Shuck Face (A Dylan O'Brien Story)

Chapter 48

It's been a week since I got back in Cali. One week left and I was back overseas, finishing up Fall of Gods before bouncing to Danger Close. The more time went by, the more I dreaded taking on that job. I called Wes and asked if we could meet up since he was back in LA for the holiday as well. I pulled up to a local diner and headed inside.

"Hey Chuck!" I followed the voice and walked over to the table Wes was sitting at. He hugged me before sitting back down.

"How's your vacation been?" I asked as I ordered a cup of coffee before the waitress walked away.

"It's been amazing. Kinda sad to leave in a week. How about yours? Have you made any progress with Dylan?"

I thanked the woman for my coffee and took a sip before replying. "Not quite. I'm staying at the house, in the guest room, and he's avoiding me like the plague. That's not why I wanted to talk to you though."

He leaned back in his chair, adjusting his ball cap. He had a new cap from the one he wore for the Maze Runner. Saying it was lucky but he didn't want to override the memories from that set. "I figured as much. What's up?"

I sighed as I twisted the coffee cup in my hands. "I don't think I can do Danger Close. I should've put more thought into this before agreeing to it. I know the travel and the hours come with the job but... I need to be back home."

"Well," he paused. "I think you should tell Stuart just that. He can find another director. It's July and filming isn't supposed to start until October. They always keep another director in mind just in case. Because things do always come up."

"You don't think it's a bad idea for my career?"

He reached over and squeezed my hand. "Charlie, the last thing you want to do is take on a big job, and then be too emotionally absent to do it right. You're an amazing director and I have no doubts you can do this." He pulled back and dumped some sugar in his own coffee. "But I think you'd be better off taking some time to stay home versus taking on a job you don't want. There will be other movies, I promise."

I nodded, absorbing what Wes said. "You're right. I'll call Stuart today. Thanks Wes, really. For everything."

"Anytime Charlie." He smiled. "In the meantime, I think you should go home, find Dylan, and tell him it's time to get his head out of his ass and talk to you."

I laughed. "You're definitely right about that. I was planning to do so anyways. I really don't want to leave without having a conversation with him. Even if things do end for good, we need to talk about it."

"Are you..." he hesitated, looking unsure of what he was about to ask. "This isn't really my place to ask, never mind."

"No Wes just ask. Am I what?"

"Are you going to tell him about you and Sharman?"

"Jesus dude." I groaned and buried my head in my hands. "How do you know these things?"

He chuckled. "I have eyes and ears, Chuck. We stay in the same hotel remember?"

Wes' hotel room wasn't close enough to mine that he could hear what went on behind closed doors, but I did have to pass his going from the elevator to my room. So this didn't actually surprise me.

"Yes I'm going to tell him. I can't keep it from him. Especially if he does want to work things out."

"He's not gonna be happy, but I think that's a very smart decision. I'm proud of you Chuck. Anymore drinking?"

"I haven't had a drop since we talked that night."

"Good. I didn't think you had, but being on vacation I wasn't sure."

"I'm tired of ruining the good things in my life. I'm better off without alcohol. For now at least."

He held up his coffee cup. "Here's to the good things in life."