8 years ago

The blaring sound of the alarm on Oly’s phone had him irritated even before he opened his eyes. Not that he needed a reason to be irritated. Surly was his go-to emotion these days. It took him a moment to realize that the phone was ringing instead. Oly gave a little grunt of protest and thrashed around in the bed with his eyes still closed, as if that would silence the shrill little ditty. When that didn’t work, he blindly swiped at the direction of the noise until he was able to grab his phone.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Hey, man. It’s Tanan. I just heard from casting.”

 

Oly sat up immediately. He’d been waiting to hear the results of his most recent audition for two weeks. Casting had promised to get back to everyone in 48 hours.

 

“Really?”

 

Oly checked his phone for missed calls. Five from his mother, but nothing else.

 

“I haven’t heard from them yet.”

 

There is a pause on the other end. Oly knew his best friend of four years well enough to know what that silence meant.

 

“I’m sorry, man. The girl I talked to told me that they went with Johnny Monroe for Kenny’s part.”

 

“Damn it!”

 

Oly’s outburst caused the sleeping woman beside him to stir.

 

“What is it, baby?”

 

Oly waved away Lyla’s groggy expression of concern like he was swatting at a buzzing fly.

 

“Look, Oly, your audition was amazing.  You’ll get it next time.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Oly was silently kicking himself. Maybe he was too over the top with his delivery. Maybe he should have worn the green shirt, not the black. Maybe he just wasn’t famous enough. Johnny Monroe had already starred in three other series. Sure, this would be his first lead role, but people knew his name.

 

“Well, I’ll talk to you later, okay. Let’s grab dinner or something.”

 

Tanan sounded about as bummed as Oly did. Wait, if Tanan heard from casting…

 

“Did you get the part you were going for?”

 

“What? Oh. Yeah, I got it. I have a read through for Sean on Tuesday.”

 

“That’s great, man. Let me buy you a drink later.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Oly rolled his eyes fondly. He could almost see Tanan’s figurative ears perk up and his tail wag. If ever there was a human version of a golden retriever, Tanan Taylor would be it. Oly felt a certain pang in his heart over the fact that his friend should be celebrating his accomplishments, but he was commiserating with Oly over his failure instead.

 

“See you soon, man.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Right after hanging up, Oly felt a heavy weight on both his shoulders. Lyla hummed and then pressed a kiss on his neck, and Oly visibly cringed.

 

“It’s too hot for that, and we are both too sweaty.”

 

Oly hated the feel of skin sticking to his, not to mention the impending body acne from their sweat mixing. It had nothing to do with Lyla. He wasn’t really the touchy feely type in any way, shape, or form.

 

“You’re no fun.”

 

Lyla gave him a cute pout and then let him go. She slinked off the bed and stretched in a way that showed off how supple her muscles were. Oly sat back on his elbows to admire the arch of her back and the way her white lace-covered bottom bounced on the way to the bathroom. He loved to watch the ex-ballerina move. He was aware that she wished that he loved her too, but she knew going in that he wasn’t the type. Oly had never been in love, and he planned to keep it that way.

 

The phone rang again and Oly nearly jumped out of his skin. He reminded himself to put it on silent later, but it wouldn’t matter. The buzz in his pocket would startle him just as bad. Sighing, Oly saw that it was his mother calling.

 

“Ma. What’s up?”

“Please use your manners, Oliver.”

 

“Hello, mother. How are you today?”

“That’s my boy. I’m fine, Oly-Wally, how is my baby boy?”

 

Oly made a face at his mother’s pet names. Oly-Wally didn’t really jibe well with his punk rock self-image. This woman gave birth to him, though, so he had to let it slide.

 

“I’m well, Ma. Was there something you wanted to tell me?”

 

It was best to steer his mother in the right direction or she would have Oly on the phone all day. He hated talking on the phone. Honestly, who likes talking on the phone?

 

“Oh, yes. You remember my best friend, Gabriella?”

 

“Yes, Ma. How can I forget? You’ve only mentioned her every day since I was born, you make me video chat with her on birthdays and Christmases, and you never say her name without telling me she’s your best friend.”

 

“Yes, well, her son, Gale, is in the same city as you and she asked if you could look out for him.”

 

Gale Martinez. Of course, he was in the same city as Oly. He was a bona fide child star who had yet to experience an awkward phase and his popularity never waned. Gale was four years younger than Oly, making him 20 years old, and though their mothers had been best friends since middle school, the two had never really met. Oly grew up on the East Coast and Gale’s family relocated to California before Oly was even born.

 

You would think that Gale and Oly would have at least spoken to each other in passing over the years, but the little star was somehow camera-shy during video calls with Oly. At first, he would peek at Gale from behind his mother’s back, with big, round doll eyes and refuse to say a word. In his teen years he would turn bright red and run from the phone. Gale and Oly had never so much as had a full conversation.

 

“Ma, why would I need to look after Gale? He’s a movie star, I’m sure he has people for that.”

 

“Oh, Oly. His mother says that he had been kind of depressed and needs real friends around him. She hasn’t been well lately, and she wants someone she can trust to be there for him.”

 

Lyla emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered, and dressed in the clothes he’d returned to her yesterday. Oly reached down and grabbed the jeans and shirt she arrived in and tossed them at her so that she would not forget this time. She glared at him when she caught them.

 

“Ma, you want me to babysit a 20-year-old man?”

 

“Not babysit, per se. Be his friend. I know he’s always been fond of you, and you could use friends too.”

 

“I have friends, Ma.”

 

Lyla scoffed and Oly threw a pillow this time. She stuck out her tongue, as she shoved her things into her bag.

 

“Tanan is a dear, sweetheart, but you need more than one person you can trust.”

 

“I have you, Ma.”

 

“Now you’re just being cute. Look after him for me, please?”

 

“Ok. Ok, Ma. I will babysit the superstar.”

 

“Thank you so much, sweetheart! I can’t wait to tell Gabriella. I’ll talk to you later. Mama loves you!”

 

“Love you, too. Bye.”

 

Lyla kneeled between Oly’s knees and pecked his lips.

 

“So, you do know how to say those words.”

 

“Every time I say them, a piece of my soul dies.”

 

Lyla gave Oly major side-eye as she stood. Oly placed his hands on her hip bones. Her waist was so tiny that he could almost wrap his large hands around it. Oly enjoyed being able to touch, even if being touched makes him cringe most of the time.

 

“Hey, can you stay at your place tonight? I don’t really feel like being around people today.”

 

Lyla sighed heavily and pulled away. She grabbed her jacket off the back on Oly’s armchair and checked her reflection in the mirror by the door before turning to face him.

 

“See you around.”

 

Oly hummed in response but did not watch her leave. He sat staring at the floor for way too long before he got a text with Gale’s number. Oly sent a text and Gale responded almost immediately. He wanted to meet today.

 

“Let’s get this is over with.”

 

A little while later, Oly is speeding through the streets on his motorcycle, headed towards the biggest park in the city.