Author's Notes: I was so jazzed to see so many reviews! I recognize most of you reviewers, and some are new to me. Lol. Each and every one of your reviews is sooo appreciated, and I love all you guys :)
As far as ages go: Miley, Lilly, Oliver and Sarah are all 32 years old. James, Miley's husband, and Jackson are each 34. Jackson's wife Angela is 30. Jeff, Jackson' son, is 18. Miley's kids are each 7 (they're fraternal twins).
I don't wanna talk too much. Lol. So I'll get on with the story :)
Disclaimer still stands.
Screenwriting an Apology
Lilly
Oliver started as I stood up suddenly and threw the pencil in my hand across the room. With a very disgruntled shout, I sat back down on my sofa, arms crossed, frown in place.
"Jesus Lilly, calm down. You're so dramatic." Oliver rolled his eyes like a sixteen year old and turned the volume up on the television.
"Yea sure. When's the last time you had a freaking deadline for a movie script, huh?" I gazed at the pencil now lying in a corner of my living room, wanting more than anything to pick it up and start writing again. But after making a scene like that, I needed to preserve my dignity. So instead, I went into the kitchen just off the living room and grabbed a glass of water.
"Maybe you should go to a spa or something, Lills," Oliver commented from the sofa. "Sarah loves going whenever she's stressed. Maybe you both could go together or something, before we leave." I heard the smile in his voice as he continued, "Then I can have an afternoon off. Not that I don't like being with my wife or anything, but sometimes, what with all the charity drives and constant moving around…" His voice started to fade as he mumbled to himself, probably something along the lines of 'I can invite the guys over to watch the Golden Bears game.'
I sighed, not quite smiling, even though having Oliver here was certainly a nice change. He never got around to visiting much. His job as an engineer in Florida was insanely time consuming. If Sarah didn't have a charity event to host here, in New York, I wouldn't be so lucky to have him sitting in my living room.
I sipped my water, leaning against the fridge, staring blankly at the microwave. Besides my mother and step-father, there was only one other person from my teenage years in Malibu that I missed more than Oliver.
"Hey, Lilly, did we ever decide on where we were going to dinner tonight?" Oliver's gruff voice interrupted my reverie. I shook my head slightly and returned to the living room, plopping down next to Oliver.
"Um, I think Sarah said she wanted to go to Chili's. Honestly, don't ask me why. The food there is about as good as the stuff I make when I'm distracted with a new storyline."
Oliver snorted. "Well, do you have any better ideas?"
I gulped down the rest of my water before setting it down on the table in front of me. "Not really."
"Thought so." Oliver unglued his eyes from the television long enough to shoot me a knowing smirk. "Now, go pick up your pencil, Ms. Hotshot Screenwriter. I know you're dying to continue on whatever tangent it was that made you so pissed in the first place."
I smiled ruefully. "You know me so well."
He chuckled. "You betcha."
--
Miley
"When's Lilly's dance recital, again?" James mumbled sleepily. He had one arm on the back of the sofa, the other splayed across his stomach. His eyes were closed, and he was yawning periodically.
"The end of July. I'm surprised you could forget. It's all she talks about."
He gave the shadow of a laugh, already too near sleep to really commit to one. "Our little ballerina…" And with that, he was lost to dream world.
I smiled at the sight of him, looking so innocent in his sleep. He was a good man. I kissed his cheek before turning the t.v. off.
Glancing at the time, I figured I might go ahead and call Jackson. He was usually off from work at this time on Saturdays, if nothing was set on fire or anything. I dialed his number.
"Miley!" I was greeted with Jackson's wife's voice.
I smiled. "Hey Angela. How's everything?"
Angela's hyper, vivacious nature leaked into every aspect of her being. There was never a dull moment around the woman. "Oh, everything's just fabulous! Jeff just got his acceptance letter to Brown! Isn't that amazing?!"
We spent at least half an hour on the phone together, discussing the pros and cons of my nephew going off to Brown in a few months, before my brother's name was even mentioned once. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew Angela loved Jackson, but sometimes she could go a smidgeon overboard about her son. He was obviously her pride and joy.
"Hey listen, Ang, did Jackson manage to get off work today?" This sentence had to be squeezed in hurriedly while Angela was drawing breath after a lengthy description of Brown's law program.
"Aw, no, I'm sorry hun. He had to go to the station today. But it's been so quiet lately. He's probably playing cards with the other guys, hoping the sirens don't go off."
My heart sank slightly. I hadn't heard from my brother in a little bit over a month. "Oh, ok. Just let him know I called?"
"Sure thing, hun."
"Alright Ang, I'll talk to you later. Congratulate Jeff for me, kay?"
"Will do! Bye Miley!"
"Bye Ang."
--
Lilly
At 4:30pm, I was sitting across from Oliver and Sarah at Chili's Grill and Bar. I had tried to come up with some alternative to present to Sarah once she got back from her charity work, but my head was just too full with my current project. My mind never rested. I was constantly going over dialogue, plot twists, imagery. Even as I skimmed the menu, I was thinking of a particular scene that I had been working on all day.
"I just love this place. Don't you?" Sarah grinned at Oliver and me over her menu.
We nodded dumbly.
--
Miley
"Mommy, mommy, look!" Robbie was running excitedly around the house, screaming at the top of his lungs. I looked up from the recipe I was poring over to see him beaming up at me, holding a piece of paper depicting a picture that he drew. I tried to make out whatever it was, but failing miserably, I put on a smile and turned to him.
"What is it honey?" I asked as nicely as possible.
"It's a chair! Don't you see it?!" He pointed at the paper overzealously.
My smile widened. "Oh yes, I see it. It's lovely, Robbie."
--
Lilly
Outside the airport, I hugged Oliver and Sarah each in turn. "Thanks so much for letting us stay over, Lilly. I really appreciate it." Sarah grinned good-naturedly.
"It was my pleasure. You know you're welcome any time, guys." Oliver and I exchanged a look of amusement before I added, "And thanks for dinner, Sarah. I loved it."
"Aw, you're welcome, Lilly. It's the least we could do."
They waved at me and I watched them enter the building.
On my way home, I turned the volume up on the radio. It's funny when you hear a song from your childhood on an oldies station. I remember laughing with my mother when I was seven whenever she said something like "These Backstreet Boys are all the rage now, but just wait until you're in your thirties, and you hear them on your local oldies station!"
I didn't miss a beat as I sang along to 'As Long As You Love Me,' by said boy band. I found it hilarious that after so many years since I last heard this song, I still knew every word.
--
Miley
"This is great, love." James said around a mouthful of the meatloaf I had made for dinner.
Robbie and Lilly agreed enthusiastically.
I grinned. "Thanks, everyone. But you should thank Grandpa Robbie. It's his recipe."
"How is your father?" James asked.
"He's good. I talked to him last night." I paused to chew on a piece of meat, then continued, "He just got word from his old manager that they want to release a compilation of Robbie Ray's greatest hits. He's excited."
James laughed. "Can you guess which song is gonna be the first on the list?"
Lilly and Robbie broke out into a chorus of 'Achy, Breaky Heart.'
I laughed. "Ok, ok. We get the point, kids." They exchanged devious glances.
James picked up on it. "Whatever it is you're planning, save it until after dinner, at least?"
--
Lilly
I collapsed on my bed, exhausted. It was two in the morning, and I had been writing ever since I got back home from the air port three hours ago. When I got inspired, there was nothing stopping me from pulling an all-nighter.
Except the end of inspiration.
I lifted my head and brought it down against the mattress, exhaling. I randomly got fed up with whatever I was writing from time to time. It made it all the harder that sometimes, I had to delve into areas I was uncomfortable writing about. Namely any romantic scenes. And whenever I had to do any of that, it was always difficult to remember what it felt like to have a lover, always slightly impossible to write about. More than once, the director that I was working with, Alexis Brown, raised a critical eyebrow at my attempts at the character's romantic exploits. I could almost hear her voice in my head: "Seriously Lilly, haven't you ever been in love? Because the way you write it, it seems like you're distancing yourself from these circumstances. Connect with your subject."
Blah blah blah.
The only love I knew was ghostly and fleeting, and no more substantial than the wind. And I couldn't put that into this movie.
Why in the world did I ever agree to write a romantic comedy?!
--
Miley
"Night kids."
"Love you mommy!"
I smiled, returned the sentiment, and shut off their lights.
In the living room, James was flipping through channels. I sat down next to him. "Anything interesting?"
"A few movies playing. HBO's got 'Casablanca' on. I remember my dad used to love that movie. He would always watch it whenever it was on." He smiled down at me, but I avoided his gaze. I didn't want to watch this movie. It reminded me of her, and as of late, I tried to avoid anything that reminded me of her. James wrapped an arm around me, and I snuggled close to my husband. Being lost in him was one of the only things I could do to keep the demons away.
This chapter was kind of setting up their whole life apart, if you get what I mean. Kind of an introductory chapter. Lol
Let me know what you think :)