21. Kinsley
21
KINSLEY
1977
12 years old.
A loud snort unexpectedly bursts from my nose, making my eyes widen with surprise. My laughter dies down as embarrassment floods my chest. Despite the sudden outburst, it doesn’t deter Travis from continuing to tell funny jokes in an attempt to make me laugh. He’s always trying to make me laugh, which is something I appreciate. When you’re working long hours on set and have to put on a serious face when the cameras are rolling, it feels nice to switch off and laugh for the short amount of time we get to take a break.
I clutch my sore stomach as another burst of laughter escapes my lips. “Trav, stop it. My stomach hurts.”
Travis plops down on the couch beside me, laughter bubbling from his throat. He turns to me at the same time he pushes his blonde curls away from his forehead. “Sorry, Kin, but you’re just so easy to make laugh. You even snort cute like a little pig.”
My cheeks grow warm at his words, so I turn my head away so he doesn’t see how pink my cheeks are. The last thing I want is for Travis to know I have a crush on him. We’ve been friends for the last two years since we worked on Schoolyard Quest .
Since then, we have written each other letters and meet up whenever I’m in Los Angeles for work. I like it. I like writing to him because he’s funny and carefree. He makes me smile and laugh until my cheeks hurt. And now we’re lucky enough to be working on another television show together— The Adventures of Ours .
But he can never know that I like like him. It would ruin everything between us. Besides, he’s my best friend and I’m more than happy with that.
“I only snort like that because you’re so funny,” I defend. I shift my body on the dark brown couch to face him and bring my knees to my chest. He does the same. “I’m not ready for this show to end. I know we’ve only been filming for three weeks and have plenty more to go, the thought of it ending saddens me.”
Travis sighs softly. He casts his gaze down to the friendship bracelet I gave him two years ago. The tips of his fingers skim over the beads, the movement slow. “Me too. I don’t want to go back to writing letters to each other because we live in different states.”
The thought of our lives returning to how they were before we started the show makes me sad. It leaves an unsettled feeling in my stomach. “I wish we lived closer to each other. It would mean we could see each other all the time.”
“Maybe one day,” he says. The skin around his fingernails is red raw like he has been picking at them continuously. It’s his nervous habit I have noticed since meeting him. “And maybe one day when we’re older I can take you out to dinner. How does that sound, Kin?”
I want to tell him it’s the best idea I’ve ever heard and I’m already thinking about what I should wear. But I don’t. Instead, I smile and say, “I would like that a lot. When should we do it?”
Travis lifts his hand to rub his head thoughtfully. “How about when we’re sixteen? As soon as we both turn sixteen, I’ll take you out. We can eat whatever we want and then maybe we can catch a movie afterward.”
I extend my pinkie finger and smile. “Promise?”
Travis chuckles and wraps his pinkie around mine. “I promise.”
“What promises are being made in here?”
Our heads snap to the door of Travis’ dressing room to see Reggie standing there. His dark eyes flick between us questioningly. He walks into the room with a clipboard under his right arm and a baseball cap slung low on his head. As Reggie stands beside us, I feel Travis’s eyes on me, but I don’t look at him.
“Nothing important,” I tell Reggie. I’m only lying because I want to keep the promise between me and Travis, otherwise the pinkie promise would be broken.
“Yeah, it was just a silly promise,” Travis adds with a small smile.
Reggie nods with a tight expression. I can tell he doesn’t believe us, but he doesn’t question us further about it. “Well, I’m here because I want to talk to you both before we get back to work.”
I glance at Travis briefly as curiosity piques within me. His curiosity is reflected in his eyes, more intense than my own.
Reggie squats in front of us, his eyes flicking between the two of us before they settle on me. “I’m having a party at my house tomorrow night with some friends of mine. They’re in the industry too. And I would like to invite you both to attend. Everyone involved in the production of the show and other cast members will be present too.” He smiles, and I can’t tear my eyes from his slightly yellow teeth.
A party with the production crew? I haven’t gotten the chance to spend time with the whole team in a non-working environment. Besides, it’ll be my first adult party, which could be a lot of fun.
“Do our parents know?” Travis asks.
Reggie nods. “Yes, I’ve already spoken with them and they have given permission for you to attend so long as you would like to go.”
A smile splits across my face. “Really? Then I’m in. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
Travis gazes at me, his green eyes flicking between mine for a moment before he blinks rapidly and smiles, having come to a conclusion. “I’m in too.”
Reggie claps his hands together and stands. “Wonderful! I’ll give your parents the details for the party tonight when they come to collect you. Make sure you’re dressed smart, okay? I want you to look nice for everyone.” He pats Travis and I on the shoulder affectionately, his hand lingering for a moment before turning on his heels. “I want to see you both back on set in five.”
As soon as he leaves the room, Travis and I lock eyes from across the couch. He smiles first and is up on his feet, peering down at me. “An adult party? This is so exciting!”
“I wonder how many more parties we’ll get to attend after this one.” I jump to my feet in front of him, my heart racing with giddiness. “I have no idea what to wear. Reggie wants us to look nice, so I need to make sure I wear my best dress. I’m sure my mom can help with that though.”
“Once Reggie and his friends see how cool and fun we are, we’ll certainly get invited to more adult parties. And don’t worry, Kin, you’ll look great no matter what.” Travis’s eyes trail down his body to his feet. “I think I know what I’m going to wear, but I’ll have to make sure my mom irons my clothes. I don’t want to attend my first adult party with creases in my pants.”
I squeal in excitement and bounce on the balls of my feet. “This is so cool, Trav. I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Me neither,” he giggles, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “We’re going to have the best night, Kin. I just know it.”