𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘸.𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭

004 - Close To You

The plane touched down with a gentle bump, and Annika let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. As much as she dreaded working with Walker again, she was ready to get off the plane and put the awkward flight behind her.

The Vancouver airport was a whirlwind of activity, and Annika navigated it with her usual determination, keeping her distance from Walker as they made their way to baggage claim. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't ignore the familiar presence beside her as they collected their luggage.

"Ready for the grand adventure?" Walker quipped as they stepped outside into the crisp air.

"Sure," Annika replied tersely, pulling up the hood of her hoodie against the chill.

The studio had arranged for a car to take them to the hotel, and Annika settled into the backseat, grateful for the chance to recharge before their first day on set. The city passed by in a blur of lights and buildings as she watched from the window, lost in thought.

When they arrived at the hotel, Annika grabbed her suitcase and headed to the front desk to check in. But as she listened to the receptionist, her frustration mounted.

"Wait, what do you mean we're sharing a room?" she demanded, her voice rising.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the receptionist said apologetically. "There seems to have been a mix-up with the reservations. We can arrange for separate rooms, but it will take a couple of days."

Walker sighed, leaning against the counter. "Great. Just what we needed."

Annika glared at him. "This is ridiculous. I can't believe they messed this up."

"Well, at least it's a suite," Walker said, trying to sound optimistic. "We'll just have to make the best of it."

Annika reluctantly took the key card and headed to the elevator, Walker following close behind. When they reached the suite, she opened the door and stepped inside, scanning the spacious room with its modern decor and city views. There was a separate sitting area and two beds, but the thought of sharing any space with Walker made her skin crawl.

"At least we got the room with the best view" Walker said with a sardonic smile as he dropped his bag on the floor.

"Wonderful," Annika muttered, rolling her suitcase toward the farthest bed. She wanted nothing more than to escape into her own world and forget he was even there.

Walker flopped onto the other bed, watching her with a bemused expression. "So, what's the plan, Annika? Are we just going to pretend the other doesn't exist?"

"That's the idea," Annika shot back, kicking off her shoes and settling onto her bed with her notebook and earbuds. "We're here to work, not to hang out."

"Fine by me," Walker said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "But you know, at some point, we'll have to get past this."

Annika looked up, meeting his gaze with steely resolve. "I'm not interested in rehashing the past, Walker. Let's just focus on the project."

Walker held her gaze for a moment, then shrugged, turning his attention to his phone. "Suit yourself."

The room fell into silence, tension lingering in the air like an uninvited guest. Annika plugged in her earbuds and turned up the volume, determined to block out everything but the music and the pages of her notebook. She needed to prepare for the role, to channel all her energy into creating a character that was compelling and authentic. This was her chance to prove herself, and she wasn't about to let a shared hotel room with Walker Scobell derail her focus.

Despite the awkward start, Annika felt a flicker of determination. If she could survive this, she could handle anything the shoot threw at her.