Cry at this line.
Touch her hand and watch her a second longer.
It doesn’t take long before he has marked up the entire page of sides in red ink. Scribbling on his script and drifting back to Graham’s performance in front of him.
“Well done. Now that is how it’s done, folks.” His voice shouts to the whole cast and crew.
Graham struts off set with a perfectly engineered smile, meeting Holden’s eyes in the chair next to him.
“Good job, man.”
“Thanks. Hey, I was thinking you, me and Sloane head to Chucky’s after work.”
“If she’s free…”
“Don’t worry, man, already confirmed with her,” Graham says. Holden quietly balls up his fist on the side of his chair, nodding back.
“Awesome. Chucky’s it is!” Graham says before walking back to his chair.
I’m now feeling dizzy, standing in a room with nothing but beige walls and a few inspirational quotes hanging on them. At the front of the space, there’s a long wooden desk with stacks of paper lying on both sides.
I am transported to what looks to be their classroom, with three desks spaced out in the room. Each one reserved for the individuals working full time this week, under eighteen.
The teacher hasn’t arrived yet. Holden is so far the only person in the room. He stares at his watch expectantly as Sloane walks in. Two minutes later, Graham strolls through the doorway, settling into his assigned seat.
Sloane has yet to sit in her desk, placed between the boys. Instead, she jumps on top of the teacher’s desk, holding out some new sides, waving them in the air. “I got it. I will officially be a series regular starting next week.” Sloane is unable tocontain her excitement. Her feet are dangling over the desk like a little kid.
“Aren’t you excited for me?” She waves to the both of them in their chairs. They both look at each other for a second before standing up at the same time to go over and hug her. Holden embraces her first before softly leaving a kiss on her lips. I find myself looking away.
“I can’t wait to start getting paid to make out with you,” Holden says.
“Did they tell you the storyline?” Graham interjects, raising his eyebrow as if he knows something Holden doesn’t.
“Just read this.” She pulls their copies from behind her back, displaying them. I am not sure how she managed to get an early release of the next episode before everyone else…
Without question, they both go back to their desks and laser focus on the new pages. Hovering over Holden’s shoulder, I read the page he has opened.
ALLISON(annoyed, rushing the conversation)You didn’t even notice me last week…
BILLY(smiling) Of course I did. You were wearing a yellow sundress last Friday.
They exchange a quick glance, sizing each other up.
BILLY(whispering)Go to prom with me.
Billy leans in, but not quite ready to kiss her.
Holden looks up from the pages to see Graham’s sly smile. Sloane’s focus is locked in on him. The side of her lip is curved slightly, lifting into a faint smirk. The stare between them does not break. Because I’ve seen this show before, I know exactly who Holden plays—and it isn’t Billy.
This only makes Holden grind his teeth and furrow his eyebrows, unable to take his eyes off them. Before I can see more, the vision fades to black. My body is no longer watching this.
In the black void, a chant is said three times.
“Duas almas incompletas.”
“Duas almas incompletas.”
“Duas almas incompletas.”
