Endeavor

Chapter 3: Close

A.N.: I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far!

All day the next day, I had a sinking feeling in my stomach as I attended my classes. I imagined Amelia talking to Eddie, telling him things that I didn't want told. I imagined her trying to convince him to ask me out. Eddie had the good sense not to tell her about last night, though.

Eddie was on my mind all day, admittedly. I missed him. I still felt a strange tingling sensation in my right hand. I was left-handed, so it didn't get in the way of my writing. I hand my phone's ringer off, so when I checked my phone in the middle of the day, a text from Eddie was completely unexpected. It was sent at 8:47, so I had been in class already. It read, "can't wait to see you today! -Eddie".

I smiled. He had no idea that I had his contact saved, so I knew who it was. I texted him back, telling him that teasingly. I went to my next class, still grinning.

With my essay on Ray Bradbury finished, and not due for another week, I went home with no homework. As soon as I walked in the door, Amelia pounced on me.

"Hi, Rachel! How was school?"

"Fine."

She chuckled. "Eddie was hilarious! He was so sad you weren't there. He likes you, I swear."

I smiled a tired smile. "What did he say?"

"You would have thought the world was going to end. 'Is she okay? She's not hurt, is she? She didn't say she wouldn't be here!' And I said that you just had classes today."

"Send him my regrets. Tell him I have classes every other day. I'll be there tomorrow."

"I've just come home for a lunch break. I'm going back, if you want to come with."

I didn't have many more classes to take. I had most of my credits. That was why I only had classes every other day, and I got out at noon.

"I'm tired, Amelia..."

"Come on!" she begged. "He's dying to see you. You know, he keeps going on and on about how he doesn't know how you're single."

"The same could be said about him."

She pulled out a hair tie from her pocket and began to French braid my hair, which she very well knew it was too short for. I was growing it out for that very reason. Amelia, as talented as she was, managed it somehow. Without warning, she dragged me out to the car and drove to the studio.

Once we arrived, she ran down the halls, screaming, "Eddie! She's here! I made her come! She's here! Rachel's here!"

Eddie stepped out of his room, and relief flooded his face. He ran toward me and held me fast in his arms. "You should tell me when you have classes," he murmured into my shoulder.

"I know, I'm sorry. Every other day, but I get out at noon, for future reference."

"I missed you, Curly Top."

"Oh, is that my new nickname? Come on, you can do better than that."

"I'll have to think on it."

"Are you filming today?"

He shook his head. "Just rehearsing. Come into my room, we can talk more there."

He shut the door behind the three of us as we entered. "So, what's the movie about, anyway?" I asked, realizing I neglected to ever find out.

"It's about a college student who keeps having dreams about the end of the world. He keeps seeing elements of his dreams in real life, and he gets paranoid."