CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

clarity

day one of filming (ever) went like a baby's butt down a slip 'n slide: super smooth, oddly adorable, and very fun. even after maeve said our last cut of the night and aurora, caleb, and emily got to return to dormancy, connor let us stay over and hang out for a while.

it was at his dinner table where i discovered that connor and jordyn were bathroom buddies in elementary school, that violet is deathly afraid of rodents, and that walker can in fact touch his nose with his tongue. sometimes unscripted conversations were better than the rehearsed ones.

as per usual, the snake dude accompanied me on my way back to my house. we took a little bit of that night home with us, but made sure to discuss the entirety of it on the walk. and somehow we made it to my block without leaving a single thought that popped into our head when filming. of course, that meant that i told him how good he looked wearing passion.

"thank you very much," he said as we approached my neighbor's house. our steps decelerated on the sidewalk. "would you believe me if i told you i was thinking the same thing?"

"according to how much you're blushing right now just looking at me, i would," i teased.

"it's pitch black out, silly!"

"i can hear it in your voice!" i took his hand and slowly started toward my house. "now i don't want to hear you say goodbye, but seeing as though it is pitch black out... you might need to."

we weren't a secret anymore, and dad had already found out that i had snuck out, which meant the security camera on my porch no longer served as a threat. now it just felt like a judgemental pair of eyes were on us. so i stayed out of its sight and in my old habit, halting just before my mailbox.

after a moment, walker said, "why is it called a good-bye anyway? it's like false advertising to me--"

"you're stalling!" i laughed.

"guilty. but you're missing something."

my smile dropped and i felt around for my backpack zipper. "did i seriously forget my phone at connor's?"

"no, i made sure to put it in your back pocket. you're forgetting this." then he did the grand goodbye of no words, the best goodbye that i couldn't hear or see but still feel very clearly. he leaned in and kissed me with what seemed to be the rest of today's passion.

unfortunately, i had to say goodbye to the goodbye and pulled away after a moment. "ohhh, i was missing a kiss goodnight. got it," i noted. "guilty."

"i'll see you tomorrow," walker said, gradually moving his feet backward. now we both waved, and he was off.

as i headed down the pathway to my front door, i got my keys ready along with my emotional state for seeing what my dad had to say about earlier. but they didn't even reach the lock body before the door was opened for me by the very man.

"come in. i was wondering when you'd get home," he said, quite monotonously.

taken off guard by his lack of fury and his abrupt appearance, i stammered, "oh, okay," quickly, following him inside.

"your mom is out with friends and won't be back until late knowing her," he told me, moseying into the kitchen.

i hesitantly set down my bag on the ground as if any sudden movement would set off his broiling true feelings. then i joined him in the kitchen, hungry for answers but also some good ravioli.

the pots and pans clashed metallically together to make a dissonant anti-melody as i selected one just small enough for a dinner portion not brazenly gluttonous. after that loud riot, i gently said, "so, what were you doing since you got home from work?" i needed confirmation that it was in fact his car that i saw earlier, now more suspicious of my eyes than him.

"here, i'll cook for you," he said, offering his hand to fill the pot. "you're probably tired from your work too."

"thanks," i sighed. "so it was you i saw, driving right near us when we were filming the sidewalk scene."

"you've always had good eyes," he said over the gush of sink water. "you didn't get them from me, that's for sure."

"what do you mean?"

"i couldn't see how wrong i was about your whole film thing. i was veering you off your path."

"oh. i see," i said without any intention of a pun.

"the thing is," he continued. "i don't think i've ever seen you that kind of happy. all the academic awards and a+ report cards you've received-- sure, you were smiling. but, when i tracked you down today and saw you jumping and cheering with your friends behind the camera, i dunno... something just changed. i couldn't be mad at you for being you, for being happy, so i just went home and thought about it all." he paused for a moment, watching the water in the pot bubbling. "honey, i'm just gonna say it. i fucking hate my job too."

i burst out laughing. "dad!" i couldn't believe what i was hearing. not even at the rare curses, but that he was actually changing his mind, admitting to his crime of my passion.

he chuckled too. "but shit. it's too late to quit now. i admire you for not quitting either, and at least you're sticking with something fulfilling. so i'll make it up to you and out to be worth something. i'm gonna work until i retire, and i'll invest all my money in your movies. and when you're successful, maybe, just maybe you could spare a little change and buy me some glasses."

"really...?"

"yes. and before you ask, if that boyfriend of yours isn't veering you off your path as well, i'm giving you my permission to use the door when you want to see him. the window is too dangerous, and you kind of need working legs to walk down a path."

i got up and hugged him. "thanks, dad."



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thank you for reading chapter 56!