January
"Hey you," Rudy smiled as Nova answered his FaceTime call.
"Hey," she beamed, it had been nearly a month since they separated.
"How is San Diego?" Rudy asked, he looked tired, he was currently shoving food in his mouth at a disgusting rate.
"It was awesome, I had a ton of fun at the first Comic Con," Nova answered. "What are you shoving in your mouth, it's like I'm watching animal planet."
"I'm glad to hear it. Shut up, asshole. My costars took me to this place called Captain Quarters, it's a breakfast place and you should come out here and visit because breakfast is our thing," Rudy suggested.
"I'd love to. I miss our breakfast dates."
"I definitely miss them too. We will go on them all summer long, don't worry about that," Rudy assured.
"I'll hold you to that," Nova grinned. "How is filming? You look tired."
"Oh I am. Get to set by six in the morning and I don't stop until sometimes like, three? In the morning. I of course get naps in between, but I'm tired. I would much rather be hanging out with you guys on the beach, but I like Seattle I think. I just haven't gotten used to it," he nodded.
"That sounds exhausting. We have five months, we'll be back in Charleston in no time," Novs smiled.
"I know, I'm just missing a certain red-head."
"Want me to go and get Shawn?" Nova joked.
Rudy laughed, "Yeah right, he just now is warming back up to me."
"Stop it," Nova whined.
"You know I'm kidding," he yawned again.
"Get something sleep, we both have to be up early," Nova smiled at the tired boy.
"I'm sorry I keep yawning, talk tomorrow?"
"Sounds like a date to me," Nova conformed.
"Goodnight, nugget."
"Goodnight, Rudy."
February
"Come on, you should come with us," Drew urged. It was Valentine's Day and Nova was the only one in their group without a date.
"As much as I love being the fifteenth wheel, I'm okay, you guys go have fun, I'm going to catch up on some reading I have," Nova insisted.
"Are you sure?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, imagine being the only one without a date, it's weird. Seriously, get going!" Nova nodded.
She wasn't going to lie, she had wished she had a date, even if it wasn't Rudy, just someone to sit with that way she wasn't the single one. She missed hanging out with everyone when it wasn't all dates, but she did figure it was Valentine's Day, it's a day all about love.
"Let us know if you need anything," Chase said as they walked out I'd the door.
"I'll be fine," Nova insisted to him.
"Call me if you need us anyway," he repeated, finally walking out with the rest of the group.
It had been a few hours, Nova fell asleep while reading her book in the chair in the hotel room by the window when there was a knock on the door. She was groggy and she stood up, dragging her feet to the door. She opened the door and was greeted by twelve bouquets of an array of flowers.
"God damn it," she pulled her phone out to FaceTime Rudy.
"Did they arrive?" He asked as soon as he answered.
"Twelve?! Are you serious, I love them all," she nearly cried. "I thought you said that we aren't doing anything!"
"I must have forgot," he shrugged, smiling the entire time.
"Why twelve?" Nova asked as she laughed then into the hotel room.
"That's how many bouquets they had to pick from at the shop you're near," Rudy answered. "I have to get back, but read all of the cards, they're numbered."
"Thank you, Rudy," Nova sighed.
She pulled the card from the classic red roses first, 'Your hair might be my favorite feature about you. Besides your eyes, lips, your left thumb, you get me. You're beautiful Nova ♥️.'
'Thank you for keeping my head grounded and seeing the best in me when I'm at the worst. You're such a lovey person.'
'You understand my sense of humor and that's something I can really appreciate. You're my best friend.'
'I love your style, it's super 90's fashion and I love that.'
'We're zodiac soulmates. When Leo met Libra ♥️' The next one simply read, making Nova smile.
'You're the kindest person I have ever met and that in itself is an inspiration to me. Never change that about you."
'I love our little Taylor Swift dance parties. I never liked her as much until I met you. Thank you for that. 🐱'
'Our breakfast dates are some of my favorite things about four in the morning. The other thing I love at four am is your sleepy voice.'
'You've introduced me to some of my best friends, I don't know what I'd do without them.'
'One of the most calming things to me is painting with you. Thanks for teaching me, it feels like one of our secret moments and I miss it.'
'I love the way you think and the way your mind works, it's fun dissecting what you say. Stay in my life forever, thanks.'
'Lastly, you've change my life in ways I never knew were possible. I can't imagine life without you by my side - however that might be. I wish I was here with you today, but we will be reunited soon and it will be worth it. Thank you Nova, the world is a lot brighter with you in it. ♥️ Rudy'
Nova was crying happy tears because she was a sensitive bitch, "I hate everything." She muttered to herself, she was fully joking, she just felt really overwhelmed from the flowers.
A few minutes later, Cline and Chase came in early, "Hey look, he did it," Chase smiled.
"You knew about this?" Nova asked.
"He asked if it was over the top, but I figured you'd like it anyway Cline nodded, holding her head.
"You guys are back early," Nova pointed out.
"My head is killing me, I'm going to go lay down," Cline said.
"Feel better," Nova have her a sympathetic smile.
"I'm glad he went with this idea. The other idea was a little over the top, he was going to buy a palette of your favorite candies," Chase explained.
"And you stopped him?!"
"Shut up," Chase bumped her.
"I loved this, thanks for helping him."
"Yeah, no problem," Chase glanced out at the balcony. "It's a clear night, wanna tell me about the stars?"
Chase knew that she was missing Rudy and she would find comfort in that. She looked over at him and smiled.
"I believe you're a Virgo, right?" She asked as they made their way outside.
"Sure am," he confirmed.
"You can see it right around there," she tried pointing out the stars to him. "The word "virgo" is Latin, means "self-contained" which is for us is better interpreted as "self-sufficient". In astrology, those born under the sign of Virgo are said to behave in an individualistic, self-sufficient manner. Their nurturing comes from a place of not needing others to find fulfillment for them, but being able to create for others because they can already create for themselves."
"In Chinese astronomy, northern Virgo was part of an area called Taiwei, a court or palace of the Emperor, where the Privy Council met in camera for administrative and legal discussions. This court, also known as the Supreme Palace Enclosure, included parts of Coma Berenices and Leo. Taiwei was not in itself a constellation but an area of sky in which events or characters with a common theme were depicted," Nova rattled off.
"This is oddly fascinating," Chase smiled, looking at the sky.
Him and Nova sat outside until their friends came back. Nova really liked their friendship, they had no expectations from each other other than comfort, something they both needed once in a while.
March
"Are you guys excited to be in Chicago again?" Cline asked Shawn and Nova, their other friends had flown out a few days earlier to be with their families.
"I'm getting Giordano's as soon as we get our shit," Shawn bounded off of the plane with a lot of pep in his step.
"Oh my god, yes," Nova gushed.
Everyone had a look on their face, almost as if they were hiding something, but Nova ignored it as she watched their luggage spin in the belt.
"I specifically put glitter ribbon on mine, but I still can't seem to find it," Nova sighed, everyone else had found their things.
Rudy was smiling, he had just grabbed Nova's luggage, he had planned this over a month ago and he knew she was going to freak out. Chase saw Rudy first, he was trying to hide the grin on his face, Cline caught on quickly and had to hide her smirk as well.
"Oh god, do you think my bags got lost?" Nova was now in a panic. Shawn began to freak out, until he saw Rudy holding the suitcase.
Rudy winked at Shawn, and then said, "Hey lady, your bag is in my way."
Nova whipped around and nearly screamed, "Rudy!"
"Hey you," he smiled, picking her up in a hug.
"What are you doing here?" She asked as he put her down.
"I have this week off and I figured I'd come here to participate in Chicago's ComicCon and surprise you!"
"Are the rest of us chopped liver?" Ana asked, hugging Rudy as well.
"Kinda," he laughed. "No I missed you guys, where's the other half of the rat pack?"
"Already here, Austin was meeting Sarah's family same with Bailey and they all went to see their families," Cline responded.
"Cool, it's nice to be back here," Rudy smiled as he dragged his suitcase along with Nova's.
"We were just talking about getting pizza," Shawn beamed.
"All you think about is food," Ana pointed out.
"I can't help it," Shawn joked.
"So how is Seattle?" Nova looked up at Rudy, her smile never faltering.
"It's so great, there are a ton of coffee shops you would love, you have to come out there," Rudy gushed.
"How about that cast," Drew wiggled his eyebrows.
"They are also really cool," Rudy rolled his eyes.
April
Rudy was hoping Nova would answer the phone, he heard she went on some kind of quadruple date and he just wanted to know how it went.
"Hey," she answered. Nova didn't want to tell him that the date made her cry and she raced home, so she played it off that it went well.
"I heard you had a date," Rudy said casually, but he was hoping it was awful.
"I heard you did too," she replied.
"It was with my co-stars. Tiffany asked me, but I kind of laid it out to her that we wouldn't work," Rudy shrugged.
"Oh god," Nova let out a breath. "I'm so glad you said that because my date was terrible and all I could think about was coming here and telling you how bad it was."
Nova ran her fingers through her hair that was perfectly styled and voluminous. She didn't want to tell Rudy that she loved him, no way. She just wanted to let him know her date was awful because she thought about him the entire time.
"Why was it terrible, babe?" Rudy asked.
Babe. Babe? Babe! Nova smiled while Rudy didn't know if that was something he should have said. Seeing her lips curve upward in a smile that could move the stars, Rudy knew it wasn't a mistake. "I just didn't like the guy and he said something chauvinistic and it set me off," Nova explained.
"Oh. Yeah, hell no. Don't let any dumb guy degrade you," Rudy shook his head, playing with the rings on his fingers. "I actually really don't like to think about that."
"It was a nightmare," Nova nodded.
"Just a little while longer and we go back to South Carolina. The show premiers next month, are you excited?" Rudy asked.
"I'm nervous, I'm excited, but I'm definitely hopeful," Nova replied. "Like you guys blew up and I don't know if I'm ready."
"You'll grow to get used to it," Rudy reassured her.
May
"Holy shit I have three million Instagram followers," Nova said a week after the season two premier. The group was back in South Carolina, but this time, they decided to rent one big house, they were always together anyway.
"Oh I told you, you blow up," Bailey replied.
"I don't even want to see all of these comments, what do I do?" Nova asked, looking at all of her friends.
"Here, there's just some settings you have to change," Chase said, holding his hand out for her phone.
"Are we finally ready to watch season 2?" Sarah asked, she was bouncing with excitement.
Nova looked at the door, she was hoping Rudy would come rushing through it, his hair a mess and a sloppy smile on his face, but as she waited, she realized that he wasn't coming.
"Yeah, let's start it. I'm going to feel so weird watching myself," Nova replied.
"I always felt so weird about watching myself too," Rudy said, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
Nova felt like she shouldn't be shocked, they always liked to do surprises. "You." Smack. "Douche." Smack. Smack. Smack.
"You're gonna bruise the poor man's chest," Drew pointed out.
"Good," Nova hugged Rudy. "I missed you."
"I missed you most."