Young Collective - Cole Sprouse

chapter three

I slowly, and carelessly caress the toothbrush over my back teeth. My back aches from sleeping eight hours on the couch. I'm a bit too scared to sleep in my old bed, or any other bed. Most furniture in the house has plastic all over it. Besides the places I have touched. Which includes the toilet and the couch at this point. Going upstairs to the bedrooms scares me. It's dark and dusty and I don't want to regress on the memories of my childhood.

I spit my toothpaste out and rinse my mouth. Plopping the toothbrush back in its home, a cup, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I part my curly brown hair and pull it up into a messy bun. My cheeks are rosie red and my face painted with freckles. I don't like my figure. I'm lean and look fragile. Like I could snap. I have thick curly hair that doesn't at all suit the rest of my frame. If only you could see the scaffolding behind me.

After I put on my clothes- a pair of blue loose jeans and a white crop top and a loose duster coat, I leave the house and go into the car. It's 8:30am and we start shoot at 10:30am. Takes around an hour and a half to drive there so I should be half an hour early. As I sit in the car I receive a text message from my brother. The first few words read "I'm so sorry.." and I'm honestly surprised because he never apologises. But then again what is he apologising for? I open the text message.

Jake
I'm sorry I haven't been active with your movements lately El. I love you so much and just wanted to formally apologise for being who I am and hurting the family like this. I hope you're having a ball down in LA and you aren't too lonely in dads old derelict house. Treat the car with care (I'm inheriting it). Please come visit soon xx
Sent 8:06am

I lock my phone. My brother is a sweetheart but he hasn't made this much effort in a very long time. I decide to call him later when I'm off set.

———

"Alright- half an hour break." Julian yells to everyone on set. Which now seems to only consist of five people. I put down my screen and waddle over to the chairs. I still can't get the text out of my head. I watch as Julian dissembles the camera and flick through some shots. Today is beautiful, the sky has a few dots in it but besides that it's clear. There's a tiny breeze every now and then but otherwise it's sitting in around 26 degrees. I'm not complaining.

I watch as Graham (one of the crew members who's in charge of lighting) set up a speaker and plug his phone into the aux cord. Cole rushes over and starts talking. I watch Graham roll his eyes and sigh. But in the end Cole seems pleased with himself and thanks Graham then runs back over to Julian. The speakers work well enough for me to tell Cole wanted Mac Demarco on. Generic artsy boy. Although I do like Mac Demarco. So I sit there in silence. Pondering over the scenery and the text for a while, until I can no longer hear Mac Demarco and I assume this is some sort of indie/folk rock playlist. I start getting bored and I lean down on my chair firmly and close my eyes. My eyelids bright red due to the sun right smack bang in my view. I slowly start relaxing and I think I would have fallen asleep if it wasn't for a voice right next to my ear.

"I'm going back to my house to get my other camera, I'll be back in around two hours. There's some food in Grahams van, if you get hungry just help yourself" Julian says behind my head. I turn to him and smile.

"Alright, thanks Julian." I say and he walks away seeming awfully cheerful.

As I hear him drive off I decide to take out my pouch. I hold it close so the sudden slight breeze doesn't blow my tobacco all over the place. I start rolling at my cigarette and finish it off nicely. I'm not addicted... I can stop anytime. I grab out my lighter from my jean pocket and light it. Placing it back I lean my elbows on my knees and take drags here and there. So much more relaxed.