What We Lost | Fillie

Chapter Twenty Four: New Normal

With Filming for Scythe wrapped, and the following weeks being full of Finn and Millie privately re-connecting their two lives, suddenly the holiday season is in full swing. To make this time even more exciting, the read-through for Stranger Things 5 is on January 2nd and Millie, Finn, and the rest of the gang, to include Gaten, are converging on her parents' Georgia estate which they so graciously are letting them use for the duration of filming.

There is plenty of room for everyone and now that they are all getting along, the family home presented itself as the most logical option.

"Just don't let it turn into a frat house." Millie's mother had warned them before they set off for the opposite coast. To which, Paige assured her mother that it won't happen on her watch. Millie's family doesn't completely trust Finn again yet, and they certainly don't trust the group as a whole to not get into mischief so they sent Paige to be the camp counselor type for the duration of their stay at the camp Brown homestead.

The Brown's home in Georgia is fully furnished with all of the basics. Millie's parents knew they would eventually need the house to be livable again so they made sure to maintain it. Thanks to their forethought, the December 23rd move-in day, which doubles as Finn's 20th birthday, involves nothing more than walking in and unpacking their suitcases. There is a slight dispute over who gets to maintain the master bedroom but after a quick game of rock-paper-scissors between sisters, Millie secures the space for her and Finn.

Paige ends up in her old room, saying she prefers it that way anyhow, although the slamming door suggests a more bitter sentiment. The others claim rooms that are all close to each other and save one for Gaten in the middle of all of them, ensuring he is included in the fun of being all together again.

Millie's parents are set to arrive for the Christmas holiday tomorrow, which is allowing the group to throw Finn a decent birthday party on their first night in the house, sans parental supervision. They are all technically adults but it still feels like they are getting away with something.

Within two hours of arriving, everyone is unpacked and huddled around the spacious kitchen island eating a lunch that Paige picked up after she had finished putting her clothes away and settling her room in fifteen minutes flat. It's almost silent as they shovel in the greasy Chick-fil-a fare.

Sadie lays her fork next to her meatless salad and reaches for a fry, "Nothing beats these fries when you're hungry." a pleased sigh falls from her mouth as she places the flaky golden waffle-fry on her tongue. "Just the best." She moans, her throat extending the sound as she chews.

Noah elbows Caleb playfully, "Heh—sound familiar?" he jeers.

Caleb drops his sandwich on its wrapper and grips the edge of the counter "You always gotta take it there, don't you?" He shakes his head.

"He can't help himself." Millie laughs, "He's got the sense of humor of a thirteen year old boy."

"Well I am a boy." Noah defends himself.

"Yeah, but you're eighteen." Finn points out with a mouth full of chicken.

Noah rolls his eyes with a huff, "When did you all get so uptight, sheesh—it's a joke."

Caleb's straight face cracks a smile, "I know man, I'm just messin'. And to answer your question—yes. That sound is very familiar to my practiced ears."