Page 40 of Take It Till You Make It
As he navigates out of the apartment complex, I consider what he said. “I guess I didn’t think about what came after.”
He squints sideways at me. “You sound surprised.”
I let out a dramatic breath as the weight of what he’s just made me face fully hits me. I stare out the window, but I’m not seeing the streets of L.A. I’m seeing my small town. I’m seeing Glory and my other friends from school. I’m seeing everything I left behind because I felt lost after my dad died. And I’m once again realizing that this move is permanent. That my life will continue here after the movie is finished. Instead of magically being transported home again, I’ll be expected to figure out my life from here. I’ve been avoiding this topic since the first time it hit me. And now we’re a couple of months closer to the inevitable. When I finally answer him, my voice is so quiet, he might not hear me. “I am surprised.”
Without the powers of mind-reading, he thinks I’m surprised there will be more acting gigs. “You are an excellent actor. I suspect you’ll find all sorts of jobs. Sally’s great too. She’s a classic actress. You’re more…” he pauses, eyes scanning the traffic as he considers what he wants to say. “Intuitive, maybe? You bring a director’s eye to your role.”
“I do?”
“I love what you’ve done with your character. You’ve made her so much more relatable. Stella was written as the comic relief, but she never really fit in – in my opinion. But you’ve kept her funny, providing the levity needed within the family drama, while also making her seem part of the family.”
“Wow, thanks.”
“You’re a natural actress. I hope you continue to pursue it as a career. I’d be a fan.”
My cheeks are flaming red, and I know he’s noticed. He keeps stealing glances at me as he speaks.
“That means a lot to me coming from you.” I sigh and look out the window. “When this opportunity came up, I was still so lost. I made the decision rather impulsively. I’m only now facing the fact this won’t last forever, and I’ll be forced to figure out what comes next.”
His eyes narrow as he watches the stop-and-go traffic in front of us. “You were lost? Are you talking about your dad?”
I stare down at my fiddling fingers in my lap. “Yeah. It was only a couple of months after we lost him. I really shouldn’t have made such a big decision then.”
“What about your mom? She had a say in it, too.”
I let out a shuddering breath. “She’s only just starting to come out of her fugue state. I wouldn’t be surprised if she looks around one day and asks where we are.”
“She’s been that out of it?”
I nod, pursing my lips.
“Wow. That’s a lot for you to handle.”
“It’s been a challenge. I think I took the opportunity because I was so desperate to escape the pain.”
“Like, shooting the movie became a distraction?”
“Exactly.” I look at him. “And now I’m seeing that after it’s over, I won’t magically go back to my old life.” My heart is beating a mile a minute, and I’m trying not to freak out in front of Crispin.
He’s quiet for a long while as we crawl forward on the freeway. “Ari, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. I didn’t realize what you were dealing with and how recent it was.”
Despite my current mind freak, I can’t stop the half smile that curves my mouth. “You’re referring to the “goth” comment.”
Now it’s his turn to look embarrassed. “Yeah. I’ve never lost anyone. I really have no idea what you’ve been dealing with, but I think I have a better idea now. And I feel bad that I made a snap decision about you.”
His confession has managed to get me out of my own head and stop my freak-out. The smile I give him is real and a bit sardonic. “It’s okay. I made some snap decisions of my own.”
“About me?”
“Yeah. In all fairness, the intern comment that first day didn’t help your case. And then you were so rude in wardrobe. Imagine my surprise to learn you aren’t actually a conceited jerk.”
He laughs. “Whoa. I see!”
I chuckle. “Thanks for listening. It feels good to talk to someone about this. And I appreciate your vote of confidence in my acting skills. I am enjoying the process of filming. Acting could be an option if I were to get more roles. Hopefully, not as a thirteen-year-old.”
He grins as his gaze sweeps over me before returning to traffic. “You really could play an impressive range of ages. That will serve you well. I’m only just starting to be offered roles for characters my own age. But there is something about you that could translate into an older role for you as well. Hey, maybe you’ll play my girlfriend in my first legal age role.”
I don’t know why that makes me blush. I turn to look out the window, so he won’t see. “Ha ha. Imagine me playing a twenty-two-year-old.”
