Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 46

LCO 46

"I'm telling ya, Cruise, it was like an episode of I Love Lucy," I said, taking sip of bourbon from the glass.

"Jesus, Essie, it couldn't have been that bad," he said on the other end of the phone.

"His father thought I was lying about my heart. Why the hell would I do that?" I said.

"Come on, Essie, it probably wasn't that bad."

"Oh, yeah? When Matt comes back from the interviews, you can ask him?"

"How's New York?"

"Gorgeous."

"What about the apartment?"

"It looks like something you'd see out of a magazine, Tom. I swear, it's beauitful."

"You think you're gonna settle down there?"

"Yeah until his dad chases us out," I said.

"Essie, are you drinking?"

"Maybe."

"Put it away, darlin."

"It's just a little bourdon," I said.

"Essie."

"Did I tell you? I talked to my parents today?"

"Really? What happened?"

"I told them I was moving into an apartment and I needed some money and they gave- are you ready?- two thousand dollars!"

"Two THOUSAND dollars?"

"Yeah my parents are rich spoiled pricks. Giving me two thousand dollars is like blowing their noses in hundred dollar bills."

"What are you gonna use the money for?"

"Furniture I guess." I heard the hotel door open.

"Hey, love. Are you still talking to him?" Matt walked in and sat down on the bed next to me.

"Yes."

"Whatcha drinkin? Bourbon? Come on, Essie."

"Sorry," I said.

"Come on, get off the phone with him, I brought dessert," he said.

"Cruise, I gotta go."

"Bye."

"Bye."

"Now how was your day?" I asked. He leaned down and kissed me over and over until I didn't have any breath left.

"Good. Yours?"

"Good. You know who I talked to today?"

"Who?"

"My parents."

"YOUR PARENTS?!"

"Yeah. Told them I got myself a place in New York and they gave me two thousand dollars."

"Two THOUSAND?"

"Two thousand."

"Essie, this is going to be great. A big apartment, a family," he said.

"Not a family quite yet."

"Not yet, but soon."

"Soon."

******

"Okay, do NOT let them drown you, Tommy. You bet fight for it. Tap his arm when it's too much," Francis told Tommy. Tommy nodded. He was held by four other guys by the arms and legs and he was about to be dunked in the fountain.

"Is the heater on?" Francis said. One of the mechanics nodded.

"Okay. Action!"

"Get him!" One of the guys said and started to strangle Tommy. Tommy kicked and punched but the Socs brought him over the fountain and dropped him on the edge.

"Son of a bitch! Grab his arms!" Leif yelled. They started to dunk his heD in the fountain and Tommy struggled to breathe. He tapped Darren's arm twice and they lifted him up. Leif took the flask from another Soc and started to dump it on Tommy. Ralph was in the back, being kicked by the other Socs. We heard a sudden boom and smoke started to emerge from the fountain.

"Fucking..." Francis ran over to the fountain without saying cut.

"The heater's broken! The heater's- you know what? Keep going. Start again. Take two. I'm not dealing with this shit!" Francis yelled. I looked at Susie.

"This is not the first time he's shot this scene," Susie said.

"What?"

"This is the last night shoot for this scene. While you were gone we filmed."

"Crap."

"Tommy's coming down with something."

"Awesome. At break, I'll check it out." They did the scene twelve more times before Francis finally called it a night and we could go sleep.

"Hey, Tommy!" I jogged over to him as he wiped his face with a towel.

"Hey, I didn't know you were back already."

"Yeah, I got in this morning. Susie tells me you're getting sick?"

"Oh, a little. I was starting to feel bad but I didn't want to say anything," he said.

"Well how about we go back to the hotel and check it out?"

"okay."

*****

"Yeah. That's right. You got a high fever," I said, holding the thermometer up to the light.

"How high?" He said.

"103. You're staying in bed," I said. He crawled under the covers a little more.

"But Francis-"

"I don't give a shit what Francis says," I said. He sighed and turned on his side.

"You hot, Tommy?"

"Yeah."

"Take your jeans and shirt off. You'll cool off," I said. I walked into the bathroom when he did and when I came out he was shirtless in bed.

"Look, I don't know what you have whether it's just a bad cold or the flu or strep but you're gonna stay in bed. And I'll be right here tomorrow to take care of you, okay?"

"Okay."

"What's going on? I thought you were gonna come to bed," Matt barged in. I realized I left the door open.

"I am, but Tommy's sick. I'm coming soon," I said.

"Yeah, well Cruise called. Said he needed to talk to you. And quickly."

"Okay, I'll call later. Night, Tommy. Get a lot of rest. Let Rob know if you need me and he'll come get me okay?"

"Okay."

"Night."