drew had sat next to her and fed her, telling her everything would be okay. Now, she barely picked up her fork.

When she wasn't avoiding drew, she was avoiding everyone. She had retreated back into herself, only talking to Madelyn, who had been visibly worried about her best friend. Madelyn had tried to reach out, to ask what was going on, but every time, Aurora could only muster weak responses. It was easier that way, right? To just hide, to not feel the weight of the emptiness that had taken over her life.

Aurora hadn't even told Madelyn about the tears she'd shed over Drew not sending a gift, because she knew it would only upset her more. Madelyn already had enough to worry about.

What was the point of talking about it, anyway? Drew didn't care. At least, that's how it felt. He wasn't there for her anymore. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go of the idea of him. But that was easier said than done.

And the worst part was... she still didn't know how to stop caring about

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New Year's Eve arrived, and the excitement among the cast was palpable. Everyone was buzzing about the plans to ring in the new year at a club, the kind of celebration that usually had Aurora hyped. But this year, everything felt different. For one, her heart wasn't in it. The idea of being in a crowded club with music blaring, lights flashing, and people everywhere made her stomach churn. She'd always been someone who preferred smaller gatherings, quiet moments, and this—this felt like too much.