✦ ✧ ✩ Curtain Call ✦ ✧ ✩ - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter 24

I laid down letting my back rest on the blankets and put my pad to the side, he did the same with his guitar and after hesitating a little laid next to me. We stayed in silence for a few minutes just looking up at the sky and it was almost like I could feel our hearts racing.

"You know" he said, still looking up "I should've never lashed out like that to you in that party, you didn't deserve it, and I didn't mean what I said"

I listened to him with my eyes closed trying to calm myself down as it replayed in my head.

"I just" he clicked his tongue before continuing "This is embarrassing. You deserve the world and Matthew doesn't cut it. And then I saw you kissing him and all I could think about was how I wasn't enough for you"

My stomach sunk and I finally turned to him. He looked at me and gave me a little smile.

"I didn't want to kiss him" was all I could mutter, holding on tightly to my notebook "I know you felt like I lied but I didn't. My intention was never to play you or confuse you." and I went quiet again. I wanted to tell him everything I felt about him right there and then. But I knew I couldn't do that. Not with a girl at home waiting for him.

"I know you didn't. Maybe it's all just for the best" He said back quietly, looking down at his wallpaper that showed two little kids playing in what it looked like the backyard of a house. One of them was Charlie and the other seemed to be Lily. We both went silent again

"Ok, It's getting colder by the second. I'll go grab some more blankets and the thingy to start a fire" He said, standing up and walking towards the car.

"Big outdoorsy man doesn't star fires with just sticks and rocks?" I said, teasing him.

"I'm leaving the most impressive things about me for our next trip" he replied and kept making his way to the car.

When he came back, he started a little fire, and we sat around it.

"So, Maeve and Owen huh?" he said, and let out a big smile.

"I love those two" I replied, "They make it seem so easy"

"Yeah" he sighed "Maeve's definitely a firecracker and Owen needed that push"

"Sometimes I wished I could just walk around like I ruled the world like she does. I've been such a wuss lately" I said, letting out a little melancholic sigh.

"But you do Eri" He said, looking at me "Look at everything you've accomplished in so little time"

He did not make this easy at all. He always had the right words.

"If that script gets picked up, you'll be achieving your dreams. Telling your stories. Connecting with people in the best way you know how" All I could do as he talked was let my body rest on his and smile.

"You are terrible at taking compliments aren't you?" He said, as he looked down at me smiling.

"Anyways, I admire that so much. I want that" He continued, and looked over to his guitar "Connect with people through music in that way. Not only with people around me but with..."

"Everyone" I let out, finishing his sentence.

"Exactly" he replied, and nodded. And suddenly I felt the urge to grab my notepad.

"Go ahead" He said shaking his head and I stretched my body to grab it.

"How do you do that?" I said as I took the cap of my pen.

"What do you mean? You have a very telling face" And we laughed. "What did you think about?"

"Just a Luke line" I said, "Out the window goes my theory"

"What theory?" He said, and frowned his eyebrows.

"The one I had where I thought that I had to keep distance from the actors to work better at first. Working so closely with you guys has been a dream, and it's the easiest work I've ever done" I looked up and then back at him "And I think" I stopped myself before I said something too ambiguous "I think you will inspire a lot of people. Your energy is something else. I know you inspire me a lot."

He looked down at me and put his hand to his ear. I looked at him confused.

"Is that?" he said, and playfully moved his head around "Your shell crashing a little?"

"Stop!" I replied, "You really are insufferable"

He wiggled his eyebrows and proceeded to grab a little rock from behind me.

"Come, grab one" He said, and stood up and put his hand for me to help me get up.

So I did, and we both walked to the lake's shore, where Charlie proceeded to explain to me the best way to make the water ripple with the rock and threw it. He turned to me and proudly put his hands to his waist. I smiled at him and positioned myself to throw it. He tilted his and put his arms up baking away. I threw the rock and it jumped double the times his did.

I copied his position mocking him.

"What did you think I did while my dad unloaded the car when we went to all those fishing trips?" He put his arms up and smiled.

"I'm impressed" He said, and then grabbed two more little rocks "Teach me."

Hours passed by, and we just talked about life, letting it all go. Finally, we fell asleep in the car as Charlie didn't feel like he could drive back. We were woken up by singing birds and the sun rising.

"You snore heavily" I said, tapping him on the shoulder to wake him up.

"You looked really cute" He said, rubbing his eyes and putting the seat back up. A text came through from one of Kenny's assistants.

"We're filming the Wake Up scene today, it's in about 4 hours. Kenny told me to tell you that you really want to be here for it.

I turned to Charlie and showed him the text as I buckled up.

"So, they tell me you drive very fast." I said, and wiggled my eyebrows "I'm going to need you to do exactly that. Let's go to your place so I can take a shower, it's too early and I think Maeve and Owen slept at my place"

He read the text and buckled his seatbelt too, after he arranged the seat to a more comfortable position.

"You got it" he said, starting the car. We got to his apartment in about 2 hours and I rushed up the stairs as he followed me. When we got there he opened the door and we found Lily sitting down in the living room with her legs crossed.

"I should've guessed it" She said, looking down at me and then at Charlie that was still holding the bags, "Where did you take her? Garibaldi Lake?" I looked down, and she let out a chuckle "Of course he did, this is too good. I would've expected more of you Charles"

I could feel the shame rushing through my body. Of course I shouldn't have gone with him, what was I even thinking? Charlie tried to stop me but I rushed down the stairs and ran back the 20 blocks back to my apartment, only when I got to the door I could feel my chest explode and the tears stream down my face.