Page 78 of Starrily

Chapter 18

With the break called, the cast members and crew headed for the buffet tent. Simon and Callie joined them, keeping in the back, and finally got a hold of some waffles—and an idea of how to capture their runaway cat.

They waited until people feasted and vacated the tent. Callie positioned herself on one side of the long buffet table, and Simon on the other. They laid low and waited.

Five minutes later, there was a silent hop, and Theia landed on the buffet table. She nimbly moved between half-empty plates and leftover cans of soda and stopped at the plate of burger patties. Simon readied himself; Callie waited until Theia was busy taking a bite of the beef, then whistled.

Theia’s ears perked up, distracted. Simon moved fast and grabbed the cat, holding her victoriously in the air.

“Hello, menace.” He held Theia up to the level of his face. She was totally complacent, as if admitting defeat was beneath her.

“Nicely done.” Callie approached from the other side.

Simon turned Theia to face Callie and said, with a higher-pitched voice as if coming from the cat, “This is not over, Master! I will not be contained! I shall be free again!”

“Dork.” Callie’s tone might’ve been admonishing, but her smile let him know what she actually thought. Oh, the things that smile did to his insides.

And his slightly-lower sides.

Callie took Theia from him. “Needless to say, you’re not leaving your carrier again. Understood?”

With their adventure successfully concluded, they headed back to pick up their clothes, then mingled in with a group of extras and left through the main entrance. Theia was secured in her carrier, and as evening descended, they drove off towards the nearest lodging that allowed pets.

Simon whistled the catchy pop melody from the set as he drove, and sang,“The sky has come to greet me …”

“And I’m rising up,”Callie continued, then grunted. “That stupid song is so infectious.”

“I know. I can’t get it out of my head.”

“Who makes a sci-fi musical?”

“Your favorite actor, apparently,” Simon mused. “Good thing he didn’t hear you calling his movie C-list.”

“Oh, no.” Callie hid her face in her hands, then laughed.

Their place to stay for the night, a small inn, wasn’t far. Callie checked on Theia while Simon went inside.

“One room?” the innkeeper asked.

Simon opened his mouth, then considered. It was one kiss. Maybe he should wait with joined accommodations until they talked about what exactly they were to each other, and where they stood.

Or until another kiss. He could go for that.

“Two rooms, please,” he said.

Simon had been brushing his teeth the next morning when the toothbrush slipped out of his hand and clanked into the sink. He went to pick it up—and his fingers passed through.

No, no. Not you again.He’d been doing so well—a whole four days without an incident. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.It’ll pass. It always has, thus far. A memory from his life—the other life—intruded: he used to have nosebleeds as a kid, and even though they were harmless and would pass quickly when they happened, every time he felt the iron in the back of his mouth and watched the blood drip into the sink—one, two, three drops—he worried it wouldn’t stop. That he’d just keep on bleeding.

What if, one day, he’d just keep on fading?

He gripped the sink with his good hand and focused on the pristine white porcelain.One, two, three. It’s going to stop any time now.He didn’t know how many minutes passed, but at last, he tentatively pressed his hand against his cheek, breathing out in relief as it made contact. Solid, warm. Real.

His face looked back from the mirror—worried, but flushed with a healthy glow. How long before he wouldn’t be able to see himself anymore?

It’s gonna be fine.Callie’s family would fix him.Be optimistic.

He rushed through the rest of his morning routine, eager to get back on the road—and to his solution. As he was checking the weather and road conditions, Callie joined him, waving her tablet.