Chapter 7: Packing and Surprises
"So guys, how's school going?" Allie asked after taking a sip of her diet coke. They all gave her the most pathetic looks ever.
"Jeez, don't all speak up at once." Allie sarcastically spoke.
"Allie, no one gets as excited for school as you do," Thomas said. "You're not normal."
"Ohhh, shut up. How are your grades?" Allie asked. Nobody answered as they continued to stare at Allie. "Alright, new subject."
"Oh, my mom said their bringing back the old sets from the first two seasons from the storage lot." Alex brought up.
"That's awesome!" Cooper said.
"Even more memories to relive." David said, high fiving Thomas. The guys continued to talk as Allie opened up a new text message.
Nat: u nervous??
Allie smiled and quickly responded.
Allie: how'd u know??
Nat: you're not saying anything and u always have something to say
Allie: shut up!
After they had breakfast, the cast headed to the studio to clean out their dressing rooms.
"Allie, you're not naked, are you?" Alex asked from the other side of her dressing room door.
"What does it matter? You've already walked in on me changing like a thousand times." Allie answered, folding a hoodie and placing it in a box.
"Very true," Alex said, opening the door. He sat down on the couch. "How's packing going?"
"Kinda sad, you know?" Allie said, taping a box shut. "I mean, I made this room my home for 3 years. And, I haven't seen half this stuff in forever."
"Wow, your right. Check out this picture," Alex picked up a framed picture of the two of them during the filming of "Nat's a Stand-Up Guy."
"Holy crap, I remember that. In between takes, you were telling me and Coopy dumb jokes but for some reason they were hilarious." Allie smiled. She handed the picture to Alex. "You keep it."
"Allie, come on. It's yours." He said, handing it back to her. "How else will you remember the two Al's?"
"Alex, how could I ever forget you? You're the little bro I never had." Allie smiled, hugging Alex.
"And I hope that, you know, you and Nat happen." Alex said during the hug. Allie pushed Alex away.
"Okay, now how did you find out?" Allie asked Alex. He walked over to her open laptop and clicked on YouTube. He navigated his way to one of the videos where Allie talks about her crush on Nat.
"You really shouldn't post that online. You're lucky my mom blocked YouTube after some haters sent us videos." Alex scolded.
"Well, how did you see it then?" Rosalina asked.
"My friend showed it to me." Alex said, as someone knocked on the door.
"Allie, you got clothes on?" Thomas yelled from outside.
"No." Allie simply answered, trying to contain her laughter.
"I'm coming in anyway." Thomas opened the door and sat down next to Alex on the couch.
"What if I wasn't wearing anything?" Allie asked, taping another box.
"I would have closed my eyes." Thomas responded.
"Oh, okay. Look, at this Tommy Boy." Allie said, tossing another framed picture at him. It has of the two of them during the filming of "Rebel and a Skateboarder." They were both wearing their wrestling costumes and were staring each other down.
"Haha, I'm still a better wrestler than you." Thomas smiled, punching her arm.
"You going to do it next year in high school?" Rosalina asked him.
"Sure am. I've been training for a while now." Thomas said.
"I'll try to come up and see you once or twice." Allie told him. "And you too Alex, are you doing soccer next year?"
"Yeah, I'm so pumped." Alex said.
"So, Allie, I hope you know, I want you to get with Nat." Thomas said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Really? You who didn't ever shut up about it?" Allie suspiciously asked.
"Yes, I do. I know a good match when I see one and you guys are one." Thomas said. "And so are me and Jessica Alba."
"Dream on!" Alex and Allie said at the same time.
"Allie, put some clothes on so I can come in." David called from outside the door.
"Come in, I'm dressed." She yelled back. David came in and joined the other two on the couch.
"You got any food, I'm starving." David asked.
"Umm, no. But, check out this picture." She said, handing him yet another framed picture. It was of the two of them during the filming of "The Song." They were both wearing their nice clothes for the concert and they were playing catch with a old baseball they found outside.
"Haha, that's hilarious. I have to admit, you're the best person I've ever played catch with." David grinned.
"You're playing next year, right?" Allie asked, stacking up her boxes.
"You betcha! I can't wait." David said. "You've got to come up for a game."
"I know, I'm gonna try." Allie said.
"Hey, ummmm, I know you hate when we talk about this but, you and Nat, need to hook up soon." David mentioned.
"I know, but he doesn't feel the same way." Allie sighed. "But, thanks for your support anyway."
"Allie, you're not naked, are you?" Qaasim asked after knocking on her door.
"No I'm not." She responded. Qaasim came in and joined the group.
"Yo, dude, I'm so bored. I had to take down the basketball net in my room." Qaasim whined.
"Oh, you'll live. Here, this will make you feel better." She gave him a framed picture. It was of the two of them during the filming of "Polar Bears." They were in their formal wear and Allie was on Qaasim's back, both of them laughing.
"Look how handsome I look." Qaasim said, admiring himself. Allie coughed loudly.
"But compared to you, I'm a toad." Qaasim announced loudly.
"That's better, you playing b-ball this year?" Allie asked.
"Duh, and you better come watch me." Qaasim said.
"I already planned on it." Allie smiled.
"And the whole Nat thing's gonna happen. I can feel it." Qaasim consoled.
"How did I know that was coming?" Allie asked herself out loud. "And, thanks Seemy."
"Allie, you need a lock." Cooper announced, coming in the room. "Oh good, thank god you're wearing something."
"Why do you all assume I never wear clothes in here?" Allie asked, sitting down at her desk.
"Because we've all walked in on you." Cooper answered. "Haha, dude, that picture's funny."
"I know, isn't it?" Allie said, talking about the picture of the two of them during the filming of "Mystery Girl." Allie was in her school uniform for the movie and Cooper was in his usual suit. They were sitting back to back and whispering to each other, both with cell phones in hand.
"And, Allie, you know I'm going out for football next year." Cooper told her.
"No way! That's so cool!" Allie said, giving him a high five. "I'm so coming to one of your games."
"Awesome, and Allie, I want you to know that you and Nat, are meant to be. It's gonna happen, really soon." Cooper smiled.
"Thanks guys, I really hope it happens too." Allie grinned.
"Allie, can I come in?" Nat asked politely from outside.
"Of course, you were the only one that asked without making sure I had clothes on." Allie called. Nat opened the door and sat on the edge of the couch.
"How's packing going?" Nat asked.
"Sad." Allie answered, glancing at a framed montage of picture of her and Nat. There were ones from "The Premiere", "Sidekicks", "Fishing for Love", and practically every other episode. "I want you to keep it. You guys, keep the pictures I gave you. I've got copies."
"You're not gonna cry, are you?" Nat asked.
"Not right now." Allie sniffed. "But later, most definitely."
"Oh great!" They all moaned.
"Shut up!" Allie loudly said. "So, why can't we go on set? I can't find my hair straighter and I think they put it in Rosalina's bedroom set."
"I don't know why." Alex said, getting up off his spot on the couch. "But, I say, we go find out."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Allie smirked. She glanced at the rest of the guys, who were wearing the same smirk.
"Oh yeah, let's sneak through the holes." Alex smiled. They all ran from Allie's dressing room and down the hall, past everybody else's empty rooms. They stopped at an empty corridor where nobody ever hung out. Thomas and David worked their magic at removing the seven panels from the wall where the kids got the set before it was open or when they were running late. After all seven were out of place, the seven knelt down in age order, starting with Allie and ending with Alex.
"Ready, set, go!" Nat whispered. All at once, they burst through the holes and into the dark set.
"Thomas, get the lights." Qaasim whispered. Thomas flicked the set of lights, revealing the rest of the cast and crew.
"SURPRISE!"