Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 25

LCO 25

I sat back in the chair and watched Francis talk to the crew and cast. The other night when Matt said he didn't even remember what our fight was about had been really bothering me because I hadn't either. So I just sat there and tried to figure out what the hell happened that night that initiated all this crap to happen. And then it all suddenly came to me in a rush, overwhelming me until I was shaking and tears filled my eyes. The broken vase, the screaming, the blood on the hands, the hole in the wall, the hoarseness of my voice the next day. I pushed myself together and began to cry into my arms. And tried to take long solid breaths when I heard footsteps. I was almost sure it was Susie but when I looked up I saw Matt's boots. Oh my God, please, I didn't want him seeing me like this.

"Hey, Francis wants you to- hey, what's wrong?" He squatted and came to my eye level.

"I remember the fight we had," I said.

"what?"

"I remember what we fought about," I said.

"Aw," he looked over to the cast, "I... I'm sorry but I can't do this right now, babe."

"I'm sorry. Go, just go do your scene."

"Well, Francis wants you up here just in case anything happens," he said.

"Okay, okay," he held his hand out and I grabbed it.

"Come on. You can tell me at lunch," he said, putting his arm around me and taking me to Susie and Francis. I had my own chair and he sat me down in it. We were located by the Curtis house and then later we would go down the street and film the street scenes for the beginning.

"Now, look, talk to me at lunch, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you," he kissed me and started to go off when Susie pulled him aside.

"What happened?"

"She remembered what happened the night of the big fight," he said.

"Essie," Susie touched my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Susie," I said, wiping my eyes. I didn't realize Matt was still there.

"Okay! Tommy, take your places!" I saw Tommy slouch cooly by the edge of the sidewalk and the red mustang was next to him.

"Take 1, scene 1," Gray slapped the stick on the clapperboard.

"Action!" Francis called.

Tommy started to jog and then stopped when the mustang halted and all the boys spilled out of the car.

"Hey, greaser!" They crowded around Tommy and the boom guy dipped the microphone down.

"You wanna a haircut, grease?" One of them said. One tried to touch his hair but Tommy pushed his way.

"Get him one. Get him guys," one of them dipped down and pinned Tommy against the door. After struggling, Tommy surrendered to the floor.

"Look, sweetheart, don't let this ruin the first day of filming. Okay?" Matt whispered. But at this point, I was more interested in watching Tommy. Matt held my hands but I stared At the scene.

"Come on greaser! Hold still!" One of them screamed. Tommy got up and basically crawled to a spot a short distance away. They instantly jumped on top of him.

"Maybe here somewhere... Or here...or maybe how about here!" The sox had whipped the prop knife with the red paint on it and slid across Tommy's throat.

"DARRY! DARRY!" He hollered.

"Shut him up!"

"Son of a bitch!" They stuffed a white hankie in my mouth and then scurried off.

"CUT! Go back and do it again! Places!"

"I'm gonna go get everybody some water," I said, releasing from Matt's grip.

"Hey, you're gonna be okay?" Matt said, turning my chin up with one finger.

"Yeah."

"Good."

He lowered his head and kissed me before going to talk to Francis. I walked back to the nurses station where the water cooler happened to be and saw Christine and Rob in the corner.

"What are you too doing here?" I teased. Rob had his arms around her and he released his lips from hers.

"Rehearsing...lines..."

"Yeah. Sure," I said, grabbing a couple bottles. Rob nervously laughed.

"I'll help ya with that," he started grabbing bottles and walking away. Christine came over to me smiling and starting to grab bottles.

"He's a keeper."

"I know."