precious- timothée chalamet

chapter three

AFTER TWO DAYS OF RADIO SILENCE, EVE started to revert back to her normal schedule and wanted to forget she ever messaged him. Work was busy, which meant more time to not think about him and more on the Banksy exhibit her gallery was putting on in two weeks. She put all her energy into her work and everything else to help her forget her reaching out to Timothée FUCKING Chalamet.

"Eve, it's past six. You can go home now." Her boss said after realizing his employee was still mindlessly working on preparations an hour after closing time.

She looked up and saw her boss's concerned look in his eye, "Oh, so sorry. I lost track of time, I guess, sorry Mr. Bailey."

He shook his head with a smile, "You're fine, dear girl, I just wanted to make sure you were out of the building before the cleaning crew comes in."

Eve thanked him and he stood in the doorway while she cleaned up her office. It took her a few minutes to make the disaster of her office back to normal. "Okay. I'm good now." Mr. Bailey nodded, said goodnight, then headed out. She pulled together all her belongings and shoved them in her bag, then scrambled out of the office, locking it behind her.

She hated the fact that every time she wasn't busy with something, her mind went back to Timothée. It reminded her of having a childhood crush, the infatuation of someone and just wanting to be there with them. The redhead didn't know exactly what she thought about the actor, other than that she was at least friends for a short time and seeing him after high school helped her realize she missed his company.

As she walked down the street to her house she wondered if Timothée would be as proud of her as she was of him.... They both had started their life plans smoothly, and soon maybe they would both be known. Maybe if he never saw the message, in a few years he'd see her art on a New Yorker magazine at least. She could only hope.

"God I'm hopeless," She complained to herself as she walked through her apartment entrance. The girl made her way towards the elevator and pulled her phone out, only the second time today, and saw that the only notifications were from Vanessa and her mother. Eve sighed irritably, pushing the fourth floor button and closing her eyes. She didn't even know what she wanted from her interaction with Timmy! She just went into a situation she had no idea what would happen guns a-blazing, and now she would have to live with the reality that he had moved forward in life without her. As I thought in English, and US History. That prick always told me he'd be a star... and I believed him. He had everything to become one. He was known, even back then, and I was the quiet girl he would mess with in the early morning of school and ask for my notes. Maybe that's all there was.

The elevator door squeaked open and Eve opened her eyes again. She walked down the hallway, her heels clacking in rhythm with her fast heartbeat, then unlocked the door as her phone dinged.

Could it be? She selfishly thought to herself, as if she wasn't just trying to push it away a moment ago. She checked her phone as the door swung open, but saw that it was only a reminder that the cleaners had reached the office and that they locked up after them. I hate this.

Eve went to her bedroom, flinging her purse onto her bed and pulling off her clothing as if her life depended on it, and laid down in her undergarments on her messy bed. She didn't want to put in the effort to move, she just wanted to be.

"E? Are you home?" Vanessa's voice called across the hallway. Eve heard her footsteps approach her bedroom. "Oh come on, girlie, what's gotten into you?"

Eve rolled over and looked at her best friend's face, the worry etched into her forehead. "I don't know. Ever since I saw Timothèe in Call Me By Your Name, I've been reminded of high school."

"Ew, I never meant for that to happen when we watched it." Vanessa sighed. She plopped down beside Eve and gave her a pitying smile. "But what about high school?"

"Just him in high school. I never talk about my high school experience because it was honestly really boring, but I was kind of friends with him for at least three years of it. He was really nice and sweet... but also was kind of a dick." She sighed, "He would constantly tell me about how he was gonna be a star one day and that I would see him in popular movies soon. I knew in the back of my head it would happen, but I guess I didn't realize we wouldn't really speak after graduation."

"He seems really chill," Vanessa added. Eve nodded along as her roommate started to braid her hair as she listened intently.

"I think it's the fact we're both older, and actually have gone into our field we've always wanted to be in, ya know? I think it just shocks me how he's moving so fast for someone so young, and I feel like I haven't moved fast enough in the art industry."

Vanessa stopped braiding and looked at Eve, "So are you like having an existential crisis because of that realization?"

Eve pondered the thought for a minute, pursing her lips, then nodded. "I guess so."

"What if you reached out? The movie hasn't been fully released yet, and who knows, maybe you guys can catch up or something." Vanessa thought for a second. "That sounds like a romance movie, but honestly, it wouldn't hurt to try."

"That's the thing though, I already have."

Vanessa's brown eyes widened, "You have? When?"

The redhead sighed, "Two days ago."

"Oh! Who knows maybe he'll respond. Give him some time. If even a friendship is meant to be, he'll come back in your life somehow."

"Shit, okay. Thanks for the advice." Eve replied with a grin. She continued laying there in her dark bedroom, hugging her best friend until she fell asleep.

****

EVE, IT'S NINE. HOW THE HELL DID WE fall asleep?" Vanessa's voice whisper-shouted as she shook Eve.

"I guess I was tired." Eve grumbled, sitting up slowly. Their whole apartment was dark and all she could faintly see was the glow of her phone on her dresser. She got up, her bones cracking with every step, and looked at her phone with blurry eyes.

Instagram: Notification

She sucked a breath in between her teeth, the worry seeping over her as she unlocked her phone. She had only three messages, one from her brother, one from a college friend, and the third was from Timothèe.

Eve covered her mouth, "Oh my god, Vanessa, he responded."

"WHAT? NO WAY!" Vanessa shouted. She turned on Eve's lamps and the room was filled with a golden glow as Eve opened the message.

tchalamet:
Hey E! I'm so sorry I didn't see this sooner- I'm rarely on Instagram. I'm actually really glad you reached out, I feel so bad I haven't talked to like any of my high school friends since graduation, but it's so nice to hear from you. Thank you for watching CMBYN by the way, I'm so surprised that people actually got a hold of the limited release's but it's crazy that you were one of them. That means a lot that you liked it. I hope you're doing well and if you're still in NYC I'd love to meet up soon! I miss you too.

"Oh MY GOD!" She screeched happily.

Vanessa hopped up and ran over to Eve, "WHAT HAPPENED?"

"HE SAID HE MISSES ME AND WANTS TO MEET UP SOON IF I'M STILL IN NEW YORK- WHICH I AM!" She screamed again, this time releasing all the unrealized pent up stress she had been holding within her the past few days since she sent him the text. "How do I respond?"

"JUST SAY YOU'RE STILL HERE AND THAT YOU'RE FREE SOON!! PERIOD!" Vanessa yelled.

Eve nodded and quickly typed her message.

evegranger:
I am actually still in New York, I live in Manhattan now though. I'm working most days but I am free this upcoming weekend if you are, I'd love to see you too!

"I feel like this is a fever dream," She whispered to Vanessa as she hit send.

Vanessa snorted, "Enjoy it while it lasts!"