Chapter Text
"There are over a thousand streets in this city," I start, standing in front of the window, "You don't need to know the route. You give me a time and a place. I give you a five minute window. Anything happens in that five minutes, and I'm yours, no matter what. Anything happens a minute on either side of that, and you're on your own. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, yeah. I got it," The man responds.
"Good," I listen to the game playing on the TV behind me as I walk towards the bed, and my duffle, "And you won't be able to reach me on this phone again,"
I flick the phone shut before he can speak again, throwing it onto the hotel bed. I pick up the duffle and flick off the lights, not planning on returning.
.-o-.
I drive to Shannons shop, going to pick up the car for tonight. The door is unlocked when I arrive and I easily push into the garage, where the man waits for me.
"Hey, there ya are!" Shannon calls, walking over to me as I put on my gloves, "She's down there. Plain Jane boring, just like you aksed for. But I dropped in three hundred horses on the inside. She is gonna fly!"
He leads me to the edge of the garage, turning his head to face me for a second before turning back.
"You look like a zombie, kid. You gettin' any sleep? I can offer you some Benzedrine, Dexedrine, caffeine, nicotine… Oh you don't smoke, that's right. You're better off."
I trail after him. I did smoke once, quit pretty soon after meeting the boys… Also after hearing about that piece of shit, and how the smell triggered him.
"There she is!" Shannons voice pulls me from that train of thought as he presents a silver car, "Chevy Impala, the most popular car in thr state of California. No one will be looking at you."
I walk to the driver side, one hand in my pocket as I hold the other one out. Shannon tosses me the keys, I catch easily and unlock my car for the night.
.-o-.
I park in the underground garage for my new complex. As I get closer to the elevator the doors open, revealing a shorter blonde woman in a red vest. I must be her work uniform because there is a name tag pinned to the fabric, the name reading 'Irene'.
I finally step into the elevator, pushing the button for the 4th floor before shrugging of my jacket. I sigh as I lean against the elevator wall, letting my shoulders sag while fiddling with the toothpick in my mouth.
The elevator lurches to a halt and I push off the wall, grabbing my bag off the ground and heading to my new abode. I carefully unlock the door, pushing into the dark space that lies behind.
It wasn't anything fancy, but I finally saved up enough to move into a nicer neighborhood then what we were in before. It was small, but now I didn't have to worry about 3 young boys having enough space, and it worked for me. I throw my duffle onto the bed, before I turn and walk right back out of the space.
I go for a drive. Weird I know, I just finished a job, but I can't sit still for long. I also don't want to unpack yet, I know I'll stay for a while, but I need to get used to the new neiborhood.
.-o-.
I get back when the sun is up, I don't care the time but I can feel myself wobbling on my feet as I get to the elevator. I swing my jacket off onto one shoulder, leaning against the wall as I drift of for a moment.
The elevator comes to a stop, and it pulls me out of my stuper, as I look at the number 2 above the doors. I swing my jacket onto my shoulder and move to the corner of the elevator as the doors open to reveling an older lady with short blonde hair and tired brown eyes, I remember that her name is Irene. She walks in with a hamper of laundry, and I move towards the button panel.
"Which floor?" I ask quietly, my hand hovering over the panel.
"Four, thanks," She responds, moving to the other corner.
I quietly push the button before steppign back into my corner. the doors close anf I shift slightly on my feet as the elevator starts to move again. We're left in silence as the elevator acends. I flick the toothpick back and forth, I wonder if Holland had tried the trick yet.
The elevator pings for our floor and I'm pulled out of my head again. The woman, Irene, was already out of the elevator by the time I started moving. I pull my jacket from my shoulder and fold it over my arm, making sure it doesn't touch the ground.
I fumble for my keys, grabbing them out of my jean pocket. I sort through the keys on the loop, noticing the lady walking to the door labled 408, I guess she must be my neighbour. I finally slot the key into my door, storing away the information for later use.
.-o-.
I take a sip of my coffee, walking over to where Shannon is sitting. The police uniform was a little uncomfortable, I'm glad I only have to wear it for a bit.
"Hey, kid, you know what?" He lights the ciggarete in his mouth, "The director wants to see a rollover. You ok with that? Remember, if you don't feel good, just abort the shot. There's no shame in that, alright?" But there would be a shame, the shame of being mocked by my brothers.
Shannons keeps going, "I mean, you're doubling for the star, you know, like a day player, I think. And I got ya five hundred more, huh? Of course, we split that," I move my hand with the coffee cup, a gesture of 'of course'. Shannon knows what I mean, he's been around me long enough to get my gestures.
"You ok? You ready to go?" I give a slight nod, taking another sip of my coffee, "All right! I'm counting on ya!"
I walk over to where makeup is being done, sitting in the chair as I was instructed. In front of me rests a sillicon mask of a bald man, a bald man I am set to become. I start tugging the mask over my head, flattening it over my hair. I tuck the excess under the uniform, taking a second to get it settled over my features.
I walk over to where their filming, getting in the car easily and adjusting my grip. As I get settled a man, the director probably, aproches the window.
"Exuse me, pal. I just need a minute here. So right before I put you on camera, I need you to sign this contract. It just basically releases liability to the company in case you die, get maimed or seriously injured." I sign easily, knowing the risks of being a stuntman.
The man steps away and a hear action called. I start up the engine and start speeding down the road. I feel the car give from under me and the feeling of weightlessness that follows. The car tumbles and I keep my head ducked low, keeping myself small in the seat. It stops suddenly as the car lands upright in the grass.
I can see the team running over to make sure I'm ok, and I also see Shannon limping over, praising me, "Oh, kid, that was fantastic! Just fantastic! Ok, how you doing? You alright?" I give him and the team a thumbs up, "You're good! You're good! That was perfect,"
.-o-.
I head to the grocery store after the shoot, after realizing I don't have any food at my apartment. I push my cart through the aisles, picking out a few things for dinners and lunches this week, flicking the toothpick between my teeth. As I walk past an aisle I stop when I see a familiar face, Irene, and a child. I walk to the aisle next to theirs, picking out some cleaning supplies.
"You're a monkey," I hear Irene whisper.
"No, you're the monkey," The child whispers back.
"You're a monkey,"
"You're the monkey," They go back and forth.
"Hey, tell me one thing," She asks.
"I love you,"
"I love you!"
I walk to the next aisle, leaving their conversation behind me as I continue my shopping. I guess the kid is her's, or at least related to her in some way, I don't think a non-related kid would say I love you, but I guess I can't speak on that.
I finally pay for my items and walk out to the parking lot where my actual car waits. I go to unlock it when I see something in my peripheral vision. I notice Irene struggling with her car, the hood up as she looks at the smoke coming out. I leave my groceries on top of my car and walk over.
As I get closer I can hear a hissing noise, and Irene turns to me. I raise an eyebrow and gesture to the engine.
"Oh, uh… I don't really know what's wrong with it…" She says, looking back down at the spitting car, "We live in the same apartment, it feels wrong to ask but could we catch a ride with you?"
I nod, gesturing towards my car before walking to it. She grabs her son? nephew? and follows me with her own bag of groceries. I grab my bag from the roof and pop the trunk, motioning for her to put hers in as well.
As she does that I open the passenger side, pulling the seat forward to let the kid in the back. Once he's settled I put the seat back, in time for Irene to sit. I move back to the driver side and hop in, starting the car as we begin our journey home.
.-o-.
We step into the elevator and Irene presses the button for our floor, I stand in the opposite corner holding the groceries. As we ascend the kid keeps staring at me, and I can't help but smile as he does too. He laughs and it reminds me of the better parts of the past.
The elevator chimes for our floor, and we all get off. I debate handing Irene her groceries back and heading to my own apartment, not wanting to overstep. I go to open my mouth but we are already in front of her door, she gestures for me to enter, so I close my mouth and give a nod of thanks.
"Where should I put this?" I ask, looking around her home.
"In the kitchen. Thank you," She says, I nod as I walk over, "Just a second," she says as she walks in her(?) room.
I put the bags on the counter, letting my arms rest for a bit. The kid comes around the corner in a jack-o-lantern mask, waiting for my reaction.
"Scary." He laughs, "hey, you want a toothpick?" I was never good with kids, and I'm years out of practice.
I reach into my breast pocket and pull out a toothpick from the few I keep in there, as a just in case. He takes it from me, waving as he goes back into the living room. I cringe inside, feeling awkward and out of place.
"You want a glass of water?" She asks, coming out of the room.
"Ok," I respond.
I take the toothpick out of my mouth and put it behind my ear as I lean against the counter. She fills up a cup in the sink and hands it to me.
"Thanks." I take a sip, not realizing I was thirsty until the cool water hit my throat.
"So you just moved to LA?" She questions, standing in front of the sink.
"No, I've been here for a while." I think back to the house, then the apartment.
"You're just new here?" She laughs, and I smile.
"Mh-hmm," I hum, looking at the pictures on the mirror behind her.
She notices my gaze, "That's Benicio's father," I can see the sadness in her eyes as she answers.
"Where is he?"
"He's in prison." She states, many unfavourable memories come to mind at the mention of prison.
"Oh…" I say dumbly, my voice starting to fail me.
"What do you do?" She switches the subject, walking out into the living room.
"I drive," Wow. Great description Casey, I mentally slap myself. Following her.
"Like, a limo driver?"
"No, like, for movies," I clarify, and driving criminals away from their crimes.
"Oh! You mean all the car chases and stuff?" She asks, standing behind Benicio as he colours.
"Yeah," Crashes too, but that's not important.
"Isn't that dangerous?" She asks with a teasing smile.
I lean against the wall next to the door, giving her a small smile. Her smile drops slightly and I think she gets what I mean, even if I don't speak. I look down and shake my head, the smile growing.
"It's only part-time," I reasure, unlike my brother who does it full time, "Mostly I work at a garage,"
"Where?"
"Reseda Boulevard," She looks at me and I know what she's thinking, "I gotta go,"
"Ok," I nod as she speaks, turning towards the door.
"Thanks for the water, "
"No problem, Say bye." She looks down to her child, "Bye," He smiles.
I open the door and step out, feeling Irene at my back. She closes the door and I hear the lock click behind me. I unlock my apartment door and smile to myself, she seemed nice, and I want to help her as much as I can. Be the help I needed when I was in her situation.
I go to the kitchen, intending to make some lunch, before realizing that I left my groceries in her apartment. I groan and put a hand over my mouth. I really did not want to awkwardly go back and ask for my food. Instead I walk over to my bed, taking the duffle bag off to begin unpacking.