Page 132 of Come Apart
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alyssa is back in L.A.
She texts me. It's not much, little how are you's and I miss yous, but it morphs into full conversations.
They're about nothing important.
She tells me about her film role.
It's a romantic comedy, she texts.I'm the best friend. I've never been the best friend before, only the girlfriend. It was nice not having to do any heavy lifting. Just nodding and bouncing off the friend who is the star. I even get my own little subplot. My own love interest—the guy's best friend. God, I can't believe I took something so cliché. It's well done, I swear.
And I tease her about unplugging from technology.What were you doing when you were off? You know you're not Henry David Thoreau. The world won't appreciate a new version of Walden. There are important things on Tumblr you missed! People are upset about a new Disney movie appropriating other cultures. I tried talking about it with one of my clients, but she stared at me like I was crazy. I think she was picturing me naked.
She responds.Very likely. I mean, it can be tough with you looking all professional in that suit. You look so suave and accomplished. So respectable. But I'm sure she's motivated. She's probably in love with you. They're all in love with you, aren't they?
I respond.A little.
I can't blame them. If you were holding my hand, fighting to take everything from my awful ex, and looking at me with those big, pretty eyes.
The eyes again?
She replies.What can I say? They're fucking gorgeous. I get lost in them. And when you smile—forget about it. I think you had me the first time you smiled. I wanted to see that a million more times.
Even though you were engaged to Ryan?
We both know you were only talking with me to make him jealous.
I reply.Or maybe I wanted to get a better look at the famous Alyssa Summers.
Only I'm not famous.
Well, maybe it was because you're so fucking gorgeous. Maybe you turned my stomach inside out and I wanted to take every chance I could to be near you.
She replies.I'm sure there was some of that. But mostly it was to fuck with him, right?
Maybe.
I knew it! You little shit! I can't believe you. Actually, I can completely believe you. You do realize that you're completely deranged, don't you?
I reply.Guilty as charged. It's true. I did talk to you at first to fuck with him. But once I got to know you, hell, after that first conversation, it was all about you.
Yeah, me too. I'm sorry it took me so long to figure it out.
I should have been more patient. I love you Ally. I miss you.
I miss you too.
Tell me everything about the movie. I don't care if it seems boring. I want to hear it.
She replies.We shot a lot of scenes in what was supposed to be my character's apartment. It was so cramped, and it was decorated in this awful mix of teal and salmon. You wouldn't believe the clothes wardrobe put me in. In this one scene, I was wearing a petticoat.
That sounds amazing.
It was kind of amazing. Even if it was light, I enjoyed it. It was nice to have a little more fun with acting. I forgot about that for a little while, getting so stressed out about Model Citizen premiering. I think I'm finally getting back in the swing of things.
I respond.I'm glad.
It was good to get out of my head for a little while. To get away from everything.
