The backstage area was buzzing with the usual energy of a talk show taping. Cat's team was making last-minute adjustments, checking she knew what to promote, and coordinating with the host's crew. She could feel the familiar rush of anticipation— the bright lights, the cameras, the chaos of it all. She was officially turned away from the tour and into the new album, her new look; settling into it all. But as she moved through the hall, something unfamiliar caught her attention.

It wasn't the gleaming lights or the perfectly set-up greenroom that drew her focus. It was the unmistakable figure she spotted at the far end of the hallway, surrounded by staff. Cat froze.

Jade.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat. It took a moment for her to process what she was seeing. Tori had told her about Jade working as a floor runner on a talk show, but it had never fully registered in her mind until now. She never imagined she'd actually run into her—of all the places, of all the moments, here they were, in this busy, chaotic studio.

Cat watched her for a moment, almost as if she were seeing a ghost. Jade was moving quickly, headset on, pile of papers in hand, walking with a sense of purpose as she spoke to one of the crew members, handing him one of the sheets. Her focus was so sharp, she didn't even seem to notice the celebrity guests milling about.

Cat's fingers twitched, her mind racing. She hadn't ever thought she'd see her in the middle of this world. But now, standing here, seeing her working like this, something shifted inside Cat. It felt like a strange twist of fate.

Jade didn't know she was here, did she? Of course, she did. Those were probably running orders she was hanging out, they'd mention her name on them. So maybe she knew, and had seen Cat, and was ignoring her. Cat had stayed so far away from all of them—Tori, Andre, Beck, and especially Jade—keeping her distance, lost in her own world. But now that she was face-to-face with her, the pull of their old connection was too strong.

Her feet moved before her mind had fully caught up. Cat stepped closer, weaving through the chaos of the crew, until she was standing just a few feet behind Jade. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she fought to keep her breathing steady. It felt like a lifetime since she'd seen Jade—heard her laugh, seen her smirk. Everything had gone so wrong, so quickly. But here was Jade, standing in front of her, a familiar face in this unfamiliar place.

Cat hesitated. She wasn't sure what she was even going to say. She hadn't exactly prepared for this. She didn't even know what she wanted to say. But the moment was slipping by, and if she didn't act now, she might lose her chance.

Taking a deep breath, she gently tapped Jade on the shoulder.

Jade turned, her expression a mix of confusion and surprise when her eyes locked with Cat's. Her mouth opened, as though she were about to say something, but no words came out at first.

Cat swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to steady herself. "I didn't know you worked here."

Jade's eyes shifted, and she looked almost nervous. "Yeah. Floor runner," she said quietly, glancing at the clipboard in her hands, clearly not sure how to handle this. "I... uh, I've been here every Saturday for a while now. It's not the movies, but it's a start."

Cat nodded, forcing herself to smile, though it felt tight and unfamiliar. "Yeah. Tori told me... but I didn't... I didn't expect to see you here."

A silence hung between them for a moment, thick and heavy, before Jade spoke again, her voice almost too soft to hear. "I only knew you were the celebrity guest when I turned up this morning. I didn't think you'd want to talk to me."

Cat winced inwardly at the words, the unspoken weight behind them settling deep in her chest. It was clear that Jade didn't know what to say to her, and she didn't blame her. After everything that had happened, everything that had gone wrong, they were strangers to each other now in a way.

"I... I do want to talk," Cat said, finally finding her voice, though it felt strange. "I know it's been a while. I didn't mean to disappear. I just—"

Jade held up a hand, cutting her off. "You don't need to apologise, Cat," she said, her voice low but firm. "I get it. I know... things were complicated. It wasn't just you."

Cat's heart twisted. The words felt like a small salve, but they also stung. She hadn't known how badly she needed to hear them, how much she had wanted someone to tell her that it hadn't all been her fault.

"I'm sorry, Jade," Cat whispered, stepping a little closer, the distance between them feeling like an entire universe. "I didn't mean for it to go the way it did. I miss you."

Jade's expression softened, but she didn't say anything at first. She just looked at Cat with an intensity that made her stomach churn. There was so much unspoken between them—too much to untangle in a few minutes of small talk, too much to fix in one conversation.

"I miss you too," Jade said quietly, but there was hesitation in her voice, as though she wasn't entirely sure how to proceed.

The words hung in the air, both comforting and painful at the same time. They both stood there, not knowing where to go from here, both wanting to bridge the gap but unsure how to make it happen.

"Maybe we can... catch up sometime?" Cat suggested, her voice barely a whisper. She was afraid of pushing too much too soon, but she knew she couldn't leave it like this.

Jade nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, we should," she said, her tone tentative, but not unkind.

Cat gave a small, relieved smile. "Okay. I'll, uh... I'll be in touch."

With that, she turned, walking away toward her dressing room. But as she glanced back once more, she saw Jade watching her from across the hallway, their eyes meeting for just a moment before they both disappeared into their respective roles.

Cat stepped onto the stage of the talk show with a confidence she didn't entirely feel but had mastered the art of faking. Her outfit was a bold statement: a sleek, black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline, paired with thigh-high boots and sparkling accessories that caught the light every time she moved. Her once-soft, bubblegum image was nowhere to be seen; in its place stood a polished pop star exuding an air of edginess and allure.

This transformation hadn't been her idea initially. Her team had spent weeks convincing her that her next album needed to reflect an evolution, both musically and personally. The 'girl next door' vibe of her early days didn't align with the woman she was becoming—or so they told her. At twenty, she was 'old enough' now, as her publicist put it, to lean into a more mature, sexier image.

The audience roared as she greeted the host, her smile wide and camera-ready. She waved as she perched herself on the plush chair across from him. "Wow, Caterina! Or should I say, the Caterina," the host teased, earning laughter from the crowd.

Cat leaned forward, playing along. "You can say whatever you like, as long as it sounds good!"

The conversation started light, filled with questions about her tour, if she any plans for the next album, and her whirlwind year. Cat gave practiced answers, laughing at the right moments and sharing anecdotes she'd rehearsed. She felt like she was playing a role, and maybe she was. This version of her was glamorous, poised, and untouchable—the kind of person her team assured her she needed to be.

Then the host leaned back, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "Now, Cat, I've got to ask. You've been... shall we say... rebranding a little lately?"

Cat chuckled, brushing her silver hair behind her ear. "Oh, you noticed?" she replied, feigning surprise.

"Come on, the world noticed! The new look, the bolder sound—are we entering a new Caterina Valentine era?"

She paused for effect, letting the anticipation build. "I think so," she said, her tone light but confident. "This album is about me stepping into who I really am. It's bolder, more honest. I'm not afraid to show different sides of myself anymore."

The audience erupted in applause, and Cat smiled, though her mind wandered for a split second. This wasn't a lie—it was her—but it wasn't the whole truth either.

The segment continued, peppered with laughter and the occasional flirty remark from the host about her new style. By the time the commercial break arrived, Cat leaned back in her chair, feeling the weight of the performance lift ever so slightly.

As the stagehands bustled around, she caught sight of Jade at the edge of the set, clipboard in hand. Jade's face was unreadable, but her presence was enough to send Cat's heart racing. She quickly glanced away, unsure if Jade had been watching her or simply doing her job.

The break ended, and Cat turned her attention back to the cameras.