It was 1999, and you had just landed a breakout role in Final Destination. You were cast as the love interest of Todd Waggner, played by Chad Donella. The script didn’t give your character a long arc, but from your first table read, there was an energy between you and Chad that didn’t need lines to be felt.

Chad had that quiet, intense charm—always kind, always listening, always a little bit off in his own world. You liked that about him. On set, he was focused, almost method in his approach to Todd’s anxious, doomed personality. But between takes, he was different—funny in a dry, unexpected way. He’d throw a sarcastic comment at just the right moment to make you laugh, even if you were in full makeup and trying to stay serious.

The first time you really talked was in the makeup trailer. You were both in early, coffee cups in hand, bleary-eyed. He looked at you in the mirror and asked

“Do you think it’s weird we’re pretending to fall in love while knowing one of us dies in, like, twenty minutes?”he asked genuinely confused

“ thats how movies work, we're supposed to be together like 1 year so they have a connection. Well, it’s not exactly Romeo and Juliet—but I think we’re making it work.”you said with a slight grin

Soon, you were spending more time together. Lunches on set became long walks after wrap. You’d go over lines, then end up talking about music, your families, your big dreams. Chad was different from anyone you’d met in the industry—genuine, unpretentious, and totally himself.

One night, while filming one of your shared scenes—a quiet moment where your character had a moment that "Todd" is grieving his brother George that died in flight 180— as he was on the role, you were holding him him when he looked up at you, you caught something real in his eyes. The director called “cut,” but neither of you moved but then ended up laughing

“You okay?” you asked softly.

“Yeah… that felt real.”he said and nodded with a small smile

“It did,” you said. That night, he walked you back to your trailer

“I know this is just a movie,” he said, standing on the step, “but I think I’d like to keep seeing you… after the credits roll.”

“Me too.”you said with a smile

"Glad"He said unable to stop smiling. You both said goodnight and he left to his trailer