out of time ~ cliff booth

pineapple

two days later.

cliff and rick had been busy recently. yesterday i went to the grocery store in the early morning, getting ricks list of groceries and mine as well.

i didn't see cliff yesterday when he brought rick home, but today was different. i hear a knock on the door. it was just about dark too. i pull the curtain back on the window to see cliff and rick waiting for the door to be opened.

quickly, i get the door, greeting them both with a smile "hey you two, how was today?" i ask rick as he takes his shoes off "i had me a day to say the goddamn least. but i- i managed and pulled through" his stutter peaking its way into the conversation.

i look at cliff to see him holding a six pack of beer "let me get those in the fridge cliff" my hand brushes his as i grab the beer from him "while those chill down i was thinkin maybe id call in a pizza and get it delivered?" i turn around after closing the fridge "sounds just perfect to me" cliff was a very go with the flow man, i expected nothing less "absolutely- it's on me!" rick shouts while walking to his room, the door shutting quickly after.

"and you, how was your day cliff?" i hop up on the counter, cross my legs at the ankles as i swing them back and forth a bit "i payed our friend george a visit today"

my eyes light up at the mention of george. when i worked with cliff and rick for the first time it was there at spahn movie ranch.

"how is he?" cliffs face falls into a gloomy look. he leans back on the counter next to me with a sigh, his arms crossed on his chest "he's halfway deaf and blind... he's got a bunch of hippies livin out there too..." my shoulders drop at the news "you're kidding-" "no ma'am i'm not" partially, if it wasn't for george i wouldn't be where i am today.

"goddamn hippies" i mutter under my breath as i hop down from the counter. cliff looks to me and chuckles "ain't that the truth" i grab one of the menu's stashed in the drawer of a few different pizza places.

i roll the dial on the phone, calling one of my favorite spots "hi! yes can i place an order for delivery?" i ask, fiddling with cord on the phone. cliff walks over and points to the hawaiian pizza. i laugh with a nod as he sends a thumbs up over his shoulder while walking to the couch.

"okay may i please get half pepperoni and half hawaiian please?" after giving the address and hanging up, out walks rick "my epsiode of fbi is almost on!" he snaps his fingers at cliff, telling him to put it on the channel. i grab us each a beer before walking to the living room.

i sit next to cliff on the couch as rick takes his single chair directly across from the tv. "is that what i think it is?" cliff passes rick his beer, holding a yellow tinged cigarette in the other "you know what this is?" cliff asks me, an impressed look on his face.

i pluck it from his fingers, holding it under my nose "you bought the hippie acid dipped cigarette" i hand it back to him "that i sure did. if i'm gonna trip i'm gonna do it here- with the woods behind me, not at my house. so you two don't smoke it by mistake now, alright?" rick and i both agree not to touch it as cliff puts it in the cigarette box "woah! oh!" rick whistles "here i come here i come" he points to the tv.

we watch the episode for a bit, the title and guest stars being read by the narrator. ricks clip comes up, his character chewing gum just for a second "really gnawing on that gum there rick" i say jokingly.

the episode name is brought up on the screen "all the streets are silent" cliff reads off "except when rick daltons got a fucking shotgun i'll tell you that" i look to cliff with a smile as he takes a drag from his cigarette. his eyes catch mine for a second before i turn back to the tv.

the intercoms buzzes, the pizza was here. "i'm gonna walk to the gate and get it, i'll be back in a second" i grab a cigarette from the box, cliff already handing me his lighter. rick hands me some money that i put in the waistband of my sleep shorts.

i spark up the cigarette, my beer in hand as i walk out the door and down the drive way "hi! how are you tonight?" i ask nicely "doing just fine ma'am. that'll be 10.50" he smiles with the total. i give him 15, tip included. he hands me the box gently "thank you, have a nice night" he says before walking back to his car.

i was lost in thought on the walk back. it had occurred to me that man was the same man who was looking around the neighbors house just a week or so ago. i walk back inside the house, my mind still racing about the strange man. i take the pizza to the kitchen, catching cliffs attention as i do "you alright?" he asks.

i set the box down on the counter "the day you were here working on the roof, do you remember that man who went to the neighbors house?" i ask him "yeah, with the long
hair-" "he was the delivery man. when i was walking up to the house i noticed he had stayed at the curb again..." i was a bit worried about the intentions of this mystery man.

"i'm sure it's nothin, alright?" he tucks some of my hair behind my ear "yeah, of course" i shake my head, trying to forget about it "rick, buddy, come get a slice" cliff says from the kitchen. we all grab one more beer each, along with a slice of pizza "cynthia tell us about this new job of yours" rick says through a mouthful.

"well... i'll be working along side sharon
tate-" "a dirty movie!" cliff giggles "no, not a dirty movie" i roll my eyes "it's called rosemarys baby, it's a horror film" i take a sip of my beer. "who's the director?" rick asks.

i slowly bring the can down from my lips, my eyes directing their attention to it as the can rests in my hands "a little someone- who happens to be our neighbor by the name of roman polanski?" i mumble as my voice heightens "well i'll be goddamned!" cliff says with an excited laugh "cynthia this is great! it's a wonderful thing" i blush a bit at the praises.

i nod "we start in a few weeks and it'll be a 6 month film process- a little less for me but... yeah" i smile happily "well cheers to that" cliff says holding up his can of beer. rick and i add ours, our conversation continuing.

after our beers and a few margaritas later i found myself out by the pool. rick had offered cliff to stay but cliff needed to get home to brandi. the sliding door from the living room to the pool opens, i look back to see cliff.

"on your way?" i ask, taking my feet out of the water "i'm afraid so.." cliff sighs while sitting next to me at the edge of the pool "you're doing real well for yourself cynthia... im very happy to see it" i rest my head on my knees that were brought up to my chest.

my eyes meet cliffs "thank you..." i whisper. he reaches over and runs a hand down my hair. i close my eyes with a smile. cliff stands up, leaning down and planting a kiss in my hair "i'll be thinkin of you" he mumbles before pulling away "ill be seeing you cliff..." i could hear him laugh under his breath before shutting the sliding door behind him.

i sigh happily at the thought of cliff. i found myself looking forward to see him, looking forward to our moments of flirtation. he made it known to me that he did too.