13

Day Four.They were supposed to be planning content. They had a brand deal meeting in an hour. But the second Colby walked in the room and said, "She posted again," everything else stopped mattering.

But this time?

It wasn't just the video.It was the comments. The fan reactions. The duets. The way Melinda's entire tone had changed — not softer, not less honest, but somehow more vulnerable. More human.

Colby was sitting on the arm of the couch, refreshing the comments like it was his job.Chris had gone quiet — rare for him.Matt was biting the edge of his hoodie sleeve, clearly thinking hard.Nick kept rereading the pinned comment aloud.And Sam? Sam was staring at the screen like it was a mirror he didn't know he had.

⸻

Nick: softly "You see this one? This fan said, 'She writes smut like it's a sitcom and a trauma recovery program.' I'm screaming."

Chris: grinning faintly "She literally created a whole genre. Therapeutic smut-adjacent comedy POVs. Who does that?"

Matt: more serious "I think it's because she gets what it's like to need a story. Like... when life's too heavy and you just need to make something that doesn't hurt."

Colby: nodding "That's why people are flocking to her. She's not performing. She's just... honest. And she's still a fan."

Jake: "She basically said, 'I use fanfic to survive' and then turned around and gave everyone an ethics guide."

Nick: eyes still on Sam "...What are you thinking?"

Sam: quietly "She doesn't know we've seen it all."

Chris: "Not yet."

Sam: shakes his head slowly "And part of me doesn't want her to know. Not yet. She's so real when she thinks she's just talking to strangers."

Matt: "You scared she'll change if she knows you're listening?"

Sam: a beat "...Yeah."

⸻

There was a pause.Not heavy. Just thoughtful.

Colby: smirking slightly "So... you like her."

Sam: shrugs "I don't even know her."

Chris: "Yeah, but you like her. Not the fan. Not the commentary. Her."

Sam: still watching the pinned comment on screen"She's kind. But not soft. Protective. But not delusional. She thinks in layers. She holds people accountable and gives them comfort. I don't know what that is, but it's... something."

Nick: smiling now "You just said more words in the past five minutes than you have in the last two days."

Matt: "You don't need to message her yet. But you should save that video."

Sam: already clicking the bookmark icon "I did. All of them."

⸻

Colby: "So what's the plan?"

Sam: leans back, eyes on the screen, almost smiling"We wait. And we watch."