Lights, Camera, Rumblefish!

Ch. 22

Ch. 22
"What's the plan? Wh-Why are you back?" Mickey asked, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray. I sighed and Matt wrapped his arm around me.
"I have to get some tests... Had some trouble in Chicago," I said, pulling a cigarette from Matt's pocket.
"Her appointment's tomorrow, in the afternoon. We're just hoping-" Matt started but grabbed the cigarette from my hands and stuck it in his mouth.
"Hoping that it'll go well," he said, lighting it and taking a drag.
"I think we all do. Do any of your other friends know about all this?" Mickey asked.
"Rob does... I told Emilio, sweetie," Matt said, taking another drag and holding the smoke in his mouth.
"What did Milio say?" I said.
"That he hopes all goes well and to update him. Just what Rob said," he said.
"That's what they'll all say," Mickey said.
"Aye! Shut up," Matt threw a napkin at him.
"I'm just saying... That's the formula they'll all follow, but you should go in there prepared to take on anything because it may not be the result you want," Mickey said.
"Why would you say that? We shouldn't talk like t-"
"Matt, he's right. We shouldn't have to keep telling ourselves it'll be good when it may be bad..." I said.
"I don't want it to be bad."
"No one does."
*****
We went to the hospital the next day and had a series of tests done from blood tests to EKGs, and they were all sent in to the doctors. We notified them that we were going to be in New York in little less than a week and they would send the results there. Rumblefish was being wrapped up. All the trailers and the tents and cameras were being taken down and tonight was the last night of filming. They had to start editing The Outsiders and they needed to start on Rumblefish. Tonight we had the last party, the final farewell. I stayed under one tent with Mickey the entire time while Matt mingled and Diane walked to every group she saw and talked for as long as they could bear.
"You think you'll be okay?" Mickey asked.
"I guess. Who really knows at this point?" I said.
"You and Matt are together though. That's all that matters," he said.
"Will you be at the wedding?" I asked.
"Yeah. Of course I will. I wouldn't miss it for anything... Where is it? New York?" He asked.
"Yeah. New Rochelle. It was too expensive in Manhattan," I said.
"Everything's overpriced there," he said.
"Why do you love it then?"
"Because I have the money to buy Manhattan products," he said with a smile. Nic ran over and sat on my lap.
"My god, it's been fifty years since I last saw you!" He shouted and kissed the top of my head.
"Where ya been? Around the world?" He asked.
"Chicago," I said.
"Ah. Land of the dead. Honestly there's the train and that's the only thing that fascinates me," he said.
"You haven't been to a casino there," I said.
"No, I haven't. Look, I'm going to LA after this and you have to come visit me. It's not a choice. And every sentence you write, send it to me," he said.
"I will. On both those things," I said.
"Nic, do you ever get tired of being a pain in the ass?" Mickey asked.
"Sure, says the one with flaming hair. I swear I thought you were on fire one day," Nic said.
"Smart Aleck," he said to Nic before flicking cigarette ash on him.
"Wise guy. I'll see you later," Nic kissed my cheek and ran off.
"I'm sure you won't miss him," Mickey said.
"No... I will."