Song: Complicated (Avril Lavigne)
"So, when can we expect them to arrive?" Chuckie asked while lounging in a director's chair, one foot casually resting on his knee. In his hands is the film script to memorize his lines for the scene while waiting for Lil, as well as Phil and Kimi who volunteered to assist Tommy with the shooting.
Tommy couldn't respond immediately as he was too occupied by setting up his digital cameras to capture different angles. He had also brought along artificial lighting equipment to ensure all the scenes would be properly illuminated.
Tommy momentarily shifted his attention away from his filming equipment and looked at Chuckie. "Uh, Lil said they're on their way. They're probably gonna be here any minute now," he responded casually before refocusing on his setup.
He then looked back at his best friend again with a hint of curiosity. "By the way, any reason why Kimi didn't join you on your way here?" he asked, already having an idea for the explanation for her delay but decided not to mention it, respecting her decision.
Chuckie briefly lowered the script and responded. "She said she had something to take care of with Lil. She'll probably be with them when they come here later."
Tommy nodded slowly while positioning the strobes to the right angle.
It became silent for a little while until Chuckie got up from the director's chair and left the script behind, deciding to approach his best friend.
"So, how's your love life going?" Chuckie teased. "Any girls you're currently crushing on?"
Tommy froze for a moment, getting caught off guard by the question.
"There's n-no one," Tommy nervously replied with his gaze shifting to the ground as he avoided making eye contact with Chuckie.
Chuckie giggled and teased, "That's new, 'cause you're always the one talking about girls."
Tommy smiled and just went along with his comment, noticing the irony of the situation. He was actually surprised that he mellowed down on conversations involving his romantic life over the years too. It probably has to do with a recent lack of experiences to boast about or it might be because of being smitten with someone for the past few years.
Chuckie watched Tommy as worked on adjusting his film equipment. He then pressed his lips together, deciding to talk about something he'd been wanting to share with him.
"I had something to confess," Chuckie revealed nervously. "I have been crushing on someone right now. I'm really into her and I don't know how to make a move on her."
This is something Chuckie has been holding on for months and he was glad he's finally able to share it with someone else, and he couldn't think of a more perfect person than Tommy to share it with.
Tommy's eyes widened and turned his gaze to him. He was happy to know someone had been inspiring him lately. If only he could talk about how complicated it is with his romantic life currently but that would be like putting himself on the spot.
"Wow! Good for you Chuck!" Tommy said in glee, feeling genuinely happy about the news, and without hesitation, tried to playfully ask about the woman's identity. "Do I know this lucky lady?"
"Yeah, she's actually close to all of us," Chuckie nervously hinted.
Tommy narrowed his eyebrows, trying to think about who the mystery lady might be. A knowing smile then crept onto his face before shooting a playful look at his best friend.
Tommy crossed his arms and spoke, "She's our friend, Susie Carmichael, isn't it?" he said in confidence, fully certain that he was right.
Tommy saw immediately that Chuckie turned red, further confirming his assumption. This made him giggle before deciding to walk closer to him.
"Then why can't you just make a move on her?" Tommy suggested as if it were a no-brainer. "Susie is a good person and I'm sure you two are closer than you think. You guys have literally been hanging out together more often after school recently," he further encouraged, placing a hand on Chuckie's shoulder.
"You think?" Chuckie asked with a tinge of hope.
"Of course, bro," Tommy replied proudly. "You're smart, hardworking, and an all-around nice person to be around. I'm sure Susie would want to be with someone like that!"
"You're lucky you have so much experience already. You make it look so easy to pursue a girl you like. Chuckie mused, reflecting on Tommy's overall experiences with women. "How I wish I could act like that, so I can finally be her."
Tommy gulped upon hearing that comment. He wanted to tell him so bad about what happened between them recently, but considering how badly he reacted to the idea of them being together during their initials carving fiasco back in middle school and their latest movie night made it clear that he wouldn't take his story kindly.
"You're going to do it successfully your way, Chuck. Trust me," Tommy responded in confidence before turning back to finish setting up his equipment. He desperately hoped that Chuckie wouldn't delve deeper into the topic of his experiences because he had no idea how he'd respond if he made another comment about it.
Chuckie sighed with optimism and picked up the script he had left on the chair. "You know, I want to perform my best in this film. I want you to win this buddy, that's the least I can do for all the help you've given me since I can remember."
"You've done a lot of help to me too you know, don't discredit yourself too much," Tommy responded warmly, touched by his best friend's words.
"It's just that not everyone has a loyal and trustworthy best friend like you. I feel like I'm lucky at that part at least," Chuckie expressed in reflection on the great friendship they built over the years. "If anyone deserves to have a big opportunity for a career they've been dreaming of, it's you, buddy! You got this!"
Tommy felt deeply moved by Chuckie's words but was also starting to feel guilty at the same time. Chuckie had always been open and honest about his thoughts and feelings, like sharing his affection for Susie, and Tommy couldn't help but feel like he was betraying him by hiding some recent events in his life.
Tommy decided to just put up a soft smile at least. "Thank you. I'm gonna do my best!"
Chuckie smiled. "I know you will, buddy. I've always believed in you."
"Shall we start?" Lil's energetic shout echoed through the warehouse as she arrived with Phil and Kimi following close behind.
"Are we the only ones needed here?" Phil asked, putting down his iced drink on a nearby chair.
"Yep. For now, we'll focus on the scenes with Chuckie and Lil. We'll get to the other cast members and extras in the coming weeks," Tommy explained, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Tommy and Kimi's gaze met momentarily before she shook her head and looked away immediately.
"Okay, but which part are we gonna do today?" Chuckie asked.
Tommy picked up his copy of the script and flipped through the page. "Here, page thirty-five. The one where Bea and Brian investigate in an old warehouse," he instructed, presenting his script on that specific page.
In the script, Bea and Brian who will be played by Lil and Chuckie respectively will be in an abandoned warehouse in search of evidence from the murders depicted in earlier scenes. The script is filled with dialogues, but the most intriguing part is when it hints at the two main characters possibly becoming a couple by the end of the story.
Tommy was sure right from the start that a 'happily ever after' concept wasn't the direction he wanted for the film's ending. He had a concept in mind for a potential plot twist to conclude the story, but he was still in the process of refining the scenes.
Before starting the recording, Tommy asked Phil's help in arranging some props that Dil had willingly created. His brother would have liked to join the shooting, but he already had a prior commitment with his school friends.
Meanwhile, Lil held her script as she began rehearsing her lines for Kimi to observe and critique.
"What about this?" Lil asked, clearing her throat before shouting the scripted line with full emotion, "No! There has to be something. We can't return to the station empty-handed!"
Kimi thought that while the line had emotion, it didn't quite fit the context. "I think you shouldn't shout that line," she suggested, reviewing the script herself. "It appears to be meant to be delivered with a worried tone."
"Okay, everyone, we're set!" Tommy announced as he took charge of the room. Chuckie and Lil were then instructed to position themselves for the upcoming scene.
Tommy took charge of one of the few recorders to capture close-up shots of the actors' emotions. Phil operated the studio strobe for lighting, while Kimi held a movie clapper to signal the exact start of the recording.
"Sequence seven, take one, action!" Kimi called out, snapping the movie clapper shut.
Upon hearing the signal, Chuckie and Lil swiftly immersed themselves in the scenes slated for today's shoot. Their first task was to portray a scene in which the two main characters explore the abandoned warehouse. There aren't a lot of dialogues in this scene which makes it crucial for the movement and emotion to be precise with how Tommy envisioned it.
The shooting proceeded smoothly as Chuckie and Lil delivered exceptional performances in every scene, requiring only a minimal number of retakes thus far. Tommy was pleased by the performance and just focused intently on capturing every nuance of their movements.
The actors were in their prime today, nailing their lines perfectly within just the first few takes. As they progress shooting through the scenes in today's sequence, Tommy realizes that Chuckie and Lil's acting chemistry is even stronger than he had initially anticipated. They're making the job much easier and the thought of finishing earlier than expected left him feeling optimistic for his final output.
Then comes a scene in which Chuckie and Lil struggle to get perfect.
"No! There has to be something. We can't go back to the station empty-handed!" Lil exclaimed worriedly, taking note of Kimi's suggestion. She then pulled Chuckie's arms to get his body close to her, following the script.
Unexpectedly, the action accidentally got Chuckie's forehead bumped into Lil's.
"Ow! That hurts!" Lil exclaimed, wincing as she pressed her palm against her forehead. Chuckie did the same, feeling the pain as well.
Once the pain subsided, they both burst into laughter, finding humor in their unexpected mishap.
Tommy had no problem seeing his friends share a laugh, but he knew they needed to refocus quickly. There were plenty of scenes left to shoot, and if they wanted to wrap up immediately, they had to get back on track.
"Alright, everyone! Let's get back to the scene. Get in your positions!" Tommy directed with a stern tone. The rest of the gang knew he was getting serious, which immediately prompted them to return to their designated spots. "On my cue. Three, two, one. Action!" he called out, with Kimi simultaneously closing the movie clapper again.
Chuckie and Lil reenacted the same scene, but this time, they both lost their balance, causing them to tumble backward and hit the ground.
"Cut!" Tommy shouted in slight irritation, leaving the recorder behind to get closer to the actors.
Lil hurriedly stood up and knelt to where Chuckie was still struggling to get up. "You okay, bro?" she asked with concern.
Chuckie sat up and chuckled. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, trying to stand. Lil noticed and extended her hand to help him up.
"This isn't working. We need precedence, someone to perform the same scene so we can replicate it," Lil suggested.
Phil turned his attention to both Tommy and Kimi, who were standing close to each other. "How about you guys go first? you created the script in the first place!" Phil suggested, sharing the same opinion as his sister.
Lil nodded and spoke, "You and Kimi should set an example for us. After all, you two collaborated on this script."
Tommy and Kimi were taken aback by the idea. They shared a glance before looking at the rest of the group to see their reactions. Kimi was ready to refuse at first, but seeing mostly supportive expressions around them, she realized they had little choice but to agree.
Chuckie, on the other hand, was a little uncomfortable with his best friend and sister acting out a romantic scene, but he thought that they were just doing what they could to get the scene over with.
Kimi took a deep breath and grabbed Tommy's wrist, pulling him to the area where the scene was taking place. "What's the line again?" she asked, getting into position.
Tommy briefly gazed at Kimi, momentarily stunned by her casual response to their re-enactment scene, but fearing that the gang might notice him, he immediately regained his composure and stepped into his character's position.
"Page thirty-seven, second to the last line!" Chuckie responded as they all walked aside to give the stage to Tommy and Kimi.
Tommy and Kimi exchanged glances before slipping into their respective characters as dictated by the script.
"Are you both ready?" Phil asked, receiving nods of confirmation from Tommy and Kimi, and with a dramatic flair, he continued, "Action!"
Kimi paused for a moment, still a bit nervous about playing out the scene, but she knew they had to do this. She gathered her remaining confidence and looked at Tommy right in front of her, immersing herself in the character.
Tommy stared back at her, feeling too stunned to see her courage to act out this specific scene despite their current situation. Does she have an idea how anxious he's been about how they're gonna execute this in front of the gang?
It's really weird to feel this anxious about doing this. He wasn't even hiding anything or pretending to be something to impress someone. Heck, this was one of the easiest scenes to write and imagine when the script was created, but is it really the scene that's making him nervous?
"No! There has to be something. We can't go back to the station empty-handed!" Kimi exclaimed in character, delivering the same line that Lil did, and with subtle hesitation, she reached for Tommy's wrist and pulled him close to her just as the script intended.
Their bodies were inches apart, their faces so close that they could feel each other's breath. They stood frozen, unable to move.
They stared into each other's eyes with flickering desire and astonishment. It was the first time their faces had been this close since he took her photo, and he could feel the heat building inside him as he fought the urge to lean in.
Heavy breaths mingled with the scent of mint as she was slowly caught by his charisma, making her feel like they were the only people in this abandoned place. As they locked gazes with each other, she started to see things much more clearly. Everything had truly become different between them, and he's not just any other friend anymore.
He is much more than that.
Tommy was tempted to close the gap between their faces, but a cheerful voice pulled him from those thoughts.
"Perfect!" Lil exclaimed, her applause echoing through the warehouse. "That was a superb performance, you guys!"
Tommy and Kimi immediately released each other and composed themselves as the rest of the gang clapped at their performance, not realizing the tension that just built up from it.
"So realistic!" Phil complimented before turning his attention to Chuckie and Lil. "See that? That's how you do that scene!"
"Okay, okay! That's a great basis. Let's do it again," Chuckie said, fixing himself to get ready for the retake. The performance was indeed great, but he can't lie that the sight of his sister and best friend getting to act like that got him a bit uncomfortable.
Tommy and Kimi breathlessly left that spot and immediately went back to do their original task. He held the recorder again but was unable to completely focus as he still couldn't get the moment they had out of his mind.
He couldn't believe it, they almost kissed again, and in front of their friends which is definitely not a good place for it to happen. His mind was deep in that thought until Chuckie's voice snapped him back to focus.
"Hey, Tommy! What's the holdup? We're all set," Chuckie said, noticing his best friend's momentary distraction.
"U-uh, right!" Tommy stuttered, hastily setting the recorder to begin recording and signaling them to start their performance.
Lil delivered her line again before finally pulling Chuckie, executing the scene flawlessly this time. They maintained their close proximity for a while, faithfully replicating Tommy and Kimi's version of the scene.
After Tommy signaled the actors to stop, Lil and Chuckie playfully separated from each other with Lil jokingly pushing Chuckie's face away from her, evoking laughter from everyone else. It had been a delightful day of filming, and both actors were already looking forward to shooting the remaining scenes with the rest of the cast.
Tommy finally got home after a long and tiring day of film shooting. He first took some chocolate bars from the fridge before sitting in front of his computer to transfer all the scenes they had recorded earlier, organizing them into a single folder. While waiting for the files to complete their transfer, he leaned back in his chair, his mind wandering to the scene he did with Kimi.
It felt amazing getting close to her again. It's been so long since they got that physically close to each other, and he would be lying to himself if denied missing that. There's just something different to the way they're acting to each other now.
Despite everything, he will never regret kissing her that day. He had been building up the desire for so long, and he felt like it was inevitable. But he was also confused. Wasn't she supposed to be his friend? He's not supposed to feel this way about a friend, especially his best friend's sister.
Unable to get her off his mind, he opened a chocolate bar and took a bite, attempting to calm his thoughts. However, it failed to stop him from opening another file containing the professional photographs he had taken of her. An unintentional smile formed on his face as he scrolled through her gorgeous images, filled with smiles and her undeniably pretty face. Oh, how he misses seeing her like that when they're alone together.
Tommy was nearing the end of the file when a text notification from his phone rang out, startling him and causing him to close the file.
He reached for his phone, which lay beside his computer keyboard, and opened it to check the message.
It was from an unknown number. He couldn't remember giving it out but didn't mind opening the message anyway.
"Hey! Game to meet at that Chinese restaurant tomorrow? My treat! ~ Rachel 3"
A message from his ex-girlfriend was the last thing he expected today. It then suddenly occurred to him that he gave her his number a few weeks ago. He stared at his phone for a while, thinking carefully of what his response would be.
A catch-up would definitely make up for the long time they had not been on good terms. It would also be rude of him to decline after seeing how nicely she had been treating him since she came back here.
Tommy took another bite from his bar and typed his response.
"Sure. See you there!" he replied before closing his phone and immediately getting back on transferring files.
"Looking forward to seeing you! :)"
Tommy slowly sat up from his computer chair upon seeing Rachel's message. He had been deeply immersed in editing his film recordings, completely forgetting about their planned meetup for today.
Realizing that there were only fifteen minutes left until their agreed-upon time, he decided to shut down his computer. He then quickly slipped into his leather jacket, partially covering the white shirt he had worn all day and paired it with baggy pants. He didn't mind looking casual, as this was going to be a casual meet-up.
Honestly, he wasn't really in the mood to meet anyone today. He already planned on experimenting with new editing techniques for his film recordings, a task that takes a whole day. However, he didn't want to disappoint Rachel or give her another reason to be upset with him.
He quickly ran a comb through his hair before rushing downstairs to get this over with. The sight he saw downstairs, however, completely shocked him.
Rachel was already there, sitting beside his mother as they conversed about something he could fully make out of due to his lingering surprise. They hadn't his presence yet as they continued to chat excitedly.
Didi was the first to spot Tommy approaching, and she promptly alerted Rachel. In response, Rachel excitedly rose from the couch, completely showing her fully glammed-up face and her tank top paired with a long skirt. She looked stunning yet not as casually dressed as he had anticipated.
"Tommy, hey!" Rachel greeted breathlessly, possibly because she had just shared a plethora of information with his mother.
Tommy looked at her in confusion and responded, "Uh, hey? I didn't expect you to come here. I thought we were meeting at the restaurant."
"I'm sorry, I didn't give you a heads up," Rachel apologized. "I just thought it would be a good idea to surprise you and take the opportunity to see your mother again. We haven't had a chance to bond for years."
"Why didn't you tell me Rachel was back in town?" Didi commented as she reached out and took Rachel's hand in a motherly manner. "We could have done this sooner before we all got so busy."
"It's all right, Mrs. Pickles. I'm just glad to see you again after so many years, and rest assured this won't be the last time you'll see me," Rachel giggled. "For now, I just hope have a nice bonding with your son," she added, looking at Tommy.
"I'm sure you'll do, sweetheart," Didi responded, then suddenly grew alarmed. "You two can head into the car in the garage, I'll take you two at that restaurant," she offered.
Tommy's eyes widened. He hadn't expected his mom to make this offer and was inclined to decline it.
"Mom, it's okay, we can get there on our own," Tommy reassured her, thinking that all of this would be done sooner if he handled it on his own.
"Nonsense. You'll get there more quickly with my help," Didi insisted. "Besides, I want you two to have as much time together as possible. I believe you have a lot to catch up on, so it would be great if you could also return home earlier."
Didi then looked at Rachel. "Would you mind if I drive you two there, sweetheart?"
Rachel smiled and shook her head. "Of course not, Mrs. Pickles. Who would say no to such a kind offer?"
Tommy let out a sigh and subtly rolled his eyes at Rachel's obvious jab at his earlier response. He then followed them as they began walking ahead of him towards the garage.
They all got into the car and quietly drove to the Chinese restaurant. Rachel and Didi engaged in conversation throughout the short trip, while Tommy remained mostly silent, responding only when necessary.
"By the way, where did your family move from?" Didi asked out of curiosity. "I wasn't really informed about the place your family moved to. It all seemed to happen rather suddenly," she added, glancing at Tommy in the hopes that he might provide some insight into her lack of knowledge.
Rachel smiled, not minding the question. "We decided to move to Washington because a lot of my maternal side of the family lives there," she explained with a tinge of sadness, hinting at the difficulty of sharing the full story.
Didi sensed the sadness in her tone and tried to show empathy. "Oh, I see. What made you guys move back here?"
"I suppose my parents just felt they could manage things on their own here," Rachel replied, offering what she believed to be the genuine reason behind their decision.
Didi sensed that Rachel was becoming uncomfortable discussing the topic and shifted the conversation's focus to their recent activities, from hobbies to television shows they were obsessing about. Undeniably, Didi wanted to know why she was behaving that way about the topic but figured that this was not the perfect time and place for it. Obviously, she would be willing to be there for her if she initiated talking about it.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, the two teens bid Didi goodbye and silently walked together to the place full of other people who were enjoying their meals. As the polite person he was, Tommy took the initiative to find a table and then offered Rachel a seat when they found one.
Once they were settled in their seats, a waiter promptly approached them and began taking their orders.
"We'll have Chow Mein, Wonton Soup, Xiaolongbao, and Iced Tea for drinks, preferably all vegetables, no meat," Rachel informed the waiter, who diligently noted down her order on a small pad.
Rachel then turned to Tommy and asked, "Anything you'd like to add?"
"Could I please add General Tsao's chicken?" Tommy requested with the waiter waiting for Rachel's response before writing anything down.
"Of course," Rachel responded nonchalantly and then turned again to the waiter. "That will be all, thank you!" she said politely as the waiter left to process their order.
"Are you doing well with the film so far?" Rachel inquired, starting a conversation. She thought discussing the film would be a good way to begin before getting into personal matters.
"We're doing good so far, thanks for asking. But you know I can't spill any specific details, especially since you're on the film committee," he replied, recalling their recent conversation about it.
Rachel suddenly felt a bit disappointed. "Aw, I was hoping you'd spill some secrets this time," she teased, eliciting a chuckle from him. After their laughter subsided, she asked about the detail in his response that sparked her curiosity. "And who are these "we" helping you produce this film?"
"You know, my friends, Chuckie, Kimi, Phil, and Lil? Remember them?" Tommy responded with enthusiasm, proud to mention them.
Rachel's smile quickly faded upon hearing Kimi's name. She felt a bit irritated that Kimi was being brought up and responded in a way that she hoped would steer the conversation away from this topic.
"Uh, yeah," she replied, forcing a smile.
After a few moments, a waiter arrived with all the orders they had requested. The waiter skillfully placed the freshly cooked dishes on their table to prevent any spills. Rachel expressed her gratitude to the waiter before they left the table. Afterward, she picked up a plate and began to serve herself some stir-fried noodles. She extended the plate towards Tommy, who happily accepted it and then proceeded to serve herself some noodles as well.
Both teenagers grabbed the included chopsticks and started enjoying their meals. They paused their conversation momentarily to savor their food. Rachel was about halfway through her noodles when she gently set down her chopsticks to take a sip of iced tea and clear her throat.
"Besides the film production, how are you?" she asked, trying to initiate a conversation once more.
Tommy took a sip of his soup before raising his gaze to meet hers. "I'm doing alright, but you know, there's something really confusing about all this," he admitted, finally sharing the thought that had been circulating in his mind since she came back to this city.
"What is it?" she inquired, looking puzzled.
"I'm confused about why you'd casually invite me to a meet-up like this. Didn't our relationship end badly before you left the city?" he asked bluntly, mustering the courage to address something that had been bothering him each time he was being treated by her kindly.
Rachel lowered her gaze and took a deep breath. "You know, Tommy, it's been four years since all of that happened. I've already forgiven you." She explained with a contemplative expression, then adjusted her posture to take a sip of her iced tea.
It was true, she had already let go of all the past grievances between them. What matters to her now is that they're getting close again and the potential rekindling of their past relationship. Some personal aspects of her life are currently chaotic and stressful and it's driving her to seek a trusted companion.
However, her response didn't entirely alleviate his confusion. He remembered her being quite upset when his friends had brought her back, assuming he wanted to reconcile, even though he hadn't initially. Well, he did want that eventually, but only after she completely ended things between them. As far as he knew, she wasn't someone who forgives easily, considering it had taken him a long time to win her over when they first started their relationship.
"Are you seeing anyone right now?" she asked curiously, hoping to hear a specific answer.
He was taken aback by the straightforwardness of her question.
A certain image of someone immediately came to his mind, causing him to smile foolishly as he glanced at the floor.
Rachel observed him, noticing his smile, and felt a mix of confusion and hope. She couldn't help but wonder if she was the one he was thinking about with that smile.
"No," Tommy replied hesitantly, feeling a bit embarrassed to admit this to her.
She felt relieved by his response because it implied a greater possibility of them reconciling.
"I'm surprised. I thought by now you would have hundreds of girlfriends already!" she teased and laughed, genuinely believing that might be the case, given the memory of him being a ladies' man back then.
He didn't quite grasp her motive for asking that question, but he decided to go along with it, laughing with her and pretending to agree.
"No, really. It's surprising to hear that you're single," Rachel playfully commented.
"Well," Tommy began, "I've been focusing on more important things in the past few years," he explained while taking a bite of his chicken.
Rachel nodded and then asked the next question with immense curiosity. "So, I guess no one's on your radar at the moment?"
Tommy chuckled as that certain person crossed his mind again. "Maybe, we'll see," he replied vaguely, not wanting to divulge details of his personal life to someone who had just recently returned.
Rachel had been very nice, and he had no issues with the meet-up so far, but he didn't like that she was starting to pry too much into his personal life.
"Um, can we stop talking about this? I'm not really in the mood for this kind of conversation right now," he confessed before taking a sip of his iced tea.
Rachel sighed and leaned back in her seat, realizing that she had pushed the topic too far. She took a deep breath and cleared her mind, deciding to take a break from that conversation so they could both enjoy their meals without any awkwardness.
She refrained from bringing up the topic again and instead asked Tommy multiple questions about their school's culture to gather helpful information for her high school life to be easier. Their conversation continued to flow, and they stayed longer even after they finished their meals. It was Tommy who eventually noticed that it was getting too late and suggested they head home.
Rachel would have loved to stay longer, but she realized that her parents might not appreciate her returning home late. Tommy then took the initiative to walk her home, which she eagerly accepted and as they began strolling through the streets of their town, they continued the topic they left off from the restaurant.
"No way! You had Morah Ayalon teaching you foreign studies in a regular school?" Rachel asked in surprise, responding to a conversation Tommy had initiated about their teacher during Hebrew school.
"I know, it's unbelievable, right?" Tommy laughed. "Although she only filled in as a substitute, it was fun to see her deal with public school students."
The two continued to share laughter and exchanged their thoughts about their Hebrew school teacher. This particular conversation sparked Rachel's nostalgia for the bond they once had. Tommy was not perfect, he certainly did some things that disappointed her but for the most part, he's the best company she's ever been with. He always brought her a sense of peace, something she hadn't felt in years.
Rachel felt a surge of sadness as they approached her house, but she informed Tommy about them being near their destination, nonetheless. They kept walking until they finally reached her doorstep.
Upon reaching their doorstep, Tommy could faintly hear an argument emanating from inside the house but chose not to delve too deeply into it, as it wasn't his business after all.
Tommy already bid goodbye and watched Rachel walk towards their front door but was caught off guard when she suddenly ran and hugged him. He just froze there for a few seconds but then briefly returned the gesture before she released him and spoke.
"I had a wonderful time tonight, Tommy!" she said warmly, keeping her gaze fixed on him.
Tommy casually replied, "I enjoyed it too."
He couldn't help but think that he might have been better off at home editing his film, but overall, the meetup had turned out quite well, and he didn't regret agreeing to it.
Rachel slowly headed back to their front door and opened it before looking back at him. "So, I guess this is goodbye?"
"Yeah," Tommy smiled warmly. "I hope you have a good night."
There were a lot of changes and distractions during the editing of this chapter. I know this is getting repetitive, but I apologize for this update taking too long, it wasn't intended to be this late, honestly. A lot of unexpected things just happened in my life since the previous chapter, disabling me from opening my draft. I just hope this chapter was worth the wait and if you have any thoughts and comments, please let me know through reviews or comments (*^ ‿ *)