The trailer was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the voice of director Justin Wu, who stood in front of Noah Beck and Siena Agudong with a tablet in his hands. Onscreen were playback clips from that morning’s scene—an emotional moment between Dreyton Lahey and Dallas Bryan on the football field, where tensions were high and feelings were finally laid bare.

“This is a big moment in the film,” Justin said, his tone serious. “The chemistry is great, but there’s a beat right before the line where Dreyton admits he’s scared… that needs just a second more pause. Let the silence land. You’re both doing great, but I want that tension to hang.”

Noah nodded, arms crossed, fully tuned in. “Got it,” he said, focused. Siena, beside him, bit her lip and nodded too, but there was a mischievous glint in her eye.

Justin continued, “Also, when the camera cuts to Dallas, Siena, I want you to hold that tear in your eye a bit longer before blinking. It’s small, but it matters.”

Still nodding, Siena slowly shifted her foot under the table and—tap—lightly kicked Noah’s shin.

He gave her a quick side glance, biting back a smirk, trying to stay locked in.

Justin looked up from the tablet. “Something funny?”

Noah cleared his throat. “Nope. Just processing.”

Siena was trying hard to keep a straight face but couldn’t help the slight curl of a grin on her lips. Justin squinted at both of them.

“…Right,” he said suspiciously before continuing. “And finally, Noah—your delivery on that ‘I don’t know how to be what you need’ line? It’s good, but it needs just a little more vulnerability.”

As Justin spoke, Siena sneakily reached her foot out again, lightly nudging Noah’s ankle this time.

Noah subtly shifted in his seat and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “You’re gonna get us both recast.”

Siena whispered back without missing a beat, “You’d miss me too much.”

The director didn’t hear them, but he paused anyway and looked between them.

“You two better be paying attention.”