✦ ✧ ✩ Curtain Call ✦ ✧ ✩ - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter 40

As Charlie sighed in frustration I rested my head on his arm that went around my shoulders. I gave it a little kiss and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry Charlie. I just find it hard to open up when things get hard."

"I get it."

"No you don't" I replied, "I'm sorry"

He slowly let go off me and I did too. Maddie and Sacha called me from the other side of the little patio behind the studio door's in the set and I paced towards them giving Charlie a little smile that he tried hard to reciprocate.

"Hey girl!" Maddie said, jumping on me "You need to talk to me about Paris, but not right now, because Matthew just handed us the rewrite of the scene in the corridor, you know, the 'you make me a better writer one'" she continued, wiggling her eyebrows while Sacha shook his head.

"I hate to say it but it's really funny" Sacha said, looking down at the script. I bumped fists with him while he handed me one of the scripts Matt left with his other hand.

"Wow Charlie will do great with this." I said, letting out a little laugh while I read the scene.

"Hey! What about us?" Maddie said, crossing her arms.

"You two are always amazing" I replied still laughing "So, is this what we are doing today?"

"Yes Kenny just told us she wants that wrapped up by today"

"Ok let's go then, let's all give it a read together"

Ten minutes later Charlie came to us, and we made our way to the school we were filming at. Charlie sat next to me and handed me an iced coffee.

"I knew this day would eventually come" I said, grabbing it and taking a moment to rejoice as the jet lag started to hit.

"It's been long overdue." He said, and again, let out a fake little smile that tried really hard to seem genuine.

"I hate that we are like this right now. Can we just enjoy that we are finally together?" I said, resting my head on his shoulder as I suddenly felt the need to cry again. I needed something to be happy about and keep my mind on right now.

"I'm sorry Eri but being together is being together you know? It means you trusting me with important things."

I could feel my chest get heavier and heavier with the pressure I felt and I just silently stood up and walked away from him, hearing him let out again another frustrated sigh.

[Charlie's POV]

Since the phone call the little sparkle that was perpetually lit in Eri's eyes dimmed. I tried my hardest to make her talk to me, but she just closed herself. It was even weirder when she got to set, she almost looked happy, as if nothing was happening to her. At first, I bought it, I guess I really wanted to believe she was doing better, after everything we've been through, the twists and the turns, I just wanted to enjoy her, us. But I quickly snapped out of it when I took another look at her obviously fake smiles and looks. She did great at hiding herself from others but not from me.

Her mom obviously said something woeful. I could feel her light dying down as she listened to the mumbled words coming from the other line.

When we got to set I sat next to her and handed her a coffee.

"I'm sorry Eri but being together is being together you know? It means you trusting me with important things."

The words came out of my mouth like it was nothing but I immediately regretted it. I really wanted her to talk to me, try and be there for her. But I was too harsh and she walked away. I let out a big breath as I watched her and I could see her shiver at my sigh. She went up to Kenny when he walked in with Maeve who was holding a maroon shirt.

Matthew stopped next to Eri and Kenny, but Maeve kept walking to me waving the shirt in the air.

She sat next to me and showed it to me, and as much as I wanted to pay attention to her all I could think about Eri. She was reading the script and laughing. Watching her act like she was doing alright was gut-wrenching.

"Charlie is going to kill this. This is going to be a fan favorite for sure." I found myself smiling but I couldn't even enjoy her saying those things when I knew something else was going on.

I finally turned to Maeve who was waiting patiently for me to look at her.

"So what do you think? I found it yesterday buried in a pile of clothes and I think you'll rock it"

"Yes Maeve It's great" I said, grabbing it in my hand. In the few seconds I distracted myself with the shirt Eri and Matt went to the side to talk. He put his hand on her shoulder rubbing it lightly as she wiped a little tear coming down her face. She then let her body rest on his as he apprehensively hugged her, and she started crying a little harder, still trying to hide it from the rest of the people around us, who seemed oblivious. I felt my blood start boiling but I tried to calm myself down when I felt a hand land on mine.

"Hey, don't worry." Maeve said as I turned to her "She'll come to you eventually."

"But why is she going to him instead of me? Maeve, please tell me"

"It's complicated Charlie. I'm surprised too but I guess he was a big part of" She hesitated to continue as my eyes grew wider "Of what's going on with her right now." She sentenced, and took another pause breathing heavily before continuing "I hate that I find myself in this situation so often" she said, letting go off my hand and putting both her hands on her lap.

"Me too." I said, and stood up to talk to Sacha that was reviewing the script with Maddie.

We were reading the middle of the scene when I saw Eri finally walk away from Matthew and make her way to the bathroom. I thought of following her but the fear of snapping at her again came over me and stopped me on my tracks.

"Hey, is everything ok?"

"Yes Mads don't worry. I'm just - It's Eri, she is sad. Just, I don't know, try and make her talk. I feel like she won't talk to anyone, but she needs it." I guess anyone but Matthew, I thought, feeling my jaw clench.

"Hey relax, this is a fun scene!" Maddie said, trying to make me laugh "Don't worry, me and the girls will be there for her."

"Thank you" I mumbled back "I just wish I could too"

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I can't believe I wrote 39 of these wtf. Anyways, I love y'all for reading and commenting, i'ts honestly the part I enjoy the most about this. I'm so grateful for all the super nice interactions I had you have no idea <3