The Reunion by Kayla Olson(83)
Rumor has it, though, that Joel isn’t entirely content: he’s looking to diversify his already robust résumé and break out in a more serious way.
I know, now, that it was his father and publicist who blasted our private lives to the far corners of the world—the photo of us, and, presumably, everything else—which means they haven’t been oblivious to how unsatisfied Ransom’s been. They knew, and they just didn’t care.
His father promised him he wouldn’t share that photo of us.
And Ransom believed him.
My eyes flutter shut.
Ransom might have known the photo existed before it leaked, but he was every bit as blindsided by it as I was. He fought for our privacy even before I asked him to, I realize, imploring his team to keep quiet—and I lashed out at him.
We’ve both made mistakes.
Mistake is not the word for what his father’s done, though. What Jonathan Joel did was for his own best interests, something selfish and calculated without an ounce of regret.
And this is when I know: I feel this pain like it’s my own because, like it or not, Ransom’s heart has been tied up with mine for the better part of two decades now. I couldn’t stop caring if I tried. That’s what makes everything about us feel so right—and at the same time, so risky.
Somewhere along the line I forgot we were both human. Everyone expected perfection from me for so long I think I started expecting it from myself, too—and from him. In hindsight, it’s clear he’s only ever had the best of intentions.
I did, too.
I feel a sharp ache at how thoroughly I pulled back from him for all those years, a deep longing for everything we lost and might never get back again. At how reluctant I’ve been to get close to anyone after how things ended with Ransom.
I loved Ransom so much I was willing to sacrifice the most important friendship in my life if it meant he’d be happy, even if it wasn’t with me. He sacrificed the same, not realizing all I wanted was him.
How different would things have been if, instead of taking a step back, we’d taken a leap of faith?
Maybe, then and now—just like me—Ransom’s only ever been afraid of losing the incredibly rare, special thing we have.
I already lost him once. I’m not ready to lose him again.
But Ransom’s world has just tipped upside down now that he’s cut professional ties with his father—I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to do that. Cutting someone out of your life who’s been intertwined with every single career move for twenty years, no matter how toxic, can’t be anything but excruciating to go through.
Maybe what Ransom needs right now is safe.
Maybe it’s all he wants.
Maybe I need to be the one to take a step back here, let him figure things out on his own for a while without me in the mix.
I can be his safe place if that’s what he needs—but I can’t be the one to make that choice for him.
Girl on the Verge Reboot Officially Gets Green Light at Fanline!
By Ithaca Alexander // Staff Writer, Arts & Entertainment, Sunset Central
Hot on the heels of today’s breaking news about Fanline’s acquisition of media giant CMC, a spokesperson at Fanline has officially confirmed recent rumors that beloved teen drama Girl on the Verge will be returning with ten brand-new episodes as soon as this fall. Fans all over the world, rejoice: the stars have finally aligned for the reboot we’ve all been asking for!
But what will that look like, exactly?
Details are still being kept under wraps, but for now, the show’s creators—husband-and-wife writing team Dan and Xan Jennings—have dropped a few hints. “We’ve always loved collaborating with our cast,” Xan told us. “You can definitely expect some familiar faces when the new episodes air this fall!”
Expanding on Xan’s comments, Dan added, “We’re looking forward to taking a fresh approach to the themes that have always been the heart of the show.”
The official cast has yet to be confirmed, but it sounds like it’s safe to assume a number of our favorite faces will be gracing our screens once more—but as series regulars or guest stars? We’ll have to wait and see!
Sound off in the comments with your best fan theories; more updates to come, so follow us for the latest!
25
The next few days pass in a blur.
Lights, cameras, and long days on set keep me busy enough that I can slip into Honor whenever being Liv feels like too much. We pull a couple of twelve-hour days to make up for lost time, and at the end of the third, we’re all a bit sleep-deprived. Which isn’t to say we look it—no, Emilio and Gretchen and the other hair and makeup artists keep us looking our best, fiction at its finest.
I still haven’t replied to Ransom’s text. He hasn’t sent any follow-ups, either. Every time I open up our text thread, I second-guess myself: it’s possible he’s waiting for me to reach out—but what if he just needs space? I’ve become a sudden expert at avoiding him except where necessary; we’ve knocked out a couple of scenes together, but nothing as intimate as the one I can’t get out of my head.
And ohhhhh, is it ever in my head.
I can’t meet his eyes without remembering that final moment in bed together, before Bryan called cut. I can’t look at Ransom’s hands without feeling the memory of his palms seared into my skin. When he speaks, it isn’t his voice I hear but the silence in between: every unspoken thing I want to say but can’t, every breath that reminds me I could be content forever just being near him—