𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼
ᴾᵃᵈᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴬⁿᵃᵏⁱⁿ

The living room was cozy and dimly lit, only the glow from the TV illuminating the space as Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones played in the background.

Aurelie was sprawled on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, her legs tucked under her, while Walker sat next to her, controller in hand, completely immersed in the game he'd been playing. But his attention kept drifting back to the movie playing on the screen.

Aurelie was deep in her own thoughts, watching Anakin Skywalker, her childhood crush, as he gazed longingly at Padmé Amidala. She sighed dramatically, her chin resting in her hand. "I swear, if I could marry any fictional character, it'd be Anakin Skywalker," she mused aloud, completely forgetting Walker was there for a moment.

Walker glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Anakin? Really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought I was your number one crush."

Aurelie turned to him with a smirk. "You're number one in real life," she teased, tapping her finger to her lips. "But Anakin's always had that whole brooding, mysterious bad boy thing down. He's irresistible."

Walker rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face showed he wasn't actually annoyed. "You really like the 'dark side,' huh?"

"Only when it's Anakin," Aurelie said with a wink, not breaking eye contact. "I mean, come on, he's a Jedi turned all sorts of conflicted and broody. How could I not love that? The tension, the angst, the drama... it's all so good."

Walker chuckled, shifting on the couch to face her. "I can see why you'd like him, but... I'm still having a hard time believing someone would choose a Jedi over a real guy who knows how to make you laugh."

Aurelie tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, Anakin's kind of a mess, isn't he? I mean, the guy's got some serious issues. But that's what makes him so interesting."

"Is it the bad boy thing you're into?" Walker asked, clearly amused but slightly intrigued. "You want a brooding, 'I'm too complicated for love' kind of guy?"

Aurelie shrugged dramatically, "Hey, it's all about the mystery. Besides, Padmé clearly couldn't resist him." She leaned in slightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. "And honestly, I'm a little like her, you know? I fall for that kind of thing. The depth, the intensity."

Walker was quiet for a moment, his lips curling into a half-smile. He set his controller aside, leaning in just enough to catch her full attention. "I see how it is," he said, his tone teasing but soft. "You're into guys who are a little... complicated."

Aurelie grinned, loving the way they could joke around so easily. "Well, I guess I'm just looking for a Jedi to sweep me off my feet."

"Oh, so I'm just complicated now, huh?" Walker said, raising an eyebrow. "No chance that I could be the one to take the role of your brooding Jedi?"

Aurelie laughed, tossing her popcorn at him playfully. "Oh, come on, Mr. Scobell. You can't compare yourself to Anakin. You're way too cute for that."

"Cute?" Walker grinned. "So, you're saying I'm more of a Padmé kind of guy?"

Aurelie raised her eyebrows, leaning closer. "I'm saying you're a meant-to-be kind of guy. But with a little more humor and a lot less I'm-dangerous energy."

Walker leaned in a little closer too, his voice dropping to a more serious, teasing tone. "Well, lucky for you, I'm all about making you smile." He grinned wider before continuing, "And I guess you're right. I'm not exactly brooding like Anakin. But I could definitely do with a little less of the light side... if you're into it."

Aurelie's smile widened, and without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed him softly. When they pulled away, her heart was racing. "I think I'm definitely into it," she whispered, eyes locked on his.

Just then, the sound of the movie pulled them both back into reality. Anakin was now dramatically confessing his feelings for Padmé. Aurelie sighed happily, watching Anakin's heartfelt confession, but she could feel Walker watching her.

"You know," he said with a sly grin, "I may not be Anakin Skywalker, but I'm more than happy to fight for your heart, Padmé."

Aurelie chuckled, feeling her cheeks flush slightly. "You keep saying that, and maybe I'll start believing you, Mr. Scobell."

"Good," Walker replied, his voice low and sincere. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

Aurelie's heart skipped a beat as she watched him, her thoughts swirling. For all the teasing and joking around, this felt real, more real than anything she'd ever experienced. As much as she loved Anakin, it was Walker who had truly captured her heart.

— THE SECRET OF US —