In Between

And Smart

Y/N stared out the window of the van as it wound through the mountain roads, watching the scenery shift from city to wilderness. The towering buildings of Vancouver had long since given way to towering pines, and snow-capped mountains now lined the horizon. The road trip to Whistler had begun early that morning, and the atmosphere in the van was quieter than she'd expected.

Leah and Dior sat on either side of her, chatting quietly about their plans for when they arrived. Aryan and Charlie were sitting up front, taking turns playing DJ and keeping the conversation light with random jokes. Y/N hadn't said much, her focus slipping to the script on her lap, but even with the lines in front of her, she found it hard to concentrate.

They were filming an important scene, one that required everyone to be at their best. It wasn't the kind of thing Y/N could afford to mess up, but the pressure weighed on her. The role of Layla had come with its own challenges, and lately, she'd been feeling the strain. Not just of the work, but everything else.

The silence between her and Walker had stretched on for too long, filling the space between them like a wall neither of them knew how to break through. She could feel his presence in the van, seated a row behind her, but not once had they exchanged words. Y/N clenched her fingers around the edges of the script, wishing the tension would just disappear.

"Whistler is gonna be insane, you guys," Aryan said, turning down the music for a moment. "Snow, mountains, and filming epic scenes. How can we not be pumped?"

"True," Charlie agreed. "I heard the crew has set up some amazing locations for us."

Leah nudged Y/N with a grin. "It's gonna be fun. You've skied before, right?"

Y/N gave a small nod, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, a few times. I'm not great, though."

"Psh, you'll be fine," Leah said, her eyes sparkling. "We're not going for gold medals. Just don't fall and make a fool of yourself."

Dior laughed softly beside them. "Speak for yourself. I plan on falling at least five times."

Y/N forced a smile, trying to push the awkwardness away. This trip to Whistler had come at the perfect time—a chance to escape the city and focus solely on filming. Maybe the change of scenery would help clear her mind.

The van hit a bump in the road, jolting everyone inside. Y/N glanced back to see if Walker had noticed, but quickly turned away before their eyes could meet. He'd been quiet the entire ride, just as distant as she'd been. She didn't want to think about what was going on in his head. Whatever it was, she wasn't ready to confront it yet.

"Whistler's gonna be great," Dior said, stretching her legs out in front of her. "A bit of skiing, some hot cocoa by the fire—what more could we ask for?"

"Yeah," Y/N mumbled, not really paying attention. Her thoughts were miles away, wrapped up in the looming weight of the scene they had to film. She glanced down at the script again, the lines blurring together as her concentration faltered.

The mountain road finally leveled out as they approached the outskirts of Whistler. The town was bustling with tourists, shops, and ski lodges, all set against a backdrop of endless snowy peaks. The beauty of it all would've been breathtaking if Y/N's mind wasn't so heavy.

"Here we are," Aryan announced as they pulled into the lot outside their hotel. "Let's do this."

Everyone began piling out of the van, grabbing their bags and chatting excitedly about their plans for the weekend. Y/N followed suit, slinging her bag over her shoulder, but her heart wasn't in it. She caught a glimpse of Walker as they unloaded, his back turned as he gathered his things. For a second, she considered saying something—anything—to break the silence. But she didn't.

The group made their way inside, the warm air of the hotel lobby enveloping them as they checked in. Y/N lingered at the back of the group, staying close to Leah and Dior as the front desk handed out room keys. Her mind drifted again, the noise of the lobby fading into the background.

"Y/N, here." Leah passed her the key to their shared room. "We've got a couple of hours before we meet up with the crew. Let's get settled and maybe grab some food?"

Y/N nodded, taking the key. "Yeah, sounds good."

The group headed up to their rooms, and soon enough, Y/N found herself standing by the window, looking out at the snowy landscape. It was peaceful here. Quiet. The perfect place to focus. She had to put all distractions aside. For now, she needed to be Layla, not Y/N tangled up in her emotions.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Leah and Dior entered with wide grins, already discussing their plans for the evening.

"Ready to hit the slopes?" Dior asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Y/N forced a smile. "Yeah, let's go."

---

The trip had just begun, and Whistler's serenity held promise, but the unspoken distance between Y/N and Walker felt like an avalanche waiting to come down.