Catfished - COMPLETED

CHAPTER FOUR

       "Let me call her," Max said.
       Nev raised an eyebrow at him in suspicion. He seemed to consider it. Then he agreed without much more hesitation.
      Max stood up from the table they were at. He grabbed his phone off the table and headed outside for some privacy. Nev picked up the hand held camera and offered it to him. Max eyed the camera and eventually took it with him.
      The outside of the coffee shop was just as endearing as the interior. The walls were a red/brown old brick. A few ferns hung from the top of the overhang of the building. But the weather had turned since the day before. What was once warm and sunny had turned cloudy with a slight chill.
      Max took a moment and a few deep breaths to calm himself. He knew Lucy would take the news badly. He decided not to tell her over the phone. But he knew she would tell something wasn't right from his voice. When he considered himself ready, he pointed the hand held at his phone, pulled up her number, and pressed call.
     "Hey, Max! I didn't expect to hear from you so soon!" Lucy was all excitement. "How are things going?"
       Max turned the camera until it captured his face. "Hey. Things are going well, I would say. We think we've got it actually. Could we meet up with you in a bit?"
      "Of course! I thought about where we should meet and I think I found the perfect spot!"
     Lucy told Max her idea. 
       Immediately, his face broke into a smile. "Sounds great. I'll grab Nev and the crew and meet you there."

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      A few minutes later, Nev parallel parked the car a block away from the destination Lucy had sent him. This area of the city was a bit different from where they had been so far.
       Several people walked the streets. All sorts of food was advertised from shop windows. A student went down the sidewalk on a longboard. Max laughed and said, "God, I'm glad I didn't have to park the car!" It had been a nightmare to get a parking spot here. But Lucy had warned them and told them it would be worth it.
     The guys exited the car. They walked down the sidewalk for a block. Up ahead, they saw the sign for Gelateria Del Leone. It looked like the crew had already gotten there and set up the scene. Lucy spotted them through the window from inside. She enthusiastically waved and smiled that smile at them.
      Lucy greeted them with tight hugs before they were completely through the front door. "Hey! How are you?"
      Max and Nev chuckled at her eagerness. "We're doing well," Nev answered her.
      Taking a moment to look around, Max couldn't help but think that The Gelateria was very Lucy. It was vintage looking- a lot of wood paneling, a cute old fridge behind the counter, books filling the bookcases, and something about the place just made you happy. There were so many flavors of gelato- the classics and several unique. Coffee was also roasted there. So it had to be amazing.
       Everyone chit chatted with the young man behind the counter. The producers had already explained to him what they were doing and he had nicely agreed to be filmed for the episode. The man explained the unusual favors of gelato that were offered. Nev ordered a scoop of the London Fog gelato and a coffee. Max got a scoop of the tiramisu and a scoop of the salted caramel flavored gelato. Lucy got a scoop of lotus and a scoop of raspberry gelato and a mug full of the house blend coffee. The group took their snack to a comfortable sitting area in the back of the restaurant.
     Cameras and lights were set up. Lucy was again fitted with her own mic. But she quickly snuggled into an armchair and looked completely at ease. Nev and Max sat in similar chairs facing her. They ate their gelato, occasionally commenting on just how good it tasted. Lucy offered hers to them to try. Nev passed, not loving the thought of sharing with someone whom he barely knew. Max quickly accepted and offered his. Lucy took a tiny spoonful and tasted it. "Oh! That is scrumptious! I'll have get that next time I come," she said. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. She was curled up in her chair, eating gelato, sipping her coffee, and appearing so content. He couldn't believe he was about to spoil that. He wanted to be the one to make her show off that easy smile, not take her smile from her.
      As soon as the gelato was gone, Nev was ready to get down to business. He pulled his laptop out and booted it up. Lucy moved to the back of Nev's chair so she could see the screen. Max leaned over, although he knew what he would see.
      Nev started from the beginning of the research, explaining every little thing that had gone on. Lucy was shocked to learn that the earliest post came up with a result. She followed along as Nev took her to the next step, the Facebook search. She went from sitting up straight to gradually leaning closer and closer to the laptop. When she saw the name that belonged to the man in the photos, she covered her mouth with one hand and sought out Nev's shoulder with the other. Nev paused and looked up at her. His voice had been so matter-of-fact but he spoke a little softer as he said, "It's okay. It will be okay." He patted her hand on his shoulder.
     "He lied," she muttered to herself.
      Max had been watching closely. He fought the urge to get up out of his chair and hug her. Sitting with his arms crossed and his hands balled into tight fists, Max was so pissed at this Jeff guy. As soon as his name had come up and he saw that pic of him, Max had wanted to find this guy and make him sorry he hurt the sweetest girl in the world. Pulling himself back to reality, he focused on Lucy, on ha she was feeling. "Are you ready to keep going?" he asked.
      Lucy gazed at Max and steadied herself. "I'm ready to go on."
      Nev went on to recount how they searched the phone number. Let showed her Debbie T**** and eventually got to Jeff T****. By this time, Lucy was crying. Not a few tears here and there. Not dramatically sobbing either. She was crying so hard, it was silent. The poor girl was shaking and tears were pouring down her face. Max shot up and closed the distance between them in a flash. He looked at Nev with wide eyes, trying to convey so many things.
      Nev looked to the crew and motioned for them to stop filming. Now it was the producer's turn to shoot up from his seat. He and Nev argued. Max paid them no attention and ushered Lucy outside.
      Lucy continued crying but not as hard as she had at first. Max hugged her close to him. "Hey. It'll be alright," he consoled her. Max- the man who always knew what to say, who always had an inspiration quote at the tip of his tongue- was drawing a blank.
       After a few minutes, Lucy pulled away from Max and dabbed at her face to wipe the tears away. She squared her shoulders. The tears were no longer flowing. "Thanks, Max," she calmly said.
       Amazed at her self-control, Max asked if she was okay.
       "Yeah. Fine." She kept her gaze on her ankle boots on the sidewalk. She took a shaky breath, her body still recovering from the emotional meltdown she had just had.
       Max raised his eyebrows at her. "I guess you cared for him more than you thought."
      Lucy nodded. "Yeah. I did." Lucy jaw clenched. "But you know what, I don't anymore. I'm done."
      "Done with what?"
      "I'm done with him. With Jordan- or Jeff. Whoever that is. A relationship can not be based on a lie. And who you are is a pretty big freaking lie."
       "Looks like you're pretty mad."
       "Moving through the 5 stages of grief pretty quickly, right?" Lucy chuckled.
       "Are you ready to go back in?"
       "Yeah. Thanks for taking me out here. And for leaving the camera behind. I'm a pretty ugly crier." She wiped below her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair quickly.
     Max rolled his eyes at her and smiled. "When I find someone who can sob with a pretty face, I'll let you know."
    

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       All eyes were on Lucy and Max as they walked back into the set. Nev made eye contact with Max. Max gave him a reassuring nod. Lucy sat back in her chair. Max took his previous seat.
     "How are you doing?" Nev asked Lucy.
      She forced a smile. "I'm okay, Nev."
      "So at this point, I can call and see if Jeff wants to meet up with us. He can explain himself and you can finally meet him."
      Lucy shook her head from side to side. "No. I told Max earlier, I'm done. I don't need to meet him."
      Nev stammered a bit. Then he looked at Max. Max gave him a shrug like What can you do? The producer on set that day motioned for the cameras to stop filming. They pulled Nev to the side for a minute.
      While Nev spoke to them, Max moved to a seat closer to Lucy. "You know they will want to continue the episode like any other. They want to go through with it and they can't without you."
     Lucy looked like she might start crying again. She shook her head and covered her face with her hands. "I know it's selfish of me. I know they invested money into the project to get you guys here and everything. But I just don't see how seeing him in person and speaking to him will do any good. I'll I see it accomplishing is making it worse. Making me see this man that has lied to me, made me are for him too much. I don't want to, Max."
     "I know you don't want to..." Max searched for the words. He put his hand over Lucy's. .Remember what I said on the phone the other night? About the big What If? I think if you don't do this, there will always be things you never got to say to this guy. I think you need to finish up this chapter in your life so you can move on to the next and better chapter."
       Lucy nodded. "I know you're probably right. But this is going to be rough," she observed.
       Now it was Max's turn to nod. "It will be rough. But I'll be there with you... And Nev. Nev will be there too."
       Nev made his way back to his seat. Once the cameras were rolling again, Nev began, "Hey, guys. So I know you don't want this to happen. But we need to see this episode through."
       "I'll do it," Lucy said before Nev could get into his argument for it.
       With an expression of shock on his face, Nev said, "Alright. I'll go call him." He left the group again. He was gone for only a few minutes. But he came back with success. "Guess where we get to go."
       Before Max or Lucy could take a guess, Nev exclaimed, "Seattle!"

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       Cameras were packed up and mics were taken off. The Gelateria was put back in order. Lucy thanked the young man behind the counter again for putting up with all of the chaos of the day. He laughed it off and gave her a latte on the house. "Hey. Are you busy after this? I get off intern minutes," he told her, fidgeting with the strings of his apron.
      "That's very sweet of you but I was just going to go home. I hope you have a good night though," she let him down gently.
      Max came up behind her. "So we got a flight to Seattle. Plane leaves at 8 am."
      Lucy pulled an overly fake smile. "Can't wait."
      They walked out of the gelato place and stood together on the sidewalk for a bit. Lucy stared at the speck of lent on her left glove. Max examined the cracks in the sidewalk. "So I know you're not looking forward to going tomorrow. We have a night to kill. Do you want to do something to take your mind off of it?"
      "What's tonight?" Lucy asked.
     "Friday."
      Lucy looked up at Max. Her face broke into a mischievous smile. She eyed Max and bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. "I know of something we could do. The question is are you in for some fun?"
       "As long as it's legal," Max laughed, relieved to see her smiling again.
       Lucy slowly nodded. "I'll make some calls. Nev can come too. Hop in my car and I'll take us there."
       With some trepidation, Max backed into the Gelateria. He kept his eye on Lucy. She had pulled her phone out and was typing like mad. He made it inside and told Nev the plan.
      Nev grinned when he heard what was happening. "You like Lucy. You like Lucy," he singsonged. Max playfully shoved Nev. "Max and Lucy. Alright. Let me process." Nev pressed his temples with his index fingers.
     "Are you coming or not?" Max prodded.
     "Of course I'm coming." Nev grabbed his jacket and they headed to Lucy's little hatchback. They couldn't help but notice that Lucy scored a parking spot right in front of the building.

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Hey, everyone! Can you guess where Lucy is taking them? 😏 Comment your guesses!
I'm so excited about your comments and votes! I didn't expect this positive of a reaction. Keep reading and letting me know what you think. 😄😊🤗