Disclaimer: I don't own anything, as usual.
Author's Note: Oh... damn school. They messed up my schedule. I was supposed to be taking physics, but now it's communications technology. A friend is in the class and she convinced me not to change it. I don't even need physics, but I'd rather have it than com tech. Oh well. I hope I don't fail because my computer doesn't have PowerPoint (I don't know what happened to it! I might of deleted it from my computer be mistake!). I had my first official day today, but I guess it's not too bad. Anyway, the cast listing is not too important; I still have two more chapters to finalize it.
Ruby Red in Mineral Town
The Spontaneous Anything
(Hm... I'm skipping Karen for this chapter. I'll get back to her next chapter, I hope. Now it's Popuri's POV!)
Today was going to be a long day. I was in almost every single scene... and most of them with Cliff! Suddenly, I feel a whole lot more attached to him, ever since our little meeting at his trailer. I feel a little more obligated to put in a good word for him to Ann. After all, if everything works out the way it's supposed to, then Cliff will be my brother-in-law after all!
I picked up the revised copy of the script before entering the town's square. I didn't notice much of a difference at first glance, just one or two acts were taken out. There was supposed to be some time for Evan and Ruby to get to know each other better, but I guess that's not going to happen.
Mayor Thomas decided to make an announcement before the being of filming for the day. "Attention everyone!" he shouted from his post. "Today will most likely be our last day of shooting. We are going to try to get all the scenes in today, unless it becomes too dark for shooting. In that case, the remainder will be completed tomorrow. And what I say next is very important! Everyone here must report back at the town's square at six thirty sharp! Do not forget that!" Everyone murmured some sort of acknowledgement. "All right, we don't have a minute to spare! Let's get going everyone!"
This scene was supposed to take place right after Cliff and I kiss on 'my' doorstep, the scene that we had rehearsed two nights ago. Why this part isn't considered the same scene as the previous scene, I don't know. Well, I do know; it's because our Mayor is a little... Ahem anyway that's not important.
I was the first one there, with no one else in sight. Out of boredom, I started to sniff at the pretty roses.
"What are you doing!" Mayor Thomas pounced at me.
"What?" Boy, he startled me!
"Don't tamper with the roses!" he pleaded. "Everything has to be exactly the same as yesterday!"
"I didn't touch anything, honest!" I yelped, raising my hands. Geez, what was his problem! This 'director' title is certainly getting to his head. "What about the lighting? That's not exactly the same as yesterday!"
He flinched. "Well, we cannot change that. Now everyone, get ready! Where's Cli-"
Cliff hopped over a fence and ran to his place. "Ready!"
The Mayor gave him a bit of a disapproving look but said nothing. "Okay, everyone ready? All right! Action!"
I pulled away from his embrace. "Why did you do that?"
Cliff looked away to the side. "Because you did it first."
I looked to my left and my right. "Come on, let's go! Before anyone sees us!" I grabbed his arm and pulled him behind some bushes.
Cliff cursed and rubbed his wrist. "Damn Popuri, not so hard!"
I sighed. If he had just kept his mouth shut we could of kept going. But after a couple more takes, and a few scrapes from the bush branches, we finally got that part right.
"You weren't kidding about your parents," Cliff reflected. "I thought it was just an exaggeration."
"I wish everyday that what I say is an exaggeration," I grumbled. "I'm just sick of my life. I wish I could just run away."
Cliff's eyes lit up. "Are you serious?"
"Didn't I just say that everything that comes out of my mouth isn't an exaggeration? Of course I'm serious!"
From an angle, I saw a branch poke him on his bare arm. He winced. "Then why don't you come with my sister an I?"
A dramatic pause. "...What?"
"Yeah, c'mon, it'll be fun," Cliff insisted.
"Uh..." I scratched my head. "I don't know... I mean... what will my parents think?"
"Who cares what your parents think? I thought you were tired of them!" Cliff pointed out.
"It's not just them," I twiddled my thumbs. "What about my friends? My sibli- my brother?"
"It's not forever. You can come back at any time. Please?" He took my hand and gave me an adorable puppy-dog look. I didn't say anything for a short period of time because I was trying not to laugh. Not because he looked funny, but... oh never mind.
"What about your sister? What if she doesn't like me?"
"She'll like you, don't worry about that. Even, if for some far out reason that you don't get along, she's not staying with me for long. Our next stop is New York City, and that's where Claire's going to study acting. Then I'll be all by myself..." Cliff shot me a little smile.
I cocked my head to the left in thought. "You know what? I'm sick of this place. I need to do something. I'll do it!"
"Really? For sure?" Cliff brought our clasped hands to his chest. "That makes me happy..." and on cue, he got a little misty eyed.
"Me too," I murmured, and moved in close for another sweet kiss.
"All right," Cliff stood up after our lips parted. "Let's go right now."
"Okay," I grinned, standing up with him. "But first... I have some things I need to do. Why don't I meet you at your hotel in an hour? It will give you some time to pack up all your stuff."
"Sounds good," our hands finally get go. "Uh, I'll see you soon then," Cliff coughed out shyly.
"Just a few things!" I yelled after him as I ran off.
Subtly, I keyed the door to my 'home' and walked inside. Kent and Elli (aka Kent and Cassie) were in the living room.
"Where are mom and dad?" I whispered.
"At the Whiteman's," Elli informed me.
I cringed. "Uh, okay." I walked up to Kent and gave him a hug. "Goodbye Kent..." I said sadly.
"Where are you going?" Kent looked up at me quizzically.
I hesitated to answer. "I'm going somewhere. But don't worry, I'll be back."
"Where? When?"
My response was just a loving kiss on his forehead. And I moved on to Elli.
"What?" Elli snarled, not really a question, but a statement.
"I know we don't say it often enough to each other, but... I love you," and I hugged her too.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Elli grimaced at the sign of human affection but did nothing to wiggle herself out. "Are you seriously going away? Have you told mom and dad yet?"
"Well, no..." I answered uncertainly.
"Really?" Elli smiled. "I've never seen this side of you sis. So you're just... poof, gonna leave?"
"Pretty much, yeah," I smiled back.
"Uh, well then, have fun. Don't leave for too long." This was the closest thing to nice that Elli (Cassie) would ever say to her little sister.
"Thanks sis," I put my hand on her arm affectionately, then raced off to the other room to grab some things.
"Cut cut, stop rolling! We need to save as much film as possible!" Mayor Thomas shrieked. "Okay, let's go to the Flower Shop (our 'hotel') for the next scene." And people began to rush off. Not me, I wasn't in it. So I leisurely took my time to get there to watch.
This next scene was all about Cliff and Karen. It wasn't an interesting scene, nor was it of dire need for the movie, but it's a little important.
"Action!" Mayor Thomas yelled.
Cliff banged open the door of Elli and her grandmother's room (Elli almost had a heart attack, poor girl!). "Claire, we have to get going. I don't have much time to explain it, but just pack up your stuff and we'll have to check out early."
Karen looked away from the television screen. "What? Evan, I want an explanation."
"Just do it," Cliff growled, tossing a duffel bag onto her bed. He began to force his things into his backpack. "We have to be out of here in an hour."
"Evan-"
"Just go and pack!" Cliff roared. "I'm leaving with or without you."
"Fine." Karen turned back to her television program.
Cliff stopped packing and went down on his hand and knees. "Please, Claire. It's important."
Karen rolled her eyes. "Oh, all right." She snatched her bag and began collecting her things. "What is this about though?"
"It's about that girl," Cliff told her, zipping up his brimming backpack.
"That girl? Oh my God, she can't be that crazy!"
"No! She's leaving her family and coming with us."
"What? You can't just do that!" Karen protested. "How come you never told me about anything?"
"You're going to have to understand," pleaded Cliff. "Come on, I'm your brother. Do this one thing for me. I promise you I'll be eternally gratefully and forever in debt to you if you don't make a big deal."
"Okay okay, I can't say no to that!" Karen laughed. "So... what happened between you two?"
"I don't know," Cliff blushed a little. "This is all very spontaneous. I'm sure in a couple of days she'll miss her friends and family and will want to return home. Maybe this isn't the best idea, but hey, we're young. We need to live fast, and hopefully, not die young." (Author's Note: Hey, it's not a coincidence, that I mention Dean by name in one chapter and then mention his trademark attitude in this one. Maybe he was a bad influence, but I still like him though he was dead a couple of decades before I came to exist. In fact, you can single-handedly blame his legacy for how kids are now, lol.)
"There's nothing wrong with being spontaneous," Karen approved as she zipped up her bag. "Okay, so when can we leave?"
"As soon as Ruby gets here," Cliff replied. "Which I hope is very soon."
"Cut cut CUT!" Mayor Thomas stepped in front of the camera lens. "Okay, off to Marian's house!" And again, we all began to run, like our village was under attack. I didn't quite understand why we had to get there so quickly, but I didn't say a word of protest.
Ann stepped over in front of a patch of flowers, a watering can firmly grasped in her fist. In this scene, I was supposed to say my goodbyes to her. After all, Marian and Ruby are best friends. A crewman helped me put on my large backpack, and everything went underway.
"...Action!"
Ann tended to the flowers as I ran up to her, practically dragging the back behind me. "Marian! I have something very important I have to tell you!"
Ann spun on her heel to face me. "What is it?" she eyed the large bag strapped behind me. "Are you going somewhere!"
"Yeah, I am, and I just came here to say goodbye."
"But... you can't just leave!" Ann wailed, dropping her watering can with a definite thud. "Where could you possibly go? And for what reasons? This isn't like you at all!"
"Marian, you know about my parent situation. I can't stand them right now. I love them, but their viewpoint on what my life should be is totally distorted. So today I got the chance to travel away somewhere, so I seized it." I tried not to let the weight of the bag land me right on my ass. Why was it so heavy?
"So are you going backpacking somewhere?" Ann looked frantic.
"Yes, I mean, I think so," I adjusted the backpack. "You know the guy I was telling you about earlier? Evan?"
"Hey, you learned his name," Ann squealed.
"Yeah, anyway. Well, he gave me the opportunity to go with him, and I agreed. I think I really need this... and no, there's no way you can talk me out of it," I rushed on when Ann tried to say something.
"For the record, I think this is a little too crazy," Ann sighed. "But I do think that this might be good for you. It might give your parents a little more understanding. I don't know how, but it might."
"Don't tell them anything," I warned her. "If they ask you, tell them you don't know where I am, okay? That won't be a complete lie because I'll be moving around a lot."
"You're coming back though, right Ruby?" Ann started to get all teary-eyed. Gosh, how do they do it? I can't cry on cue.
"Of course I'm coming back," I assured her and sealed it with a hug. "I don't know when, but I'd never leave you for good. You're my best friend, and I'd never in any of my lifetimes ever betray you."
Ann smiled. "Remember me, when you're in the middle of nowhere. Call whenever you can."
"I promise I will never forget you," I patted her hand. Ann wiped a tear away and we gave each other a monster hug.
"Well, I better get going," I said almost reluctantly once the embrace was over. "I'll call you the very first chance I get."
"What are you going to tell your parents once you get back?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I'll think of something while I'm out there. And now I really got to go. I love you Marian, you know that."
"I love you too!" After one more hug, it was time for me to depart for the hotel. As I began to walk down the road, Ann stood at the edge of her property, waving until I couldn't be seen no more. (Author's Note: Sounds corny huh? Good, lol.)
"Cut! Okay, everyone take a break and get some lunch!" our Mayor instructed. Suddenly, we all did have something to run for. The man that was supposed to help me off with the backpack fled the scene once it was announced it was lunchtime. But I just dragged the unbelievably heavy thing with me. Boy was I hungry!
Oh, one more thing. A comment to Krazie4Christ... if the dialogue you're talking about is the movie dialogue (when you indicated it was feeling rushed) then good! I planned it that way (don't ask why though). But if you're talking about my story, then I've got a problem sweatdrop. That's prolly a little fast too, but what am I going to do, lol? I don't have much time since I've started school, so I'll try to... watch it. Again, damn school!
