In Between

And Funny

Y/N and Walker hadn't spoken in a week. Every day, she felt his eyes on her, but she made sure to look away. At first, her anger was so clear, so strong, but over time, it dulled. She wanted to stay mad at him for what he said, for the way things had gone down, but deep down, she couldn't help but question herself. Maybe he was right. Maybe she had been hiding, clinging to the past, to a version of herself that no longer fit.

She thought about how much of her success had been tied to him. Without Walker, she wouldn't be here, wouldn't have gotten the role. All her achievements felt like they belonged to him more than her. How could she define herself when everything that mattered had come from him?

But now, she'd pushed him away. And for what? A stupid misunderstanding? She wondered if she'd changed, and if so, did he even care anymore? What if he wanted nothing to do with her now?

Pushing the thoughts aside, she knew she had to keep moving forward. She had to prove herself, carve her own path. She couldn't rely on him anymore, no matter how much it hurt.

---

Three months into filming, the tension had dulled to a low ache, though it never really disappeared. With every passing day, the scene she had to film with Walker grew closer, and it gnawed at her. She showed up to set every day, determined not to let it affect her work. If Walker wasn't in the picture, she could control how she felt. She wouldn't let him influence her mood.

Y/N found a quiet corner in the studio warehouse, keeping to herself and scribbling notes in her script. It helped to focus on something—anything—other than the thoughts in her head. She studied her lines, dissected the performances of others, and became obsessed with every detail. She was determined to be successful on her own. She didn't need Walker. She didn't need anyone.

"Hey girl, how're you doing?" Leah's voice broke through her focus, and Y/N looked up from her notes.

Leah sank down beside her, her rings clinking together as she adjusted them. Y/N gave her a polite smile. "I'm good. How's filming?"

Leah shrugged. "It's been... so-so. We've had to reshoot a lot of scenes. Everyone's a bit frustrated—especially Walker."

Y/N stiffened at his name, but nodded, keeping her response neutral. "Hopefully things smooth out."

"Yeah..." Leah's voice trailed off before she shifted closer, lowering her voice. "Look, none of us are mad. You know that, right?"

Y/N's throat tightened, and she set her pencil down, retracting her hands into her sleeves. She didn't respond, and Leah kept going.

"I think the reason everyone's been in a slump is because we miss you."

Y/N looked away. "I'm just focused on studying. I've got a lot to keep up with."

 Leah's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Next week, we have to film for 3 days in Whistler, and we're planning a girls' ski day . Just me, you, and Dior! What do you think?"

Y/N hesitated. It sounded fun—no Walker, no drama—but also, a break? "I don't even know who to ski, like every year we go skiing but I always sit inside. I barley know how to ski"

"Oh, come on! It'll be so good for you."

Before Y/N could argue, Leah pulled her up from her chair, knocking her script to the floor. "We're doing it, okay? This is exactly what you need."

Y/N couldn't help but smile at Leah's enthusiasm. "Alright, fine. Let's do it."

Leah squealed with excitement, grabbing Y/N's hands. "Perfect! Let's go tell Dior!"

They found Dior sitting at a table, taking a break and munching on an apple. She looked up with a grin when she saw them approaching. "Finally! I was wondering when you'd stop being all moppy and come say hi."

Leah quickly filled her in on the girls' ski day, and Dior was immediately on board. They started searching  for the best Ski hills in the city.

But just as they were getting into the details, Aryan appeared, dressed in a ridiculous wedding dress, which made Y/N laugh despite herself.

"Hey, what's this about a ski day?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

Leah smirked. "It's a girls' ski day, Aryan. Sorry, you're not invited."

Charlie appeared behind Aryan, grabbing the veil and putting it on his head. "If I wear this, can I come?"

Before Y/N could say anything, Walker appeared. Her heart sank.

"Girls' ski day?" Walker raised an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. "I think I'm the perfect candidate. What do you think?"

Leah, to Y/N's surprise, laughed. "Why not? Let's make it a group ski day. A little break is what everyone needs."

Y/N wanted to protest, but the idea of everyone hanging out—except Lacy, who had other commitments—seemed to take hold. She glanced at Walker, who looked at her for a second longer than she wanted. She turned back to Leah with a forced smile. "Alright, let's do it."

Leah clapped her hands. "Perfect! Let's start packing tonight!"

The group buzzed with excitement, but Y/N kept to herself, holding onto the hope that this trip would be a way to clear her head—no matter what happened.