The tension in the air was palpable during the next photoshoot. From the moment Harper stepped through the door, Ivy’s demeanor was off. Usually warm and chatty, she now seemed quiet and hesitant, her movements measured, her gaze never quite meeting Harper’s. She hovered on the edges of the room, clutching her paintbrushes like a shield.

Harper, dressed casually in dark-wash jeans and a fitted white button-up with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, felt the shift immediately. Her usual confidence wavered under the weight of Ivy’s avoidance. She adjusted the cuff of her shirt and cleared her throat as she approached.

“Morning, Ivy,” she said, her voice soft, testing the waters.

“Good morning,” Ivy replied, glancing at her briefly before looking away. She was dressed in a flowing lavender dress with a delicate floral print, paired with soft lace-up white ankle boots. A cream-colored cardigan hung loosely off her shoulders, the sleeves a little too long for her hands. Her usual ethereal charm was intact, but there was an edge of nervousness to her movements that Harper couldn’t ignore.

Harper hesitated. “You, uh, sleep okay?”

Ivy nodded quickly. “Yes. Thank you. Did you?”

“Yeah, I did.” Harper smiled, trying to coax some warmth into the exchange, but Ivy was already moving toward her easel, brushing past without another word. Harper sighed and followed at a slower pace, feeling like she was walking on eggshells.

The only reprieve came when Harper was perched on the throne-like chair, her long frame draped with effortless grace. She leaned back with one arm resting on the armrest, her other hand brushing against her chin in a thoughtful pose. Her short, dark hair caught the light, emphasizing the sharpness of her jawline.

“Like this?” Harper asked, glancing at Ivy for approval.

Ivy, already lost in the lines of her sketch, nodded. “That’s perfect. Just...hold that for a bit.”

For the first time that day, Ivy seemed at ease. Her brush moved with confident precision, her eyes darting between Harper and the canvas. It was as if, in these moments, the weight of the tension between them melted away. Harper watched her quietly, admiring the way Ivy’s focus transformed her.

“So,” Harper ventured after a long silence, “you’re really in your element here, huh?”

Ivy paused, her brush hovering mid-stroke. “I guess you could say that,” she replied, her tone neutral. “It’s easier to focus on the painting.”

Harper frowned slightly, sitting up straighter in the chair. “Easier than what?”

Ivy hesitated, her hand tightening around the brush. “Than...other things,” she said finally, not meeting Harper’s gaze.

Before Harper could press further, Kim walked in, clipboard in hand, her sharp eyes taking in the atmosphere. Harper fell silent, exasperation rising within her but she kept her thoughts to herself, resolving to occupy herself with gazing at Ivy longingly, wondering what she could do to improve things between them after Ivy had finished working on the painting for the day.

Kim, observing from a distance, noticed the strain between the two talents and huddled with a few of the crew. “What can we do to loosen them up a little?” she asked, tapping her pen against her clipboard.

“Maybe take them outside,” one suggested. “The woods are gorgeous this time of year.”

“Yeah,” another chimed in. “What about a picnic scene? It’s intimate but relaxed—might help break the tension.”

Kim’s eyes lit up. “Perfect. Let’s get a setup going by the stream. Make it dreamy.”

While Ivy finished the last strokes of her painting, the crew worked quickly to transform a clearing near the creek into a whimsical woodland picnic. The setup was a picturesque escape—soft blankets strewn with wildflowers, wicker baskets brimming with fruit and pastries, and the sound of the babbling stream weaving through the trees.

“Alright, team,” Kim said brightly when she returned to the studio, addressing both Ivy and Harper, along with the rest of the crew,“We’ve got a slight change of plans. The studio shots are great, but I think we need to mix it up. Bring in some natural beauty. Let’s move this shoot outside—how about a picnic by the stream?”

“A picnic?” Harper echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Ivy looked up from her easel, her brow furrowing. “The stream?”

“Yes,” Kim said, her tone brooking no argument. “It’ll be gorgeous. The team’s already setting it up. You two finish this session, and then we’ll head out.”

When Kim announced the change of plans, Ivy hesitated, her gaze darting briefly to Harper before she nodded. “That sounds lovely,” she murmured, though her smile was thin. Harper noticed the flicker of doubt but said nothing, following Ivy and the crew into the woods.

When they finally arrived at the clearing near the stream, Harper had to admit the setup was stunning. The crew really outdone themselves with the picturesque picnic scene.

Ivy, with her flowing dress and wind-tousled curls, looked like she belonged there. Harper, on the other hand, felt out of place despite her best efforts. She tried lounging on the blanket, adjusting her posture in a way that felt natural, but Ivy’s continued avoidance gnawed at her.

“Alright, let’s get some shots of you two together,” Kim called out.

Ivy reluctantly moved closer, sitting at the edge of the blanket while Harper leaned back on her elbows. The tension between them was almost tangible.

After the crew got some shots of them, Ivy decided to get up, suggesting a walk might be nice as she wasn’t feeling hungry. Harper reluctantly stood up as she had been enjoying seeing Ivy in her element, and despite the many eyes on them, had wanted to linger with Ivy on the picnic mat a little longer. 

A leaf fluttered down and settled on Ivy’s curls, which immediately drew Harper’s eyes. 

“Here,” Harper said suddenly, leaning forward and reaching toward Ivy. “You’ve got a leaf in your hair.”

Ivy startled, her wide eyes darting to Harper’s hand. Before Harper could brush the leaf away, Ivy shifted back too quickly. Her foot slipped on the damp edge of the stream, and she gasped as she lost her balance.

“Ivy!” Harper lunged forward, her reflexes sharp. She caught Ivy just as she stumbled, her arms locking securely around Ivy’s waist.

The world seemed to hold its breath. Ivy clung to Harper’s shoulders, her face inches away from Harper’s, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. Harper’s heart thundered in her chest, but she kept her voice steady.

“Got you,” Harper murmured, her tone low and reassuring.

Ivy’s cheeks flushed, her sun-kissed skin taking on a slightly warmer glow, and even from far away, even the crew could see she was flushed with her slight tremble and her wide eyes as she was held in Harper’s arms, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. Around them, the crew was buzzing, cameras snapping furiously at the unplanned moment.

When Harper finally set Ivy down, she held her for just a second longer than necessary before stepping back. Ivy avoided her gaze again, her fingers brushing nervously over her dress.

The crew around them erupted into delighted exclamations, cameras snapping away at the impromptu moment.

Ivy stammered, “Th-thank you.” She wouldn’t meet Harper’s eyes as they made their way back to the cottage.

Kim, of course, was over the moon. “That was pure magic,” she gushed as the crew packed up. “Your chemistry is unreal. You two are going to break the internet.”

With that spellbound moment, Kim concluded the shoot for the day. 

As they walked back to the cottage, the tension between them shifted, no longer cold but something warmer, more confusing. Harper glanced at Ivy, who still seemed flustered, and felt a flicker of hope despite the uncertainty.

Kim, of course, was ecstatic. “That was gold,” she gushed as the crew packed up. “Your chemistry is unreal. I couldn’t have staged that better if I’d tried.”

As the day wound down and the crew began to leave, Harper lingered. She found Ivy sitting in the kitchen, her hands wrapped around a mug of tea, her gaze distant.

“Hey,” Harper said, her voice gentle as she leaned against the doorway. “Can we talk?”

Ivy looked up, her expression wary but open. “Sure.”

Harper leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “I wanted to check in. About... everything. The comments, Kim, the shoot today. Are you okay?”

Ivy toyed with the edge of her sleeve. “Kim’s been a big help. She set up someone to manage my account, and I feel a lot better not having to see... all of that. It was overwhelming. But I’m okay now.”

Harper nodded, relieved, straightening up and moving forward into the kitchen, leaning causally against the kitchen island, “Good. I just—I don’t want you to feel like you’re in this alone.”

Ivy looked up, her gaze softening. “I appreciate that. Really, I do. But...” She trailed off, hesitating.

“But what?” Harper pressed gently.

Ivy sighed. “The crew said some things. About how... close we seem. I guess I got in my head about it. I don’t want to overstep or make things awkward for you.”

Harper’s laugh was warm and disarming. “Ivy, you’re my co-star. You’re supposed to have my attention. That’s literally the job.”

Ivy smiled faintly but still seemed unsure. “I just don’t want to confuse myself into thinking... you care more than you do. You’ve been kind, Harper, but I don’t want to misread things.”

Harper’s expression softened. “I do care, Ivy. As a friend. A good friend. You don’t have to worry about doing anything that makes you uncomfortable, okay? I’m here for you.”

For a moment, Ivy looked like she might cry, but instead, she got up and walked over to Harper,  leaned forward, and wrapped Harper in a hug. Harper’s arms slid around her instinctively, holding her close, her chin brushing against Ivy’s soft hair. She didn’t want to let go, and when she finally did, it was with reluctance.

“Thank you,” Ivy whispered.

Harper looked down and smiled at Ivy, her eyes roaming from Ivy’s beautiful amber eyes to her plump luscious lips and she swore internally for the thoughts she was having. Thoughts that were not friendly at all, but she forced herself to say otherwise. 

“What are friends for?” Harper said and smiled, stepping away and heading to the door, satisfied to see that at the very least, things had improved for Ivy in regards to the social media onslaught of hate and vile comments. 

“Oh wait, hold on a minute,” Ivy said and disappeared back into the kitchen. She reappeared a moment later and handed Harper a small tin. “I made these for you,” she said shyly.

Harper opened it to find cookies, their sweet aroma filling the air. “You didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to,” Ivy said firmly, “You’ve helped me so much, and…I’m grateful” Ivy added shyly. 

Harper closed the small tin like it was something precious, and smiled, looking up at Ivy “Thank you, I shall enjoy eating these”.

After a moment of hesitation, Harper closed the distance between them and gently kissed Ivy on the cheek, leaving Ivy flushed and speechless before giving her hand a squeeze, and then taking her leave. 

Driving home, Harper couldn’t stop smiling. She glanced at the tin on the passenger seat and thought of a cozy evening ahead, cookies and some coffee, with Ivy lingering in her thoughts.