Becoming Ready

Chapter 20 - Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder?

Going without seeing Shawn for weeks, especially after they had gotten so close on her birthday, was really difficult for Charlie. They had taken their relationship to the next level, physically as well as emotionally, which was a big deal to her. He was the first person she had done that with since Cassius. Saying the L word to each other was a huge step, and so was having sex. It was just bad timing that it all had to happen right before she got insanely busy.

Between filming The Outlaws, working shifts at the Coffee Shop whenever she could, and keeping up with her classes, Charlie was exhausted. She had done so well on her first scene in her Film Acting class with Jen that nearly all her classmates wanted to partner with her for the next one. Her other classes kept her extremely occupied as well. She had a paper due in History of Film, a short scene to write for Screenwriting 101, and she had to create thirty second commercial for a class called Commercial Acting. Thankfully, it didn't have to be edited well, and it could be shot on a phone, but still.

She called Shawn on Friday night. She was on set again, on a break, filming a night scene at a gas station. Professor Roth was able to permit a few locations for the film, but they had to shoot during the most inactive times of day.

"Hello?" Shawn answered. It sounded like he was with a bunch of people.

"Hey," Charlie said, smiling at the sound of his voice.

"Hey Goldie!" he greeted her happily. "How's filming going?"

She walked around aimlessly, kicking the ground. "It's going fine. I'm just on a break and I wanted hear your voice."

"And I'm glad to hear yours," he said, and she could tell he was smiling.

"Shawn, who is that?!" a girl's voice said in the background of the call.

She stiffened. She recognized Kaley's voice.

"What are you up to?" Charlie asked.

Of course Kaley was there. She had become such good friends with Shawn after all. It felt like every time Charlie had talked to Shawn that month, he had been around Kaley.

"A bunch of us went out to dinner after the meeting," Shawn explained. "Everyone's hyped up on too much coffee, so we're thinking of going to a late-night arcade, or some other sober activity."

"Oh," she said softly. That sounded like fun. "I wish I was there."

"I wish you were too!" he replied.

"'Shawn come on, let's go!'" Charlie heard Kaley yell again through the phone.

Her stomach knotted up. "Well, I don't want to keep you."

"Is it okay if I call you tomorrow?" he asked, seeming distracted.

"Of course," she said. "I love you, talk to you later."

"I love you too."

After he hung up, Charlie stood there for a moment. She knew it was stupid, but she wanted to cry. Shawn trusted her, and she trusted him. He couldn't help how flirtatious Kaley was. And Charlie was spending all kinds of time with River, after all. She was even going to have to kiss him for this movie. She had heard from many people that onscreen kisses were the definition of awkward and not romantic, but a kiss was a kiss. At least it was just one, and Professor Roth had written it pretty PG.

But she still couldn't help but feel like Kaley was much more interested in her boyfriend than she would have liked. Shawn was gorgeous, sweet, and fun. Who wouldn't fall for him? Charlie certainly had.

They were calling her back to set, so she pulled herself together. She pushed thoughts of Kaley and Shawn together aside, and tried to focus on the task at hand. 

*** You guys didn't forget about Kaley, did you? ;)