CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

bleach, please



the crowd seemed to comprehend the words that i had given through the boombox: the warnings about getting too hectic and instructions on how to be a decent extra. as we made sure the microphone was securely mounted on the camera, the iso and aperture were suitable for the bright environment, sent jordyn off to the pizzeria, and rehearsed our lines, the extras actually managed to manage themselves.

as one of the final precautions, i made my way through the crowd to the faux alcohol table with violet to check if jordyn's prediction was indeed true. maybe we could pack the real cans and bottles into a trash bag. however, my train of thought was further shoved off its tracks. jamie and tasha, cackling with interlocked elbows, came running up to us, making me flinch.

"oh my gawwwdddd! look, vi," squealed a loopy tasha. she swung her arm around to the table across the room. "maddy and michael are talking! i knew they would get back together."

"i don't think so...," violet said cautiously. "i think they're back to arguing."

she was right. the two exes stood in front of the group of kids replacing fake drinks with their own, mouths moving aggressively to form what appeared to be curses and insults. the prediction was confirmed to be true now, but i turned away and promised myself to avoid those crazies at all costs, as they were going to be both extras and extra stress tonight.

"do you think they'll kill each other before the night's over?" i asked violet, sounding almost hopeful.

"that would be awesome. the police already have a reason for showing up anyway!"

we got back to the kitchen. maeve was making sure walker's hair was camera-ready. "alright, i think that should be good." she turned to connor as walker did his signature thumbs up. "and maybe i could fix your hair too?"

"remember? i'm gonna stay behind the camera for this scene," said connor, remaining unaware of maeve's endless attempts to give him a glow up.

"right." she nodded despondently, until she turned around and saw violet and i. jumping up like a spring, she said, "are we ready?"

"i think so!" violet said, matching maeve's level of enthusiasm.

"we have everything equipment wise?" walker asked. then he counted with his fingers: "camera set up, tripod, mic mounted, flash kit...?"

my eyes went wide and my stomach tightened. "the flash kit!" i yelled out after internally yelling at myself. i had just realized its absence among the rest of the apparatus displayed on the counter. "do you know where i put it?"

"oh my goodness, not for a third time!" maeve put her face into her hands with distress.

"think about where you've been tonight, y/n!" begged walker. "i saw you bring it in here."

"uhm, uhm, hmm... i've been in...," i said, snapping to try and rush my train of thought to get back on track, or rather go backward. after three too many seconds, i mentally retraced my steps back to fifteen minutes ago. "oh! the closet!" maybe i had left it in there since my exit had been unanticipated!

"okay! in the name of visual storytelling, go, go, go!" cried maeve.

i hurried down the hall and stood for exactly one second before the door. little did i know, that one second would be remembered as the last i spent with my eyes free of any evil. when i turned the handle, a terrible sight was revealed: madeline and michael locked in a heated make out session, their argument apparently resolved.

"seriously?" i blurted out in disgust.

they stopped in their tracks only to reciprocate my emotion. "privacy, much?" said madeline, her hand still resting on the nape of michael's neck. though both were nasty, i preferred the coffee breath over the alcohol breath.

i tried to ignore the two and pushed past them and the streamers. as i scanned the shelves, my hope further depleted. there was no sign of it.

at least i gained some happiness as i was finally able to escape the site of the repulsive rebounding. i shut the door behind me, leaving them to do whatever as long as i didn't have to see it.

originally, i considered giving up and going back to the kitchen to bleach my eyes after witnessing that awful moment, but told myself i had to keep searching. i recalled how i next went upstairs, so i followed my past self's feet and headed to the foyer.

countless people blocked the trail to the staircase, however. a big chunk was gathered at the refreshment table which had been refreshed with alcohol. others were dancing to the music wildly. and then some were gazing up, laughing at a kid from my math class who was somehow balancing on the banister, his tongue sticking out, hands holding the very thing i was looking for above his head.

you couldn't miss it this time. the on button had been pressed, so the illumination made attracting the crowd and wasting crucial battery life easier for him.

"hey! i need that!" i called out desperately. this guy was about to drop my precious flash kit, i could just tell.

no one acknowledged my pleas, and the kid didn't even see my extreme waves to get his attention. then, another prediction was confirmed. the crowd made a collective "ooh!" as my flash flew out of his grasp after he flailed his arms to keep balance.

but another extra a few people away from me caught it just before it crashed onto the ground. at first, i was grateful that it landed in hands and not in pieces. unfortunately, though, it ended up in the wrong hands. the extra was a drunk boy i didn't know, smiling brighter than the flash itself. "look, guys! i'm the only extra with a prop!" he said cheerfully.

so close yet so far, i pushed past the people between us forcefully until i stood right in front of him with my palm open. "that's mine. can i have it back, please?"

he appeared confused. "wait, are you the product-- i mean, producer-- i mean, actor-- i mean, owner of the house?"

now i was. "yes, which is why i need the... prop in your hands!"

the focus of the crowd watching the guy who thought the banister was a tightrope shifted to us, furthering my eagerness to get out of this situation. it seemed to have fueled this guy's need for the spotlight, as well. he snapped back at me with a grin. "finders keepers."

"are you a two-year-old? i need this for filming," i spat, getting annoyed by his probably alcohol-induced immaturity.

he thought about what to say for a prolonged moment, but failed to and repeated himself stupidly. "finders keepers."

although i probably made myself look like a hypocrite, i couldn't take his bullshit any more, so i attempted to grab it out of his hold as if it was a toy on a playground.

he fought back, and it seemed i needed to pry it out of his cold, dead hands for much too long, until a person dancing stumbled into him, causing a domino effect of falling drunkards. his fingers detached from the flash kit easily as he went backward into the next guy, allowing me to take what was rightfully mine.

i had to catch my breath after that one, returning to the kitchen with the flash like i was returning from war.

"you found it!" exclaimed walker.

i sighed. "sure did."



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thank you for reading chapter 59!

happy holidays!!!!