For the next few weeks, work went on as planned on BraveHeart, and the episodes were released to growing audiences each time. The events of that evening were slowly forgotten, and everyone moved on. At the time, H.O.S. also continued its run, even in Amanda’s continued absence. One evening, as the soft glow of studio lights enveloped the lounge, Ryan found himself reclining on a plush sofa, sharing light banter with Rico and Jessi. The atmosphere was relaxed, the hum of casual conversation providing a brief respite from the hustle of the industry. As Ryan rose to fetch another glass of tequila, the door swung open, and in walked Sofia and James, their faces beaming with excitement. Sofia's infectious giggle filled the room as she linked her fingers with James'. "Guys, we have an announcement to make!" Sofia declared, her eyes sparkling. The trio in the room exchanged knowing glances, a silent understanding passing between them about the nature of the revelation. "I said yes!" Sofi
Sofia just stood there, speechless and motionless. As for James, something flashed across his face. But it was Rico who spoke up first. “Hold on, what do you mean in a couple of days Ryan would no longer be with us?” He asked, stepping forward. Are you flying him abroad for treatment?” “Sadly, no. Like I said, his condition is terminal. I’m sorry that I have to be the one telling you this, but, Mr. Barnes is going to die.” “Ok, ok, let’s not get tensed up guys,” he said, pacing. He finally came to a stop in front of the doctor. “Ok, give me a number,” he said, clasping his fingers together and bringing them to his lips. “I mean, even a year is just a couple of days-” “-Ten,” she cut in. “Ten days.” “I’m sorry what?!” Sofia asked, moving for the first time since the doctor’s sudden announcement. “Try to calm down, miss.” Sofia sighed and covered her face with both hands. Then she swept her hands through her hair and nodded, sniffing. There were tears in her eyes. “A- and- do
“Ok, Harry is positioned at the door now. He’s going to lead the line while Jessi and I bring up the rear. Hold on to Tyler, Sofia, and don’t stop until you get in the SUV.” “But what if they decide to break in and enter after we’ve gone?” Sofia asked worriedly. “She’s right,” Jessi admitted. “We can’t all go now. So Tyler and I can stay behind until they’ve all cleared out and then we’d find our way down to Santa Fe.” “Sounds good,” Rico said and Sofia agreed. Then she knelt next to her son. “I know this all seems confusing to you, baby, but when this settles, you and I will have a long talk, and I’ll explain everything. Sound good?” Tye nodded and she kissed his forehead. “Be good,” she said and got up. “Thanks again, Jessi,” she said and they hugged. “Anytime babe,” Jessi replied as they separated, and Sofia left her keys with Jessi before leaving with Rico. The reporters swarmed around her, pushing their mics into her face. But Sofia kept her head low and followed her gu
“I could hear you guys arguing downstairs from here.”Sofia sighed softly and traced his face with her index finger.“I’m sorry you had to hear that love,” she said.“Now,” she added, slipping off her dainty sandals, and joining him in bed, she rested his head against her, and Tye hugged her.“Tonight’s bedtime story will be about Ryan Barnes and what happened between him and your mother,” she sighed.“Now where do I begin?”“At the very beginning?” Tye replied eagerly and Sofia chuckled.“Well, in the beginning, there was a big girl named Sofia, and she had this belief about love, which her Abuela had taught her: Sparks fly when you meet your one true love-”“-How?” Tye asked.This was the first of many interruptions Sofia would come to experience.“I don’t know,” Sofia exhaled uncomfortably. She was already getting scared that this would be a lot harder than it had seemed.“When your hands come in contact I guess-”“-Have you felt yours before? With Ryan Or James? Was it a-”“-Tye,
“Sofia,” Ryan said, pausing at the entrance to his sitting room.“I wasn’t expecting to find you here,” he added, approaching. According to schedule, he was supposed to be airbone right now, nearing the French Rivera for the Cannes film festival, tagged ‘This Is It,’ in his honor.She got up with a tired smile.“We never know what to expect with life,” she said and hugged him.Ryan hugged her as well, but he had this confused look on his face. Even more, after she held on.“I’m sorry,” Sofia finally said, stepping back from him.“I got carried away,” she added, unable to look him in the eye.“Hey, hey. It’s fine,” Ryan said, touching her jaw to turn her gaze to meet his.“It’s not. In five days-” she sighed, unable to complete the statement.“You’ll be fine, love,” he spoke gently.“I love you, Ryan.” The words tumbled from her lips.“Sofia-”“-No, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t lie to myself, James, or anyone else. I still look at you and wonder how I would feel in your arms. I sti
“James,” Sofia sighed. “I-” “-Does this have anything to do with Ryan?” James cut in. “Apart from Ryan, I have to be truthful to myself and to you. You’re such a great guy but I don’t- I don’t love you.” “But you said yes. We felt the spark between both of us,” James countered. Sofia sighed again, oh the spark, the spark. This was harder than she had anticipated. “I know, I know,” she conceded. “Like I said, you’re a great guy, and yes we felt the spark, an even more vibrant one than what I felt with Ryan. So I said to myself. He is a great guy, and I would learn to love him. And at times, it felt like I had achieved it but just like with alcohol, I would later wake up and find myself at ground zero and the recent events,” she held up her hand before he could cut in. “I’m not gonna lie, they affected this decision but I guess this is me waking up sooner than later.” James nodded repeatedly. “Tsk, so this is it?” He finally asked and Sofia nodded hesitantly, her gaze faltering
After the photoshoots and interviews, there was an open press conference for the cast of Heart of Stone—Ryan’s last film.Amanda was in attendance as well and took the seat on Ryan’s left side, clinging to him at every opportunity she got and acting overly emotional.Sofia had never been one to hide her feelings so she was visibly irritated by Amanda’s antics. Everyone shared their thoughts, emotions, and feelings on the series and working with Ryan, seated around a table on a stage while the audience watched, with most sobbing.The man playing Niko’s adviser suggested that Niko die too in the film because no one else could fulfill the role.After the press conference, two hosts from the organizers joined them to discuss the film, Ryan’s career, and his special recognition at Cannes while a short film showcasing his career played on a large screen behind them.When all was said and done, Ryan took Sofia straight to his chateau, and having called ahead, everything was already put toge
Before the hurricane and the tornado, Jessi and Sofia had left Ryan at the merchandise unveiling and Reyes joined them after a short while.He and Jessi left for the hotel in a cab and once inside, they shared a long kiss.“Glad I didn’t run into Rico today,” Reyes confessed as they separated.“What? Why? You two met? When?” Jessi gushed, giggling.“Yeah, the last time we met up. The uh, gala dinner. I saw him when I went to the bathroom. He seemed really stiff about us.”“Rico?” Jessi scrunched her face.“Are you sure?”“Yeah, I recognized him. Plus he knew my full name and everything. Your friends are not fans of handshakes I’ve come to learn.”Jessi chuckled slightly.“Sorry about that, but what did you guys talk about?”“Oh, I brought up his funny way of spoiling our date nights-”“-And what did he say?” Jessi asked impatiently.“Relax,” Reyes chuckled.“He said he didn’t have to give me explanations, then asked me how many times my PA got off work before me.”He felt Jessi go ver
If you're reading this, then, thank you for sticking with us through this journey. I can only hope it was worth your while, and that you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.I'm surely gonna miss writing to about Ryan's shenanigans, Sofia's love, Tyleer's curiosity, Jessi's presence, Rico, and Pete's worries, Tanya's madness, Alicia's gentleness, Ted's chubbiness, Fred's helpfulness, and Paco's wisdom.Not that there's nothing more to say, you know there's much more lol, but I feel that this is the best point to stop.They're all mostly happy, minusing the mishaps here, and there, and death too. But, let's save those parts for another story..All things eventually come to an end, and so must we..And so I bid you farewell, reader.Thank you for picking this one up, xoxo!
The ringing of his phone roused him from sleep.“Hello?” His voice was groggy.“I know what you did.” The voice was distorted.The sleep fled from James' eyes.“Who are you?”“So you can kill me like you killed Richards? Fat chance.”“What do you want?” James asked.The line suddenly went dead.“Oh boy,” James muttered.***Amanda was home alone, by the pool, when James arrived.“It was you, wasn't it?”“I'm sorry what?” She asked, taking off her shades.“Oh, now you wanna play dumb?”“James, if you think I have time for your shenanigans, I do not. Never. Especially now that your accomplice, Richards has gone missing. Or are you gonna tell me you have nothing to do with that?”***“How could we have kept ourselves from this?” Rico muttered, in bed, kissing the back of Jessi's neck.“You, kept us from this,” she corrected, turning to face him.“Touche,” he conceded, planting a kiss on her lips; one to which she willfully obliged.“We have a lot to catch up on,” Rico whispered against h
On a normal day, Sofia would playfully chastise Ryan for such an idea, especially in front of the boy, but maybe it was Tanya’s influence, or the look in Steph’s eyes at Ryan’s words, whatever it is, it had Sofia smiling, and leading Ryan into the elevator.“Tyler, go wait for me in the car, okay?” She kissed the top of his head.“I forgot something in my room,” she added, a bit more forceful, with her eyes on the elevator.“Okay,” Tye replied innocently, and left for the waiting Mercedes Benz SUV.Steph obviously had other plans…*** “Slow down, Ryan,” Sofia chuckled, as he broke off their playful kisses to move down her neck, while his hands went lower..“We're outside,” Sofia added, kissing him back.“Someone might see us.”“Well, let's make it worth their while,” Ryan replied, leaning against the balcony of the terrace.“You must be joking,” Sofia frowned, moving away from him.Immediately, a potted plant dropped where she had been standing!Sofia gasped, her hand flying to her c
Tanya yawned, as she stepped into the sitting room in her black skimpy nightwear.“Hey, isn't that the Richards guy from the other studio,” Tanya said, nodding at the TV.“Yeah, it's him,” Alicia replied.“It says he's missing,” she added, and looked at Tanya.“What?” She asked.“You won't find him on me,” she said, stretching.“Oh, Tanya,” Alicia shook her head, returning her attention to her system.“What?” Tanya asked.“Oh, you didn't tell me that you, and Mendes made up,” Tanya said, leaning in on Alicia's left from behind the sofa.“Who told you that?” Alicia asked, leaning to her right, and losing a battle to hide her smile.“I heard he came in late, the night I spent at T.D.'s place, and didn't leave that night.”“Oh, I see you're gossiping with your girls again, huh,” Alicia said, nodding.“Tea is meant to be drunkk!” Tanya exclaimed, laughing.Alicia just shook her head.“Oh, hey. You said you spent that night at T.D.'s place?”“Oh I didn't tell you?” Tanya laughed.“Great st
“I'm telling you, we need to-”“Mom, can I go to the Taco Place to see Kim?” Tyler asked, stepping into the sitting room.He glanced between Steph, and Myles—her shrink, sensing that he'd come at the wrong time.“Am I interrupting something?” He asked innocently.“Oh, no, my love,” Steph cooed, coming to stoop next to him.“Uncle Myles was just telling me something about our business back in Mexico, but it can wait, can’t it, Myles?” She smiled at the guy; he just sighed, and left.“He didn’t seem too happy to me,” Tye remarked.“I know, I know,” Steph smiled, ruffling his hair.“So tell me, who’s this Kim?” Steph asked, taking Tye to sit with her.“A girl?”“Yeah,” Tye replied, his eyes lighting up.“She’s my girlfriend,” he announced cheerily.“Oh, big steps already?” Steph asked, poking his ribs, while he squirmed, laughing.“Stop, mom!”“Ok, ok,” she smiled.“But I’ll come with. Go, put on something nice while I do too, and then we can go see Kim.”“Alright,” Tye said, running off,
“You haven't said anything, Sof,” Jessi noted.Sofia took a deep breath.“I'm just trying to process everything, she said, leaning into the sofa.“On the one hand, you have you, my friend, whom Rico definitely, and horribly wronged by the way he handled the situation. But then, there's Rico who has been suffering from PTSD all these years. And I'm not saying that that validates what he did to you but I try to imagine how deep his fear has been for so long, that he couldn't confess his love for you. Believe me I know how the heart reacts to holding in such feelings. It's all just a lot. And I don't want to say you should do this or that, because honestly if I were you, I have no idea what I'd do in this case,” Sofia exhaled deeply.“But if I know one thing, it's that Rico has a good heart; damaged, but good nonetheless.”“I guess that saying is true,” Tanya replied, nodding slightly.“Which?” Sofia asked.“Damaged people, when they don't heal, end up damaging people,” she said.“Exactly
“Hmm, there’s something different about you, Rico. But I can’t place my finger on it,” Ryan said, stroking his chin.“You mean the lack of makeup?” Pete asked, serving himself another plate of chicken wings.The three of them were at a barbecue at Ryan’s home.“Exactly,” Ryan said, clicking his finger at Pete.“Besides, you’ve been strange ever since France. So what’s up? One brother to another.”“Does something have to be up for someone to make a change around here?” Rico drawled, setting up himself on the beach chair with his own plate, and booze.“Even the voice!” Ryan exclaimed.“What is wrong bro?”Then he turned to Pete who was approaching them.“I think it’s too late for a mid-life crisis, Pete. Help me out here.”Pete laughed as he sat down on the recliner, and faced the other two.“But seriously Rico, what’s up? You know you can trust us.”“Exactly. James isn’t here.”Rico sighed, and glanced around. Then pulled off his shades.“I had a fight with Jessi,” Rico said, matter of
Someone knocked at the door.Alicia groaned, unwilling to abandon her solo movie night.She stayed put, but the person didn’t leave, piquing her curiosity.Tanya was sleeping over at Ted’s tonight so it couldn’t be her, plus if it was Tanya, she’d know by now.“Who’s there?” She asked, peeping through the tiny hole.“Josh,” he replied.And she could see that he wasn’t lying.Alicia hesitated, and grabbed a coat from the rack next to the door to put over her flimsy nightwear, before opening the door up for him.“Hey, Alicia.”“How did you find me?” She asked, crossing her arms.“So it’s true,” he nodded.“You were avoiding me.”“Don’t try to change the subject, Josh. I asked you how you found me.”“I paid someone to hack into the school’s database to retrieve your data-”A slap from Alicia cut him short.“You just don’t know when to stop right? Because your family has the cash you feel like you can pay off anyone to get whatever you want. Why invade my privacy? Again, and again?”“What
“Where are we going?” Sofia asked, laughing. She couldn’t see past the blindfold Ryan had put on her eyes, but she could feel the excitement build up inside of her.“It’s a surprise, no peeking,” Ryan reminded her with a light kiss at her neck.The car slowly pulled to a stop, and Ryan got down, then came around her side to help her down too.“Easy, easy,” he advised, guiding her.Sofia could hear the sounds of traffic, and of people—though, French, she couldn’t understand, but it made her uncomfortable.“Are we there yet?” She asked nervously; eager to see again.“Almost,” Ryan assured, leading her into an elevator while his bodyguards kept the pedestrians in check.“Ooh,” Sofia shocked slightly, when the elevator suddenly started to move.“Where are you taking me to, Ryan Barnes?” She chuckled, leaning against him, and turning slightly.Ryan knew an invitation to share a kiss when he saw one, and he took this one without hesitation.The blindfold was still on, but neither seemed to