A Story to Remember

Chapter 30 Operation Sarah

Gavin-

Pulling up to the hotel in the taxi, I can see how nervous Chelsea is. “Chels relax” I tell her getting out of the cab and paying the driver.

“Easy for you to say.” She answers, “You’re not about to launch a plan to confront your friend who’s been missing for the past two years.” Chelsea heads inside the building to the elevator. We both climb in and she doesn’t say another word. The elevator opens at our floor she gets out and unlocks the room door, “Austin? Zach?”

“Chels?” one of them calls, “We’re in the kitchen.”

She silently heads to the kitchen and I follow quickly behind her, “What are you two trying to do in here destroy the place?” she asks looking around at the destroyed kitchen.

“We were trying to cook?” Austin shrugs, “And it’s not working out so well.”

“So do you want to tell me this brilliant plan of yours?” Zach asks.

“Later,” I tell him, “After you two restore this kitchen to working condition and get cleaned up.” she gives a smile, “Then I'll talk, but not before.” Chelsea turns around, “Oh, and if you were trying to brown the meat, you might want to turn on the stove.”

About an hour and a half later, we’re all in the living room eating take out and discussing Chelsea’s plan. “Since Sarah won't come out and admit she’s who she is, then we have to convince her it’s okay.” She starts, “Here’s the plan.” She speaks quickly and explains everything in detail, “We good?”

“Good as gold.” Zach confirms, “Tomorrow we start.”

“Tomorrow,” Chelsea repeats, “We only have two weeks left in Finland.”

“Then three more before your contract with Price is up.” Zach says

“I’ve been thinking,” Chelsea starts slowly, Austin’s face goes pale and he looks worried, “I want to keep acting, but on my own terms.” Austin physically relaxes, “There’s a new producer I saw one of their ads online. I checked them out and I liked one of their plots for a new movie. It’s a Christian group so I think it’s worth a shot. They’re willing to only film during school breaks and leave out holidays. Leaving me plenty of time for family and my friends, and of course school.”

“Chels, I think that’s a great idea.” Zach says immediately.

“I think so too.” Austin adds, “You get to do what you love and you still have time for Pineview.”

“I'll shoot them an email and try to get an interview.” Chelsea says

Chelsea-

One and half weeks later Zach and I are in Serina’s trailer, “Serina, can I practice telling you something that I’d have to tell Sarah when I saw her again.”

“Why not?” she asks in resignation, “Long as it’s nothing to do with something about her.” She stops and looks over at me, “Go ahead.”

“Well, Sarah and I were on a TV series together and our characters had a cat. I left it with Sarah’s parents; I got a call recently about said cat.” I explain, I feel awful for doing this, but I have to do this. If it’s Sarah, she’ll flip; if not she won't know the difference. “Mini, that’s the cat, had to be put down a few weeks ago.”

“No!” Serina shouts, “They can't.”

“Sarah,” Zach says, “Stop hiding, you just blew your cover.”

“Okay fine, so it is me,” Sarah says, “You just can't tell anyone. I'll call my parent and see if they’ll move here,” she says, “But I’m not returning to Hollywood. I have a life here. I promise we’ll keep in touch.”

“Sarah, why?” I ask, the three of us knowing what I meant.

“You chose your boyfriend over me, and since you told me about what was going on with Kat and Jackson, I’d been receiving the same kind of letters.” She says, “That night, when you chose to run lines instead of run that was it, the last straw. I was done. I ran and never looked back, not until now.” She looks over to me, but her eyes clouded with distant thoughts, thoughts that Zach and I have no hopes of reaching. “I didn’t really change my name,” she says finally, “Only my last name.”

“You’re probably going to want this back.” I tell her handing her back the charm bracelet. She smiles and accepts it gratefully. “We have to go back to the set, but call us if you need anything.” I take out a sheet of paper with both our contact information. “Goodbye Sarah,” I tell her quietly.

“Goodbye Chels,” she answers, “Goodbye Zach.” She says. I see something flash across his eyes as he answers her.

“Goodbye Sarah,” he says keeping his gaze focused on the door. His voice doesn’t give away any pain he’s feeling, but masking it behind a neutral tone.

“I will never forget you.” She says her fake Finnish accent turned back on, “I will remember you both always.” She says, her eyes going from Zach to me, “I won’t forget all that you’ve both done for me through the years. Thank you. Both of you.”

Before Sarah could say another word, Zach takes my hand and drags me out of her trailer and off the set where she’s working back to the set where I’m working. I let him pull me that far before I fight back. “Zach,” I try to keep my voice level, but he’s worrying me. I pull back from him.

“I can’t lose you,” he says, his eyes filled with a pain that I can’t seem to erase or even reach.

“I’m not going anywhere Zach.” I answer him, “You couldn’t get rid of me even if you wanted to.” He gives me a look that doesn’t look very convinced, “Not this time.”

Without another word, he wraps his arms around me so tightly I can’t breathe, but right now, it doesn’t seem to matter. “I can’t lose you.” He repeats I place my hands on his chest to try to get him to loosen his grip on me, but I can feel his heart racing in his chest and breathing seems like it’s less important than the healing that’s going on inside of him. After a few more minutes he lets go and runs a hand through his thick hair, “Sorry about that.” he mutters quietly.

“Don’t, be,” I answer him, “I’m not.” He looks over, “Well, aside from the fact that I couldn’t breathe for a few minutes it was rather enjoyable.” I smile and he finally cracks a smile and for the first time since we became friends again, he looks like the old him the one I knew before Sarah left.

“All Cast and crew to set!” the director calls. I look over to Zach whose back to being my unreadable friend whose heart still lies uncovered in the shadows.

“Go.” He says. “I'll meet up with Austin and we’ll wait by your trailer” I give him a hug and head off, casting a final look at him before turning the corner.