Leave No Trace

Chapter 24

Mira

They all piled into Danielson’s rented van (for the express purpose of that.)

“Did I hear correctly about film rights?” Derrick asked, looking somewhat baffled.

“Oh yeah.” Danielson said. “Lots of directors see a potential in the story.”

“Ally?” She turned to Ally. “You’re awfully quiet.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just having a hard time digesting the fact that people know I went through something terrible, and their first idea is we should make a movie about that!” She shook her head. “I’m being stupid.”

“Ally, I thought I banished you using that word.” Mira said. If she was being honest, she didn’t need Ally putting herself down.

“I actually didn’t know about film rights. Who wants to watch some girl tortured?”

“Men.” Danielson said.

Ally, Nolan and Mira all turned to look at him incredulously. “What?” Nolan asked.

“Men, it awakens some kind of primal instinct… look I don’t know.” Danielson shook his head. “Don’t tell me that watching men get ripped apart in gory ways during movies doesn’t make you even the tiniest bit satisfied.”

“Well….” Nolan trailed off, before quipping. “Only if their name is Austin!”

Mira laughed, unable to help herself, as they pulled up in front of the apartment complex she called home. Her apartment was pretty small, but she still loved it. Though it was somewhat tainted with memories of a certain someone.

They all walked upstairs, where the smell of pizza assaulted them as soon as they walked through the door.

“I ordered in!” yelled Tim from the kitchen. “And I chose pizza if no one minds!”

Nolan walked into the kitchen, walked up behind him, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Hey!” Danielson yelled from the doorway. “Hungry teenagers trump the need for you two to go at it like rabbits!”

Nolan instantly whipped around, glaring at Danielson, who just smirked.

Tim chuckled, muttering something under his breath. He grabbed the pizza box of the island. “I have food!” He called, walking into the dining room, where Mira and Derrick were waiting.

“You know the best part about that wheelchair?” Danielson asked.

“What?” Ally asked suspiciously.

“We don’t need an extra chair.” Danielson grinned.

Derrick jumped up once he saw that Mira was sitting. “I’ll grab your pizza!” he offered, grinning.

She smirked. “I’m a big girl, Derrick, I can take care of myself.”

He grinned. “I know, I was offering to be nice, and so I can eat it for you.”

She swatted his shoulder, before seeing his lopsided grin. He was… teasing. But not his usual inappropriate teasing about her butt or anything. “You eat my pizza, Snyder, and I will hurt you.”

Nolan and Tim dropped the pizza boxes on the table, along with a box of wings.

“I just want you to know right now.” Danielson said. “If you two start feeding each other, I will pelt you with wings. And I will enlist the teenagers to help with that.”

Derrick and Mira glanced at each other. “Yeah.” Derrick grinned

“Sounds about right.” Mira conceded. Derrick was grinning like an idiot. Their eyes met, and he merely smiled wider.