They arrived in Santa Monica mid afternoon. It was a little cool and cloudy. The forecast that morning had said it might rain later. They found a car park and parked the car. As they came out onto the street Billy glanced at the new watch on his wrist after the fasteners that held the strap on his old watch had broken. Dom had known just the place to go and had taken him there. It was every actor's favourite shop. Billy walked across the wooden floor of the shop admiring the watches on display
All the watches were stylish but Billy hadn't found one that stood out as the one he really wanted. As Dom looked at him he began to think that maybe shopping for a watch wasn't such a good idea. Billy had a plane to catch and it seemed he might not find anything he liked. Then Dom spotted the perfect watch for Billy. It had a brown leather strap and a big chunky face, which he knew he would love. Billy's favourite colours were earthy colours. It would look good on him and would match the clothes he liked to wear and compliment his fair skin. Dom called Billy over and showed him the watch. He watched Billy's face light up. He knew it was the one. Dom insisted that he bought it for him making Billy feel a little bleary eyed. He thanked Dom with a hug. Then he was like a little kid, wanting to wear it there and then and Dom helped him with the buckle as he put in on in the shop. The feel of the new leather against his skin felt good.
" Thanks," Billy said, admiring the watch on his wrist. It would be nice to have something to remind him of their friendship.
Santa Monica was quiet. It was Monday lunchtime and the weekend visitors had gone. They strolled down to the almost deserted beach, sand, the colour and texture of a crumbly shortbread mix and pale blue sky.
" Surfs up dude!" Billy joked as he removed his boots and ran off towards the ocean. Dom watched him for a while and then slipped off his trainers, rolled up the legs of his jeans and chased after him. They went into the ocean as far as they could without getting their clothes too wet. It felt good to be carefree and feel the breeze from The Pacific on their faces and in their hair.They came out and stood for a while, remembering surfing in New Zealand and watching the waves roll off the ocean and letting the sand cover their feet.
Dom , always the generous friend, picked up their footwear and they strolled along the edge of the water. They reached the boardwalk down by the pier. They sat on the steps and brushed the now dry sand out between their toes before putting their boots and trainers back on. Then they walked up the steps and along the pier, past the Ferris wheel and the miniature kites blowing in the wind on a nearby stall. They chatted and at the end of the pier they lent against the pale blue railings and looked out across the ocean. Dom reminisced about his childhood and trips to the seaside.
" I wish I had some tales to tell," Billy sighed and shivered as the wind picked up. Dom placed his hand on Billy's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. He could only imagine what it must have been like for him and his sister losing their parents.
" I'm sorry," and he wondered when he would see his friend again. They were in Santa Monica to say goodbye. Dom was making a life for himself in LA, whilst Billy was paid to travel and meet fans when he wasn't acting.
"Shall we eat ? " Dom asked, trying not to think of how empty his life was going to be for awhile. Billy was going home.
" I guess we should," Billy replied and stood up straight.
" Come on!" Dom said, taping his arm.
" where are we going?" He asked
" A taste of home," Dom replied.
They walked down Santa Monica Boulevard to The Old Kings Head. The pub was a home away from home for Brits.
" Is this a good idea?" Billy asked. It was the kind of place that was popular with Lord of the Rings fans, searching for The Green Dragon.
" Would you prefer somewhere else?" Dom asked. Time was running out.
" No," he replied ." It does remind me of home."
They went into the restaurant and were shown to a quiet table anyway
The waitress took their drinks order and left them with menus. Dom already knew what he wanted.
" Would you like a starter?" Dom asked
Billy shook her head.
" I think I'll have the fish and chips,"
So they both had fish and chips.
Then they shared some apple pie and custard. Billy would start going to the gym again when he got home.
They talked nonsense over tea, because that was what they liked to do best.
" Your favourite pudding?" Billy asked
" Tiramisu."
" Your favourite Scottish pudding?" Billy asked, surprised by Dom's reply. Perhaps he didn't know him as well as he thought.
" That would be..." And he looked at him and smiled," deep fried.."
" You're kidding me!" He replied, his eyes widening.
" Yeah," he laughed. " What's that thing with raspberries and oats?
" Cranachan," he replied.
" Yeah," he replied." Lovely."
" Lets's get out of here," Billy said. The talk of Scottish food was making him homesick.
They split the bill and they left the pub. It had been raining and the streets are almost deserted.
" Where did everybody go?" Dom asked, bemused.
" End of the world!" Billy joked.
They crossed the road to the car and got in. Dom drove to LAX in the rain. Dom felt sad knowing the next time Billy would see rain he'd be back home in Glasgow. The friend he loved most in the works would be on the other side of the pond and then some.
" Love you, man!" Dom said and they hugged each other goodbye.
