Vancouver Nights

by Blythe Stone

  I kept her with me so I could feel her out and try and get her to relax. This was going to be a long week if she didn’t.

  “So, how was the flight?” I asked.

  “Oh, not bad,” she said, though I could tell she was a bit tired from it.

  “Do you want to stop for food or something to drink on the way? Nat has plans for us to go out and have dinner later but that’s not till seven. She got a reservation at this really badass restaurant,” I babbled.

  “Something to eat would be nice,” Olivia said, ignoring the rest. “It doesn’t have to be fancy; we can just grab something. I hate that I’m taking up your whole day.”

  “Please, you’re rescuing me. I’ve been sitting on set trying to read while they shoot this really emotional scene with Nat and the other lead. She keeps having to cry in all of these takes but the director isn’t happy with the scene. I can’t stand watching her get all weepy like that even if I know it’s fake. I want to go hug her,” I said.

  We made it over to the correct carousel and waited for it to kick on, indicating the luggage was being unloaded onto the belt.

  “Is that really what you do? You just stay there and watch?”

  I shrugged and let go of her arm.

  “I’d rather be near her and when she’s not shooting something or they’re on a break we go back to her trailer. It’s easier for me to help her with anything she needs if I’m close. I also have all her calls forwarded to my phone during shooting so she doesn’t get distracted. I think it helps her for me to be there just to have my presence around. Sometimes I read or return emails also so there’s a lot that keeps me busy during long days,” I explained.

  The belt started to move and bags started popping up and moving around the central island.

  “What does yours look like?” I asked, eyeing the luggage.

  “Um. I’ll get it, don’t worry,” she blushed.

  I watched the suitcases and bags go round and round until Olivia stepped forward and retrieved an expensive looking leather rolling suitcase and pulled it off of the belt.

  “I’ve got a car waiting outside,” I said.

  She followed me, tugging her suitcase along behind her and hiking her purse up further on her shoulder.

  We walked outside into the cool afternoon and I directed her over to the car I’d taken from the set to the airport. The driver popped the trunk and I opened it. Olivia rolled her suitcase around to the back and I picked it up and put it inside.

  Usually the driver would be doing this but I wasn’t about to wait for him to get out of the car. I always felt bad when I waited for others to do something I could do for myself.

  I shut the trunk and went to the backdoor of the car, opening it and waiting for Olivia to slide in. She moved with quick grace and deposited herself inside the cab, sliding over so I could follow her in.

  Once we were inside, the driver took off and we started our ride back to where the movie was filming. I reached over to the side of the car and pulled out the bottle of water I’d brought with me.

  “Here,” I said, handing it to her.

  “Thanks,” she said, unscrewing the cap and drinking a few slow gulps in a row. I noticed that she rarely looked at me. Her gaze instead would focus onto nothing in particular and scarce be able to look away. It was very different than when we first met and I instantly gained her glowing attention.

  “Can I ask you something at the risk of things being awkward?” I asked.

  Then she did turn and look, eyes locking so carefully with mine. “Of course,” she said, though I could sense a fear in her.

  “First, I have to tell you that I’m a pretty straightforward person and I don’t like pretending that nothing is going on. Are you and I going to be able to be friends?” I finished.

  “Is this why you wanted to pick me up?” Olivia wondered. She didn't answer my question and she seemed a tad burdened now. Possibly a little tired and angry. “I didn't come here with any bad intentions Avery. But I guess I know now that you think I did.”

  She hugged her stomach with her arms and I realized I'd made her uncomfortable.

  “It isn’t why I wanted to pick you up and I don’t think you have bad intentions. I just sense that this is affecting you a lot. Nat loves you and I want us to be friends but I know for some people they wouldn’t want to be my friend,” I said and then looked ahead toward the front of the car.

  “I wanted to be your friend before I even knew who you were,” Olivia nearly whispered.

  “Oh! See that’s awesome because me too. You were definitely an interesting person to meet. I was in a foul mood till you came out onto the balcony,” I remembered.

  “I remember,” Olivia said.

  “It’s weird how small the world is, right?”

  “Yeah,” she said. Though I got the impression she found it more typical than anything else. “You're a sweet person,” she said.

  “Thanks, but I’m not sure there are a lot of people who would agree with you. Nat changed me. She saved me in a lot of ways. If I hadn’t met her I’d be dead now and so I try to remember that when I get down and depressed,” I told her.

  “Then it's good that you found each other,” Olivia said. There wasn't a glowing intimacy about what she'd said but I could tell that it wasn't a backhand.

  “I think so but I’m obviously biased,” I joked.

  Whatever stupid things I’d said had made the situation worse and not better. I took a deep breath and grew quiet, looking out the window at the city flying by the window. Hopefully, I hadn’t just fucked things up. I didn’t want to try and explain all of this to Nat.

  “You're a handful,” Olivia teased. Her fingers snuck over and lovingly pinched at my side.

  I laughed and grabbed her hand, getting it away from my ticklish spots.

  “So I've been told by many,” I smiled.

  I didn't let go of her hand. The connection reassured me that we were both human beings, solid and true. She wasn't the ghost.

  After a few seconds she shifted her body into mine and laid her head down on my shoulder. We rode like that the rest of the way, strangers united by a shared love.

  We went straight to Nat's trailer after we dropped off Olivia's bags. I knew Nat would want to see Olivia and vice versa.

  I didn't bother knocking on the door, we just went in and found Nat, eating a salad and sitting on the lounge couch.

  Her face looked dirty and there were fake scratches on her cheeks. The makeup people had done a great job of making her look like she'd been in a natural disaster or at least a fight.

  “Look who I found,” I said, stepping to the side and presenting Olivia with a flourish of my hands.

  “Aww!” Nat got up and hugged her. “I'm so glad you're here.” I heard her say. “Was your flight okay?”

  “Yeah, it was fine,” Olivia said. “That's not real, right?” She asked, worried.

  “Oh, this? No!” Nat laughed, smiling over at me.

  “She's being chased through the woods by a killer in the movie,” I said.

  “Yikes,” Olivia said.

  “Yeah, this is one of those movies I have a hard time watching since it's hard to divorce the fake from reality when a guy with a knife is after the love of my life,” I sighed.

  Nat sighed. “You don't have to watch, silly. If it upsets you just hang out in here. And hey, you have Olivia now.”

  “Na, I just mean after it's done. When you're filming it's easy to watch,” I said.

  Nat gave Olivia a look.

  Olivia smiled and visibly blushed before ducking her head and refusing to really indulge in any act of making fun of me publically.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” Nat smiled, holding her hand out to me to get me to be closer. “You’re just really sensitive,” she said, pulling my face toward hers and kissing my cheeks lovingly.

  “Not over-sensitive though, right?” I frowned.

  Being a burden was a big negativ
e for me.

  “I'm glad I won't be alone though,” I said.

  Natalie kept kissing me, loving me. “Not a burden,” she soothed, hugging me. “This one forgets she’s amazing.” She must’ve been talking to Olivia now.

  “I’ve noticed,” Olivia said.

  “It's easy to do sometimes,” I said.

  The mental demons always came back.

  “I get it,” Olivia said.

  I turned my head and smiled at her. It was easy to sense that she spent a lot of time down on herself. I had been the same way until Nat came along and I decided to try for a better life.

  “I'm sorry that you get it. It's not pleasant, is it?”

  “It’s just normal,” she shrugged, unwilling to go there right now.

  We were awkwardly standing in Nat’s trailer. Uncomfortable, Olivia moved to take her jacket off and sit down.

  “Aww, you look tired,” Nat laughed, noticing her.

  “I am, a little,” Olivia said.

  “Do you need anything? Food? A drink? Craft services is really bringing it.”

  “Food would be good,” Olivia said.

  “Okay. Wait here,” Nat said, all energized. She soon left us.

  Olivia softly smiled over at me.

  “She's always taking care of everyone else. Sometimes it's hard to get her to slow down so I can do the same for her.”

  “Seems like you succeed rather easily,” Olivia said.

  “I’ve got it down. It helps that she's so lovable and easy to be with. We've only had one fight ever and it was my fault,” I said.

  “Interesting,” Olivia noted.

  “Sorry, I'm babbling,” I said.

  “You’re not,” she protected. “I can sound short sometimes but I don’t mean it that way. My mind runs,” she pointed at her own head with one finger that spun.

  “I just don't like communicating too much information. I don't usually talk to people this easily,” I explained.

  “I like your voice,” Olivia said. “Are you scared to talk to me? Now that you know who I am?”

  “No, I'm scared of hurting you by talking about my relationship,” I said.

  “Any hurt you cause I brought on myself,” Olivia said. “I’ve tried staying away. It’s obviously not working so, I’m here now.”

  “That doesn't make it any easier to see you suffer,” I said.

  “We’ve already talked about this,” she smiled. “I don’t think I’m capable of being happy long-term. Why are you trying to carry that? That’s not necessary. And it’s a little crazy,” she laughed.

  “I think that's bullshit. The only way you wouldn't be able to be happy long term is if you don't want to be and I am crazy,” I said.

  “Wow. Thanks,” she said. She took some lotion out of her bag and started to rub it onto her arms.

  “Look, I'm just saying don't self-fulfill that prophecy,” I explained.

  I guess I was adopting her into my life by default. I had no right to give her unwanted advice but my urge to answer her concerns was stronger than my caution.

  “I’ll try to work on that,” she said.

  “Sorry, I'm a bitch sometimes. I shouldn't have said that stuff,” I apologized.

  “It’s fine. Say what you like,” Olivia said.

  “Feel free to tell me to shut up,” I said.

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “That's a shame,” I said with a little smile.

  I sat on the other side of the spot Nat had vacated.

  Olivia stared at me, warning a little that flirtation with her could be dangerous.

  “Maybe we should check on her. She can't really walk five feet without being stopped by people. It's fine out in public here. People don't stop her a whole lot but everyone on set loves the shit out of Nat,” I said.

  “So why are you worried?” Olivia asked, surveying me. She spoke like she knew too much already. “I'm sure she's just fine.”

  “You've been hungry for a while,” I said.

  “And I’ve been hungrier before,” she defended.

  “Okay, now my mind is just in the gutter,” I teased.

  “Do you ever just be?” Olivia asked.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Well, right now you’re in two places and neither of them are about you. What do you write,” she wondered. “Can I read something?”

  “When I need to go somewhere I live in my head and I write freelance articles for different magazines and websites but also I'm working on a book. If you search my name you'll probably find some things,” I replied.

  “Yeah but what would you want me to read,” Olivia wondered. “Or is that just something you do and let go of. Like it’s not important once it’s gone. I understand that.”

  “I had a short story in The New Yorker. I can probably find it on my laptop or Nat has a copy at home. That's the kind of thing I want to write novel length.”

  “So you haven’t finished a novel yet?” Olivia wondered.

  I adjusted myself to get more comfortable. I cleared my throat and moved my arm along the back of the lounge seat.

  “I've written several books. They just don't have my name on them. There are others I'm trying to finish and those are very different. Those, I'll publish under my real name,” I confessed.

  “Okay, I wanna read these secret books,” Olivia stared.

  “I don't own any of them. I don't keep the files with me either but I can get the publisher to send me some,” I offered.

  “Or, we can just go to a bookstore or go online like normal people do,” Olivia laughed. “Or is this some super obscure stuff like special order textbooks? I don't want to wait. You've peaked my curiosity.”

  “No,” I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Anything people learn from these books isn't taught in school and we can do that. I've never actually bought one of them.”

  “You're kidding,” she asked, openly staring like she had when we first met. “That's the first thing I'd do.”

  “They aren't exactly literary but they're fun to write and easy,” I said.

  I hoped that when Nat got back and we got busy Olivia would forget about this but it was doubtful.

  “Is there a bookstore nearby?” Olivia wondered. “We can go when Nat goes back to work. I love to read. She's probably told you.”

  I nodded and smiled.

  “She did tell me and I'm not sure. We can look it up,” I said.

  She pulled her phone from her pocket and proceeded to fiddle.

  “Looks like there's a couple,” Olivia sighed, leaning forward over the table to rest the weight of her face on her hand. “If you’d rather stay here I can go it alone. Get myself a coffee or something. Pretend I'm Canadian.”

  “No, I'll go with you. It’ll be fun and I could use decent coffee.”

  My book could wait and so could my hopeless wandering inside my own head.

  “I'm excited then,” Olivia grinned. “I wanna see what you're hiding,” she bit her bottom lip.

  I laughed and shook my head.

  “If I were really hiding it I wouldn't have told you about them at all.”

  “You said yourself, you don't usually reveal this much. So what's true?” Olivia asked.

  “Oh, I just draw a distinction between hiding something from someone like you and remaining anonymous from the world,” I said.

  “Hmmm… Someone like me? What does that mean? Have there been others?”

  “No and I just mean someone that doesn’t know me well but that I trust.”

  “Right,” Olivia said.

  I looked into her eyes. I still couldn’t tell when she was being serious. I suspected it was most of the time though. She looked right back and I couldn’t think for a moment. There was a vibe there and I didn’t want to try and name it.

  Nat opened the door to the trailer but she was struggling a little since she had food with her. I jumped up and went to the door, taking plastic containers away from her so she could get in u
nhindered.

  “Are we feeding an army,” I teased.

  “Yup. An army of Olivia,” Nat jumped right on teasing back. A brush of electricity ran from Nat to me. That unspoken want to be doing other things.