Slowly, AJ picked up her bag and got to her feet.
A noise in the rafters made her jump. AJ shook it off. Empty theaters were creepy as hell.
“Did you hear that Baskin-Robbins is closing?” asked Emily.
“No, I didn’t hear that,” said AJ, her voice still shaky.
She heard a second noise, a scratching, this time closer.
Fuck—was someone here?
“Yeah, they’re having a BOGO sale of all the ice cream, and guess what I’m going to do?”
AJ could distinctly hear footsteps now; they were heavy, stomping toward her. One of the velvet runners began to rustle. AJ’s adrenaline spiked.
Then Bud was sprinting toward her across the stage, tags jangling, tail wagging like mad.
As AJ stooped to pet the dog, Noah appeared in the wing. He took one step and then another until both his feet landed onstage. AJ felt an energetic swell, a cresting wave.
Air rushed back into her lungs.
His frame was in the light now, his shadow stretched across the floor. AJ could make out her own form now. She watched their shades collide.
Your scene partner is your life.
Noah’s cheeks were chapped from the cold, his eyes intent on her face. There was fear in them, but also resolve.
AJ held his gaze.
I know you.
In two more strides, he was there, and AJ felt time break wide open. For a moment, Noah just looked at her.
Then he offered her his hand.
“Age?” asked Emily in her ear.
Noah had walked through fire. AJ knew he would do it again.
She smiled at him. She couldn’t help it.
“I’m here,” she said.
Then she placed her hand in his, palm to palm. It felt like home.
Noah’s eyes crinkled and filled.
Then, he grinned.
Hollywood, California
Summer 2015
AJ and Noah stood off camera,waiting for the lighting technicians to finish taking the levels on set. Production on a major film was a lot more involved than the janky, do-it-yourself laboratory that had beenInto the Blue,but with added red tape came some improvements. Namely, they had a story this time, thanks to AJ’s script, and a cohesive vision, thanks to Noah’s direction.
After Em Tyner publicly washed his hands of anyInto the Bluesequel, AJ and Noah had optioned the rights for Mooncalf Pictures, their production company. The fans had also mounted a massive Kickstarter—this hadn’t helped with the actual costs of production so much as it had convinced their studio to green-light the project.
In AJ’s opinion, the film had all the makings of a satisfying sequel. The plot centered around five all-new leads living on the outskirts of Naval space in their own crale, Gilarise. After some fun pirate hijinks, the Gilarise crew stumbled upon a dastardly conspiracy that could only be defeated with the help of the now-scattered former Gilamede crew.
