Leah pouted, her intuition telling her Avery still harbored feelings for Bonnie.
"Why would you even care about her, after she left you high and dry?" Leah grumbled, spooning a mouthful of mac and cheese. "She ghosted you when you needed her most, and now she's playing the victim? Don't tell me you're buying her excuse. She's just trying to clear her name."
Avery's fanbase wasn't having any of it either, dubbing Bonnie 'lying siren' for her dramatics.
Avery quirked a half-smile, "If she hadn't dumped me, we'd probably be married by now. You want to see me hitched so young?"
The last thing Leah wanted was Avery off the market. She stuck out her tongue playfully, "Then I guess millions of fans and I should be thanking her for taking a hike."
With a gentle pinch to Leah's cheek, Avery shrugged off the past. "Let bygones be bygones. She's my classmate, and I can't stand by to watch her get bullied."
Leah sighed inwardly. Avery was just too nice for his own good, always taking the high road.
That evening, as Avery was shooting a night scene, Marianne plopped down next to Leah.
"Bonnie's really stirred up a storm this time, and garnered quite a bit of sympathy," Marianne observed, nibbling on a carrot stick. "I heard they're booting Sybil from the project, letting Bonnie step in."
Leah scooped up some strawberry ice cream, "Sybil had it coming. No tears shed there."
"But our idol isn't thinking of getting back with Bonnie, right?" Marianne's concern was palpable.
Leah was serious, "Let's not feed on those rumors. Avery's been over Bonnie for ages. She's the one trying to ride his coattails."
Marianne sighed, "Well, she's definitely hitched a ride this time. Without Avery there, she'd just be another one of Sybil's punching bags, never making a comeback."
Leah shrugged, "Some are born to fame, some achieve it, and some have it thrust upon them. Guess she just got lucky."
Their chat was cut short as a familiar figure approached.
"Speak of the devil," Leah muttered.
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