Hollywood's Golden Runaway

(2 7)

It's been three days since we came back from LA, and Ethan was so relieved to have us back to continue with filming the more complex and lengthy scenes. Breezing through them without any problems, Ethan calls a day off filming so that he, the producers and cameramen can review the footage we've taken over the last few weeks to see if anything needs re-filming before moving on. The sky is clear and it's a rare day of sun, but the air is still cold so, with little else to do, we resort to getting coffee at The Haunt again before heading back to my trailer for the evening with takeaways and beer. Liam and I have been inseparable since we came back from Los Angeles and we haven't spent a night away from once another since. I always sleep easier with him by my side. I haven't seen or spoken to Finn either. I'm still too afraid to reach out to him, but I decided to text Hazel and ask if we could organise a meeting at the house sometime in the week to clear the air.

"Yo, Isabella, hurry up! I'm hungry!" Brenna calls out from my living room as I'm tying up my laces on the edge of my bed. I laugh at her comment and walk through to meet her and Tatiana who are both waiting on my sofa, scrolling through their phones.

"Are you both coming? I'm hungry!" I mimic Brenna's annoyed tone and she just flips me the bird before we all head out of the trailer, wrapped up in thick coats and scarves. I stop as soon as we get to the bottom of the trailer steps and turn to the girls, "where's Syd?"

Sydney has been even more reserved since we got back, spending as little time with us as possible, always hunkered down in her own trailer without any explanation whatsoever. All of us have been really worried about her unusual behaviour but she always just tells us she's either fine or just tired.

"Where do you think?" T grumbles and gestures with her head towards Syd's trailer. I stride up to the door and knock relentlessly until she finally answers. I don't even give her the chance to say anything before I storm inside. The trailer is dark and looks like she's been living on her sofa for a long time. Brenna and T follow me, equally as determined.

"Come on," I say, flicking the lights on which makes Syd physically flinch, "we're going out." She opens her mouth to protest, "all of us." Seeing the adamant look on my face she sighs and retreats to her bedroom where she emerges, ten minutes later, dressed and ready to go. I grin contentedly.

"See, that wasn't so hard was it?" She gives me a weak smile at my comment and follows us out. None of us try to press any questions on her, nervous that she'll just run back inside again. So, in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, we meet the boys at our cars. Liam greets me with a peck as does Alex with T.  Neither Liam or I are totally comfortable with over-the-top public affection so we keep the kiss quick before turning our attention back to our friends. T and Alex are giggling to themselves while Brenna tries in vain to start a conversation with Syd, who hangs her head and shrinks into herself.

I gesture to the cars with my head, "come on, let's get moving before we all freeze." Liam opens the passenger door of his car for me but Brenna flies in out of nowhere, nearly knocking me over in the meantime.

"Nu-uh, I call shotgun!" She sings and promptly slides into the seat. I stare at Liam dumbfounded at her actions but he just shrugs.

"She called shotgun," and slides into the driver's seat. I release some kind of half-scoff and half-laugh at the exchange before accepting my position in the back of the car. Brenna chats non-stop on the fifteen minute drive from set to The Haunt and I find myself chiming in here and there, as does Liam. Relieved to hear something to take my mind off my own constantly recurring issues.

"So, Chase Montgomery has been exiled from LA according to Heather. Nobody knows where he's gone but apparently Heather caught him in bed with another girl and dumped him! Rumour has it he's been shipped off to live with his grandparents," Brenna rants.