The After fandom erupted when an unseen photo from the iconic lake scene in After (2019) surfaced, showcasing Tessa Young and Hardin Scott’s electric chemistry. Shared by Frayed Pages Entertainment on Twitter in February 2021, the image captures the pivotal moment where Josephine Langford’s Tessa and Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s Hardin share their first kiss, igniting their good-girl-bad-boy romance. Fans on platforms like Facebook and Twitter flooded comments with heart-eyes and crying emojis, calling the snap “unbearably cute” and “heart-stopping.” This moment from the After series, rooted in Anna Todd’s Wattpad novel, cements Tessa and Hardin as a top-tier romantic duo.
The lake scene is a defining moment in After, marking the start of Tessa and Hardin’s passionate, turbulent relationship. Tessa, a dedicated freshman at Washington Central University, embodies the good-girl archetype—studious, loyal, and cautious. Hardin, the brooding, tattooed rebel with a troubled past, is the quintessential bad boy. Their chemistry sparks when Hardin takes Tessa to his “secret place,” a serene lake tucked in the woods, where they swim, talk, and share a steamy kiss. The unseen photo, released to celebrate After We Collided’s Netflix success, captures their raw intimacy, with fans tweeting, “My heart can’t take this pic 😭”.
Anna Todd, the author behind the After series, crafted the lake scene as a turning point for Tessa and Hardin, or “Hessa” as fans call them. In a 2019 interview with MEAWW, Todd explained that the scene’s intensity came naturally, reflecting Tessa’s awakening and Hardin’s vulnerability. “The hot parts just came out when I was writing… it was such an intimate and timid moment for Tessa, and her world expanded,” she said. The film’s depiction, though toned down for a PG-13 rating, retains the emotional weight, with Hardin coaxing Tessa into the water and their chemistry unfolding in a mix of playful banter and heated passion.
Fans adore the lake scene for its raw emotion and the trope it embodies. The good-girl-bad-boy dynamic thrives on opposites—Tessa’s innocence clashes with Hardin’s rough edges, yet they bring out new sides in each other. Hardin’s guarded heart softens under Tessa’s influence, while she discovers her own boldness through him. This dynamic places them among iconic couples like Twilight’s Bella and Edward or Fifty Shades of Grey’s Anastasia and Christian, as noted in fan discussions on X. The unseen photo reignited this love, with fans creating edits and merchandise, like Etsy sweatshirts featuring the scene’s quote, “I don’t think we can ever be just friends”.
The After series, originally a Harry Styles-inspired Wattpad fanfiction, has grown into a global phenomenon, with five films culminating in After Everything (2023). The lake scene in the first film sets the stage for Tessa and Hardin’s rollercoaster romance, fraught with betrayals like Hardin’s initial dare to make Tessa fall for him. Despite this, their love evolves, as seen in Hardin’s heartfelt letter to Tessa and their eventual reconciliation. Fans on Reddit debate the toxicity of their relationship, with some calling Hardin manipulative but others praising his growth, saying, “He was putting in efforts to be good!”.
The unseen photo’s release in 2021, tied to After We Collided hitting #1 on Netflix, was a gift to fans. Frayed Pages Entertainment’s tweet read, “We’re SO thankful for your support & for that, here’s a really cute #HESSA pic we’ve been holding closely to our hearts”. The image, showing Tessa and Hardin in the water, sparked a frenzy, with comments like “OMG this pic [heart-eye emojis]” and “I’m literally shaking” flooding Twitter. This excitement mirrors the broader After fandom’s passion, with fans sharing wallpapers and clips on Pinterest and YouTube, celebrating the scene’s romantic intensity.
