Let's make a movie.

Didn't your Augustus Sappy Waters teach you anything?

About a week had passed and Reese had still not shown up at school.
I was worried.
Now, most of you may think of me as a bitch who should be happy that Reese is not here but to be honest, I was really worried for we had only three weeks left to discuss the making of the movie and then only one and a half month to make it.
I was also slightly worried about his health and well being. Slightly being the key word.

I had asked Mark and it went along the following lines..

Me: Hey, Mark? You got a sec?

Mark: Oh, hey, Astrid. 'Sup?

Me: I was uh, wondering if you'd know where Reese is..

Mark: Oh. Reese uh..He...

Mark was clearly uncomfortable talking to me about it so I decided I'll put him out of his misery and simply walk away. Luckily, the school bell rang just then and I made an excuse and fled the scene.

It was a Friday and after a 3 hour motivational talk from Lucy, I decided I will call Reese.

I had to ask where on Earth he was or whether he was on Earth or no because after third grade's fancy dress competition when Reese dressed up as an alien, I'm about 90 percent sure he's an alien.

So I called.

I called again.

And again.

But he never answered his phone; everytime it went to voicemail and for the rest of the day, like a creepy stalker I called him about 13 times but he never answered.

Now, I was worried for Reese. Where the heck had the guy gone? My alien theory went out of the window because the situation seemed much worse than before.

I logged into Facebook that night and for an hour, I stalked Reese. His last update was from last week's Sunday with Mark at some party.

This means that Reese went away after the party.

But where did he go?!

I decided he was probably somewhere on earth, high and doing girls of his type and that I shouldn't be as worried as I am.

Mum, Dad and I went for a walk later that night after dinner was over. It was like a Friday ritual in our family that after every Friday dinner we'd go for a small walk in the neighbourhood, if it was possible or we could have a movie marathon. Luce used to join us a lot of times when she was here and while mum and dad talked about my eight month pregnant aunt, a huge wave of nostalgia hit me like a bag full of bricks.

I miss my bestfriend.

17 days to go for summers. 18 for Lucy to come home.
My mind wandered off to various topics that night, not just during the walk but also after it.
I found myself being a little restless and as a whirlwind of thoughts passed my mind, one was prominent: Reese.

I couldn't understand where he would be for a week. Maybe he was on a vacation with his family? But no parents decide to have a vacation right before summer. Duh.

So I called Reese again and as the phone continued to ring, I decided it will be the last time I call him and if he doesn't respond, I'll ask Mark about it tomorrow no matter how uncomfortable he feels.

"Hello?" Reese's voice cracked through the phone, "A? That's the fourteenth call of the day, stalker." He mused but I could hear a tiredness in his voice.

"Reese? Are you okay? Where are you?" I bit my lip to stop myself. I didn't want to bombard him with questions at 10 pm and he was sounding genuinely tired, I didn't want to burden him further.

"I'm okay, A. I just has some uh, family stuff to deal with and all. Nothing big." He said.

"Oh, okay. I was just concerned because you know we have the movie thing coming up and you were gone for like a week." I said.

"So you called only because you were concerned about the movie?" Reese's tone wasn't playful, it was cold and a little harsh.

I sat on the edge of my bed, grasping my phone tightly and after a while I realised I hadn't responded to his question.

"No." I said, simply for the movie thing was not the only thing I had called Reese for.

"Then why? Why did you call?" He insisted.

"I was worried," I said and then chewed the inside of my cheek before saying something I hadn't thought I would ever say or even think, "I was worried about you, Reese Jacobs. Suck it up, now."

"You say the sweetest things to me, Astrid James." He said and I felt an ease in my shoulders. "I'll be back by Monday and then we can sit down and decide the plot for our movie. I promise you I won't ditch you. Not for this one."

"Okay." I said and suddenly The Fault In Our Stars came to my mind. Why was I being so...awkward? This is Reese I'm talking to, why does my heart feel so happy, my mind so awake, my skin so alive?

"'Okay', Astrid James, is a very flirtatious word. Didn't your Augustus Sappy Waters teach you anything?" He chuckled.

"Go to hell, Reese. Augustus Waters is fabulous." I respond, a smile coming up on my face.

"He is? I don't think so." He said and I laid down on my back on the mattress with my feet dangling off the bed.

"Who asked for opinions of The Stupid?" I hold back a giggle.

"Okay, you win this time but only because I have to go now. Good night, A." His voice was now ten times softer than usual as if he was lulling me to sleep.

"Good night, Reese. " I said before disconnecting my phone.