(why do i only fall for losers?)

(don't call me a loser, sunshine. i'm the best thing you'll ever have.)

(case in point.)

i hope this doesn't find you, ann liang // euphoria // the prophecy, taylor swift // reality bites // sun bleached flies, ethel cain // the long and short of it, richard siken

━━━ synopsis ━━━

Esme Mendoza is on the brink of superstardom and getting everything she has ever wanted. Charming, warm, and a delight to work with, she's Hollywood's darling, even while trying to shake off the damage issued by a very public breakup with pop superstar Oakley Collins. Meanwhile, Matt Crain, her grumpy, brooding co-star is her exact opposite—cynical, snarky, and seemingly allergic to having a good time—and seems determined to make her life a living hell.

When they're cast as romantic leads in Absolutely!, an indie romance that has everything to be the next big hit in the box office (and strangely mirrors their real life dynamic), Esme is determined to be as professional as she can be and reach for the stars.

The main issue: Esme and Matt cannot stand each other. 

When the movie wraps and the press tour kicks off, their off-screen animosity somehow morphs into a tension fans can't get enough of. The media speculates about their relationship, red carpet photos go viral, and shippers start coming up with wild theories (#Esmatt!). Their PR teams seize the opportunity, encouraging them to lean into the rumors, neither confirming nor denying, while hamming it up just enough to keep the world watching. What harm could it bring?

What starts as an act grows increasingly confusing when sparks fly. With Oakley suddenly back in the picture, threatening to destroy her carefully crafted reputation, letting her feelings for Matt unfold feels like a terrible idea. And yet, she can't stop herself. 

As the lines blur between public and private, Esme and Matt have to figure out what's real and what's just a performance . . . and whether risking it all for a chance at something great will be worth the pain.

━━━ starring roles ━━━

olivia rodrigo as esme mendoza

leo woodall as matt crain

tom blyth as oakley collins

zoë barnard as charlotte 'lottie' fitzpatrick

━━━ contents and warnings ━━━

enemies to lovers

it's not really fake dating, but they do ham it up for the cameras

forced proximity

grumpy x sunshine

celebrity romance

banter. loads and loads of banter

double standards in hollywood (and in general tbh)

cheating (it's not matt)

matt is a bad boy in the sense that he's bad at everything (communicating, being nice, etc.)

DO NOT GIVE ME EDITING FEEDBACK/CRITIQUE. I DID NOT ASK FOR IT. this is a first draft, written in a rush. don't be a douche. thank you

don't make fandom references in the comments. i'll let it slide once and ask you to stop. do it again and you'll get blocked

━━━ onc stuff ━━━

main prompt:

₊⊹ 45: it's your big day — everything is falling into place — but why does your hot, irresistible enemy seem to think he's won?

secondary prompt:

₊⊹ 127: "i've got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you i'm insane."

━━━ disclaimer & copyright ━━━

My characters' opinions don't necessarily reflect mine.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, corporations, establishments and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

COPYRIGHT © 2025 CATERINA GEORGE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author. Feel free to quote it, but give me the proper credit.