Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 43

LCO 43

"I swear, Cruise, if you don't get this part, I will personally go down there and make them give you the part," I said to him.

"Well, we'll see," he said with a smile.

"Yeah. Look, we gotta catch our flight. Call me before you go in, evens if it's seven at night. I gave you the hotel number, right?" I said. "I think so," he said.

"Okay, you ready to go through security?" Matt came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

"Yeah, let me say bye."

"You'll see him in a few days, come on, you weren't like this saying bye to Ralph for three days."

"No, he's Comin back next week," I said.

"Aw. Well, we'll see ya man," Matt said.

"Yeah," Cruise said, smacking on his gum.

"Look, I'll be in the terminal. Here's ya ticket. Plane's about to leave soon," Matt said.

"Okay," he kissed my cheek and walked away.

"Okay, you're gonna call me before you go in?" I said.

"Yes, I'll be fine," he said.

"And you're not gonna fuck this up?"

"No. Now go before Matt throws a fit for being seen in public too long," he said.

"Okay. Love you," I said.

"Love you," I got on my tip toes and wrapped my arms around his neck as he laid his chin on my back.

"Have a good flight," he said when we drew back.

"Come on! If I was dying, it wouldn't take you this long to say goodbye!" Matt yelled.

"Okay, bye," I said. He bent over and compressed his lips to my cheek for a little while and then backed off. I squeezed his hand and smiled before taking off.

******

"What the hell was that about?" Matt said once the plane was quiet.

"What? The take off?"

"No. You and Cruise, what is this?"

"What? Him kissing my cheek?"

"Yeah, him kissing your cheek! And the taking forever to say goodbye when you're gonna see him in a week. I mean, Essie what are you gonna do when this movie's over?"

"I don't know."

"Look, don't get too attached to this guy, okay? He's your best friend now but wait until 1989 when he's a star and all he does is send you a hallmark card for your birthday. And that's if you're lucky."

"Well, I got attached to you. And look how We're doing."

"We're in coach on our way to go see my parents."

"You're spoiled. We're working with one of the greatest directors in the world to make a movie from one of your favorite books with your dream role and we're going to New York to go see the apartment we're gonna live in together. We're beyond lucky," I said, grabbing hold of his hand.

"Speaking of the apartment, do you have the key?"

"Yes I have it in my carry on," I said.

"You're tired, aren't you?" I said, rubbing my thumb against his stubbled jaw.

"Yeah. Woke me up early."

"You could've shaved, sweetheart," I said.

"I know. But I didn't want to," he said. All that was really heard was te hum of the engine and a baby crying in the back.

"How were your test the other day?" He asked.

"He cut in my upper thigh. It hurt," I said.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't be there."

"It's fine."

"No I should've been there."

"Matt, stop, you're gonna end up beating yourself up about it. I was fine, I had some support, you were working, okay? Now you're tired, just...go to sleep," I said. He leaned down and nuzzled his head into my neck. I reached down and retrieved the blanket from my carry-on and pulled it over both of us.

"I've never done this before," he said.

"I like it."