THE SECRET OF US || W.S
The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon as thirteen-year-old Aurelie Moreau arrived on the bustling set of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
The air buzzed with anticipation, a blend of nerves and excitement that...
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𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼 ᴰᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵉᵗ ᴰᵉʲᵃ ⱽᵘ?
Aurelie stepped into her room, the soft thud of her suitcase landing by the door as she scanned the familiar space.
It felt strange being back home after weeks away filming The Necklace in Atlanta.
The excitement of reuniting with her family—her twin Aidan, her older brother Jack, and her parents—still hummed in the air, but as she stood in her room, an all-too-familiar ache settled in her chest.
Her eyes drifted to her bookshelf, where a small, worn teddy bear sat propped up against a pile of books.
Jake.
She couldn't help but smile, even though her heart squeezed at the memory.
Walker had won the bear for her during their theme park date months ago.
They had named it Jake, after Jake Peralta from Brooklyn 99, the show they used to binge-watch together, laughing at the same jokes no matter how many times they'd seen them.
Aurelie sat on her bed, pulling the bear into her lap, her fingers tracing the soft fur.
The memory of that day at the theme park played vividly in her mind.
She could still hear the sound of Walker's laugh as he tried, and failed, to win her a prize at one of the carnival games. He'd insisted on getting her something, determined to win her over in every way possible.
NOVEMBER 2 2024 Theme park date
"Walker, it's seriously not a big deal—" Aurelie said, slipping her hands into the pockets of her oversized hoodie, which, by all rights, belonged to Walker. But hey, finders keepers.
He glanced at her, determination etched across his face. "Aurel, no. I'm going to win this bear no matter what," he said, squaring his shoulders as he prepared to try again at the carnival game.
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the game booth. "You've already tried like, three times."
He ignored her, narrowing his eyes at the line of cans stacked in front of him. With a deep breath, he took aim and threw the ball. It missed—again.
Aurelie snorted, covering her mouth to stifle her laugh as Walker turned to face her with mock frustration. "Stop laughing! This is serious business."
"I'm not laughing," she said, though her lips betrayed her with a wide grin. "I just don't get why you're so determined to win this bear."
Walker crossed his arms, staring at the lineup of brightly colored stuffed animals behind the booth. "Because it's not just any bear. It's *the* bear. And when I win it for you, it'll be a symbol of my victory."
Aurelie stepped closer, poking him in the chest. "Pretty sure I'd rather just get cotton candy and call it a night."
He gently grabbed her hand before she could pull it away, his expression softening. "I know. But I want to get it for you." He flashed that mischievous grin that always made her heart skip a beat. "I'm stubborn, remember?"
She shook her head but didn't stop him when he turned back to the game. He was ridiculous, but she loved this about him—the way he could be so determined over something so small just because he wanted to make her smile.
One more ball. Walker wound up and threw it hard this time, knocking down the cans with a perfect shot. The booth attendant gave an approving nod as Walker turned back to her, triumphantly holding up a small brown teddy bear.
"See? Told you I'd get it," he said, handing the bear to her.
Aurelie accepted it with a grin, hugging it to her chest. "Well, when you put it that way... I guess it *is* pretty cute."
"Cute? Jake is a warrior bear. He'll protect you when I'm not around," Walker teased.
Aurelie laughed, shaking her head as they started walking away from the booth. "Jake?"
"Yeah. After Jake Peralta from Brooklyn 99 , Duh."
She glanced at the bear in her hands, feeling her heart swell a little. "Jake it is, then."
Walker threw his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as they continued down the carnival path. "Just like Peralta and Santiago, huh?"
Aurelie smirked, resting her head on his shoulder. "Guess so."
As they walked through the fading lights of the carnival, Jake the bear tucked safely under Aurelie's arm, she couldn't help but feel that everything was perfect in that moment. Little did she know, that memory would one day be bittersweet.
Aurelie sat on her bed Her fingers fiddled with the small gold necklace around her neck, the one Walker had given her on their two-month anniversary.
She could still remember that night clearly. He had taken her back to the spot where he first asked her to be his girlfriend, the air crisp with the promise of fall.
When he pulled out the necklace with her name in delicate cursive, she hadn't known what to say.
It had been perfect. The whole night had been perfect, just like so many moments with him.
She closed her eyes, letting the weight of those memories wash over her. The sound of his laugh, the feel of his hand in hers, the way he used to call her "Aurel"—it all came rushing back, making her chest tighten with the familiar ache of missing him.
Just as she felt herself slipping further into the past, a soft knock at her door pulled her back to the present.
"Aurel?" It was her brother, Aidan, poking his head in. "Scarlett's downstairs. You okay?"
Aurelie quickly wiped at her eyes, nodding as she placed the bear back on the shelf. "Yeah, I'm coming." She forced a small smile and headed downstairs, leaving the memories of Walker and their time together behind for now.
But as she stepped out of her room, she knew that some part of her would always carry those moments with her, whether she wanted to or not.
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