THIRTEEN

As the clock ticked closer to 2 PM, my nerves were on edge. I had chosen Ivan, but the thought of Wade lingered in my mind. I headed outside and saw Ivan waiting for me, his expression unreadable.

"Hey," he greeted, his eyes searching mine.

"Hi, Ivan," I replied, feeling a rush of warmth at his presence. Just as I was about to get into his car, I saw Wade approaching. Our eyes met and we exchanged looks for longer than needed. There was a look in his eyes, something deep and intense, but he masked it quickly and got into a red car parked nearby.

Ivan and I drove to a really fancy restaurant. Once we were seated, he leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Wendy, I've been thinking a lot about us. I need to know where we stand."

My heart pounded in my chest. I had been avoiding this conversation, but there was no running now. "As it stands, people already think I'm getting special treatment. You know the rumors about how I'm sleeping with you..."

"Really? Is it just about the rumors, or is there something else?" Ivan's eyes bore into mine, searching for the truth.

I took a deep breath, my mind swirling with confusion and fear. "Ivan, I care about you. A lot. But it's not just the rumors. It's everything, Wade, the movie, the pressure. I feel like I'm drowning in all these emotions, and I don't know how to handle it." I don't know why I just had to mention Wade.

Ivan reached across the table, taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, reassuring. "Wendy, I understand. But I need you to be honest with me and with yourself. But did you just say Wade? Do you have feelings for Wade?"

I hesitated, the truth clawing its way to the surface. "I... I don't know. Maybe. It's all so confusing."

Ivan's grip tightened slightly, his expression pained. "I see. Wendy, I'm willing to fight for you, for us. But I need to know if that's what you want too."

Tears pricked my eyes. "I need time, Ivan. I need to figure out what I really want. Please, just give me some time."

He nodded, though the hurt in his eyes was unmistakable. "Take all the time you need, Wendy. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

As we left the restaurant, the weight of our conversation hung heavy in the air. Ivan drove me back to my apartment, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. When we arrived, he leaned over and kissed my cheek softly.

"Think about what you want, Wendy. I'll be waiting."

I nodded, unable to find the right words. As I watched him drive away, my phone buzzed again. Another text from Wade. *"It's always about him uhn?."* For some weird reasons, I ignored the message and went ahead to my apartment.

---

The next day on set was tense. The air buzzed with a mix of anticipation and unease as the cast and crew prepared for the day's shoot. I arrived early, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters, but my heart sank when I saw Wade acting cold and distant. He barely acknowledged my presence, his interactions with everyone curt and clipped.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, Wade waltzes in with Gabriella, the same woman who had caused a scene the last time she was here. I could feel the collective tension in the room spike. Gabriella strutted in like she owned the place, her presence a glaring reminder of the chaos she had caused.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, catching Victoria's eye. She gave me a sympathetic look but quickly turned away as Wade approached her.

"Victoria, let's run through the lines for the next scene," Wade said, his voice devoid of its usual warmth.

Victoria nodded, though her eyes flicked to me with a hint of concern. "Sure, Wade," she replied, her tone carefully neutral.

As they walked off, Spencer sauntered over to me. "Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he remarked, nodding towards Wade.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, seems like it."

Spencer's eyes narrowed. "You know, he's been acting like a complete jerk to everyone. Even to Victoria. And I heard he brought Gabriella back just to stir things up. He's out of control."

I sighed. "I know, Spencer. It's... complicated."

Spencer scoffed. "Complicated? Wendy, he's acting like a child. Someone needs to put him in his place."

Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed through the set. Everyone turned to see Wade and Gabriella arguing heatedly near one of the props. Wade's face was contorted with anger, while Gabriella looked smug.

"This is ridiculous," Spencer muttered, striding over to the commotion. I followed, my heart pounding.

"What's going on here?" Spencer demanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Wade turned to him, his eyes blazing. "Stay out of this, Spencer. It's none of your business."

Spencer stepped closer, his jaw clenched. "You're making it everyone's business with your tantrums. This set isn't your playground, Wade."

Gabriella smirked, clearly enjoying the drama. "Oh, Spencer, taking the opportunity to play her. How noble."

Wade's fists clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might hit Spencer. I stepped between them, holding up my hands. "Enough! Both of you!"

The set fell silent, all eyes on us. Wade's gaze met mine, and for a split second, I saw the hurt behind his anger. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a cold, hard mask.

"This isn't the place for personal issues," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "We have a job to do. Let's get back to it."

Wade glared at me but didn't argue. He turned and walked away, Gabriella trailing behind him with a satisfied grin. Osse stayed completely out of this, man wasn't in the mood for any drama today.

As the day wore on, Wade's behavior didn't improve. He snapped at the crew, ignored direction, and made everyone on set uncomfortable. Even Victoria, who usually managed to stay out of the drama, seemed on edge.

During a break, she approached me, her face etched with worry. "Wendy, what's going on with Wade? He's never been like this before."

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "It's complicated, Victoria. Just... give him some space. He'll come around."

She nodded, though her concern didn't fade. "I hope you're right."

At some point, I felt I needed to speak with Wade. If this was about yesterday, if this swas about him being mad at me, then I had to settle it. I hesitated, the memory of our last encounter still fresh in my mind. But I knew I couldn't avoid him forever. I wasn't a kid to keep things awkward just because he and I almost kissed, taking a deep breath, I typed *"Meet me at my place. We need to talk."*

The rest of the day on set was a blur. Wade's icy demeanor and Gabriella's smug presence cast a shadow over everything. I tried to focus on my work, but my mind kept drifting back to the message I had sent him.

Hours passed, and still, no reply from Wade. My phone felt like a lead weight in my pocket, and I found myself checking it constantly, hoping for a response that never came. By the time we wrapped up for the day, I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

I gathered my things and headed home, the silence of the drive only amplifying my thoughts. I tried to convince myself that Wade was just busy, that he would reply when he had a moment. But deep down, I knew something was off.

When I reached my apartment building, I took the elevator, resting on its walls as I was too tired. Just as I got to my floor and stepped out, I froze. There, in front of Wade's apartment, were Wade and Gabriella, locked in a passionate kiss.

My heart dropped to my stomach. Wade's hands were tangled in Gabriella's hair, his lips moving fervently against hers. Gabriella's arms were wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. The scene was like a punch to the gut.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring blankly at the two unsure of what to do. It was just yesterday when Wade and I had our moment, he made me feel like we had something. Even though he must have felt hurt seeing me hangout with Ivan while I ignored his messages, this just wasn't it. They could've gone into his apartment, he had enough space in there but it felt like he did this on purpose for me to see.

I tried to back away quietly, hoping they wouldn't notice me. But as I took a step back, Wade's eyes flicked open. He saw me and, for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his gaze, one I couldn't quite describe but it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold, detached expression. He pulled away from Gabriella slightly, just enough to smirk at me over her shoulder. It was a look that said he knew exactly what he was doing and didn't care.