𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼

ᵀʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ˢᵒ ᵗʳᵘᵉ !

The set of Percy Jackson  had settled into a comfortable hum.

The crew moved efficiently behind the scenes, but for a brief moment, it felt like time had slowed down.

Aurelie and Walker had a rare break between scenes, and they found themselves sitting side by side on a bench just outside the chaos of the soundstage.

The buzz of activity was muffled by the distance, leaving just the sound of their voices and the occasional footsteps of passing crew members.

Aurelie leaned back, her hands tucked behind her head, staring up at the clear blue sky. "I can't believe how crazy this set is," she said with a soft laugh. "It feels like a whole other world, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it does," Walker replied, his voice calm, but his eyes bright. He was sitting with one knee pulled up to his chest, his arm draped casually over it. He had a way of looking at the world—like everything was a bit of a game, but in the best way possible. "Kind of makes you forget what normal life was like before all of this, right?"

Aurelie smiled, her gaze flickering to his face. For a split second, she caught the quiet warmth in his eyes—something that felt genuine and rare.

He wasn't just Percy Jackson on the set. He was still Walker, the same one she'd shared laughs and moments with before things got complicated between them.

"Yeah," she said softly, shifting to face him a little more. "It's funny. All these lights, all the noise... and sometimes I forget that we're just, well, us."

There was a pause, and for a moment, Aurelie wasn't sure what to say.

She had always been able to talk to Walker, but lately, there was a heaviness in the air between them—an unspoken thing that neither of them had addressed.

It wasn't the same lightness as before.

It felt like something was pulling at her whenever she looked at him, something she didn't fully understand yet.

Walker, sensing the quiet moment, turned his head slightly and met her gaze. "I think we both need these moments," he said, a half-smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Otherwise, it's easy to get lost in the madness of it all."

She nodded, smiling back. "Definitely. It's hard to keep track of everything when you're just... constantly going, you know?"

He laughed lightly, his eyes lighting up. "Trust me, I know. But, hey, it's nice to just hang out for a second."

The air between them was comfortable, but there was something else lingering—something that had always been there but now felt different, more intense.

Aurelie found herself stealing glances at him when he wasn't looking, her heart fluttering slightly each time their eyes met.

It wasn't the first time they'd shared a quiet moment like this, but for some reason, today felt different.

"Yeah," she said quietly, her voice a little softer. "I'm glad we can still do this. You know, just... be us. No cameras."

Walker's smile softened, his usual teasing demeanor replaced with something more vulnerable. "I'm always going to be here, Aurelie. I'm not going anywhere... I mean I did but not anymore "

There it was. A simple statement, but the weight of it hit her like a wave. She swallowed, the rush of emotion catching her off guard. His words, his sincerity—it was more than she had expected from him. More than she had allowed herself to admit.

Aurelie shifted slightly on the bench, her fingers brushing against the edge of his sleeve as she adjusted herself. The touch was light, but the electricity between them crackled in the air. She looked away for a moment, trying to compose herself, but it was impossible to ignore how her heart raced every time he was near.

"Thanks," she whispered, unsure if it was the right thing to say but saying it anyway.

Walker didn't reply immediately, just letting the moment stretch between them. He reached up to ruffle his hair absentmindedly, his usual carefree expression back in place. "Anytime, Aurelie. You don't have to thank me. You're my friend, I know things got- you know but we're still Aurel and walk we always will be "

But there was something more in the way he said it. The way his voice softened, like someone who meant every word. And Aurelie felt something shift inside her, a small, undeniable tug in her chest.

She had always thought of Walker after they broke up is that , well , he want walker . But now she's realizing she never lost him.

Her gaze lingered on him longer than usual, the soft lines of his face, the way the sunlight seemed to catch his hair just right.

And it hit her, clear as day—she was falling for him.

Falling for him all over again .

It was a slow realization, but one that hit like a drumbeat in her chest. The pull was undeniable.

He was Walker—the guy who made her laugh, the one who listened when no one else would, the one whose presence seemed to make everything else fade away.

But as quickly as the thought formed, a flicker of doubt crept into her mind. What did this mean for their friendship? She just go it back Could she really risk it, knowing what had happened before?

But before she could dwell on it, Walker nudged her shoulder lightly. "Hey, we should probably get back to work. Rick is going to start wondering where we went."

"Right," Aurelie said, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts. She stood up quickly, brushing off her jeans as she forced a smile. "Let's not keep him waiting then."

But as they walked back toward the set together, Aurelie felt the quiet tug in her chest again. It was there, undeniable and true.

She had fallen for him, and she wasn't sure where that would lead them—but for now, she was content to just be in the moment.

She glanced at Walker, her heart giving an almost imperceptible flutter as their paths merged. Maybe things were about to change between them, but for now, all she could do was enjoy the ride.

— THE SECRET OF US —