Rush Me (BBU #1)

How the Book Could've Went

౨ৎ

When I first started brainstorming Rush Me, there were a few ideas I was dead set on including, things that would've added some extra drama and suspense to the story. But as I wrote, I realized that not everything had a place in the final version of the book, and some of the twists I'd planned just didn't feel right for where the characters were heading.

One of the big things I originally wanted to do was have Dewina and Reed date—just for a bit, to really crank up the drama. I thought it'd add some spice, especially with Dewina being the queen of manipulation.

I wanted Reed to be caught in this web of confusion and tension, making Rosalie have to confront her feelings about him. But as the story evolved, it didn't fit. Reed wasn't someone who'd fall for Dewina's tricks, and the story had already gotten enough of a dramatic push from other places. That plotline got scrapped early on, and honestly, I think it was for the best.

Another scene I had in mind that never made it was pretty dark and intense. After that whole debacle with Reed being locked in the closet (ugh, that whole scene was a mess), I was planning on having Ace kidnap Rosalie.

Remember where Rosalie had a major moment where she played hero by sneaking into the frat house to save Reed. But the story was headed in a direction where this was just too much.

After that, I envisioned Ace as this psycho ex who was madly jealous of Reed and wanted to get back at Rosalie, so he kidnapped her in retaliation. It was going to be a dangerous situation where she almost got too far away before the car accident happened that led to Ace's death.

I had it all planned out—Reed would've been the one to save her, but honestly? It felt like a scene that would take the story in a direction I wasn't ready to go. It was a hard choice to let that part go, but ultimately, it felt like it took away from the development I wanted for Reed and Rosalie's relationship.

Then, there was that whole party chaos I threw in at the last minute, where Rosalie ends up wearing Ryan's clothes after Reed leaves her in a bit of a cold shoulder moment.

Originally, this whole thing wasn't even supposed to be a part of the book. I had no intention of adding the drama of the party with Ryan's clothes, the misunderstandings, and that full-on explosion of chaos with Amber and Hailey.

But when I realized that I needed something to truly showcase the tension between Reed and Rosalie, the build-up to their connection finally clicking, it just fit.

The scene injected this perfect amount of mess and humor and real emotion into the mix, showing how far they'd both come. It made the final reconciliation even more satisfying, and I'm glad I decided to add it.

The whole situation with Amber dating Ryan? Yeah, that wasn't in the plan either. But when the party idea started to take shape, it became the perfect opportunity to show the dynamics of the group, how everyone was interconnected, and how Reed's jealousy and Rosalie's own insecurities would clash.

I didn't want to make it too over-the-top, but in the end, it created an interesting shift in how Reed and Rosalie would eventually come to terms with their feelings. That party wasn't just a random throwaway scene—it ended up being a pivotal turning point for the characters.

And then there's Evie and Corbin. Originally, I had no intention of pairing them up at all, but after I got a better feel for Evie's character and her evolving relationship with Corbin, I knew there was potential for more.

I wanted to explore how Evie, usually so carefree and full of chaos, would handle a deeper, more complicated relationship with someone like Corbin. I wasn't going to give them a romance at all, but I couldn't help myself.

I saw the way their personalities clashed but also how they were drawn to each other. That chemistry was undeniable. So, I started playing with the idea of them becoming something more, and from there, the concept of a second book about them blossomed. Their character development needed more space to grow, and I'm thrilled that I took the time to flesh it out because I can already feel how much potential their story holds.

In the end, writing Rush Me meant making a lot of hard choices, letting go of certain plotlines that I initially thought were crucial, and deciding where the story needed to go. Some of the things I thought would be in the book ended up getting scrapped because they didn't serve the overall flow of the story, while other ideas found their way in at the perfect moment.

That's the beauty of writing—the story evolves as you go, and sometimes, the best moments are the ones that surprise you.

- Blayre