Red. | Walker Scobell

The Music Connection

After another exhausting day on set, Chiara headed back to her trailer, eager for a break from the long hours of filming. She flopped onto the couch, scrolling through her phone and half-watching TikTok videos when a text notification popped up.

Walker:
You still awake?

Chiara smiled, quickly typing back.

Chiara:
Yeah, just chilling. What's up?

Walker:
Mind if I come over? I found this new song I think you'd like.

Chiara:
Sure, come on over.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on her trailer door. Chiara hopped up to let Walker in, her heart fluttering a little at the sight of him standing there, holding his phone with a pair of earbuds dangling from his hand.

"Hey," she greeted him with a smile, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hey," he echoed, smiling back. "I won't stay long, I just wanted to share this song with you. I think you'll like it."

They settled on the couch, sitting close enough that their shoulders brushed slightly. Walker handed her one of the earbuds, and they both leaned in to listen to the song together. It was a soft, acoustic track, the kind of music that Chiara loved but hadn't shared with many people.

"This is so good," Chiara said quietly as the song played. "I didn't know you were into this kind of music."

Walker nodded, looking a little pleased. "Yeah, I've always been into this chill, acoustic vibe. It helps me unwind after a long day."

Chiara smiled, feeling a sense of connection with him that she hadn't felt with anyone else on set. "Same here. It's like music that just... speaks to your soul, you know?"

"Exactly," Walker agreed, their eyes meeting for a moment that felt a little longer than usual.

As the song ended, they both pulled out the earbuds, and Chiara handed his back. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again, feeling curious about him in a way she hadn't before.

"So, what else are you into?" she asked, trying to sound casual but genuinely interested. "Like, what do you do when you're not acting?"

Walker leaned back against the couch, thinking for a moment. "Honestly? I'm kind of a bookworm. I love reading—especially anything with a really strong story. And I'm a bit of a film nerd, too."

"Really?" Chiara asked, intrigued. "What's your favorite book?"

Walker grinned. "That's easy. Dead Poets Society. I love how it makes you think about life and seizing the day. The movie's amazing too, but the book just hits different."

Chiara's eyes lit up. "Oh my God, I love that movie! It made me cry the first time I watched it. I've never read the book, though."

Walker looked genuinely surprised. "You should definitely read it. The book's even more powerful. I could lend it to you if you want."

Chiara smiled, touched by the offer. "I'd love that, thanks."

They fell into a comfortable conversation, asking each other random questions about their favorite things—movies, books, places they wanted to travel. Chiara found herself learning more about Walker in that one evening than she had in all the weeks they'd been filming together. He was surprisingly easy to talk to, and she could tell that he was really listening to her, not just waiting for his turn to speak.

At some point, their knees touched, and Chiara felt a spark of something more. She didn't pull away, and neither did he. It was such a small, subtle thing, but it sent her mind racing. Was she imagining the connection between them? Or was there something really there?

As they continued talking, Chiara couldn't help but notice the way Walker's eyes seemed to linger on her a little longer, the way he smiled when she said something that resonated with him. There was a warmth growing between them, a comfort that felt new but also strangely familiar.

After a while, Walker glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. "I should probably let you get some sleep," he said reluctantly.

"Yeah," Chiara agreed, though she wasn't quite ready for him to leave. "Thanks for coming over, though. I had fun."

"Me too," Walker said, standing up and stretching. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Chiara replied, following him to the door.

As Walker left, Chiara found herself thinking about him in a way she hadn't before. There was something about him—something that made her want to know more, to spend more time with him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she knew one thing for sure: things were starting to change between them, and she wasn't sure where it would lead.