A Story to Remember

Chapter 21 Just Out of Reach

Chelsea-

I cannot believe I’m actually here; it’s the last place I thought I’d ever be. I’m in Finland, all because of Zach and Gavin. Gavin because I’m working with him on this TV contract, and Zach because he paid Gavin’s producer to shooting in Finland with 150 grand. Now here we are. Right outside her trailer.

“Chels,” Zach says, his hand still holding mine, something about it feels right, but this other part feels wrong, “It’ll all be okay.” He takes his free hand to knock on the door, “Hello?”

The door opens and a girl that looks exactly like Sarah opens the door standing in the doorway. “Yes,” a heavy Finnish accent answers her eyes trained on something behind her. She turns around and she looks shocked for a split second, but she puts on a friendly smile, “Hello, I’m Serina. No one told me I had guests.” She nervously tugs at the bracelet on her left wrist. A bracelet with a white stone on it, a gold star painted on it.

“Sarah,” I whisper in quiet disbelief.

“I’m sorry.” Her accent making it difficult to understand, she’s still playing with her bracelet.

“Sorry, my best friend always did the same thing whenever she was nervous.” I cover quickly, “Who gave you that bracelet?”

“My best friend.” She answers, “For my birthday.”

“May I see it?” I ask her, she looks reluctant, but pulls it off. I study each charm and stop at the one in the shape of the Hollywood star, I turn it over and the inscription says ‘To Sarah, my best friend. From Chels.’ “Sarah.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sarah,” I start, “I know it’s you, look.” I show her the pendant; her face goes pale before she regains composure. “I gave you this on your birthday before I left Hollywood.”

“I’m sorry; my friend bought this from a pawn shop just last week.” Serina says. Her Ths sound like Ds, her Ws sound like Vs, and her Js sound like Zs. it’s almost impossible to interpret. “My birthday was just two days ago.”

My heart begins pounding, Sarah would never pawn off her lucky charm bracelet in Finland. “How much do you want for it?” I ask, “I have four hundred Euros, I can get more.”

“I cannot sell my bracelet, my best friend gave it to me,” she explains.

“Please, it belonged to my best friend. She must have been desperate to sell it. She went missing a few years ago; I just want something of her to remember her.”

“We’re sorry to have bothered you Miss Frederickson” Zach says, “We’ve been looking for our friend since she disappeared two years ago. Have a good afternoon.” Zach pulls me away from the trailer.

“I can't do it anymore.” I fight back tears, “It’s all too much.”

“I’m sorry Chels,” Zach says he looks about as depressed as I feel, “We were so close.”

“I just want to go back to the room.” I say the tears threatening to fall. Zach wraps his arms around me and the tears slowly fall from my eyes onto his shirt.

Gavin-

Austin and I meet up with Chelsea and Zach back at the gate, when Zach shakes his head we know things didn’t go so well.

“She pawned her bracelet.” Chelsea repeats, “She pawned her lucky bracelet.”

Austin walks Chelsea to the waiting cab. She’s still repeating those words until she’s out of earshot.

“I take it things didn’t go too well.” I start walking slowly with Zach.

“Sarah’s been here, possibly.” Zach says, “Serina has her lucky bracelet,” I guess that’s what Chelsea was talking about when she mentioned charm bracelet. “All the charms that Chelsea gave her along with it, inscriptions and all.” Zach explains, “Chels was crushed,” I would be too if it were me. “She tried to buy the bracelet for four hundred plus Euros.”

“She does know how much that is in American money right?” I ask him.

He shakes his head, “Probably not, she was too upset to think straight.” He looks at me and for the first time I notice how sad he looks. “She’s lost her best friend a couple dozen times now. But this is the closet we’ve ever come.”

“Mr. Cameron!” A girl’s voice calls the Finnish accent very apparent. Zach doesn’t slow or stop, “Mr. Cameron! Please!”

“Serina.” He mumbles quietly to himself before taking a deep breath, stopping, and turning around to face her, “Yes Miss Fredrickson?”

“Please, I saw how crushed and heartbroken your girlfriend was,” Serina says. ‘Girlfriend?’ I ask myself, I look over to Zach; he doesn’t correct her, “My friend will understand.” She removes the bracelet and places it in his hand. “I hope you find your friend.”

“I don’t think we will,” he says defeat filling his voice, “But thank you anyway. This will mean the world to Chels.” Serina smiles and hurries off Zach stands still running his fingers over each charm. He flips one of them over, “‘To Sarah, my best friend. From Chels.’”

“Chels is waiting.” I say, not really expecting an answer from Zach, but he starts walking toward the cab behind me.

Back in the cab Chelsea is sitting quietly, Zach and I slide in and Austin gives the driver the address. “Chels,” Zach says looking in the mirror from the front seat. Chelsea looks up, tears staining her cheeks. Zach turns around in his seat, “I have something that you may want.” He hands her the bracelet, “Serina saw how heartbroken you were, and she wants you to have it.” Chelsea cradles the bracelet in her hands. “I know how much you loved Sarah’s bracelet.”

“Thank you Zach.” Chelsea says quietly sliding on the bracelet. She smiles as she jingles it on her wrist. Something so simple can make someone so happy.

“No problem Chels,” Zach shrugs it off as the cab pulls up under the portico for the hotel where the cast and crew are staying. The doorman opens the front and back door to the cab. Chelsea slides out after Austin and I slide out on the other side.

Once in the hotel suit Chelsea busies herself in the kitchen. “Chels, do you want to run lines later?” I ask her receiving no response, “Chels, earth to Chelsea.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Chelsea’s voice is suddenly alert holding a large knife.

“Lines,” I repeat, “Do you want to run them later?”

“Sure,” she says visibly relaxing and returning to her cooking.

“Can I help?” Zach offers.

“Not today thanks though.” Chelsea says. Chelsea’s phone goes off she continues to cook as if she doesn’t even hear it ringing.

“Chels, are you going to answer that?” Austin asks, worry written across his face and in his stance.

She picks up the towel and wipes of her hands before picking up her phone, “Hello, you’ve reached Chelsea.” Her voice filled with fake happiness. Her eyes sorrowful, “I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong number.” She hangs up the phone and turns it off. She puts dinner in the oven and walks into her bedroom without another word.

“I shouldn’t have stopped.” Zach says the guilt hanging from his words. He stands up and heads to Chelsea’s room. “Chels!” He knocks on her door, “Chels! Let me in!” Chelsea’s door opens just a fraction and Zach walks in.

AN: What do you guys think about the lead? What about Chelsea and Zach?