Be My Sunflower

Supportive Stocklin

Today was a long set day, I'd probably be walking home in the dark. That didn't really bother me because the skyline was breathtakingly beautiful and the walk always cleared my head.

I finished a scene and waited for the crew to set up the next shot, watching them follow your visions and make them a reality was such a trip.

"Hey Coll, we are going to film the float scene so Erik can go home he's been here nearly 9 hours. That okay?" Christopher asked me.

"Oh, absolutely. I'll go get him." I headed towards his trailer and grabbed a water for him and a coke for me because hello, I'm not a fish. I knocked on his door and heard him say it's open and went inside.

He was on his small couch, an earbud plugging one of his ears. "Hi."

"Hey Stocklin." I said handing him a water. "We are going to film the scene after the parade when Patrick is still inside the float, so you can get out of here. Sound good?"

He nodded, smiling to himself. "Sounds good, that's the uh, kissing scene right?"

"Yeah, awkward right." I laughed, opening my coke.

He laughed softly, "That's the point. How are things?" He asked, I got flustered not wanting to let on that my marriage was crumbling.

"Yes it is, hows Mekenna?" I attempted a topic change.

"She's good, thank you." When he spoke I could hear something in his voice that was off.

"Everything alright?"

"Just having some issues, we haven't been in a good place for a while I suppose." He sipped his water and looked up at me.

I nodded, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright. How's your husband?" Ok he asked again, my heart told me to trust him but my heart had been very wrong before. I decided to trust the organ one more time.

"Um." I laughed awkwardly, "He's...."

"Would I be too forward if I asked why he isn't here supporting you?" He asked, his words were so delicate and cautious.

"He um, he seemed to feel that if I took this I wasn't dedicated to him and our marriage. He mentioned the word selfish. So there's that."

Erik's face was unreadable for the first time since I'd met him, overwhelmed with emotions. After a few seconds he leaned forward, "I am so sorry he didn't believe in you. For what it's worth, I do. This project is so incredible, I'm honored to be a part of it. Everything works out the way it's supposed to."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I turned my head away from him, "Thanks." Was all I could manage.

"I'm serious, I don't know him but if it was my wife that got an incredible opportunity you wouldn't find me anywhere but by her side the entire journey."

Tears fell over and ran down my cheek, I quickly tried wiping them staring at his trailer door hoping my hair would hide it. My heart was shattered that someone I'd met a month ago believed in me more than a man I've chosen for over 7 years.

"Are you...crying?" I wiped my face again and tried to answer, but I felt his arm wrap around my shoulder and I lost my battle and cried. He had no idea why I was crying, barely knew me and was comforting me who was he? "I'm sorry I made you cry."

"It's not you." I wiped at my face again, knowing I had to go back to make-up. "I mean, you just said what I've been trying to convince myself for years. He's not working and it terrifies me."

He released me a bit and handed me a tissue, "That's why I haven't settled down, I mean I love her but is she my person? I don't know about that. I hate having those doubts, but they are there so we listen to them."

I nodded, blotting at my face. "I ignored my doubts and now I'm in a massive mess and I don't see the bottom of it all."

"I'm betting you will figure it all out and do what's best for yourself, something tells me you aren't the type to just give up on anything." He squeezed me into his chest in a one-armed hug and rubbed my shoulder, he was honestly such a gentle soul. I let him hug me and pulled away, his words resonated though, they made me smile inside and out. He just reminded me how strong I was and that Josh was getting one more chance at this, if he couldn't be the husband I deserved I'd need to leave.

Erik nodded and grabbed his water, "Should we head back to set?"

"Eager much?" I teased lightly, tossing my wet tissue in his trash. I headed down the trailer steps and he was right behind me.

"I mean..." he joked.

I laughed freely, happy that joking around with him wasn't stressful. I didn't feel the need to walk on eggshells or hide who I really was, he was just happy to be here.

"Wow, Erik!" I headed to makeup, Erik followed me which surprised me. "Can you fix this, John? Sorry."

He looked at my face and smirked, "What happened?"

"I'm a hot mess, I cried." He began fixing my makeup and I opened my mouth so he could reapply my lipstick.

"Uh-oh!" He sang.

"What?" I asked, looking up at him. Erik leaned on the wall and watched with an amused look on his face.

"Are you pregnant?" John asked, Erik smiled harder which told me he knew why John said uh-oh before I did.

"God no. No, I'm just...a crier." John re-applied foundation under my eyes and glanced at Erik and smiled. "Why do you two keep smiling, am I missing something?"

Erik waved his hand, "No"

"I'm sorry I thought you were pregnant." He nodded, "All fixed!"

"I don't mind and thanks, no more crying today." I pointed at Erik and waved my finger at him accusationly.

He shrugged and I followed him to set, "Why was he so apologetic?" I asked, causing Erik to chuckle.

"Maybe because of the way you yelled no as if you were disgusted by the mere thought of it."

"I did that?" I asked, he nodded. "Oh I didn't realize."

We got to Christopher and Erik bumped me with his shoulder as we watched the crew set the float into the shot. He smiled down at me, I looked like a damn fool but he always acted the same it was nice.

"Stop it, Stocklin." I hip checked him and smirked.

"Do I have to kiss you? What about a re-write, Patrick could try to kiss Miranda and then you go too hard and bump foreheads instead. I like that." I knew he was joking, nothing gave it away except his eyes.

"Sounds good, but I'm gonna go hard." I smirked, I wasn't as good at hiding my feelings as he was.

"Oh I wouldn't expect anything less." He smiled sincerely and I checked the camera angle and nodded at Christopher when he told us we could start.

They doused Erik's face and neck with water and he got into position inside the float and did several of his scenes. I was still in such awe  watching him go into character so easily, watching him move his face and body posture and immediately fall into this quirky, awkward character. I loved Patrick, he was my favorite character in the entire series!

"Great! Erik I love working with you, you do all your scenes perfectly, deliver them professionally and we are done so fast. You're an absolute joy my man!" Christopher gushed, doing a playback.

"Thank you. You get good stuff?" He asked, leaning on he handlebars.

"Perfect footage man, you could teach miss gigglebox a thing or two." He joked, poking my shoulder.

He smiled at me and I shrugged, "I can't help it."

"Alright let's do this scene."