CHAPTER TWENTY
mildly attractive
•••
ɴᴏʟᴀɴ ᴍᴜʟʟᴇɴ
I got that god damn part.
The part that will get me back in the industry, because no one else fucking wants me right now.
The movie is shit though. It's quite literally a piece of crap.
My phone rang and I picked up without even looking at the caller ID. I'd do anything to procrastinate reading that god forbidden script.
"Hi there," Oakley's low voice echoed from my phone. I laid back on my bed, staring at the boring white ceiling.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked. He let out a low chuckle, which made me smile.
"I don't know. You've just got a nice voice to listen to."
I couldn't help it. I blushed. I know he didn't mean it in that way, but being complimented by a guy that's at least mildly attractive automatically just does something to me. And then there's the part where he's definitely more than mildly attractive.
Compose yourself, Nolan.
"Well, did anything interesting happen today?" I asked.
"Told my manager I was kinda done with the teenage heartthrob era and want to go in a different direction. Just one more EP and I'll be free to do whatever."
I could hear from the way he talked how big he was grinning. His smile is so contagious that it made mine grow from the other side of the line.
"How are things at your end of fame, Noles?"
"Noles?"
"Trying something new," he said.
"Well, not as great as you. Gotta do this shitty film to get back on track. But filming won't take too long. I hope I'm done in two months."
"Hmm. The guy who advices me to do what makes me happy, doesn't do what makes him happy. Interesting," he said. "You know, if you've got time, you could come and visit me at the studio."
I wanted to come and visit him at the studio. And I was about to say yes. But than I looked back at my chest where my script was lying so peacefully. I still had to read that shit.
"Ah fuck," I sighed. "Still got to read this shitty script."
"Oh," he said, his voice dropped at least an octave. "Well, good luck I guess?"
Shit. I didn't want to disappoint him.
"Well, ma- maybe we can hang out some other time?" I offered— a bit too fast. Fuck.
And why was it getting hotter in my room?
"Whenever you've got time," he said. "Just let me know." His voice clear, light. It literally felt like a weight was dropped off my shoulders. And I was back to smiling in no time.
"So whats the movie about?" he asked after a moment of silence.
"Well it's not that shitty," I started with a sigh. "It's just something I've seen a million times before. This girl is set up by her family to date this guy because they're family friends or some shit. They decide to fake date to prove to their families it won't work out."
"And let me guess: it does work out?"
"Exactly. I'm supposed to be 'the guy'."
"Okay it does score quite high on the shit-o-meter."
"The shit-o-meter?" I couldn't help but chuckle at the term. "Creative with words, I see?"
"I'm a songwriter. I have to be," he replied.
There was a bit of silence. Not awkward, but definitely not comfortable either.
"Nolan?" Oakley started after a little. His voice was still as gentle and calm as it was before.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering why you're still doing that movie," he asked. "I don't want to be uhm, like invasive or anything. I just thought you told me to like... not do that?"
I never really thought about it. Why was I doing this again?
"I mean, I guess part of life is doing things you don't really like," I said. "As long as it gets you to where you want to be."
I didn't realize the truth in the words until I actually spoke them. I guess that was the reason.
"Oh that makes sense. Like how I'm going on that tour," Oakley said. "And I guess that means Mason was maybe somewhat right."
"About what?"
"Taking things a bit more slowly. I mean, I'm not letting him make the decisions for me anymore. But I guess I'll listen to his reasons?"
"Sounds like a plan."
The both of us fell in some weird energy silence again.
"Thank you, Nolan." I could imagine the smile playing on his lips as he thanked me.
"For what?" I asked, a smile spreading on my own face too.
"I don't know. Being wise?" he said. My smile grew wider.
"I'm not that wise. I'm experienced," I said.
"Same thing. Just don't forget to text me this time, okay? I'm not passing up on the chance to hang out with the Wise Nolan Mullen again, okay?"
"Fine," I said. I swear I pulled a face muscle.
"So I'll see you?"
"Definitely," I answered, clasping my phone tighter as if it could disappear any minute.
"Bye, Nolan." And with that, he hung up.
A tiny crush shouldn't be that big of a deal, right?
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hi there again.
How's the social distancing going?