From Tokyo With Love - A Norman Reedus Fanfic Romance

Chapter 30 - Norman's Blind Squirrel

NORMAN

Three men walked into a bar....

Nah, it's not the opening line to a really bad joke.

Greg held the door open and Scott stepped inside. While I remain on the sidewalk for a few more seconds, admiring the corrugated signage that was installed yesterday.

Just another one of the last finishing touches to our new business venture. And we're having its grand opening next Monday.

Nic & Norman's....Senoia.

"Hurry up, Sunshine. You're letting all the cool air out!"

Greg's voice broke through my thoughts and I strode over the threshold.

Three and a half years ago, I hit the jackpot with probably the biggest and best gig of my life. An ongoing role in a TV production....'The Walking Dead'.

It's the story of life after a viral-style apocalypse. Only most people don't really die....they turn into mindless flesh-eating 'zombies'  instead. Or Walkers as we call them.

Luckily, I'm still one of the living. Part of a rag-tag group of folk who are just trying to survive in any way they can. And when I say 'jackpot'?  I should've really said....total fucking fluke.

My character didn't even exist when I went in for an audition. But the producers liked my reading so much? They created a new character 'Daryl Dixon',  the redneck brother of 'Merle'. The part I'd originally tried out for.

That went to my good mate, Michael Rooker.

In a couple of weeks, we'll commence filming our fourth season.

The Dead's popularity has literally gone through the roof....topping viewer ratings every week all around the globe. Even has its very own 'after'  panel show, following each episode as it airs.

But I flew to Georgia from New York early. Settled into my home down here in order to help Greg out with the final stages of our restaurant.

Both of us came up with the idea last year during a late-night, boozy game of poker. We'd sobered up by the following morning, but the seed had already germinated and flourished.

So we went for it.

"God, guys. I love it!  It's almost like a saloon but a whole lot classier and cosier. Loving the bar and all that wood."

Scott is gazing around in awe and I give a huge grin of satisfaction to Greg. We love it too, like a couple of uber-proud papas.

Scott writes and produces the series. Whereas Greg started in special effects and still manages that. But he moved up to an exec producer role when Scott started last year.

We're good mates, but then it's like that with all the cast and crew. And being part of it? Well....it's like a dream come true and I'm savouring every single second.

And thanking my lucky stars.

"How's it going, Josh?"  I slap our new restaurant manager on the back in a friendly greeting.

"Gidday, Norm. We've caught up on the to-do list....over halfway through it now. Even with the holiday? It'll all be good by Friday. One of the kitchen brigades is out back right now doing some practice runs. And the wait staff are coming in over the weekend for their final training."

"Mate....it's still a green light for Monday's opening!"

His grin was as big as mine and Greg's.

Getting Josh on board was a huge bonus for us. Neither of us plans on being absentee landlords. But we needed a full-time manager who'll look after everything whenever we can't pitch in.