The morning sun filtered through Rae's curtains as she paced nervously in her room, muttering lines under her breath. Her heart drummed a steady rhythm of anxious excitement. Today was the screen test. Not an audition—no, Vivienne had made that clear—it was the screen test. The real deal. The one that could land her a lead role in Bits and Pieces, a teen sitcom with actual streaming potential.
"Breathe," she told herself, shaking her hands out. "You've got this."
Outside, Vivienne's car honked twice.
The studio lot buzzed with activity. Lights, cameras, makeup trailers—it was all so surreal. Rae found herself seated in a small waiting area outside the set, script clutched in her hands. She could hear the faint hum of dialogue being filmed nearby, crew members calling out directions, and the occasional burst of laughter from the set.
When they finally called her in, Rae took one last breath and stepped into the spotlight. The set was cozy, like a makeshift version of the family living room from the script. Across from her stood a stand-in actor, ready to read with her.
"Action!"
Rae delivered her lines with all the charm and awkward honesty the character demanded. She improvised a little—something Vivienne always encouraged her to do—and added a sarcastic eyebrow raise that made the director chuckle out loud.
"Cut!"
There was a pause. The director looked at the other producers, then back at Rae.
"Let's run that again. Same energy."
They did it twice more, and each time, Rae felt looser, more alive in the moment. She forgot to be nervous. She just acted.
When she stepped off set, cheeks flushed and heart racing, Vivienne was already waiting, grinning.
"I think you nailed it," Vivienne said, tossing Rae a protein bar.
"You really think so?" Rae asked, eyes wide.
Vivienne shrugged casually. "Let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if you got a call very, very soon."
---
The next day, Rae was sprawled on her bed, half-watching a rerun of The Masked Sidekick, when her phone buzzed.
Vivienne.
She grabbed it, heart skipping.
"Viv, it's Saturday. What happened to your no-weekend-calls rule?"
Vivienne ignored the jab. "Congratulations, starlet. You nailed it."
Rae sat up. "Wait—what?"
"The director of Bits and Pieces called me personally. You got the part. You're officially their new lead."
Rae blinked, stunned. "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack," Vivienne said, practically beaming through the phone. "Filming starts in two weeks. But before that—"
"Oh no," Rae muttered.
Vivienne smirked. "—you're going to need a bit of prep. Chemistry reads, press training, promo shoots, and some light rehearsal. So… the producers are sending someone to work with you. Your new scene partner."
Rae frowned. "Like a coach?"
"Not exactly," Vivienne said. "He's already been cast in the show too. They want sparks. You two are going to be co-leads."
Rae's breath hitched. "Who?"
"Xander Hale."
The name landed like a thunderclap in Rae's chest.
She'd seen him before—on TikTok, Instagram, in that one viral coming-of-age show that dropped last year and made everyone lose their minds. He was the Hollywood golden boy with the swoopy hair, effortless charm, and just enough edge to make middle school teachers side-eye him.
"You're kidding," Rae said.
Vivienne's smirk grew wider. "I never kid about client synergy. He's flying in tomorrow. First chemistry meeting is scheduled for noon. Don't be late. Oh—and maybe do your hair this time?"
Rae groaned and flopped back on her bed.
Her phone buzzed again.
Milo: Good luck tomorrow. Rae: Thanks. Want to grab boba after? Milo: Yeah. I'd like that.
Rae smiled, but the feeling was complicated. Her heart fluttered in a way she didn't fully trust yet. Maybe she wasn't falling. Maybe she was just confused.
Or maybe that was scarier.
And now? Now she had to share scenes with a real-life teen heartthrob.
This... just got more complicated.
---
Still buzzing from Vivienne's call, Rae flopped back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as if it could somehow process the news for her. She was in. She was actually in.
Her phone dinged again.
Luna:
I'm outside.
You've been suspiciously silent. Spill. Now.
Rae grinned, quickly texting back:
Rae:
Door's open. Bring snacks. You'll need them.
Moments later, Luna strode into Rae's room holding a half-eaten bag of spicy popcorn. Her eyes narrowed the second she saw Rae's expression.
"You either landed a major role or committed a crime," Luna said, flopping dramatically onto the bed beside her. "Tell me everything."
Rae tossed her phone to Luna. "Vivienne just called. I got the part. Bits and Pieces. I'm the new lead."
Luna froze mid-chew, eyes wide. "Shut. Up."
"I'm serious," Rae whispered, grinning like her face might crack.
Luna let out a shriek that could've cracked glass. "RAE. You're gonna be on Bits and Pieces. Like, actually on Bits and Pieces!"
"I know!" Rae said, giddy and still stunned.
"But wait," Luna said, suddenly suspicious. "There's a 'but' coming. I can smell it."
"They're assigning someone to train with me. Another cast member," Rae said.
Luna narrowed her eyes. "Who?"
Rae inhaled deeply, then exhaled one name: "Xander Hale."
There was silence.
Then Luna screamed into her popcorn bag. "YOU'RE LYING. YOU'RE ACTUALLY LYING."
"I'm not! He's been cast too. And they want us to build chemistry before filming starts."
"Rae, he's—he's Xander freaking Hale. He's not even real! He's like a myth. A perfectly styled, annoyingly hot myth."
Rae laughed, covering her face with her hands. "I don't know what's happening anymore."
"Oh, I do," Luna said, eyes gleaming. "This is your main-character moment, babe. You're living it. Cameras. Co-stars. Complicated feelings. The slow-burn tension."
"Don't say slow-burn," Rae groaned.
"I already ship it," Luna declared.
Rae hit her with a pillow.
Luna tossed it back, smiling. "But seriously, Rae… you deserve this. I'm so proud of you."
Rae's smile softened. "Thanks. I'm scared."
"Good. Means you care," Luna said, bumping her shoulder. "Now let's figure out how you're going to survive working with a walking heartthrob while not spontaneously combusting."