Another time, another place

After party & the favour

That same night, a little after Emily arrived home, she was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed. Her phone was on a wooden table that was right beside the couch. She sensed it vibrate. Indeed, it vibrated several times. She took it but, before unblocking it, she left it on the table again. She couldn't lose the bet. She would kill to watch that film, so she couldn't afford losing. It vibrated again. It had to be Karen, her best friend, the one she talks to every single night. Except tonight. Well, tonight and the next three ones, according to Stephen. Emily stared at her phone for way too long. She panted and, out of desperation, she stood and walked around the living room like a zombie. Then, out of a sudden, she couldn't help it any longer and took her phone.

"I look like a druggie with withdrawal symptoms..."

She sent it to Stephen. She was almost entirely sure he would be sleeping, so she was extremily surprised when he replied so quickly.

Not surprised. Btw, do you have an idea of what time it is?

She checked her phone. 02.41. Yeah, it was too late.

Yep, 2.41 (you said I could bother you, so... your fault man).Why are u still awake?

The answer was simple and short. Just one word. "Mavi". Emily grinned at the thought of Stephen up, trying to make Mavi sleep.

Oh, my little princess!

...who right now stinks quite a bit , he replied, causing Emily laugh.

How dare you! It's Saint's poo!
She knew Stephen would be laughing at her comment, what made her smile too.

Sure... 2.47. Go to bed! Your curfew was long ago!

She cracked up. He always teased her with comments like that, treating her like a child. He didn't mean any harm, he knew Emily never took any offense. It was their own joke and they were happy teasing each other. He treated her like a child and she treated him like an old man. That was it, basically.

Ok, papi. Gnight!

Night & don't cheat! The bet's on.

She shook her head. I won't. Send Mavi my best

She wasn't expecting any more messages, but then, just one minute after that, her phone vibrated again. It was Stephen, obviously. What about me? Don't I get anything? for bearing you?

Nope. Deal with it

Stephen sent her a smiley :(

Emily answered :)

And, at the end, Stephen just said :)

She smiled at her phone's screen and, once she set her alarm, she went to bed.

***

Peep, peep. It was Tuesday, 6.15 AM and Stephen had a long day ahead. He took a shower very quickly while wondering when was the last time he actually had a bath and relaxed. Then, he dressed up and decided he would have breakfast on set. He didn't have much time. He went to the bedroom. He leaned to kiss Mavi's forehead and then he approached his wife. He looked at her for a few seconds. She seemed an angel. He kissed her cheek tenderly, but she woke up. It took her some time to realize that he was saying googbye to her.

"Good morning...", she murmured, cheking the hour, puffing.
"Keep sleeping, it's very early." He said.
She wrapped her hands around Stephen's neck and kissed him. Suddenly, his phone vibrated, and so he separated.

I'm dead. 3 hours sleep is NOT enough

It was Emily's. Stephen kissed Cassandra very briefly once again and whispered: "I gotta go. I love you".
"Love you too".

***
"You're not a kid anymore, Stephen!"
It was Robbie, Stephen's cousin. They happened to meet from time to time because they shared some locations/sets since they worked for the CW. Stephen had just told him about last nigth with Colton and Emily and how little he had slept and Robbie was making fun of him, claiming he was too old for 'undersleeping'.
"Yeah I know. You make it very clear to me every f'cking day", he answered amused, both of them laughing.
"Wow, your party-loving partner is coming", Robbie told Stephen, pointing out to Emily, who more dead than alive.
She was like crawling on the floor, with bags from here to Pekin.
"Good morning", Robbie greeted her.
"If you say so..."
Stephen smiled. "Hey, I'm the grandpa here and you're falling down on every street corner?"
She gave him a threatening look. "shut up and bring me some coffee".
They all cracked up, except for Emily. Stephen was about to go, but he stopped again given Robbie's comment: "By the way, Em, I sent you a photo last night, but you didn't answer. Is your signal ok?"
She puffed. The bet. Her phone. She couldn't use it. "I need a coffee...", she murmured leaving them there.
Robbie looked at Stephen astonished. "What did I miss?"
Stephen grinned. "Just send her lots of messages. She'll be so glad...", he answered half laughing.

***

A few hours later, it was lunch time. Emily was with Katie, who was telling her about her fashion blog and how it was becoming a success. Katie and Emily got on pretty well, though they were not friends as such. They were very different, so Emily didn't tell her private things of her life, and neither did Katie. But they often talked on set and had fun.
"Hey, barbie", Colton said, referring to Katie. "How you doing?"
"Great. Ah, Colton, a friend of mine wants you to participate in a photo shoot. Are you in?"
Colton sat next to her and asked her to give him the details. Emily stopped paying attention to them. She felt her phone in her pocket. It would be so easy to take it out and reply to her friends... And Stephen wouldn't even realize it. But no, she was honest and she was strong. She would fairly win the bet.
Then, the Arrow (or Stephen dressed as Arrow) came in. The duo beside Emily just said hi to him.
"Em, can you come to my trailer a moment, please?" He asked her.
She stood up and followed him to his 'place of peace', as he called it.
It was pretty empty. There was just a little sofa, a desk with a laptop on it, two posters, A picture of Stephen's family and a tiny closet. Emily had a sit on the couch and waited for him to talk.
"I need to ask tou a favour".
"Hope it's not money..." she said, kidding.
"No. It's just... Well, I married Cassandra in December, so in a few days it's our anniversary."
She smiled. "Oh, congrats! And what do I have to do with this? Go to bed with her and don't get out of there for a week".
Stephen laughed slightly. That was his Emily.
"I want to prepare a romantic dinner for her, and my parents are on a trip and her family is in Italy right now, so I need you to take care of Mavi just for one night".
Emily was surprised, but really pleased. "Good! Girls night!"
Stephen looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure this is ok with you?"
"You're kidding? Of course! I mean... Mavi? She's the cutest girl in the world".
He pinched her nose amused. "Thank you, Em."
"Always here, you know".