𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐓 , ( walker scobell )

002 , 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐞 (𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐)

SHORT CHAPTER BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO WRITE LATELY (school lmao)

HOPE Y'ALL WILL ENJOY THIS CHAPTER HEHE

𝐏𝐎𝐕 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐀

When we stepped into the elegant interior of the Metropolitan Museum, the atmosphere shifted from the electrifying chaos of the red carpet to a more intimate calm. The grand hall was subtly lit, with warm light casting soft shadows across the walls and ornate arches. The air felt thick with expectation, punctuated by quiet laughter and hushed voices. A few photographers lingered, capturing the stars and crew as they greeted each other, but most of the people here were close friends, family, or essential staff members who had worked behind the scenes.

My heels clicked softly on the marble floor as I took it all in. I felt a thrill of pride to be a part of this moment, surrounded by the people who had been there through every step of the journey. The dress I'd chosen—simple but elegant in black, with delicate straps and a subtle shimmer under the light—felt right for the occasion. It wasn't ostentatious, but it was enough. Enough for me to feel both myself and part of this larger, beautiful spectacle.

"Hi, Cora" a familiar voice said beside me.

I turned to see Walker standing just a step away, looking effortlessly dapper in his suit. There was a comfortable, easygoing smile on his face as he took in my dress. "Love your dress" he added, his eyes warm.

I felt my cheeks heat up instantly, the compliment catching me off guard. Walker and I had shared plenty of scenes, inside jokes, and late-night rehearsals, but his words, paired with his gentle gaze, always made my heart skip a beat. "Thank you" I replied, trying to keep my cool. "You don't look so bad yourself" I shot him a teasing grin, which he returned with a chuckle, the easy rapport between us making me feel even more at ease.

Since the first day on set, Walker had always been that grounding presence—someone who made the long hours lighter, who could turn even the most intense scene into a fun memory. Now, seeing him here, all dressed up and looking every bit the part of a star, it was hard not to feel a flicker of pride for him too.

Just then, Leah joined us, her eyes bright as she took in the scene. "Can we talk about how insane this is ?" she whispered, glancing around the room with a mixture of awe and excitement.

Walker laughed softly. "I know, right ? It's like something out of a movie. Oh wait..." He winked, and we all burst into laughter, the tension slipping away bit by bit.

Nearby, I noticed Dior and Aryan deep in conversation with some of the producers, while Charlie was goofing around with Olivea, trying to make her laugh as she fixed her hair. Jason and Chloe were chatting with my parents, sharing excited whispers and glances in my direction. Their presence was like a safety net, a reminder of home in the midst of all this glitz.

"I can't believe we're actually here" I murmured, half to myself.

Walker heard me and nodded, his expression softening. "Me neither. Remember when we all auditioned, not knowing if we'd even get a callback ? And now here we are."

"That feels like a lifetime ago," Leah said, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "All those rehearsals, all those hours... and now everyone gets to see it. It's wild."

Just then, a staff member appeared, clipboard in hand, giving us a warm smile as she gestured toward a set of large double doors leading into the screening room. "The cast and crew are gathering now. We'll start in a few minutes, so feel free to head inside whenever you're ready."

The realization hit me that, in just moments, we would be sitting in a room full of people watching our work, our characters, come alive on the screen. A mix of excitement and nerves surged through me, but seeing Walker, Leah, and the rest of our cast around me reminded me that we were all in this together.

As we made our way toward the doors, Jason jogged up beside me, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, superstar" he whispered with a proud smile. "You ready for this ?"

I took a deep breath and nodded, finding comfort in his presence. "I think so"

He gave my shoulder a squeeze. "You've got this, Cora. We're all so proud of you."

Chloe joined us, slipping her arm through mine as we walked. "It's surreal, isn't it ?" she murmured, her own eyes shining with excitement. "I'm so glad we're all here together."

The doors to the screening room loomed ahead, the low hum of conversation growing louder as people found their seats. My heart was pounding now, but in a good way—a thrilling, almost electric anticipation that seemed to vibrate through every part of me.

Walker caught my eye as we paused at the entrance, his smile both reassuring and excited. "See you on the other side" he said softly, referring to a line from Luke in our show, his hand brushing mine briefly as he stepped inside with the others.

Taking one last deep breath, I stepped forward with Chloe and Jason by my side, ready to watch the show that had brought us all together.