"I'll start easy," Casey said, trying to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "What's your go-to snack on set?"
Nicholas grinned, leaning back against the couch, he answered almost instantly. "Peanut butter M&M's. I'm addicted, seriously. There's always a bag in the trailer somewhere." He pointed to a corner of the counter where, sure enough, a half-empty bag sat. "They keep me going between takes."
Casey laughed, nodding. "No way Reeces Pieces over Peanut Butter M&Ms any day." She took a sip of her water and leaned in a little closer.
"Absolutely not what is wrong with you." He said with a laugh.
"They're a million times better."
Nicholas thought for a moment, tapping his fingers on the couch. "Hmm... what's the most impulsive thing you've ever done?"
Casey bit her lip, trying to think. "Honestly? Entering that contest to come here." She gave him a small smile. "I never thought I'd actually win, and now here I am, sitting in a trailer with Nicholas Alexander Chavez, talking about peanut butter M&M's."
"Not bad for an impulse decision." Nicholas chuckled, nudging her playfully. "Guess I should be grateful for that contest."
"You should be," Casey teased. "I'm pretty great."
He smirked, his eyes playful. "I'm starting to see that."
The air between them seemed to shift, a subtle spark in the playful banter that neither of them fully acknowledged but both felt. Casey glanced down at her water bottle, trying to focus, but the casual closeness was making her heart race just a little bit faster.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "what's your biggest pet peeve on set?"
Nicholas sighed dramatically, throwing his head back. "I guess I would have to say when people can't stop talking during takes. It drives me crazy. Like, we're in the middle of filming and someone's talking or whispering off to the side. It just throws everything off, you know?"
Casey raised an eyebrow. "Really? I would've thought you'd be the kind of guy who can block all that out."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I try, but when you're deep into a scene and you can hear someone else, it's hard to stay in the moment. The whole crew's working to make it right, so when someone's talking, it's like—just be quiet for two minutes."
"Oh yeah I get that" Casey thought for a second, then leaned back on the couch. "Okay, if you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?"
Nicholas hesitated, then smiled. "Probably Heath Ledger. I've always admired his work, especially the way he could disappear into his characters. I'd love to pick his brain about how he approached certain roles."
"I love him in 10 Things I Hate About You," Casey said, her voice softer now. "I can see why you'd look up to him. You've got that same intensity when you're in character, at least from what I saw last week."
Nicholas raised his eyebrows, surprised. "You think so?"
"Yeah," Casey said, feeling a little self-conscious now that the conversation had taken a more sincere turn. "It was impressive to watch."
Nicholas's smile widened slightly. "Thanks, that means a lot."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them, before Casey cleared her throat. "Okay, your turn again."
Nicholas grinned, but there was something more thoughtful behind his eyes this time. "What's something you wish more people knew about you?"
Casey blinked, caught off guard by the depth of the question. She thought for a moment, fiddling with the cap of her water bottle. "I guess... I wish people knew that I'm more confident than I come across. I tend to overthink a lot, and sometimes it makes me seem unsure of myself, but deep down, I know what I want. It just takes me a while to get there sometimes."
Nicholas nodded, watching her carefully. "I get that. You strike me as someone who's got more going on beneath the surface than you let on."
Casey smiled, appreciating his insight. "Thanks. You're pretty perceptive."
"All part of the job," Nicholas said with a wink, leaning forward again. "Okay, I've got one more question for you."
"Bring it on," Casey challenged.
"If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be?"
Casey paused, her heart skipping a beat. She thought about it, but the answer came quicker than she expected. "Here," she said softly, surprising even herself. "I think I'd still choose here."
Nicholas looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Good answer."
Their eyes met, the room suddenly feeling a little smaller, a little more intimate. Casey could feel the shift, the unspoken connection deepening between them. She wasn't sure where this was going, but for the first time in a long while, she was okay with not knowing.
a/n
hi! sorry it's taken me so long to update! there's a lot going on right now with the hurricane!
hopefully i'll post this weekend! definitely next week
love ya!
