𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼
ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵗʰᵉ ʳⁱˢᵏ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ

DECEMBER 28 2024

December 28th was cold but magical.

Snow still clung to the rooftops and streets, the remnants of a white Christmas, and festive lights twinkled all around.

Aurelie stood outside her house, bundled in a thick scarf and coat, waiting for Walker. He'd invited her out earlier in the week, insisting it was just a "friend thing," but something about the way he said it made her heart race.

She spotted him before he saw her, stepping off the bus that had brought him from his house.

He wore a dark green jacket and a beanie, his hands stuffed in his pockets to fight off the cold. When his eyes found hers, he broke into a grin.

"Hey," he said as he approached, his breath visible in the frosty air.

"Hey," Aurelie replied, smiling back. "You made it."

"Of course I did," Walker teased. "You think I'd miss hanging out with you?"

Aurelie laughed softly, falling into step beside him as they started walking down the street.

"So, where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see," Walker said mysteriously, his grin widening. "Just trust me."

They walked a few blocks until they reached the town square, where an ice rink had been set up for the holiday season.

Strings of white lights hung overhead, reflecting off the smooth ice, and cheerful music played softly in the background.

"You brought me ice skating?" Aurelie asked, raising an eyebrow but already smiling.

"I figured it'd be fun," Walker said, looking a little nervous. "You know, something different."

"It's perfect," she assured him, her smile genuine.

They rented skates and made their way onto the ice. Aurelie wobbled at first, clutching the railing for support, while Walker seemed surprisingly steady.

"Need some help?" he asked, extending a hand to her.

Aurelie hesitated for a moment before taking it.

His hand was warm despite the cold, and she felt a little steadier with him guiding her.

"Okay, okay, I think I've got it now," she said after a few laps.

"Sure you do," Walker teased, just as Aurelie slipped.

She let out a laugh as she caught herself against him.

"You did that on purpose!" she accused, though her laughter betrayed her.

"Me? Never," Walker said, grinning. "But I will admit, this is the most fun I've had all winter."

They spent the next hour skating, laughing, and occasionally crashing into each other.

By the time they stepped off the ice, they were both flushed and breathless, their cheeks pink from the cold.

Walker led her to a nearby café, where they ordered hot chocolate and found a quiet corner to sit in.

Aurelie cupped her hands around her mug, savoring the warmth.

"Thanks for this," she said, glancing at Walker. "I didn't realize how much I needed a night like this."

Walker smiled softly. "Me too. I've missed spending time with you."

His words hung in the air, and Aurelie felt her heart skip a beat. She set her mug down, looking at him closely. "Walker... what's going on?"

He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. "I've been thinking a lot lately. About us."

Aurelie's pulse quickened. "And?"

"And... I want to try again," Walker said, his voice steady but vulnerable. "You and I were one of those things that made sense, and it didn't matter how much sense it made to everybody else. It felt right. We felt right."

Aurelie stared at him, her heart pounding. She hadn't expected this, but now that he'd said it, it felt inevitable—like something she'd been waiting to hear without realizing it.

"Walker," she began, her voice soft.

"I know," he said quickly. "I think we can make it work. We've both grown, and... I care about you, Aurelie. I never stopped."

Aurelie's throat tightened. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed hearing those words until now.

"I care about you too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Walker's face lit up, and he reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "So... does that mean we can give this another shot?"

Aurelie looked at their hands, then back at him. The honesty in his eyes, the warmth of his touch—it was everything she hadn't let herself admit she wanted.

"Yeah," she said finally, a smile breaking across her face. "Let's give it another shot."

Walker's grin was so bright it made her laugh. "You won't regret it," he promised, squeezing her hand.

"I better not," she teased, though her heart was full.

They spent the rest of the night talking and laughing like no time had passed, the promise of a fresh start hanging between them. As they walked home together, the snow falling softly around them, Aurelie realized that being with Walker just felt right.

Maybe some things were worth a second chance.

— THE SECRET OF US —