Shelf #024

That day, Kuu and Julie were at the kitchen table, eating lunch and drinking tea. Spike had went out. Probably to go and get himself drunk again. Julie never brought any clothes with her, but only a few undies. So right now, she wore Kuu's pink shirt. It was too big for her, yet she felt comfortable wearing it with Spike's white mini shorts. It surprisingly fit her very well. They must have the same size.

"I'm really sorry about last time." Julie said, taking her cup. "He just flew in –– I had no idea –– in fact, I had no idea if he'd ever fly in."

"No, that's fine. . He's always that kind of idiot," Kuu said. "It's not even often one has the opportunity to adios the plates of a major Hollywood star. It was a fucking thrill for me."

She smiled warmly back at him. He paused for a moment and seriously looked deeper in her eyes.

"How is he?" Kuu asked. "He knows you went somewhere?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. I believe he doesn't. I escaped from him last night. It finally got to the point where I couldn't remember any of the reasons I love him. He abused me. . . He never cared about me anyway. Besides, he has to fly back to New York this morning for filming. . So I think he's maybe on his way there right now."

A brief moment of silence, it was her turn to look him deeply in the eyes. "And you. . And love?"

"Do I have to?" Kuu said. "I don't think I need to."

"I have thought about you. . Always. . ."

There goes that look. It was familiar. He had seen it somewhere, definitely. But he can't remember.

"Oh no no –– no," Kuu said, feeling a trap of this genuine expression.

"Just. . Anytime I've tried to keep things normal with anyone normal –– it's been a disaster."

Kuu stood up taking the cup with him and went to the stove. He poured another batch of tea.

"I appreciate that absolutely. ." Kuu said. He turned to face her, leaning on the counter. He changed the subject tactfully. "Is that the film you're doing?"

Julie turned to the folder he had pointed. "Yes –– it starts in L.A within two weeks, on Tuesday."

"Would you like me to take you through your lines?" he asked, heading back to the table. Julie lightened up.

"Really? Would you? It's all tak, talk, talk, Kuu. ." she said.

Kuu sat and took the script. "Come on. Hand it over. Now. . Basic plot?"

Julie inhaled. Then, she answered. "I'm a difficult but brilliant junior officer who in about twenty minutes will save the world from a nuclear disaster."

"Mm. . Well done you."

Julie chuckled.

A little later that day, the two were in the terrace. It was a nice weather outside, with gentle breeze sweeping past them. The sun was behind the clouds, so it wasn't very bright here. They were finally in the thick of the script. Kuu leaned on the beach chair under the parasol, the script open on the glass table beside him. He never bothered to look at the lines. He had already memorized them for doing this scene twice. Today was the third time.

'Message from command. Would you like them to send in the Hks?' Kuu said.

Julie kept pacing near the plants. She was deep in her role.

'No, turn over 5 TRS's and tell them we need radar feedback before the KFT's return at 19 hundred –– then inform the Pentagon that we'll be needing black star cover from ten hundred through 12.15' –– and don't you dare say one word about how many mistakes I made in that speech or I'll pelt you with olives.'

'Very well captain –– I'll pass that on straightaway.'

"'Thank you.' Now how many mistake did I make, Kuu?" she asked.

"Twelve."

"Damn. . 'And Wainwright. . .'"

"Cartwright."

'Cartwright. Wainwright. Whatever your name is, I promised little Jimmy I'd be home for his birthday –– could you get a message through that I may be little late.'

'Certainly. And little Johnny?'

Julie stopped and looked confused at Kuu. "My son's name is Johnny?"

"Yup."

"What about Jimmy?"

"He's your elder son."

"Oh– yeah right. Fabulous. I got lost there. 'Well, get the message through him too.'

'Brilliant.'

And the scene was finally over.

"Word perfect I say," Kuu said with a smile. Julie walked back and sat on the opposite beach chair.

"What do you think?" she asked. She took a glass of juice and drank.

"Gripping," Kuu replied, looking at her. "It's not Jane Austen, it's not Henry James, not even Richard Matheson, but it's gripping."

"You think I should do Henry James instead? Maybe Matheson. ."

"Either way I think you'd be great. I'm sure you'd be great in Henry James," Kuu said. He took the script. "But you know –– this writer's pretty damn good too."

"Yes –– " and she stretched on the beach chair. "I mean –– You never get anyone in 'Wings of the Dove' having the nerve to say 'inform the Pentagon that we need black star cover'."

"And I think the book is the poorer for it."

To Kuu's joy, Juliena flashed him back the brightest, biggest smile of the day. He surely was helping her.

"I didn't know you could act."

Kuu looked at her. He chuckled softly. "What?"

"You may not be doing the entire act moving around, but, your voice a while ago –– they seemed so real. ." Julie said, smiling at him. "You've acted before?"

"In plays back in high school, yes. I did mostly lead roles."

Julie took a sip again with her juice and nodded. "Mm!"

She looked back at him. "And –– do you have any feelings of wanting to act somehow? You must have loved acting. . ."

This time Julie saw a flicker behind Kuu's eyes. She liked that and smiled back as she listened.

"To be honest. . Yeah –– it feels exciting to play a different person. I don't know, I've got the bookshop to keep it stood up."

"But if given the chance –– would you do it?"

Kuu looked at her deep in the eyes. "Yeah. . I would."

Julie couldn't comprehend the sudden new feeling fluttering about in her stomach. It must be Kuu's words. What if he'd be in the acting world? She can picture him totally famous. . . And what if –– she would act alongside him? What kind of actor would he be then?

On a late afternoon one day, Kuu and Julie waited for Spike at the dining room. He went outside to buy food, as both of them felt to eat something good and not home-made for a change. Julie noticed there was actually a picture on the wall near the window.

"I can't believe you have that picture on your wall," Julie said. It was actually a poster of a Chagall painting, called La Marie, of a wedding couple with a goat as company.

"You like Chagall?" Kuu asked.

"I do. So much. . It feels like how being in love should be. Floating through a dark blue sky. . ."

"With a goat playing a violin," Kuu said with a warm smile. Julie chuckled softly, her green eyes sparkled.

"Yes –– happiness wouldn't be happiness without a violin-playing goat," she said.

Moments later, Spike arrived and entered the kitchen with three pizzas.

"Voila. Carnival Calypso, for the Queen of Portobello –– pepperoni, pineapple and a little more pepperoni."

He placed Julie's pizza first on the table. Julie shook her head in disbelief.

"Fantastic, Spike," she said with a smile. Kuu looked up at Spike who placed the two boxes of pizzas on the other side.

"I don't mention that Julie's a vegetarian, did I?" Kuu reminded. Spike just shrugged. Julie laughed.

"I have some parsnip strew from last week," Spike said. "If I just peel the skin off, it'll be perfect."

Kuu just gave up and buried his face in his hands as Spike went to the fridge. Julie found this quite amusing and continued to laugh heartily.

"You know what, I'd just take this," Julie said and picked up a big slice of pepperoni. Kuu watched her eat for a few seconds. Instead of expecting her to vomit, as he was all ready for a one-second rush, Julie just closed her eyes happily chewing her pizza.

She looked at Kuu staring at her. "What? Mm– you're expecting me to throw up, huh?"

Kuu snorted softly. She took another big bite, getting chibier every second. "Sorry to disappoint you. . But this is just so good. Probably the best pizza I've ever tasted."

"See–? I knew you'd love it!" Spike said. He sat on the table and took a slice of his own pizza from the other box.

"Well, this is supposed to be made for the Queen of Portobello, right?" she said. Spike just nodded at her and gave a thumbs up.

Kuu shrugged and reached for the last slice of Calypso, when Julie swiftly pulled the box to her, away from him. Spike chuckled.

Kuu and Julie stared for a moment. Then. .

"Sorry, you think you deserve the Calypso. . ."

Damn, she got her revenge of the brownie back.

"Well, a shot at it at least," he said. They chuckled as Julie refused.

"Nah! Nice try gorgeous. But I won't let you hog my last slice. ." she said, taking the box out of his reach. "This is the Queen Calypso, darling, the best pizza ever made on the planet. Meant for me, the Queen of Portobello. And I'm gonna have it. I'm gonna fight for it if I have to. Don't state your claim."

Spike laughed and cheered her on. Kuu just shook his head in defeat, but he teased her.

"You'll lose your figure, gorgeous. The Queen of Runway tiara will be taken from you if you don't listen to me."

But Julie arched her eyebrow as she took the last slice. "You can't fool me, darling. I don't care. Pathetic effort to hog my Queen Calypso."

Then she bit her pizza. Spike and Julie slam a high five in the air. The three enjoyed eating their meal, with Julie eating some of Kuu's pizza. He wanted to gain revenge, but he gave up and let her. He didn't want her to starve to death trying to keep her perfect figure. This was the only time of her life that Julie was happy with her food. Nobody to restrict her, nobody to stop her from doing what she loved. In the deepest cores of her heart, she thanked Kuu for it.

Their eyes met, and it was now Kuu's turn to see a bright Julie winked at him.

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