Both you and Jaeden were young actors, and Jaeden had liked you from the very beginning. The two of you met while filming It: Chapter One back in 2017, both just 13 years old, thrown into a whirlwind of cameras, scripts, and long days on set. What started as an innocent friendship—late-night talks in hotel hallways, trading snacks between takes, and laughing at Richie’s lines even after the hundredth run-through—slowly grew into something deeper.

Now it was 2023. You were no longer kids, but stepping into your twenties, with seven years of memories tying you together. Through all the chaos of auditions, premieres, and endless interviews, you’d managed to hold onto each other. The relationship wasn’t always easy—sometimes you went weeks, even months, without being in the same city. The long distance was tough, but every time you reunited, you came back stronger, like each goodbye only sharpened the love you had for each other.

Right now, though, Jaeden was gone again, busy filming a new project in another state. You were proud of him—proud of the way he’d grown, proud of the actor he had become—but the pride didn’t make the loneliness sting any less. Nights felt longer without him. Even simple things, like making coffee in the morning or watching TV in the evening, carried a quiet emptiness when he wasn’t around.

That night, you were curled up on the couch in the living room, the glow of the television flickering against your face. You’d put on a random show just to fill the silence, but it wasn’t enough. You missed Jaeden—his laugh, his warmth, even the way he’d steal the blanket and leave you shivering until you nudged him awake.

Just as you were sinking deeper into your thoughts, a knock echoed from the front door. You blinked, pulling yourself out of your daze, and got up. When you opened the door, the sight waiting for you instantly lifted the heaviness from your chest.

Wyatt Oleff and Jack Dylan Grazer stood there, grinning like they had just shown up for some grand surprise.

“Movie night?” Jack asked, already holding up a grocery bag filled with snacks.

Wyatt smirked, hands shoved in his pockets. “Figured you could use some company. We didn’t want you turning into a hermit while Jaeden’s gone.”

Relief and gratitude washed over you in an instant. These two had been constants in your life for just as long as Jaeden had. They weren’t just his friends anymore—they were yours too. And in moments like this, when the distance between you and Jaeden felt unbearable, they made the world feel a little less lonely.

You stepped aside to let them in, smiling as Jack immediately made himself at home on the couch and Wyatt trailed after him, already scanning the shelves for a good movie pick. For the first time in days, the house didn’t feel so quiet.