𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘸.𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭

007 - I miss you, I'm sorry

The next morning, the set buzzed with activity as crew members scrambled to prepare for another day of filming. The atmosphere was tense, a palpable discomfort lingering in the air. Annika arrived early, determined to focus on her work and push through the awkwardness of the previous night's argument with Walker.

As she walked onto the set, she caught sight of Walker, who was talking animatedly with James, the director. Their interaction was professional, but Annika noticed the strained undertone in their conversation. When Walker's gaze met hers, he gave a brief, polite nod before turning away. It was clear that neither of them had fully come to terms with the fallout from their confrontation.

"Morning, Annika," James greeted her with a warm smile. "Ready for another day of magic?"

"Morning," Annika replied, forcing a smile. "Let's hope today's scenes go smoother than yesterday's."

Walker approached, joining the group with an uneasy grin. "Morning, Annika. Ready to put on a show?"

Annika's smile faltered slightly, but she managed a curt nod. "Sure. Let's do this."

As they started filming, the tension between them was almost tangible. Their interactions were professional but stiff, each line delivered with the precision of actors who were doing their best to suppress their true feelings. The playful banter that had once sparked between them was now replaced by a strained formality.

During a break, Annika found herself sitting alone, scrolling through her script while trying to ignore Walker, who was on the other side of the set, reviewing his lines. She could see him glancing in her direction occasionally, his gaze betraying a mix of frustration and longing.

"Hey, you okay?" James asked, coming over and breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Annika replied, though her voice lacked conviction. "Just trying to focus."

James raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying tension. "I've seen you two working together before. This is different. Is there something you want to talk about?"

Annika shook her head. "No, it's nothing. Just... personal stuff."

James nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "Well, if you need to talk, I'm here. For now, let's focus on getting the scenes right."

The next few hours of filming were marked by awkward glances and strained interactions. Both Annika and Walker were doing their best to stay in character, but the emotional undercurrents were impossible to ignore. They had scenes where their characters were supposed to be close, but their performances felt distant, as if a wall had been built between them.

It wasn't until they were filming a particularly emotional scene, where their characters had to express deep feelings for each other, that the real impact of their unresolved feelings became apparent. As the cameras rolled, Annika's character was supposed to convey a mixture of affection and frustration. But as she looked into Walker's eyes, she felt a jolt of something she couldn't quite define-an aching familiarity, a spark of the connection they once had.

Walker's gaze softened as he looked back at her, and for a moment, the pretense of professionalism dropped. The raw emotion in his eyes mirrored her own, and she felt a pang of realization that their feelings for each other were far from gone.

"Cut!" James called out, his voice breaking through the charged atmosphere. He looked between them, noticing the shift in their expressions. "That was... intense. Maybe we should take a break."

Annika and Walker stepped away from the set, their eyes locked for a moment before they both looked away, trying to regain composure.

"You were great," Annika said, her voice almost too quiet.

Walker nodded, running a hand through his hair. "So were you."

They stood in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The argument from the previous night felt like a distant memory, replaced by a more complex, deeper set of emotions that neither of them was ready to confront.

"I guess we're both still figuring things out," Walker said finally, breaking the silence.

Annika nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Yeah, something like that."

Walker's voice was soft but sincere. "Look, I know things are complicated right now. I don't want to make things worse, but... I think we both know there's still something here."

Annika's heart skipped a beat at his words. "Maybe," she replied, struggling to keep her emotions in check. "But we need to focus on the job. We can't let... whatever this is get in the way."

Walker agreed, though his eyes lingered on her with a mixture of sadness and hope. "Right. Let's get through this, one step at a time."

As they returned to the set, the awkwardness remained, but there was a new layer of understanding between them. The scenes they shot from that point on had a different energy-one tinged with the unresolved tension and lingering affection that neither of them was ready to admit.

The connection between them was undeniable. They had a long way to go, and the road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, they were both aware of the undeniable spark that continued to linger between them. And though neither was ready to confront their feelings openly, the glimmer of hope was enough to carry them through the day, one scene at a time.

-------------Authors note
It's getting betterrr!!

...or is it?