The Dysfunction Of Evan: Books 1-3 Collection

19. Snake Pit

Two days later I was released and cleared to film. I had to arrange for more time off at work so I'd have time to finish filming around my school schedule. We were two weeks behind, and the film needed to be ready in a little over a month for is premier at TIFF. Time was short and everyone was stressed out, but we made it through. 

Tom and I arrived to set on the final day hand in hand. We did a quick run through the days script, then got started. We only had two scenes. The first was easy, we'd run it several times the day before, and we had it finished in two takes. 

"This is it, guys." Ray said as we took our places for the final scene. "Before we start, I want to say a few things." 

We all gathered around him and he stood up on a chair. 

"This has been hands down the best project I've worked on. We've had an amazing crew and an outstanding cast. We've had a lot of great times, and I'm excited to say it's not over yet. We've got a 95 percent approval rating for the testing audience, and we've been officially green lit for the sequel, The Surrendering of Evan! Everyone's contract is being honored, so if you signed for the potential of two films, you'll be part of the team! Great job everyone, plan to start filming for SoE in March!"

Everyone cheered. I was pulled into several hugs, and among the cast, eyes were damp. We knew the script was in development, though the book hadn't been released yet, the screen writers had full access to it. The book itself would be released in November, and none of us had expected to hear about the sequel film until at least next summer, so we were completely surprised. 

After we had settled down from the news, we cleared our heads, and dove into the final scene. This scene was being shot in an unused part of the hospital I worked at. I was wearing a patient gown and sitting in a bed. Ray called action.

"Evan, glad to see you awake." Natalie said in a dry tone. 

"Hi, Lily." I replied, I made my voice sound disconnected, looking away from her.

"I won't chew your ass off right now, because that shit you pulled isn't priority right now." Emotion caught in her throat. I looked at her. "I feel like you don't deserve to know, but that's only because I'm so fucking pissed at you. You are so fucking selfish, Evan. You don't think about anyone but yourself." She said loudly, tears in her eyes. I gave her a blank look.

"James was in an accident trying to get here." Her tone was strained.

"What?" I said in confusion.

"James was in an accident. He left the conference when we told him about your suicide attempt. He was a mile away and took the expressway exit ramp too fast. He went off the road and slammed into a tree." She was on the verge of yelling. 

"Is he..?" My voice caught. 

"He's in ICU." She said. "Did you even think about how he'd react? You are his world, Evan." She said.

"He deserves better than me." I said in a whisper.

"Yeah, we all do. He's in room 3452, the nurses say they can have security escort you to see him. I'd wait though. No one wants to see you right now, we're all pretty disgusted." She said with a sneer as she turned to leave. 

"Lily, I'm pregnant." I whimpered. "This baby might not be James's. Do you have any concept of how fucked up this has me?" Natalie turned back.

"Do you know how fucked up it is that you'd try to commit suicide over a pregnancy? You didn't even bother to see a doctor, you just assumed. News flash, your rape was five weeks ago. That baby was conceived eight weeks ago." She slammed her fist on the foot board of the bed. "James was hoping and praying for that baby, Evan. You both were."