𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼
ᴸᵃᵗᵉ ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵗᵃˡᵏⁱⁿ

Aurelie sat cross-legged on the small couch in her trailer, the glow from her laptop casting a warm light across her face. Filming had wrapped for the day, and the quiet hum of the lot had been replaced by the occasional rustle of wind outside. She leaned closer to the screen, grinning as her cousin Mia and Mia's best friend-slash-roommate, Gracie, appeared on FaceTime.

"Finally! I was starting to think you'd forgotten about us," Mia teased, her dark hair piled in a messy bun and her oversized sweater slipping off one shoulder.

"Forgotten? Never," Aurelie said dramatically, holding her hand to her chest. "You're my lifeline to sanity right now."

Gracie appeared behind Mia, holding a steaming mug of tea. "Aurelie! Tell me you're having more fun than you were last season. You sounded so stressed last time."

Aurelie laughed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "It's... different this time. Good different. But still chaotic."

"Spill everything," Mia demanded, pulling the laptop closer on their end. "How's filming? And how's it being back with him?"

Aurelie groaned, leaning back into the couch. "Why do I feel like that's the real question you wanted to ask?"

"Because it is," Mia said, grinning wickedly. "You can't just drop back into filming with your ex and not give us the details."

Gracie settled beside Mia, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "And by 'details,' she means everything. Don't leave anything out."

Aurelie rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Fine, fine. Filming's been good, actually. Everyone's amazing—Walker, Leah, Aryan, Charlie. It's like we never stopped."

"And Walker?" Mia pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"Walker's..." Aurelie hesitated, searching for the right words. "He's Walker. Funny, charming, ridiculously good at making everyone laugh on set."

Mia narrowed her eyes. "That's a very diplomatic answer. Are you two okay? Like, is it awkward?"

"It was at first," Aurelie admitted, hugging a pillow to her chest. "But we've been hanging out, and it's actually... nice. We're friends again, I think."

"Just friends?" Gracie asked, her tone dripping with suspicion.

Aurelie felt her cheeks heat up. "Yes. Well, mostly."

Mia gasped, leaning closer to the screen. "Mostly? Oh my God, Aurelie, do you still have feelings for him?"

"I don't know!" Aurelie exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "It's so confusing. One minute I'm completely fine, and the next, he's sitting next to me, laughing, or saying something sweet, and I just—" She stopped, taking a deep breath. "I don't know, okay? Maybe I do."

Gracie let out a low whistle, exchanging a glance with Mia. "Sounds like you've got it bad."

"Do you think he feels the same way?" Mia asked softly.

Aurelie shrugged, her expression uncertain. "I have no idea. He's been... really sweet lately. Like, more than just friendly sometimes. But I don't know if it's anything more than that."

"Do you want it to be?" Gracie asked, her tone gentle.

Aurelie bit her lip, staring down at the pillow in her lap. "I don't know. I'm scared, I guess. Things were so messy before, and I don't want to ruin what we've built again. But then he smiles at me, or we have these little moments, and it's like... maybe it could work. Maybe it's worth the risk."

Mia sighed, her expression softening. "Aurelie, you're overthinking it. If you still have feelings for him, that's okay. You don't have to have it all figured out right now."

"And honestly," Gracie added, "it sounds like he's still into you, too. Guys don't just hang around and share sweet little moments for nothing."

Aurelie laughed, shaking her head. "You two are hopeless romantics, you know that?"

"Guilty," Mia said with a grin. "But seriously, Auri, don't close yourself off because you're scared. Take it one day at a time."

Aurelie nodded, her heart feeling a little lighter. "Thanks, guys. I needed this."

"Anytime," Mia said. "And hey, keep us updated. We want all the tea."

"And pictures of the cast!" Gracie added. "Preferably pictures of you and walker."

"Gracie!" Aurelie exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

"Just saying," Gracie said with a wink.

They spent the next half hour talking about everything and nothing, from filming stories to Mia and Gracie's latest apartment drama. By the time the call ended, Aurelie felt a little more grounded, a little more sure of herself.

She closed her laptop and leaned back on the couch, her thoughts drifting to Walker. Maybe she didn't have all the answers yet, but Mia was right—she didn't have to figure it all out tonight.

— THE SECRET OF US —