Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 5

"So..." Christine said as we gave the waitress our menus. Matt yawned and raised his fists in the air. I grabbed his wrist as he was making his way to my shoulders and brought it down.

"Come on, Essie," he said.

"Matt. Not now," I said. He put his hand on his left leg.

"So, um, how did you two meet?" Rob said. I adjusted myself unsteadily in the booth. Christine and Rob were sitting next to each other across from us.

"He auditioned for Tex, he was Tex, he asked me to dinner, and the rest is history. And now we're taking a break.... A very tragic break..."

"Essie, you're being a hardass now," Matt said under his breath.

Some girl walked up to the table.

"Are you Matt Dillon?" She asked.

"Yes I am," he smiled.

"Can you sign this for me?" She handed him a receipt. He took her pen and scribbled on it.

"Here you go, doll," he said. She smiled and ran away.

"So you're not really together?" Rob said.

"Not yet," Matt said. He grabbed my hand underneath the table.

"Wow, you're persistent," I said.

"Stop, Essie. Not in front of everyone."

"How did you learn to ride a bike?" Christine asked Rob.

"Well..." He took a sip of coke.

"I was probably about six. And my dad bought me this big blue bike for Christmas. And-" I zoned out.

"Wow, Essie, this is just so great. A fellow auditionee with us and your best friend out to lunch. I thought I could patch things up today at lunch. But no. You brought the competition."

"He's not competition. Trust me if anyone knew it'd be me. And I really don't want to talk about what happened between us."

"And I don't want to either. But we have to! If we ever want a healthy relationship! Do you even want a relationship with me?" The diner was quiet.

"Matt, can I see you?" I said when Rob and Christine and everyone else stared at us. I dragged him outside. Car whirled by and it was plenty loud.

"I don't want to talk about it because it was painful!"

"You don't think it was painful for me too?!"

"You Hid from it!"

"I left because you didn't want me!"

"For reasons you know of!"

"ESSIE I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT FIGHT WAS ABOUT THAT NIGHT! I WAS SCARED WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST GIGANTIC FIGHT!"

"SO YOU CHEATED ON ME AND WENT AND IMPREGNATED SOMEONE ELSE AND I WAS THE ONE GETTING THE PHONE CALLS ABOUT HER ABORTION?! AND YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST COME BACK?!"

"I did! You didn't want me to come

Back. And now you hate me for it!"

"I'm just uncomfortable with it, Matt!"

"So am I!" I stopped and went from my tip toes to my feet.

"I hate fighting with you."

"Then don't. Look Essie," he grabbed my hands. I looked away.

"And this is another thing. You're being a hardass about making up. You're being rude and ridiculous and getting people to tag along to lunch with us to avoid me." My face softened.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I was really being a hardass.

"Look Matt, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would upset you."

"I don't really care anymore. I just want to be clear on the fact that you'll be okay with getting along with me," he said, grabbing my hands again.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. It's just been so hard on my own and dealing with everything. And I guess it's not completely your fault. I would've gone incognito too. I'm sorry, Matt," I said, wrapping my arm around his stomach and laying my head into his chest. He kissed the top of my head and held me. After that, we walked back inside and sat back at our booth to see Rob and Christine really looking at each other and holding hands. I realized I was crying out there and wiped my face.

We were interrupted another 3 times for autographs during lunch.