Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 11

LCO 11

"So you're really willing to go steady with me now?" Matt said the next week at lunch.

"I'm willing to do whatever now."

"But just a week ago you hated me," he said.

"I didn't hate you, Matt. I just.. was being an asshole to you, I didn't know what to do," I said.

"Well, I'm glad you seemed to change your mind," he smiled. Good, God, that smile. I stopped for a minute just to remember it.

"Why you staring at me like that?" He laughed.

"I don't know. I like you," I said.

"I have your jacket in my car. You left it last night after we, uh,... shook the sheets."

"Stop," I slapped his hand.

"Your place or mine tonight?"

"I feel like a piece of meat, Matt, I'm not sure yet," I said.

"Aw, come on, after this, we're going to be separated for a week."

"A week without sex, how will you live?"

"Come on, Essie, for real. If you don't want to, we won't," he said.

"I'll think about it," I said.

"HEY!" Rob and Christine popped in and stood at the table.

"Hey! Here, I'll-" Matt got out of that side of the booth and came and sat next to me.

"How have you been?" Christine asked.

"Better than ever," I said.

"Hey, look, I need to ask you something later, okay?" Matt said.

"We were just talking, you couldn't have asked me then?"

"Can I talk to you outside then?" he said.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry," I said to Rob and Christine.

"It's no problem," Rob said smiling. Once he thought we were out of plain sight, I saw him lean closer to Christine. His lips read,

"What do you think he's asking?" Nosy. Matt guided me outside the diner and to an empty bus stop.

"Have you heard anything from your parents lately?" he asked.

"No. Not for almost two years. Why?" I said.

"Good. Because I got some good news and some bad news."

"What's the bad news?"

"Disney's not too happy with Tex and all the language and the violence," he said.

"Well... tell Tim to cut out most of the language, but that's the climax is when Tex is shot."

"I know, I know..."

"Ok, then what' s the good news?"

"They want to have a small premiere in Tulsa so I wanted to know if you'd be my date," he said.

I snickered.

"Yes, I will be your date. Now can we stop being the worst double daters ever and go back inside?"

"One more thing," he grabbed the sides of my face and kissed me.

"I love you." It was the first time he had said since he left me a while ago. I smiled.

"I love you too." He led me back inside and we sat back down in the booth.

"What was that? Gettin' married?" Rob teased.

"No. Just another important date," I said.

"You do know everyone has to come in for a prelude kind of thing tomorrow," Christine said.

"Yes, Tommy's freaking out about it. He says he not going to be able to chew gum on set or something," Matt said.

"I didn't know you talked to Tommy," I said.

"Yeah, because he's always arguing with Ralph, it's annoying," he said.

"We're gonna talk about sleeping arrangements, meals, medical care, physical training, rehearsals, costume, hair, makeup, props, everything. It's just an information meeting," I said.

"So I can tell Tommy to calm down," Rob said.

"I think the first decision of the meeting should be the agreement of cutting these luscious locks off," I formed my fingers like scissors and grabbed onto the ends of Matt's long hair.

"No, you are not cutting off my hair," he said, moving away as we all laughed.

"Then you really shouldn't have tried out for the part because Dallas does not have long hair," I said.

"Aw, come on, Matt, it's not that bad. I got mine cut off. It grows back," Rob said.

"I'll see..." Matt said.

"No, you're getting it cut off. Even if we have to hold you down and Emilio does it, you're getting it cut," I said.

"Okay," Matt met his forehead with mine and laid a kiss on me.

We ate and had dessert and talked a little more before finally heading out. Matt was talking to Rob about the prelude meeting tomorrow when I pulled Christine.

"He asked me to go steady with him," I said.

"Oh my gosh, does this mean it's official?"

"Yes," she bit her lip to keep from squealing as I just smiled like a moron.

"Come on you two. We got to get up early tomorrow."