Although I'm a little iffy about their plan, Cooper seems to think it will work and I've come to the realization that I can't control everything.
Kind of like my scripts that no one would follow.
Aiden isn't thrilled about going back to school without me, but he's very relieved that I'm not going home today.
But I feel like I'm letting Brooklyn down. Breaking a promise.
My gut tells me I had to.
But that doesn't make it any easier. Aiden's been trying to take my mind off Kiki and my fight with B by keeping me entertained. We've played cards, listened to music, watched movies, and ordered room service.
As midnight approaches, I'm getting fidgety. I've tried to call Brooklyn every hour since nine, which would have been six, seven, and eight o'clock his time.
"He met with his mom at six. It's been three hours," I say aloud, interrupting the movie we're watching.
Aiden presses pause. "If he hasn't seen his mom in years, they probably have a lot to talk about."
"Plus, he's mad at you," Damian adds. "You know how he gets. He's probably ignoring your calls."
"You're right! You call him!"
"Fine, but if he doesn't answer, I don't want you to freak out. He's probably still with his mom."
"Just try."
Damian gets out his phone, hits a few buttons, and puts it up to his ear. "Straight to voicemail," he says, hanging up.
"Why don't we order some dessert?" Aiden suggests.
Peyton goes, "That sounds yummy. You know you love chocolate!"
"Chocolate makes everything better," Cooper says, quoting what I usually say.
I'm lucky they're here. I'm a basket case as it is. I can't imagine how I'd be without their wonderful distraction.
"I agree. Let's order dessert."
The dog is on its way here, ready to play its role in the movie. There are many ways, literarily, to make a character likable-like allowing the audience to see a bad guy helping an old lady across the street or being kind to an animal. Which is where the dog fits in.
Vince will have a dog in the movie. One he adores.
Instead of being seen as the bad guy right away, this will add a plot twist the audience doesn't see coming. Even though they aren't sure if they should, they won't be able to help but react cordially to Vince.
Which means that it's now time for round three.
And based on what he's observed recently, Matt will be easier to obtain than the dog was.
We are finishing up our dessert when my phone rings.
"It's Brooklyn!" I say, supremely relieved to finally hear from him.
"Hey, B! How did it go?"
"Are you not with him?" his dad says. "I thought the two of you were meeting me at the house at 8:30 to talk. Where are you?"
"I'm in New York. Is he not back yet? Wait, you called me from his phone."
"Yes, that's why I called you. I thought you were with him and I couldn't get ahold of him because he left his phone here. Why didn't you go to dinner with him? Does that mean he went alone?"
"I assume so. I tried to talk him out of going. Told him it was too dangerous for us to be together in Malibu."
"He's should be home by now. Do you know where they were meeting?"
"They were going to Buddy's. Hang on, let me use my friend's phone and I'll call there."
I grab Cooper's phone, look up the number for Buddy's, and call it.
"Hey, is Darlene working tonight? Could I speak to her?"
A few minutes later, our usual waitress answers.
"Hey, this is Keatyn. I don't know if you remember me but I always used to come in and get spicy shrimp with Brooklyn."
"I remember you. He was here tonight. Told us all about how he's been off surfing."
"Is he still there?"
"Uh, no. He left quite a while ago. He met with an older woman. It seemed sort of awkward, like he didn't know her well. She didn't stay long. He ordered dinner and had a couple of beers after she left. Seemed upset. Picked at his food. Left around seven."
"That was two hours ago. Did he happen to say where he was going?"
"No, he didn't. Oh, wait. Maybe. He said something about clearing his head with a walk on the beach before he had to go deal with his other parent. Was that lady his mom? Now that I think about it, they did share a resemblance."
As she continues talking about their blonde hair and blue eyes, I whisper, "He left two hours ago."
"How would he have gotten there?" Cooper asks.
"Darlene, did you notice if Brooklyn had his motorcycle helmet with him?"
"Yeah, he did. He even mentioned how good it was to ride it again."
"Okay, thanks for all your help."
"You're welcome. Don't be a stranger."
I hang up and go back to my call with B's dad. "You probably heard part of that. He left a couple hours ago. Is his bike home?"
"His Jeep is in the garage but his bike is gone. Sounds like things didn't go well with his mother. Not that it's a big surprise. I tried to warn him. He's probably riding around, blowing off some steam."
My mind immediately flashes to Vincent's words. I'll take away everything you love.
"Remember the hostile takeover Brooklyn wanted to help me with?"
"Yeah?"
"It was announced yesterday. I fired Vincent from his own company. He threatened everyone I love and even had our dog kidnapped. I'm really worried about Brooklyn. Please call me the second he gets home."
"If you ruined everything we've worked so hard for, he'll never forgive you," his dad says coldly.
"Mr. Wright, his surfing career should be the least of your worries right now. You should be more concerned about his life."
"Are we being a little dramatic?" he asks.
My phone buzzes with a notification. I'm trying to control my temper, so I peek at it and see B's name.
"B just messaged me. He's okay."
"What did he say?"
I toggle over to my Skype notification.
Brooklyn: Skype me now.
That's weird.
"Um, he wants to video chat with me. Are you sure he's not up in his room?"
"Uh, I don't think so, but maybe I didn't hear him come home. I'll go check."
I run to the bedroom, sit at the desk, and power up my laptop, thankful that Aiden thought to bring it from the loft.
I bring up the program, see B's smiling face next to the word Online, and click to call him.
I'm just so thankful he's okay. He probably snuck in because he didn't want to deal with his dad. He's probably going to tell me he's sorry for hanging up on me and how awkward it was with his mom.
As the screen shows him answering, I smile.
But then my heart stops beating when Vincent's face shows on the screen instead.
He gives me a chilling smile. One that makes my whole body shiver.
"We have the dog. We have Matt," he says. "As soon as we have you, we'll commence filming."
Matt? Lacy's boyfriend in the movie?
Did he cast Brooklyn as Matt?
No. He's probably just trying to freak me out. Probably stole his computer since I destroyed my phone and he needed another way to get in touch with me.
But how did he get Brooklyn's computer?
I imagine the scene at Buddy's.
B's distracted and talking to his mom.
Someone grabs his backpack.
Although, I don't know why he'd take it to dinner.
No, wait. I do. He'd want to show his mom videos of him surfing.
I look Vincent straight in the eye. "Who did you cast as Matt?"
A smirk plays on his face. The first show of emotion I've seen. "Your boyfriend, Brooklyn, of course."
"I don't believe you."
Vincent narrows his eyes at me. The emotional mask returning.
From the corner of my eye, I see Aiden and Cooper come into the bedroom.
I pretend to adjust my laptop screen, but instead I hold my hand out past it, gesturing at them not to come any closer.
My eyes are glued to the screen, Vincent and I locked in an online staring match.
Finally, he blinks and says, "You want to see who I cast? Is that it?"
"Yes, Vincent. I need to know who my co-star is before I'll sign on to the project."
"Very well."
There are blurs across the screen as Vincent moves the laptop away from his face.
I can't make out anything until the movement stops.
Then there is a single image.
Brooklyn. Lying on a mattress motionless.
I quickly take a screenshot.
"Believe me now?" I hear Vincent ask.
"I want to talk to him."
"As you can see, he can't talk right now. He's asleep."
"Asleep or dead?" It's hard to tell. I can't see him breathing.