TAKE IT EASY • TC ✔️

14: Returning the Favor

Timothée placed the box gently underneath his arm, bearing in mind it was plastered in red and white stripes and Fragile! Do not drop! like some kind of particularly high maintenance candy cane.

Of course, he could've left his apartment to purchase the contents of the box, but it had been so cold last night, and it had been so warm in his apartment. Plus, next-day delivery was a thing, and he intended to make the most of it.

The weather had turned surprisingly miserable for April, and the sun was point blank refusing to make an appearance this morning. He'd glanced at the murky skies through the glass of the foyer door as he was waiting for his parcel, and decided he'd made the right decision in staying home.

Besides, it meant he could curl up on his windowsill again. Maybe try some more Italian. Maybe refrain from teetering on the edge of tears this time.

Timmy walked up the stairs with his precious cargo more carefully than usual, walking in a dignified manner instead of missing out every other step as he usually did. He met Lucia at the top, who was encased in her eye-sore of a raincoat again, despite the drizzle having finally petered out.

She smiled at him, not sure if this was to be a stop-and-have-a-chat situation or just a brief greeting.

"Hey," he smiled back, but the boy was slowing down and Lu took this to mean that she could talk to him.

"What you got there?" Lu asked, nodding to the box in his hands. Timmy faltered, clutching it to his chest nervously.

He couldn't give it to her now, could he?

No, that was weird. It would look like it was planned. It would have to wait.

"Oh, just a- something for my kitchen," he said quickly, with a small, pitiful smile which screamed please don't ask me anything else.

Lu took the hint, and nodded with a smirk on her face. "Right, okay. Well, see you later, then," she raised a hand to wave him off, and instantly regretted it, shoving the offending hand into one of her ludicrously coloured pockets and jogging downstairs quickly to avoid further interaction.

Timmy stared after her absently for a few seconds. Gave a soft little snort of laughter, a smile spreading across his face.

He checked his e-mails when he got inside his apartment again. Set the parcel on the counter and flung himself into his desk chair. Span around a few times as he waited for his computer to start up.

There was a fairly eclectic assortment of e-mails, as per usual. Spam mail, insurance advertisements, emails from companies he'd never given his address to, and one from his agent, Brian.

He clicked on the latter with far more enthusiasm than the others, convinced that this e-mail would not be a coupon for fifty percent off window-cleaning or a scam from a hacker somewhere in Europe.

Timmy,

I hope you're well. I came across a new project yesterday, one I think you would really enjoy. It's a Pride and Prejudice remake, set to air on British television. I think another period project would be a very good idea, considering how well you were received as Henry V. Plus, it would be an opportunity for you to practise your British accent - I know how much you enjoyed it last time!

The casting director has expressed her interest in you playing George Wickham. It is a fairly minor role, but he is a fairly complex character - there is a lot of scope there. I'd recommend reading the original novel if you haven't already. I've attached the script along with a few clips from previous productions of the novel. It's written by Nina Raine - you may be familiar with some of her work as a playwright.