The Reunion by Kayla Olson(21)
The idea of both thrills me more than I care to admit.
“Liv, hi!” Varsha says when I walk up. “I was just telling Ransom my vision for this one. Here’s what I’m thinking: The last time everyone saw you on-screen together like this, your characters were both eighteen. I want to do a headline that says ALL GROWN UP”—she spreads her hands in the air, like she’s revealing the words as she speaks—“but it has to be the perfect balance of your new maturity mixed with the relative innocence your viewers are used to in the original series.”
She goes on to direct us into position, both of us side by side on top of the thick white duvet. It’s a bit intimate, even in our formal clothes—I haven’t shared a bed with anyone in quite some time.
“Okay, now, Liv—turn on your side to face Ransom, yes, like that, only bend your knees a little more!” I feel someone spreading the skirt of my dress out behind me so it looks like it just happened to fall that way naturally. “Ransom, can you take one of her hands in yours, then put your other hand under your head and cross your ankles like you’re living your best life?”
Ransom takes my hand in his, his gaze flicking toward mine. The corner of his mouth quirks up. A shiver courses through me, very much without my permission, at odds with the warmth of his hand intertwined with mine.
“Yes, yes,” Varsha says. “Perfect!”
We try a few more poses, shifting the details along the way. By the final shot, we’re shoulder to shoulder, my bare skin pressed up against the fabric of his suit jacket.
“Last one, guys, and then we’re done,” Varsha says. “Liv, can you tilt your head a little—yes, like that, just rest it on his shoulder, perfect. Snap a few of those, Ryan.”
We stay there, breathing in the silence. It’s comfortable, more comfortable than it should be after so many years apart. I guess that’s how it is with someone you’ve known practically forever, who once knew your every shade and shadow: no matter how many ups and downs and detours creep in along the way, in the end, it’s not hard to slip back to a baseline level of ease.
I need to be careful not to slip too quickly—someone could get hurt.
“Okay, great work, everyone—that’s it for today! Take your time in the dressing rooms, Ransom and Liv, it’ll be a while before our team is out of here.”
“I think I’m stuck,” Ransom says, still beside me on the bed. “This thing is like a cloud.”
“Same here,” I laugh. “I think it’s softer than my bed at home.”
He grins. Our eyes meet, and for a split second I’m sixteen again, the girl who was only just starting to realize she was falling in love with the boy in front of her and not just acting out the part.
I shake the memory off before it takes hold. I’m not sixteen anymore, this is not my bed, and even if it were, I’m not ready to consider the implications of the very real thought that just crashed through my mind: I kind of wish it were.
“Better get back to my dressing room,” I say, a little more abruptly than I mean to. “They really caked this foundation on!”
His eyes are on me as I leave, I can feel them, so I walk a little quicker than I normally would. Because the truth is, if I’m honest, I like his eyes on me—and I don’t like that I like it. We’re actors, we’ve built entire careers out of making people fall in love with us.
I need to leave now, before I slip so hard I forget what’s actually real.
Behind-the-scenes sneak peek of #GotV cast—look for our trio of special edition covers soon!
—@EntertainmentWeekly on Snapaday June 14, 1:13 p.m.
@ZeniaDiLitto
OHMYGAAAAAAAAHHHHH those last photos, tho @abbeyyyyy17
they all look SO GROWN UP, i cannot even handle this @IthacaAlexander
Love that color on Millie
@GOTV_fanboiiii
PLEASE TELL ME RANSOM AND LIV ARE A THING IN REAL LIFE, THEY ARE SO PURE AND MORE THAN WE DESERVE
@GOTV_fanboiiii
seriously tho buying all three covers asap @ShantiSrinivasan
Can’t wait for everyone to see the final covers. Cast was every bit as lovely as you’d expect! xo @Dan_and_Xan_stans FORD’S HAIR
@authoremilyquinn
Anyone know if @EntertainmentWeekly will be having a watch party for the reunion? #GotVReunionSpecial @Fanline
7
“So the Snapaday Live is tomorrow, yeah?” Bre says, on the other side of our FaceTime call, still slightly breathless from the Peloton ride she just finished.
“And my wardrobe check, too.” I rummage through my fridge, ultimately decide on an omelet loaded with spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers for dinner.
“Attica just sent some questions over for the Snapaday thing,” Bre says, her eyes darting to one of the many browser windows she keeps open on her screen. “I’ll send them your way now.”
I refresh my email.
“Got it,” I say, taking a quick second to scan what Attica’s written. The theme of the chat is #GirlsTalkGirls—they’ll be touching on how each of your characters has been modernized to fit the present day. Here are some sound bites for you… make them your own so they don’t sound scripted! xo, A
“Perfect. How are you feeling about tomorrow?”