Fake dating the king of the neighborhood certainly had its perks, but what happens when being in a relationship is one of them? Monique Freedman is Harlem church royalty, soloist of the Heavenly Way Choir and the pastor's perfect, pristine daughter. But as time goes on she's starting to get tired of the same routine. She is completely invisible to her long-time crush-the polished head deacon's son. Desperate to get his attention, she breaks out of the box that she's lived in all her life, and she needs the perfect guy to help her do it: Amari Jones. Amari is the undisputed king of the block, heads turn when he enters the scene. But beneath his sharp exterior is a quietly ambitious, architecture-loving guy who has been secretly smitten with Monique since they were kids in Sunday school. Two issues: He doesn't play games, and that would include fake dating. But if her father, Reverend Freedman, saw them together he'd flip a lid. But a summer in Harlem has its own way of changing the rules. When a hesitant deal forces them together, Monique finally gets to see a world beyond the church. She comes to understand the spirit and the culture of the city she calls home, and she does it with Amari by her side. As fake dates and summer block parties melt into late night conversations, Monique realizes that the guy she was never supposed to like was the only guy that was listening all along.

𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 , after a decade apart, Hollywood actor Drew Starkey returns to his hometown and unexpectedly crosses paths with Cameron Jade, now the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair magazine. Once inseparable childhood best friends turned first loves, they shared a deep, undeniable connection until life pulled them in opposite directions. They broke up after high school, chasing their dreams and leaving their past, and each other, behind. Now, forced together by their meddling mothers, the reunion is anything but smooth. Cameron is caught off guard by Drew's return, and despite the years apart, the tension between them is undeniable. Drew feels himself slipping back into the past, the way Cameron's laughter once felt like home, the way she always understood him better than anyone else. But while he is drawn to the familiarity of what they had, Cameron is hesitant, afraid to reopen wounds that never fully healed. As they navigate familiar streets and old memories, late-night conversations turn into something deeper, and the line between past and present begins to blur. But with Drew's life still rooted in Hollywood and Cameron's career just taking off, they must face the question they avoided all those years ago. Is love worth the risk, or are they destined to remain a beautiful what-if? DREW STARKEY X ORIGINAL CHARACTER ➸ social media, traditional ➸ lowercase intended ⊱ 03.19.2025 - 04.06.2025 ⊰ - 2025 @THECLARADIARIES

Milan Ren Vaughn and Kairo Benton have spent months turning their apartment hallway into a silent warzone. She's convinced he's loud, messy, and allergic to respecting her peace, while he swears she was born to complain about anything he does. Their neighbors know the tension. Management knows the tension. And Christmas is the only thing keeping the building from falling apart. So when the manager assigns them to co-run the annual Christmas charity event, neither of them takes it well. Still, the holidays won't wait, the toy drive needs saving, and someone has to hang the lights - even if it means working side by side with the one person they can't stand. But as the season settles in, something unexpected begins slipping through the cracks. Late nights of planning feel calmer than they should. Their banter softens. The glow of the holiday lights makes everything seem a little less harsh, and a little more... possible. Moments that should've meant nothing start to feel like something they can't explain. They promised their truce would end after Christmas. But the holidays have a funny way of revealing gifts you never knew you needed - especially when they're wrapped in the person living right next door.