Chapter 15 — The Streaming Deal, the Banana Contract, and the Kiss That Wasn’t
Narrator: Greg uploads a test clip from the bathtub scene without telling Noa and Reno. It goes viral on a niche streaming platform called "HeartThrob+" known for emotional erotica and chaotic romance. Suddenly, they get a distribution offer, merch inquiries, and even fan edits.
Noa freaks out. Reno is thriving. Greg throws a launch party with free fondue and makes everyone sign contracts printed on banana-scented paper. Meanwhile, a real kiss almost happens. Almost. But Noa pulls back. Why? Because the more real it feels, the scarier it gets.
It started with a ping.
Then another.
And another.
Reno was watching raccoon TikToks when he noticed Noa's phone vibrating nonstop.
"What did you post?" he asked.
"I didn't post anything."
Ping. Ping. Ping.
She finally looked.
**[Tag Notification: You've been featured in 'Best Bathtub Chemistry' compilation - HeartThrob+]**
"WHAT IS HEARTTHROB PLUS?!" she shrieked.
Reno blinked. "Is it a dating app? A vitamin?"
They opened the link.
Their bath scene. Edited. Color graded. With background music that sounded suspiciously like acoustic foreplay.
---
Greg called two minutes later.
"Don't be mad!" he said in one breath. "I uploaded a 30-second teaser just to test metrics and see if people like your angles. And they do. They LOVE your angles!"
Noa was already screaming into a pillow.
Reno, meanwhile, watched their clip again. "I do look emotionally moist."
---
The next 24 hours were chaos.
Their scene got 128,000 views.
Fan comments flooded in:
- *"Who are these two??? I need more of this chaotic bathtub tension."*
- *"That eye contact felt illegal."*
- *"Is this what intimacy looks like? I'm scared."*
Someone made a fan cam.
Someone else made fan art of Reno as a human loofah.
Greg was thrilled. "We're getting merch offers. A line of branded bathrobes. Possibly a themed candle."
Noa wanted to melt into the floor.
---
Then came the streaming offer.
A rep from HeartThrob+ wanted to buy the pilot.
"Emotion. Whimsy. Bubbles," the rep said on the Zoom call. "It's the softcore Wes Anderson we didn't know we needed."
Reno replied, "We're calling the next episode 'Sudsy Regret.'"
The rep clapped. "Perfect."
Noa slowly slid off her chair.
---
Greg hosted a "launch party."
It was in a warehouse. There were balloons. A fondue fountain. And a disco ball shaped like a peach.
The contracts were printed on banana-scented paper.
"This is insane," Noa whispered.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Reno replied, already wearing a party hat labeled *MOIST STAR.*
---
By hour two, Noa had three tiny cupcakes and an existential crisis.
"Why are people so into us?" she muttered.
Reno looked at her, serious now. "Because we're not acting."
She stared.
He moved closer.
The music faded.
They stood under the disco peach.
He leaned in.
Close.
Closer.
Her heart sprinted.
Then—
She turned away.
"I can't," she whispered.
He paused. Hurt flickered in his eyes. But he nodded. "Okay."
---
They walked home in silence.
Noa kicked a pebble.
He kicked another one next to hers.
"We could've kissed," he said.
"Yeah."
"But you didn't want to?"
She sighed. "I *do*. But if I kiss you now, I won't know what's real anymore."
He gave her a soft look. "Noa, I came out of your sketchbook. Reality's already optional."
She smiled. Sad. But real.
---
Back in the hotel, she drew again.
A peach disco ball. Two pebbles. A bathrobe that said *Almost.*
Underneath, she wrote:
*"Love, maybe. But not yet."*