AJ could think nothing else. Even as Ana took control of the crale. Even as she sprinted across the sand to save Rho, the water rising higher and higher. Even as the camera pulled back to reveal four aqueous figures shimmering on the shore.
Horses.Like in the legend.
The music swelled as Ana dropped to her knees and launched the horses after Rho at a gallop.
“Holy shit,” said Dave. “Youmade this up?”
AJ didn’t stay to see what followed. She couldn’t bear to watch Noah kiss her for the last time.
At work on Monday,AJ expected Ian to make excuses, to grovel. Instead, he faced her as he would any unhappy reality TV participant: superficially interested, but totally without remorse.
“Age, I saw you called,” he said, that steely glint in his eye. “Did you have a question?”
With a thud, AJ realized she had stopped knowing Ian months ago. He’d been up-front that Em was his endgame, and he wasn’t going to apologize for it. For any of it: pushing her into a larger role, shuffling her off during post, using the “No” clip against her express wishes. In his view, she should have known he’d do whatever it took to succeed, and if she didn’t like it, that was just too bad.
AJ held his gaze, as the last of their trust withered. “No,” was all she could say.
“Okay,” he said without batting an eye. Then they were done.
After that, work became a dark place for AJ. She continued to be professional, but all warmth between her and Ian had turned to rage, resentment, and dread. Ian wasn’t happy either, but that was because he was still there. Because after everything, the show had failed.
As any hope ofa second season disintegrated, the full weight of AJ’sgrief set in.
The first time she had lost Noah, it had been a private tragedy, hers alone. Now, her sadness was echoed by thousands.
INTO THE BLUE: Arho subreddit
BlueFlower96:I can’t stop crying over Ana and Rho.
$ailorJupit3R<3:Let’s go back to the beach. That kiss!
EarlGreyHot:Holy shit that kiss!
$ailorJupit3R<3:It annihilated him. It’s the only time he smiles in the show.
EarlGreyHot:I just want them to live happily ever after :(
But they wouldn’t.
I miss you,AJ typed into the white space beneath Noah’s email address.
She stared at the note until it autosaved to her drafts folder, along with a hundred others like it. Every time she was about to hit send, the same thought always stopped her: If Noah wanted to talk to her, he would. He had the upper hand; he was fuckingfamous. And AJ would rather hold on to the possibility of him missing her than find out that these drafts were just fan fiction.
On nights like this, AJ would have given anything for Toni’s advice. Yes, they had their issues. But she had trusted Toni to tell her what to think, who to be.
So, when Dave mentioned that Toni and Ian had officially reverted from lovers to enemies over Labor Day, AJ took the opening. She texted Toni, and they went back and forth for a bit, riffing on the debasing acts Ian was probably performing for Em, whom Toni now referred to as King of the Turds. It was heartening, if brief.
Then, a week later, AJ ran into Dave on his way out…to Toni’s birthday party.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “She’s just…not in a good place about you.”
AJ nodded; fair enough. Then Dave left, and AJ had a beer. Then shehad another. Then she took three shots and decided to stop by Toni’s birthday, just to say hi.
Xiaobo intercepted her outside Capri Social Club. “Age, you need to go home.”
“What the fuck is this?” said Toni, appearing in a light-up crown.
“Toni,” said AJ, as the ground spun. “Where’s the DeLorean?Oh shit,you don’t have one—”
