𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼
ᴮⁱʳᵗʰᵈᵃʸ ᵇᵒʸ !

January 5th, dawned crisp and cold, the air tinged with the magic of a fresh snowfall.

Aurelie had been looking forward to this day for weeks, excited to celebrate Walker's 16th birthday in a way that showed how much she cared.

Walker had insisted he didn't want a big celebration, so Aurelie respected his wishes.

But she still wanted to make the day special—just for him.

By mid-afternoon, she arrived at Walker's house, balancing a carefully wrapped box and a slightly lopsided homemade cake.

It wasn't perfect, but she'd put her heart into it, and she knew Walker would appreciate the effort.

When Walker opened the door, his face lit up at the sight of her. "Hey," he said, stepping aside to let her in. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble."

Aurelie smiled, her cheeks rosy from the cold. "It's your birthday, Walker. Of course I did. Now, come on, I have a surprise."

Walker raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but followed her into the kitchen. There, the cake sat proudly on the counter, decorated in blue and green frosting with the words Happy 16th, Walker scrawled on top.

"Did you make this?" he asked, his voice filled with awe.

"Sure did," Aurelie replied proudly. "It's not perfect, but it's edible. Probably."

Walker laughed, his warm, genuine laugh that always made her stomach flutter. "It's perfect. Thank you."

The two spent the afternoon together, eating cake, playing video games, and laughing over old inside jokes.

It was simple, but it felt right.

Later, as the sun began to set, they found themselves sitting on the couch in Walker's living room.

The glow of the holiday lights reflected in the window, casting a soft light over the room.

Aurelie reached into her bag and pulled out the small gift she'd brought. "Okay, I know you said no presents, but I couldn't help myself."

Walker tilted his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "..."

"Just open it," she said, pushing the box into his hands.

Walker unwrapped the box carefully, revealing a leather bracelet with a silver infinity charm.

"It's simple," Aurelie explained, suddenly nervous. "But I thought... you're always there for everyone, no matter what. And I wanted you to have something that reminds you you're not alone. Ever."

Walker stared at the bracelet for a long moment, then looked up at her, his eyes soft. "Babe, this is..." He paused, clearly moved. "I love it. Thank you."

He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist and held his arm out to admire it. "It's perfect."

Aurelie smiled, feeling her chest warm. "I'm glad you like it."

Walker set the box aside and leaned closer to her. "You know... you're pretty amazing."

Aurelie rolled her eyes, though her cheeks turned pink. "Yeah I know I am - kidding "

"No," Walker said seriously. "You are the best"

Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her softly.

It wasn't their first kiss, but it still made her heart skip a beat.

She kissed him back, her hands finding their way to his shoulders as his rested lightly on her waist.

When they pulled away, Walker smiled, his forehead resting against hers. "Best birthday ever."

Aurelie laughed, her voice soft. "Well, it's not over yet."

Walker chuckled. "You're right. We still have a whole movie to watch, don't we?"

"Exactly," Aurelie said, grabbing the remote and snuggling into his side.

As the opening credits rolled, Walker looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, a smile lingering on his lips. He had everything he could ever want right here—her.

— THE SECRET OF US —