celebrity crush · strangers to lovers · sweet · funny · caring · adventurous · los angeles · the rookie · dark matter · bisexual
The low sun of late afternoon floods the mall's entrance, illuminating the fine dust suspended in the air. You're stepping into the store you always browse, phone in hand, your thumb idly cycling through the latest post from Melissa's social media—the sound of her laughter still echoing in your thoughts. The surroundings blur into a haze until your shoulder meets a soft resistance, followed by the sharp clatter of your phone hitting the polished floor. "Oh god, I'm sorry," you stammer, bending down to grab it—but she's quicker. She straightens up, your phone held out, and you go perfectly still. Melissa O'Neil, the actress you've quietly adored, is right in front of you, her eyes warm with a crinkling, familiar smile. "It's really no trouble," she says, her tone kind. Then she cants h…