Tacenda ~Owen Joyner~

Chapter 10

I'm awoken by none other than Kenny Ortega tapping my shoulder repeatedly, which by the way, is very confusing when you were just unconscious and have to process where you are. I thought I was dreaming because this is not something that would normally happen.

"Tell me why our set manager phoned me this morning telling me the janitor phoned her saying that people are sleeping on our sets." Kenny says, his arms crossed and an amused look on his face.

I now know where I am. I'm still on the couch in the garage set. Judging by my current position I guess Owen and I got comfortable while we were sleeping, because now I'm pretty much on top of him, his arm around me to prevent me from falling onto Charlie; who is still laying on the floor beside the couch.

"Well, you see, Kenny..." I begin, trying to gather my thoughts while also trying to make my voice sound normal even though my mouth is as dry as a desert, "To ensure being on time, never leaving said place to be on time to is the most reliable answer."

"Shush, I'm sleeping." Charlie mumbles.

"Get up. I'll see you in rehearsal room A in an hour." Kenny smiles, walking away from the sight which is three of his cast having a sleepover at work.

I try to carefully get up from the couch, aka up from Owen but his grip just tightens around my waist. I can't help but feel my blood rush a bit to my cheeks; which doesn't mean anything, by the way, that's a natural reaction. I'm human.

"Don't." He says so quietly I almost can't hear it, I think he may be half asleep.

"Why?" I chuckle.

"You're going to step on Charlie and his brain has already had enough damage from being dropped on his head so much as a kid." Owen replies.

Nope, he's definitely awake.

"I wasn't dropped on my head as a kid..." Charlie says and I can hear him shift his position on the floor. A few cracks coming from his bones since there is no way he was comfortable all night laying flat on the hard floor.

"Then why are you the way you are?" Owen asks.

I let out a small laugh and continue laying there with Owen for a little bit. I can hear his heart beating in his chest, being a nurse and having done so much training with heartbeats I can't help but count the beats. Fifty-seven beats per minute, average, he's very much alive.

Owen begins to rub small and gentle circles on my back with the tips of his fingers. The light touch sends a chill down my spine and I realize it's been literally forever since I've been close to someone like this. Before, I was talking about how Adira and Luke are touched deprived because they're ghosts, but now I'm realizing I'm touched deprived because I'm alive and single.

I hear footsteps approach us so I lift my head up from Owen's chest and spot Paul approaching with his camera.

"You guys give me the best content for my channel." Paul smiles.

I don't hesitate to jump up this time, nearly stepping on Charlie as I go but I'm careful enough. Owen's hand chases after me, tugging on the hem of my shirt for a second but I get out of his reach, "Nope. This is not a reality show. I will see you guys later." I give them and the camera a small salute and head off to somewhere where there's a mirror so I can see how badly my makeup from yesterday is still caked onto my face.

After I find a mirror and wash the raccoon looking makeup off my face, I head to rehearsal room A where I guess Kenny instructed everyone to meet because everyone, and I mean literally everyone is in there; even Charlie and Owen who appear to be sleeping standing up by leaning against each other. I walk up to beside them and give Charlie a very gentle poke which shifts him enough to lose his balance off Owen's shoulder and he nearly falls over but catches himself, his eyes wide as he wakes up.