strawberry lemonade - walker scobell

16. the behind-the-scenes

DAYLIST
me gustas tu - manu chao
tear in my heart - twenty one pilots

THE BOY walked up to the cameraman.

Stephen had alerted them earlier that a cameraman would be following them around all day for the purpose of collecting behind the scenes content. The staff member had focused on the adult cast for the past week, and now it was their turn.

It had been pretty boring and, honestly, weird. Yes, he was a celebrity. Yes, he was an actor. Yes, he'd done stuff like this before. But Walker didn't exactly appreciate the thought of a guy practically stalking him all day. The cameraman was supposed to even come with them on their breaks- when they were outside the studio (apparently to get "a day in the life" of an actor).

He could tell Ridley was fed up with it too.

She was sweet and polite, as usual. But he knew when she was angry (after all, it always used to be him she was annoyed at), and she was angry.

So...he would take matters into his own hands.

"Hey, man. I...I know this sounds really strange. But what if...you give us the camera for a change?" He proposed to the cameraman, who looked uncertain. "Look, I've already talked about it with Stephen and we're thinking it would make for some more interesting BTS if we did it ourselves. Like...a more professional...vlog."

It took a few minutes of convincing, but eventually Walker got the camera and went to go find Ridley. He spotted her with Mr. Smith and John, the latter of which stood a little too close to the girl.

Walker slowly crept up behind the girl, narrating to the camera.

"Alright. We're gonna see if we can scare her. In... 3... 2... 1..."

Ridley turned around, sensing his presence. She laughed, placing her hands on her hips.

"Trying to scare me, Walk?"

"You knew it." He sighed, faking disappointment. "But guess who's now running their own BTS?"

"You got the camera?"

"Of course I did." Walker confirmed proudly.  "We're gonna have so much fun with this baby right here."

"Are we?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright, well first, you're handing the camera to me." She placed one hand out, ready to receive it.

"Excuse me? Absolutely not."

"Am I the person who's scheduled to go to makeup right now?" She raised an eyebrow. Walker's eyes widened.

"Wait, I have to be at makeup right now?"

"Do you not know your schedule?" She burst out laughing. "You had to be there ten minutes ago."

"Crap!" Walker cried, practically tossing the camera into her hand and running away.

"Don't worry, I told 'em you were busy doing acting exercises." She shouted.

"I love you, Ridley. You're an actual lifesaver." He called to her, glancing back briefly over his shoulder.

He knew his words were figurative, just a meaningless phrase he threw out with immense gratitude. No, Walker wasn't in love with her. He didn't like her that way.

He was sure of it.

And yet, there was a part of him that screamed in protest to this thought.

Walker couldn't deny that his heart beat faster around her. That her words made him blush. And her smile- there was this irreplaceable sense of warmth that filled his body whenever he saw her smile.