Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Scarlett she's mine 3
Enjoy!
Distant Waters
"Wow."
That's all that could come out of my mouth after the ending credits. Gretchen and I had decided to watch Mr. Brooks's movie.
"Wow. Look at the hidden gem I've unearthed or wow there's 89 minutes of my life I'd like back?" she asked with a look of skepticism.
"I wanted to hate it. I really did...but I-this is the... Heartbreaking work of a staggering genius," I explained still looking at the black screen. It was amazing, stunning even.
"Are you trying to tell me that Turn Away, My Sweet is the product of a genius?"
I cringed at the implication, but the honest critic inside me erupted.
"As much as it pains me, yes."
"I don't know, Dawson. All I saw was some formula gangster movie. I mean, I'm still picking the pulp out of my teeth," she admitted.
"Yeah, it was pulpy, but underneath all of it was this great big thumping heart. This is a love story masquerading as a genre piece," I broke down. The flashes of scenes went through my head reminding my of my love for movies.
She turned to face me on the floor.
"Dawson, the girl hired the guy to kill her. How is that a love story?"
"Because just when she had given up on love, he came into her life."
"Yeah, and he tried to kill her."
I nodded and continued, "Right, but he couldn't because he fell in love with her. Right when she'd given up and stopped looking, she stumbled into her own fairy tale. It's brilliant."
"If you ask me, Tarentino does this stuff a lot better and in color," Gretchen pressed and I laughed.
"And now you're completely proving my point."
"Which is?"
"A.I. Brooks was way ahead of his time."
"I like you like this."
Her words caught me off guard and I looked at her.
"Dare I ask what "this" is?"
"Passionate, opinionated, irritating, even," she revealed and I gave her a smile, but then quickly got lost in my thoughts again.
"Why-why did he stop?" I mused. Mr. Brooks was a secret mastermind and yet he was now a grumpy old man who took pleasure in berating me.
"Someone could ask you the same thing," she replied. I was going to respond until I heard movement from the window. A leg came over the window seal and in came Scarlett. I immediately had a mini freak out. Scarlett wasn't very fond of Gretchen. When she got in and took in the scene I saw her walls come up.
"Hey Scarlett. I thought you were working on yearbook stuff tonight," I inquired trying not to sound awkward.
"I did. I finished. I just realized I left my backpack here and it has my manuscripts in it," she answered going over to my closet and grabbing her bag from inside.
"Sorry to interrupt," she volunteered not even looking directly at me. Things had been great since we cleared things up, but there was a distance. It was just quiet, but maybe that was for the best. I felt like a lot of hurt feelings had been going around lately and I thought it was best we had a healthy space between us. We were friends and I wanted to keep it that way.
"No you weren't. We were going to watch another video maybe. Would you like to join?" Gretchen asked and I was hoping she said yes even though I wasn't sure what to do with the two of them in one room.
"I'm ok, but you two enjoy," she said already halfway out of the window.
"She hates me," Gretchen blurted once Scarlett was gone.
"She doesn't hate you," I insisted even though she wasn't entirely wrong.
"She likes you."
"I would hope so. She's one of my closest friends."
"No Dawson she likes you, romantically likes you."
I laughed heartily.
"Believe me I'm not her type," I said looking for the next movie. Most of what was going on between us was probably just due to the overwhelming amount of time we spent together. It confused things.
"But she's your type?" Gretchen questioned and I stopped what I was doing to look at her.
"We're friends Gretchen. That's it."
That was it and I was determined.
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The early morning wind was picking up today and my heart was set on sailing, but that tended to be a problem when you didn't have a boat. Well I had a boat. It just needed some fixing so I was picking up some parts from a generous donor at the docks, the rifts in the water making me jealous.
"People tried. Felt so right
Giving themselves good advice
Looking down sometimes felt niceā¦"
I thought my ears deceived me as the sound of The Strokes played in my ears. No one at the country club would play that type of music.
I walked down the stairs towards the water and along the docks. My eyes landed on the most beauty site. She was gorgeous, absolutely stunning. I walked towards her and ran my hand across her side. Her name reading Castalia across the front.
"She doesn't like to be touched without permission," a voice said and I looked over at none other than Scarlett Hamara.
"Well I do have a way with beauties or so I'm told," I responded almost instinctively and she smiled.
"I don't doubt it. Witter," she said motioning for me to pass her a jug of water on the dock.
"She's really gorgeous. I've only seen a Velsheda in photographs. Bet she's sails smooth and crisp," I said checking out the boat more.
"She does. I'm gonna take her out for a bit. Want to come?" she asked and I hesitated. We had been running into each other quite a bit lately which was fine if Joey liked her more. I actually thought they would get along if they got to knew each other.
"Come on Witter. You'd be giving me a hand, I've got food, we both know you want to, and something tells me you're a Strokes fan as well," she baited with a grin.
"Why is it that I always seem to run into you when involving impeccable music?" I questioned and she shrugged.
"Probably because I have great taste in music."
I grinned before I climbed aboard figuring it'd only be for a little while.
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I finished clearing a table off and took the dishes to the back. When I came off I peeked around the corner to see if Mr. Brooks had gotten here yet. He always found his way down to the fish house same day every week.I smiled at the sight if him eating his dinner. I walked over and sat myself in front of him. He looked up at me with disdain as I knew he would.
"So, um, have you seen any good movies lately?" I asked nonchalantly.
"I saw a picture called Star Wars here a while back.I didn't get it."
"Star Wars came out in 1977," I gawked at him shocked an amazing film maker like himself wouldn't keep up with the times.
"Like I said, it was a while back," he replied blandly.
"I saw a great film last night. It was this incredible fusion of film noir, black comedy, and a love story. It was...what was the name of it? I think it was... Turn Away, My Sweet."
The look on his face was classic. It was the best. I had never seen him so caught off guard.
"Think you're pretty clever, don't you?" he questioned me and I smirked.
"How am I supposed to deal with this? I mean, how am I supposed to deal with the fact that the big grumpy old man who basically forced me into indentured servitude turns out to be a cross between Sam Fuller and Cameron Crowe?" I seethed, slightly teasing him, but it was true. He was amazing.
"Who's Cameron Crowe?"
"Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Say Anything, Jerry Maguire," I said listing off a few.
"Never heard of him. Fuller, god rest his soul. He did some good pictures."
"And so did you, Mr. Brooks. I've seen everything I could get my hands on. Your films are- they're amazing. You know, you're like this true American primitive. I have so much respect for what you've done." I said trying to be as sincere as possible. I wanted him to know I was serious.
"First of all, Mr. Leery, they're not films. They're pictures. Second of all, they're not amazing. They're hack work, and third of all, I'm uncomfortable with this newfound respect you have for me," he barked.
"You can play the curmudgeon all you want, A.I. Brooks, but you can't fool me."
"Well, that's a load off."
"I saw those movies, and the man responsible for them obviously cares a great deal about things that matter- things like love and death and morality and honor," I pressed running the scene at the end when everything came together. It was art.
"The man responsible for them cares a great deal about eating his Chilean sea bass in peace."
I held up my hands as if to say ok, but the questions started to bubble up to the ser\\surface.
"Ok. I just-I- I wanted to tell you that your mov-your pictures really had an impact on me. I just... Well, I thought you might like to hear that."
" Thank you very much for the kind words, Mr. Leery, now if you don't mind-"
"Can I-can I just ask you about the chemistry between your 2 leads in Turn Away, My Sweet? It was incredible. It was like it practically jumped off the screen." I knew I was being eager, but his movies had brought out so much in me.
"Listen, I am old, and I reserve the right to eat my dinner in peace. So kindly remove yourself from my general vicinity." His voice was clear and final, angry for some reason so I let in.
"Alright," I said admitting defeat and rising from the table.
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"The Libertines or The White Stripes?" Scarlett asked me throwing me a bottle of water.
"Are you kidding? The White Stripes of course," I said taking a long drag.
"Indian or Mediterranean?"
"Oh Indian. It's like my everything when it comes to food," she smiled taking a seat.
"Closer to your mother or your father?"
"Oh mom. My dad and I don't really see eye to eye," I said laughing at the thought of his disappointed face in my head. She laughed as well.
"I guess we have something in common," she informed with a look I couldn't quite read.
"Why did you name your boat Castalia?"
She hesitated and turned to run her hand on the edge of the hull.
"Castalia was the name of a nymph who was changed into a fountain by Apollo, the Greek god. She was a demi goddess of sorts," she seemed to recall looking up at me.
"She inspired artistic expression in whoever drank or listened to her waters-poetry, drawings, creativity at it's core. She was known as literal inspiration," she continued with a smile.
"That's everything to someone like me. Being out on this boat gives me life and words and art. I adore it."
Her eyes drifted out onto the waters for a moment. It was a nice sight. If I hadn't already figured out what drew her and Dawson together I officially had.
"I didn't expect you to be so cheesy," I said and she laughed.
"Guess everyone is full of surprises."
"Sooo your parents just let you buy a boat worth thousands of dollars?" I asked her bringing her out of her trance.
"My parents didn't let me buy anything. I bought it."
The laugh left my lips quickly.
"Well where I'm from the money our parents give us tend to still belong to them," I said not forgetting my infamous sarcasm.
"Ok smartass. It was my money. I earned it," she shot back and my eyebrow rose.
"Doing what? Are you some type of mobster and I just don't know it?" I joked.
"The one thing my parents did teach me was to earn my own money early on. I did a lot of things. I modeled, worked various jobs, bought stock, and started a business. I did a lot of things," she shared and I was very much surprised and impressed.
"Wait-wait-wait-hold on. You bought stock? How old are you fifty? Is that even legal? And a business. For what? Selling gold?"
She laughed again. That was becoming a habit in our new found friendship.
"It's legal when your parents help. They didn't do much. I gave them the money and they bought it in my name. They still do. I mostly work with their accountant though a.k.a. My Uncle Bryan. And as far as my business it's for book editing. I stumbled into it when I edited a friends book and it became a million dollar bestseller which led to more jobs," she explained.
"What Book?"
"Charmed Ones."
I stood up.
"You edited that book?!" I exclaimed not being able to help myself.
"I love that book and that says a lot because I don't read books."
"Really?"
"Really. Who wouldn't love a book about a war between the masters of Creatons and the evil troll dynasty. The action was so intense. I'm waiting on them to realize what a great movie it would be," I beamed and she smiled again.
"I'll make sure to let Marcus know."
"Marcus Squire?! You think he'd sign a book for me?" I asked eagerly and she laughed again.
"I'll see what I can arrange."
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I just looooove Pacey and Scarlett. Not romantically but friendship wise. (even though i loath Joey)
