In the Pursuit of Mr. Reeves

Chapter 8: Now She Knows

"How much do you know?"

Mr Wick was quiet with his words. He was upset with himself, but Peyton was doing her best to comfort him. Constantine did the same, but he was looking at the floor. All ten men were sitting around a table, not speaking much and keeping their eyes away from the girl. They felt sick to their stomachs as they sat around, waiting for the truth to be revealed. They weren't as nervous, because she knew, but they were still twitching and waiting.

"I only know that you're not real, in a sense," she looked around," You are all fictional characters from the movies of an actor I love. I don't know why you're here or what made you come to life, but I do know that I'm a fan of Keanu. A huge fan, if I'm honest. So when I saw you, I couldn't believe my eyes. I've known since you moved in."

"Then I guess it's time we told you," Mr Wick sighed," Peyton, a year ago this Thanksgiving, we were brought into the world. Brought to life. We only knew there were eleven of us and that we had to come to Keanu. We all got together within a month- but there were only ten of us. I didn't want to come to him until we were sure we had all eleven. It took a year but I think, you, are the missing puzzle piece. You are the last character. And yet, I don't know where you're from."

"I...I'm not a movie character."

The murmurs of the other nine men came together. They were unsure how to react. John, however, had a face of misunderstanding. He tried to process it all, but he didn't know what to say. Constantine noticed his friend's behavior and immediately stepped in.

"Then maybe you're a memorable person in his life," he decided," Someone he's thought of or talked to before or on set-?"

"I've never met him before," the girl said," Guys, I would have loved to be the eleventh person. I've wanted to meet Keanu Reeves since I was a little girl. He's my idol and everything, and meeting him would mean everything to me. But I'm not the person you're looking for."

Mr Wick sighed and looked at the girl. He felt bad for sucking her into this, but he knew they would have to move on. He really wanted to stay. He really wanted it to be this moment. He thanked Peyton for all of her kindness and how he'd miss her. Ted and Rupert showed sadness and Harker, who had tears in his eyes, excused himself as he walked away. Peyton would've spoken up, but she felt as though they'd gone through enough already.

"I'm sorry, guys," she said softly before she found her way to the door.

The snow was piling up but she felt colder than ever. She lost ten of her new friends and she'd never been more upset with herself. She stared at her feet as she made her way home. It had only been half an hour when Peyton, laying in her bed, knew she couldn't give up that easily. She refused to let the boys go, especially when they'd been there in her time of need. She needed to help them and repay the ten for everything they'd done for her. In her mind, she started to formulate a plot, as she threw a coat over her nightgown and rushed outside.

The snow and wind pushed against her face, but she persisted onward. She couldn't let them move away when life was just becoming good. Peyton ran to the front door of the house, half frozen, she heard soft crying. She turned her head to the left and listened closely. The soft crying concerned her as she slowly shuffled to the side of the house. She lifted her eyes into a bedroom, where Rupert and Ted were comforting a crying Harker, even as they cried. Peyton's heart tugged as Rupert and Harker sat on Harker's bed, tears covering his face as he allowed the other two to sit next to him (even though Ted was moving around).

"Maybe we can convince John to let us stay," Ted decided.

"Ted," Rupert shook his head," Mr Wick would never bite it. It's over."

"I...I don't want to leave," Harker whispered," We belong here. We made a close friend. She isn't our eleventh member, but I still feel like she's- she's family. She's one of us and I don't know what I'd do without her."

"We don't either, Harker," Rupert sighed," I...I really don't... but there's nothing we can do."

Rupert was sobbing harder than Harker, but he contained it more so. He was biting his lip and shaking slightly, from both crying and exhaustion Peyton had her plan in mind. She trudged to the front door and knocked furiously. There was no response. She did again and nothing. The third time, Constantine flung the door open and looked wide-eyed at the girl.

"Shit, kid!" he exclaimed as he pulled her in," You're gonna freeze to death! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I need to talk to you guys," she insisted, shivering as the others came out of their rooms.

"We have to leave," Mr Wick stood in the doorway," We have to find the eleventh member."

"It's not about you moving away," Peyton shook, noticing the tears of the boys in the corner,"I'm not here to stop you with that. If you want to leave, so be it, but there's more to think of. Mr Wick, I know that you want to find your eleventh member and get to Keanu. I understand- I mean, I would want to get to Keanu Reeves as soon as I could. But I know he won't be around for forever. You need to seize this opportunity. You need to go out west and get to him before it's too late."

John tried to argue about the eleventh member. Peyton stepped up and looked him in the eye. He paused as she looked away.

"You are a brave man, Mr Wick," she explained," and you are kind-hearted. But you have to do what makes you happy from time to time. Mr Wick, you need to be free."

Everyone held their breaths as they looked to Mr Wick. It all relied on his thoughts. He looked from his team to the young girl. He gave a nod of approval.

"What's your plan?"

"We're gonna drive straight to Hollywood," she said," A big road trip with all of us. We go to Keanu and from there, we figure everything out. Who knows? Maybe we'll get that eleventh member."

"When do we leave?" Constantine asked.

"We'll wait a few days until the storm clears up. Then we can drive out and be on our way."

Mr Wick's approval of the journey was thanked. He asked Rupert,Ted and Harker to walk the girl home in the night. As soon as they left, Harker praised her for her work and ideas. He was now smiling and thanking Heaven that they would be going on a journey together.

"Just a spur of the moment thing," she giggled as they entered the elevator," No need to thank me."

"At least you changed his mind," Rupert said bluntly," That fucker's so stubborn."

They arrived at her apartment quickly after and she thanked them. Before they could leave, Peyton touched Harker's face. He blushed and watched as she rubbed the tears away.

"Don't cry Hark," she whispered," I'm not going anywhere. Goodnight!"

She quickly closed the door, leaving Harker standing in the hallway in shock.

"She knew..."

"I'm not surprised," Johnny sighed and grabbed Harker by the collar," Come on, you hopeless romantic, we have a lot to pack up."