Chapter Text
Cameras rolling:
Action!
Conrad: I don’t just need somebody, I need you.
Belly: I don’t want you to need me, I want you to want me.
Conrad: I do want you. (they kiss)
Belly: In this moment, if this can happen, anything can.
End Scene
“CUT ''
The director yells and announces that season 1 is over, they are done filming.
Lola’s eyes were still on Chris’s. The scene had ended, and Lola wondered what it would be like if time froze; she would be living Belly's dream life in reality, and the real life Conrad would be hers. Chris would be hers.
Finally, Chris broke off the awkward silence, which included staring into each other’s gazes; completely baffled, "I think I'm just going to grab a snack." He said, and walked off as fast as he could.
All the cast and crew were cheering, they have spent three months working on this season and it’s finally completed. Jenny Han, the author of the book and the showrunner, invited everyone to a cast party tonight to celebrate. Lola was hoping that she could make eye contact with Chris again after the intimate scene they shared.
To Lola, Chris was basically Conrad in real life. He was shy and kept to himself most of the time, he would stare at an object and zone out. She would always wonder what he could be possibly thinking of. On set, he spent most of the time hanging out with Sean. Sean was her onscreen brother on the show. When the cameras were off, she always found Chris with Sean. They had a beautiful friendship. Sometimes Lola wished that if she ever could overhear their conversations, she would hear them talking about her.
Lola headed to hair and makeup to get ready. The artists helped her get the clean look she wanted, soft white eyeshadow, pink cheeks, plump lips. She then goes to the costume department, "Hey, is there any chance I could borrow one of Belly's outfits for tonight?" She asks. Lola did this because she was unsure of how the public would like the show and was wondering if it got renewed for season two. She wanted one last night being in Belly’s shoes. Lola could very much relate to Belly and how she feels, she felt sincere love for Belly. After all, Belly got Conrad's attention, and that was very much a dream for Lola.
Ultimately, she wished she had her Conrad Fisher in real life, but in real life he was Chris Briney. While working on the show Chris was very into his role of Conrad, sometimes Lola had trouble understanding if it was acting or not.
He would look in her eyes; his eyes blue like the rain, and the apparent look on his face would fail him and reveal how nervous he is. He would take a deep breath, "Good luck, Lola." he always said with half a smile. He's such a sweet, kind and caring person, he's truly beautiful. More than words can explain, but the truth in his eyes would swallow her words.
Lola had been acting her entire life, but she had never met anyone who could shut emotions on and off like Chris could. She considered him very much a method actor. She was mesmerized by him, but whenever the director yelled “Cut”, it was as if Chris pressed a button and all his emotions flew away with the wind. She assumed that he shoved all those emotions in a box and could only access them for certain things, like making her fall for Conrad.
Finally, at eight o'clock, the Crew party started. Lola arrived first in a beautiful soft blue mini dress that made her look like a modern day princess. She entered Jenny Han’s home and was amazed at how luxurious and lush everything was designed. She decided to head to the bar first, where she found Gavin sitting next to Sean. Chris hasn’t shown up yet. Lola decides to approach them, “Hey! What's up? Congratulations on wrapping!” She says in a cheerful voice with a smile on her face. ”Thank you Bells, I will miss your pretty smile. You've brought so much happiness to the set.” Gavin says. Lola started blushing, “I will not miss the love triangle between you, Jeremiah, and Conrad. I will be good at taking months of rest.” Sean said in a mocking voice. Gavin and Lola laughed.
As time went on, Lola kept her eyes on the door to see if Chris would show up. She was sad that after tonight, she might never see him again. It's completely possible that people could not like their show. Lola had a lot of anxiety that night, but she was good at hiding it. Her best friend (and on screen best friend) Rain, could see straight through her. Her and Rain really bonded during filming, since they had to spend a lot of time with each other. When Lola wasn’t filming with her, they would be at the beach together.
Rain put her hand over Lola's heart, she could feel it racing faster and faster, unable to find a way to escape its own maze. "Lola, are you okay?" she said in a gentle voice, but the look in her eyes said the opposite. The worry in her eyes could tell a million stories, all concerning Lola. She made all the efforts not to look into Rain's eyes, "No, no, I'm fine. Really. It's just the nerves." Before Rain could say anything, Chris walked in, and Lola's heart shrunk.
It wasn't that she was more calm, or relaxed. It was just that Chris's familiar sight was engraved on her heart, and made her feel safe, yet so nervous at the same time.
Lola spent every night of filming watching his eyes sparkle in the moonlight, glimpsing, reflecting. His eyes were something she could never forget. The line “What will you give me if I do?" kept replaying in her head over and over again ever since she filmed that scene with Chris.
She would spend her free time watching the stars, wondering if one day they would align for her. Chris, on the other hand, would spend most of his time contemplating life as each day passes by. He recently made a tiktok account and has become surprisingly famous.
All this fame was new to Chris. It overwhelmed him, all this sudden buzz around him, suddenly so many people knew about him. He would gain at least ten thousand followers every day, and in his mind, he couldn't believe it. It was all a game, and it all changed when he met the girl of his dreams.
Lola Tung and Chris Briney work on the show “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and fall in love in real life.
Chapter two
The show had wrapped filming, and after six months it premiered on Amazon Prime Video and became a major hit. Lola, Gavin, and Chris gained fame overnight. The Summer I Turned Pretty went viral on tiktok, and everyone was talking about it. Within a week, Lola went from ten thousand followers on Instagram to one million. Lola didn't know how to wrap her head around fame, unlike Gavin who was used to it. Gavin had very popular roles in the past. He played “young Damon” on The Vampire Diaries, which is a very popular show that went on for several seasons. As for Chris, he gained over a million followers within the premiere week of the show. He wasn’t very active on social media and didn’t post as much as Gavin or Lola, and was never a person to be on the phone all the time. As a very private person, he usually spends his time doing things that help him find a peace of mind, like reading books and drawing, and that is one of the many things that Lola loves about him.
Chris grew up in Connecticut. After graduating high school in 2015, he studied film and Television at Pace University in New York City. In 2020, He earned his BFA degree in Film. While in college, he had various jobs, Trader Joe's during the day and T.J Byrnes Bar and restaurant at night. He definitely hustled working multiple jobs to pay for college, which wasn’t cheap.
While Chris was studying at Pace University, He had a long term girlfriend for about 4 years of his life. Her name was Isabel, they had the same major, Flim, and a passion for acting. For his first year in school, he denied his feelings for Isabel and slowly gradually opened up to her. After he graduated college, he auditioned for the role of Conrad Fisher.
After he got his breakout role, he and Isabel continued dating, she even moved to North Carolina for filming which is very far from his home. Isabel was the first person he opened his heart open to, He was very scared to open again, to anyone really. Chris and Isabel dated all through production of season 1, but Chris got his heartbroken when he found her cheating with another guy. Chris was devastated and he told her to go back to New York and never see him again. Not many people knew about their breakup, only Gavin and Sean knew about it. Even though they dated during season 1, Chris still did have a minor crush on Lola.
When he met Lola, it's like his world went upside down. Chris never got to ask Lola the question “do you have a boyfriend?” to her, mainly because he was too shy to ask and it really isn’t any of his business. While filming season 1, the only one who he really opened up to was Sean, Lola’s on screen brother. Yes, he spoke to Gavin as well, but more to Sean. Whenever Chris or Sean had a day off they would spend time together just chatting about life.
Lola woke up with the rays of the gold sun shining through her windows. Shadows danced upon her wall, casting the illusion of a rainbow. A small smile appeared on her face as she turned to the window. She couldn't help let a small breath escape her mouth as she looked toward the beautiful sunrise. Reds, golds, oranges, colliding together in a brilliant display of bleeding colors. Clouds so fluffy and full, she almost wished she could dive right into them. It was degrading to call this sight just 'beautiful'. It was so much more.
Fumbling in a hurry, she grabbed her phone quickly, eager to capture the sacred moment forever. But that changed when reality came crashing down upon her. It was funny honestly, she almost had forgotten her thousands of followers on Tiktok. Her thousands of direct messages on Instagram. She had almost forgotten her fame.
Suddenly the sky didn't seem so bright anymore. The colors muted, and the clouds flat. But suddenly her thoughts rushed in, “Maybe that is what I look like. Colorless. Lifeless." She couldn't help the thought from creeping upon her. But instead of pushing it aside like she normally did, she caved into its malice.
“You don't deserve all this recognition. You don't deserve to be seen, to be adored. It's too much to carry, and you don't have the strength to keep going. It wasn't yours to begin with."
She couldn't muster the energy to argue against this strange voice in her head. After all, it was right. It crushed down on her, like sinking to the bottom of the deep sea. And she didn't know how to swim.
But her own feelings didn't matter. After all, no one really cared for her, they just cared for her desirable role on the show. The countless comments proved that to her, it's all about the role she played having both Jeremiah and Conrad by her side, and it wasn't for who she truly was. Whenever she opened Tik Tok something on her for you page would be something about Team Conrad VS Team Jermiah. Her show was becoming very popular, it wasn't hard to see their faces everywhere on social media. When she needed a distraction from her thoughts, she would watch fan edits and fan art that people have made. It meant the world to Lola that at least one person cares about her, nevertheless millions of people. Even if it's only because of Belly, she finally felt wanted.
Pushing aside these thoughts, finally, she unlocked her phone at last, tired of staring at her wallpaper that just kept getting spammed with thousands of notifications at a time.
Which app should she open first? She internally debated, wondering which notifications she should clear first.
But today, something was different. she couldn't help when his eyes lingered on thirst comments instead of scamming over them, as usual. She couldn't help when her mind started to drift.
Never in her life Lola had a boyfriend, what was she thinking now? It's not like anyone would love her for her. She couldn't tell why she was caught up in this foreign feeling. But of course, She was grounded once again when the sinking realization came through. She was nothing. She always put others first, and taking a step back, she realized why. She was so broken, so hurt, so lost. And she didn't know how to fix it. So she put on a mask. Help up a smile for as long as she could, in hopes that one day, someone would stare straight through her, seeing her cracks and flaws. Seeing past a pretty face. As long as others were okay, she was okay too. Right?
It was until a boy, kissed by beauty and happiness, slapped her eyes open. She really realized what love was, and what it meant to love yourself.
-
She was at the beach, lying on the sand. Just observing her sights. It was almost midnight. She loved coming to the beach at night. She would watch the stars and get lost into them. After a few hours, she decided to go back home
She got up, wrapped a towel around herself, and started walking home. As she walked home, she kept her eyes on the sunset. Admiring the beauty of it. Sometimes she would get lost into the sunset for what felt like hours.
Once Lola finally got home, she climbed into bed after the long day, and finally fell asleep. In her dreams, she would always dream of the man of her dreams and be reminded of how much she was craving love in her life. She had no idea who he was but she can feel undenying love for him even though she has not even met him. She had a feeling she may meet this person soon. Soon she hoped.
As for her, She was a very bubbly person. An actress for the TV show “The Summer I Turned Pretty” always traveling, always on the move. She would be away from home the majority of the time, but not for this summer, she will be filming season 2 of the show. She was widely famous for the show. People adored her so much. But, Truly inside she wished someone truly cared about her, not for the actress she is, not for the amount of fame, the true person she is.In the show she plays “Belly” which in her opinion is a hopeless romantic like her.
No matter how many comments she got on social media would make her look at herself any different. Unique. Yes, there would be times she would get down on herself, but she didn't let that affect her.
She would blast music in her room and just vibe and let her soul out. She would dance endlessly like no one was watching. It was like she was a Swan in a crowd full of Ducks.
She has had a lot of alone time since she became famous. She attended Laguardia High school and pursued her acting career at Carnegie Mellon University, until finally, she was picked to audition for the show and everything basically hit it off after that.Ever since she got her first role when she was younger, she would always be on the move. Practicing lines, trying to get enough sleep before and between filming it took a lot out of her. Lola never had a boyfriend growing up. There were occasional crushes in her past, but she never had the guts to go up to them.
She was in various plays during college, but she never got the main role, she would usually get a side role with a small amount of lines. She grew up with a lot of anxiety in her heart her entire life. But, when she is on camera it's like all that anxiety goes away, as if she is a different person. That is why Lola loved acting, she got to play to pretend to live her dream life, to feel loved and affectionate. Whenever the director would yell “cut” it's like a piece of her is missing, she ultimately gets sad because she doesn't really have anyone in her life, in the direction of love.
This was very complicated during season 1 of shooting because at the time Chris was still dating Isabel, and she was a bit jealous to be honest. The only person Lola could go to was Rain. Lola would spend countless nights talking to Rain about her depression and anxiety. Rain went through a rough childhood as well, so she could relate to Lola.
There's a feeling, a feeling Lola can't pin down. she feel's a hole in her life she can't escape, it was the hole left for love. The pain of being alone is temporary as you're never alone. Lola craved love, and compassion and the feeling of loving someone, people able to call someone "mine". but that all changed the day Lola came across Chris. He was somehow different, he seemed genuine, yet confused. It was diffcult to see what he was really feeling. Lola actually saw him for him, not for his looks or fame, she liked him weirdly.
She was attracted by something about him, she couldn't wrap her finger around. Chris was a lost soul for what everyone knew. He was real, when everyone was distracted in their bubble of social media he was noticing everything and everyone. He was also looking for that reassuring love, craving it and wanting it. Chris was confused with life. He never stopped questioning why he was chosen to have "fame" and popularity. He felt empty like Lola. They both had that hole inside of them and they both weren't in that bubble of social media and self deprivation, they are alive. and they questioned what it takes to fill that hole inside of them, but little do they know it's each other they need.
-
Today was the start of production of season 2. Although Lola doesn’t start filming for a couple of days, She still has to prepare for post-production. She was on set today for a table read with the entire cast. She hasn’t seen anyone since the wrapping party, ultimately, she was scared. Lola walked through the door, instantly seeing Gavin and waving hello. She walked toward her seat, which was near Jenny, the creator of the show. She was a few minutes early, So not everyone was there yet. When Lola sat down, she was greeted with her script on the table.
Since she had a few minutes before everyone arrives, she decided to go through the script for the first episode of season 2. She was very nervous to see Chris after not seeing him for so long.As she was going through the script, her eyes came across a scene between her and Chris. She gulped reading it, and internally her heart skipped a beat.As she continued reading the scene, Gavin walked in instantly smiling. She decided to close the script for a second and catch up with Gavin. She had noticed he has been to New York alot lately for press for the show. Gavin then told Lola about his recent breakup, and how it was good for them to separate. Gavin told her through this breakup, he is really becoming a “man of god”, Lola was very proud of him, and didn’t think he would be the religious type of person, but I guess he is, Lola thought.
Lola then showed Gavin the scene between her and Chris in the show. Lola rolled her eyes while showing him this. Lola did blush a little. Seconds later, Chris entered the room, he wore a flowy long yellow shirt as yellow as the sun. He patted Gavin on the back and started talking to Gavin about his year since they haven't talked. Meanwhile, Lola’s head was in the script scanning each page of her lines.
“Hey! How was your time off?” Gavin said to Chris
Chris responded by taking a deep breath first, out of relief, “It has been good, hanging out with my friends, playing a lot of video games.
This fandom of fans are really crazy for this show, it's like wherever I go I'm swamped with fans you know” Gavin responded “ I totally get that, I don't have a life anymore!” Chris then tried to speak to Lola but she was so focused on the script, She couldn't hear him speaking.
It was like Lola was in a trance reading the script. Finally, Chris got her attention, She had just finished reading an intimate scene between and Chris, As she read the last words on the page “ Her eyes meet with Chris on the table, and all of a sudden she was out of her trance, In for just a moment, she felt like what it was to be in Belly’s shoes.
—-Interior Bedroom day
Belly had just woken up with Conrad by her side, The camera pans from the ceiling to Belly hugging her stuffed bear Junior Mint.Belly and Conrad are laying in bed with their eyes glued to each other.
Conrad
Did you have a good sleep?
Belly
The best sleep i've had in my entire life.(smile)
Conrad (smile)
My mom is making breakfast if you want some.
Conrad then puts his hands on her shoulders.
Belly
I think I would like to stay here for a few minutes. This is comfy.
They both just kept staring at each other.
Belly
(under her breath) fuck it!
Belly leaded in and kissed Conrad passionately.
The camera moves off as Conrad takes off Bellys shirt.
— Lola and Chris spoke out the lines, and there was undenying tension in the room. Last season, Chris did develop a slight crush on her, mainly because she spent so much time together. Chris assumed that she had a boyfriend and she was beyond gorgeous anyway. Chris had a girlfriend at the time, but wasn’t looking for eternal love the last time he saw her, But now Chris had broken up with Isabel, Lola had opened his eyes in many new ways, that he liked. Chris was very nervous reading the script mainly because he has never did a implyied sex scene ever. Yes, there were a few kissing scenes in the first season, but this seemed different. All they are doing is making out passionately and taking each others shirt off. Chris then thought of the awkward conversation he had to make with Lola. He wasn't sure if he should say something to her, before the actual filming began in a few days.
"Belly," Conrad said, closing the gap between them. "I don't want to ever regret this." He said, then stepped closer and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. She looked into his eyes, and he looked into hers, holding their gazes together.
Conrad cupped her face with his hands, then leaned closer, and kissed her slowly and gently, to let her know that this kiss is a priority to him.
"CUT!" The director yelled, and both Lola and Chris stayed frozen in place. Jackie, Lola's and Steven's mom in the show, looked at her with an amused smile.
"You're a pretty good kisser." Lola said, and Chris grinned, "Oh yeah? Happy to be of service. The team Conrad girls will love this next scene." Lola laughed, "Yes Chris, they will."
Jeremiah was watching them intently from the other side of the room, his eyes dilated, and his jaw clenched.This has already happened before, he thought. He should have expected this to happen again, it was undeniable that Belly and Conrad had something special. He stormed off, not happy with what he had just witnessed. They didn't notice him and kept going. Conrad put his hands on Belly's lower back, the tension between them is unbreakable by now. He tightened his hold of her waist, and she put her hand on his chest, grasping his shirt with her fingers. It was not long before both their shirts were on the floor, and Conrad's warm hands were on her stomach. Then, without warning, Laurel, Belly's mom, barged inside followed by Jeremiah. He snitched on them. He really did that.
They both just... stared at Laurel, and she stared at them. "M-mom, hi..." Belly said, her voice shaking. "Both of you, put your shirts back on." She said, her voice getting louder with every word she says. "We need to talk."
"CUT!"
Everyone starts laughing. "Good job, Chris and Lola. Not bad at all!" Sean says, chuckling. Chris smiles at Lola, "Well, that was harsh on them.” "It really was, now I'm almost glad I don't actually live with two handsome, jealous teenage boys in a beach house."
After they finished filming that scene, it was lunch time, Lola very much needed a break. The second the director yelled “cut” Lola zoomed to her trailer. She had been working non stop since 5am working and practicing lines for the show. She needed a moment to decompress what just happened with Chris. Lola went to her trailer and put in her lunch order to the production assistant. She layed on the bed of her trailer and took a huge breath. Her heart and mind was racing.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she received a text saying “hey, you good? You really wanted to get out of there lol”
She didn’t know what to say. She started to pace around the room, all of a sudden the production assistant knocked on the door, she thought it was Chris. Her heart skipped a beat. The production assistant opened the door to give her food before she could move. A sigh of relief Lola felt. She sat near the table and started eating her salad and debating on what to say, it had been 15 minutes since she received the text. After a few minutes of thinking she responded to Chris saying “Yeah i’m good, just tired, it's a long day.” Within 2 minutes Chris responded saying “I feel you”, After that, Lola decided to take a nap to get her mind off things.
After filming the scene Chris was a bit confused about their interaction, how she just zoomed off set. He did text her and she said she was tired, but he thought there might be a little more to it. He thought maybe she zoomed off because she is scared of her emotions and being vulnerable. Chris perceived whenever Lola was in Belly’s shoes, all her insecurities and fears went away. After filming the scene, Chris ultimately wanted to keep going but he couldn't. He had to be extremely professional, and also there was an intimacy coordinator on set to make sure it was consensual. He wanted to go to her trailer and just make out with Lola with no cameras but he couldn’t, he was afraid.
To put aside these thoughts, Chris decides to go on his phone and texts Sean to come over to his trailer to chat. Sean had already finished eating and wasn’t doing anything besides studying lines, so he came over to Chris’s trailer. Within 1 minute of Sean receiving Chris’s text, he was in Chris trailer.The main cast trailers are very close to each other.
Sean walks in saying “woah bro that scene was crazy!
The fans are going wild “ yeah they are “
Chris responded, “what would you wanna talk about?” Sean asked,
Chris responded saying “I don’t know what to feel man, it was crazy and mind blowing, is it crazy that im developing feelings for Lola?” “It isn't,” Sean said. “Why do you think that? We can’t date in real life because it complicates things” Chris said, “No it actually wouldn’t because I know of so many actors and actresses that have done it and there weren't any complications. Look at Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse, they dated on screen and off the screen.” Sean said, “I don't feel like i will ever get a private life if this happens, the paparazzi would be all over us.'' Chris said. “I get it, that's what comes with being famous. Sean said. “Like when I dated Isabel, I couldn’t even go to a theme park nor a restaurant without being spotted constantly asking for pictures, I mean I appreciate it, but there is a line you know? Sometimes I wish I was never famous and had a normal life.” Chris said.
Gavin
Growing up, he was very connected to God. He often doubted that he be doing acting. He grew up fear based, but slowly with god’s trust he followed his passion acting. He grew up unsure, lost in life, dissipating his thoughts, . the phrase have your emotions on your sleeves, was basically Gavin. Although, unlike Lola or Chris who desired love from another person, Gavin craved to be loved from God. He would pray to god constantly, updating him about his life. He wouldn’t say he would be a religious person by the context of the bible, but he was definitely strongly guided by God. He didn’t believe in those sayings of “you will go to hell if you don’t do this”, he believed everyone can be saved and loved from God. In his Instagram Bio it says “”To love at all is to be vulnerable”. That is the honest truth, it is to be vulnerable to accept love. He was in a relationship for 6 years, but eventually after he was very busy with his acting career, he didn’t really have time for a relationship, all he had was God, and that is all that he desired. Yes, he did have an amazing time with her, but unfortunately it didn’t last. He thanked God everyday that everything happens for a reason. The bible quote Philippians 1:22-26
The Word of God
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
Philippians 1:22-26
This bible quote was on his desk in his trailer for a daily reminder of God.
When he was in his previous relatonship, He often came to God for healing. He mostly asked “why do i feel this way” in regarding love for his girlfriend. Gavin had crushes growing up but she was different. Gavin’s viewpoint on love changed dramatically as he started working for the this show. His love for God remained, not as much for his girlfriend.