Lights, Cameras, Outsiders!

Chapter 80

LCO 80

"Hey, you leavin now?" Cruise knocked on the open door of the hotel room.

"Yeah, Matt's with Susie at the airport. I gotta take the bus down there," I said, zipping up my suitcase and walking to the door.

"I'll drive you there," he said. I raised one eyebrow.

"No funny business this time," he said.

"Okay," I said, following him out to the his car. I put my suitcase in the back seat and hopped in the passenger as he started the car. He didn't pull out yet and dug in his back pocket for a second.

"This...is for you," he handed me a red envelope.

"What is it?"

"Open it."

I tore the lip open and pulled out a check.

"No, Cruise, I can't take your money."

"No, you two need it for the apartment."

"No, we seriously can't take your money. It's-it's too much."

"Look, from my family to yours."

"Cruise-"

"Essie, if you don't take the check, I'll give it to Matt and I know he'll gladly take my money..." Cruise said.

"But Tom-"

"No. Take it." I sighed and leaned over to hug him.

"Thank you," I said.

"Look, I know it's been rough recently between us but I want things to be the way they were before...before all the crap and the beating and the fights and the tension."

"I do too but Matt's not too happy."

"Matt's never going to be happy with him. But I want you to. So I don't want to try any shit anymore I just want to be your friend. Is that a lot to ask?"

"No."

"So...can we just still be friends?"

"Yeah...I think we can do that."

********

"How you feeling?" I said to Matt. He wrapped the blanket tighter around him and stared out the airplane window. I laid my palm on his forehead.

"Sick."

"You are a little sick. You have a fever," I said. The man next to me in coach whipped around.

"It's not contagious. It's not even an illness," I disclaimer before looking back at Matt.

"I just wanna see my mom. She makes the best soup," he said. I ran my fingers through the side of his hair.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. And until we get a bed in tat apartment, I want to sleep at my Ma's. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. It's fine."

"Essie, you know my dad doesn't hate you right?"

"Whatever you say."

"I mean it. When my mom told him we were engaged she said he seemed pretty happy."

"Yeah well my dad's happy too," I said.

"But your moms not."

"She's never happy about anything earthly. You know I don't think she'll be at the wedding," I said.

"Let her be. She just had a baby."

"Five months ago. It's gotten worse. I'm telling you she wasn't this bitchy when I was younger."

"In her defense, she did send you away and then you as a surprise came back with your boyfriend," Matt said.

"And my dad gave you his blessing on that trip!"

"Look don't focus on her. Focus on us," he said, snatching my hand.

"I love you," I said.

"Then will you have children with me?"

"One day."

"No I mean soon."

"Why do you want kids so badly, Matt?"

"Because...I don't know, I just do."

"Well we can wait. Just keep thinking about it and wait."

"But I don't want to wait four, five years."

"Then in a couple months we'll try, okay? I don't want to be pregnant for my wedding day."

"SHHH! We're trying to get some sleep here," the man next to me said.

"I get it," Matt whispered, "but I feel like soon is the right time."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I think I could handle it."

"Matt, what makes you think you can handle kids?"

"Uh, I'm nice and I like children."

"No you don't. You shoved Chalk up your little brothers nose."

"That was a year ago!" He hissed.

"I'll think about it."

"Tomorrow will you give me an answer?"

"Are you giving me a choice?"

"No."

"Then tomorrow I'll give you an answer."