Rogan had woken up feeling surprisingly refreshed. The party had been more fun than he'd expected, and despite staying up late, he didn't feel the usual sluggishness that followed a night of socializing. Maybe it was because of the way the night had ended—quietly, with Anna leaning against him in the car, her soft breaths signaling that she was drifting off to sleep.
He'd always thought Anna was intriguing, but seeing her in that vulnerable, relaxed state had made him realize just how much he actually liked her. Not just as a co-star, but as a person. She was kind, funny, and more than a little endearing when she let her guard down.
As he got ready for the day, Rogan found himself thinking about her—how she'd looked up at him with those wide eyes, her words slurred but genuine. "You're really nice, Rogan. You know that?" Her voice had been soft, almost shy, and it had made something inside him warm in a way he hadn't expected.
Arriving on set, Rogan was eager to see Anna, but he was also aware that she might be feeling awkward about the night before. He'd seen how much she'd had to drink, and while she hadn't done anything she should be ashamed of, he knew she might feel differently.
When he saw her walking toward him and Michael, his suspicions were confirmed. Anna looked a little pale, her movements slightly hesitant, as if she was bracing herself for an uncomfortable conversation. Rogan felt a pang of sympathy. He didn't want her to feel embarrassed or worried—especially not about something as harmless as a bit of drunken fun.
He watched as she approached, noticing the way she seemed to be gathering her courage. When she finally reached them, Rogan
could see the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremor in her voice as she greeted Michael and tried to appear at ease.
Rogan decided to let her take the lead, not wanting to push her into a conversation she wasn't ready for. But when they were alone, he couldn't help but address the elephant in the room.
"Hey," he said softly, hoping to ease her nerves.
"Hi," Anna replied, her voice a little higher than usual. She looked almost like she was preparing for an apology, and Rogan felt a twinge of guilt. He didn't want her to feel like she had to apologize.
When she finally did, her words were exactly what he'd expected, but it still surprised him how genuinely she seemed to care about his opinion of her. Rogan smiled, trying to convey that there was nothing to worry about.
"You don't need to apologize, Anna," he said, keeping his voice gentle. "You didn't do anything wrong. We were just having fun."
He meant it, too. The night had been fun, and if anything, it had only made him appreciate Anna more. She was real, unguarded, and that was something he found refreshing.
As they talked, Rogan could see some of the tension leaving Anna's shoulders. She even managed a small smile, and Rogan felt relieved. He hadn't wanted her to feel awkward around him—especially not after the connection they'd started to build.
When they were called back to set, Rogan couldn't help but feel that they'd crossed some invisible line, moving from co-workers to something more like friends. Maybe even something more than that, though he wasn't quite ready to put a name to it.
The day's shoot went smoothly, though Rogan noticed that Anna seemed a little distracted at first. She wasn't quite as focused as usual, and her movements were a bit more hesitant. But as the day went on, she seemed to find her footing again, and the scenes started to flow more naturally.
During a break, Rogan found himself standing next to Anna once more. The silence between them was comfortable, but there was still a sense of something unspoken lingering in the air.
"You're doing great," he said, hoping to give her a bit of encouragement.
Anna looked up at him, her surprise clear. "Thanks. You too."
There was a moment of quiet, and Rogan decided to take a chance, to say what he'd been thinking since the night before. "Last night… it was nice to see a different side of you."
He could see the surprise in her eyes, followed by something softer—maybe even a bit of relief. "Really?"
"Yeah," Rogan said, feeling his heart beat a little faster. "You're usually so composed, but last night, you were… more open. It was nice."
He meant it, too. There was something about Anna's vulnerability that had drawn him in, made him want to get to know her even better.
Before they could talk more, they were called back to the set. As they returned to their places, Rogan couldn't help but feel that something between them had shifted. The awkwardness was still there, but it was mixed with something warmer, something that hinted at the possibility of more.
As they moved through the rest of the day, Rogan found himself looking forward to seeing where this new connection would lead. And as they prepared for the next scene, he caught Anna's eye, giving her a small smile that she returned, her expression softer than before.
The awkwardness might not have completely disappeared, but Rogan didn't mind. In fact, he found himself looking forward to the next step—whatever that might be.
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