Chapter 2
Micah Barrett
As I sit on the couch next to Cricket, I wonder why she reacted like that to me goofing off with her.
I know I wasn’t hurting her. My weight wasn’t even on her.
She seemed upset, but we play around like that all the time.
She’s never gotten mad about it before. It’s just what we do, so now I’m confused.
It’s really nice of her to let me stay in the guest bedroom in her parents’ basement, but I can’t stay here forever.
They’ll be home from Asia in a month. I’ve got to tell my brother I’ve quit school, but he will totally freak out on me.
So I’m leaving it as a problem for future Micah.
Maybe I can find a place of my own and delay telling him for just a little bit longer.
I watch the movie with her, trying to keep up with the storyline, because I know Cricket’s going to ask me my opinion when it’s done. I know I didn’t say the right things last time, because she’s making me watch it again so I really “get” Mr. Darcy, or something like that.
Just before it ends, I covertly pick up my phone and google why women like Mr. Darcy. The article I find is more interesting than the movie, and I get some great talking points.
Cricket huffs. “Are you on your phone?”
I put the phone face down on the couch. “I was looking up who played Mr. Darcy,” I say, lying through my teeth. “I was admiring the way he portrayed him as aloof in the beginning, but then showing his deep love and loyalty for Elizabeth by the end.”
Cricket narrows her eyes, like she can see right through me. I think she’s going to call me out on my lie, but instead, she smiles and says. “Yes. You get it.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “I think I do. He’s brooding and proud at the beginning, which she mistakes for arrogance. But he totally falls in love with her, and he’s willing to do anything for her.”
Her grin widens. “I’m so happy you get it.”
“Of course,” I say, scoffing. “I’m not totally romance inept.”
“We have to watch Sense and Sensibility now.”
Panic floods through me. Oh no. What did I do?
I’m totally romance inept, and I don’t want to sit through another old-timey one.
I should have said something silly and made a joke.
She would have made fun of me, but at least I wouldn’t have to watch another one of these.
I quickly make up an excuse. “Gosh, I’d love to, but I need to do some filming for my next video. ”
“Filming?”
My mind races. I had no idea what I was going to say, and now I have to improvise.
“Yeah, I got this idea to take some B-roll footage around the island to spark up my videos. You know, some generic beach footage, some up-close nature shots. Things that won’t identify the island but will keep viewers interested. ”
“That’s a great idea. Need some help?”
I’m so happy I don’t have to sit through another Jane Austen movie that I jump up from the couch. “Yes. Let’s go.”
Cricket grabs her keys. She gives me a devilish grin, and all of a sudden, I realize she was playing me. She knew I googled those things.
“I’ll drive,” she says with a satisfied smile on her face.
I’m such an idiot, but now I’m committed. We get to the beach, and I set up my camera on the tripod. The late-afternoon light is perfect for this kind of shot. Cricket sits on a piece of driftwood nearby, reading a book while I adjust the settings.
“Can you get in the shot?” I ask. “Walk along the shoreline or something. It’ll make the footage more interesting.”
Cricket looks up from her book. “You want me in your video?”
“Not like that. Just as background. No one will recognize you.”
She shrugs, sets down her book, and walks toward the water’s edge. I start filming, getting some good shots of the waves and Cricket silhouetted against the sunset. She’s actually pretty photogenic when she’s not overthinking it, even in her jean shorts and T-shirt, her hair blowing in the breeze.
“Perfect,” I call out. “Keep walking naturally.”
Cricket does a fantastic job while I finish filming. She’s a natural. I’m already thinking of other ways I can use her in my B-roll when she joins me at the camera.
“Did you get the footage you need?”
I nod, turning to her. That’s when I notice her glasses are smudged. Again. There are fingerprints all over the lenses. How does she let them get so bad? Luckily, I have my microfiber cloth in my pocket. I don’t even wear glasses, but I carry it everywhere.
I hold up my hand. “Hang on. Your glasses. How do you function with them so dirty?”
I reach for them, and she automatically tilts her head so I can slide them off her face. It’s something I’ve done a million times. I clean them and hold them up to see whether I got all the spots.
In a flash, a seagull swoops down out of nowhere and snatches them right out of my hands.
“Hey!” I yell, but the bird is already flying away with Cricket’s glasses dangling from its beak.
Cricket squints in the direction of my voice. “What happened? Did you drop my glasses?”
“A seagull stole them.” I can’t believe I’m saying those words.
“What?” Cricket starts stumbling toward where she thinks the bird went, but she’s completely blind without her glasses. “Micah, those are my only pair!”
I’m about to chase after the stupid bird, but someone else beats me to it.
A guy who looks to be in his early twenties comes jogging down the beach, following the seagull’s flight path.
He’s got dark hair, and he’s wearing a faded T-shirt and cargo shorts.
I bet he’s been exploring the beach for a while.
“I got it!” he calls out, running after the bird as it lands near some rocks.
The seagull drops the glasses when the guy approaches, probably realizing they’re not food. The man carefully picks them up and jogs back toward us.
“One slightly bird-slobbered pair of glasses,” he says, holding them out to Cricket with a grin. “Good news is they’re not broken.”
“Bird slobber?” she asks, her nose wrinkled.
The man laughs and wipes them with his T-shirt. “Don’t worry, I’ll clean them.”
Cricket puts her hand out, but it’s obvious she can’t see very well.
“Here.” The guy steps closer and gently places the glasses back on Cricket’s face, which for some reason annoys me. “There you go.”
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much.” Cricket’s cheeks turn pink.
Is she blushing? Why is she blushing? He’s good-looking but not that good-looking. Sheesh.
She giggles. “I’m basically helpless without these.”
“No problem. I’m River, by the way.”
She points to herself. “Cricket. And this is Micah, who apparently has terrible reflexes when it comes to seagull attacks.”
I cross my arms and take a step toward Cricket. “Hey, that bird came out of nowhere. It was like an aerial ambush.”
River laughs. “They’re pretty opportunistic around here. I’ve been filming some of the wildlife behavior, and those gulls are relentless.”
“You’re a filmmaker?”
There’s interest in her voice, which bugs me too. When I was filming, she was reading her book. But now she suddenly cares?
“Sort of. More of a hobbyist. What about you guys?”
“Micah’s got a YouTube channel.” Cricket’s voice is unusually high-pitched. “We were getting some B-roll footage.”
River nods toward my camera setup. “Nice equipment. What kind of content do you make?”
And just like that, this random guy has Cricket’s full attention, when five minutes ago, she was irritated with me for not paying attention to Mr. Darcy. I don’t know why, but the whole situation rubs me the wrong way.
“Music videos,” I say, keeping my answer short. “We should probably get going, Cricket. The light’s changing.”
But Cricket doesn’t seem to hear me. She’s looking at River like he saved her life instead of just rescuing her glasses from a stupid kleptomaniac seagull.
“Let’s go.” I nudge her elbow.
“Cricket is an unusual name.” River runs a hand through his already-perfect hair. “I like it.”
She blushes again. “Thanks.”
“Weren’t you going to go by Christine from now on?” I say.
She sends me a quick glare before turning back to River. “You look kind of familiar. Have we met before?”
I roll my eyes so hard I think I see yesterday. Did she use a lame line on him?
He laughs. “I just got here. But don’t worry, you’re not crazy. You probably recognize me from the television show I was in.”
Cricket raises her eyebrows. “You’re an actor?”
“Yes. I’m here for an audition, actually.”
Oh heavens. He’s an actor. Now she’s going to fall all over him. Next thing he’s going to say is he’s auditioning for the role of Mr. Darcy.
“What are you auditioning for?” I bark.
River finally tears his gaze away from Cricket to look at me. “The lead role in an indie film.”
“Oh, so nothing big, then?” I didn’t mean for it to sound bad. It just came out that way.
Cricket whacks my arm. “Micah!”
River laughs, not bothered at all by my rudeness. “He’s right. It’s not a big break, but I’ve been out of work for a while, and I could really use this job.”
“What television show were you on?” Cricket asks.
I can practically see her swoon.
“Kid Logic.”
Cricket gapes at him. “That was a huge show. Everyone watched it.” She peers at him. “Wait a minute. I see it now. You played Jake, right?”
River nods. “Yes.”
Her mouth drops. “You’re River Stone?”
“In the flesh.”
“Oh my goodness. It’s so nice to meet you. I was a huge fan of your show.” She giggles again, and I feel like I need to get Cricket away from this guy before she really embarrasses herself.
“Wow, look at the time. The sun is almost down now. We’d better leave.” I grab her arm.
“Wait.” River takes a step toward Cricket. “I don’t want to sound presumptuous, but are you two dating?”
Cricket laughs. Hard. Which really hurts my feelings. Is it that funny?
“No! Micah and I are just friends.”
River smiles at her. “I’m here for a few days, trying to get into character, and I’d love a tour of the island if you don’t mind.”
“Sure,” Cricket says.
My muscles twitch as I try not to get upset. She doesn’t even know this guy. What if he’s a jerk? A serial killer? How can she agree to go show him the island? Isn’t that code for… other things?
I loop my arm through Cricket’s. “Sure,” I repeat. “We can show you around.”
River looks taken aback, but he recovers quickly. “Great, then. Can I get your number?” He pulls his phone out of his pocket.
I grab it. “Yep.” I type my number into his contacts.
River gives me a polite nod. When I hand it back to him, he gives it to Cricket. “And yours?”
She smiles so wide I think she’s about ready to melt into the sand. “Of course.” She types it in and hands it back to him.
“Great! We’ll hear from you soon, then,” I say, dragging Cricket off toward my tripod. “The tide is coming in, and my camera’s going to be out to sea soon if I don’t get it.”
River nods. “Okay, then. I’ll call you.”
I stomp over to my camera and pick it up. River obviously said that to Cricket, not me.
What the ever-loving heck? Is it just me, or was he practically all over Cricket? And why does she look so happy about it?
It makes me angry that she’s not using common sense. He’s a complete stranger, and all of a sudden, they’re best friends? What is up with that?