Behind The Scenes

Chapter 4 (Part 2): Are you ready for a brand new life?

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It was almost 5AM when Alyssa opened the door and faced Matthew, carrying a thermal bag and bored expression.

"I hate you" he said, before the girl could open her mouth, and she started laughing, making room for him to pass.

Matthew threw the bag on the kitchen table and opened the fridge.

This was the second time he was at Alyssa's house in all that time they were working together, but after this Californian-ice-cream-tour bullshit, he deserved a cold beer. Thank God he soon spotted a lonely Stella Artois long neck and took a deep breath.

"I would complain that, but I think I'm not in a position to say anything" the girl hurried to get a spoon, and seemed to have a mini stroke of happiness when unfolded the pot.

Matthew watched Aly assault the pot like her life depended on it, and stared at her, his eyes wide and trying not to laugh. She seemed to sense his gaze, and turned to look him.

"I also thought it was a lie, but apparently..." Alyssa did not bother to finish the sentence, just turned back to the pot and kept eating.

Matthew sat on the kitchen counter, not daring to ask for a little bit of ice cream, because he was sure she would kill him if he did. He just watched in silence with his Stella while she devoured a pint of ice cream like a madwoman.

After a while, when she was finishing the ice cream, Aly all of sudden stared at him and smiled.

"I forgot. Thanks." She simply said, and Crawford laughed.

"You? Thanking me for something I did? God, your hormones really are out of control." Matt said, and the girl showed her mid finger, laughing.

"I plan on trying to control them, because it won't be easy for anyone if I start getting strange cravings in the dead of the night." She looked significantly at the actor, whose eyes widened, and then she laughed. "I'm kidding, I will not be that opportunist. I think."

"You think?" He said, grinning.

"I can't go easy on you, father of the year." Alyssa replied and they laughed.

Matthew got up from the kitchen counter with his empty bottle in one of his hands and with his car keys in the other one.

"I think I'm off now..." He said, and saw the girl walking to the laundry room. "Alyssa?"

He heard the sound of something falling on the floor and then the unmistakable sound of someone puking.

"Oh, fuck..." He ran the small distance between the kitchen and the laundry room and found Aly with her head tucked on the laundry tub. He instinctively held the girls' hair - who seemed very concerned to do so - while she took deep breaths and stared at the drain. It didn't take two seconds before she threw up again and Matthew grimaced, but he was used to it, having many drunken friends.

"Breathe" he said quietly, inadvertently touching the girl's neck, which was in a cold sweat. She complied.

Matthew pulled her back slightly towards his body.

"There's more coming up?" He asked and Alyssa just shook her head. Matthew turned on the faucet and saw the kiwi ice cream disappear. Then he wet his hand on the cold water and passed on the girl's neck and forehead, and she seemed to wake up from a trance.

"I hate kiwi" she said with a small voice and heard Matthew guffaw behind her.

"This are the gods are showing you that a person can't eat a pint of ice cream in ten minutes" he added, his hand still on her forehead, "you're not going to faint, are you?"