Writer's block is a bitch. She really is! Sorry for the long delay ^_^ Part 2 to this chapter will be up sometime this week.
(One week later from last chapter)
"So...Let me get this straight." I had Kyla on speakerphone while I was setting up film equipment in my apartment. My Panasonic VariCam HD Cinema Camera was placed in the living room, adjacent to where my television was. The microphone hung from behind the couch, out of place from the shot of course. A few lighting equipment was set up around the apartment as well. Kyla continued after a long pause. "The guy you were talking with online, turned out to be a woman? And you went out with her anyway? You're not freaked out by that?"
"Yes, yes, and no. What's up with the twenty-one questions? I thought you were alright with the idea?" The monitor I was setting up for the camera was now finished, powered up and ready to go. I tested with the lighting some more, trying to get a perfect scene going in here.
"That's when 'we' thought it was a guy."
"Well you should be happy that it wasn't a guy after all. Who knows what he could've done..." That shut her up.
"Yeah, well...you're right I suppose. So, your new project. Think it will work out?" I sighed and ran my right hand through my thick hair.
"Honestly Ky, we don't know. I was aiming towards filming the doc like...like...walking in someones shoes. Like MTV's Diary."
"Awww. That's very Lifetime-ish of you!"
"Haj se jebi, Kyla!"
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It's Slovenian for 'GO FUCK YOURSELF'!" I yelled. [A/N: It's good to have friends that can teach you how to curse people out in another language xD]
"Ok. Ouch? I was just joking smart ass. You need to loosen up." I didn't respond. I just sat on the couch and collected my thoughts on what I was going to say. For the next few days, I planned to film myself talking about recent events that happened to me, like a video diary. But where to begin, that was a mystery in itself. Ashley insisted that she come over and do an interview-like approach, but I felt that doing this alone was the best thing. Not that I'm holding anything back from her. "Spencer, I am sick and tired of being in the middle here. When are you coming home to fix things? Doesn't matter if you stay or fly back out East..." Kyla hung onto that sentence for as long as she could. I tilted my head confusingly. "Fix. Things?" I then asked.
"Yes Spence. Or have you suddenly come down with amnesia?"
"No. No. It's just that...*sigh* I just need more time to think."
"Yes! And you could do that here. No moving was necessary!"
"Listen, I don't want to do this right now Ky. We're arguing like a married couple for fucks sake."
"Sorry. Can a gal miss her soul sister?" I heard Kyla sigh on her end as well.
"I miss you too Ky. Look, I'll think about it. Maybe come past some time in January. What you think?"
"Sweet Jesus! That's all I wanted!" We laughed. After another long random conversation, I finally cut the call with a shit load of promises I'd have to keep. Coming to her New Year's Eve party was one of them.
[40 minutes later]
The camera was on, but no one was home. I went through seventeen takes before I took a short break. The red recording light flashed on and off, so did my thoughts. I didn't know what to start out with. Writing in a diary is one thing, but to actually say your thoughts out loud was another. This block was getting on my nerves. I got up from my seat, and went to my den to get a notepad and a pen. If I can't say it, I'll write it! But that made things worse. Even then, I didn't know what to write. Talk about a kick in the teeth.
The time neared six o'clock PM, and my stomach was growling like a tiger. Today of all days, I forgot to go food shopping. Major cool point deduction. I decided to go get take out food from a pizza shop not too far from here. I quickly buckled my snow boots, zipped my jacket and went out the door. Maybe some time in fresh air would get my mind open to new ideas. Hopefully.
The cold air still lingered, and the snow was still fresh on the ground. That is, if it didn't turn into dirty slush first. A few cars slowly drove by, followed by a city bus that wasn't carrying any passengers. I slowly walked alongside mountains upon mountains of shoveled snow on the left side of the sidewalk. As I passed, I grabbed a handful of snow and attempted to make my very first snowball. It was lumpier than I expected it (Thanks to those ever so overly-saturated holiday movies) but it was a snowball never the less. I can honestly say that this was the first time Winter has made me happy. Maybe I was finally settling in with the new city. Suddenly, the song This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars sang from my phone. Without looking, I answered it.
"Hello?" I threw the lumpy snowball into the street.
"Spencer? Hey, it's Ashley." I smiled.
"Hey Ash. What's up"
"Nothing in particular. I just got off my shift a few minutes ago. Thought I'd check up on you with your... Hey, are you outside?" I heard her ask. I was standing at a crosswalk just two blocks away from Luigi's Pizza.
"Yeah. I've caught the whole writer's block thing, so I decided to walk around and try to think." The light was now green, and I continued walking. "That, plus I didn't go shopping today, so I'm getting some pizza."
"Cool. So you had writer's block huh? Or is that director's block? I'm getting myself confused here."
"And you're getting me confused. But I guess it's both?" I finally reached Luigi's Pizza. I could smell the fresh dough from outside. It was mouthwatering. There was a line of people waiting to order when I walked in. Guess this was a good time to decide on what to get. I went to the ATM machine and made a quick withdraw of sixty dollars. I continued the conversation as I waited for my receipt. "I know I didn't want any help, but do you think you could swing by and give me a kick in the right direction?" I heard Ashley laugh. She had a short, quiet laugh. Like if she laughed out loud, an unexpected snort would follow. But that's just from my observation.
"Sure, as long as you're bringing the food. I'll show up."
"Oh, so I'm playing hostess now?" I smiled and looked at the receipt in my hand. That smile turned into a frown. I had less than five-hundred dollars left in my bank account. How in the hell did that happen? Is it that easy to spend fifty grand in a few short weeks?
"Earth to Spencer! Can you hear me?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry." I tucked the little piece of paper in my coat pocket and waited in line to order. "What did you say?"
"What happened? You alright?"
"I'm fine. Just checked my bank account. I should be searching for a job sometime soon."
"I thought you have one?"
"I do. It's just that it's not as full-time as I want it to be. I get grant money every other year, and money from the Festival this past year is starting to dwindle."
"If you want, I could get you a job here? It gets dead during odd days, but at least the tips are great."
"Thanks. Any help could be good."
"No problem. Anything for a friend."
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I came back to my apartment with a large pepperoni pizza, nuclear hot buffalo wings, a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi, and some snacks from the grocery store next to my apartment building. I took some time to set up the food in the kitchen. I took out some 'other' drinks also, in case Ashley felt the need to drink more than just soda. She would be the first person to see my apartment since I moved here. Hope she would like it. I'm hopeful. In a couple of minutes, I was finished laying out the food. The buffalo wings looked tempting, so I snuck a taste of one. Big mistake. "FUCKING HOT!" I screamed. I could feel my taste buds running for cover! I continued screaming 'OW's' and 'OOh's' like I was Michael Jackson. Running around the kitchen, I started to look for a drinking glass. When I eventually found one, I waved it under the faucet and drank cup after cup of water. After the fire died down, I took another bite. WHAT? It was good. Undeniably hot, but delicious.
There was a knock at the door. I had a feeling it would be Ashley. Couldn't be no one else anyway. Unless it was the fire marshal. Que rim shot. I wiped any remnants from the previous fiasco off my face and quickly ran to the door. I opened the door slowly. Ashley stood wearing the same red jacket she wore to the movies, but she was wearing jeans and black knee-high boots. She wore nothing on her head this time. Her curly hair covered that department. She walked in and immediately gave me a hug.
"Thanks for coming Ash." I say to her. She smiles and flags it off.
"I'm just the support." I take her jacket and slowly walk to the closet. I was watching her absorb the place. She hasn't said a word while I was hanging her coat. "Wow, this place would make Martha Stewart look like Plain Jane. You sure you're in the right profession?" I blushed.
"I'm sure. Glad you like it. I tried my best to come up with some type of theme, but I just threw it all in the air and went with what I felt." She walked from corner to corner, eying everything that she could grasp.
"Well random suits you. And this is your equipment?" She stood in front of the camera.
"Some of it. The rest is back in LA. I only asked my friends to ship me the essentials."
"You are so cool. I so want to be you when I grow up." She smiled. I poked my tongue at her. We laughed. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Ran out of cat food so I had to rush to the store for a quick refill."
"You have a cat?"
"Yep! I has cat. His name is Sam. Evil little thing. He doesn't let people get close to him. He's a scratching, biting maniac. You should totally meet him."
"I would uh, like that." I stutter. I wasn't good with cats as is. Ashley's cat sounded like he needs an exorcism quick, fast, and in a hurry. With that being said, we finally went into the kitchen and ate. Ashley immediately ran through the buffalo wings, with no signs of stopping. I flinched as she was on her fifth one.
"What?" She asked. I shook my head.
"I tried one wing and nearly tore off my mouth. How can you eat those like that?"
"Like what?" She continued eating.
"Like you're on your fifth wing. Isn't it hot?" I blinked.
"Believe me, it's fucking scorching." She took a sip of white wine that I had lying around. "But your taste buds will get used to the flavor after a while. It'll still be hot, but not as before."
"Well thank you for that interesting lesson Professor Ashley." I saluted. We laugh.
"Davies actually. Ashley Davies." She said.
"Spencer Carlin." I heard myself say. We both smiled before continuing on with dinner.