Heartstrings and Headlines

12

"Taylor... and LOGAN?" Ashlyn almost screamed, bursting into laughter. "Ty, that couldn't be farther from the truth! You do realize they're fake dating, right?"

Tyler's voice was tight, barely masking his frustration. "That's the thing, Ash. I don't think it's fake anymore. They're closer than ever—always giggling and stuff- God, Logan's giggle is so adorable." Tyler said, getting side tracked, "But that's beside the point! They like each other so much, it's impossible to ignore. And I think—no, I know—that was Melissa's plan all along."

Ashlyn's laughter faltered, her amusement fading into curiosity. She put down her cup of water with a deliberate motion, her fingers wrapping around the edge of the glass as she leaned in slightly, fully aware of the shift in Tyler's tone. "What do you mean?"

Tyler's words came out in a rush, like he couldn't contain them anymore. "I mean, I think Melissa wants us to like each other. I think this whole PR stunt was a trick from the start—meant to make it feel real, make it something genuine. I hate to admit it, but her plan is working. Hell, we even made it onto SNL, Ash. SNL!"

Ashlyn's mind spun for a moment, trying to process everything Tyler was saying. SNL? That was big. That was huge. She felt a little light-headed just thinking about it. But there was a deeper, more troubling question gnawing at her now. "You... you're saying Melissa orchestrated all of this? The fake dating, the stunts, everything?"

"Yeah," Tyler said, his voice thick with frustration. "I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. Everything just clicked too perfectly. There's no way we're this lucky. It's all too perfect, Ash. I don't mind kissing your cheek for the cameras, but I do not want to kiss your crusty lips."

Ashlyn scoffed, rolling her eyes but trying to hide the nagging feeling in her stomach. "First of all, how dare you? My lips are impeccable, thank you very much. Secondly, how can you be so sure? Melissa's always had our backs. She's one of us."

Tyler didn't respond right away. The silence stretched between them, filled with the weight of his doubts. "What's best for us, or what's best for her?" he finally said, his voice heavy with a truth that Ashlyn wasn't ready to face.

Ashlyn felt her throat tighten. She didn't want to think about this—didn't want to entertain the idea that maybe Melissa wasn't the unwavering ally she'd always believed her to be. Melissa had been a part of Ashlyn's life for as long as she could remember. Her family's lives had been intertwined for years. She remembered the times when everything had seemed like it was falling apart—when Ashlyn's family business was on the verge of crumbling, or when her band was struggling to get off the ground—and it was Melissa who swooped in, always there with a plan, a strategy, a promise that things would be okay.

But now, hearing Tyler's doubts, a seed of uncertainty started to sprout in Ashlyn's mind. Had Melissa been playing them all along? Was it all just another one of her masterful schemes to benefit herself?

Ashlyn shook her head, trying to push the thought away. She refused to entertain it. Not after everything Melissa had done for her.

"I... I have to go, Ty," Ashlyn said, her voice softer now. "Talk to you later." There was a long pause, and she almost hung up, but something made her stop. "Thank you for trusting me with this. I hope things work out. We can talk more at practice tomorrow, too. Maybe make a plan or something."

Tyler's voice softened, his smile audible even through the phone. "Alright, carrot-top. Good night."

Ashlyn hung up the phone, the familiar weight of the silence pressing in on her.

But her night was anything but peaceful. As soon as the call ended, Ashlyn's mind began to race. She thought of Logan and Taylor—always together, always laughing, always seeming like they had their own little world. Maybe Tyler was right. Maybe this wasn't as fake as it seemed.

But then there was the other side of her brain—the part that refused to believe anything could be wrong with Melissa. She couldn't just turn on her, could she?

Ashlyn set her phone down on the counter, her fingers tapping a rhythm against the surface as she stared at the floor, lost in thought. She thought about the way Melissa had always been there for her, always pushing her forward, making her feel like she could do anything. It was impossible to reconcile that version of Melissa with the idea that she might have orchestrated this whole thing to her own benefit.

"I'm probably overthinking this," Ashlyn muttered to herself, shaking her head. "I'm just tired. That's all."

But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, a lingering doubt gnawed at the edge of her mind. And that doubt was enough to make her night feel like a slow unraveling of everything she'd known.

_____

the drama unfolds 👀

hope you enjoyed! 

xoxo, aj