In Between

I Wish That You Could See 'Em

The beach bonfire had been a memorable evening, but as the days rolled on, Y/N found herself caught between lingering warmth and unresolved tension. The promise Walker had mentioned, combined with the sweater incident, left her feeling conflicted.

On a sunny August afternoon, Y/N found herself at her favorite café, trying to clear her mind. While scrolling through social media, she saw a photo of Walker and the group from the beach. The image was cheerful, but it reminded her of the recent awkwardness.

**Group Text from Dior (Demigods + Y/N):**

"Hey everyone! Thought we should catch up and hang out. Maybe do a movie night?"

**Y/N:**

"Sounds fun! I'm in."

**Walker:**

"Count me in too. Let's make it a good one."

**Charlie:**

"Awesome! I'll bring snacks."

**Aryan:**

"Great, I'll bring some games. See you all soon!"

The night of the movie gathering arrived, and Y/N showed up at Dior's place, where the group had set up for a cozy evening. The living room was adorned with fairy lights, and a projector was ready for the movie. The mood was light-hearted, with everyone excited for the night ahead.

Walker greeted Y/N with a smile, and they exchanged warm hellos. The group settled in, and the movie began. Walker sat next to Y/N, their occasional glances hinting at an unspoken conversation.

During a break, Y/N decided to address the tension from the beach. She found Walker in the kitchen, away from the group's chatter.

"Hey, can we talk for a minute?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"I've been thinking about what happened at the beach. I know you were upset about Charlie giving me his sweater, and I heard you mention a promise you made to my dad."

Walker's face fell. "Shit, you weren't supposed to hear that."

Y/N looked at him, hurt and confused. "I don't understand. Why did it bother you so much?"

"I—" Walker ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. It's just that your dad made me promise to look out for you and take care of you."

Y/N's expression softened. "You don't have to do everything for me, Walker. I appreciate it, but I don't want anyone to feel like they're stepping on each other's toes."

Walker looked down, his frustration giving way to self-reproach. "I can't really go into details about the promise, but it's important to me. I didn't mean to make things awkward. I just wanted to make sure I'm doing right by it."

"I understand you want to keep your promise, but it's also important to me that we all feel like we're part of the group and supporting each other. I don't want this promise to come between us."

Walker's eyes met hers, and he sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry if I made things difficult."

Y/N smiled reassuringly. "And I care about you too. Let's just focus on having a good time together. We're all friends here."

Walker managed a small smile, the tension easing. "Yeah, I think that's best."

He paused, clearly wrestling with his thoughts, then took a deep breath. "I need to get back to the movie. Thanks for talking this out with me."

He turned and walked back to the living room, leaving Y/N in the kitchen. As she followed him, she felt a sense of relief mixed with lingering curiosity. The night went on with laughter and camaraderie, and Y/N felt more at ease, even if the details of the promise remained a mystery.

As the evening came to a close, Y/N reflected on the conversation with Walker. Despite the initial tension, the night had reaffirmed their bond and reminded her of the importance of communication. With a clearer understanding of her relationship with Walker, she felt ready to embrace whatever the future might bring, appreciating the warmth of friendship and the possibilities of something more.