𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼

ʸᵃᵖᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ

Aurelie leaned back against the plush cushions of Mia's couch, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.

The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of fairy lights casting a warm ambiance as the three of them relaxed after another long day.

Mia was scrolling through her phone, half-listening, while Gracie was curled up at the other end of the couch, sipping a cup of herbal tea.

"So, spill," Mia finally said, breaking the comfortable silence. "You've been pretty quiet tonight, which means you're either super tired or you've got something on your mind."

Aurelie smiled sheepishly, knowing her cousin could read her like an open book. "It's nothing... or maybe it's everything," she admitted, letting out a sigh. "It's just... Walker."

Gracie set her tea down, her interest piqued. "Ah, here we go. What about him this time?"

Aurelie hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I don't know... I just can't stop thinking about him. I like him so much, more than I've ever liked anyone before. It's like every time I see him, I notice something new."

Mia looked over, her attention now fully on her younger cousin. "Like what?"

Aurelie's cheeks flushed slightly as she smiled to herself, thinking of all the little things that made Walker, well, Walker. "His eyes, for one. They're so blue, but not just any blue—they're like the sky on the clearest day, or the ocean right before sunset. I could get lost in them."

Gracie smirked, nudging Mia with her elbow. "Looks like someone's got it bad."

Aurelie ignored the teasing, her thoughts still on Walker. "And his hair—oh my God, his hair. It's always so perfectly messy, like he just rolled out of bed, but it works for him. It's soft, too. I mean, I haven't touched it or anything, but it just looks like it would be."

Mia laughed, shaking her head. "You're totally smitten."

Aurelie didn't deny it. "And don't even get me started on his jawline. It's so... sharp. Like, how is it even possible to have a jawline that perfect? It's ridiculous."

Gracie grinned. "Okay, so we've established he's a total cutie. But what about him makes you like him so much? Beyond the looks, I mean."

Aurelie's expression softened as she continued, "It's not just how he looks. It's who he is. Walker is so kind, always looking out for everyone around him. He's funny in this goofy, effortless way that just makes you want to laugh even when you're having the worst day. And he's genuine—like, what you see is what you get with him. There's no pretense, no trying to be someone he's not. He's just... Walker."

Mia nodded, her teasing tone replaced with a more serious one. "That's the kind of guy you want to be with. Someone who's real."

Gracie leaned in, resting her chin on her hand. "So, have you told him how you feel? I mean, really told him?"

Aurelie shook her head, her smile fading slightly. "No, not yet. I'm scared, I guess. What if he doesn't feel the same way? Or what if he does, and things get weird? I don't want to ruin what we have."

Mia gave her a sympathetic look. "That's the risk you take when you care about someone. But from what you've told us, it seems like there's something there on his side too. Maybe he's just as scared as you are."

Aurelie sighed, leaning her head back against the couch. "I hope so. But every time I think about telling him, I get this knot in my stomach. I just... I don't want to mess this up."

Gracie reached over and squeezed Aurelie's hand. "You're not going to mess it up. And even if things get complicated, you'll figure it out. You're stronger than you think."

Mia chimed in with a small smile. "Plus, you've got us. We'll be here for you, no matter what happens."

Aurelie smiled, feeling a little lighter with their reassurance. "Thanks, guys. I really needed that."

They all sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of a car passing by outside filling the quiet. Aurelie looked out the window, her thoughts drifting back to Walker—his smile, his laugh, the way he made her feel like the most important person in the room when he looked at her. She knew she had to tell him how she felt, sooner rather than later. But for now, just being with Mia and Gracie, knowing they had her back, was enough.

As the conversation shifted to other topics, Aurelie couldn't help but think about how much Walker had come to mean to her. And no matter what happened next, she was grateful to have her friends by her side, ready to face whatever the future might hold.

Walker sat on the edge of his bed, tossing a baseball in the air while his younger brother, Tanner, played a video game on the floor. The room was filled with the sounds of explosions and gunfire from the game, but Walker's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about Aurelie—how she'd been on his mind constantly, even more so lately.

Tanner, noticing his brother's silence, paused the game and looked up. "What's up with you? You've been weird today."

Walker caught the baseball one last time and held it in his hands, staring down at it. "Just... thinking."

Tanner raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "About what?"

Walker hesitated for a moment before answering, "Aurelie."

Tanner smirked knowingly. "Figured. You've been talking about her a lot lately."

Walker sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, I guess I have. It's just... she's amazing, you know? Her blue eyes—man, they're like the ocean, all deep and full of mystery. And her hair, that wavy brown hair, it falls perfectly around her face, framing it in a way that just... I don't know, it's like it makes her look even more beautiful. And her smile—it's the kind that makes you want to smile back, no matter how bad your day has been."

Tanner grinned, putting down his controller. "Dude, you've got it bad."

Walker nodded, a small smile playing on his lips as he thought about her. "Yeah, I guess I do. But it's not just about how she looks, you know? It's the way she makes everyone around her feel. She's kind, always thinking about other people, and she's funny—like, really funny. And when she's passionate about something, you can see it in her eyes. It's like she lights up, and you can't help but be drawn to that energy."

Tanner leaned back on his hands, listening intently. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Walker tossed the baseball back and forth between his hands, his thoughts racing. "I don't know. I want to tell her how I feel, but what if she doesn't feel the same way? I don't want to mess up what we have. We're friends, and I don't want to lose that."

Tanner shook his head. "You won't lose it. If she's as awesome as you say, she'll appreciate your honesty. And who knows, maybe she's been waiting for you to say something this whole time."

Walker considered his brother's words, a mix of hope and fear churning in his chest. "I guess you're right. But it's just... scary, you know? Putting yourself out there like that."

Tanner nodded, understanding. "Yeah, it is. But sometimes, you've got to take a risk if you want something real. And it sounds like Aurelie is worth it."

Walker smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Yeah, she is. I just hope I don't screw this up."

Tanner clapped him on the back. "You won't. Just be yourself, and everything will work out."

Walker nodded, feeling a bit more confident. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing for sure: he couldn't keep his feelings for Aurelie bottled up forever. Maybe it was time to take that leap of faith.

— THE SECRET OF US —